News On Tidal Bay

oward Johnson will make a decision on targets for Tidal Bay after he makes his return to action in the John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby.

The nine-year-old appeared to be losing his way over fences during the first half of last season and the decision to switch back to the smaller obstacles paid off as he secured victory in the Cleeve Hurdle and put in decent efforts at the Cheltenham Festival and at Aintree.

"He's ready for a run and we've decided to stick over hurdles for his first run. We'll see how he gets on and then we'll make our minds up whether we're going to stick over hurdles or go back over fences," said Johnson.

"He likes good ground so that will suit him, but Nicky Henderson's horse (Duc De Regniere) will be hard to beat. We have to give him 8lb as well, so it's going to be difficult, but we'll still run our horse and see how we get on."

Ooooh It`s Tight!

A dramatic day in the jockeys' title race saw Paul Hanagan head into the penultimate weekend of the Flat season with a lead of five over Richard Hughes.

Leading by six at the start of play, Hanagan watched as the gallant Hughes reduced the arrears to four with a double at Newmarket, which included Listed-race success on Sweet Cecily for the Richard Hannon team.

Hanagan was not in action at Newmarket, but hit back at the Wolverhampton evening meeting with a double to Hughes's solitary winner.

The northern-based rider struck when taking the first at the all-weather track on 7-2 favourite Whispering Gallery for Ann Duffield.


And it did not take Hanagan long to notch his brace and take the gap back to six with a superb ride on One Cool Bex (11-4 joint-favourite) for Newmarket handler Charlie McBride.

Hanagan was then agonisingly denied in the extended two-mile handicap, in which Hughes had a very lucky escape as he was unshipped from Pearl, crashing to the floor but thankfully walking away unharmed from what was a spare ride.

An enthralling few hours ended with Hughes landing an across-the-card treble as he drove Star Links (11-2) home in the final race of the night to deny the Hanagan-ridden Nicholas Pocock. Hanagan sits on 183 winners to Hughes on 178.

200/1 Winner...jeeeez!

Maoi Chinn Tire created the biggest shock of the fledgling National Hunt season to date by landing the Weatherbys Bank Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby at a staggering 200-1.

The victory did not come in a run-of-the-mill race either as there was £15,000 up for grabs in the Listed contest and racing superpowers Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson and Alan King were all represented.

For trainer Jennie Candlish and her main supporter Alan Baxter, the race will live long in their memory, and for the handful of people on track who were lucky enough to back Maoi Chinn Tire - including the owner.

Roger Has A Winner...or two!

Clowance made a rousing return to action after a 189-day lay-off to take the Group Three John Smith's (St Simon) Stakes at Newbury.

Roger Charlton's five-year-old daughter of Montjeu revelled in the soft ground to win the mile-and-a-half contest by a ready two lengths.

Galvanised by a textbook hold-up ride from Richard Hughes, Clowance was nudged into contention two furlongs out and waltzed clear of runner-up Poet and Dreamspeed inside the final 150 yards.

Hughes said: "She was a bit fresh early, but was always going to win halfway up the straight."

Owner Barry Hurley said of the 7-2 favourite: "We've had to be very patient but she has never had anything serious wrong with her, just little things. She just has to have soft ground.

"I might keep her in training as there's no rush to get her to the paddocks and you don't get too many fillies as good as her, but it will be up to Roger."

Al Kazeem had already given Charlton a lift with a fine victory in division one of the Wade Willis 50th Birthday EBF Maiden Stakes.

The Beckhampton trainer has been advised to rest his back for the time being and will have been delighted to see his colt take another step forward from his eyecatching debut fifth at this track a fortnight ago.

Steve Drowne eased Al Kazeem into contention and they found enough on the soft ground to master fellow 5-2 co-favourite Thimaar by a length.

The trainer's assistant Tom Grantham said: "We're very pleased and he has obviously improved from his first run. Steve said the ground was OK for him, but he would probably like it better. He doesn't need to do any more this season but should make a nice three-year-old."

Casamento Now Set To Join Godolphin

Casamento swept to victory in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster to lead home a one-two-three for the Irish challengers in the Group One contest.

Frankie Dettori was always prominent on the Michael Halford-trained juvenile (2-1 favourite) and committed for home two furlongs out.

Sheikh Mohammed's youngster stretched out in terrific style and was always holding the strong challenge of Aidan O'Brien's Seville to score by three-quarters of a length, with the runner-up's stable companion Master Of Hounds back in third spot.

Dettori said: "It was a great performance and I'm delighted for Sheikh Mohammed and Mick - this is his first Group One. I think he's probably a Derby horse, but we'll wait and see. He's a lovely horse."

Halford reported: "I personally think he might have enough speed for the Guineas, but he's not slow either and stays.

"He was idling a bit in front and looking for a bit of company. Frankie said he was always happy on him and kept finding every time a horse got near him. He's a big, relaxed horse and only does what he has to do."

Casamento is now set to join Godolphin, but that does not bother Halford.

He added: "There was never any problem with that. It was always going to be the case and we were so lucky to get him. I'm so grateful to Sheikh Mohammed for sending me the horse in the first place."

The owner's bloodstock agent John Ferguson confirmed: "He'll winter in Dubai and he'll be trained with the Derby in mind, but we might run him in the Guineas too. I think the last Group One we won here in these colours would have been Shantou's Leger in 1996."

Donny` Report

Ryder Cup hero Lee Westwood was at Doncaster to welcome Hoof It back into the winner's enclosure after the 40% Better Off On Betfair SP Handicap.

Mick Easterby's sprinter (10-1) has been running well all year but appeared to be in need of a rest before finishing second at Haydock last time out.

He looked to have plenty to do entering the final furlong as Noble Storm broke clear, but Kieren Fallon crouched into the drive position and got him home by a neck.

Westwood said: "He's a great horse and we had a top jockey on board who gave him a lovely ride.

"He's enormous and will be even better next year. Kieren said he did well to win because he must have been 10 lengths down at one point.

"I've got shares in about 14 horses at the minute and I love it. Footballers, cricketers and rugby players all play golf to relax and this is what I do."

Fallon was expected to make it a quickfire double on Mick Channon's Galtymore Lad in thebettingsite.com Stakes, but he could fare no better than third behind Earl Of Leitrim.

Brian Meehan's colt was the least experienced in the field but that did not show in the closing stages as he knuckled down to his task well.


Galtymore Lad did hit the front, but could find no more inside the final furlong as the 11-1 scorer, ridden by Shane Kelly, powered down the centre of the track to beat Night Carnation by half a length.

Meehan said: "He's a lovely horse and he keeps improving. He's in a Group Two at Maisons-Laffitte and we'll seriously consider that race over six furlongs. He's a smart colt and he'll make a lovely three-year-old."

Azrael To Get A Chance

Alan McCabe is keen to give Azrael a chance in Pattern company in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The progressive Makbul colt could make the short journey from McCabe's Newark base to Doncaster to take up a less daunting engagement in the Universal Recycling Nursery at Doncaster the same day.

However, ground permitting Azrael will be on his way to Berkshire for the Group Three, formerly known as the Horris Hill Stakes.

"We are keen to go to Newbury and it's looking favourable with the ground," said McCabe.

"We've never run him on soft ground so we really don't want to do that, so if it's good or better at Newbury we'll go there.

"He's a progressive horse and has done nothing wrong. He ran very green first time out at Doncaster. He ran very well in the Ascot race Titus Mills won and arguably they didn't go quick enough for us.

"He then won his Leicester maiden which has turned out to be very good and he was very tenacious in the race he won at Newmarket and the fourth horse (One Lucky Lady) has come out and won at Pontefract.

"He's on the market and there are a few offers on the table, but we are just waiting for one to come."