ITV Racing hits million viewers for third weekend in a row

ITV Racing’s jumps programming continues to prove a huge hit with audiences, with Saturday’s broadcast from Newbury and Newcastle watched by over a million viewers for a third consecutive week.

The peak audience reached 1.06 million for the show, which featured Epatante’s slick success in the Betfair Fighting Fifth and the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury, won by Cloth Cap.

The figures extend ITV Racing’s increase in popularity for this jumps season with a peak of 1.07m (up 27 per cent) tuning in for Saturday’s action at Cheltenham’s November meeting and 1.01m (up 28 per cent) watching Bristol De Mai’s Betfair Chase success.

This weekend’s broadcast was up 23 per cent from last season, with an average audience of 834,000 compared to 608,000 in 2019. Audience share also grew to 7.8 per cent from 7.2.

Next Saturday’s big action comes from Sandown, when Altior is expected to be the star name in the feature Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase, while Native River and Santini are on course to clash in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree.

The ITV coverage is set to feature racegoers on course for the first time since Doncaster’s crowd pilot on September 9.

Persse facing layoff after dislocating shoulder in Dundalk fall

Alan Persse and Gavin Ryan avoided serious injury after both riders hit the Polytrack at Dundalk on Friday before being sent to Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for x-rays.

The incident happened in the closing stages of the apprentice handicap when Ryan's mount Clonard Abbey clipped heels and brought down Persse and Capablanca.

Ryan escaped injury, but Persse will face up to six weeks out of action according to Dr Jennifer Pugh, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board senior medical officer, who described both riders as lucky.

She said: "Gavin Ryan is okay, but unfortunately for Alan Persse he suffered a dislocated shoulder and will be out for four-to-six weeks. It was nasty and both riders were lucky."

Unfortunately, the Patrick Martin-trained Clonard Abbey was fatally injured in the incident.

Two Irish winners disqualified

Two Irish winners have been disqualified after referral hearings on Wednesday afternoon into adverse analytical findings, arising as a result of longer withdrawal times being required for licensed medication.

Drifting Back, trained by Eric McNamara, was stripped of his win in an auction maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe in August having tested positive for triamcinolone acetonide in a blood sample, a commonly used corticosteroid anti-inflammatory medication.

The Pat Doyle-trained Granny Lowrie was disqualified from her debut win in a mares' maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan the same month due to the presence of flunixin, an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat pain and reduce fever or inflammation, and hydrochlorothiazide, a thiazide diuretic.

Pat Doyle Trainer Fairyhouse Photo: Patrick McCann 16.04.2013Credit: Patrick McCann

A €1,000 fine was waived in the case of Drifting Back's trainer as the panel determined he had taken reasonable measures to prevent a breach, but Granny Lowrie's handler Pat Doyle saw his fine of the same amount upheld.

Rippon Lodge, trained by John Ryan, and James Nash's Little Lady Lu, were the beneficiaries of the disqualifications, promoted to first in the two maiden hurdles.

University students launch racing initiative

A movement to drive engagement in horseracing among students has been launched, with organisers behind the European Student Horseracing Federation (ESHF) aiming to increase interest levels in the sport within third-level education structures.

The student-led initiative, which has the backing of universities and colleges across Britain and Ireland, has already attracted hundreds of racing enthusiasts to Zoom meetings with leading figures Joseph O'Brien and Tom Marquand, and will also provide a new publication, the Racing Student.

The organisation is attempting to provide a platform for members across Europe to learn about industry opportunities and forge lasting connections through their love of the sport, encouraging all European horseracing societies to get involved.

ESHF founder and chairman Robert Riley Dargan said: "We are delighted with what the team has been able to achieve and look forward to doing our part in helping promote our great sport to future generations."

Killian Broderick, editor of the Racing Student, added: "The response has been extremely positive on social media and numerous students have got in touch saying they want to be involved."

Former steward David Jones to take seat on BHA board from January

Former racecourse steward David Jones will take up a position on the BHA's board in the role of regulatory independent non-executive director from January.

Jones formerly chaired the racecourse stewards' panel and has spent the last three years as a member of the racecourse committee at Kempton.

Annamarie Phelps, chairman of the BHA, said: "We are delighted to welcome David to the BHA board. He brings with him substantial insight and enthusiasm for the racing industry.

Annamarie Phelps

"This has been exhibited through his invaluable contribution to a number of recent industry projects, and his time as a well-respected member of our stewarding team."

Jones will take the place of Andrew Merriam, who has served three terms on the BHA board since 2012.

Phelps added: "Our sincere thanks go to Andrew Merriam for his service to the BHA board. It would be hard to find a better liked or more respected individual, and his contribution to the racing industry during his three terms at the BHA has been significant."

Master Dino suffers fatal injury

Crack French chaser Master Dino suffered a fatal injury on the gallops at Guillaume Macaire's base in the west of France on Tuesday morning.

A prolific winner at Graded level over hurdles at Auteuil, Master Dino was crowned champion three-year-old in 2017 when landing the Prix Cambaceres under James Reveley, and continued to dominate his age group the following year when winning the Prix Renaud du Vivier

French raider Master Dino (Daryl Jacob) forges clear of Knocknanuss to provide a winning return to Britain for Guillaume MacaireCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Having made a winning debut over the Auteuil chase course Macaire the set his sights on the Cheltenham Festival but, having defeated the smart Knocknanuss on his British debut at Plumpton in January 2019, he spent more than a year on the sidelines after having three screws inserted in a hairline fracture.

Having been sold by his original owners, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, Master Dino made what would turn out to be his last start, a winning return to action, at Dieppe in August.

Owner-breeder remembered

Peter Tellwright, a long-time racing owner and the breeder of multiple Group-race winner Rock City, died last week, aged 90.

Tellwright was the uncle of the current clerk of the course at Haydock, Kirkland Tellwright. Following a private funeral, a memorial service will take place at a later date.

Eight weeks rest for Alexander

Jockey Lucy Alexander is facing a lengthy spell out of action after fracturing vertebrae in a fall at Newcastle on November 13.

Alexander was kicked by a following horse after coming down on Chanting Hill in a mares' chase and had to have an operation at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

However, Alexander, Scotland's first female professional jump jockey, is back at her father Nick's yard in Fife, where she starts her rehabilitation with eight weeks' rest.

"Lucy is in good spirits, considering," said Nick Alexander. "To think she should be back here keeping me on my toes in that short a time frame is an excellent result.

"She was very unlucky to get kicked by the horse from behind. There was no spinal damage at all, thank goodness, but she's fractured some vertebrae in her back and had rods put in to stabilise them."

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