Newmarket giants and French raiders added as Racing League teams are finalised

Some of Newmarket's biggest hitters and three trainers from France have been unveiled among the final six teams for the inaugural £1.8 million Racing League.

Created by Championship Horse Racing (CHR), Racing League is a six-week competition in which 12 teams will contest 36 races, each worth £50,000, during the summer.

The first six teams were unveiled earlier this month with Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien adding Irish interest, and the event organisers on Monday revealed champion trainer John Gosden and multiple Group 1-winner Sir Mark Prescott will be teaming up with Robert Cowell and David Simcock as one of three teams representing Newmarket, while Philippe Decouz, Gavin Hernon and Edouard Monfort will represent France.

"What attracts me is the idea of sporting competition, which is always interesting, as well as the chance to have runners in Britain," said Monfort, who is based in Luché-Pringé in the north west of France.

"I’m not far from the motorway and we’re four and a half hours from the tunnel so in terms of logistics I’m not too worried. Plus we’re talking about older horses who are used to travelling. I think it’s a great initiative and a very good idea."

Each team will be made up of between two, three or four trainers, three jockeys and 30 horses, with Michael Bell and Ed Dunlop joining forces with James Fanshawe and Roger Varian in another powerful Newmarket line up.

Lambourn will be represented by Clive Cox, Nicky Henderson, Charlie Hills and Jamie Osborne.

Rutland trainer Mick Appleby will join the northern-based trio of Michael Dods, David O’Meara and Paul Midgley, while Mick Channon is partnering with Paul and Oliver Cole, Eve Johnson Houghton and Hughie Morrison for an additional southern-based team.

CHR chief executive Jeremy Wray said: "We are really pleased to have such an illustrious group of trainers forming the 12 teams and are delighted to be adding an international flavour with the teams from Ireland and France. The next step will be for each team to select their three jockeys.”

The Racing League will start at Newcastle on July 29, with the other five Thursday fixtures also taking place at Arena Racing Company-owned tracks and broadcast on Sky Sports Racing. The races will be 0-90 handicaps over varying distances with jockeys wearing distinguishing team colours.

The 12 teams for the Racing League

1 Tim Easterby/Richard Fahey
2 Charlie Fellowes/Hugo Palmer/George Scott
3 Andrew Balding/Richard Hannon
4 George Baker/David Menuisier/Gary Moore/Amanda Perrett
5 Roger Charlton/Alan King/Martyn Meade/Brian Meehan
6 Joseph O’Brien/Donnacha O’Brien
7 John Gosden/Sir Mark Prescott/Robert Cowell/David Simcock
8 Philippe Decouz/Gavin Hernon/Edouard Monfort
9 Michael Bell/Ed Dunlop/James Fanshawe/Roger Varian
10 Mick Appleby/Michael Dods/David O’Meara/Paul Midgley
11 Clive Cox/Nicky Henderson/Charlie Hills/Jamie Osborne
12 Mick Channon/Paul and Oliver Cole/Eve Johnson Houghton/Hughie Morrison

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