Group 1-winning trainer Sean Woods has first runners since return from Hong Kong

Sean Woods kicks off his second stint in the Newmarket training ranks at Southwell on Sunday when General Panic contests the 5f novice stakes.

The former Hong Kong-based trainer, who left Newmarket in 2002 and used to train out of La Grange Stables on the Fordham Road, bought the 93-box Shalfleet Stables on the sought-after Bury Road from Jeremy Noseda over a year ago and has spent part of lockdown refurbishing it to his liking.

Woods, who trained Group 1 winner Mistle Cat and over 250 winners in his first spell in the British training ranks, is starting with a team of around 30, most of whom are juveniles.

He said: “We have General Panic, who is by Outstrip, in at Southwell on Sunday and Meng Tian, by Territories, in a novice at Kempton on Monday. It will be nice to get started but we are in no rush.”

Strong Lockinge entries

The Revenant, Palace Pier and Mogul are among the leading names among the 31 entries for Newbury's Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes on May 15.

The Group 1, worth £350,000, is run over a mile and was the only top-level Flat contest in Britain to be lost due to the coronavirus pandemic last season, but it could be a vintage race in 2021 with the likes of Lord Glitters and Order Of Australia also among the entries.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner The Revenant could look to become only the second French-trained winner of the race this century with a prep run at Saint-Cloud on Saturday likely to prove crucial.

Harry Peter-Hoblyn, racing manager to Al Asayl Bloodstock, said: "If all goes well, we'd love to bring him over to Newbury for the Lockinge in May. It was the target last year before sadly it was lost to Covid and, looking at the race, it's a perfect fit on paper."

Lockinge entries

Newmarket raced named in Smullen's honour

The late Pat Smullen is set to be honoured at next month's bet365 Craven meeting following the generous sponsorship of a race in his name by the legendary rider's close friend and Classic-winning jockey Ted Durcan.

The Pat Smullen Memorial Handicap is a Class 2 contest for four-year-olds and upwards over a mile and will take place on April 13, day one of the three-day fixture at Newmarket.

Curragh Sun 15 September 2019Champions Johnny Murtagh, Joseph OâBrien, Paul Carberry, Pat Smullen, Charlie Swan, Richard Hughes and Kieren Fallon with Ted Durcan, Ruby Walh and Anthony McCoy kneeling before The Pat Smullen Champions Race For Cancer TriaCredit: Caroline Norris

The nine-time Irish champion jockey landed the 2,000 Guineas at the same venue on Refuse To Bend in 2003.

Durcan, who was one of the nine retired stars of the weighing room to ride in the Pat Smullen Champions Race at the Curragh in 2019, said: "There were a lot of people in England at the time of Pat's funeral who weren't able to pay their respects with all the Covid restrictions.

"I know many of us would have liked to have been able to hold a memorial service, which we weren't able to do, and this is just hopefully a nice way to remember Pat."

Durcan's sponsorship of the race in Smullen’s name also ensures that each member of stable staff leading up a horse for the Pat Smullen Memorial Handicap will receive a bonus of £25.

He explained: "Rather than have a best-turned-out prize we decided that everyone who leads up will get £25 rather than just one person getting £50. Pat was always very well liked and respected by racing staff, and we all respect how much effort from the staff goes into getting the horses to the racecourse. It isn't a large sum but it is just a token of our appreciation."

Coolmore new joint-sponsors of Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle

Coolmore have been announced as the new co-sponsor of the Grade 1 Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown festival, seeing the race's prize fund increase from €100,000 to €120,000 as a result of their collaboration with the Irish EBF.

The boosted purse means the 2m4f event – won by the likes of Annie Power, Apple's Jade and Benie Des Dieux in recent times – is now the most valuable mares' race over hurdles in Ireland and the UK.

Albert Sherwood, manager of Coolmore’s Grange Stud, said: "Coolmore are delighted to support Punchestown and the mares programme in sponsoring this Grade 1.

Annie Power and Ruby Walsh jump the last to win the 2014 Mares Champion HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Cheltenham showed the quality of true National Hunt-bred race mares around at the moment so hopefully we’re in for another great renewal.”

Irish EBF chairman John O’Connor added: "This collaboration will further enhance the rewards for mares and continue to attract quality runners who in turn will enhance the breeding stock for the future.

"Irish EBF has a strong record of supporting National Hunt mares' races, with recent winners showcasing how well the programme is working."

Entries for the 2021 Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle will be available from Monday, April 12.

Horse Racing Ireland announces changes to May fixture list

Horse Racing Ireland has announced amendments to ten fixtures during the month of May.

The changes have been delivered with the aim of best accommodating participants while there are no racegoers in attendance, while also assisting racecourses in maximising streaming rights income.

The changes are as follows:

Downpatrick May 7 (evening) now becomes an afternoon meeting
Roscommon May 10 (evening) is transferred to Tuesday, May 11 (afternoon)
Leopardstown May 14 (evening) now becomes an afternoon meeting
Wexford May 15 (afternoon) is transferred to Sunday, May 16 (afternoon)
Sligo May 18 (evening) now becomes an afternoon meeting
Cork May 19 (evening) now becomes an afternoon meeting
Tipperary May 20 (evening) now becomes an afternoon meeting
Downpatrick May 21 (evening) now becomes an afternoon meeting
Fairyhouse May 28 (evening) now becomes an afternoon meeting
Navan May 29 (afternoon) is transferred to Sunday, May 30 (afternoon)

British Racing School launches new degree for industry staff

The British Racing School has formed a partnership with Hartpury University in Gloucester, which specialises in equine facilities, for a new degree to help staff working within the industry to enhance their career opportunities.

The two-year FdSc Horseracing Industry degree, which is the first of its kind, will deliver a programme of learning and offer insight into the sport, including on racehorse health and nutrition to race planning and performance analysis.

Hartpury University vice-chancellor Russell Marchant said: "We’re extremely proud to have developed the new Horseracing Industry foundation degree with the British Racing School.

Julia Budd: new chair of British Racing School trustees

"We shouldn’t forget all the thousands of people working diligently behind the scenes within the racing industry and we’re confident this new programme will open up more opportunities to progress their careers.”

The British Racing School has also appointed a new chair of trustees, with Julia Budd set to take over from Martin Mitchell, who will become the first patron of the school.

Trainer Claire Kubler is one of three new trustees to be appointed, while recently retired trainer James Eustace has been appointed to a new role of trainer liaison.

Leger Legends race to be staged again in September

The Mondialiste Leger Legends Classified Stakes, run in aid of Jack Berry House and the National Horseracing College near Doncaster, will be staged again on the opening day of the Doncaster St Leger festival in September.

The 2020 running of the race, which has raised more than £1 million since its inception in 2010, featured current professional jockeys rather than retired professionals due to Covid restrictions. A decision on race conditions for this year’s renewal will be confirmed nearer the time.

Dale Gibson, executive director of the Professional Jockeys Association, said: "I am delighted that the Turnbull family [owners of Mondialiste] who sadly lost Geoff last July, have agreed to support the race once again.

"Mondialiste now stands at Haras d’Annebault in Normandy, France and has his first crop of two-year-olds to run this season. We wish him every success.

"In what has been a difficult 12-month period for so many people, everyone involved in the race sincerely appreciates the assistance of the Turnbull family, in conjunction with the back-up of the team at Doncaster.”

Classy hurdler Elfile retired following recurrence of old injury

High-class mare Elfile has been retired at the age of seven following the recurrence of an old injury.

The Willie Mullins-trained mare, owned by Kenny Alexander, won the Grade 3 Quevega Mares Hurdle last season before finishing third to Honeysuckle in the Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

A novice chase campaign had been planned, but she failed to reappear this season.

Alexander's racing manager Peter Molony tweeted: "Sorry to announce the retirement of Elfile due to recurrence of an injury. She has been a wonderful servant and won six races, including at Grade 3 and Listed level, as well as being placed in two Grade 1 hurdles. She's off to stud now and will be covered by Crystal Ocean at Coolmore Stud."

Racing League and Racing to School partnership

Racing to School has been announced as the official racing charity of the Racing League in a two-year partnership.

The education charity supports learning and development of young people through unique, free, educational programmes delivered for schools and colleges at racecourses, trainers’ yards and studs in Britain.

John Blake, Racing to School chief executive, said: “The launch of this new, innovative competition coincides with our 20th anniversary and we share a desire to reach, inform and excite a new audience for the sport across all our communities.”

Jeremy Wray, chief executive of Racing League, commented: “I have had the pleasure of seeing the work Racing to School does first-hand and think they will make an ideal partner for us for the next two years."

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