Category: Jockey News
15-03-2012
The third day of the Festival concluded on a high with the 3rd running of the charity race in aid of Cancer Research UK and an emotional win so soon after the loss to racing of legendary jockey and trainer Josh Gifford, with his daughter Tina Cook riding Pascha Bere to storm up the hill from nowhere and win with ease!
12 jockeys took part in what has now become a hugely oversubscribed event that has raised over £400,000 since it was first run in 2010 and has raised over half as much again this year. Other jockeys taking part were Trainer’s wife Candida Baker, ATR presenter Gina Bryce, Welsh opera singer and tv personality Shan Cothi, Irish Field journalist Niall Cronin, RUK presenter Niall Hannity (who lost over 3 stone to participate!), scrap metal specialist James Hughes, Cancer nurse Lindsey Hunting, Trainer’s daughter and sister Jo McCain, Coolmore Stud’s assistant Wendy Normile, local trainer’s wife Jelly O’Brien and Greater Manchester firefighter Stuart Parr.
If you would like to support this event, please visit www.justgiving.com/festival and donate now!
Photo credit: AJA
15-03-2012
Many congratulations to ALAN BERRY who excelled at Cheltenham today riding SUNNYHILLBOY for his guv’nor Jonjo O’Neill and owner JP MacManus, seen to good effect from a long way out and winning by over 4 lengths from BECAUSEICOUDNTSEE who had disputed the early running whilst the eventual winner settled in midfield. BECAUSEICOUDNTSEE led over the second last but was chased by EXMOOR RANGER and SUNNYHILLBOY who ran on gamely, finding an extra gear to forge clear inside the final furlong for a thrilling finish.
Local winning trainer Jonjo O’Neill said “He’s a brilliant little horse and loves the course. He’s brilliant for the yard and is a real tough honest horse. Alan’s ridden a few Festival winners, he’s a great lad and a big part of the team and he did all the work on Don’t Push It before he won the National.”
Alan said “He’s a genuine horse and he deserves a race like that, he’s done nothing wrong but you can only be so confident coming to Cheltenham. He’s a horse I ride at home all of the time. He impresses in everything that he does but he’s getting a bit older and a bit slower.”
14-03-2012
Many congratulations to JT McNamara on winning the first at Cheltenham today, The Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase on Welsh trainer Rebecca Curtis’s TEAFORTHREE, staying on strongly to beat HARRY THE VIKING in a thrilling finish with FOUR COMMANDERS third and OUR VICTORIA fourth.
After the race, Rebecca Curtis said of her first Festival winner “Its very special. It wasn’t the plan to make the running but he was there and we knew he stays and jumps. Its great just to have a runner here let alone a winner.” JT said “He was brilliant. He never missed a beat and its great to ride a winner here.”
09-03-2012
The Fegentri General Assembly and Gala Dinner was held in Doha, Qatar on 27th February with a men’s race on 28th February and ladies races on 29th February and 1st March, giving Great Britain’s 2012 Fegentri representatives Mikey Ennis and Hayley Moore their first Fegentri racing opportunities abroad.
Nico de Boinville was unable to attend the Gala Dinner with Cheltenham Festival so close and his charges at Nicky Henderson’s being not only Gold Cup favourite Long Run but also Sprinter Sacre. Nico was represented by AJA President Dr Philip Pritchard who collected his bronze spur for 3rd place in the Fegentri Men’s Jump Championship 2011 from Fegentri President Nathalie Belinguier. Many congratulations to Nico! Rachel King was unlucky to just miss out on 3rd place last year.
Dr Philip Pritchard, President of the AJA, received the bronze spur on behalf of Nico de Boinville from Nathalie Belinguier, President of Fegentri
Mikey Ennis in the paddock at Doha
Hayley Moore in the paddock at Doha
08-03-2012
A nasty fall yesterday at Catterick when Russell Lindsay’s mount fell and kicked him in the face fully tested the strength of his gum shield which took the full force. It was only when Russell went to take his shield out that he felt his teeth move and so he kept it in place. This (hopefully) saved him losing 4 of his 6 front teeth instantly!
Don’t forget that as an AJA member you are insured at all times, whether riding out, point-to-pointing or race riding. If you sustain an injury, contact the AJA for a claim form and advice. Here’s a reminder of the system:
1 Injuries sustained whilst riding out (worldwide): If AJA member and not a member of permanent trainer’s staff (therefore covered by RIABS) you are covered by AJA insurance. Currently no payment for first 35 days then £150 per week (revised annually 1st July). (AJA members do not have to be licensed jockeys.) No cover in place for permanent disability or dentistry; benefit simply for temporary disability up to 104 weeks. (Policy in place via Windsor Insurance.) Members who qualify for RIABS are asked to claim on RIABS and not on AJA insurance in a bid to keep AJA premiums/membership fees to a minimum. AJA membership currently £85 for full 12 months. Contact AJA for claim form. (It is not compulsory for an amateur jockey to be an AJA member if only riding against professionals, in hunter chases or in military races – but it pays to be a member!)
2 Injuries sustained whilst point-to-pointing: Covered by P2P licence. Insured for permanent and temporary disability up to 104 weeks. Weekly benefits currently £210 after first 28 days off. Contact Windsor Insurance direct for claim form: Mr Adrian Miller, Windsor Partners Ltd, 71 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4BS T: 02071331200 e: adrian.miller@windsor.co.uk or The Point-To-Point Authority, 11 Trull Farm Buildings, Trull Farm, Tetbury, Glos GL8 8SQ Contact: Katy Arinc T: 01285841920 e: info@p2pa.co.uk e: katy.arinc@p2pa.co.uk
3 Accidents whilst riding under rules: Covered by amateur licence. Insured for permanent and temporary disability up to 104 weeks. Weekly benefits currently £250 after first 28 days off + £50 per night for overnight in hospital. Other benefits also in place such as for dependants, extra domestic costs etc. including private medical costs if NHS not providing necessary treatment. Claim form available from AJA.
08-03-2012
Well done to Emma Sayer victorious for her trainer mother Dianne today at Carlisle in the Hands & Heels 16 runner hurdle, taking it up from 3 out and going on to win by 15 lengths on 16/1 MARKADAM!
05-03-2012
Recommended reading for ALL jockeys!!
The revised whip rule guidelines come into effect on Tuesday 6th March, giving Stewards exactly a week before the start of Cheltenham Festival to practice the use of discretion rather than give an automatic ban to jockeys in breach.
The Stewards should consider holding an enquiry if a rider has:
- used his/her whip 8 times or more in a Flat race or 9 times or more in a Jump race;
- mis-used his/her whip taking into consideration the guidelines on pages 28 and 29 (see below).
When deciding whether or not to hold an enquiry, Stewards should consider how the rider has used the whip during the course of the entire race, with particular attention to its use in the closing stages and relevant factors such as:
- The manner in which the whip was used, including degree of force;
- The purpose for which the whip was used;
- The distance over which the whip was used and whether the number of times it was used was reasonable and necessary;
- Whether the horse was continuing to respond.
Full details can be found here: extracts-from-guide-to-penalties-and-procedures.pdf
28-02-2012
Many congratulations to Joanne Brown on enjoying her first winning rider under Rules at Catterick this afternoon when she scored on ANDY VIC in the lady riders’ handicap hurdle. The diminutive ANDY VIC is owned and trained by her husband Ian who is a blacksmith. This is Ian’s sole horse in training under Rules and the horse has never previously finished in the first 3 from 10 starts!
After the race Joanne said “The kids asked if they could have a day off school but I told them they couldn’t!”
27-02-2012
WINDSOR PARTNERS AMATEUR RIDERS’ HANDICAP CHASE (FOR THE GAY KINDERSLEY MEMORIAL SALVER)
Two of racing’s greatest characters were remembered at Plumpton this afternoon. A minute’s silence was observed to remember Josh Gifford, the course’s second winningmost trainer, and Windsor Partners kindly sponsored their annual Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase for the Gay Kindersley Memorial Salver which produced a dramatic finish. Ben Poste was unlucky when his mount BALLINHASSIG blundered badly at the last when staying on and unseated him. Well done to Lucy Gardner who produced FLYING AWARD (having only his second run over fences) with a perfectly timed run to snatch victory on the line by a head from SOLE AGENT.
Meanwhile the Fegentri General Assembly 2012 was held in Doha, Qatar, where Baron Henri de Montesquieu called for a minute’s silence by the assembled company in honour of his dear friend AJA Honorary President Gay Kindersley, with whom he rode in the fifties and sixties when the true Corinthian spirit was enjoyed along with life to the full.
23-02-2012
Cheltenham Festival’s charity race in aid of Cancer Research has raised over £400,000 over the last 2 years and the £500,000 mark is now well within our grasp with the third running of the race on Thursday 15th March!
This year’s riders – Candida Baker 🙂 Gina Bryce 🙂 Tina Cook 🙂 Shan Cothi 🙂 Niall Cronin 🙂 Niall Hannity 🙂 James Hughes 🙂 Lindsey Hunting 🙂 Jo McCain 🙂 Wendy Normile 🙂 Jelly O’Brien 🙂 and Stuart Parr 🙂 are all frantically gaining full fitness in readiness for the race and at the same time fundraising like crazy at every opportunity. If you would like to support a particular rider, you can find them on Just Giving; if you would prefer to support the race in general, please visit www.justgiving.com/festival and any gift however small will really help us reach our goal. Go on – you know its for a brilliant cause! AND WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! 🙂 Thanks 🙂
