Racing: High-class racing rather than equine misfortune was able to return to the top of the agenda at Newbury as the rescheduled totesport Trophy meeting went by without a hitch. The sport was given rare exposure in the news pages on Saturday after two horses, Marching Song and Fenix Two, died in the Paddock from electrocution.
The inquest continues at the Berkshire track but the decision to restage one of Europe’s most valuable handicap hurdles and several key Cheltenham Festival trials was welcomed by the racing community.
Grand National-winning trainer Jonjo O’Neill, who was responsible for Fenix Two, harboured no ill feelings and said: “It’s good to be back — this is a great track and they do a good job. It was just a freak thing — very, very weird. Everyone has done their best and it’s onwards and upwards. They are not stupid people here and it’s nice to get on with it.”
His eminent colleague Nicky Henderson’s horse Kid Cassidy was another to have been affected in the incident and was withdrawn at the start of the first race at the weekend.
“Racing is a very close little community and the reason we are all here is because of a thing called the horse,” he said. “What we saw on Saturday shook all of us, and I think if it didn’t then maybe you should have been at a football match or something.
“It’s a bit surreal here today, it doesn’t feel like a big Saturday but these horses need to run and Cheltenham is just around the corner. Newbury did everything they could and what had to be snap decisions at the weekend were spot-on. I have to congratulate the staff here, the British Horseracing Authority and the sponsors for getting this meeting back on.”
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls added: “The meeting needed supporting so I put a few more horses in. Everyone has made a lot of effort and we all needed to move on from Saturday. There are lot of horses needing a run and the BHA, the staff and the press have been great. We need to put it behind us and move forward.”
Today's action saw What A Friend suffer an unexpected defeat to stable companion Noland in the Aon Chase. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson arrived at the course to watch his horse take part in a final preliminary for the Cheltenham Gold Cup but he was unable to wear down a revived Noland (13-2) and was beaten by a head.
Noland’s owner John Hales had hinted at the possibility of retirement for the injury-hit triple Grade One winner after an abject performance at Cheltenham last time, but he had been persuaded otherwise by jockey Tony McCoy and trainer Paul Nicholls.
Harry Skelton needed to switch the wayward 4-5 favourite for a challenge up the run-in but What A Friend could not find quite enough and will be fitted with headgear on his next start.
There was an outstanding finish to the most valuable event on the card, the totesport Trophy Hurdle, with Recession Proof and Dougie Costello foiling the courageous Bothy by a short-head. It was only a fourth start over hurdles for Recession Proof (12-1) as John Quinn got the edge over his Malton neighbour Brian Ellison, who handles Bothy.
In a typically rough-house renewal of the handicap, Zanir, Salden Licht and Rebel Dancer all came down at the second-last while the 3-1 favourite Walkon was never dangerous and beat only one home.
Notus De La Tour made nearly all the running and held on for third in a finishing order which would have been very hard to call a furlong out.
Nicky Henderson has a dilemma concerning French Opera after his decisive victory over Tchico Polos in an ordinary-looking renewal of the totesport Game Spirit Chase.
Henderson's Ericht (11-10 favourite) was then promoted to 7-1 market leader with Ladbrokes for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (10s with Coral) after outpointing Bygones In Brid in a hot-looking bet totepool On 0800 221 221 Winter Bumper.
“I hate the race (Cheltenham) but I suppose he’ll have to run in it,” said Henderson.
Stow (12-1) took the totesport.com Handicap Hurdle, where last year's Grand National winner Don't Push It showed much promise as a staying-on seventh.
His trainer Jonjo O’Neill said: “That was probably better than I thought. He missed a bit after his last run and we’ll wait and see now. “I was thinking about running him in a chase over two and a half miles back here on March 5th, or he could go to Cheltenham I suppose.”
Tim Vaughan has Cheltenham aspirations for Our Island (5-1) after his gritty display in the totesport 0800 221 221 Novices' Hurdle.
“He is entered in the Albert Bartlett and if it’s soft I think he’s have a cracking each-way chance in that as all he does is stay and stay,” ventured the Welshman.
Nicholls' Aitennthirtythree (10-11 favourite) came home in splendid isolation in the B et totepool At totesport.com Novices' Chaseand the trainer and his landlord Paul Barber will now need to resolve a difference of opinion.
“Paul Barber is not keen on the RSA but I think he has an outstanding chance as he has speed, he stays and he gallops,” said Nicholls. “I wouldn’t go against his wishes but it didn’t do Denman any harm running there.”