Racing News round-up: Rising star Andrew McNamara may have had only one previous festival ride but the jockey has added to an already impressive book of Cheltenham rides by securing the Queen Mother Champion Chase mount on board Newmill.
McNamara (22) steps in for the Newmill ride in place of the injured Robbie Power and the horse that has been steadily backed into 16 to 1 for the second day festival feature received an upbeat report from the Co Cork trainer John Murphy yesterday. "He is in brilliant form and we are looking forward to the race," he said. "It's a shame for Robbie but Andrew has ridden him before and used to be based here with us before joining Michael Hourigan."
Power broke his leg in a schooling accident soon after Newmill returned to fences with a scintillating victory in the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles. Power's misfortune, however, has ended up favouring McNamara whose rapid rise through the ranks has been one of the features of the jumping season in Ireland. His winners tally of 33 includes a pair of Grade One races on Hi Cloy and he will again team up with that horse in the Ryanair Chase at the festival.
"I also ride Church Island in the SunAlliance Chase and Arteea in the Arkle for Michael Hourigan," McNamara said yesterday. "I'll be on Il De Boitron in the Banks race too. It's something I'm definitely looking forward to."
McNamara has ridden in three races at Cheltenham, so far without success. His one festival ride, however, when the Murphy trained 100 to 1 shot Dalvento beat only two home in the Brit Insurances Hurdle last year, has left him hungry for more.
Newmill will not be alone on the journey to Cheltenham from Murphy's Upton yard in just under two weeks' time. Night Ride, who surprised the high class Back To Bid at Leopardstown last month, has a choice of either the Triumph Hurdle or the Fred Winter Hurdle while Don't Be Daft is a contender for the Foxhunters having won all three of his point to points this year at Lismore, Carrigtwohill and Lisgoold.
Michael Hourigan hopes to be represented by a total of five horses at the festival, headed by the ante-post favourite Beef Or Salmon in the Gold Cup. In addition to Hi Cloy, Arteea and Church Island he also plans to run A New Story in the four mile National Hunt Chase.
"It's not a bad bunch of horses to be going with!" cracked the Co Limerick trainer yesterday. "Any fellah would be happy with one of them."
The Leopardstown authorities are gearing themselves for Sunday's meeting and the post-race action when the traditional pre-festival racecourse work-outs are held. Already the Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace has been confirmed as a likely traveller to the track.
"At the moment the ground here is yielding to soft with a dry week forecast. If it does stay dry and breezy I could see it drying out during the week," said Leopardstown's racing manager Tom Burke yesterday.
In other news the six times champion flat jockey Kieren Fallon has had his bail extended to July as City Of London police continue their investigation into alleged race-fixing. Co Clare born Fallon had been due to answer bail in March but that has now changed. Other Irish jockeys on bail include Robert Winston and Fergal Lynch.
A City Of London police statement said: "As a result of a detailed late representation to the Crown Prosecution Service, as part of the defence in relation to this investigations, it has been decided, in the interests of all parties concerned, that full consideration should be given to the matters raised. Therefore bail dates in relation to all 27 people currently on bail have been postponed to July 3rd."
Fallon was arrested in September of 2004 and was also interviewed by police last October as part of an inquiry into allegations involving up to 80 races over two years. All those interviewed deny wrongdoing.
