BLACK CAVIAR TREATED AS ROYALTY AHEAD OF ASCOT

Black Caviar is in good health after her marathon journey to England.

The mare travelled for 30 hours from her stable in Australia to the UK and has dropped nine kilos from her weight of 580kg.

She is to run in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in just thirteen days and pundits have already turned to bookmakers for her latest odds.

It’s as if royalty has landed in the country: the mare has been unbeaten in 21 starts and the world of horseracing has been rocked by her red carpet arrival.

Who can argue that horseracing is a dying and cruel sport now? I have never seen a horse’s journey to this country fill newspapers and websites in an instant.

It delights me in watching the preparations for the horse: time, patience and hard work is visible and the trainer, owners, pundits and journalists are treating her with the respect that she deserves.

Trainer Peter Moody has said that he is a “bit nervous about it all” and I don’t blame him! A lot of money is being ridden on Black Caviar’s back but not only that, the effort towards maintaining the mare’s profile has been huge.

Black Caviar’s journey just proves how much of an athlete a horse can be in comparison with a human.

No other Australian horse has been a big star since the 1930’s Melbourne Cup winner Phar Lap.

But can Black Caviar win in just under two weeks' time and claim her 22^nd victory? Yes, I think so. 

CAN CAMELOT WIN THE ST LEGER TO WIN THE TREBLE?

The colt proved me wrong in the Epsom Derby - but will Camelot be able to prove me right this time round by winning the St Leger?

If he wins the race he will land Flat racing's Classic Triple Crown: Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas, Epsom's Derby and the St Leger was last completed by Nijinsky in 1970.

Camelot arguably has two more factors in his favour than the iconic horse did in the 70s for the Leger: a calmer temper (which Sir Peter O'Sullevan claims it's because of the horse's partnership with jockey Joseph O'Brien) and his late sire Montjeu is thought to be a better influence for stamina rather than Northern Dancer, Nijinsky's sire. 

The St Leger win would make Aidan O'Brien the first trainer to win all five British Classics in a season.

I think Camelot can win the St Leger: wouldn't it be nice to see history being made right in front of us? 

The last treble winner before Nijinsky was Bahram in 1935 and Oh So Sharp won the fillies version in 1985 (1,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and St Leger).

Camelot won the Derby by 5 lengths: an easy win some may argue. O'Brien and the colt make a good team. It would be a rare occurrence for the treble to be won by the same horse, but with O'Brien on board I think they can both have a comfortable win. 

SAD FAREWELL FOR HENRIETTA KINGHT BUT MICK CHANNON WILL TAKE HOLD OF THE REIGNS

Henrietta Knight, the trainer who won Cheltenham Gold Cup three-times with wonder horse Best Mate, announced her retirement last week.


Racing has lost a true lady: Knight is a very humble person. I watched her interview with the BBC during a few weeks ago and her modesty shone through.


It therefore comes to no surprise to hear that Knight has been nominated as a pioneer in the world of horse racing training.


The 65-year-old trained Best Mate, an iconic horse that is widely remembered within the sport and will be in generations to come.


Best Mate's biggest achievements, (listed at http://www.henandterry.com/content-7.html)

• 2000 Martell Mersey Novice Hurdle (Aintree) Best Mate
• 2001 Scilly Isles Novice Chase (Sandown) Best Mate
• 2002 Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon) Best Mate
• 2002 King George VI Chase (Kempton) Best Mate
• 2002 Cheltenham Gold Cup Best Mate
• 2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup Best Mate
• 2003 Ericsson Chase (Leopardstown) Best Mate
• 2004 Cheltenham Gold Cup Best Mate

Henrietta and her husband Terry Biddlecombe will be missed on the racing track: their characteristics on the sidelines and in the race-cards will be greatly missed.


Now the trainer's memorable success has been handed over to her neighbour and close friend, Mick Channon.


On her website, Henrietta writes: "[Channon] has agreed to continue to train the majority of the horses which are currently in my care.  He too enjoys the National Hunt scene and is already making his presence felt in that sphere with recent good winners from only a handful of NH runners."


She also said that she felt "incredibly lucky" to have experienced some wonderful moments since she first began training in 1989. 


But for now it's a sad farewell. But like they say, when one door closes, another one will open and I am sure that Channon will do a fantastic job taking hold of the reigns in the saddle seat.

BLACK CAVIAR SIDE-STEPS SUSSEX STAKES BUT WOULD SHE HAVE WON AGAINST FRANKEL?

First of all I would like to apologise for my absence over the last few weeks - exams have taken over as you can imagine but I am happy to say that I have finished most of them and my full attention is back on horse racing!


It was announced that a clash between undefeated horses Frankel and Black Caviar in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood 
has been ruled out.

Taken from Flickr: Black Caviar: Photo taken by Angus Richmond on October 8 2011

A statement was issued by Black Caviar's connections claiming that the mare will not be entered in the race on August 1st.

Frankel won the race last year and even though the colt looks certain to win it again, a certain question will stay risen: Who would have won - Frankel or Black Caviar?


Black Caviar is an undefeated Australian racehorse across 21 starts. Trained by Peter Moody, the mare was named WTRR World Champion Sprinter in 2010 and is still considered to be the best sprinter in the world. 


However, Frankel is a horse that shouldn't be forgotten about: the colt is unbeaten in ten starts and similar to his rival, holds the title for best racehorse in the world. 


Trained by Henry Cecil, Frankel's best performance to date is a race that will forever keep people talking. His win at Newmarket in 2011 is still described as one of the greatest displays on a British racecourse. 


If Black Caviar competed in the Sussex Stakes I believe she would have won. Even though Frankel won well last year, I think the mare has more of an edge to make a race count.


After all, she has been unbeaten in 21 races compared to her rival's ten and with Luke Nolen riding her in all her starts I reckon she could have won in the £1 million showdown. 


So - what are your thoughts: who do you think would have won between the pair?


Entries for the Sussex Stakes will be announced on Wednesday May 30.

RUBY WALSH: FACT-FILE

It has been a while since my last horse racing post, so I have decided to focus on jockey's who have inspired me to work in the sport.

Ruby Walsh is a sportsman who has definitely been an inspiration, not only to fellow jockeys but also to pundits and journalists.

He tackles every race with determination and enthusiasm: not only in the high-profile races but also in the ones that may not mean as much with regards to media attention or prize money.

So here's why Mr Walsh has stood out of the crowd and is one of the reasons why horse racing is an attractive sport to admire:

FACT-FILE

Ruby Walsh dreamt that one day he would become racing’s most successful jockey and achieve high-profile wins within the sport.

At the 2009 Cheltenham Festival Walsh rode a record-breaking seven winners over the four days, yet on the second racing day of the 2010 Festival, the Irish hero rode Sanctuaire to victory in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices Handicap Hurdle to make him the most successful jockey in the history of the spectacular racing event.

It should therefore come to no surprise seeing Walsh as odds-on favourite to be top jockey at this year’s Cheltenham Festival as the 32-year-old showed immense talent from an early age.

Born Rupert Walsh on May 14 1979, the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey is the second child of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh.

At a young age, Walsh won the Irish amateur title twice 1996/7 and 1997/98 before turning into the professional that we all know him to be.

The Irish wonder won the John Smith’s Grand National on his first attempt in 2000, aged 20, on Papillon, a horse trained by his father.

Ruby’s dream of being racing’s most successful jockey has become reality. To date he has ridden over nineteen hundred winners since his first win on Alexander Banquet in 1998.

The jockey really does create a buzz for all racing fans: his determination and love for the sport is visible to all and trainer Paul Nicholls must realise how lucky he is to have Ruby ride for his yard.

In March 2011 he rode Hurricane Fly to victory in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, finishing ahead of Peddlers Cross and popular horse Oscar Whisky. This was Ruby’s first triumph in the feature race and now he’s had it all: Walsh’s vision of winning high-profile races is no longer down to wishful thinking. He can live in reality.

NCTJ SPORTS JOURNALISM SHOULD CHANGE FOOTBALL DOMINATED SYLLABUS AND EXAM

Since Andy Gray and Richard Keys’ sexist off-air comments about female referee Sian Massey the media has been under constant scrutiny and subject boards such as the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) should be doing more to encourage potential sports writers, particularly women, to gain a sports journalism qualification.

As a journalist who wants to report on horse racing, I find it disheartening to see that the NCTJ do not do enough for potential sports writers like myself who believe football is a male-dominated sport and still has issues surrounding sexism.

Photo taken by @SJA Photography sally anscombe on April 11, 2010 using a Canon EOS 5D Mark II. (Taken from Flickr)

Fifty per cent of the overall mark in the NCTJ sports journalism exam is given to reports written about a football match, not one seen in live play, but one that has been televised before giving knowledgeable football writers, particularly men, a greater advantage.

Jacqui Oatley battled criticism when she was first announced as BBC Match of the Day’s first female commentator and she expressed her views on the matter: “I think that if the exam has put people off then that’s wrong, we need to be encouraging females. If you genuinely have women who are really into sport but football’s not really their thing I think it’s wrong if they’re discouraged from taking the course.”

Jacqui said that she didn’t agree with the exam having 50 per cent of the marks on a football report but she understood why the NCTJ structures it that way as it is the dominant sport of the country.

She added that if someone wants to write about other sports rather than football, there should be no reason for the NCTJ to provide footage of different sports to report on.

Laura Robson, US Open 2011, taken by AshMarshall  on August 24, 2011 in Corona, New York, NY, US, using a Nikon D3000. (Image taken from Flickr)

As an aspiring sports journalist, I have no interest in football and therefore encourage NCTJ to provide more coverage of other sports, so that potential sports journalists who dislike football are given a greater chance of gaining a sports writing qualification. Jacqui agreed with this idea.

I complained to the NCTJ board directly about the high emphasis the syllabus and exam place on football, claiming that it is lazy and unfair.

The NCTJ Chief Examiner for Sports Journalism gave the following feedback to my complaint: “To work in any sports department, you need to have a basic knowledge of football. We work in multimedia newsrooms which require the ultimate flexibility. That is the foundation of any sports journalist.”

When asked if candidates of the exam could be given a choice of sports to report on, such as tennis or hockey, as they get equal coverage and therefore equally appealing to both men and women. The Chief Examiner said: “We have looked at other options; swimming, tennis, speedway, athletics, but for the part A exam [worth 50 per cent], we require a sport which runs for 90 minutes or so, and which lends itself to a two-part report.”

Photo taken by Arkle1 Janet Benoy  on December 2, 2006 using a Canon EOS 350D Digital. (Taken from Flickr)

 

 

There are other sports that have the duration of around 90 minutes and even though football may be the dominant sport in this country, it should not dominate the NCTJ sports journalism syllabus and exam.

As Jacqui said, it seems strange that 50 per cent of the marks go on a football related question when that is not what everyone wants to do.

This article will be published in Broadcast Magazine. Many thanks to Jacqui for allowing me to give an interview.

Link to Broadcast magazine: http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/comment/in-my-view/women-sports-reporters-need-a-level-playing-field/5041550.article?blocktitle=IN-MY-VIEW&contentID=1091

Hold the Front Page: http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2012/news/nctj-in-sexism-row-over-football-dominated-exam/ 

SWINDON TOWN VS PORT VALE: AN INSIGHT INTO MY FIRST FOOTBALL MATCH

Swindon Town 5 - Port Vale 0 


For those who are following me on Twitter, you know already that I watched Swindon play at home against Port Vale in a bid to win League Two.


It was the first football match I had ever attended: my father, who is a Swindon fan, decided to take me a the game to see another side of sports journalism.

As you know I write about horse racing, but as the NCTJ sports journalism exam is 50 per cent football related, I needed to gain experience on writing football commentary.


I wouldn't say that I hate football, but I dislike it. I think there is too much attention surrounding the sport and too much money goes into it.


I believe that other sports should receive the attention football gets, but that's another argument for another blog post.


But experience is experience, and I needed some. We sat in the side stands near the press box and before the 3:00pm kick-off approached, Swindon's mascot, the Rockin' Robin, came on to the pitch and started strutting his stuff.


When I say 'strutting his stuff', I really mean trying to dance but ending up looking daft. Nevertheless, it was the first football mascot I had ever seen and it did bring out a smile.


Swindon had already been promoted from League Two last week but if they won today they would win the League title.


I watched the players from Port Vale and Swindon run on to the pitch with five minutes to go until kick-off and the crowd roared. 


Swindon started okay in the first half: I thought they were nervous as they had a lot riding on the game. Port Vale put up a good fight in defence and even though Paolo Di Canio's team did not attack as well as I anticipated, it was still a good half to watch.


Simon Ferry played well and had a few good attempts at goal. Matt Ritchie also performed well and didn't let his side down.


Ritchie scored the first goal in the first half and what a super goal it was. He powered the ball into the corner of the net and cheers exploded out of the stands.


From that moment on, captain Paul Caddis could see that his team relaxed a little. Swindon grew in confidence and they gained control on the ball. 


The second half was a lot better to watch: Port Vale tried to defend as well as they did in the first half but were unable to keep Swindon's confidence at bay.


I wouldn't say that Port Vale under-performed on the day, but Swindon had a lot to prove in the game and they had more ambition than their rivals to win the match.


Wes Foderingham put up a real fight in his corner. Port Vale had four or five opportunities in the same minute and Wes was kept the opposition's score at nil.


Swindon's Paul Benson scored two wonderful goals, putting Swindon 3-0 up. Now the team had rhythm and Port Vale knew that they would find it difficult to come back from it. 


Aden Flint also scored, giving Swindon a 4-0 advantage. From this moment the Swindon fans began to sing in chorus, knowing that their bid for the title was becoming a reality.


Substitute Alan Connell scored the fabulous fifth and Di Canio, who was standing on the sidelines, saluted the crowd.


When the match ended, the stadium erupted. It was an odd experience for me because I had never witnessed such an explosion.


Swindon won 5-0 and were awarded the trophy on the pitch. The crowd cheered, cried, sang and danced and it was actually quite pleasant to see.

My first football match consisted of a win, a presentation of a trophy, watching a manger salute the crowd, a Rockin' Robin attempting to look good and a delighted crowd.


I still find football exhausting but attending the match on Saturday made me appreciate the sport more than I used to and I will no longer dismiss it immediately. 


I thought that the match would be my last as well as my first, but as we were driving home my father turned to me and said: "Well, as it was a 5-0 win to Swindon you'd be welcome to come again."


Maybe it's his attempt to make me a lover of football rather than horse racing but the latter is my hobby and I'll be happy once I'm back watching Midnight Chase jumping the last at Cheltenham.

MY VIEW ON OTHER GRAND NATIONAL OPINIONS

Reading through a number of articles about this year's Grand National and people's opinions towards the event has made me realise that professionals and punters in horse racing now have to unite to defend the sport that they love.


Every time I flicker through an article on the deaths of Gold Cup champion Synchronised and According To Pete, I am faced with angry people who know nothing about the sport, claiming that horse racing is cruel and unnecessary.

Photo by Meteorshoweryn (Creative Commons) from Flickr

As a person who has loved and admired the sport from an early age, I believe that now is the best and most important time for jockeys, trainers and owners to unite and defend their decisions that are made in horse racing.

Putting down a horse is a sad thing to happen but sometimes it is necessary: if those who work in the sport can understand the risk (i.e trainers and owners) then why can't other people?

Another absurd idea is to ban The Grand National. The event is the biggest jump race in Europe as the prize money is near £1 million.

Banning the race will therefore put people out of a job and Aintree, as well as Great Britian, will lose its status of being the host of a huge sporting event.

The horses who run in The Grand National spend months enduring training that their owners specifically set.

They are therefore prepared for the four mile race and are not thrown into the challenge without the training that is required.

Yes, I agree that it is upsetting when horses have to be put down as a result of a fractured leg or a broken shoulder but it is the kindest thing to do.

During a race, if a horse does fall and fracture its leg, it has so much adrenaline pumping through its body it cannot feel the pain.

As the fracture cannot be fixed and before the horse can feel the agonising pain, it is put down, a decision that trainers and owners are sometimes faced with.

But then again, they understand the risk and I hate the thought of Synchronised and According To Pete's deaths constantly overshadowing the closest finish ever witnessed.

So here's to a fantastic win by Neptune Collonges - a fantastic horse that has always been living in his stablemates' shadows - Kauto Star and Denman - but has now deservedly won the biggest race of them all.

SHOULD HORSE RACING BE BANNED? - NO

The Grand National has finished for another year and yet again the sport has created negative headlines around the country.


Two horses had to be put down after yesterday's event: Gold Cup champion Synchronised and According To Pete tragically fractured legs so it was decided that they had to be let go.


It is upsetting to see talented horses lose their lives because of such incidents, but what many people do not realise, especially those who think horse racing should be banned, is that destroying the animals after these accidents is the kindest thing to do.


When a horse races it has a lot of adrenaline pumping through it's body - as would any other athlete in different sports. 


So, before it can feel the pain of a fracture, for example, the kindest thing to do for it is to destroy it.


If a human were to fracture his/her leg, then it can easily be fixed: crutches and casts will be used for several weeks. But with a horse it is different. 


The creatures are huge and repairing a fracture is impossible. If this does happen, killing the horse is therefore seen as the best, and the right thing to do. You cannot let a horse suffer. 


Horse racing should not be banned - it is a much loved sport throughout the country and if it was to stop, then the horses will serve no purpose.


Race horses are born and bred for racing. It's their job. Those people who are ignorant enough to say that horse racing is a cruel sport should spend several weeks at a trainer's stable and watch how a horse is trained, prepared and looked after. They would then be able to see how much love and attention is put in by owners and trainers to make the sport as safe as possible for their horses.


Also, if the sport was to be banned, hundreds of people will lose their jobs. One thing that this country has always moaned about is the number of people who are unemployed. It would not help matters, in fact I believe it would make things worse. 


I hold strong opinions and even though I'm only expressing my view through words, I hope it reaches a wide audience. 


I hope non-horse racing fans will learn to appreciate the sport through this blog article and will learn that time and effort goes into the sport to ensure that horses are well treated and kept safe.


Unfortunately, like every sport, accidents happen. Horse racing has that low risk. People need to understand that. 


If the professionals understand the risk, then everyone else should. 

SELECTIONS FOR AINTREE - DAY THREE (GRAND NATIONAL DAY)

1:45 - Simonsig


2:15 - Sprinter Sacre


2:50 - Oscar Whisky


3:25 - Chapoturgeon 
          Saint Are (e/w)


4:15 - GRAND NATIONAL 


Planet Of Sound
Ballabriggs
Seabass
West End Rocker


5:05 - Kazlian
          Try a David Double! (Pipe)
          Dream Esteem


5:35 - Howaboutnow

AINTREE SELECTIONS - DAY TWO

2:00 - Darlan
          Captain Conan (e/w)


2:30 - Champion Court
          Join Together (e/w)


3:05 - Finian's Rainbow


3:40 - Triangular 
           Chance Du Roy (e/w)


4:15 - Cotton Mill


4:50 - It's A Gimme
          Tour D'Argent (e/w)


5:25 - Call Me A Star

BIG BUCK'S WINS 17TH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY

Big Buck's has made history at Aintree with a 17th consecutive victory over hurdles in the Liverpool Hurdle.

The horse, ridden by Ruby Walsh, cruised round the course and didn't seem to build up a sweat throughout the race.

The nine-year-old jumped fluently and grabbed victory by nine lengths, ahead of Crack Away Jack (second at 33/1) and Across The Bay (third at 50/1).

Nicholls' horse beat Sir Ken's previous record, which was set in the 1950s.

AINTREE SELECTIONS - DAY ONE

2:00 - Big Bucks
          Tidal Bay (e/w bet)


2:30 - Lyvius
          Grumeti (e/w bet)


3:05 - Riverside Theatre


3:40 - Boxer Georg
          My Way De Solzen (e/w bet)


4:15 - Tanks For That
          Kumbeshwar (e/w bet)


4:50 - Pepite Rose


5:25 - Oscar Prairie 

CAN SYNCHRONISED CREATE MAGIC BY WINNING THE DOUBLE?

Synchronised is on course to do the double, but can he produce that rare headline?


After winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, Jonjo O'Neill's horse could become the first horse in 78 years to grab Britain's two biggest steeplechasing titles in the same season.


The only horse to ever achieve both titles in the same season was Golden Miller in 1934.


Tony McCoy rode Synchronised to victory at 8-1 ahead of The Giant Bolster (50-1) and 7-4 favourite Long Run.


Synchronised could do it. If Tony was riding then maybe the horse could be his second Grand National victory. I can imagine that now that McCoy has broken his Aintree curse, winners will keep on coming for him. 


He'll be like a London bus - you wait all day for one then many will come at once.


If the horse can keep hold of his stamina like he did in the Gold Cup then he'll be in for a shot. He is capable and could rattle up headlines with the double. 

CHICAGO GREY NEEDS TO MAKE EARLY IMPACT IN GRAND NATIONAL

The early stages of this month's John Smith's Grand National will be crucial for Chicago Grey, according to Gordon Elliott.

CHELTENHAM 16-3-2011. The National Hunt Chase.

Derek O'Connor and CHICAGO GREY with trainer Gordon Elliott and Annie Bowles after he recorded his 1st Cheltenham success. Creative Commons by Horse Racing Ireland


The nine-year-old has got detached early-on in previous races and Elliott is worried that he could get too far behind in the Aintree event.

Elliott told At The Races: "He schooled last week, schooled very well and stays well, he won the four-miler at Cheltenham last year," 

"If he can get into a nice rhythm in the first half of the race I think he`ll run a massive race. The first four or five fences are going to be very important, if he can get into a rhythm and get jumping.

"He`s probably not the best jumper in the world, he`s adequate, he has his own technique. It`s hard to know what horse is going to take to it."

Paul Carberry will ride the grey in twelve days time while Paul Nicholls is down to one representative (Neptune Collonges) after the retirement of Niche Market due to injury.

My Opinion:


There has been a lot of media hype surrounding Chicago Grey and there is no doubt in saying that he is a talented horse. 
Elliott has said it right though, if the grey gets detached from the group in the early stages of the race then he's out. Carberry needs to time it well to ensure that the Cheltenham 2011 winner has a chance of winning.


Ballabriggs is another horse that needs to be watched but I cannot help but be tempted by Sunnyhillboy. I have seen him run before and is decent horse. One to watch over the next few days.
The Grand National is anybody's game - all horses are in for a shot. 


What I am worried about is whether or not the high-profile racing event will attract bad publicity again. Last year was a bad year for the sport as a result of Jason Maguire's ride on winner Ballabriggs. I think people who aren't into racing need to read up on the sport so that it does not come under inappropriate scrutiny.


It angers me when people are ignorant towards the rules of the whip. With all the media attention the sport has been receiving it wouldn't surprise me if many viewers or spectators will be eagle-eyed and on the prowl for any mistake made by the jockeys.


Should it happen again: watch this space!