One of the most glaring absences from a racetrack this winter has been the name of Rachael Blackmore.
Grand National winner, Cheltenham conqueror and boundary shatter, her presence on a card adds numbers to an attendance and increases interest in the sport.
But she hasn’t ridden since a horrible fall at Downpatrick in Northern Ireland on September 23, when she damaged her neck. In her absence, Darragh O’Keeffe has partnered Henry de Bromhead’s horses and the fine ride on The Big Westerner at Punchestown on Sunday illustrated his talents.
Racing Confidential understands, however, that Blackmore has been working relentlessly in the gym as part of her rehabilitation and there is optimism that she will be back in the saddle in time for Christmas, with Leopardstown’s big festival a realistic target.
The sooner she is back in the swing of things, the better. Sometimes Blackmore finds the attention she commands a little surreal but the sport thrives when she is on a good horse.
And with De Bromhead excited about the young stock he has in his yard, the winners will be flowing again soon.
Rachael Blackmore is edging closer to a return from injury after being absent so far this winter
Blackmore hasn’t ridden since she suffered a horrible fall at Downpatrick in Northern Ireland on September 23, when she damaged her neck, but there is optimism she will be back by Christmas
The sooner she is back in the swing of things, the better. Sometimes Blackmore finds the attention she commands a little surreal but the sport thrives when she is on a good horse
Hanlon looking for temporary home for Hewick
Shark Hanlon, the trainer of Hewick, is on the lookout for a small yard to temporarily house his stable star – and enable the King George holder to defend his crown.
Hanlon begins a three-month suspension on December 1, the result of him being deemed to have brought racing into disrepute for transporting the carcass of a dead horse in an uncovered trailer. The video went viral and was initially going to get Carlow-based Hanlon a six-month ban.
It has been a testing time for Hanlon, a gregarious character, and there is no question he’s been harshly dealt with by the Irish Horse Racing Board (IHRB) but he has accepted the reality of the situation and had hoped to unleash Hewick in last Saturday in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.
The plan was for the gelding to run there before being put away for a crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, when Hanlon’s suspension was over, but the sodden conditions at Haydock meant Hewick was taken out of the field shortly before the off.
Hewick, who is almost public property given he cost £800 to buy but has gone on to win more almost £700,000 in prize money, is in such good form that Hanlon would love to see him return to Kempton on Boxing Day, 12 months after a remarkable performance carried him to an improbable victory.
The gelding’s name featured among the remaining 16 entries for the Christmas feature but if he is to show up, the finishing touches to his preparation will be applied by another trainer. Hanlon’s yard is close to the bases of Willie and Emmett Mullins but neither of those men will take temporary charge.
Hanlon is looking for someone with a small facility, not too dissimilar from his own, and is weighing up all options. It would be fantastic for a race that is in need of some sparkle if Hewick does line up; Gavin Sheehan, who rode him to victory in 2023, is lined up to ride if required.
Shark Hanlon, the trainer of Hewick, is on the lookout for a small yard to temporarily house his stable star, who is the King George holder (pictured – Hanlon with Hewick in October of this year)
Hanlon begins a three-month suspension on December 1, the result of him being deemed to have brought racing into disrepute for transporting the carcass of a dead horse in an uncovered trailer
New attire for Mystical Power
Mystical Power will wear new colours at Newcastle when he takes his chance in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle – but don’t think that means he’s changed owners.
During his outstanding novice campaign, which culminated in a powerful performance at the Grand National meeting, Mystical Power wore the green-and-gold silks of JP McManus and many would have expected to see him in them on Saturday.
However, the gelding, who is trained by Willie Mullins, will be in the pink and green silks of Rich and Sussanah Ricci for the Grade One, as part of an agreement between arguably the most powerful syndicate in the business.
There is not a better-bred National Hunt horse than Mystical Power, whose father is Derby-winning super sire Galileo and mother is Annie Power, the horse who is arguably the most famous to race for Ricci. The union was sanctioned by Coolmore supremo John Magnier.
As a result, the colours will be rotated every season. McManus had his turn last winter, Ricci gets this campaign and Magnier’s dark blue silks – often seen in flat races but not unfamiliar with jumps – will be in use next year before they return to McManus. Watching the story unfold will be fascinating.
Mystical Power (right in green and gold) will wear new colours at Newcastle this weekend
British racing must learn from Japan
There was to be no glorious swansong on the track for Auguste Rodin in Sunday’s Japan Cup, as Aidan O’Brien’s star trailed in behind Do Deuce. In many ways, the task he had to put a glorious footnote on his career was more complicated than the one City of Troy faced at the Breeders Cup.
Auguste Rodin was majestic at his best during three wonderful seasons, annexing two Derbies, a Breeders Cup Turf, the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prince of Wales Stakes, to go alongside the Futurity Stakes victory as a two-year-old that marked him out as different.
For some reason – perhaps because there were high-profile defeats in last year’s 2000 Guineas and two consecutive renewals of Ascot’s King George – there was a bit of scepticism about his talent and he was never truly appreciated in Europe.
How different the picture was in Japan. Auguste Rodin was afforded an incredible retirement ceremony at Tokyo racecourse, with 20,000 spectators staying behind to give him a thunderous send-off to the breeding sheds. The pictures and videos of the occasion are remarkable.
Japan’s culture of respect never ceases to amaze and you would hope that forward thinking executives at Britain’s racecourses will have taken note of this and have plans in place if the time comes for a superstar to bow out at one of their venues.
These animals are beautiful and the joy they provide is endless. Japan gave us an idea of how they can be commemorated and let’s see if there can be a way that it is replicated in this jurisdiction. Anything to raise racing’s profile positively is a good thing.
Auguste Rodin was afforded an incredible retirement ceremony at Tokyo racecourse on Sunday
Constitution Hill’s talent remains
So Constitution Hill was injured after that much-publicised gallop at Newbury last week and what a miserable saga it has been. His trainer Nicky Henderson has been lampooned for the bulletins he has given on the horse’s fitness and those who doubt the gelding’s talents have had a field day.
It transpires that there was such initial shock at Newbury, when Constitution Hill needed to be nudged along in the final 75 yards to match Sir Gino, was because his work back at Seven Barrows, Henderson’s base in Lambourn, had been breathtaking.
Sir Gino and Constitution Hill had worked together the week before they went to Newbury and the 2023 Champion Hurdler had, according to whispers, put daylight between him and his younger stablemate in a manner that drew gasps.
If Henderson and his medical team can get to the bottom of the issue that is causing Constitution Hill to be lame, there is no question that the talent remains. Don’t make any rash judgements that his attempts to win another Champion Hurdle next spring are hopeless.
It would be silly to write off the immensely talented Constitution Hill despite his injury struggles
History made at Newmarket
Sales season remains in full swing in Newmarket and this column could not pass without highlighting the history that was made in Tuesday’s session at Tattersall’s.
Shirley Anderson-Jolag became the first female auctioneer to oversee a sale in Britain and was given a round of applause by the assembled crowd after bringing the gavel down on her first lot.
‘I won’t buy into the first female thing too much,’ she said. ‘But it’s great that I have done it and hopefully it can become the norm.’
Hear, hear.