Tuesday’s racing round-up brings news of a big-race target for Greatwood Hurdle runner-up Be Aware…
Connections have revealed that Greatwood Hurdle runner-up Be Aware will be aimed at the £125,000 Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on December 21st. The Dan Skelton-trained grey stayed on strongly to push James Owen's potential Champion Hurdle contender Burdett Road to within half a length in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, a performance that has left the Alcester handler dreaming of big-race glory in his bid to become Britain's champion National Hunt trainer this season.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today confirmed it will announce the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer in the new year. The move is to ensure that, as planned, the newly appointed BHA Chair Lord Allen of Kensington plays a role in the recruitment process. Upon the completion of Julie Harrington's term on 31 December 2024, the BHA's current Chief Regulatory Officer Brant Dunshea will take on the role of acting CEO while the recruitment process is finalised.
Apprentice George Buckell finished fourth on his first ride back from a lengthy spell out of the saddle at Lingfield on Tuesday. Buckell, who has had 45 winners in Britain, almost lost his life in 2022 when an addiction to drink and drugs resulted in him being rushed to hospital. The Newmarket-based jockey has been drink and drug-free for seventeen months now and will look to link up with both George Boughey and Mick Appleby.
Sam Thomas' leading Welsh Grand National contender Jubilee Express will miss his intended prep run in the registered trial at Chepstow on Saturday. A general 14/1 shot for the Welsh festive feature in December, the lightly raced seven-year-old was reported to be 'not quite right' heading into the weekend. Thomas will saddle a runner in the Chepstow trial this weekend courtesy of Good Risk At All, while stablemate Iwilldoit, who claimed the Welsh National back in 2021, could feature in the Betfair Exchange London National at Sandown.
Officials at Sandown are keeping a keen eye on the weather ahead of Betfair Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday. Speaking at a media call organised by the Jockey Club, clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: "Fundamentally, at the moment we are good to soft, with bits and pieces either side of that. We're enjoying a nice start to the week, and it looks dry tomorrow until the evening, then that looks as though it could be the first of a number of fronts potentially carrying a lot of rain. Though there isn't any great confidence in this forecast at the moment, there is some suggestion that it could turn quite wet and very windy overnight on Friday through to Saturday. That could also head towards France and the Channel, and it would be good if it did, quite frankly. We're on weather watch a bit, with no immediate concerns but it'd be nice if that nasty piece of weather on Friday did take a different route across to France instead of over the south of England."
