Monday’s racing round-up brings news of an unfortunate injury to December Gold Cup runner-up Madara and a Grade 1 assignment for James Owen’s Burdett Road…
Dan Skelton has revealed that his December Gold Cup runner-up Madara suffered an injury at Cheltenham. The Dan Skelton-trained inmate travelled strongly throughout the contest and looked likely to claim the long-time leader Gemirande approaching the second last. However, he jumped left-handed at the penultimate flight and was ultimately unable to get back Venetia Williams' runner, who went on to prevail by a length. Speaking on Sky Sports Racing, Skelton said: "Unfortunately, he's got a little injury, which I think kind of explains why he went left two out, but that's racing, as they say," Skelton told Sky Sports Racing.
James Owen looks set to test his exciting dual-purpose horse Burdett Road in Grade 1 company after uncovering the news that the Gredley-owned four-year-old will be aimed at the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. Last month's Greatwood Handicap Hurdle winner could bump into Constitution Hill, who remains on course for his eagerly-awaited reappearance for Nicky Henderson, while Willie Mullins' top-class mare Lossiemouth looks set to make the journey for owner Rich Ricci on the back of her impressive triumph in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse.
Leading jockey Rachael Blackmore had to settle for the silver medal position on her return to action from injury at Naas on Monday. Blackmore partnered the well-backed Slade Steel Bar One Racing '100% Acca Boost On Self Service Terminals' Beginners Chase, but the Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner was unable to get past the longtime leader Lecky Watson, who went on to score by a length and a quarter for trainer Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. Betfair cut the winner to 25/1 (from 100s) for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, while Slade Steel was pushed out to 33/1 (from 16s) for the Arkle. "That was a good performance, I'm delighted with how he jumped and settled in front. It looks like a big improvement on his hurdling form," said Mullins of the winner. "Fences are bringing out improvement in him and I'm very happy with that. His attitude to jumping was tremendous as well. Paul was very happy with it, and I was very happy watching."
Baby Kate came from the clouds to get up late in the Gener8 Engineering Mares Maiden Hurdle at Naas. A winner of a Listed bumper at Cheltenham last season, Baby Kate was sent off a 4/1 chance on her hurdling debut and first outing since disappointing in a Grade 2 at Aintree in April. Stablemate Karoline Banbou, who held some high-class bumper form in France, looked home and hosed up the run-in, but Baby Kate finished with real gusto under Brian Hayes to eventually get the better of the 1/2 favourite by a length and a quarter. Baby Kate is out of the Grade 1 winner Augusta Kate, who herself is out of the Grade 1 heroine Feathard Lady.
Ga Law could make the switch back to hurdling after his rare lacklustre performance in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday. The Jamie Snowden-trained eight-year-old, who is often so reliable, finished a disappointing ninth on the back of his excellent runner-up effort in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. Snowden revealed that his recent outing may have come too soon and mooted that the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham next month could be a possible target.
