Jockeys to wear black armbands this weekend following two stable staff deaths

Jockeys this weekend will wear black armbands in memory of the two stable staff and two trainers who died this week.

Jess Whalley, who worked for Hugo Palmer, died of a suspected heart attack when riding work on Tuesday, while a day later an employee at Robert Cowell's stable, later named as Mazar Allauddin, died in a riding accident.

They will be remembered across the five meetings in Britain on Saturday and two on Sunday, with BHA chief executive Julie Harrington expressing her sympathies following a "tragic week" for the sport.

In a statement, Harrington said: "Both of these incidents are unspeakably tragic and there are no words to adequately describe the grief of losing a friend, colleague and loved one in such circumstances. The BHA along with colleagues at Racing Welfare, Nars and the IJF, have been working to provide support for staff affected by what took place at each yard."

Harrington also paid tribute to Welsh Grand National-winning trainer John Spearing and Newmarket trainer Dave Morris following their deaths this week.

Jockey James Bowen waiting on crucial x-ray as he bids to return for Aintree following broken arm

A x-ray next Monday is likely to determine whether James Bowen can ride at the Grand National meeting. The 22-year-old jockey broke his arm when he was unseated from Mutual Respect at Huntingdon on February 23 and missed the Cheltenham Festival.

Bowen, who has not started riding out at home yet, said: "There's nothing you can do, I haven't missed too much anyway. I've got another x-ray on Monday so hopefully that all goes well."

If Bowen does return in time for Aintree, he is set to ride his father Peter's Francky Du Berlais, who is now 43rd in the weights for the National after 16 horses were scratched on Tuesday.

Williams tribute to stable star

Stuart Williams has paid tribute to stable star Tone The Barone after he was fatally injured at Lingfield on Saturday.

Tone The Barone won 13 of his 39 starts and was placed on a further seven occasions, earning connections just over £140,000 in prize-money. He was particularly proficient on the all-weather, winning nine of his 20 starts under that code.

Williams said: "It's very, very sad. He'd been an absolute warrior for us and never taken a lame step the whole time he was here, the vet never saw him. It was just one of those things at a downhill track and around a bend. He was named after the owner's brother who suffered from a form of cancer, he's not very well. It will be very difficult to replace him and he was such a lovely character as well. Everyone loved him – he was a gentleman of a horse."

Davies funeral details

The funeral of former champion apprentice jockey Stephen Davies is to take place on Thursday, April 6 at the Cardiff and Glamorgan Memorial Park and Crematorium, Barry Island, Vale of Glamorgan at 1pm.

The father of Andrew Balding's current leading apprentice Harry, Davies died at his home in South Wales on March 8 at the age of just 53 after battling throat cancer. The Group 1 winning rider partnered 124 winners in Britain and is best known for being apprentice jockey to Sir Henry Cecil in the 1990s.

Family flowers only. There will be a reception afterwards at the Seashore Grill & Cafe Bar at nearby Sully.

TG4 to broadcast an additional five fixtures

TG4 have announced they will be presenting live coverage from an additional five fixtures over the coming weeks through their live racing programme Rasai Beo.

These meetings consist of coverage from Fairyhouse on April 8, the Curragh on May 1 and Ballinrobe on May 29. The coverage from Fairyhouse and the Curragh come on Easter Saturday and the May Bank Holiday Monday and will also be showing races from meetings at Cork and Down Royal on the same day.

TG4's Fairyhouse coverage on will kick off the Easter Festival and set the scene for the €500,000 BoyleSports Irish National the following Monday. The €100,000 RYBO Handicap Hurdle is the feature race on the Saturday with the Ladies National Handicap Chase also set to take place.

The Curragh will play host to two Group races on the channel over the May Bank Holiday with the Coolmore sponsored Group 3 Athasi Stakes over seven furlongs and the Group 2 Moorebridge Stakes over ten furlongs scheduled to be ran. The latter boasts a distinguished roll of honour which includes the likes of Magical, Minding, Found and Camelot.

Ballinrobe’s coverage will cover McHale Raceday, which is one of their showpiece meetings as the €60,000 McHale Mayo National will feature on the programme which was won by the Willie Mullins-trained Rock Road last season.

Sean Ban Breathnach and Manus O Conghaile will host the programme with pundits Sarah Lynam, Evelyn Ni Ghriallais and Daragh O Conchuir set to offer their insight on the day’s proceedings.

GAIN Equine Nutrition announce increased prize fund and additional race at Tramore to the 'GAIN The Advantage Series’ for 2023

GAIN Equine Nutrition have announced that their initiative 'GAIN The Advantage' Series will continue for a third consecutive year with an increased prize-fund and an additional race added, bringing the number of races in the series to nine.

The additional race will be held at Tramore Racecourse and will be a contest solely aimed at horses owned by syndicates and racing clubs. This race, like all races in the series, will benefit from a 50% increase in prize money bringing the total prize fund to €22,500.

The series has proved popular in its first two years and provides a framework that allows equal opportunity for all trainers throughout the competition. Trainers receive points for their successes via a grading process where the number of points per win or place will be dictated by the number of winners the trainer had throughout 2022.

The series is set to get underway at Cork Racecourse on April 21 with the remaining legs to be held at Navan, Ballinrobe, Tramore, Tipperary, Killarney, Naas, Fairyhouse with the finale scheduled to take place at Leopardstown.

In their pursuit to recognise all connections of the winning horse, the breeder of each winner will receive a framed photograph of the horse and will be entered into a draw to win one tonne of GAIN Equine Nutrition products. Each groom will also be entered into a competition to win a luxury weekend away in Ireland.

Historic His Majesty’s Cup set to be relaunched at Bellewstown Racecourse 

The British Embassy in Ireland and Bellewstown Racecourse have announced the reintroduction of His Majesty’s Cup which will take place on Saturday April 1st at 3.05pm.

The race’s heritage can be traced back to March 1800 when George Tandy, former Lord Mayor of Drogheda, led a delegation to petition the Duke Of Richmond for an annual subscription of 100 guineas towards the race which subsequently laid the foundations for its creation and the race continued to feature at Bellewstown until 1980.

The contest, now with a prize fund of €16,000, is set to take place this Saturday and trainers such as Joseph O’Brien, Jessica Harrington, Kieran Cotter and Willie McCreery hold entries in the five furlong contest.

Speaking at the re-launch of His Majesty’s Cup race, Bellewstown racecourse chairman Jack Gogarty stated that the racecourse is very proud of its long and enduring association with the race. He acknowledged Bellewstown Racecourse’s appreciation in working with the British Embassy in reinstating this race, highlighting the close relationship between horse racing and the monarchy. The race will be part of a great day’s racing at Bellewstown and will be warmly welcomed by the many British and Irish race goers who attend race meetings annually. We are delighted that the race coincides with the twenty fifth anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

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