Paddy Power step in to offer Imperial Cup festival bonus again

Paddy Power will once again be offering a bonus for any horse who wins the Grade 3 Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown next month and goes on to land any race at the Cheltenham Festival the following week.

The same race will also make one Paddy Power customer a millionaire as part of a 'Golden Ticket' promotion by the bookmaker which began last year.

The Imperial Cup bonus is worth £50,000 to connections of the winner and would see £20,000 awarded to the winning owner, £10,000 to the winning trainer, £10,000 to the winning yard and £10,000 to the winning jockey.

Only three horses have won the bonus – Olympian (1993 Coral Cup), Blowing Wind (1998 County Handicap Hurdle) and Gaspara (2007 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle). All three were trained by the Pipe family, with Martin Pipe saddling Olympian and Blowing Wind, while his son David was responsible for Gaspara.

Phil White, the Jockey Club’s London director, said: “We’re delighted Paddy Power will be offering the bonus again this year. We’ve seen some high quality horses win the Imperial Cup and go on to take their place at the festival just a few days later and we hope the same happens next month. It would take a special horse to win the bonus but it’s been done before.”

Newbury and BetVictor seal sponsorship deal

BetVictor are the new sponsors of next month’s Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury following the announcement of a multi-fixture partnership between the bookmaker and the racecourse.

The new collaboration comprises 41 individual races across 13 race days on both the Flat and over jumps.

It includes two races on Al Shaqab Lockinge Day in May, namely the BetVictor London Cup and Dovecote Carnarvon Stakes.

Lara Johnston, sponsorship manager for Newbury, said: “We're excited to work with the team at BetVictor, and it is even more positive following the recent government announcement that we will be able to welcome back crowds. We emerge from the pandemic more invigorated than ever to deliver excellent racing for our customers alongside all our partners.”

Racing TV virtual studio

Racing TV has launched a new, virtual studio which it hopes will provide an 'immersive and interactive' experience for viewers.

Alongside a main presentation area, the new studio will make use of an augmented reality screen to integrate increased data analysis into the coverage along with having a panoramic area for festival coverage and the channel's flagship Luck On Sunday programme.

Adam Binns, RMG director of broadcast and production, said: “The studio will enable Racing TV to deliver immersive and interactive horseracing presentation coverage to our audiences.”

Death of owner Lady Aitken

Lady Aitken, sister of Cath Walwyn and owner of top-class hurdlers Pundit and Sempervivum, died last week in Lambourn at the age of 94.

Pundit, trained by Staff Ingham, won the Triumph Hurdle by six lengths at its original home, Hurst Park, in 1958. Sempervivum, trained by her brother-in-law Fulke Walwyn, was second in the 1966 Champion Hurdle, beaten three lengths by Salmon Spray with the great Flyingbolt third. He won two National Hunt Centenary Cups and the Cheltenham Trial (now International), National Spirit and Ackermann Skeaping Hurdles.

Violet Aitken, Cath Walwyn and Ann Parker Bowles were daughters of Sir Humphrey de Trafford, who owned the 1959 Derby winner Parthia.

Rescheduled Gowran fixture cancelled but new date set

Gowran Park's rescheduled Red Mills day card this Friday has become the latest Irish fixture to fall victim to the weather.

The Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle has now been moved to Fairyhouse on Saturday, while the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase will be staged as part of a rescheduled card on Tuesday at Gowran.

Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin said: "Unfortunately due to 8mm of rain today – that's 41mm in total since Sunday – we've had to bring the inspection planned for the morning forward to today and concede that despite all the best efforts of [Gowran manager] Eddie Scally and his team, the weather has beaten us and the meeting can't take place on Friday.

"Thankfully, through HRI, we've secured a new date for Tuesday of next week. There'll be fresh entries in the morning because this inspection has taken place this evening."

He added: "Thankfully there's a better outlook as far as the weather is concerned. There's a reasonable forecast, dry conditions from now to next Tuesday, so hopefully we'll look forward to a better racing surface."

Punchestown’s Wednesday meeting, which was cancelled due to waterlogging, has been rescheduled for next Monday, March 1. The meeting will close for new entries by 12 noon on Thursday, February 25 with declarations to run to be made by 10am on Saturday, February 27. The time of the first race will be 2.15pm.

Second episode of Laochra Na Rasaiochta airs on TG4

The second episode of Laochra Na Rasaiochta, telling the stories of L’Escargot, Captain Christy and Brown Lad, airs on TG4 on Thursday at 9.30pm. The episode features contributions from Aidan O’Brien, JP McManus, Charlie Swan, Arthur Moore and Ted Walsh among others.

Hobbs travelling head girl Moore-Williams wins NTF's Toby Balding Award

Zoe Moore-Williams, travelling head girl for trainer Philip Hobbs, has been named as the winner of the National Trainers Federation's Toby Balding Award for 2021.

Moore-Williams has worked in the industry full-time since 2015 and joined the Hobbs yard two years later, with the trainer describing her as "a great asset to the industry".

She will receive £3,000, funded by the National Trainers Federation Charitable Trust from a donation made by the Swire Trust, and is planning to use the money to continue her climb up the racing ladder, including taking the course for assistant trainers.

"There are so many people, especially women, who come to a point where they can progress no further in the industry and I don’t want to be one of them," Moore-Williams said. "I want to help make a change so that no matter what age or ability, people are able to have a long-term career in the racing industry."

Felicity Barnard named as new Ascot commercial director

Felicity Barnard, who has spent the last four years as chief executive of short-form tennis format Tie Break Tens, has been appointed as commercial director at Ascot.

Barnard has spent 15 years in the sports industry having previously worked for Arsenal in both London and Singapore and then West Ham United as commercial director.

She will be responsible for devising and implementing the commercial strategy for in-venue sales and marketing, partnerships, sponsorship, licensing, memberships and new income streams, while Ascot’s domestic and international broadcast, media and data rights will be overseen by finance director Ian McGregor.

Chief executive Guy Henderson said: "Felicity brings a wealth of commercial experience to the racecourse, having worked in the UK and internationally in two sports with a similar global reach to racing. Felicity will focus on our in-venue commercial activities and we are all very much looking forward to welcoming her to the team."

Chamberlin and Royal Ascot coverage nominated for prestigious SJA award

When Ed Chamberlin left football for horseracing he may have thought his days of competing with Gary Lineker were behind him, but the pair will once again clash as both have been shortlisted for the title of Sports Presenter of the Year at the prestigious Sports Journalism Association's annual awards.

ITV's broadcast from Royal Ascot is nominated in the category of television/digital live event coverage while BBC Radio 5Live's John Hunt is among seven shortlisted for Sports Commentator of the Year. The winners will be announced at a virtual awards show on March 15.

Father of famous racing family Charlie Guest dies aged 92

Former jockey and trainer Charlie Guest, who started one of racing's most famous dynasties, died last week aged 92.

A successful rider over jumps, Guest went on to train winners both at home and on the continent and was father to current Newmarket trainer Rae, former trainer Lady Cecil, Grand National-winning jockey and northern-based trainer Richard, former amateur rider Sally as well as Rita and Joanne.

Guest died at Mildenhall near Newmarket, since when Lady Jane Cecil has said that her family have been overwhelmed with messages.

A service of thanksgiving for Guest is to take place at All Saint's Church in Newmarket on March 2.

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