JRA upgrade two races to Grade 1 status for first time in 11 years

The Japan Racing Association have upgraded two races to Grade 1 status, their first such upgrades for 11 years.

The move, that for many will be viewed as a pleasing contrast to the European Pattern Committee's approach and a growing belief Europe possess a bloated number of top-level races, even allowing for Italy's downgrades amid its well-known troubles, means the Osaka Hai and Hopeful Stakes will be held as Grade 1 contests.

The Osaka Hai, staged at Hanshin and won by 2016 Horse of the Year Kitasan Black this year, will be a new spring target for top-level runners over a mile and a quarter.

The number of Grade 1 juvenile contests in Japan has now risen to three with Nakayama's Hopeful Stakes also upgraded. The race, also over a mile and a quarter, will be held on December 28.

Owner Coffey loses appeal against two-year disqualification

Owner Patrick Coffey lost his appeal on Wednesday against a two-year disqualification imposed on him by the referrals committee of the Turf Club for breaches of the rules resulting from a stable inspection of trainer James Coyle's yard in June.

It transpired that four horses who were registered as being in training at Coyle's County Meath yard were in fact stabled at Coffey's premises and were being trained by him, although he was unlicensed.

Coffey was banned for two years and the four horses – Miss Magoom Joy For Mary, Bendigo Too and Dottie Lottie – were banned from racing for one year.

The appeals body of the Turf Club dismissed Coffey's appeal against what he described as the severity of the ban and ordered his appeal deposit be forfeited. Coffey's ban will run from October 30 to October 29, 2019.

Murphy book on Hills shortlist

Declan Murphy and Ami Rao's book, Centaur, has been shortlisted for the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.

Now in its 29th year, the award has been narrowed down to seven books, including Rao and Murphy's account of the jump jockey's near-fatal fall.

Having been seriously injured in a fall at Haydock in May 1994, Murphy managed a miraculous return to the saddle, and was back in the winner's enclosure just 18 months later.

Centaur faces stiff competition for the award, with Jonathan Eig's book on the life of Muhammad Ali and David Bolchover recollecting the story of superstar football manager, Béla Guttmann, also on the shortlist.

The winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2017 will be announced at an afternoon reception at BAFTA, in central London, on Tuesday November 28.

188bet latest to withdraw price guarantee

A day after Coral and Ladbrokes withdrew the pledge to revert to overnight prices for big races for a period on the morning of the contest, online bookmaker 188bet has followed suit and scrapped the pricerwise guarantee.

Cork preview evening as jumping returns

Cork was illuminated by the presence of Douvan in last season's Hilly Way Chase and the Mallow venue will begin preparations for the National Hunt season with a free preview evening on Thursday.

Leading jockeys Davy Russell, Jamie Codd and Paul Townend, along with trainer Joseph O’Brien, will take part in a panel hosted by racing journalists Tommy Lyons and Dave Keena.

Manager of Cork Racecourse, Andrew Hogan said: "We've got a great panel and the key to the evening is that it's open to everyone - punters, sponsors, trainers and owners - absolutely everyone.

"We'll be discussing racing in general, great horses who have run at Cork in the past, as well as exciting horses for this coming season" he added.

The evening takes place at the Clayton Hotel, Silver Springs, with jumping action at Cork getting under way on Sunday November 5 with the Paddy Power Cork Grand National.

Hogan said: "The winter series begins with the National meeting and it would obviously be fantastic to have Douvan return to us again later in the season after winning the Hilly Way Chase last year, which was a brilliant occasion."

Complimentary refreshments will be served, with prizes on the night including a VIP trip to the Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase Day and the 2018 Dublin Racing Festival.

To book your free ticket email rsvp@corkracecourse.ie or contact Niamh Doyle, Cork Racecourse Mallow, tel: 022 50207. The event is restricted to over 18s.

Doyle to appeal against seven-day ban

James Doyle has lodged an appeal against a seven-day suspension handed out to him at Ascot on Saturday that would see him ruled out of action from the Saturday of the Breeders' Cup meeting.

The jockey fell foul of the stewards following an incident at Swinley Bottom during the Long Distance Cup, in which he was riding Big Orange.

Stewards determined that Doyle had made a move towards the rail when not sufficiently clear of Fran Berry and Stars Over The Sea, something that almost caused Stars Over The Sea to come down.

As of Monday, Doyle does not have any engagements at Del Mar. "It's annoying, even though I don't have anything lined up for Del Mar or Australia, because you don't want to be having a suspension of that length on your record, even at this time of the year," he said.

SIS shareholders to receive £15 million

Gambling service provider SIS is to pay out a £15 million dividend to shareholders but has warned that profits for the year are likely to be lower than budgeted.

Catalyst Media Group, which holds a 20.54 per cent stake in SIS, said on Monday that SIS had informed them that with cash reserves currently standing at approximately £75m a dividend payment could be made "whilst retaining a level of funding in the business to cover its ongoing commitments and sufficient funds to enable management to develop the long-term strategy for the business".

However the SIS statement warned that independent bookmakers were reluctant to sign up to long-term contracts while there was increased competition for media rights.

This, SIS said, was "likely to impact future revenues". They added: "At the same time, the group is experiencing increased litigation costs relating to a number of issues, although legal advice indicates a successful outcome is expected for SIS. As a result, profits are likely to be lower than budgeted for this year."

Catalyst Media Group's share of the dividend will net them just short of £3.1m. Ladbrokes Coral hold a 23.41 per cent share of SIS, William Hill 19.51 and Fred Done, through the Tote and a personal shareholding, 13.51 per cent.

Racing manager banned over ownership scandal

Ben Connolly, former racing manager to Australian trainer Ciaron Maher, has been disqualified from any type of involvement in horseracing until January 2020 for his role in the Azkadellia ownership scandal.

Former Caulfield Cup winner Maher had his licence suspended for six months in September and was fined $75,000 after he admitted he ought to have known that five horses he prepared were owned by convicted conman Peter Foster.

The racing appeals and disciplinary board in Australia heard on Monday that Foster was the "mastermind" behind an arrangement with Connolly to deceive stewards over the true ownership of Group 1 mare Azkadellia and four other horses.

The five horses involved are Azkadellia, Little Bubulu, Loveable Rogue, Hart and Mr Simples. They remain unable to race again until any potential successful application is made to the Supreme Court to lift the ban.

In announcing the penalty, the board also disqualified the five horses from the estimated $241,000 they had earned in prize-money in races in Victoria and it is expected that other interstate racing jurisdictions – namely NSW and Queensland where Azkadellia also raced with great success – will follow the RAD Board ruling and apply their own disqualifications to the horses.