Former Sporting Life boxing correspondent Malcolm Hanover dies aged 87

Malcolm Hanover, former boxing correspondent and sub-editor on The Sporting Life, has died following complications having been admitted to hospital for a hip operation following a fall at his home. He was 87.

A die-hard Tottenham fan and season-ticket holder, Hanover joined The Sporting Life from the Greyhound Express in the 1960s and was formerly Boxing Correspondent on the Jewish Chronicle.

A stickler for accuracy and blessed with an encyclopaedic memory when it came to boxing and football, Hanover was an avid theatregoer and movie enthusiast who was fondly remembered by his former colleagues at the Sporting Life following his death on Thursday.

"Malcolm was always ready to laugh at himself and never without a witty comeback line," said friend and former colleague Paul Duffett. "He was a lovely, warm man who always asked about your family and never forgot their names.

"I will remember him for his dry humour, jokes and his complete failure to get a handle on any form of technology past a TV remote.

"We talked at length a week before he died when I remarked how chipper he sounded, as he regaled me with stories of people he'd known and shows he'd seen."

Duffett added: "Malcolm was a great listener as well as a great storyteller and how fitting that his beloved Spurs sit at the top of the Premier League as he leaves the stage for the final time."

Hanover was the youngest of four brothers and died at St Mary's Hospital in north London. Funeral details have yet to be finalised although attendance will be limited under Covid-19 restrictions.

Boost for Irish viewers after RMG and Virgin Media strike three-year deal

Terrestrial television viewers in Ireland will continue to have access to top-quality racing in Britain after Racecourse Media Group and Virgin Media TV struck a deal that guarantees 50 days of coverage every year for the next three years.

Showcase fixtures like the Cheltenham Festival, the Aintree Grand National meeting and the Epsom Derby will all be featured in the package that will run until 2023.

The 50 days of racing will be an increase of seven fixtures on the current portfolio RMG provides Virgin Media.

Along with Cheltenham, Aintree and Epsom, RMG will broadcast from premier British tracks such as York, Newbury, Newmarket and Sandown Park, all of which fall under the umbrella of the 34 racecourses the media organisation has the rights to.

Mick McCaffrey, head of news and sport at Virgin Media Television, said: "We are delighted to be able to continue this fantastic relationship with RMG. There is no other area of international sporting endeavour to match the levels of excellence and success achieved by representatives of the Irish racing industry.”

He added: "Jockeys, trainers, owners and breeders have all carried the Irish flag to greater and greater heights over the years and we at Virgin Media Television are honoured to be there, atCheltenham and atAintree and at Epsom and at so many other celebrated racecourses, to bear witness to all this achievement and excitement."

Ex-Leicester City chief Jon Holmes appointed acting PJA chairman

Former Leicester City Football Club chairman Jon Holmes has been appointed acting chairman of the Professional Jockeys Association following the departure of Nigel Payne from the role this year.

Holmes, who has held numerous chairmanships and non-executive roles in sports and was part of the consortium alongside Gary Lineker that saved Leicester from the brink of administration in 2003, will remain as acting chairman for a year to allow for a subsequent permanent successor to be found and took up the role on December 1.

Holmes has also been a sports agent for over 40 years and a racehorse owner for 20 years and currently has shares in three horses – two with Philip Hobbs and one with Oliver Signy.

Former champion jockey and current PJA jumps president Richard Johnson said: "I know Jon well as he’s owned shares in horses with Phillip Hobbs for years, and I’ve ridden more than 25 winners for him.

"I’m delighted he’s going to be our chairman for the next year at least – hopefully it will be for longer – and I believe he’ll be a big asset to us and the PJA team."

JJ Slevin hoping to retun at Navan on Saturday

Irish Grand National-winning rider JJ Slevin is aiming to make a swift return from a nasty fall at Fairyhouse last weekend, with Navan's valuable Saturday card a possible comeback date.

The dual Cheltenham Festival winner, who primarily rides for Joseph O'Brien, was taken to Blanchardstown Hospital just 35 minutes after partnering exciting novice hurdler Keskonrisk to score at the Meath venue on Saturday, following a fall from Curious Times.

Slevin was also forced to miss the winning ride on Ballyboker Bridge in the 2019 La Touche Cup when stood down after being unseated from the same horse, Curious Times, at that year's Punchestown festival.

"I got a good kicking in the ribs and have been sore since but thankfully there's no kidney, lung or rib damage," said Slevin. "All being well I'll hope to get back for this weekend."

There was not such positive news for Dylan Robinson, who is set to be out until May after a vertebra injury suffered when he was unseated from 66-1 shot Mount Melleray at Navan last month.

Robinson, who enjoyed a Grade 3 success aboard Zarkareva at Punchestown in October, said: "Unfortunately I fractured my C12 vertebra and I'm probably going to be out for around six months. I have a long road ahead but I'm slowly getting better and moving better."

He added: "It's a frustrating time of year for it to happen, things were picking up ahead of Christmas and I was riding a few winners, but I'll be looking forward to getting back whenever I can."

Romanised set for Hong Kong Mile swansong

Ken Condon has confirmed Romanised will have his final start in the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on December 13 before taking up stallion duties.

Romanised gave Condon his breakthrough Classic success when landing the 2018 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh and added the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last year.

Billy Lee will maintain his partnership with Romanised at Sha Tin, and Condon said on Tuesday: "Romanised is leaving for Hong Kong on Saturday. We were satisfied with his run at Dundalk as he missed the break.

"Strictly on hand timing, he ran quicker than any other horse in that race at Dundalk. He travelled through it well and, more importantly, has come out of it very well. He worked this morning and we were very happy with him. His form and his condition is good so hopefully he will run well.

“Billy is going to ride him and is also leaving on Saturday. With the way everything is, I won't be going over myself. They are sending private jets to send the staff down. It's an extraordinary process.”

BHA and ARO announce new interim integration measures

Trainers who are licensed by the BHA will also be able to train purebred Arabians from the same yard from the start of next year, the BHA and Arabian Racing Organisation have announced. The move is part of a set of interim measure put in place by the ARO due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

ARO chairman Charles Gregson said: "We thank the BHA and the Racing Foundation in enabling this progress towards integration. We are also very grateful to all our participants, sponsors, the officials, racecourses and supporters for their commitment to Arabian racing this year and look forward to the 2021 season.”

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