Albert Bartlett sixth Derrinross ruled out for the season

The Philip Dempsey-trained Derrinross, a dual Graded novice hurdle winner who finished sixth in last season's Albert Bartlett, has been ruled out for the season through injury.

It had been planned for Derrinross to go novice chasing this winter, but Dempsey's stable star is on the sidelines with a view to getting him back next season.

Dempsey said: "It's disappointing, but what can you do? He's had a lot of problems through the years but he's one who's worth giving the time to so hopefully he can come back next season.

"He has plenty of ability but he's always had problems. He obviously did very well for us last year so hopefully there's still a bit of fun to be had with him. We'll give him the time he needs."

Leicester to inspect for Thursday's meeting with heavy rain forecast

Leicester's meeting on Thursday, scheduled to feature the Listed Charnwood Forest Mares' Chase (2.15), is subject to an 8am inspection due to the threat of heavy rain overnight.

Although Wednesday is forecast to be dry, the levels of rain into Thursday are concerning officials.

Speaking on Wednesday morning, clerk of the course Jimmy Stevenson said: "We're perfectly okay at the moment but we've got quite a lot of rain forecast overnight. We could get between 10-15mm and it just depends on how it impacts us, so we'll check in the morning. We've been dry for the last ten days but the ground is still wet underneath."

The ground at Leicester on Wednesday morning was described as soft, heavy in places on the hurdle track and good to soft, soft in places on the chase course.

Following the wet autumn, the dual-purpose track was forced to cancel its last two Flat fixtures and first two jumps meetings.

David Sunderland funeral

The funeral of former jockey and valet David Sunderland will take place at Banbury Crematorium, Oxfordshire, at 1pm on Thursday.

A reception afterwards is to be held at the Cherwell Edge Golf Club.

Galway Hurdle-winning trainer Ray Peacock dies aged 86

Jack Berry has paid tribute to former jockey and trainer Ray Peacock, who died aged 86 on Boxing Day.

Peacock has been involved in horseracing in some form for just under 65 years. He rode 25 winners before taking out his trainer's licence in 1965 and was best known for training the classy hurdler Rushmoor, who became the first British-trained winner of the Galway Hurdle in 1986. Rushmoor also won the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Peacock trained for three decades before breaking his neck in a gallops accident in 1999, the injury that left him paralysed from the waist down.

Nine years later Peacock sent out his first winner since the accident when Komreyev Star won at Southwell and he continued to train a small string in Worcestershire, with his last winner coming in 2014 and final runner in February 2019.

Former trainer and Injured Jockeys Fund pioneer Berry, a close friend, said: "I knew him when he was riding and he was always a good lad. He only trained in the smallest way but he always looked after his horses really well. He was the most even-tempered lad you could ever meet.

"He absolutely loved his horses, even in his wheelchair he'd go down his yard every day to take a look at them every day. He was so dedicated to the sport. The Injured Jockeys Fund has monitored him so well for so long. We had a lot of fun and I'll miss him terribly."
James Stevens

Royal jumps rider Gene Kelly dies aged 91

Gene Kelly, who rode winners for the Queen Mother, has died aged 91.

Born in Minworth, Sutton Coldfield, he served his apprenticeship with Joe Lawson at Manton. Following his national service, during which he became United Services flyweight champion, he embarked on a career as a jump jockey, riding his first winner on Star Of April at Worcester in October 1954.

Gene Kelly: rode for the Queen Mother

Kelly won five races on the Queen Mother's chaser Gay Record between 1961 and 1963, including when breaking the Windsor three-mile track record by almost nine seconds.

He rode in two Grand Nationals and was unlucky not to ride the 1963 winner Ayala. He was offered the ride by trainer Keith Piggott but had to turn it down having already accepted another mount.

He rode a total of 89 winners before his career was ended by a fall at Chepstow in February 1965.

Having been forced to retire from race-riding, Kelly worked as sales manager for a horse feed and equine products supplier. Living in the village of Willersey, near Broadway, he and his wife Diana also bred and showed rams and Lleyn Peninsula sheep.
Chris Pitt

National Spirit Hurdle likely option for Australian challenger Big Blue

There could be an Australian flavour to the Netbet Casino National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell next month with joint trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace eyeing a tilt at the Grade 2 event with Big Blue.

Big Blue pulled up in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on December 26, but connections are hoping to run the eight-year-old at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

He was an easy winner of the Galleywood Hurdle – one of Warrnambool's May Carnival feature contests – last year and finished third under Ryan Moore on the Flat during the Spring Carnival at Flemington before travelling to Britain.

Eustace said: "We're still hoping to run him at the Cheltenham Festival and we'll have a clearer picture of which race we'll go for after we see how he fares next time and once he has a mark.

“The Cleeve Hurdle is an option in the short term and there are a couple of potential races in Ireland, but he's quite likely to go for the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.

"We were disappointed with his run at Kempton but we learned plenty from it. We were pretty happy with the first half of the race, but he hit the fourth-last and lost his position quite quickly. He reached the heights in Australia but is still lightly raced and finding his feet in Britain."
Jack Haynes

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