Arkle hope Chesterfield injured and out for rest of the season

The 2017 Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Chesterfield will be out of action until towards the end of the year after suffering a pre-stress fracture to his off hind lower cannon bone when getting off the mark over fences at Kempton in November.

Trainer Seamus Mullins said on Tuesday: "He's still in the betting for the Arkle in places but I've scratched him now and he won't be running again until the autumn.

"With a lesser horse we might have had him back before the end of the season as it's not a serious injury – just signs of a weakening of the honeycomb that makes up the bone, which was picked up when we did a scan – but we thought it was in his best interests to give him plenty of time."

The nine-year-old, who has won nine of his 26 races and is rated in the mid-140s over both hurdles and fences, was a general 33-1 chance for the Racing Post Arkle.

ITM adds to sponsorship portfolio

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing has expanded an ongoing promotion by sponsoring four mares-only bumpers in Britain in 2019.

The sponsorships are at Wetherby on Tuesday, Plumpton on Monday and then Chepstow on March 21 and Musselburgh on March 22. At each meeting ITM will host hospitality at the racecourse for all owners and trainers.

The sponsorship for each race will include a €2,000 voucher awarded to the winning owner, redeemable on a filly at an Irish store sale, as well as flights and accommodation for the winning trainer for their chosen sale.

ITM client relations manager Eimear Grant said: “ITM sponsored three mares-only bumpers in 2018, with two of the three €2,000 vouchers being subsequently redeemed at the Irish Store Sales. It's fantastic to add another race this year, and I hope it's an initiative that can continue to grow.”

New Agenda laid low

Trainer Paul Webber has reported New Agenda is suffering from a bacterial infection, following the seven-year-old's off-colour display when finishing last of ten runners in Sunday's Grosser Preis Von St Moritz.

Following victory on his first start on the snow in Switzerland this month, hopes were high for the son of New Approach heading into the local Group 2 contest.

However, his performance appeared too bad to be true, and speaking on Monday Webber said: "It was a bit of disaster really. His temperature is down this morning but his blood shows he has a bacterial infection – he must have picked it up just before the race and was therefore unable to do his best.

"He's on his way home now and we'll get him right before we make another plan."

Turner back soon

Conditional jockey Ross Turner has avoided serious injury following a fall on the Mick Sowersby-trained Ridgeway Pearl at Market Rasen on Sunday, trainer Oliver Greenall reported on Monday.

Turner was rushed to Lincoln hospital after parting company with the 150-1 shot at the final hurdle of the mares' novice contest, but looks set to return to action after a short break.

"He's bruised and sprained his ankle," said Greenall, whose stable Turner is attached to. "There's nothing broken but he's just a bit sore this morning."

Free entry at Catterick

Racegoers at Catterick's additional meeting a week on Friday will enjoy free entry into all enclosures, and there is no need to book or register in advance.

Fiona Needham, general manager and clerk of the course, said: "We’re pleased to be able to offer this additional fixture following the loss of our last three meetings due to frost and the equine influenza outbreak.

"We’re keen to get back racing and I’m sure that our racegoers are too, so it seemed like a great opportunity to offer a complimentary raceday to thank our supporters for their understanding over this last month."

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