A jockey lost in the city, redemption for a trainer and a great stampede

Equine performance of the week

Rewind a couple of months and it would be fair to say Total Recall was hardly a name on people's lips.

The eight-year-old has come a long way in a short space of time since switching to Willie Mullins and after cruising home on the bridle in the Munster National, he showed a tenacious side – not to mention a staggering amount of improvement – to give his trainer a first victory in the Ladbrokes Trophy, a race formerly known as the Hennessy.

It was redemption for Mullins after Be My Royal lost the race in 2002 for testing positive for a banned substance caused by contaminated feed.

Human performance of the week

Gordon Elliott created a little bit of history on Sunday when becoming the first trainer to collect a clean sweep of Grade 1s at Fairyhouse with victories in the Royal Bond (Mengli Khan), Hatton's Grace (Apple's Jade) and Drinmore (Death Duty).

Agonisingly denied by Willie Mullins in an Irish trainers' title scrap that went right down to the wire last year, Elliott was keeping quiet about a bid for revenge.

However, the bookmakers think another battle royale could be in the pipeline as Betfair Sportsbook cut Elliott to 6-4 (from 9-4) and eased Mullins to 8-15 (from 1-3) following the terrific treble.

Heroic loser of the week

Even backers of Ladbrokes Trophy favourite Total Recall would have spared a thought for Whisper, who was anchored by the stone he gave away to the winner in the final strides of the 3m2f contest.

It was a mighty effort by the former high-class hurdler and had trainer Nicky Henderson ruing the fact his charge picked up a penalty for winning a Kempton graduation chase last month.

"What a good old warrior he is, it's just that clown Henderson went and gave him a 4lb penalty," the trainer said.

Disappointment of the week

The Long Distance Hurdle was only ever going to be a stepping stone on to other targets for Thistlecrack but even his biggest supporters would have struggled to glean positives from his rather flat comeback at Newbury.

Returning after ten months off, last season's King George hero travelled strongly enough for the majority of the race before wilting out of contention to finish fifth of six behind shock winner Beer Goggles.

Colin Tizzard has since said Thistlecrack had not been fit as he had thought and he expects his star to improve massively for the run going into the King George.

The bookmakers aren't as convinced with Thistlecrack and pushed him out to 8-1 in places to successfully defend his Kempton title.

Picture of the week

Seeing a stride: Willoughby Court leads Yanworth over the open ditch at NewburyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Tweet of the week

"@drownie1 has been a huge help and asset to me since I started training. We'll miss having him on board on the track but hope we can still call on his invaluable advice and feedback on the gallops at home. #topman"

Trainer Charlie Hills leads the tributes after multiple Group 1-winning jockey Steve Drowne announced he will retire at the end of the year.

Quote of the week

"I'm from Devon, a bit feral, and this is my second time to London. On the train I said to Paul [Nicholls], 'You're going to have to help me out here. I'm a bit nervous about London and people. I'd need something you have for kids [a harness] otherwise I'd wander off into a crowd and be lost'."

Bryony Frost, speaking at the Ladbrokes Trophy lunch during the week, might not be much of a city girl but she's big in the country as she proved with another Saturday winner on Old Guard at Newbury.

Video of the week

The race is on for a prime spot as the gates open on Japan Cup day at Tokyo racecourse . . .

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