Paul Townend injury not as bad as first feared

Chief Turf Club medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick has issued an upbeat bulletin on Paul Townend after the former champion rider suffered a heavy final fence fall from Killultagh Vic in Sunday’s Irish Gold Cup.

Initially it was feared Townend would be out for some time and might even be doubtful for the Cheltenham Festival after damaging his ankle, but McGoldrick revealed the injuries sustained are not as bad as first feared.

He said: “Paul had his MRI scan on Tuesday and it’s really good news because it’s just bruising and nothing more. I’ve asked Paul to rest up for a fortnight and we will reassess him then, but it’s very positive and he should be back riding before long and definitely before Cheltenham.”

32Red in three-year deal to back Lincoln

Doncaster and Arena Racing Company have announced 32Red as the new sponsors of the Lincoln, which will be run for £100,000 on March 24.

Arc group director of partnerships, David Leyden Dunbar said: "We’ve always enjoyed an excellent relationship with 32Red through their sponsorship of the All-Weather Championships and we’re delighted to bring them on board to Doncaster for the first time with the 32Red Lincoln."

The deal to back the race which traditionally marks the start of the Flat turf campaign is for three years.

Royston Ffrench hoping to be back for Flat

Royston Ffrench is hoping to be back in action at the start of the turf season after suffering multiple injuries in a fall at Jebel Ali.

Ffrench sustained a dislocated elbow and fractures to his leg and arm in the incident late last month.

"He has had his operation and things are moving as you'd expect," the jockey's agent Mark Furnass said. "He's hopeful he will be back round about the start of the turf season.

"He's got to have some x-rays and it's a case of seeing how things come along. He's being well looked after and the heat will probably help his recovery."

Ffrench, a regular visitor to the UAE and the winner of the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night in 2010, was injured when the eight-year-old Frankyfourfingers fell while in the lead in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile.

He had already landed a winner and a second on the Jebel Ali undercard before the accident, in which his mount was fatally injured.

McKiernan and Browne verdicts upheld

The penalties dished out to trainer Oliver McKiernan and rider Barry Browne by the race day stewards at Gowran Park on January 25 under the non-triers' rule following the running and riding of Life Isfor Living were upheld by the appeals committee at a hearing on Tuesday.

The Gowran stewards deemed that Life Isfor Living did not perform on his merits and fined McKiernan €2,000, gave Browne a five-day suspension and banned the horse for 42 days under rule 212 A (ii).

The appeals body upheld the stewards' decision and also ordered both deposits be forfeited. Browne's suspension will run from the race days between February 8-15.

Juddmonte to sponsor Pretty Polly at Curragh

Juddmonte Farms Ireland have signed a new three-year deal to sponsor the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. The 1m2f race will be run with a minimum prize fund of €250,000 on Sunday July 1 and will be the highlight of day three of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival.