Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.IT IS just seven days since one of the most gruesome racing accidents in recent memory propelled Sedgefield into the evening news bulletins, amid calls for the closure of the course pending a thorough investigation. Three horses were killed in a collision between loose runners and the main body of the field, while Lorcan Wyer became a reluctant star of the next day's tabloids, in a freeze-frame photo which caught him being thrown several feet into the air.
Racing will return to Sedgefield today, however, unless frost intervenes, with trainers offering 69 votes of confidence in the track's safety. Double- figure fields have been declared for four of the races, with 15, the maximum allowed, due to go to post for the hunter chase.
Changes have been made since last week's events, to make it easier for loose horses to find their way to the exit gates from the course. A Jockey Club inspector approved the alterations on Friday.
``I wouldn't have declared my horse if I hadn't been happy with the safety of the course,'' Nicky Richards, who will saddle Jessolle in the novice chase, said yesterday. ``A lot of people seem to be jumping on the bandwagon, but they should remember that this can be a hard game and unfortunately things like this will happen from time to time.''
Lorcan Wyer also hopes to be back at Sedgefield today. ``I was mainly happy with the suggestions they made and the alterations they've made seem fine to me,'' the jockey said yesterday. ``I've no objections to going back and riding over the course as long as I'm not riding a scary donkey.''
Sedgefield can have few complaints about the size of its fields, but the same may not be true at Kempton on Saturday, where the Racing Post Chase may have a meagre turnout. Fifteen horses were declared for the race yesterday, but several, including General Wolfe, Unguided Missile and Double Thriller, have alternative entries in either the Jim Ford Chase at Wincanton on Thursday, or the Greenalls National Trial at Haydock on Saturday.
Those expected to go to Kempton include last year's winner, Super Tactics, and Dr Leunt, who won the Ladbroke Trophy at Cheltenham last month. The latter is favourite for Saturday's race with all the leading bookies, at prices ranging from Coral's 5-2 to a more respectable 4-1 with Ladbrokes.
There is an ante-post market too on the Greenalls race and again Coral are fighting shy of the favourite. In this case it is Nick Henderson's Fiddling The Facts, a 3-1 chance with Coral, but twice those odds with the Tote, who have Earthmover and Eudipe at the same price of 6-1.
Other probable runners include Young Kenny, who set off as the firm favourite for the Eider Chase three days ago, only to lose his rider, Brian Storey, in a bump at the first fence. ``He is none the worse for what happened,'' Peter Beaumont, his trainer, said yesterday. ``He has been out at exercise and he seems fine."
The latest set of entries for the Cheltenham Festival, which opens in three weeks' time, arrived yesterday, with a record number of names put forward for the meeting's handicaps. There are 546 horses in the seven events, with Martin Pipe alone responsible for 92 entries. His Gris D'Estruval, a possible runner in the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase, now has a total of 11 potential engagements at the Festival.
There were Cheltenham trials for two runners at Fontwell yesterday, although only one was an unqualified success. Arctic Camper won the novice hurdle by 19 lengths and may now represent Venetia Williams in the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle.
Lady Cricket, though, did little to advance her claims at Cheltenham, where her entries include the Champion Hurdle, the Arkle Trophy for novice chasers, and Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle. She won the National Spirit Hurdle by six lengths from Toto Toscato, but as David Johnson, her owner, admitted later, the display was ``inconclusive''.
``I don't know about the Arkle,'' Johnson said. ``She has seen a fence at home, but has never jumped one in public.''
Free bets, Business, page 17
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments