Yorkshire Jockeys Horse Racing

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The Jumping season –both in the north and in Britain as a whole – gathers significant momentum courtesy of Wetherby’s two-day bet365 Charlie Hall Chase Meeting (Friday and Saturday, October 31st & November 1st) which offers prize money of £265,000, while Doncaster stages the traditional finale to the British Flat season on Saturday, 8th, including the national presentations to the leading owner, trainer, jockey and apprentice rider. 

Top-class chasers – possible Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders – are set to face the starter in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase on the first Saturday this month at Wetherby. This prestigious £100,000 Grade 2 contest over three miles and one furlong remembers a famous Yorkshire trainer, Charlie Hall, who was based at nearby Towton. Regarded as a stepping stone for the heavyweights in the Jumping game for future big-race honours, this famous race should attract a quality line-up. Last year’s winner, Harry Topper represented former Cheltenham Gold Cup, Grand National and Champion Hurdle-winning trainer Kim Bailey, who is based near Cheltenham.  

Saturday’s seven-race programme also features another Grade 2 contest, The bet365 Hurdle (won for the past two years by the classy, enigmatic Tidal Bay), a £37,000 race which is sure to include progressive staying hurdlers which could go on to compete in The World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Another highlight on a quality Saturday is a Listed hurdle contest for fillies and mares over the extended two miles, The OLBG.com Hurdle, won last year by Cockney Sparrow – trained at Malton by John Quinn – who went on to win the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April.

 There’s a pair of Listed races on the Friday at Wetherby, with talented young hurdlers taking part in The Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Wensleydale Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle for three-year-olds and The bet365 Handicap Chase over the larger obstacles. 

The 2014 British Flat season on turf reaches a stylish conclusion at Doncaster the following Saturday, with Richard Hughes – the Champion Jockey for the past two years – having a titanic battle with former three-times champion, Ryan Moore in this season’s championship. Northern-based riders, Graham Lee and Joe Fanning are also in the mix, as the championship could go right down to the wire. 

Newmarket-based trainer, John Gosden leads the way in the British Trainers’ Championship, having accumulated almost £3.5 million in prize money; the championship is decided on the amount of prize money attained throughout the season. Once again, Yorkshire-based trainers are to the fore, with Mark Johnston and Richard Fahey having accumulated over £2 million in prize money, while David O’Meara and Kevin Ryan have burst through the £1 million barrier. 

The 2014 Go Racing in Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Series comes to a climax at Doncaster, with Megan Carberry leading the way in this special series for young riders on the Yorkshire courses, now in its second year.  

The battle for the Sky Bet trophies presented to the leading trainer and jockey on the Yorkshire courses during the Flat season, could go right down to the wire, particularly the riders’ category. Paul Mulrennan is the leader in the saddle, closely pursued by the winner for the last two years, Danny Tudhope, while Richard Fahey ( four-times winner) has a clear advantage over David O’Meara in the race to be the county’s top trainer. 

The action on the track at Doncaster features The Betfred November Handicap over one mile and a half, offering prize money of £65,000 with strong support from a couple of valuable £40,000 Listed races, The European Breeders’ Fund Gillies Fillies’ Stakes and The Wentworth Stakes. 

Redcar’s season on the Flat concludes on Tuesday, 4th, prior to the climax at Doncaster. Racing over Jumps at Wetherbycontinues with a meeting on Saturday, 15th – ‘totepool Day’ incorporating the annual CIU Charity Raceday at the popular West Yorkshire Jumps venue, which is also in action on Wednesday, 26th (‘Countryside Day’) A new season over Jumps at Doncaster begins on Tuesday, 18th and continues onFriday, 28th. 

Australia’s flagship race, The Melbourne Cup takes place in the early hours of Tuesday morning (4th) and it will be interesting to see if Estimate – owned by The Queen – is in the line-up, having finished runner-up in the Lonsdale Cup at York in August.