It’s brawl sorted out for Nicky and Nigel
top National Hunt trainers Nicky Henderson and Nigel twiston-Davies have denied that they had an altercation in the Ascot car park, a rumour that has been the talk of horseracing since the recent royal meeting.
their alleged confrontation amid the numerous well-lubricated car-boot parties that take place after racing — in the parking space reserved for owners and trainers across the road from the racecourse — is said to have been about Nicky Henderson’s champion chaser Sprinter Sacre.
the rumour doing the rounds was that the conversation ended in a brawl with punches thrown, but both trainers strongly deny there was any physical contact between them.
Racing great Sprinter Sacre was retired last November after winning 18 of his 24 races in an injury-hit career. He has been spending the summer in one of twiston-Davies’s fields — owner Caroline Mould has horses with both trainers.
twiston-Davies claims Henderson had the wrong idea that his beloved Sprinter Sacre, who he described as the ‘ horse of a lifetime’, was coming out of retirement to be trained in future by twiston-Davies.
twiston-Davies said: ‘We had a chat but there was nothing more to it than that and certainly there was no fighting. Nicky had been fed some false information and I was putting him right.
‘Sprinter Sacre is only staying with me on his holiday until Caroline decides if the horse goes eventing or whatever.’
Henderson said only that the alleged incident with twiston-Davies was ‘absolute rubbish’ and that he and Nigel were ‘great friends who talk every day’.
CHELSEA and England Under 21 striker Tammy Abraham moving on loan to Swansea has upset other clubs, who claim there is not a level playing field because Abraham’s agent Neil Fewings, of Wasserman Media Group, also represents Swansea manager Paul Clement. Reportedly, Brighton and Newcastle were told they would have to pay an additional £1million to cover signing-on fees for the player, his family and agent when Chelsea didn’t ask for a fee. It led to clubs being convinced Abraham (above) was always heading for Swansea.
THERE is concern among Football League clubs about the conflict of interest issue with Nicholas Randall QC, the new chairman of Nottingham Forest, representing Queens park Rangers in their long-running dispute with the FL over paying Financial Fair play penalties. Randall’s involvement was relayed to clubs by FL chief executive Shaun Harvey at the end of the summer meeting — leaving no opportunity for questions.
UPPER Thames Rowing Club, based halfway along the Henley course, caused chaos during the Regatta by closing a public towpath and making spectators trek a considerable distance to gain entry. Locals want the club’s Henley funding withdrawn.