FOUNTAINS DEATH IS A SAD BLOW
I WAS meant to be riding Fountains Windfall today at Warwick, but I got the call at Kempton yesterday to say that he’d died in a freak schooling accident.
I’m devastated for Anthony Honeyball and the owners, The Fountains Partnership. It’s horrible when you lose a horse, but even more so when they’re as highly talented as Fountains Windfall.
He was Anthony’s stable star and quite rightly. I’d won on him four times and he should have probably won a fifth, and a Grade One at that, but for falling.
He had so much potential and this race was meant to be a stepping-stone to the Cheltenham Festival. My thoughts are with Anthony and the owners.
I have four rides at Warwick today and Saint Calvados (2.40) is a tremendously exciting horse and we’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t win.
He couldn’t have done anything better in his two runs over fences. He jumped really well both times and hasn’t had to answer any questions yet.
That could change with North Hill Harvey in the field. He’s one of three rivals in the Grade Two Betway Kingmaker Novices’ Chase.
Strictly
He’s got an 18-length Cheltenham Grade Two win to his name this season, which was sandwiched by a win over Sceau Royal in October and a second to the same horse last time.
He’s rated only 2lb lower than my fella, but he has achieved more strictly on the formbook.
Royal Tara (1.30) is a nice, big horse but hasn’t run since May and will have his first run for Venetia Williams. I am not sure it will be his day in the Visit The All New racinguk.com Novices’ Hurdle, but I think he’s one for the future.
Lamanver Odyssey (2.05) runs in the Listed OLBG.com Mares’ Hurdle. I won on her at Wincanton in November. She loves soft ground but she’s rated 10lb behind Midnight Tour and that is going to make things tricky.
Chance
I rode Just A Thought (3.50) to finish third in a Listed bumper at Sandown in March, and she hasn’t finished out of the places in her seven starts.
She ran a good race at Newbury last month, and has a good chance.
Cloudy Bob (3.35) won on his first start for Anthony Honeyball and makes a quick reappearance at Exeter tomorrow. He’s got a good chance of making it a quick double.
Finally, there’s been a load of stuff written about Irish racing joining Racing UK from next year, and a lot of people have their own views on how it might work.
I am obviously a Racing UK ambassador, so you could say I’m biased, but I don’t agree with those who question the quality of Racing UK’s production and presentation.
I appear on Racing UK on a regular basis, and obviously watch the channel when I can, and can vouch for the planning, effort and passion that goes into each programme.
Irish racing will be in very good hands when it comes to how it’s promoted and showcased on TV.
Aidan is sponsored by Racing UK, which has recently unveiled its newlook website. Features include seamless betting through the site, oddschecker integration, Timeform Premium Ratings, dedicated racecourse feeds, pop-out video players and seven-day catch up service. See www.racinguk.com for more.