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Thanks for highlighting this vf. I recall it was mentioned that retirement was probably on the cards for Noble Yeats after what proved to be his final race, but did not see anything further in the media after that.
The fact that a star horse who won a Grand National slipped away into retirement without considerably more fanfare or notice seems a shame to me.
That’s what makes it so irritating HCMW. O’Brien is clearly a master trainer, and I’m sure he does have a very good idea of which of his horses are truly exceptional, but they can’t all be.
I am not convinced the hyperbole enhances the stallion prospects of his charges either – does anyone really take these comments seriously now?
“Aidan said he doesn’t like to go slow 😂 well he didn’t go fast.”
That amused me too vf. If only the horse were slower so that he could have won
I find the nonsense spouted by O’Brien far more irritating than anything Nicky Henderson says.
Putting aside the commendable moral objections, its position in the calendar when the Jumps season is reaching its climax means I struggle to give it much attention.
The stewards’ report says:
“The rider, the BHA Veterinary Officer and the Racecourse Veterinary Surgeon were interviewed. Loughnane was suspended for 21 days for improper riding in that in riding his mount back, he had acted against the instructions of the Veterinary Surgeon.”
A face value reading of this gives the impression that Loughnane ignored a clear instruction given by the vet, in which case 21 days wouldn’t seem harsh to me.
However, whether the report gives the full picture of what happened is another matter.
All fatalities are of course terrible, but when they occur at what should be a joyous moment of victory really heaps on the misery.
Desperately sad, condolences to the horse’s connections.
RIP Yummy
Great post greenasgrass.
The trainer seems incredibly well informed about the situation for someone who wasn’t there, so hopefully they can answer the questions about the passport.
A couple of early nominees here for villain and hero of the year. Well done Fred Rimell.
The length of ban of eight months (effectively reduced to six) for Howchin doesn’t seem long enough to me.
Somewhat ironic that I doubt Declan Queally’s public allegations will make him a pariah within the sport like Bryony Frost, even though her allegations were found to be true.
Thanks Gladiateur.
Not a surprise the result was heavily in favour of her running in the Champion Hurdle. If anything, I’d have thought it might be even further in that direction.
ERL, Edredon Bleu won the King George just shy of his twelfth birthday when having an even greater step up in trip than he was used to. Perhaps Envoi Allen’s connections thought the longer distance may be more suitable as some pace may have been lost with age.
Envoi Allen was a Grade 1 chase winner this season, and I don’t think connections were being reckless by running him yesterday.
I’m always in favour of looking at what safety improvements can be made, but risks are always going to exist sadly. We are never going to be able to find a set of rules that stop all deaths from happening.
Let’s hope not Astralcharmer, though I share your lack of faith in the BHA’s wise judgement.
I think the most recent 12 year-old to place in the Gold Cup was See More Business. He was third to Best Mate in a competitive field of 18 in 2002.
Aucunrisque, whose biggest win came in the 2023 Betfair Hurdle, is on the BHA non-racing agreements list. Wishing him a long and happy retirement.
I hope there are no new rules. The only rule that would prevent fatalities in racing would be the “no racing at all” rule.
The risk involved in racing cannot ever be removed entirely, and continuously adding reactive rules after each sad event will eventually destroy the sport, which will in no way benefit the horses either.
