Grand National winner, Pineau De Re’s
summer holidays have come to an end and he has recently embarked on the long
road back to Aintree, starting with plenty of roadwork to build his fitness. The
main season target of the 2015 Grand National is 7 months away.
The local hero’s Claines trainer, Richard
Newland is enjoying a great run of form in 2014 with his small string. On a
recent Fontwell card, where Worcestershire trainers Newland and David Dennis
were responsible for 3 winners out of the 7, both Gran Maestro and Vosne
Romanee were seen to good effect for Newland. Following a short break in the
National Hunt calendar, Gran Maestro has been declared at Worcester for today’s
twilight card.
Last week’s meeting at Pitchcroft saw
another success for owners Paul and Clare Rooney. Four year old duel French winner, Kitchapoly gave
Tony McCoy the second leg of his treble on the day and is just one of 56 horses
that the Rooney’s have in training with Grand National winning trainer, Donald
McCain. The Rooney’s current string totals 70 horses, with 6 jumpers trained at
Bourton on the Water by Nicky Henderson’s former assistant, Ben Pauling, and a
further 8 horses running on the flat.
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Desert Orchid’s jockey, Colin Brown who won
17 races from 42 rides aboard the popular grey was on hand at Worcester to
present a trophy to the owners of Accessallareas. The horse won the opening race, run to
promote what promises to be a highly entertaining charity dinner in the
Grandstand after racing on the 9th October, jointly in aid of St
Richard’s Hospice and the Injured Jockey’s fund.
Alvechurch trainer, Ian Williams has
recently succeeded in his ambition to saddle a winner at every course in Great
Britain. The final track Williams needed to conquer was Thirsk in North Yorkshire,
where Cruise To The Limit managed to get his nose in front. The trainer puts his success down to being
ideally located in the Midlands and the diversity of the horses he trains.
We would also like to congratulate
Worcester’s Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Andrew Harrison, a partner at the Three
Counties Equine Hospital near Tewkesbury.
Harrison, who is one of the 4 vets employed to oversee the veterinary
care at every Worcester meeting, has just been appointed as President of BEVA,
the British Equine Veterinary Association.
The first race today is due off at 3.50pm.
