National Hunt racing returned
last weekend following the short September break. The Worcester meeting prior to the break saw
the ever-popular Hunt Ball return to the track after his hurdle win here in
May (pictured coming into the Winners Enclosure further down the blog). This was to be his prep run prior
to the American Grand National on the 18th October. Having enjoyed a short holiday over the
summer, the 2012 Cheltenham Festival winner was a picture of calm and
confidence with ears pricked as he jumped to perfection and enjoyed his tussle
to the line with two time Worcester winner, Mont Choisy, ridden by Sam
Twiston-Davies. Jockey Andrew Tinkler,
who will ride Hunt Ball in the big race in next month, commented that he loved
the quick ground. Giving weight away all
round, Hunt Ball seems to relish small fields, as all three of his hurdling
wins have come in four runner races.
Sarah Henderson, daughter of
trainer Nicky Henderson, accompanied the ten year old to Worcester and
commented with a tinge of sadness, that Hunt Ball will travel to New York early
in October and following the race in which he came 9th in 2013, he
will remain in the US and run over timber under a new trainer.
Hanley Swan trainer, David Dennis
enjoyed further success at his local track on the same card when he sent out
King’s Song to win the second division of the Hands and Heels handicap hurdle under
amateur rider, Zak Baker. However, there
was a sting in the tail for Baker who broke the rules of the race by tapping
his mount with the whip on the landing side of the last hurdle, which duly cost
him a 7 day riding ban.
There is a new 95 minute
documentary film on the horizon which will certainly be a must-see for all National
Hunt racing fans. The film has also
been targeted at a much wider audience appeal with its tale of thrills, spills
and brutal honesty.
Underlining its star quality, ‘Being
AP’ was nominated from 6,000 films to one of only 400 screened at the Toronto
International Film Festival last week.
The story follows AP McCoy’s final season in the saddle, although when the
filming began, the crew had no idea it was to be the 20 times champion’s
farewell season.
The early part of the story
focuses on the extensive injuries McCoy sustained throughout his remarkable
career and it includes a clip of his serious fall at Worcester last autumn,
resulting in the shoulder injury which put paid to his dream of riding 300
winners in a season. The film has its UK premier on
the 23rd November and will be in cinemas from the 27th.
Worcester Racecourse is pleased
to support the national Macmillan coffee morning fundraising at its race
meeting tomorrow, when gates will open from 12.20pm
