There’s rarely a dull moment in the racing world, with the news-o-meter ticking over at a relentless pace. As such, it can be tough to keep up with all the latest headlines as the National Hunt season continues to hurtle towards its Cheltenham Festival destination.
With that in mind, here we present a rundown of the key stories from the week just gone, including news of a stellar display at Fairyhouse, a horse and jockey who face spells on the sidelines, an eyewatering sum spent at the December Sales, and more.
Lossiemouth Firm Favourite for the Champion Hurdle
With the troubles afflicting Constitution Hill and State Man’s defeat at his beloved Punchestown, there may be room for a new name on the Champion Hurdle Trophy in 2025.
Nicky Henderson’s super-sub, Sir Gino, staked his claim with a smooth success in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, but his participation in the event may entirely depend upon the status of stablemate Constitution Hill in March.
If the market is to be believed, the most likely winner as we approach the new year hails from Ireland and goes by the name of Lossiemouth.
Five-time Champion Hurdle winner Willie Mullins has rarely hidden his high opinion of this daughter of Great Pretender. Still only five years of age, this imposing mare is well on her way to delivering on that assessment.
Now a five-time Grade 1 winner, she rounded off 2024 with a career-best display in a top-tier event at Punchestown. First time out this season, she put even that effort in the shade.
Two-time Hatton’s Grace Hurdle winner and current Stayers Hurdle King Teahupoo was supposed to give her something to think about in the 2024 Hatton’s Grace. However, there was only one horse in this from a long way out. Absolutely tanking through the contest under Paul Townend, Lossiemouth swept past her rivals under her near-motionless rider to score by an ever-so-easy 3¾l.
On the back of this monstrous performance, Lossiemouth is the clear market leader for the 2025 Champion Hurdle at 7/4 with bet365.
Kennedy Breaks Leg…Again
The life of a jumps jockey comes fraught with peril – hurtling over hurdles and fences aboard 1-tonn beasts necessitates as much. As such, injury is never far away, but by any standards, Jack Kennedy has endured rotten luck with his falls.
Kennedy has already endured five spells on the sidelines following a broken leg - more than enough for one career. However, lightning struck Kennedy for a sixth time when the 25-year-old rider fractured his lower right tibia in a fall at Fairyhouse on Saturday, 30th November.
Kennedy will now spend Christmas and the New Year in recovery rather than chasing Grade 1 prizes. Fans and main employer Gordon Elliott will be keeping everything crossed that the rider is fit and able to return for the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Fastorslow Grinds to a Temporary Halt
For Kennedy, the dream of the Cheltenham Festival may remain alive for now. However, barring a miraculous turnaround in fortunes, Cheltenham 2025 will be without one of the star staying chasers from the past two seasons.
When thinking of the 3m+ chase division, the first horse to spring to mind is most likely dual Cheltenham Gold Cup king Galopin Des Champs, and rightly so. However, there is a horse in training who has beaten the Willie Mullins star not once, not twice, but three times.
Too good for Galopin Des Champs in the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Punchestown Gold Cup and the 2023 renewal of the John Durkan Memorial Chase, Fastorslow ruined his chance in the big one at Cheltenham when unseating at the 16th fence.
On the back of that mishap, trainer Martin Brassil and connections were no doubt keen to have another crack at the champ. That may yet come to pass, but it won’t be in 2025, with a soft tissue injury detected following his comeback outing at Punchestown ruling the eight-year-old for the season.
You Got To Me Fetches 4.8 Million Guineas at the Sales
Have you ever wondered how much it might cost to purchase a Classic-winning mare with future racing and breeding potential? This week provided a rough guide as Amo Racing head honcho Kia Joorabchian forked out a huge 4.8 million Guineas for a single lot at the December Mares Sale. For those who deal in pounds and pence, that equates to an eye-popping £5.05m!
Having splurged around £24m earlier in the year, Joorabchian had his eye on the Irish Oaks winning You Got To Me this time, and, despite stiff competition in the ring, he was not to be denied.
This purchase represents another step in Kia’s drive to take Amo Racing to the top, with the main motivation likely to be the acquisition of a high-class mare to breed with his growing band of stallions. However, we may see You Got To Me at the track for at least one more year, with initial reports suggesting the daughter of Nathaniel will remain in training with Ralph Beckett as a four-year-old.
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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