Constitution Hill has been seen practising the starting stalls ahead of a possible run on the flat at Southwell in February. Meanwhile, legendary Italian jockey Frankie Dettori is set for his final rides on Sunday, as he dons the riding silks for a final time in Brazil. Check out Thursday’s racing news round-up.
Constitution Hill prepares for Flat run at Southwell by having stalls practice
Former Champion Hurdle hero Constitution Hill has been seen in starting stalls for the first time, as he prepares for a run on the Flat at Southwell on the Friday Night Live card on February 20. Having last been seen suffering another fall in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, Nicky Henderson is opting to try and get a confidence-boosting run in the nine-year-old as he looks to recapture his Champion Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 10 March. The Racing Post have shown a video of the dual Cheltenham Festival winner in the starting stalls ahead of his run at Southwell. (Racing Post)
Frankie Dettori set for Brazil farewell on Sunday
Frankie Dettori is set for his last four rides this Sunday when the enigmatic Italian bows out of the weighing room at Gavea in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Dettori has been travelling the globe on a farewell tour and has been seen riding in the USA in recent months after bowing out of British racing. The multiple Classic-winning rider will have a final ride aboard Nidavellir before he takes up his new role as Global Brand Ambassador to Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing. (Sporting Life)
Sandown Saturday card given the green light
Sandown Park’s Saturday card has passed an inspection on Thursday morning and they will run their planned card this weekend. After receiving another 10mm of rainfall on Tuesday, the Esher track had pencilled in a couple of additional chase races, should the hurdles track be waterlogged, but it was announced on Thursday that the racecourse is fit for racing and they can host their original meeting as planned. The highlight of the day is the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase. (Sporting Life)
L’Homme Presse set for Denman Chase ahead of Gold Cup tilt
L’Homme Presse ran a stormer in defeat at Cheltenham last weekend, as the Venetia Williams-trained 11-year-old chased home Spillane’s Tower in the Cotswold Chase. Well, Williams has set out the plan for her former Cheltenham Festival winner ahead of another tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, as he’s set to run in the Denman Chase at Newbury in a couple of weeks.
Owner Andy Edwards said: “Ideally we will go to the Denman Chase then the Gold Cup as long as he is all right,” Obviously we’re not going to know that fully until the weekend when he does a bit more work.
“We’re not expecting to win the Gold Cup and it will be more hoping – you have to be realistic. But if he could get into the first five in the Gold Cup, that would be fantastic and we still don’t know what will even get there. Cheltenham is still a fair way away in a horse’s life.” (At The Races)