Charles and Philip Byrnes have been cleared of any wrongdoing following a final flight unseat at Wexford last May, while star novice chaser Lulamba is to run in open company at Newbury on Saturday.
Here is today’s racing news round-up for Friday 6 February.
Charles and Philip Byrnes escape punishment for Wexford incident
Charles & Philip Byrnes have been cleared by the IHRB Referrals Committee of any wrongdoing following a final flight incident at Wexford in May. Philip Byrnes was unseated from Redwood Queen, a notable drifter in the market, at the final flight when seemingly in control of victory in a claiming hurdle event. However, despite evidence presented by Grand National winner Leighton Aspell on behalf of the IHRB, neither was found guilty. (Daily Mirror)
Lulamba moves into open company before the Cheltenham Festival
Star novice chaser Lulamba will race in open company on Saturday at Newbury. The Grade 1 winner over both hurdles and fences will contest the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase, a race Henderson has run both Sprinter Sacre and Altior in when they were novices and both of whom won this race with aplomb. Rivals include last year’s one-two in Master Chewy and Libberty Hunter, as well as the progressive Saint Segal. The Arkle Challenge Trophy will still be the Lulamba’s aim at the Cheltenham Festival. (Sporting Life)
Friday Night Live gets underway at Newcastle
The Friday Night Live initiative, aimed at attracting a younger audience to racing, begins this evening at Newcastle. The initial meeting had been due to be hosted at Wolverhampton in January, but was abandoned due to snow. However, Newcastle’s card will go ahead with nine races on offer on Friday. The star attraction among the jockeys is Tom Marquand, who has five rides booked on the night. (Racing Post)
Big race winners on Thursday could have Cheltenham impact
The big winner on Thursday in Ireland was Salvator Mundi, who won his first chase at the third attempt. Willie Mullins’ Grade 1 winning novice hurdler had been surprisingly usurped on debut by stablemate Kappa Jy Pyke before finding top level company too hot in his second start. However, he made no mistake at Thurles on Thursday, cruising to a 28-length triumph. Paul Townend was full of praise for his mount, stating that “you couldn’t knock him today.” The Arkle now looms as a possibility in March at Cheltenham. (Irish Examiner)
Finally, at Huntingon, Act Of Innocence set up his own Cheltenham bid by winning the Listed Sidney Banks Novices’ Hurdle. The six-year-old joined Nicky Henderson at the start of this season and bounced back from a surprising defeat for a 3 3/4-length victory over Glance At Midnight. He has now won two of his three hurdles starts and boasts entries in both the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. (Islington Gazette via PA)