Ciaron Maher made Melbourne Cup history in the early hours of Tuesday morning, while Brendan Powell faces a spell on the sidelines after a nasty fall at Plumpton. Jack Nicholls has been hit with a lengthy whip ban, Hollie Doyle is heading back to Hong Kong, and the entries are in for Saturday’s big cards at Aintree and Doncaster. Here is the racing news today, rounded up for Tuesday.
Point Of Law hands Maher a Melbourne Cup clean sweep
The King’s former horse Point Of Law is the new Melbourne Cup champion. Having only his sixth career start, the Frankel colt was sent off favourite at Flemington and won with plenty to spare under Ethan Brown, giving Ciaron Maher his second success in the race after Gold Trip in 2022.
Maher’s dominance went well beyond the winner. Zahrann and Juja Kibo filled the places to hand the trainer the first three home, a feat not achieved in 166 years of the race, and five of his seven runners finished in the top six. Joseph O’Brien’s Sons And Lovers, who carried top weight, was the only horse to break up the Maher party in fourth, while there was little joy for JP McManus, who saw the heavily backed Hopewell Rock finish ninth and his own Trustyourinstinct come home 11th.
Brendan Powell faces spell out after Plumpton fall
Brendan Powell is set for a spell on the sidelines after breaking both bones in his forearm in a fall at Plumpton on Monday. The jockey was taken to hospital after Joe Tizzard’s Diamond Days fell at the first fence in the novices’ handicap chase, and the following race was delayed while he received treatment.
His father, Brendan Powell senior, confirmed that a full body scan was clear and that the injuries, which also include superficial facial cuts, will require surgery. Tizzard reported that Diamond Days was unscathed. Powell rode Tizzard’s Alexei to win the Greatwood and the Kingwell last season, so the yard may need to find a replacement if the Champion Hurdle fourth takes up his entry in Saturday’s Molyneux Hurdle.
Jack Nicholls handed 25-day whip ban
Group 1-winning jockey Jack Nicholls has been suspended for 25 days, eight of them deferred, for repeated breaches of the whip rules. The referral to a BHA disciplinary panel followed his ride on Strength Of Spirit at Hamilton in September, when he used his whip seven times, one more than the permitted limit on the Flat.
It was his fifth breach in around six months, which triggered the referral. The panel reduced the penalty from the 28-day entry point after taking his admission into account, and one day of the ban will be served through specialist coaching. The deferred days will stand for six months or 200 rides, whichever comes first.
Hollie Doyle granted Hong Kong licence
Hollie Doyle will spend the winter in Hong Kong again after being granted a short-term licence by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Her licence runs from 29 November to 31 January, and she can take rides from 2 December, ahead of the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on 13 December.
The news comes just days after Doyle returned from a leg injury that had kept her out since May, and she marked her comeback with a winner on her first ride back at Southwell on Saturday. She rode five winners from 99 rides during her stint in Hong Kong last winter.
Saturday entries: Mydaddypaddy and Alexei clash at Aintree
Six have been entered for Saturday’s Grade 2 William Hill Molyneux Hurdle at Aintree, headed by Alexei and Dan Skelton’s Supreme third Mydaddypaddy, who is a 7/1 shot for the Champion Hurdle. Gordon Elliott’s Grade 1-winning filly Mange Tout and Lucky Place, who also holds an entry in the Pertemps qualifier on the card, are among the other possibles.
Twelve have been entered for the Grade 2 Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase, which has been switched from Wincanton. Paul Nicholls’ Challow Hurdle winner No Drama This End is the standout, while Skelton has recent chase winners Talk To The Man and Royal Infantry among the possibles. Imperial Saint, who has three wins and a second from five starts over the Mildmay fences, is entered in the 3.35pm handicap chase.
The Flat turf season comes to a close at Doncaster on the same afternoon with the Virgin Bet November Handicap at 3.25pm.
Racing today
The first and last race times below are from the live racecards when this draft was built. Check for late changes before publication.
Flemington — first race: 04:00 · last race: 23:45
Fairyhouse — first race: 12:00 · last race: 16:04
Warwick — first race: 12:18 · last race: 15:48
Sedgefield — first race: 12:44 · last race: 15:39
Lingfield — first race: 13:02 · last race: 15:57
Wolverhampton — first race: 16:30 · last race: 20:30
[View today’s racecards] · [Latest non-runners] · [Today’s results]