First flat fixture at Wetherby

Wetherby Racecourse in Yorkshire stages its first flat meeting on Sunday. The eight-race card attracted a whopping 158 declarations but the racecourse only has 91 stables and so the remainder were balloted out. Best known as home of the Charlie Hall Chase and Castleford Chase, Wetherby will stage four flat fixtures this summer.

Breeder of the Month

Josephine O’Callaghan, breeder of World Hurdle winner Cole Harden, has won the Connolly’s Red Mills Breeder of the Month competition for March. She is based in Kilworth, Co Cork.

Brian Boru flying high

Brian Boru, who stands at Longford House Stud in Templemore, Co Tipperary, had a treble from just three runners at Tramore last week.

The John Kiely-trained Master Appeal set the ball rolling in the maiden hurdle, Halls Bridge followed up in the chase for trainer Denis Hogan, while Jim Dreaper’s Lord Fingal completed the hat-trick in the hunter chase.

Standing alongside five-time Group 1 winner Vinnie Roe, Brian Boru (by Sadler’s Wells) was a Group 1 winner at two years and won the Doncaster St Leger at three.

Adelaide retires

THE Group and Grade 1 winner Adelaide has been retired to stud. The son of Galileo will commence stallion duties at Coolmore Australia later this year.

A winner in Europe, America and Australia, Adelaide recorded his biggest success last October when winning the 10-furlong Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. The decision to retire the horse was taken after he finished eighth at Randwick earlier this month on unsuitable soft ground.

Pony meeting

The first meeting of the Midlands Region of the Horse and Pony Racing Association takes place on Sunday, May 3rd, in Whitegate, Co Clare. A change to the rules of the Midlands Region sees all meetings requiring pre-entry this year. Entries can be made by telephone or text with Lisa Cregg at 086 3974260 between 7pm and 10pm on Sunday or Monday (April 26th-27th).