Bumper edition on Christmas Eve
THE next edition of The Irish Field will be in the shops 24 hours later than usual, on Sunday, December 24th. The publication date has been changed to allow the inclusion of the declarations for Irish and British racing on St Stephen’s Day. Also in this special edition will be entertaining reviews of the racing and bloodstock year, competitions, Christmas tips and previews.
Beryl Murless dies
BERYL Murless (98), wife of the late Stuart Murless, has died. Stuart, younger brother of English trainer Noel Murless, trained Nocturnal Spree to win the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in 1975 and Pampapaul to win the Irish 2000 Guineas the following year. Beryl and Stuart were based at Loughbrown Lodge on the Curragh from 1957 to 1983, before moving to the Curragh Stud on Melitta Road in Kildare.
Her funeral mass is in St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare at noon next Tuesday.
Extra race
AT the request of the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, a two-year-old maiden over five furlongs has been added to the card at Dundalk next Friday to form an eight-race card.
Death of Archipenko
LANWADES Stud has announced the death of stallion Archipenko due to a rapid and agresssive lymphoma. Aged 13, Archipenko is the sire of last Sunday’s Group 1 Hong Kong Cup winner Time Warp. Originally trained by Aidan O’Brien, Archipenko (by Kingmambo) achieved his best form when trained by Mike de Kock, for whom he won at Group 1 level in Hong Kong. He retired to Lanwades in 2010 having won over $3 million across three continents. His 140 individual winners included Group 1 winning filly Madame Chiang.
Vet fined
CURRAGH veterinary surgeon Alice Hickey was fined €6,000, and must pay €2,500 in costs, following a case heard in Naas District Court on Thursday. In September she was found guilty of supplying an animal sedative in April 2014 at a stud farm in Co Kildare.
RTÉ changes
HUGH Cahill and Ruby Walsh will assist Ted Walsh in presenting RTE’s racing coverage from Leopardstown and Limerick this Christmas. Usual presenter Robert Hall is recovering from illness. The recently-retired jockey Mikey Fogarty will also make an appearance in front of camera.
Fogarty retires
THE Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Mikey Fogarty has decided to retire from riding after 10 years in the saddle.
Fogarty, 27, rode more than 130 winners, including the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on Don Poli for Willie Mullins in 2014.
Jessica’s knockout
JESSICA Harrington was named The Irish Times Sportswoman of the Year yesterday. The trainer was selected ahead of 11 other nominees including boxing champion Katie Taylor.
Breeder award
THE winner of the Connolly’s Red Mills The Irish Field Breeder of the Month Award for November is Ronnie O’Neill, breeder of Grade 1 chase winner Outlander.