No blame for Killarney fall

NO blame has been apportioned to any rider for the accident at Killarney in July which left apprentice Ana O’Brien with serious injuries. O’Brien is on the way to making a full recovery and, along with her father Aidan, attended a Turf Club hearing this week where the incident was reviewed.

Groom cautioned

A GROOM who was observed punching a horse he was leading up in the parade ring at Tipperary last month has been cautioned for his actions. Eoghan Norris admitted to the charge and, taking his good record and personal circumstances into account, the Referrals Committee did not impose a financial penalty or suspend him from the racecourse.

Mulryan back at Cheltenham

PROPERTY developer Sean Mulryan is to again sponsor a race at the Cheltenham Festival after an eight-year gap. The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle re-emerges after being staged as the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle since 2010.

Elliott’s US plan

BECKFORD could be trainer Gordon Elliott’s first runner at the Breeders’ Cup. A Group 2 winner and twice placed second in Group 1 company, Beckford ran below his best in the Middle Park Stakes recently but his trainer reports the colt to have come out of the race well and says he is an intended runner in the Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in California later this month.

Free day at the races

STUDENTS will be given free entry to Leopardstown Racecourse for Killavullan Stakes Day on Sunday 22nd October, which features the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes and the Listed Trigo Stakes. The offer is being sponsored by Godolphin.

Kelvin-Hughes selling stock

GOFFS UK will hold a dispersal of 25 horses from owner-breeder Richard Kelvin-Hughes’ Trull House Stud at the Goffs UK January Sale.

To be consigned under Mill House and Little Lodge Studs, the draft of 25 fillies and mares will all be sold without reserve and will consist of nine mares, many of which are in foal to leading sires, as well as five foals, five yearlings and six two-year-olds.

Verbal switch

JIM Bolger’s Group 1 winner Verbal Dexterity was withdrawn from today’s Dewhurst Stakes at the declaration stage.

“His scope wasn’t clean this morning,” the trainer reported on Thursday.

Asked whether Verbal Dexterity was now finished for the season, Bolger added: “I hope not. We’ll be looking at the race in Saint-Cloud (Criterium International) and the Racing Post Trophy in Doncaster.” Bolger is still represented in the Dewhurst with likely outsider Theobald.

PTP fixtures

THE Kilkenny Foxhounds point-to-point at Grennan on Sunday, November 5th has been cancelled.

The Golden Vale meeting on November 19th meeting has been moved to Turtulla in Thurles, while the Suirvale fixture on November 26th has moved to Knockinroe, Templemore.