Across the pond

[Mylute]

100-1 shot Roch N Horse (Per Incanto) upset the G1 Newmart Handicap over a 66-1 shot and 25-1 shot. Roch N Horse is the first New Zealand-bred to win the race and the race was open to males and females.
https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/b ... p-1/543050

Coolmore's Home Affairs disappointed.

[Mylute]

USA-bred Lighthouse (Mizzen Mast x More Hoping, by North Light) won the G1 Coolmore Classic down under.
https://www.breednet.com.au/news/17033/ ... or-america

[ThreeMustangs]

For sure, but Tiger Roll has won two Grand Nationals, three Cheltenham Cross Country Hurdles, a Triumph Hurdle, etc. if anyone has come close to being in Red Rum’s rarified air, I think he would definitely be the closest.

Honestly I think he should’ve been retired at the end of last season, but it sounds like this year’s cross country hurdle will be his swansong win lose or draw, so hopefully he just comes home safe.

Tiger Roll finished a gallant second in the Cross Country Chase in very trying conditions. I hope he enjoys retirement—he’s certainly earned it.

[BaroqueAgain1]

'Trying conditions' is an understatement. I missed his race, but I saw the last two on the card and the horses were throwing up more wake spray than a speedboat. And great clods of mud and turf. Even the winners looked like they were wading slowly past the wire.

[Mylute]

I like the completely different expressions on the jockeys in this photo.
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... delta-work

[Northport]

'Trying conditions' is an understatement. I missed his race, but I saw the last two on the card and the horses were throwing up more wake spray than a speedboat. And great clods of mud and turf. Even the winners looked like they were wading slowly past the wire.

Well the clerk of the course watered the track overnight… then they got 8mm of rain. It was a bit silly and resulted in a lot of English horses being scratched, while the Irish clearly thrived on it.

I’m really hoping that they let Tiger Roll ride off into the sunset. But the O’Learys are predictably unpredictable. Seeing Michael O’Leary cry after Tiger Roll loss was a bit much… like, buddy, you own the horse that beat him.

[Flanders]

Opinion piece on the gelding of Serpentine

https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/b ... MzAJVGQ-A4

This very last paragraph in this article says:

Nick Williams, the owner's son and racing manager, explained later that Serpentine had been gelded "on veterinary advice".

https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/arti ... -williams/

So I'm wondering if something happened that stopped him from being a stallion or maybe he was infertile and they just didn't want to say? They even say they would have preferred to keep him to be a stallion.
I know Itsallgreektome, 1990 Champion Turf Male, had to be gelded after getting cast in his stall and injured. It didn't prevent him from continuing his racing career but he couldn't be a stallion. And it was so long ago that I don't remember exactly what happened.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Maybe he developed a testicular tumor? An acquaintance had to geld her handsome and valuable stallion when he was diagnosed with a tumor on his testes. Had to do it to save his life.

[Northport]

Ireland wins every race the last day of Cheltenham. Willie Mullins is Champion Trainer, Paul Townend is Champion Jockey. Rachael Blackmore becomes the first female jockey to win the Gold Cup, aboard A Plus Tard.

Gordon Elliot came back a year after his ban with a whimper. He had been touting his 62 horse Cheltenham string as “savage” the last couple weeks, but came home with one handicap win and a win in the Cross Country. He also lost very promising novice hurdler Ginto today.

[ThreeMustangs]

Good on ‘em.

'It was tough getting them out' - Coolmore rescue families of Ukrainian staff

https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/ ... aff/546856

[BaroqueAgain1]

I saw that on Bloodhorse, and was touched by what Coolmore did. The families of 20 different employees (which could be a LOT of people) and they're putting them up wherever they can find space. Pretty righteous move on the part of the Irish.
Does Coolmore employ an unusual number of Ukrainians, or are they common workers at European stables?

[ThreeMustangs]

Noble Yeats won the Grand National under amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen (son of the owner) in his final ride.

https://www.racingpost.com/news/grand-n ... hen/549086

Only 15 of the 40 starters finished the race.

[Northport]

It has been reported that all 40 starters made it safely back to their stables post race. A great finish to the race for the Whaley Cohens. It's a bit more satisfying to see an amateur riding a horse owned by his dad and trained by a lesser known trainer win than see one of the multiple Gordon Elliott/Gigginstown/JP McManus runners win.

[KatieD]

It has been reported that all 40 starters made it safely back to their stables post race. A great finish to the race for the Whaley Cohens. It's a bit more satisfying to see an amateur riding a horse owned by his dad and trained by a lesser known trainer win than see one of the multiple Gordon Elliott/Gigginstown/JP McManus runners win.

Sadly Discorama was found to have suffered a pelvic injury and was subsequently put down.
Edited to add: Eclair Surf has died this morning as a result of a head injury sustained in the race.

[Northport]

It has been reported that all 40 starters made it safely back to their stables post race. A great finish to the race for the Whaley Cohens. It's a bit more satisfying to see an amateur riding a horse owned by his dad and trained by a lesser known trainer win than see one of the multiple Gordon Elliott/Gigginstown/JP McManus runners win.

Sadly Discorama was found to have suffered a pelvic injury and was subsequently put down.
Edited to add: Eclair Surf has died this morning as a result of a head injury sustained in the race.

Yeah just saw the post about Eclair Surf on Emma Lavelle’s Facebook page. Didnt know about Discorama.

Ughz

[BaroqueAgain1]

A little more info from RacingPost:
https://www.racingpost.com/news/grand-n ... urf/549391

I know the Grand National has been under scrutiny by animal welfare groups, so Aintree must have been so relieved to tell the public that there had been no fatalities at this year's grueling race. The tragic news today changes that, but I wonder if the public is aware of the two deaths.

[ThreeMustangs]

A little more info from RacingPost:
https://www.racingpost.com/news/grand-n ... urf/549391

I know the Grand National has been under scrutiny by animal welfare groups, so Aintree must have been so relieved to tell the public that there had been no fatalities at this year's grueling race. The tragic news today changes that, but I wonder if the public is aware of the two deaths.

There was another fatality earlier on the Aintree card: Elle Est Belle died of a suspected heart attack during the second race.

[Mylute]

Why is Noble Yeats's Grand National only a Grade 3?

[Flanders]

Why is Noble Yeats's Grand National only a Grade 3?

The Grand National is only a G3 race. Which seems weird. I guess I've never paid attention to jump racing and never realized it before you asked.

It seems like such an important race that you'd think it was a G1 but its only been a G3 since 1992. And was even downgraded for the 1995 running.

[Northport]

I believe I heard or read once that G1 jump races have field size limits (now that I look for it, I can't find any actual proof ). Because the Grand National allows 40 runners, it cannot be a Grade 1. Also, Grade 3 jump races are by definition handicaps, so all of the biggest races where assigned weights play such a huge role are Grade 3s.