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Jump Jockeys to the Fore at Goodwood’s 2008 Season Finale
09/10/08

Jimmy McCarthy is looking forward to the rare thrill of riding around Goodwood’s unique contours in the Ucello II And Ubu III Trophy Handicap (2.00pm) over two miles on Sunday, October 12, the racecourse’s final fixture of the year.

The opening race on the card is restricted to National Hunt jockeys and has become a popular feature since its inauguration in 1995, when it was staged at Goodwood’s first Sunday fixture. The contest, switched to October in 2003, is supported by the Marquesa de Moratalla and honours her two Grand Steeplechase de Paris heroes, Ucello II and Ubu III, who captured many top prizes in France for trainer Francois Doumen.

McCarthy is something of a regular in the race, having won it on Father Sky for trainer Oliver Sherwood in 1997 and finished fourth last year on Moonshine Beach. This year he partners the Michael Blanshard-trained The Composer on whom he has finished second three times over hurdles.

The six-year-old gelding, successful on the Flat at Salisbury in July, was a length and three quarters fourth to Pseudonym over two miles, one furlong at Bath on September 29, having filled the runner-up berth at Kempton the time before.

McCarthy revealed today: "The race is a novelty and I always enjoy riding at Goodwood. It’s good to have a ride in the race and the people look after us very well down there, they always give us a nice bit of grub afterwards.

"The Composer would have to be in the shake up if you look at his last couple of runs. He won back in July and has been in good form recently. He was a good fourth last time so he would have a squeak if I can get tune out of him.

"I won on Father Sky as a prep run for the Mercedes Benz Chase at Chepstow and he went on to win that too. I’ve ridden in the race a few times and finishing fourth last year was the closest I’ve come to winning it again.

"The jumps lads enjoy the experience. Most of them do it for a bit of craic but at the same time it’s a competitive race and we all treat it as such."

Timmy Murphy, subsequently successful in the John Smith’s Grand National, took the spoils last year aboard Estate.

In 2000, top Flat jockey Richard Hughes, having previously ridden over hurdles, renewed his jumping licence to ride in the race and scored astride Samarardo. The rider, second in this year’s Flat jockey championship is set to have a mount again on the James Eustace-trained At The Money. Other jockeys likely to participate in the contest this year include Timmy Murphy, Jason Maguire, Colin Bolger, Christian Williams, Paddy Brennan and Andrew Tinkler.

Goodwood’s final race day of 2008 provides a fitting conclusion to yet another fantastic year at the picturesque Sussex course, which enjoyed many highlights through the season, notably the five spectacular days of Glorious Goodwood.

IDLE POWER SEEKS VICTORY IN "HIS" RACE

Five-time Goodwood winner Idle Power could bid to win the race named in his honour, the £12,000 Idle Power Handicap (4.20pm) over six furlongs.

The day’s feature race pays tribute to the 10-year-old, winner of the Stewards’ Sprint Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in 2005, whose latest triumph at the course came in the Goodwood Aero Club Handicap on May 30. That race was Idle Power’s 100th career start.

Trainer Peter Harris bought Idle Power for 33,000 guineas at Tattersalls in October, 1999. The Common Grounds gelding proceeded to win four races for the handler and his owners, The Dreamers, before again passing through the Park Paddocks auction ring in October, 2002.

His new owners, The Idle B’s, comprising some of the original syndicate members, sent Idle Power to Epsom trainer Jim Boyle, who saddled him for an initial Goodwood victory in the Goodwood Aerodrome Handicap in May, 2004, a race he would win again this year.

With 13 victories in a 103-race career, yielding over £140,000 in prize money, Idle Power is a firm favourite with his proud owners, who rank Goodwood as their favourite racecourse and are thrilled to have a race honouring their horse.

The fascinating seven-race card on Sunday also includes the seven-furlong EBF RUK "Finale" Nursery Handicap (2.35pm), the nine-furlong European Breeders’ Fund TurfTV Maiden Stakes (3.10pm), the Counters Gate Handicap (3.45pm) over a mile, the six-furlong TurfTV For Betting Shops Median Auction Maiden Stakes (4.55pm) and the concluding Valete Handicap (5.30pm) over a mile and a half.

HANNON COLLECTS DICK HERN AWARD FOR LEADING TRAINER

Richard Hannon is this year’s winner of the coveted Dick Hern Award, presented to the trainer with the most winners at Goodwood throughout the season.

Hannon is enjoying a fantastic year and his 15 winners at the course in 2008 put him nine clear of his nearest pursuers, John Gosden and Mark Johnston, with Sunday’s seven-race card still to come.

The East Everleigh handler, currently lying in second place in the trainers’ championship, has captured a hat full of lucrative prizes this term and enjoyed his biggest Goodwood success of the year when subsequent Group One winner Paco Boy won the Group Two Betfair Cup at Glorious Goodwood on July 29. Three days later, Hannon took another prestigious Group Two race when Prolific saw off Gallagher to win the Tristram Ricketts Memorial Richmond Stakes. He ended Glorious Goodwood as the leading trainer with four wins.

To mark the achievement, Hannon will receive a trophy from Peter Willett, who retires as a director of the racecourse on Sunday and is Honorary President of the Goodwood Racecourse Owners’ Group.

GROUND

Seamus Buckely, Clerk of the Course at Goodwood, said: "I am expecting the course to ride on the easier side of good if the current settled weather continues."

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