FOR the first time in nearly two weeks jump racing beat the cold snap on Saturday, with both Kempton and Huntingdon well supported with future equine stars.
The WilliamHill.com Lanzarote Hurdle was the feature race at Kempton and it was turned into a procession by 9-1 shot Micheal Flips.
Highly-rated as a young horse, Micheal Flips had a barren spell with his trainer Andrew Turnell struggling to find form, but on the back of that he has found himself well handicapped and looks sure to take a hand in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
Another horse that could be heading to Cheltenham is Tazbar after his bloodless success in the novices’ chase at Huntingdon.
Trained at Saltburn by Keith Reveley, the eight year-old easily brushed aside his three rivals under the trainer’s son James, who is looking the real deal in the saddle after gaining valuable experience in France.
“He’s done it quite nicely,’’ said James. “He wants three miles really and more so on good ground. We were a bit worried about the ground but they’ve been able to get through it.
“Where he goes next we don’t know – it’s difficult to say about Cheltenham, really. We need to get some more jumping experience into him first.”
A couple of North-East trainers have announced their retirement. Both Pat Haslam and Peter Beaumont have enjoyed more success than most throughout their careers.
Middleham-based Haslam is handing the reins over to his 25-year-old son Ben next month after sending out over 1,000 winners.
The 61-year-old holds the distinction of saddling winners at every British racecourse with the exception of recent additions Great Leighs and Ffos Las.
Group 1 success came Haslam’s way in the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp in 2005 with Kinnaird and he was such a good trainer that even I managed to ride several winners for him.
Most people think Ben will have little problem making an impact in the trainers’ ranks himself.
Beaumont, based at Brandsby in North Yorkshire, is also standing down this month.
The Cheltenham Cold Cup trainer, who began training in 1986, is preparing to bring down the curtain on a memorable career.
Beaumont said: “When my licence runs out on January 31, I shall not be renewing it.
If I had six good horses, I’d carry on, but I haven’t, plus I’m 75.”
Beaumont will be forever remembered for his training of 18-times winner Jodami, who, under Mark Dwyer, captured the 1993 Gold Cup.
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