Royal Ascot-winning trainer Jim Leigh hopes to go out with a winner on the Flat as he brings the curtain down on a 30-year career today. He will set off at 5.30 a.m. from his Lincolnshire yard to see Rouge tackle the Mackerel Claiming Stakes at Lingfield, rather than go to Southwell where stable-companion Cattly Hang bids for the Comedy Of Errors Handicap Chase. They will be the Irishman's last runners before retirement, more than 30 years on from his arrival in Britain to train initially for Paddy Sleator. Prolific jumper Eagles Nest and Queen Mary Stakes winner On Tiptoes are among the pick of the 350-odd winners he has trained.
Conditional jockey Noel Fehily was hit with a four-day ban (February 3rd-5th and 7th) after being found guilty of irresponsible riding of a minor nature when finishing second on Ledham at Fontwell yesterday. The stewards found that Ledham had interfered with third-placed Stormy Skye approaching the third flight from home in the Fareham Juvenile Novices' Hurdle. The race fell to Bangalore, trained by Amanda Perrett, who sparked a near 5 to 1 double for jockey Joe Tizzard, who was also successful aboard Arlas in the Renate Services Novices' Chase.
Brother Of Iris has come in for strong support in the ante-post market for the Pertemps Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster on Saturday. However, trainer Mary Reveley has still yet to decide on a jockey for the seven-year-old in the £40,000 contest. William Hill have cut the gelding to 2 to 1 from 11 to 4, the Tote make him 9 to 4 from 11 to 4, while Ladbrokes go 9 to 4 from 5 to 2. Reveley requires a new jockey for the gelding with both Peter Niven and Tony Dobbin on the sidelines.
Hopes that One Man's half-brother Steel Blade would prove to be a chip off the old block looked misplaced after he was comprehensively defeated on his jumping debut at Leicester yesterday. The grey trailed in third as Bloomfield Storm took the honours in the Dick Christian Novices' Chase.
Brendan Powell is still searching for his first success since he returned last weekend from a long injury absence after the favourite Smart Squall flopped in the Croxton Park Novices' Hurdle at Leicester yesterday. It was disappointing ex-Flat racer Smooth Sailing that landed the spoils, staying on too well for Rose Hill.
