Sad news

There were no shortage of news stories within the horse racing world on Thursday, including the sad news that Graham Bradley has passed away at the age of 65. The Yorkshireman rode his first winner in 1980 and partnered 686 winners in the UK before retiring in 1999. His CV included the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup and nine Festival winners in total. One of the most stylish jump jockeys of his generation, I will always remember his association with the top-class hurdler Morley Street and, in particular, the day the Toby Balding trained gelding won the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle for a fourth time in 1993. It was an ice cool ride and well worth watching on Youtube if you haven't seen it. Unfortunately, Graham was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago. He was a superb horseman who rode a number of top-class National Hunt horses.

Earlier in the day, it was announced that the Christmas programme this year will be slightly different with the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton being moved to the 27th December and the Welsh National pushed back to the 28th December. In doing so, the British programme is bolstered with a feature event on each day over the Festive period, namely King George & Christmas Hurdle (26th), Kauto Star Novices' Chase (27th), Welsh National (28th) and Challow Novices' Hurdle (29th December). More worringly, the First Minster of Wales, Rhun Ap Lorwerth, has already banned greyhound racing and last week he didn't rule out the possibility of doing the same re horse racing. Liz Saville Roberts MP, Plaid Cymru's Westminster Leader, has already called for jump racing to be banned in Wales. Unfortunately, we live in uncertain times politically and with Andy Burnham set to replace Keir Starmer later this month, things aren't going to get any better any time soon.

Thankfully, we have plenty to look forward to on the track over the weekend with the Coral Eclipse and Old Newton Cup at Sandown and Newmarket respectively on Saturday. I am working at Beverley on Friday evening and Carlisle twenty four hours later and will therefore be back to update the Diary on Sunday.