Mares’ chase added to Festival

CHELTENHAM is introducing a mares’ chase to its Festival meeting. It will replace the novices’ handicap chase run on the opening day, with a reshuffle of the running order seeing the new two and a half mile Grade 2 – which will be known as the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase – to be staged on the Gold Cup card on day four of the meeting.

Fancy Blue retired from racing

FANCY Blue, who gave Donnacha O’Brien his first two Group 1 victories as a trainer, has been retired due to injury. The daughter of Deep Impact, owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Sue Magnier, got the 22-year-old handler off to a dream start when winning the Prix de Diane at Chantilly in July. She added the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood later that month.

Another big win for Jukebox Jury

PRINCESS Zoe was roared home in the Prix du Cadran by all at Burgage Stud in Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, last Saturday. The Tony Mullins-trained mare is the first Group 1 winner on the flat for her sire Jukebox Jury, who stands at Victor Connolly’s farm. He already has two Grade 1 winners over jumps in Triumph Hurdle winner Farclas and Stuke, winner of the Gran Corsa Siepi d’Italia in Merano. The Montjeu horse moved to Ireland in 2018 and his first German crop are now six-year-olds.

Goffs confirm Irish sales dates

GOFFS’ Autumn Sale (November 4th-5th), November Foal & Breeding Stock Sale (November 15th-22nd) and December National Hunt Sale (December 9th-10th) will go ahead as scheduled at Kildare Paddocks.

Death of Australian former jockey

IRISH racing fans and patrons of the Paddy Prendergast Jnr stable at Melitta Lodge will be shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic death of Keith Watson (70) in a drowning incident in Western Australia. The former jockey, who rode in Ireland in 1973 and ’74, was one of four people who perished when their fishing vessel sank. Watson was best known for his association with Heron Bridge, winner of the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.