Cumani’s gift

LUCA Cumani’s Nathaniel filly God Given (7/1) gave him a welcome boost in the Listed Betbright Aphrodite Stakes for fillies and mares at Newmarket on Saturday.

Rated only 79, she was upgraded but stayed the mile and a half well under young George Wood and, as a half-sister to Postponed, increased her paddocks value considerably. However, Cumani reported that she stays in training.

Crawford wins

ANTRIM trainer Stuart Crawford completed another double at Cartmel on Saturday. The well-supported Don Franco landed the extended three miles and a furlong handicap chase in the hands of Richard Johnson and then A Touch Of Sparkle, partnered by Rachael Blackmore, soon followed up in the mares’ handicap hurdle. Don Franco was made 11/4 favourite but jumped moderately early on before eventually accounting for Bafana Choice.

Cosy Club holds on

A MUCH bigger price was available about Adrian Keatley’s Cosy Club, who just held on at 16/1 in the QTS Ladies Night On 12 August Handicap at Ayr on Monday.

This was a good bit of placing by the Curragh handler, though it needed every ounce of young Danny Sheehy’s 7lb allowance to squeeze home because Cosy Club had only a nose to spare over 5/2 favourite Magic Journey after making all.

Murphy’s fast start

VERY few trainers can have performed as well as Olly Murphy so soon after taking out a licence. The 25-year-old made a fine start when Dove Mountain, originally with Elliott before moving to Murphy’s mother Anabel in Warwickshire, won at Brighton on July 4th - Murphy junior’s first winner with his first runner after taking over the reins.

When Mizen Master won at 10/1 in the hands of Charlie Poste at Stratford on Sunday it meant that Murphy had won five races off the reel. It is the most extraordinary achievement, and this at a stable which had previously ticked over without ever troubling the headline writers.

Gannon retires

CATHY Gannon has been forced to retire. She broke all five toes in her left foot when Spring Overture played up in the stalls at Lingfield in May last year and the latest update from her specialist confirmed that the foot would never withstand the pressure of race-riding.

Gannon, now 35, began her career in Ireland with John Oxx and became champion apprentice in 2004. She moved to Britain two years later and rode 440 career winners in all, claiming three Lesters as Lady Jockey of the Year.

Her best tally came in 2011, when she rode 71 winners, with David Evans a big supporter; rides were also regularly available on horses trained by Henry Candy, Kevin Ryan, Andrew Balding and Malcolm Saunders.

“When we had her as an apprentice she was brilliant with the yearlings,” Oxx said. “She was very polished and strong in the saddle but above all else she had a fantastic spirit. She has plenty of Dublin charm about her; I’ve never met anybody who didn’t like Cathy.” Her biggest winner came back at the Curragh on Dingle View for David Evans in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes in August 2010.

She will return to Ireland in October to work as a jockey coach and work rider with the help of a specially-designed left boot. She will be sorely missed here, especially by her friend and rival Hayley Turner.