Pat Smullen was crowned the new champion jockey as the curtain fell on the Flat season at Leopardstown. The former dual champion apprentice finished the campaign on the 80 winner mark, 14 clear of both Mick Kinane and John Murtagh.
The November Handicap is the traditional end of season feature, and Dorans Pride turned the clock back when taking this two mile stamina test under Niall McCullagh. The Michael Hourigan-trained gelding has proved a terrific money-spinner over jumps, and there is obviously still plenty of life in the gallant 11-year-old.
The weather has taken it`s toll on a number of meetings recently but what must rank as one of the worst storms in the past decade played havoc with the fixture list this week. An all Flat card at Fairyhouse - replacing a meeting already abandoned at the Curragh - was washed out on Wednesday, while the following day Clonmel fell fowl of the floods.
However the loss of the two day Down Royal Festival meeting (Friday & Saturday) was the main casualty of the weather, with the eagerly awaited clash of Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders Looks Like Trouble and Florida Pearl put back for a week. The river Lagan overflowed onto part of the northern track, while the Blackwater submerged a scheduled fixture at Mallow on Sunday.
Naas hosted the only other meeting this week, and there were a number of noteworthy performances on this National Hunt card. Knife Edge successfully graduated from hurdles to the larger obstacles, and could go to the top in the two mile novice chase brigade. Ned Kelly is held in high regard by his trainer Edward O`Grady, and the four-year-old justified odds-on support on his hurdling debut. O`Grady also reports Nick Dundee on target for a return to action at Cork next month following serious injury.
On the international front, Enzeli flew the flag in the latest renewal of the Melbourne Cup. However the John Oxx-trained stayer was never a factor (finished 15th), with Arctic Owl leading the European challenge in front of 121,000 racegoers at Flemington Park. James Fanshawe`s charge - winner of the St Leger at the Curragh in September - stayed on well in the straight, having met interference before the home bend, to finish fifth behind the locally trained Brew.
The Coolmore Stud grouping, who played such a prominent role in pushing through the cash endowed new body to run our sport (Horse Racing Ireland), were again to the fore at the Keeneland sales this week. The Magnier team went to $4.9m to secure Jewel Princess, the champion US mare in 1996 and in foal to sire of the moment Storm Cat. The mighty dollar was being thrown around like confetti, with an incredible 24 lots sold for $1m or more in one session alone.
The promotion of Irish racing in Britain received a blow with news that the Racing Channel will no longer be covering action this side of the water. This will particularly affect the many British based owners with horses trained here, and a big step back in this age of a global media. However the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) are in negotiations with SIS to extend the Irish Racing Channel, currently available here in betting shops, to a wider audience.
