Sad to see Mick Fitzgerald announce his retirement today, but at the same time it is good to see this fine jockey get out in one piece. He has taken doctor's advice to call it a day after suffering serious injuries in a fall from L'Ami in the Grand National.
There is a distinct lack of quality around today's six Flat meetings, although news this morning suggests we could see an above average two-year-old in the first race at Yarmouth. I tipped Hajoum, who has the benefit of a run, but the word is that Jeremy Noseda's newcomer Leahurst is very smart.
Ground conditions have softened at Haydock, but that should not worry the Namid filly, Bonne (3.10). Things didn't go right for Michael Bell's filly when she was ridden by an inexperienced apprentice last time. A progressive type, she is well up to winning off this mark.
Woodcutter (4.10) makes his debut in handicap company from a reasonable looking rating at Haydock. This strong galloping type has the shape of a John Gosden "special''.
William Haggas can do little wrong at present and at Sandown tonight the stable's Tanto Faz (7.55) is expected to go well on his first venture into handicap company.
2.15pm Live racing
Hi folks, Chris Cook here to talk you through the afternoon's action from Haydock, Brighton and Yarmouth.
No title challenge from Spencer this year
Jamie Spencer punches out Splinter Cell (3-1j) to win Haydock's opener, taking him to 65 winners for the season at a strike-rate of 15%. That's perfectly respectable but still leaves him more than 40 behind Ryan Moore and only sixth in the jockeys' title race. Spencer said at the start of the year that he had no intention of replicating the enormous effort he made to be joint-champion last year and it looks like he's sticking to that.
2.55pm The best of Fitzy
Timeform have sent out their list of the 10 best performances by horses ridden by Mick Fitzgerald, marking today's retirement of the veteran jockey. Here it is:
1 See More Business 1999 King George 2 Tiutchev 2000 Arkle 3 Call Equiname 1999 Champion Chase 4 Trabolgan 2005 Hennessy Gold Cup 4 Kauto Star 2005 Tingle Creek 4 Bacchanal 2000 Stayers' Hurdle 7 Get Real 1999 Marchpole Handicap Chase (Ascot) 8 Marlborough 2001 Tote Gold Trophy Chase (replaced that year's Gold Cup) 9 Stormyfairweather 2000 Cathcart Chase 10 Rough Quest 1996 Grand National
Some great memories there, though I'm surprised See More's Gold Cup didn't make it. Funny to see three from the 2000 Cheltenham Festival, when it seems Fitzy was at the top of his game. As Ron said above, thank goodness he's had the sense to get out in one piece. After two serious neck injuries, it would have been very uncomfortable watching him attempt another comeback.
I was hoping to provide links to Youtube videos of one or two of these, but Youtube have recently conducted a cull of their racing videos and none of these seem to have survived. I understand that copyright-holders like Racing UK have to protect themselves but I don't see the point in removing eight-year-old videos from the web -- really, who's going to pay to see that now?
Great highlights from racing's past should be freely available to view, ideally on a centralised website run by the sport, and you'd think RUK and others would realise that their own product would benefit thereby.
3.15pm Bonne biffed
Michael Bell's filly has form with some cut in the ground but she never looked comfortable there and faded into fourth. Jamie Spencer arguably failed to ride her out for third but I don't think it would have made enough difference if he'd been more vigorous.
It seems to me that Spencer often eases off dramatically when a horse is beaten, to a greater extent than other riders. Looking at the last fortnight, he's ridden 11 favourites and they tended to either run really well or blow out completely -- six won or came second, while four came last or second-last (in fields of 8, 10, 15 and 15).
3.30pm The great Fitzgerald in action
Here's a video the Youtube police haven't pulled yet -- Fitzy gets Isio home ahead of Azertyuiop and Ruby Walsh in the 2004 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot. With the race on the line, he throws his horse at the last fence, showing the bravery and the skill for which he'll always be remembered.
As for his successor, DrKelso, we'll have some news on that in tomorrow's Guardian . . .
6.15pm Hi fetlocks
I was a big fan of Fondmort and Micky Fitz certainly got on well with him -- they won eight times together, including four round Cheltenham. It would probably have been five if they hadn't been brought down there three-out in December 2005. Again, sadly, none of this is available on youtube.
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