11.45am Trainer Malcolm Jefferson dies, aged 71
Greg Wood: The death has been announced at 71 of Malcolm Jefferson, a leading figure in the ranks of northern trainers for three decades. A statement released by the trainer’s family on Friday morning read: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Malcolm Jefferson after a brave battle with cancer. Malcolm passed away at home peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday February 2. We would like to thank everybody for the kindness and support they have given during recent months.”
Jefferson, whose string was based at Norton in North Yorkshire, sent out more than 600 winners after taking out a licence in the 1988-89 season. His big-race wins included victories on consecutive days at the Cheltenham Festival in 2012.
The chaser Waiting Patiently, took a Listed contest at Kempton Park in January and is prominent in the betting for both the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase at the Festival meeting next month
Friday’s best bets, by Chris Cook
I enjoyed a chat with Paul Nicholls at Wincanton on Thursday, the first time I’ve seen him at a racecourse since his usual midwinter break in the sun. I came away with the feeling he may not have many runners in this year’s Grand National and, as a consequence, Bryony Frost may very well end up on Milansbar in the race.
Frost, you’ll recall, won Warwick’s Classic Chase on Milansbar last month, the first time she had ridden the horse. The owner indicated he’d be delighted for Frost to keep the mount in the Grand National – but, of course, Nicholls has first call on her services.
Nicholls entered six in the Grand National this week and I asked if he had any of them in mind as a possible mount for Frost. “She rode Silsol in the Welsh National, she’s ridden Warrior’s Tale,” he said. “She’ll ride any of them if we need to. But I looked at those entries and thought a lot of them might go other ways. Vicente might be worth keeping for the Scottish National because he’s so good there and I’m not convinced about him round Aintree.”
As De Mee is the one of Nicholls’s six who is definitely bound for the Aintree race. But, as he pointed out, Sean Bowen is pretty well established as that one’s regular rider. So it might end up Nicholls doesn’t have a ride for Frost in the National. “I’m sure she’ll get a ride for somebody,” he added.
What makes all this interesting is the thought there is surely going to be a ‘Frost effect’ on the odds of whatever she rides, after the season she’s had. Milansbar is a 50-1 shot but I can’t imagine that anything she rides in the race will start bigger than 20-1. So there’s the potential for nicking a bit of value there, while bearing in mind a lot can change between now and the middle of April.
My outsider tip didn’t come off yesterday, when Black Narcissus ran out of gas at Towcester, as many another has done before her. Today’s potshot is Martabot (3.20) at Chepstow, the grey hopefully sharper for his reappearance run a fortnight ago, when pulled up.
He went pretty close on his handicap debut at Exeter in March and has only had a couple of runs since then. Now the tongue tie and a visor go on, plus Tom Scudamore rides for the first time, so there are some possible explanations for improved form. At 14-1, Martabot comes from the David Pipe yard, which has had a quiet winter but is showing signs of a revival in recent weeks.
Chepstow 1.10 Don’t Ask 1.40 Step Back
2.15 Rock My Style 2.45 Bredon Hill Lad 3.20 Martabot (nb)
3.55 Allchilledout 4.25 Remastered
Catterick 1.20 Shine Baby Shine 1.50 Sam’s Gunner 2.25 Where’s Tiger 2.55 Kansas City Chief 3.30 Sheneededtherun 4.05 Mount Oliver 4.35 Derrynane (nap)
Lingfield 1.30 French Mix 2.00 Captain Lars 2.35 Sociologist
3.05 Watersmeet 3.40 Reiffa 4.15 Lawless Secret
Wolverhampton 5.45 Sunshineandbubbles 6.15 Good Time Ahead 6.45 Akkadian Empire 7.15 Sportswriter 7.45 Outlaw Torn
8.15 Beatbybeatbybeat 8.45 Chaucer’s Tale
