West Country (E) Horse racing News

The Jockey Club has criticised a decision by the Appeal Court to award £58,000 compensation to a rider who was injured at Cheltenham racecourse.

Philip Hide was seriously injured when he fell against a trackside barrier close to a hurdle during a race seven years ago.

A judge ruled the accident was foreseeable. The Jockey Club said the decision represented the remorseless march of health and safety rules.

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A pensioner from Rotherham who is visiting the Cheltenham Festival remains missing on Wednesday.

Friends of 70 year old Philip Lucas last saw him around 5.50pm on Tuesday.

He was supposed to be staying in Cranham during the week of the festival.

Gloucestershire Constabulary have told ITV News West Country that they received a report of a possible sighting of Mr Lucas in the Kings Arms public house around 11.15pm on Tuesday, but there has been no confirmed information about his whereabouts.

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• Gloucestershire Police
• Cheltenham Festival

After being rushed to hospital yesterday, racing pundit John McCririck's agent says John fully intends on being back on the course at Cheltenham today.

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• John McCririck
• Cheltenham Festival

Wind chill down to -12 last night. 95% of track fine. Inspection 10.30am. Remain v confident that racing will go ahead

From @CheltenhamRaces on Twitter: ( 6:50 am, Tue 12 Mar 2013)

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• Cheltenham Festival
• Cheltenham

Taunton racecourse is due to host the only jump racing in the country today, after beating the frost. Covers have kept the course from freezing over the last few days.There are seven races starting just before 1pm. Westcountry trainers Paul Nicholls and David Pipe both have horses running.

On a seasonal note, the choir from King's College will be singing Christmas Carols in the parade ring.

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• Taunton

Here's one report celebrating the success of Somerset-based racing legend, Kauto Star after his Boxing Day win last year.

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• Cheltenham
• Horse Racing

We have had nine superb years with the horse but, after seeing him in his work these past few weeks, myself, Clifford and Dan were of the opinion that the time had arrived to retire him.

Of course, as owner, the final decision rested with Clive, but he agreed that the horse had done enough.

...And, deep down, we know he has done enough - and in some ways I think we have to protect him from himself. And maybe ourselves, too. If he did go to Kempton and win or run well, would you really want to run him - or be able to resist the temptation - in the Gold Cup?

I am not so sure.

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• Cheltenham
• Horse Racing

The RSPCA has said that due to the excessive use of the whip the result should not stand and Neptune Collonges should be stripped of the win. Gavin Grant, chief executive of the RSPCA said that the race contained too many risks for the horses:

The death of two horses at the Grand National, is totally unacceptable. This is the second year running that two horses have died. In it's current format, the risks to horses are not appropriate and we want an urgent examination of the Grand National, including a number of fences including Beecher's Brook where horses are continuing to die despite safety improvements.

It would appear the whip was overused in the final stages of the race. If that is the case it is totally unacceptable and given the narrow margin of the win I believe the result should be reversed.

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