Pullin Named Cheltenham Clerk

Jon Pullin, who has been clerk of the course at several British racecourses including Doncaster, Uttoxeter, Southwell and Wolverhampton, will take up that position at Cheltenham. Pullin held the positions of group racing manager at Arena Leisure, managing director of Royal Windsor Racecourse and assistant racing director at Arena Racing Company before being promoted into his current role as ARC's racing director in 2017.

Current Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse will remain in his position through the new season opening on Oct. 22 and 23, with Pullin to take over on a date yet to be determined ahead of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.

Pullin said, “The Cheltenham Festival is the absolute pinnacle of our sport, so I'm thrilled to be given this rare and exciting opportunity. There is no doubt that the role is one of the most pressurised and challenging in British horseracing, but I also know that it can be one of the most rewarding. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with Arena Racing Company and can't thank my colleagues there enough for all their support over the years. However, I'm excited to be starting a new chapter and looking forward to meeting and working with The Jockey Club team.”

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Lorna Brooke Honoured with Race at Cheltenham

Cheltenham will honour the late Lorna Brooke on Friday's seven-race Hunter Chase Racing card. The penultimate race on the card, the Lorna Brooke Open Hunters' Chase goes off at 7.45p.m. Brooke, 37, passed away Apr. 19 as the result of a spinal injury sustained during a fall at Taunton Racecourse Apr. 18.

“Lorna was a dear friend and rode for me on many occasions,” said Shropshire-based Philip Rowley. “I will always be thankful to her for providing me with my first winner under Rules, which was The General Lee in the Chase Meredith Memorial Trophy at Ludlow (in March 2011).

“It is just all so, so sad. I would like to thank Cheltenham Racecourse for naming tomorrow's race in Lorna's honour–it's a very touching tribute.”

Ian Renton, regional managing director of The Jockey Club, added, “[Friday]'s Race Night is the one fixture of the year at Cheltenham purely for amateur riders and it only seemed right to honour Lorna in this way.”

“It is sure to be a very emotional occasion as Lorna was such a popular figure and everyone at the racecourse will be united in her memory.”

A celebration of Brooke's life will be held Monday, May 24 at Ludlow Racecourse. For those wishing to attend, contact Ludlow Racecourse at mail@ludlowracecourse.co.uk.

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Tattersalls Cheltenham April Entries Revealed

The return of point-to-pointing in Britain and Ireland has facilitated a number of recent winners to be entered for the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale which, because of ongoing Covid restrictions at racecourses, will be held in Newmarket on April 23.

Twenty-three young jumpers have been catalogued, 17 of which have won a point-to-point or bumper in the last few weeks, including the 5-year-old Takoda (Ire) (Doyen {GB}), who strolled to a 25-length victory on debut at Higham on April 2. Also catalogued is a Shirocco (Ger) half-sister to the Grade 3-winning chaser Burn And Turn (Ire) (Flemensfirth) from the family of the high-class Space Trucker (Ire). Named Letthetruthbeknown (Ire), the 5-year-old mare was the eight-length winner of the mares' point-to-point bumper at Cork on April 5.

Inspections for the sale can take place at Tattersalls' Park Paddocks from 1pm on Thursday, April 22, and the sale will commence the following day, also at 1pm.

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Rachael Blackmore First Female Jockey To Win Champion Hurdle At Cheltenham

The undefeated 7-year-old mare Honeysuckle carried Rachael Blackmore to a striking 6 1/2-length victory in Tuesday's G1 Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, making her the first female jockey to win the race, reports racingpost.com.

“To me, this was never even a dream,” Blackmore told racingpost.com. “It was so far from what I ever thought could happen in my life. To be in Cheltenham, riding the winner of a Champion Hurdle, it's so far removed from anything I ever thought could be possible. Maybe there's a lesson in that for everyone out there.

“To young people out there, male, female or whatever, if you want to do something go and do it because to me standing here right now, literally anything can happen.”

Trainer Henry de Bromhead added: “Rachael was amazing on her, she was as cool as a breeze. The combination of them is deadly – they're the perfect storm.”

Read more at racingpost.com, and check out the race replay below:

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