European Racing Rewind with Steve Mullington

Many Clouds is now the outright favourite for the Grand National next month after a thoroughly convincing success in his prep-race at Kelso on Sunday afternoon. Oliver Sherwood’s nine-year-old jumped superbly throughout to make most the running and give a 10-length beating to Unioiniste in a race that was being restaged after Kelso’s unfortunate waterlogging last weekend. 

Many Clouds is trying to become the first dual winner of the Grand National since Red Rum and will have to shoulder top weight when the Aintree race is run on April 9. Bookmakers were so taken with his Kelso run that 10-1 is now the best price in the village. 

His ecstatic trainer, Oliver Sherwood said: “That’s just what the doctor ordered. It’s all systems go for Aintree now. 

“Many Clouds was electric today and Leighton (Aspell) might be worried as he jumped so well I think I’ll apply for a licence so I can ride him! 

“You can see why we needed to give him a run as he might have been too fresh and exuberant at Aintree otherwise.” 

Based on Many Cloud’s performance on Sunday there is a real live chance this season that another horse can emulate the great Red Rum and give those Aintree history books a brand new chapter. 

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Joseph O’Brien (pictured above) decided to call time on his race riding career this week in a move that had been widely expected. 

The record-breaking jockey had been turning his attentions in recent times to the training side and is currently in the process of taking out a full training licence. 

No other jockey has ever achieved so much by the age of just 22, but constant battles with his weight meant that his career as a Flat jockey was never going to last as long as he hoped, and given that he was rather on the tall side too, it did not help the cause. 

O'Brien's Group One wins spanned six countries and included the Derby, St Leger, 2000 Guineas, Irish Derby, three consecutive Irish 2,000 Guineas, a Breeders' Cup Turf, a Grand Prix de Paris and a Dubai Sheema Classic.

He came agonisingly close to winning the $5million Breeders' Cup Classic on Declaration of War at Santa Anita in November 2013, finishing third, beaten a nose and a head. 

The son of an illustrious trainer in Aidan O’Brien, Joseph should have no problem in building his way up in the training ranks and winners on the world stage, bearing the O’Brien name, will be around for many years to come one would think. 

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Trainer Jim Best received the worst kind of news this week when he and jockey Paul John were both found guilty of breaching the rules of racing regarding the running and riding of two horses in December of last year. 

Best and his former conditional rider John were called in front of the British Horseracing Authority's disciplinary panel over the performances of Echo Brava at Plumpton on December 14 and Missile Man at Towcester on December 17th. Both horses finished unplaced with Best and John accused of failing to ensure the horses ran on their merits. 

Best now faces the possibility of a long ban from racing, although the actual penalties will not be decided until a later date. 

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Destin’s date with destiny in the Kentucky Derby came one step nearer on Saturday when Todd Pletcher's horse won the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby in a track and stakes record of 1:42.82. 

“He seems to be getting more and more professional and is learning how to finish his races” Pletcher said of Destin. "I felt he would improve with more experience and that is proving to be true. After his first two races, he was still piecing things together, but he has gotten better with experience.” 

Destin earned 50 qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby on May 7th at Churchill Downs and is almost assured of a spot in the starting line up. Outwork, also trained by Pletcher, filled the runner-up spot and earned 20 points towards a Kentucky Derby start. 

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Cheltenham Festival 2016  

As you are probably well aware by now, this column predominantly tends to concentrate on the past week’s racing stories. However this week is a very special week as it heralds the four-day-long Cheltenham Festival, so this week I will do things a little differently. On the eve of an absolute bonanza of championship national hunt racing I will endeavour to mark your daily card. 

Tuesday: 13:30 Altior 14:10 Douvan 14:50 Caroles Destrier & Knock House e/w 15:30 Identity Thief e/w  16:10 Vroum Vroum Mag 16:50 Local Show e/w 17:30 Five In A Row & Ballyalton e/w 

Wednesday: 13:30 Barters Hill e/w 14:10 Blaklion e/w 14:50 Rock The Kabash e/w 15:30 Special Tiara e/w 16:10 Any Currency e/w 16:50 Ardamir e/w 17.30 Ballyandy e/w 

Thursday: 13:30 Black Hercules 14:10 Cup Final e/w 14:50 Village Vic e/w 15:30 Thistlecrack 16:10 Stilletto e/w 16:50 Jers Girl e/w 17.30 Midnight Prayer e/w 

Friday: 13:30 Lets Dance e/w 14:10 Modus e/w 14:50 Gangster e/w 15:30 Cue Card & On His Own e/w 16.10 Paint The Clouds & Brackloon High e/w  16:50 Box Office & Montdragon e/w  17.30 The Saint James & Dresden e/w 

2016 Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey odds 

1/3 Ruby Walsh 7/1 Barry Geraghty 11/1 Bryan Cooper 12/1 Sam Twiston-Davies 20/1 Richard Johnson 20/1 Paul Townend 28/1 Nico de Boinville 33/1 bar. 

2016 Cheltenham Festival Top Trainer odds 

1/14 Willie Mullins 14/1 Nicky Henderson 16/1 Gordon Elliot 25/1 Paul Nicholls 33/1 bar.