Willie Mullins became the first trainer based in Ireland to be crowned champion over jumps in Britain since Vincent O'Brien 70 years ago when El Fabiolo finished second in the Celebration Chase on the final day of the season at Sandown on Saturday.

 

Despite being more than £700,000 behind Dan Skelton at the top of the standings heading into the Aintree festival earlier this month, Mullins moved into striking distance when I Am Maximus won the Grand National, then all but sealed a first title in Britain when Macdermott won the Scottish Grand National, the highlight of a 4,462-1 four-timer at Ayr seven days ago.

 

Mullins led Skelton by £181,632 at the start of Sandown's end-of-season finale but took nothing for granted with eight runners, including heavyweights El Fabiolo and Impaire Et Passe, entered in six of the seven races.

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Derby contender Hidden Law suffered a fatal injury after winning the Chester Vase on Wednesday.

 

The son of Dubawi, trained by Charlie Appleby, broke down soon after passing the finishing line under jockey William Buick

 

Buick immediately dismounted after the horse took a false step, but he could not be saved.

 

"He fractured his leg, unfortunately," said Appleby.

 

"He passed the line all OK and then when he's crossed the road, he's taken a false step on it and he's come down on it basically.

 

"It's one of those very freak accidents."

Metropolitan caused another Classic shock at Longchamp when narrowly denying the fast-finishing Dancing Gemini in the French 2,000 Guineas.

 

Trained by Mario Baratti, the three-year-old stuck to the inside rail and held on from the Roger Teal-trained Dancing Gemini, who ran a fine race in second. Red-hot favourite Henry Longfellow endured a rough passage and finished eighth for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore

An investigation is to be carried out after four horses suffered fatal injuries at Newton Abbot's race meeting on Tuesday.

 

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) says it will assess the condition of the Devon track.

 

Hallowed Rose fell, while Bala Brook was pulled up in the same handicap hurdle contest.

 

Cuzzicombe and Happy Helen were pulled up in other hurdle races.

 

A BHA statement read: "Our thoughts are with everyone connected to the horses who suffered fatal injuries.

 

"The loss of any horse is always a dreadful occurrence for the owners, trainers and stable staff who provide them with outstanding care and attention throughout their lives, and so a day like yesterday is one that deeply saddens all of us who love the sport.

 

 

Flipping heck, that's terrible. This is horse racing's darkest day in 17 years. I hope there is a explanation for this as shouldn't be happening.

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Notable Speech is the first three-year-old to complete the 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes double since Frankel.

Racing at Epsom was abandoned after a flash storm caused a significant delay and sabotaged cameras on Thursday evening

 

Heavy rain hit the track before the third contest of an eight-race card and forced runners to be kept in the saddling boxes while they waited for the storm to pass.

 

While lightning and thunder raged overhead, the 1m½f fillies' handicap was put on hold but the rain began to ease after 7.30pm, after which the horses were permitted to walk round the paddock once more.

Alphonse Le Grande has been disqualified from first place in the Cesarewitch and jockey Jamie Powell suspended for 28 days after using his whip four times above the permitted level when winning at Newmarket on Saturday.

 

With Alphonse Le Grande disqualified, Manxman is promoted to first in the Cesarewitch with Aqwaam second, Run For Oscar third and Magellan Strait fourth.

 

Alphonse Le Grande becomes the most high-profile disqualification since the new whip rules came into force at the start of last year and made overuse of the whip an offence punishable by the loss of a race.

 

Powell's ride had been referred to the whip review committee (WRC), which meets twice a week, by stewards at Newmarket on Saturday after they counted the apprentice appearing to use his whip ten times during the 2m2f handicap.

 

At a WRC hearing on Tuesday, it was determined that Powell had used the whip ten times and that none of the uses were for safety purposes, which would have mitigated the use of the whip. Connections have seven days to lodge an appeal against the decision.

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A new competition for jump jockeys with £500,000 for the winner will launch on Friday.

 

The David Power Jockeys' Cup, which runs from the Cheltenham meeting starting 15 November until April's Grand National meeting, will have a prize fund of £1.5m.

 

Jockeys will earn points in any race televised on ITV Racing with 10 points awarded for a win, eight for second, six for third and four for fourth.

 

The jockey who collects the most points will be crowned the winner and scoop the top cash prize, while second place collects £200,000 with £100,000 on offer for third spot, plus awards all the way down to 10th place.

 

Harry Cobden, the current champion jump jockey, is among those who are set to take part along with Harry Skelton, Nico de Boinville and Rachael Blackmore.

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A devastated Warren Greatrex paid tribute to Abuffalosoldier, who suffered a suspected heart attack and died just moments after producing a sensational round of jumping to win the 3m3½f handicap chase.

 

The seven-year-old collapsed when pulled up after the race, while Bangers And Cash also suffered a fatal collapse midway through the contest. Racecourse vet Liam Kearns said it was "a huge coincidence" that there were two fatalities in the same race.

 

Abuffalosoldier jumped superbly under Sean Bowen to record a fifth and final career victory. He has been with Greatrex throughout his career and was giving the yard a first Cheltenham winner in five years.

Just awful scenes at Cheltenham today.

Four apprentice jockeys have been banned for ten days each after allowing 28-1 outsider Certain Style to win unchallenged by 22 lengths in a race at Lingfield on Tuesday.

 

Certain Style, ridden by Tyrese Cameron in the 2m handicap for apprentices who had ridden fewer than ten winners, was sent to the lead early and steadily drew further and further clear.

 

According to the Racing Post's in-running comments, Certain Style was 40 lengths clear with six furlongs remaining and cantered to a simple victory with the remaining four runners covered by less than a length crossing the finishing line.

Constitution Hill has drifted for the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle following a racecourse gallop at Newbury, but Nicky Henderson has expressed himself pleased with the workout alongside stablemate Sir Gino.

 

Henderson's 2023 Champion Hurdle winner was as short as 4-7 for his much anticipated comeback at Newcastle on Saturday week at the start of Tuesday morning, but after videos circulated of his workout alongside Sir Gino, a Grade 1-winning juvenile, he was pushed out to as big as 13-8.

 

Henderson said: "I hope we're going to see the usual Constitution Hill [at Newcastle]. It was great and we got the work into him. He's done a lot more today than he did with Jonbon a couple of weeks ago and he needed this gallop.