Sunday's racing round-up includes news of prize money and status changes to the Saudi Cup meeting at Riyadh...
The Cheltenham October Showcase Meeting recorded its highest ever attendance, with 20,585 punters going through the turnstiles across the two days. Racecourse bosses have attributed this to the student racing initiative Invades, who brought 5000 to the Best Mate enclosure on Friday. This represents the biggest turnout for the meeting since the 2007 renewal, when the fixture was shifted to the weekend for the first time.
Donald McCain's Minella Drama emerged the winner of the Grade 2 Old Roan Handicap Chase at Aintree. Under a prominent ride from Brian Hughes, the nine-year old made virtually all to emerge victorious over the field of five. Paul Nicholls' highly-rated Challow Hurdle winner Stage Star, sent off favourite, looked tentative at his fences throughout whilst Ahoy Senor, Lucinda Russell's Grade 1 winning chaser, ran an eye catching third, staying on strongly through the line.
This seasons Saudi Cup meeting will see some big prize money and status upgrades. Both the Sports Boulevard Riyadh Dirt Sprint and the Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap are set to become Group 2s, and further upgrades across the Saudi pattern are projected for the season ahead. The Dirt Sprint will receive a boost of US$500,000, bringing the total pot to US$2 million. The Red Sea Turf Handicap remains unchanged, once again being worth US$2.5 million. The 2024/25 Riyadh season runs between October 17th and March 15th, which includes 710 races spread across 62 meetings. There will be approximately US$22.5 million on offer in prize money, excluding the Saudi Cup meeting.
1/10 favourite Aurora Vega was pulled up on seasonal reappearance at Wexford in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle. The exciting daughter of Quevega never travelled a yard before making a jumping error at the seventh flight. Jockey Paul Townend pulled up his charge four out. Aurora Vega was examined by the IHRB veterinary officer following the race at the request of the stewards, who found the mare to be "clinically abnormal". Ms Agartha Yeats, trained by Finbar Hand, emerged the eventual 8/1 winner under Darragh O'Keefe, who rode a treble on the day.
