Racing week: Fondmort fractures pelvis

Cheltenham Festival winner Fondmort remains in a critical condition following an accident while at exercise on Tuesday.

The 10-year-old chaser fractured his pelvis and lost a large amount of blood before being taken to the RVG Valley Equine Hospital in Lambourn, Berkshire, where he was given a blood transfusion and pain relief.

Trainer Nicky Henderson believes Fondmort is in with a chance of recovery – the veterinary team are hopeful that he will soon be eating solids.

Fondmort was doing a final piece of work before Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham when the accident happened. His last victory came in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Barbaro’s cast removed

Nearly six months after Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro broke his right hind leg during the Preakness, his cast has been removed. Vets are confident that the horse is making substantial progress, maintaining a good attitude to his rehabilitation.

The whole bone was shattered into fragments in the Preakness and four months afterwards Barbaro developed laminitis in his left leg, causing the hoof wall to tear away from the foot.

Vets believe it could take up to a year before the hoof recovers, slowing the recovery of Barbaro’s broken leg.

Poignant victory for Pipe

David Pipe scored an emotional victory at Taunton on Thursday when Figaro Du Rocher won the Joseph Coate Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle. The race was named after a teenage employee at Pipe’s yard who was tragically killed in a road accident last December. According to Pipe the only thing wrong about the result was that amateur jockey Joseph Coate was not riding Figaro Du Rocher.

Meanwhile Pipe has admitted that it will take three or four years before the Nicholashayne stable he inherited from his father Martin boasted the numerical strength it had under the 15-time champion trainer. While Pipe junior tries to get new owners he claims the meticulous planning his father was known for would continue.

Lucky escape for McEvoy

Kerrin McEvoy will be confined to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for the next few days, following a two-horse fall in the opening race at Flemington on Thursday. The jockey, who is Godolphin’s number two, is being kept under observation for bruising to the brain.

It appeared the jockey was unconscious immediately after his mount, Butterfield, and Vie collided and fell, with Butterfield rolling on McEvoy. Dr John McCorkell, who attended McEvoy on course, said that, other than slight bleeding into the brain, the jockey’s vital signs were good.

Kauto Star on 3m crusade

All eyes will be on Aintree winner Kauto Star next Saturday when he tackles 3m for the first time in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. Kauto Star has yet to run beyond his winning length of 2m4f.

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