Racing week: McNamara makes public appearance

JP McNamara made his first public appearance on Wednesday since seriously damaging his back and spinal cord in a fall at Bangor in April. The jump jockey attended a charity golf day at Belmont golf course near Hereford held to raise money for his treatment.

McNamara is currently convalescing at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry, and had his heart set on attending the competition. Over £50,000 was raised towards McNamara’s treatment at the event which will be shown on Racing UK in the next few days.

The jockey, who is confined to a wheelchair, has taken up swimming as part of his treatment and undergoes continual intensive physiotherapy in order to strengthen wasted muscles.

Mick Kinane in the good books

Mick Kinane’s rekindled relations with Ballydoyle have further strengthened with the news that he will partner both Dylan Thomas and Alexandrova at York next week. Kinane, who was replaced by Jamie Spencer as stable jockey to Aidan O’Brien in 2003 has been Ballydoyle’s first choice rider in Britain following Kieren Fallon’s ban.

He has been called up to ride Irish Derby winner Dylan Thomas in Tuesday’s Juddmonte International.

Deauville favourite a question mark

Holy Roman Emperor, favourite for the Prix Morny on Sunday, will not travel to Deauville if the going is soft. The announcement has put a question mark over his participation in this weekend’s race.

Godolphin on scorching form

Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation is onto a winning streak. In the past week Godolphin has taken eight races from nine runners, and there is potentially more to come.

Belenus outclassed his rivals in the Group 3 fixture at Salisbury and Trick Or Treat notched up a fourth win in a row in the fillies’ handicap.

The new lady of racing

Caroline Bailey is to become a public trainer. The Northamptonshire based point-to-point trainer who has more than 450 point-to-pint winners to her name has submitted an application to the Horseracing Regulatory Authority and her farm is to be inspected next week.

Kelly on road to recovery

Shane Kelly, who suffered a broken femur following a fall from Piano Player at Bath last week has returned home. Kelly underwent surgery and will have to return to hospital in two weeks to have the stitches removed.

Chepstow awash

Thursday night’s meeting at Chepstow was abandoned due to torrential rain. A 40 minute cloudburst caused water to lie on the course at the four-furlong and one-furlong poles.

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