Michael Scudamore: has died aged 81

 PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Grand National-winning jockey Scudamore dies 

MICHAEL SCUDAMORE, who won the Grand National in 1959 aboard Oxo, and the Gold Cup in 1957 on Linwell, has died aged 81.

Scudamore was regarded as one of the greatest jockeys of his era, and his exploits in the saddle encouraged son Peter to follow in his footsteps, to great success. One of racing’s most popular dynasties has continued to a third generation through Peter’s sons, jump jockey Tom and trainer Michael.

Michael Scudamore, whose father was a point-to-point trainer, rode 496 winners between 1950 and a career-ending falll at Wolverhampton in 1966 that left him with a permanently damaged left eye.

He finished runner-up in the 1956-57 season, winning the King George VI Chase on Rose Park, and he educated Mandarin in his early races before winning the race that is now the RSA Chase at Cheltenham on him in 1957.

Peter said: “He was a hero to us. They were tough men in those days, he rode in a 40-runner novice chase round Hereford, and said when he had a fall his helmet hit the floor before he did as there were no straps in those days.

“They were just a different generation of toughness and without him and the other people of his era, National Hunt racing wouldn’t be held in the regard that it is today and I’d never want to forget the legacy they left us.

“People come up to me and say ‘I’ve watched many jockeys and he was the best one I’ve ever seen over a fence’, which makes you immensely proud. He was the toughest man I’ve ever met.”

After the enforced end to his riding career, Scudamore trained in Herefordshire between 1967 and 1995, resuming in 2003 until 2008. His biggest successes were Bruselee in the 1974 Mackeson and Fortina’s Palace in the 1970 Grand Annual.

Scudamore’s wife Mary passed away last Friday, and Peter Scudamore added: “She couldn’t have survived without him and from that point of view it was a blessing.”

Trainer Michael Scudamore summed up his family’s emotions, as he tweeted: “A huge thank you for everyone’s kind words. Our feelings at the moment are of huge pride. To have known him, spent time with him and listened to his wonderful stories and have been able to call him Grandad.”

Aljamaaheer: has finished third on two sprint starts this season

 PICTURE: Getty Images

Varian: Aljamaaheer can turn around Ascot form

SWITCHING Aljamaaheer to sprint distances this season has worked well so far, and trainer Roger Varian thinks the five-year-old has more improvement to come in Saturday’s Darley July Cup.

The sprint division is packed with stars this season, and while Varian accepts landing a big prize will be tricky, he believesAljamaaheer has a chance of turning around form with his Diamond Jubilee conquerors Slade Power and Due Diligence as he continues to adapt to his new discipline.

Aljamaaheer won the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot last season, but has been dropped back in trip for 2014, finishing third in the 6f Group 3 Abernant Stakes before occupying the same position at Royal Ascot.

Varian said: “He has got a length and three-quarters to make up on Slade Power, it’s a tough division and we have got to turn the form book around.

“But, without fishing for excuses, I still think that it is fair to say that he still has another couple of pounds worth of improvement in him.

“Paul Hanagan rightly said that we spent the whole of last year trying to get him to switch off [over a mile]. He is still adjusting to new race conditions and this is only his third try at sprinting.

“He is in very good condition at the moment and we really want to try and bag one of these top races with him. He wore blinkers last time and I think that they helped a little bit so he will wear them again.”

A 7-1 chance for the July Cup, Aljamaaheer is the leading British-trained runner in the ante-post market, with Slade Power a top-priced 3-1 favourite.

The going for Newmarket’s three-day July festival, which starts on Thursday, was described on Monday as good to firm, with sunshine and showers forecast. 

Group 1 great Lammtarra dies aged 22

LAMMTARRA, one of the best horses of his generation, has died at the age of 22.

Unbeaten in his four starts, Lammtarra was the dominant middle-distance performer as a three-year-old in 1995, winning the Derby, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and then the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on his final start.

Saeed Bin Suroor, who trained Lammtarra for owner Saeed Maktoum Al Maktoum, to all three of his Group 1 wins, said: “I was very sad to hear of the passing of Lammtarra. He was a true champion and of the best horses that I have trained.

“His victories in ther Derby, King George and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe were exceptional and he will be remembered as an outstanding horse for generations to come.”

Originally trained by the late Alex Scott, Lammtarra’s sole win as a juvenile was the Listed Washington Singer Stakes at Newbury. Following Scott’s death, the colt was transferred to Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation.

Although his participation in the Derby was in doubt in the lead-up to the race after he contracted a virus in Dubai, Lammtarra showed no rustiness on his seasonal reappearance, winning by a length in a then course-record time.

He would then get the better of a titanic battle with Pentire in the King George VI at Ascot, Frankie Dettori taking over from Walter Swinburn in the saddle.

Dettori then rode Lammtarra again on his final start in the Arc, as the pair repelled all challengers to score by three parts of a length.

Post-racing, Lammtarra took up stallion duties firstly at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, before being sold to Japan. Although not a roaring success as a stallion, he was bought back by Sheikh Mohammed in 2006 to live out his retirement at Dalham Hall.

First three home in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot reoppose

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Royal Ascot protagonists set for July Cup rematch

SLADE POWER, Due Diligence and Aljamaaheer, the first three home in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, are on a collision course for an explosive rematch in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday.

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Adding extra spice to an already tasty match up areSole Power and Hot Streak, first and third in the King’s Stand Stakes, who take a step up in trip to six furlongs having contested the five furlong dash at Royal Ascot.

A field of 17 were confirmed on Monday for the Group 1 sprint, including Undrafted for US trainer Wesley Ward and Spanish-star Noozhoh Canarias, giving the line up an international flavour.

While Aidan O’Brien has the strongest hand numerically with four potential runners, Eddie Lynam will be the envy of his colleagues, as he prepares Royal Ascot winners Slade Power and Sole Power for the contest.

Bookmaker Paddy Power, whose spokesman has a vested interest in both Lynam-trained runners which are owned by his parents, make Slade Power the 11-4 favourite, with Due Diligence next best at 4-1.

Power said: “Edward Lynam and mum and dad have always held Slade Power in the highest regard and their faith was justified in no uncertain terms in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. Hopefully, he’ll take a bit of beating again, although a dead-heat with Sole Power would be an acceptable outcome!” 

Last year’s winner Field Of Dream, successful in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last month, could bid for back-to-back wins in Saturday’s 666Bet Bunbury Cup, after featuring among 62 confirmed for the race on Monday.

The most notable absentees were Russian Realm and Producer but leading ante-post fancies Horsted Keynes and Abseil remain on target for the race.

An alternative option for Field Of Dream is a step up in class for Saturday’s Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot.

The Jamie Osborne-trained runner is one of the 18 entries for the race, which also includes Bunbury Cup absentee Producer and Lockinge Stakes runner up Tullius.

fonte: RacingPost