Phil Kirby ‘gutted’ at Top Ville Ben setback
The eight-year-old came to prominence with a series of fine runs last season, including an imposing victory in Wetherby’s Rowland Meyrick Chase last Boxing Day under Tommy Dowson.
Owned by the Harbour Rose Partnership, the horse had an entry in last season’s Randox Health Grand National at Aintree before the world’s greatest steeplechase fell victim to the Covid-19 lockdown.
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Hide AdThe horse had been due to reappear in Wetherby’s flagship Charlie Hall Chase on October 31 and the setback comes just days after Kirby’s stable star Lady Buttons, one of the most popular horses in training, was retired after sustaining a minor injury at the start of her final season in training.
“We’re gutted to say that Top Ville Ben has had a setback after an away gallop, that means he will be off work until Christmas time,” said Catterick-based Kirby.
“He’s comfortable and will just be resting on his laurels for a bit. We would be very hopeful he’d be back in time for the Spring meetings if fully recovered, and if all goes to plan, he should be.
“I know so many of you, like us and his owners, were so excited to see him gearing up for the Charlie Hall Chase, and he’s been flying at home, looking tremendous,” he said.
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Hide Ad“It’s a double whammy after early retirement for Buttons, but we’ll keep our chins up and look forward to his belated return.”
Meanwhile, superstar sprinter Battaash remains on course to try to regain his Prix de l’Abbaye crown against 13 potential rivals on Arc day this Sunday, including last year’s winner Glass Slippers for Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan.
Charlie Hills’s brilliant sprinter, victorious at Royal Ascot, Goodwood and York this summer, is also joined in the possible field for Sunday’s five-furlong Group One at ParisLongchamp by notable British challengers.
As well as Glass Slippers, who prevailed on soft ground 12 months ago when Battaash fell untypically short back in 14th of 16, Hills’s star could come up against Liberty Beach and Keep Busy.
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Hide AdBoth are trained at Malton by John Quinn while Middleham trainer James Bethell’s Moss Gill is another possibility.
In the Prix de la Foret, over seven furlongs, William Haggas’s One Master currently has 14 potential rivals as she seeks a third successive victory in the race.
Her rivals include Quinn’s Safe Voyage, who put up a career-best performance to beat One Master at York’s Ebor Festival under Jason Hart, and Malton trainer Richard Fahey’s Toro Strike.
There are still 19 two-year-old fillies in the Prix Marcel Boussac – including Fahey’s Deauville Group Two winner Fev Rover and Dubai Fountain for Middleham’s Mark Johnston.
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Hide AdIn other news, Serpentine is the only supplementary entry for thje Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as 16 remain in Europe’s premier middle-distance race at ParisLongchamp.
Aidan O’Brien added the Epsom Derby victor to his team at a cost of 72,000 euros after being pleased with the colt’s fourth to stablemate Mogul in the Grand Prix de Paris over the Arc course and distance two and a half weeks ago. Mogul, Japan, Sovereign and dual Classic-winner Love complete his raiding party.
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