Jockey

TEMPLEGATE’S Monday picks are below.

Back a horse by clicking their odds.

SPECTACULAR STYLE (5.00 Southwell, nap)

He’s a proven stayer for trainer Ian Williams and was a comfortable winner at Redcar two starts ago. He went off too quick there last time and the booking of Billy Loughnane is a positive. He has lots of staying power for 1m6f so should have no problems seeing out the two miles and he still looks on a fair mark.

ROSE OF HONOUR (6.00 Southwell, nap)

Can blossom for James Tate and Rossa Ryan. She looked well above average when scooting in at Kempton on debut last time. She absolutely tanked along and Ryan barely had to move in the saddle. The yard continues in excellent form.

ARKENSTAAR (3.00 Hamilton, treble)

He loves this track and followed a win with a neck second here last time. Being blocked at a crucial moment when making his challenge didn’t help and he can get his head back in front here.

TOUSSAROK (5.05 Brighton, Lucky 15)

Got the job done nicely at Wolverhampton last week but is a regular winner here too. This trip is ideal and he can cope with a rise in the weights.

Templegate’s tips

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Winning the Derby in 1971 was the crowning moment in one of the finest seasons ever seen in the saddle.

With Mill Reef he captured the Derby, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris – victories that remain etched in the sport’s history.

He also claimed the Oaks, the Coronation Cup, the Ascot Gold Cup and the Lockinge, making him virtually unbeatable that year.

Although his family moved to London when he was a boy, Lewis’ roots in Wales were never forgotten.

His journey into racing began at the Waldorf Hotel, where he worked as a page boy before jump jockey Tim Molony spotted his build and suggested he try racing.

Apprenticed to Ron Smyth at Epsom, he quickly rose through the ranks, riding his first winner in 1953.

By 1957 he was first jockey at Kingsclere, enjoying big-race victories for Sir Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth II.

But it was Mill Reef who defined him, the little colt who carried a Welshman to racing immortality.

Lewis went on to partner 1,880 winners in Britain, twice finishing runner-up in the jockeys’ championship and winning five Classics.

After retiring as a jockey, Lewis turned his hand to training and found success once more.

Based in Epsom, his stable included champion sprinter Lake Coniston, who stormed to glory in the 1995 July Cup.

In November 2024, Lewis’ lifelong contribution to Welsh sport was celebrated when he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Welsh Horse Racing Awards in Cardiff.

Too ill to attend in person, his daughter Mary and grandchildren Luci and Alex collected the award on his behalf.

The award was a fitting reminder of his place in Welsh sporting history.

Ron Turcotte, who rode Secretariat during his Triple Crown year in 1973 and electrified the sport, died Friday at his home near Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada. He was 84. According to his longtime friend and business partner Leonard Lusky, his death was due to natural causes.

Turcotte, who despite being in a wheelchair since 1978 after a riding accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, often showed up at big races to sign autographs, pose for pictures and act as an ambassador for the sport.

During his almost two-decade career, beginning in 1961, Turcotte won 3,023 races with lifetime earnings of more than $28 million. He was forced to retire in 1978 when, at 36, he suffered career-ending injuries in a spill at Belmont Park.

Turcotte’s accomplishments earned him a spot in six different Halls of Fame, including the National Racing Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. He won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, presented at Santa Anita, the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award, given in Canada, and the Turf Publicists Big Sport of Turfdom Award.

He spent much of his later years bringing attention to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, or PDJF.

Of all his more than 3,000 wins, he will most be remembered for his ride aboard Secretariat winning the Triple Crown and Belmont Stakes by an unheard of 31 lengths.

“I couldn’t hear the announcer all the time, saying how far I was in front,” Turcotte told The Times in 2023, to mark the 50th anniversary of Secretariat winning the Triple Crown. “I knew I was quite a ways in front because I couldn’t hear any other horses hitting the ground behind me. When I got the quarter pole I looked and I could barely see them and I looked at the clock and saw 1:59 on the board, which was faster than we ran the Derby.”

The family plans a private funeral and asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the PDJF. Turcotte is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Gaetane, and their four daughters: Tina, Ann, Lynn and Tammy.

TEMPLEGATE takes on Tuesday’s racing confident of building the bank for next week’s Ebor meeting at York.

Back a horse by clicking their odds below.

SILENT CITY (4.07 Lingfield, nap)

Roger Varian’s filly looked potentially smart when bolting up by nearly four lengths at Windsor two starts ago. She had an inexperienced jockey in the plate when she allowed a useful rival too much rope at Hamilton last time, but she still pulled miles clear of the rest. With Silvestre De Sousa back on board, she can return to winning ways.

NOBLE HORIZON (7.10 Hamilton, nb)

Bumped into a useful horse at Newmarket two starts ago. He made no mistake in a weaker race at Leicester 26 days ago and he can go on a roll now for his top stable.

NOVAK (7.40 Hamilton, treble)

Came back to form with a good second at Musselburgh last time. He is a C&D winner and is still on a winning mark.

VALOR SPIRIT (2.15 Carlisle, Lucky 15)

He ran three nice races on maidens and goes handicapping off a fair mark with a top apprentice taking off 5lb.

Templegate’s tips

CARLISLE

2.15 Valor Spirit
2.45 One Of Our Own
3.15 Curran
3.50 Ice Sovereigns
4.25 Reenie’s Dream
5.00 Homeland

LINGFIELD

2.30 Semser
3.00 Al Joory
3.32 Perfect Panda
4.07 Silent City (nap)
4.42 Foinix
5.17 Dogged

HAMILTON

5.40 Happier
6.10 Star Noir
6.40 Golden Horse
7.10 Noble Horizon (nb)
7.40 Novak (treble)
8.10 Shabu Shabu
8.40 Temper Trap

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Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

A JOCKEY banned from racing for his role in the ‘biggest race-fixing storm ever’ was beaten by a 40-1 outsider on his first ride back in 14 years.

Greg Fairley beat William Buick to the Champion Apprentice title in 2007 and looked all set for superstardom in the saddle.

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He would go onto Group 1 glory and massive prize money earnings of £2.8million on the track over a few short years, banging in 381 winners in Britain alone.

But his career looked done and dusted in 2011 when he was hit with a colossal ban for two of the most serious rules breaches.

He was found guilty of riding a horse to lose – ‘failing to obtain the best possible placing’ – and passing on inside information for reward.

A total of 11 people were sanctioned by the BHA for what at the time was called the ‘largest race-fixing ring ever exposed in British racing history’.

Fairley and fellow jockey Paul Doe were warned off for a dozen years, while two owners were banned for 14 for betting on their horses to lose, ‘corrupting’ jockeys in the process.

Fairley last rode 14 years ago but, having served his time and been regranted a licence by the BHA, he made his comeback at Ayr on Monday.

Scottish trainer Iain Jardine gave Fairley, who in his own words ran away’ back home to Scotland to run a tree surgery business before the BHA announced his ban, the ride on 4-1 Superior Council.

The six-year-old gelding, who had finished first and second on his two most recent starts, had been backed into as short as 3-1 before drifting slightly before the off.

But despite jumping well from the stalls he found little in the 6f race and finished eighth pf 16.

Former Amo Racing jockey Kevin Stott was on the winner – two-time Grand National champ Lucinda Russell’s 40-1 South Road.

In a statement written before his return, Fairley addressed his past ban and said it’s all now behind him as he focuses on winning again.

Fairley wrote: “Fifteen years ago I chose a path that was wrong and paid a justifiably significant price for my poor decisions.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the licencing committee of the BHA for giving me a second chance.

“I would also like to thank Sandy Thomson, Iain Jardine and Charlie and Mark Johnston who have all been very supportive.”

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Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

ROYAL Ascot jockey Gary Carroll has been banned and fined – days after winning the biggest race of his life.

Carroll steered home 33-1 roughie Cercene in a shock finish to the Coronation Stakes last Friday.

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Trainer Joseph Murphy said the unlikely victory – worth just shy of £500,000 – was the culmination of his life’s work and there were emotional scenes in the winner’s enclosure afterwards.

But the superstar filly will need a new jockey for her intended run in the Irish Oaks next month after Carroll was hit with a big ban.

He has been whacked with a two-week suspension and fined £5,800 for using his whip twice above the limit of six in the mile race.

More to follow.

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Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

TEMPLEGATE takes on Saturday’s racing confident of slamming in some winners and building the bank for Royal Ascot.

Back a horse by clicking their odds below.

ALSAKIB (3.00 York, nap)

He rose through the staying ranks last season and put in his best effort at this track. He ran well on his comeback in the Yorkshire Cup last month and can improve from there.

HOLD A DREAM (2.40 Sandown, nb)

He’ll enjoy dropping to five furlongs after showing lots of pace at Newbury last time but just failing to get home. That was his turf comeback and there’s more to come.

HEATHEN (2.25 York, treble)

He runs off a much lower mark on turf compared to the all-weather and can make the most of it under experienced pilot Serena Brotherton.

Templegate’s tips

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Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

A TOP British jockey has been tipped for a spot on Strictly Come Dancing.

The female sports star, 35, retired just this week – and speculation is mounting that BBC bosses will “make a move.”

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Now Rachael Blackmore has been tipped with odds of 4/1 by bookies Ladbrokes to compete for the Glitterball Trophy.

On Monday, the Grand National-winning rider announced on her social media that she was bringing her glittering 16-year career to an end.

She became the first female jockey to win the Grand National in 2021 when riding Minella Times home at Aintree for long-time boss Henry De Bromhead.

The Irish sports star became the first female to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard in 2022, one of 18 winners at the Cheltenham Festival.

Now Alex Apati of Ladbrokes has told us: “She’s used to silks, but not with sequins…

“We’d be amazed if Strictly chiefs didn’t make a move for one of racing’s greatest later this year.”

Rachael became the first female to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard in 2022, one of 18 winners at the Cheltenham Festival.

On Monday, she released an emotional statement on her retirement.

In it, she said: “My days of being a jockey have come to an end.

“I feel the time is right. I’m sad but I’m also incredibly grateful for what my life has been for the past 16 years.

“I just feel so lucky, to have been legged up on the horses I have, and to have experienced success I never even dreamt could be possible.

“It is daunting, not being able to say that I am a jockey anymore… who even am I now! But I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the career I’ve had.

“To have been in the right place at the right time with the right people, and to have gotten on the right horses – because it doesn’t matter how good you are without them.

“They have given me the best days of my life and to them I am most grateful.”

All your Strictly Come Dancing winners

Strictly first kicked off back in 2004, and over the years has crowned 21 winners.

Rachael would follow in the footsteps of fellow jockey Richard Dunwoody if she scooped the Strictly gig, after his stint in sequins in 2009.

He previously told how he earned £9K in nine minutes when winning the Grand National – yet bagged a bigger pay cheque on the BBC One series.

Recently, The Sun reported how the Queen Camilla Parker Bowles’ son, Tom, is said to be in talks to compete on the BBC dancing competition.

Tom, 50, is a food writer and restaurant critic and has made regular appearances on MasterChef as a judge.

A source said: “Top of their wishlist is MasterChef star Tom. His name was also sounded-out last year but never materialised. Bosses hope they’ll have better luck this year.

“It would be a coup to sign someone with such a strong royal link. Maybe we could see Camilla and Charles in the audience?”

Made In Chelsea star and I’m A Celebrity winner Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo is also on the dance show’s radar.

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