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UPS AND DOWNS

Racing review: Hotpots and howlers from the last seven days in the world of horse racing

Who flopped and who made the headlines for the right reasons across the likes of Haydock and Ascot?

THERE were some memorable performances and some moments to forget in the world of racing this week.

Take a look at our latest instalment of Hotpots and Howlers, where we pick out the good, the bad and the downright ugly from the past seven days.

 Seamus Durack doubled his prize money for the year at Kempton
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Seamus Durack doubled his prize money for the year at KemptonCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Hotpots

Let's start with some positive thoughts, and fair play to trainer Seamus Durack who doubled his prize-money for 2018 in the space of 30 minutes at Kempton last Monday.

The Lambourn-based trainer had amassed around £50k in the first 10 and a half months of the year on the Flat.

First up, he had the Aidan O'Brien cast-off Pipes Of Peace bolt up in the £75,000 Middle Distance Final.

In the following race, Alfredo won doing handstands under Oisin Murphy to give him a 51-1 double. He'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

Another trainer who deserves plenty of praise here is Harry Fry.

The baby-faced assassin slayed the bookies at Ascot on Saturday when hot favourite If The Cap Fits won the Coral Hurdle.

But on Friday at the same track, he sent out nine-year-old Jolly's Cracked It to win impressively after a staggering 706-day absence at odds of 7-1.

A proper Fry-up.

There was some very good news on the Flat last Monday with the announcement that Enable will stay in training next season.

The brilliant filly created her own slice of history in the States when becoming the first horse to complete the Arc-Breeders' Cup Turf double.

No horse has won three Arc's, with Treve the most recent to attempt the feat in 2015.

She's a top-class mare, and it will be great to watch her strut her stuff for another year.

 Enable will strut her stuff as a five-year-old
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Enable will strut her stuff as a five-year-oldCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Howlers

Not for the first time, it's been a bad week for Haydock clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright.

He has gained a reputation in recent years for being 'hose happy' and over-watering at the Merseyside track.

This time, trainers and jockeys were claiming that the fences at Haydock were far too big and as stiff as a board.

There were 26 runners over fences at the track on Saturday with seven fallers - a pretty high attrition rate.

Earlier in the week, Tellwright was also left red-faced when his car got at a Colin Tizzard open day - oh the irony!

There is a slight element of pocket-talking in this next one.

But myself and colleague Tom Bull were left seething by a couple of stinkers from jockey Andrew Mullen at Newcastle on Thursday.

I backed and tipped Stargazer in the mile and a half handicap - I don't know if Mullen thought there was another circuit to go but he left his challenge far too late and finished a never-nearer second.

Worse was to come as he finished virtually on the bridle on Coral Queen, one of 'Bully's Bankers', having found trouble the whole way up the straight. Nightmare.

 Andrew Mullen had a day to forget at Newcastle on Thursday
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Andrew Mullen had a day to forget at Newcastle on ThursdayCredit: PA:Press Association

The BHA are never far away from the headlines, and the governing body were responsible for yet another cock-up this week.

Irish raider Earl Of Bunnacurry was expected to be a red-hot jolly at Wolverhampton on Saturday.

The horse had won it's last two starts for Gavin Cromwell - but a handicapping error meant he was denied a run.

He was due to take part in a 0-60 off a mark of 58, but the handicappers had FAILED to reassess him for a win at Southwell, meaning his mark was actually readjusted to 61. Deary me.

Nico de Boinville and Nicky Henderson out to bag big prizes on the way to the Festival
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