Stable pet back with Morrison

Kylkenny has returned home after recording his 21st career success in the £10,000 Littlewoods Betdirect Handicap at Southwell yesterday.

The 11-year-old was claimed out of Hughie Morrison’s yard by Steve Goodwin of Diamond Racing Ltd for £14,000 and sent to York trainer Declan Carroll after scoring at the Nottinghamshire track last month.

The move upset Morrison and his team at his Summerdown yard, where Kylkenny was the stable pet.

However, Morrison, who had trained the gelding throughout his career, signed an agreement with Diamond Racing to get Kylkenny back.

“We claimed the horse because we felt they were making a mistake running the horse in a claimer and we thought he could win a handicap,” explained Goodwin.

“He goes back to Hughie after this race purely because we took loads of bad press over it. They said it was their stable pet and they rang up and said they’d made a big mistake.

“He shouldn’t have been in a claimer in the first place and at the end of the day we’ve proved our point.”

Speaking from home, Morrison added: “The deal was that he’d come back to us after this race and I’m just delighted he’s coming back in good form.”

But the rules of racing state that unless subsequently claimed, bought out of a seller, or sold at auction, a horse cannot return “to the care or control of the trainer” in whose name it ran for six months from the day of the claim.

Morrison has written to the Jockey Club to question whether the rule will be enforced.

“We have received correspondence from Hughie, we’ve responded to that answering his questions and haven’t heard from him since then,” said Jockey Club spokesman Paul Struthers.

Tyzack made light of a 174-day absence to land the first division of the No 5p Rule 4s At Betdirect Handicap and continue the good recent run of form enjoyed by Hungerford-based trainer Stef Liddiard.

Michael Fenton produced the 5-1 chance to lead approaching the last of the seven furlongs and the gelding ran on strongly to account for Diction by a length and three-quarters.

Owner Simon Mapletoft said: “The frustrating thing was he won at Yarmouth in September off 53 and went up to 57 and then we couldn’t get into any races so we decided to have a look at the all-weather but it was the same scenario.

“He’s had the winter at home and we were going to get him ready for the turf but he came to hand quite quickly so we thought we’d try him here even though we didn’t know if he’d like the surface.”

Tyzack was the fourth winner in the last week for Ms Liddiard.

Sweet Pickle, a winner over course and distance last week, followed up in the Betdirect Freephone 0800 211 222 Handicap.

The mare was forced wide from her inside draw but, under a good ride from Amir Quinn, challenged down the centre and got the better of Doctor Dennis by a neck.

“A horse was all over the place in front of her and Amir has had to make the decision to switch. It was a bold move and it’s paid off,” said trainer Jim Boyle.

“She’s hit form and she’s creeping back up the handicap. We’ll see how she is and we might go again with her.”

Despite an unfavourable draw, Efistorm bolted up in the Big Cash Games At littlewoodspoker.com Handicap for improving apprentice Andrew Elliott and Doncaster trainer John Balding.

The 11-1 shot raced from stall 13 of 14 but that proved no bar to success as he sprinted clear to score by five lengths from Gone’n’dunnett.

“That’s the first time he’s won in this country. He’s won in Italy but he’s been so badly handicapped here and this is about where he is in a 0 to 70,” said Balding.

“The ground out there was pretty slow and it suited him. We might keep him going on the turf so long as he can get plenty of cut in the ground.”

All-weather specialist Sun Hill battled on gamely to get the better of Romil Star by two lengths in the footballpools.com Claiming Stakes.

Trainer Chris Fairhurst said: “He’s done all his winning on the all-weather. He’s won three times at Wolverhampton and three times here now.”

Sun Hill was claimed for £6,000 and will be going to Dai Burchell’s Gwent yard.

Gary Moore sent Waterside on the 376-mile round trip from his East Sussex base and the move paid off when the gelding proved too good for his rivals in the Bet Now At betdirect.co.uk Handicap.

Connections had to go to 8,000 guineas to retain Mossmann Gorge after Darryll Holland had booted the 2-1 chance home in the betdirect.co.uk Selling Stakes.