Tag Archive for: Keiran Burke

Soul Icon secures top spot in Desert Orchid Chase

/in /by

Soul Icon enjoyed a well-deserved day in the sun with a surprise success in the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park.

It has been a while between drinks for Keiran Burke’s stable star, who had picked up second place in five successive races since last tasting victory over hurdles at Fontwell in October of last year.

The seven-year-old was seemingly outclassed when last of four in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown on his most recent outing and was sent off at 16-1 taking on the likes of Boothill and Edwardstone in this limited handicap.

It was a straight shootout barring accidents from halfway up the home straight, with Harry Cobden and Soul Icon challenged by Tom Cannon and Edwardstone, from whom Burke’s runner was receiving a stone and a half in weight.

That extra burden told late on as with the far rail to help, Soul Icon knuckled down on the run-in to secure top honours and his first win over fences by three and a half lengths, with 2-1 favourite Martator a further seven lengths away in third.

Burke, claiming his first big-race winner since saddling Hunt Ball to win at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival, said: “I’m delighted as he deserved that. He’s as genuine as they come and he’s just been unfortunate to bump into one a few times.

“It was a lovely ride from Harry, perfect. It was the complete opposite of what I wanted him to do, but he knows what he’s doing and knows more than I do!

“I don’t really have any plans as he is ground dependent – we do need this better ground. We’ll see what the weather is doing and see what’s available for him.”

Cobden told Racing TV: “It’s great to ride any winner, but especially on the big days. I get a buzz riding any horse to win in a race like this and it means so much more to those little guys because they don’t have many darts to throw at the board.

“We went very quick with two keen horses in front and I just thought we’d take a lead and follow away. He’s not a very big horse, but he’s clever and he’s got a big jump when you need it.

“Turning in I thought Edwardstone had nearly 12st and I didn’t want to be anywhere near him really. I just thought we’d stay away from an old, experienced horse as I didn’t want to help him along.

“He’s been very unlucky. Three or four times over fences it’s looked like he was going to win and something has nailed him in the last 25 yards. I think the way the race played out today, going so quick early, he hasn’t been in front too long and it’s probably helped him out.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Soul Icon connections considering Sandown target

/in /by

Sandown’s Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase is a possible option for Soul Icon following his agonising near-miss in the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton.

Although still a maiden over the larger obstacles, the seven-year-old has finished second on his last five starts and after rattling the crossbar in Market Rasen’s Summer Plate in July, he produced arguably a career best when edged out by a neck by Dan Skelton’s Boombawn.

With conditions forecast to remain dry for the coming weeks, trainer Keiran Burke is now toying with stepping up to Grade One company at Sandown on December 7, where his sure-footed jumping from the front could be a sight to behold.

“Yet again he was second, he keeps knocking on the door and it’s not that he’s ungenuine or anything like that, he just keeps bumping into one, which is frustrating,” said Burke.

“He’s not out of place in that grade, especially on that ground, and Wincanton was definitely the right race to go for.”

He went on: “I’ve been having a chat with Tom Bellamy (jockey) and the long-range forecast looks quite dry still. We did think about entering him in the Henry VIII at Sandown, the Grade One.

“It would be frustrating to finish second in a Grade One, but I would take it. That might be a plan, but nothing is set in stone at the minute, that’s just our initial thoughts.

“When the rain comes, it will probably come, so that’s when he can have a break again.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Alice Procter out of intensive care following Cartmel fall

/in /by

Alice Procter has left intensive care but will require “further careful evaluation” after sustaining an injury to her spinal cord in a fall at Cartmel earlier this month, the Injured Jockeys Fund has said.

The 21-year-old amateur was airlifted to hospital in Preston after her fall from Uggy Uggy Uggy in the female riders’ handicap hurdle on July 20 and has since undergone surgery.

Giving an update on Tuesday, the IJF said in a statement: “Amateur jockey Alice Procter has now left Intensive Care at the Royal Preston Hospital.

“As a consequence of her fall, she sustained an injury to the spinal cord in the thoracic region which is affecting the lower half of her body. This will require further careful evaluation to guide future treatment and rehabilitation.

“Alice is extremely grateful for the skill and care of the hospital medical team and for the messages of support from her friends and colleagues across the industry.”

A GoFundMe page set up for Procter with an initial target of £5,000 has raised over £15,000 in just three days.

A talented equestrian, Procter was riding Uggy Uggy Uggy for Dorset-based trainer Keiran Burke, who said: “To have already raised so much money once again highlights how brilliant the racing community is in times such as this.

“It really does highlight that in circumstances such as this, racing rallies together brilliantly.”

The page has been set up by Burke’s staff, and on it a statement posted by Alice Gregory reads: “While Alice excels in the saddle and was injured doing something that she loves best, she is also an integral member of (Keiran) Burke’s Whitcombe Stables team in Dorset where not only does she ride out and provide brilliant care for the horses, but is invaluable in the office making entries and socialising with owners.

“Alice faces a long journey in so many ways, but the purpose of this GoFundMe page is to make that journey just that little bit easier, allaying some financial worries that she doesn’t deserve to endure and meaning that if there is something that she needs to purchase urgently, she has the means to do so.”

Donations can be made via the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/alice-procter?



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Soul Icon set to swerve Imperial Cup

/in /by

Wintry weather has ruled Soul Icon out of a tilt at the Betfair Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday.

The six-year-old has won seven of his last eight races, starting his winning streak rated 73 at Huntingdon and winning most recently in a Cheltenham handicap off a mark of 117.

He was due to run off 127 on Saturday on his intended comeback run after 141 days off the track, but the weather has scuppered that plan with sleet and heavy rain falling over Esher and leaving conditions unsuitably testing.

“We’ve decided he won’t go and that’s because of the ground,” said trainer Keiran Burke.

“It’s only going to get worse so we’re definitely not going to run, the weather will leave the ground too soft for him.”

A run in The Abersoch Land and Sea Handicap Hurdle at Aintree is the plan now and Burke may seek out another suitable race beforehand.

He said: “We’ll definitely go to the boys’ race at Aintree with him and we might try and sneak another run into him beforehand but I’m not sure where yet, that’s all a bit up in the air at the minute.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns