Racing Post Issues: THURSDAY APRIL 11th RACING POST 2013. EQUUS ZONE HARVEY SMITH TACKLES BLOODHORSE ILLITERATE BHA HANDICAPPER PHIL SMITH OVER AURORAS ENCORE HANDICAP HIKE OF 11lb .

http://www.turfcall.co.uk

http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd

THURSDAY APRIL 11th RACING POST

WEEK MONDAY APRIL 8th TO SUNDAY APRIL 14th 2013

REVIEW YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/results/home.sd?r_date=2013-04-10

PREVIEW TODAY'S CARDS

http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/home.sd

http://www.racingpost .com/news/live.sd

FURIOUS SITUATION

by Bruce Jackson

"HARVEY SMITH has accused the BHA's senior handicapper of in effect ending the winning chances of John Smith's Grand National hero Auroras Encore - like the previous ten winners of the Aintree showpiece.

"The husband of winning trainer Sue Smith fumed over 11lb hike in the 11-year-old's rating for his nine-length win last Saturday and called into question his chances of lining up in the Coral Scottish Grand National in nine days' time The rise set by Phil Smith leaves Auroras Encore, a shock 66-1 National scorer under Ryan Mania, facing a tougher task in the Scottish version at Ayr than when runner-up to Meringo last year as he will have to race off a 5lb higher mark.

"They don't get better when they are 11-year-olds," said the outspoken former leading showjumper. "When they're raced over nearly four and a half miles it should be half a pound for a length and he should have gone up four or five pounds."

"Smith feels it is no coincidence that none of the previous ten Grand National winners has landed a race since. He said: "They've just retired Mon ,Mome four years after his win and he could never win another race."

"Mon Mome , a 100-1shot, was raised 13lb for his Aintree success and was winless in another 18 races despite eventually slipping below his Aintree mark.

"The Yorkshire man also held up the handicapping of the stable's Cheltenham Festival winner Mister McGoldrick, who was also 11 when landing the 2008 Racing Post Plate. Smith said:"They put him up 15lb and he didn't win for 20 races - these horses are the stars and bring in the public but the handicapper is stopping them."

"As to Auroras Encore still running on Saturday week, Smith added: "The horse is fit and well and ready to go but do you ask him to carry top weight against younger horses with claimars riding them?"

"Asked if a conditional could replace Mania to offset the rise, Smith added: "You would put the horse's life in jeopardy if you put up a claimer, replacing the man who knows him like the back of his hand."

"Smith claimed in his BHA blog how he came to the mark of 148 for Auroras Encore, which is still the lowest post-National rating for a winner since Silver Birch triumphed in 2007.

"Confirming he has used a ilb rise for each of the winning nine lengths, after raising the second and third by 2lb, he said: "We're often accused of never dropping quickly enough horses who have lost their way, yet here was a horse who had finished second, beaten a head, in the Scottish National less than a year ago and had been raised to 150, running off a mark of 137. A 13lb reduction looks to put that criticism to bed rather effectively.

"As Cappa Bleu, who ran off 145, was due to go up 2lb after his good second at Ascot I let that rise occur as you have to think his Grand National second was at least as good as his Ascot run, despite being beaten nine lengths. He would have gone very close if the race had been the same distance as in the past."

"Merigo's owner Ray Anderson Green has this year's Scottish Grand National anti-post favourite Rival D'Estruval, who is 7-1 favourite with the sponsors.

"Cappa Bleu's trainer Evan Williams confirmed the runner-up was off to his owners for his holidays at the end of the week.

"But Williams is still looking forward to the race with Mr Moss. "He added: "I'm also keeping my eye on the Scottish Champion Hurdle for Court Minstrel, who won't mind drying conditions."

"Court Minstrel has 10st 6lb in the Grade 3 limited handicap in which the Alan King pair Raya Star and Grumeti head the weights.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Grand_National

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auroras_Encore

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Smith_(equestrian)

Graham Green "Call for riders to have a day off after National."

Graham Green "Mania still amazed by homecoming."

Henry Cecil: Trainer of Genius *** Signed by the Author ***

Brough Scott

£15.00

RRP £20.00 Save £5.00

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CRAVEN MEETING TURF FLAT

17 Apr 13	NEWMARKET	£100,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Sprint Cl2 6f	Card	Betting
18 Apr 13	NEWMARKET	£200,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy Cl2 1m2f	Card	Betting

http://www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk/the-rowley-mile/fixtures/spring-fixtures/the-craven-meeting/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newmarket_Racecourse

QIPCO GUINEAS MEETING TURF FLAT

04 May 13	NEWMARKET	Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (205th Running) British Champions Series (Group 1) Cl1 1m	Card	Betting
05 May 13	NEWMARKET	Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes (200th Running) British Champions Series (Group 1) Cl1 1m

http://www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk/the-rowley-mile/fixtures/spring-fixtures/the-qipco-guineas-festival/

CURRAGH GUINEAS MEETING TURF FLAT

25 May 13	CURRAGH	Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) (Entire Colts & Fillies) 1m	Card	Betting
26 May 13	CURRAGH	Irish 1,000 Guineas (Group 1) (Fillies) 1m	Card	Betting