The passionate trainer of the talented galloper Tell Massini received the most horrible news when he learnt that Massini suffered a fatal fall while jumping over a fence. It was a great blow for Tom George when the horse fell,
while it was still in the running for the Grade II GPG Novices’ Chase at Newbury on Thursday, the 25th of November.
During the colt’s collapse, jockey Paddy Brennan was aboard him. When returning to the weighing room, he said that “It is not good news.” Shortly after this, Lynn Hillyer, the veterinary officer revealed that the Massini could
not survive the fall despite the team’s best efforts to save him. Lynn added that Tell Massini had sustained a crippling back injury with due almost certain.
The colt was the dual winner of the Grade II hurdle meets and was so far unbeaten in his career. He was owned by Mr and Mrs R Cornock and stole the show with his spectacular performance in the Grade II Hyde Novices’ Hurdle that
took place at Cheltenham. This victory was the most splendid win the horse had registered in its racing career. He won this meet by holding off Reve De Sivola by eight lengths after which he made it to the Albert Bartlett Trial at the meeting in December.
Tell Massini was then also sent out as a heavy favourite with 100-30 to the 3 metre Grade I novice race that took place at the Festival with the same associations financially backing the events though the colt did not contend the
actual event.
In a chase event that took place in Stratford last month, Tell Massini did not only make a chase debut as a six year old colt, but also took over the field.
While Tell Massini was carted off, Aiteen Thirythree (the Paul Nicholls trainee) was successful in winning the GPG Novices Chase under the jockey Noel Fehily by an impressive distance of 17 lengths. Noel was more than happy as
this win, adding to his already tremendous racing season, while Aiteen Thirtythree jumped flawlessly over the fence, even though he did make some mistakes initially. The champion galloper shares his name and owner with that of a cheese brand.
His trainer was also delighted that their colt gave a good performance overall as Paul Nicholls was reported as saying, “He’s a proper article. He jumps, he gallops, that’s all he’s ever done. I have always liked him immensely
and next year he’ll be even better. He’s a bit of a hype horse – he’s just a bit babyish, that’s all.”
In a post race interview on Thursday evening, Paul went on to say, “I am not sure the hustle and bustle of the RSA Chase will suit him and he could be one for the Hennessy next year.”
It has been revealed that Nicholls and Barber will come into a partnership for the dual winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup Denman this year. He is being considered the most likely winner of the Gold Cup at Newbury this season. According
to the betting list and other sports analysis by experts of the racing industry, Denman will offer a tough competition to all the contenders of the Gold Cup. His connections are more than pleased with the way his practise sessions are coming along. Other racehorses
like Big Fella Thanks have also made it to the headlines due to their remarkable development before the anticipated Hennessy Gold Cup.
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