Sizing Europe and Big Zeb, the first two home in the Queen Mother Champion Chase last year, are on course for a rematch at Cheltenham next Wednesday. The respective 2011 and 2010 winners are among 10 horses left in the two-mile (3200m) feature at the confirmation stage. Sizing Europe defeated… Read More »
Corine Barande-Barbe is eager to mull the results of this weekend’s Super Saturday meeting in Dubai before mapping out a plan for Cirrus Des Aigles. The six-year-old won the 10-furlong (2000m) Champion Stakes in October to add to his previous four triumphs in Group Two and Three company last term…. Read More »
Kauto Star continues to make strides in his race to be primed for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday week. It is nearly a week since news emerged the star 12-year-old had taken a schooling fall at home. Trainer Paul Nicholls has since issued regular updates on his progress at… Read More »
Hurricane Fly is one of 12 remaining entries in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday. Willie Mullins’ excellent hurdler had question marks over his wellbeing after missing his first few possible engagements this season, but he returned to action with a stunning victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle in… Read More »
Aidan O’Brien’s Camelot is the star name among 63 entries for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5. Already a Group One winner thanks to his stunning victory in the Racing Post Trophy, the unbeaten colt currently heads the market for both the Guineas and the Epsom Derby. Camelot… Read More »
Sprinter Sacre will face a maximum of nine rivals in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday. Nicky Henderson’s charge has been hugely impressive in remaining unbeaten over fences, including in the Game Spirit Chase last time out. Last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Al Ferof will represent Paul… Read More »
Trainer Aidan O’Brien and the Godolphin team dominate a cosmopolitan 70-strong entry for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6. O’Brien is responsible for 10 of the possibles at this stage, including the unbeaten filly Maybe, winner of the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes on her final outing last… Read More »
Niche Market has been ruled out of next month’s Grand National. The 11-year-old ran a cracking trial for the Aintree feature when beaten just half a length at Newbury last Saturday. However trainer Paul Nicholls has confirmed Niche Market, who finished fifth in the race last year and was a… Read More »
Queensland owner Dick Karreman looks set to have a good second string for the New Zealand Oaks with Wednesday’s Sunline Vase winner Artistic. The Darci Brahma filly gained a well-deserved win in the listed Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie, getting a nice rails run for jockey Michael Coleman to out-class… Read More »
James McDonald’s coolness in the face of the unexpected helped him get Shez Sinsational home in Wednesday’s Auckland Cup at Ellerslie. McDonald’s saddle broke just before the start, delaying the race by eight minutes, but he kept focused and rode the mare well, getting her through a rough patch 600m… Read More »
Racehorses that stay in the pack longest before breaking for the final sprint have the best chance of earning prize money, scientists said on Wednesday. By tucking in cleverly behind the leaders, the horse uses “aerodynamic drafting” to its advantage, they said. By coasting along behind the front horses, which… Read More »
Racegoers at Wincanton on Friday will get the chance to judge for themselves how well Kauto Star is recuperating from his schooling fall. Trainer Paul Nicholls has decided to give the great `chaser a gallop after racing at his local track, rather than carry out a piece of work at… Read More »
Andy Stewart admits owning Big Buck’s has become a “nervous responsibility” as his bid to win the World Hurdle for a fourth time draws ever closer. The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old would move ahead of Inglis Drever in the record books as the only four-time winner of the race should he… Read More »
Sizing Europe passed his final serious test before the Queen Mother Champion Chase with a satisfactory workout at the Curragh on Monday. Trainer Henry de Bromhead said the reigning champion chaser thrived in a 10-furlong (2000m) spin under regular jockey Andrew Lynch. De Bromhead will now tread a cautious path… Read More »
Malcolm Jefferson will give According To Pete an easy couple of weeks after his fine run at Kelso on Saturday before building him back up for the Grand National. The North Yorkshire trainer was delighted with the 11-year-old’s effort in taking second place behind Master Of The Hall in the… Read More »
Kauto Star’s chances of competing in the Cheltenham Gold Cup will hinge upon a “D-Day” workout on Saturday, owner Clive Smith said. The magnificent 12-year-old chaser, twice a winner of the Cheltenham Festival centrepiece, was last Thursday reported as 50-50 about running on Friday week following a bad schooling fall… Read More »
Deacon Blues, in the frame to provide Royal Ascot opposition for Black Caviar, will miss the 2012 racing season because of injury. Trainer James Fanshawe said Deacon Blues, potentially the best sprinter in England for many years, had suffered a tear to a tendon. Scans taken on Saturday showed the… Read More »
Trainer Donald McCain reports Grand National hero Ballabriggs in rude health following his encouraging comeback performance at Kelso on Saturday. The 11-year-old finished second in the Premier Chase 12 months ago before going on to claim Aintree glory, and although beaten a little further into fourth in this year’s renewal… Read More »
Soul’s triumphant Dubai debut last week could have earned the stakeswinning sprinter the chance to take on his former Australian stablemate Sepoy on World Cup night. Soul won three of his 12 starts in Australia when prepared by Darley’s head trainer Peter Snowden before being transferred to Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin… Read More »
A Derby win in New Zealand with Silent Achiever hasn’t convinced Cambridge trainer Roger James to take on the colts and geldings in Sydney this autumn. On Saturday Silent Achiever became the first filly since 1993 to win the New Zealand Derby (2400m), coping admirably with a slow Ellerslie track… Read More »
