Gordon Elliott feels Shadow Catcher may have sneaked under the radar ahead of the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham next month. Trained by Michael Dodds on the level, the son of 2000 Guineas winner Haafhd changed hands for 40,000 guineas ($A65,017) at Tattersalls in October. He won on his hurdling debut… Read More »
Mahmood Al Zarooni won the UAE Oaks – but not with the filly expected as Falls Of Lora came away with the spoils at Meydan. Stablemate Pimpernel was odds-on favourite on the back of her second to Gamilati earlier in the month, and Frankie Dettori had no trouble in choosing… Read More »
Arkle favourite Sprinter Sacre will have no more than 14 rivals after Cheltenham published the latest scratching stage for the Festival novice races. Nicky Henderson’s flamboyant youngster is trading at even-money with some bookmakers for the two-mile (3200m) showdown after taking his unbeaten record over fences to three in last… Read More »
Epsom will move the Coronation Cup to Derby Day this year in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The Surrey course will be staging the first event of the celebrations for Her Majesty’s 60-year reign and the Queen will be attending Derby Day itself, as she did three days after… Read More »
Evan Williams is tempted to allow Deep Purple to continue his Grand National preparation in Saturday’s Racing Plus Chase at Kempton. The winner of his only start this season in Sandown’s London National, Deep Purple has begun to show more of a stamina capacity at the age of 11, as… Read More »
Silvestre De Sousa has signed an agreement to become part of Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation. Linked in recent days with the Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum job soon to be vacated by Richard Hills, De Sousa will be riding alongside Frankie Dettori in the royal blue colours. De Sousa finished runner-up… Read More »
Sweeping changes to the controversial whip rules are set to come into effect before the Cheltenham Festival. In his first major challenge since being appointed the British Horseracing Authority’s new chief executive, Paul Bittar proposed fresh amendments which were approved at a board meeting on Tuesday. The board has given… Read More »
Dessie Hughes feels Minsk will have to go close to making a successful debut over timber at Fairyhouse to justify his place in the Triumph Hurdle. The Dalakhani gelding is a leading fancy for the four-year-old championship at Cheltenham at around 7-1 on the strength of his solid form on… Read More »
A decision on a successor to Richard Hills as retained jockey to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum is expected to be made soon. Sheikh Hamdan’s racing manager Angus Gold said they were keen to make an announcement shortly, with the start of the British turf season just weeks away. “Nothing… Read More »
Alan King feels his Reynoldstown Chase winner Invictus has more “gears” than normally associated with a three-mile (4800m) chaser. The six-year-old looked to have a huge future when winning his first two starts over fences at Hereford and Plumpton, but then disappointed at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. However, King… Read More »
Teddy Grimthorpe would be “very surprised” were Frankel and Black Caviar to meet at Royal Ascot. Black Caviar stretched her unbeaten record to 19 at the weekend, but the Australian sensation was racing over five furlongs (1000m), having run over seven furlongs (1400m) the week before. The six-furlong (1200m) Golden… Read More »
English jockey Richard Hills has announced he will retire from race riding next month after a career spanning 33 years. The number one jockey to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum since 1997 is to hang up his saddle for the last time on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on… Read More »
Binocular warmed up for a bid to reclaim his Champion Hurdle crown with a surprise appearance at Wincanton on Saturday. The 2010 Cheltenham title-holder was only handed a place in the Kingwell Hurdle after his Nicky Henderson-trained stablemate Grandouet was forced to miss the race. But he showed he could… Read More »
Connections of Sprinter Sacre’s Arkle Trophy rivals are likely to be quaking in their boots after the giant gelding produced a devastating performance in the Super Saturday Chase at Newbury. Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old made a foot-perfect start to his career over fences at Doncaster, and after slamming Peddlers Cross at… Read More »
Long Run’s connections declared themselves thoroughly satisfied after the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero continued his Festival preparations with a workmanlike victory at Newbury. After defeating old warriors Denman and Kauto Star in the blue riband last March, it seemed Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old was ready to dominate the staying chase division… Read More »
Friday morning’s Meydan card saw Australian gallopers perform well without winning as the Dubai World Cup Carnival intensifies. Scarf, the ghostly grey formerly trained by Peter Snowden, ran home for second at his first Dubai appearance in the early hours of this morning under Silvestre de Sousa. The son of… Read More »
Simonsig set himself up for a tilt at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with a convincing win in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso. Nicky Henderson’s imposing grey has been backed into favouritism for the Cheltenham event over two miles (3200m), but has already won a point-to-point over three miles (4800m). He… Read More »
John Quinn is leaning towards running Countrywide Flame in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The four-year-old finished third in a Grade One at Leopardstown on Sunday and was second to Hollow Tree in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow. Given his form at the highest level, Countrywide Flame is… Read More »
Binocular is more likely to have a racecourse gallop at Newbury than run in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday, despite appearing among the eight entries. A decision appeared to have been made to send the 2010 champion hurdler straight to Cheltenham but Nicky Henderson surprised many by entering… Read More »
Junior continues to head the pre-post market for the Grand National after being allotted 11st 2lb (71kg) in the initial handicap for the April 14 race. The David Pipe-trained runner has not been seen in public since last year’s Royal Ascot meeting but is the 12-1 favourite with both Paddy… Read More »
