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 »
Two former Australian gallopers and an Australian-trained American import will make their maiden appearances in Dubai at Meydan this week. Dysphonia and Scarf, previously trained by Peter Snowden, have joined Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin team and are now trained by Saeed bin Suroor. On Friday night, the Group 1 placed Dysphonia… Read More »
Colour Squadron will bid to enhance his Cheltenham Festival claims by securing another victory over hurdles at Newbury on Friday. The Philip Hobbs-trained six-year-old beat the talented Montbazon at the Berkshire track in December and confirmed that promise with a tremendous run in defeat in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown,… Read More »
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream is likely to start off her season with a run at home in late spring before trainer Peter Schiergen plots serious European targets. From humble beginnings, Danedream became the first German-trained winner of France’s biggest race since 1975 when shattering the Longchamp track… Read More »
American stayer Eagle Poise could be readied for a tilt at the Ascot Gold Cup in June. The Graham Motion-trained six-year-old landed a Grade Three prize at Woodbine in December and runs in the colours of Mark Grier’s Riverdee Stable. “He’s proving to be quite a good turf horse in… Read More »
Quel Esprit booked his Cheltenham ticket when making virtually all the running to give Willie Mullins an eighth victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown. Backed down to 5-4 favourite from 7-4, Ruby Walsh kept the eight-year-old up to his work to hold Roberto Goldback by two lengths, with… Read More »
A Melbourne Cup campaign could be on the line when Saturday’s International Stakes winner Shez Sinsational tackles the Auckland Cup on March 3. Shez Sinsational outclassed an ordinary field in the International Stakes (2000m), winning by 3-1/2 lengths from Hold It Harvey and Rock’N’Pop. The Ekraar mare showed a turn… Read More »
Cash And Go bids to show his Grade One festive triumph was no fluke when he returns to Leopardstown for Sunday’s Novice Hurdle. Despite winning his first two starts over timber at Wexford and Gowran Park, Edward O’Grady’s gelding looked to have plenty on his plate against the much-vaunted Sous… Read More »
Philip Fenton is keen to get Sunday’s Novice Chase out of the way before committing Last Instalment to a run at next month’s Cheltenham Festival. The seven-year-old completed a hat-trick of victories over fences with a brilliant performance in the Grade One Fort Leney Novice Chase at Leopardstown in December…. Read More »
