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 »
Kinglet could bid for the UAE Derby after winning the UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan. On a card dominated by trainers Mahmood Al Zarooni and Saeed bin Suroor, it was Kinglet who emerged with most credit. The Godolphin-owned colt appreciated the step back up to a mile (1600m) to give… Read More »
Malcolm Jefferson is hoping According To Pete will be allotted less than 11 stone (70kg) when the weights for the Grand National are announced on Tuesday. The North Yorkshire trainer is waiting for the handicapper’s assessment of his in-form chaser before aiming the 11-year-old at the Aintree marathon on April… Read More »
Nicky Henderson has entered Binocular, Oscar Whisky and Simonsig in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Wednesday. Henderson has made no secret of the fact that he is running out of options for his star two-mile (3200m) hurdlers and Binocular was due to run at Sandown last week before it… Read More »
Diamond Harry is on course for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after recovering from a successful wind operation. The problem was dealt with last week after jockey Noel Fehily reported he felt the Nick Williams-trained nine-year-old had a breathing difficulty when fifth to Midnight Chase in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham…. Read More »
Synchronised will miss Sunday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown after failing to satisfy connections in the run-up to the Grade One. The nine-year-old, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, joins the list of high-profile horses to miss the Irish showpiece, but the Lexus Chase winner remains on course for the Cheltenham Gold… Read More »
Dvinsky ran a gallant fourth in the race named in his honour at Kempton at what was his 200th career start. The Paul Howling-trained 11-year-old was rousted from the stalls to take a handy position immediately behind the pace-setting Riflessione. And Tom McLaughlin’s mount looked a menace for plenty of… Read More »
Nicky Henderson is praying this weekend’s huge fixture at Newbury goes ahead to give some of his stable stars a crucial run before next month’s Cheltenham Festival. The Seven Barrows handler is set to saddle Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run in the Denman Chase, while one of the most… Read More »
Francois Doumen’s veteran Kasbah Bliss is in Dubai being readied for a run on World Cup night at the end of next month. The 10-year-old has been a superb servant to his connections both on the Flat and over jumps during his career and was a beaten odds-on favourite when… Read More »
One of the most durable members of the all-weather community will take centre stage on Wednesday night (AEDT) when Dvinsky competes for the 200th time in a race named in his honour at Kempton. It is believed no horse has made as many starts in Britain before and the 11-year-old… Read More »
Talented juvenile Hollow Tree has been “overlooked” for next month’s Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, according to his trainer Donald McCain. The four-year-old has won three times from five starts over obstacles, including a Grade One victory in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow over Christmas. He was far from disgraced when… Read More »
Foxhunter Chase favourite Backstage remains firmly on course for next month’s Cheltenham Festival following his sixth victory in the point-to-point sphere this season at the weekend. Gordon Elliott’s 10-year-old came home in 10th position when a leading fancy for last year’s Grand National and while a return to Aintree is… Read More »
Paul Nicholls believes there will be little to choose between old rivals Kauto Star and Long Run as the pair prepare to lock horns for a fifth time in next month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. Long Run was victorious in both the Gold Cup and the King George VI Chase last… Read More »
Freezing temperatures are continuing to cause problems for National Hunt racing ahead of one of the most crucial weekends of the season so far. The cold snap set in during the middle of last week and had already claimed a number of meetings, with snow that fell during Saturday worsening… Read More »
Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run could face up to 10 rivals as he bids to get off the mark for the campaign in the Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday. Nicky Henderson’s star stayer looked to have the world at his feet when landing the blue riband of National… Read More »
