International Horse Racing

• Run heads Ryanair possibles

  Dual winner Albertas Run heads the 38 entries for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on March 15.

   
• Spender tops Classic field

  Colin Tizzard’s Hey Big Spender will carry top weight in Saturday’s Classic Chase at Warwick.

   
• Pearl could take in Guineas trial

  Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Lightening Pearl is back in training ahead of her bid for Classic glory in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

   
• Italy’s horse racing risks collapse

  Riders, trainers and breeders wearing horse-head masks and blowing trumpets protested outside the Italian parliament on Thursday against fierce subsidy cuts threatening the future of horse racing.

   
• ‘Electric’ Zafisio nears hurdling debut

  Not many Group One winners on the Flat go hurdling but that is the plan for Jo Hughes’ Zafisio.

   
• Fly on course for Leopardstown

  Willie Mullins reports Hurricane Fly to be “100 per cent” ahead of his planned seasonal return in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

   
• Big two highlight Gold contenders

  The stage is set for Kauto Star and Long Run to clash again in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 16.

   
• McCoy targets Cheltenham return

  Tony McCoy is confident he will be back in the saddle before Cheltenham Trials Day on January 28.

   
• O’Neill salutes retiring Push It

  Trainer Jonjo O’Neill branded Don’t Push It “an unbelievable horse” after confirming the retirement of the 2010 Grand National winner.

   
• Neptune in Classic frame

  Oscars Well is set to remain at two miles (3200m) for the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

   
• Williams taking it slowly with Mon Mome

  Venetia Williams is likely to make a late call on whether Mon Mome goes for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on his way to a bid for a second Grand National.

   
• Alpha on Derby path for Godolphin

  Godolphin’s Kentucky Derby hope Alpha has made a winning start to his campaign with victory in the Count Fleet, a traditional starting point for Triple Crown contenders at the Aqueduct.

   
• Weld hoping for Champion pointer

  Dermot Weld expects to have a better idea of where Unaccompanied stands in the pecking order after she runs in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 29.

   
• All looking Grand for Pete

  Malcolm Jefferson is eyeing a potential Grand National bid with According To Pete following his Rowland Meyrick Chase victory at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

   
• De Kock plunders Dubai feature

  Mike de Kock got his 2012 Dubai Carnival off to the perfect start as classy mare Mahbooba showed the boys the way home in the Al Rashidiya Trial.

   
• Mome revved up for Aintree return

  Grand National hero Mon Mome will once again be targeted at the Aintree marathon following his excellent run in defeat at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

   
• Sizing steps up Cheltenham preparations

  Champion Chase hero Sizing Europe remains on course for next month’s Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown ahead of the defence of his Cheltenham crown.

   
• Punjabi sidelined again

  Connections of 2009 Champion Hurdle hero Punjabi have confirmed the gelding will once again miss the entire season through injury.

   
• Asaid has final word for Ferguson

  John Ferguson’s runners continue to add a fascinating new dimension to the jumps season as the trainer struck with his first juvenile hurdler at Huntingdon.

   
• Cue set for Arkle prep

  Colin Tizzard plans to give Cue Card one more outing before having a tilt at the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.