International Horse Racing

• Owner blasts Grand National criticism

  Owner Andy Stewart has hit back at criticism of Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree following the death of two horses in the race.

   
• Kauto Star on Gold mission

  Kauto Star remains on course to round off his campaign in next month’s Punchestown Gold Cup.

   
• Ballabriggs wins 2011 Grand National

  Ballabriggs, trained by Donald McCain and ridden by Jason Maguire, won the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, the 14-1 chance beating Oscar Time, partnered by amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen.

   
• Master bounces back in style

  Master Minded confirmed himself as a King George replacement for the deposed Kauto Star after collecting his eighth top-level prize in the Melling Chase at Aintree.

   
• Melbourne Cup winner Americain runs sixth in France

  Melbourne Cup winner Americain has finished a creditable sixth in a 3100 metre race in France after being held up for a run in the straight.

   
• Nacarat Bowls ’em over at Aintree

  A new chapter in Paddy Brennan’s life could barely have opened in a better way as the frontrunning Nacarat gave the rider a Grade One victory in the Bowl at Aintree.

   
• Nicholls – Buck’s the best we’ve had

  Big Buck’s wrapped up this season just as he had the previous two with what jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Paul Nicholls considered to be the finest performance of his career in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

   
• Bookies fear McCoy factor in National

  Don’t Push It attempts to become the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back Grand Nationals when he faces a maximum field at Aintree on Saturday.

   
• Dozen added to Derby field

  Twelve horses have been entered in the Epsom Derby at the second entry stage hoping to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner Workforce.

   
• Stars hold sway for Aintree Hurdle

  A cracking contest is in order for this year’s renewal of the Aintree Hurdle on Saturday.

   
• Skippers creeping closer to a Grand National run

  Nicky Richards has everything crossed that Skippers Brig scrapes into the Grand National field on Saturday.

   
• Frankel bouncing ahead of Greenham

  Frankel is firmly on course for his eagerly-awaited reappearance in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday week.

   
• Buck’s adds fizz to Liverpool Hurdle

  Big Buck’s bids to take his unbeaten run over the smaller obstacles to 12 when he attempts to win the Liverpool Hurdle for the third year running at Aintree on Thursday.

   
• Denman takes on Bowl quintet

  Denman will face five rivals as he bids to win his first race since the 2009 Hennessy in the Bowl at Aintree on Thursday.

   
• Concorde confirmed for 2011 Grand National

  Irish trainer Dermot Weld is to have his first Grand National runner for 16 years after confirming Majestic Concorde a definite starter in the showpiece at Aintree on Saturday.

   
• Power eyeing Grand National glory

  Grand National-winning jockey Robbie Power believes the bookmakers have got it wrong regarding his mount Killyglen in Saturday’s spectacular at Aintree.

   
• Leading contenders in Aintree Hurdle

  Peddlers Cross and Binocular feature among a fascinating list of 13 entries for Saturday’s Hurdle at Aintree.

   
• Mosse leaves Hong Kong on winning note

  France’s charismatic Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Gerald Mosse completed his latest Hong Kong contract with a winning double as well as two predictions for the rest of the season.

   
• So You Think stars in Curragh workout

  Dual Cox Plate winner So You Think put in an eye-catching track gallop at the Curragh on Sunday, winning the workout against two of his Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemates.

   
• Weld finds potential Melbourne Cup contender in Unaccompanied

  Champion Irish trainer Dermot Weld may have unearthed a potential contender for this year’s Melbourne Cup in the form of Unaccompanied.