International Horse Racing

• Cecil banks on Twice Over’s progress

  Henry Cecil believes Twice Over will improve for his win in the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge when he takes part in the Dubai World Cup.

   
• Silver By Nature going for National gold

  Silver By Nature has been given the go-ahead to run in the Grand National following discussions between owners Geoff and Joyce Brown, trainer Lucinda Russell and her partner, former champion jump jockey Peter Scudamore.

   
• Rocket Man ready to launch his Dubai campaign

  Champion sprinter Rocket Man showed he is right on target for his trip to Dubai with a runaway victory at Kranji on Sunday.

   
• Jimmy Choux to emulate Surfers Paradise

  The team behind the New Zealand Derby winner Jimmy Choux will be hoping he can follow in the footsteps of the last horse to win the 2000 Guineas-Derby double.

   
• Unlucky Auckland Cup favourite Passchendaele scratched

  Auckland Cup favourite Passchendaele has been scratched, with retirement a likely option.

   
• Auckland Cup preview: Passchendaele out to emulate history

  Oh, how times have changed with the Auckland Cup!!!

   
• Snow Fairy to take Sheema option

  Star English mare Snow Fairy will run in the Sheema Classic later this month instead of the Dubai World Cup.

   
• New Zealand Derby Preview: Can High Chaparral dominate again?

  Victory in the New Zealand Derby has either been a blessing or a curse for recent winners.

   
• Moonstone tops Guineas hopes

  White Moonstone is reported to be well on course for the 1000 Guineas as owners Godolphin seek a third win in the fillies’ Classic at Newmarket on May 1.

   
• Maguire delighted by appeal success

  Jockey Jason Maguire described it as “the right result” after being cleared to ride Peddlers Cross in the Champion Hurdle.

   
• Twice too good for Dubai rivals

  Twice Over leapt to the head of the market for the Dubai World Cup when beating a strong field in the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan.

   
• Backspin suffers suspected heart attack

  Backspin, who was due to run at the Cheltenham Festival, has died after suffering a suspected heart attack in his box at Jonjo O’Neill’s stables.

   
• Twice Over in Dubai prep run

  Connections of Twice Over are giving the dual Champion Stakes winner a prep run ahead of the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in the hope it will augur well for a better run than last year in the big race later this month.

   
• Charlton could be a winner under a different code

  The name of trainer Roger Charlton is more synonymous with the classic hosting tracks of flat racing, than it is with Cheltenham the home of National Hunt racing, but the Marlborough based handler will arrive on the Cotswolds with a very strong contender for the Festival Bumper.

   
• Racing Post Chase at Kempton

  The Racing Post Chase takes places at Kempton this Saturday and there are a number of stories emerging that make it a very interesting contest.

   
• Cheltenham – Short Priced Favourites

  Last year’s Festival saw six horses starting at under 2/1 with Cheltenham Odds and such big names as Dunguib, Garde Champetre, Master Minded and Kauto Star all bit the dust. With only Quevega (6/4) and Big Buck’s (5/6) successful from that group last year it was a poor Cheltenham Festival… Read More »

   
• Fistral Beach to be partnered by AP McCoy

  Champion jockey Tony McCoy has been booked to partner ante-post favourite Fistral Beach in Saturday’s feature event, the Racing Post Chase at Kempton, writes Elliot Slater.

   
• 23/2/2011 Happy Valley race Analysis, Tips & Selections

  International racing expert Xavier Blair gives us his race by race analysis for tonight’s Hong Kong meeting at Happy Valley racecourse, view his tips and selections.

   
• Focus in the spotlight with impressive Haydock win

  Howard Johnson normally has a live contender or two for the Cheltenham Festival and that is now very much the case for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle after he introduced the point-to-point winner Back In Focus to make a winning debut under rules, in the process beating the ante-post favourite… Read More »

   
• 16/2/2011 Tips & Selections – Happy Valley

  International form expert Xavier Blair gives us his tips for tonight’s Happy Valley race meeting, view his race by race selections.