International Horse Racing

• Binocular tops Champion thirteen

  Last year’s winner Binocular heads a field of 13 left in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

   
• Mikael among Arkle contenders

  Mikael D’Haguenet remains among 13 potential starters in next Tuesday’s Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.

   
• 9/3/2011 Happy Valley analysis, tips and selections

  Expert international form analyst Xavier Blair gives us his race by race selections for tonight’s racing at Happy Valley racecourse, view his tips and selections.

   
• Titch wins 2011 Auckland Cup

  Six-year-old stayer Titch scooted clear of the field in the run home to win the $NZ1 million Auckland Cup over 3200 metres at Ellerslie on Wednesday.

   
• Ruby key to Kauto Gold rush

  Owner Clive Smith feels Ruby Walsh’s return aboard Kauto Star strengthens his chances of landing a third Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday week.

   
• Somersby could switch to Ryanair

  Henrietta Knight will consider switching Somersby from the Queen Mother Champion Chase to the Ryanair Chase should conditions dry out appreciably at Cheltenham next week.

   
• Showcause to ride more aggresively in the Auckland Cup

  Jockey Darryl Bradley says he won’t be afraid to ride aggressively on Auckland Cup second favourite Showcause on Wednesday if the pace slackens off.

   
• 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.