International Horse Racing

• 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.

   
• Can the Big Fella provide this year’s National story?

  No race seems to provide stories like the Grand National and this year’s story provider could be Big Fella Thanks.

   
• Prince attracting support ahead of RSA Chase

  Although he failed to impress a number of observers at Wetherby last weekend when winning the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase, there has been a notable market move for the Ian Williams-trained Wayward Prince in the RSA Chase, the novice chasers ‘Gold Cup’, writes Elliot Slater.

   
• Ayr abandonment washes away Merigo National prep race

  Last season’s Scottish Grand National hero Merigo has been denied his first outing since falling in the Becher Chase at Aintree in November, following the abandonment of the scheduled fixture at Ayr on Monday due to waterlogging, writes Elliot Slater.

   
• 4/2/2011 Meydan Tips & Selections

  International form expert Xavier Blair gives us his tips for tomorrow morning’s Dubai meeting at Meydan racecourse.

   
• Godolphin’s bin Suroor speaks of Melbourne Cup as chances emerge

  Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor has said overnight that he will only be fully satisfied once he wins the Melbourne Cup.

   
• Hay List, Rebel Soldier amongst Australian entries for Dubai

  Entries for Dubai’s famous World Cup meeting have been released with only a handful of Australian horses amongst the nominations.

   
• 26/1/2011 Happy Valley race analyses, Tips & Selections

  International form expert Xavier Blair gives us his full Happy Valley meeting analyses including race by race Tips & Selections.

   
• Consul sister hopes for Divine intervention

  All eyes will be on the New Zealand racecourse of Trentham tomorrow as the Adrian Bull-trained So Divine makes her eagerly anticipated debut – providing she gets a run.

   
• 21/1/2011 Meydan/Dubai Tips & Selections

  Xavier Blair gives us his tips and selections for tomorrow morning’s Dubai races including the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (Race 3) and the Group 2 Cape Verdi (Race 6).