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Post by dennisg on Jan 27, 2021 12:21:09 GMT
Last season’s Gold Cup runner-up Santini is only “50-50” to run in the Paddy Power-sponsored Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday. Nicky Henderson is not keen to run the nine-year-old, who was second to Al Boum Photo in March, on very testing ground so close to his main assignment. He will hold discussions with owner Richard Kelvin-Hughes and a decision will be taken over whether he heads straight to the Festival or not. “I need to talk to Richard Kelvin-Hughes to be fair,” Henderson told Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast. “I would be nervous about him in heavy ground because he doesn’t like it. These races are more about – it is called Trials Day – it is a trial. If he’s going to hate it it will do more harm than good. “We’re just juggling balls and I’ve got to say it’s 50-50. If it was heavy ground, I’ve got to discuss with Richard, but I would say to him it’s not going to be ideal and he’s a horse you have to keep shovelling on the coal, so if he’s not having a happy time it’s not what he wants at this stage. “You could bash on (to the spring). There are ways of doing it these days, there are various racecourses and all-weather tracks. The only problem with him is he loves work. “We might have to think of something else, but the ground is heavy everywhere and it’s not going to be any better next week or the week after, I suspect. It is a nightmare at the moment.” Henderson could have waited for Newbury’s Denman Chase, but he already has a runner pencilled in for that who has not been seen this season. “Champ is definitely going for the Denman at Newbury, that is a definite plan,” said Henderson. “He’s had a big away day where he jumped very well. He needed it, and it was our attempt to have a sort of race before the Denman so it won’t take so much out of him come the day. He’s in good form. We haven’t got as far as who will ride him.” Adding another complication to the Santini situation is the fact red-hot Arkle favourite Shishkin is due to run at Doncaster on Saturday, leaving Nico de Boinville with a potential dilemma. “Nico and I think the one thing we must do is run Shishkin at Doncaster. Whether Nico will be at Doncaster, I suppose we have to decide what Santini does,” added Henderson.
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Post by dennisg on Jan 28, 2021 8:12:43 GMT
Appreciate It is 5/2 favourite with the sponsors after 96 entries were unveiled for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. The seven-year-old is among a record 59 fro Ireland. Sponsor Sky Bet make one of the Irish-trained entries, Appreciate It (Willie Mullins), the clear 5/2 favourite. The seven-year-old and was runner-up in thWeatherbys Champion Bumper at The Festival™ in 2020. He has looked hugely talented when landing both his starts over hurdles this season, most recently sauntering to a nine-length victory in a Grade One contest at Leopardstown on 27 December. Sky Bet’s 7/1 second favourite is Metier. Originally trained in Ireland by Andrew Slattery, five-year-old has been a revelation since joining Dorset-based Harry Fry, taking novices’ hurdles at Newton Abbot and Ascot before recording a breathtaking 12-length victory in the Grade One Unibet Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown Park on 2 January. Metier bolts up in the Tolworth Metier bolts up in the Tolworth Giving an update on the son of Mastercraftsman, Fry reported: “Metier is a Tolworth winner and the Supreme is the much more likely of the two races [Metier is also entered in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle] but we will just keep our options open at this stage. “He has got an entry in the Betfair Hurdle in just over a fortnight’s time but there is no definite decision yet. He has done everything right so far over hurdles and he is a very exciting novice that seems to be progressing into either Supreme or a Ballymore horse. “There is a race at Exeter the day after in which he would only have a 5lb penalty but then if you are looking at that why not run in a Betfair? “I would say that if he doesn’t run in the Betfair, he would go straight to Cheltenham though you can never say never. “If the weather keeps as it is there is every chance he will line up in the Betfair Hurdle. I think a better race with an even stronger gallop will suit him better again. We were able to drop him in the last day in the Tolworth, but we would have still been happier if they had gone faster. Christian Williams on CAP DU NORD ahead of the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster “Sean [Bowen] turned in with a double handful and he put plenty of distance between himself and his rivals, particularly after the last. Not many came up the hill that day in the manner he did. He has only just turned five so hopefully there is more to come. “All his form is on slower ground and it would be interesting to see him on better ground. At some point, we will encounter it but good horses go on all ground. “We would have to weigh up and decide the pros and cons whether going on better ground means we would have to step him up in trip.” Fry has also entered Boothill in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. The six-year-old landed a bumper at Kempton Park in February of 2020 and could not have been more impressive on his hurdling debut when scoring by nine and a half lengths at Taunton on 10 December. The trainer continued: “Boothill had a splint flare up about 10 days after he won at Taunton and that just held us up for a few weeks. I had hoped to get him back for the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon [Listed, 11 February] but that is just going to come too soon. He could end up going to the Dovecote at the end of February. In the worst-case scenario, he might even end up going straight to Cheltenham but I would like to get another run into him between now and then but we will be guided by him. “We are back pressing on again with him. Hopefully, we don’t get a recurrence of the splint injury and get a clear run with him. Certainly, on the manner of his debut win at Taunton, there looks to be lots to look forward to. “Boothill and Metier are completely different types. Metier is an ex-Flat horse that is very workmanlike at home and is very much a hurdler whereas Boothill is a proper chasing type who impresses in everything he does at home.” Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet, said: “We are delighted with the entries for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. This will be our eighth year sponsoring the race and the quality amongst the 96 entries is fantastic. “At present, Appreciate It for Willie Mullins heads the market but with seven weeks still to go plenty can happen between now and then.” SKY BET SUPREME NOVICES' HURDLE (Grade 1) Alko Rouge (FR) 7 11 7 W.T.F. Partnership T. Gibney IRE Alqamar (GB) 7 11 7 Varlien Vyner-Brooks,Dave&Yvonne Simpson James Moffatt Any News (IRE) 6 11 7 Jane Nuala Cartwright Neil Mulholland Appreciate It (IRE) 7 11 7 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins IRE Arctic Warrior (GER) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins IRE Atholl Street (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Trevor Hemmings Paul Nicholls Ballyadam (IRE) 6 11 7 Cheveley Park Stud Gordon Elliott IRE Bareback Jack (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr T. G. Leslie Donald McCain Benson (GB) 6 11 7 Pump & Plant Services Ltd Dr Richard Newland Berkshire Royal (GB) 6 11 7 Mrs J. M. Mullins W. P. Mullins IRE Blue Lord (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins IRE Bob Olinger (IRE) 6 11 7 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE Boothill (IRE) 6 11 7 Brian & Sandy Lambert Harry Fry Cadzand (IRE) 6 11 7 CHELSEA THOROUGHBREDS - CADZAND Dan Skelton Captain Kangaroo (IRE) 6 11 7 Kanga Racing & Brett Graham Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE Cask Mate (IRE) 8 11 7 High Spirits Racing Club Noel Meade IRE Champagne Gold (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead IRE Decimation (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE Do Your Job (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Mark Dunphy Michael Scudamore Dreal Deal (IRE) 6 11 7 Ronan M. P. McNally Ronan M. P. McNally IRE El Barra (FR) 7 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE Eskylane (IRE) 7 11 7 K Haughey/Laura Haughey/Kieran T Byrne Gordon Elliott IRE Eurotiep (FR) 7 11 7 Down The Hatch Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE Excelcius (USA) 5 11 7 Mrs H. Mullins Thomas Mullins IRE Fifty Ball (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Steven Packham Gary Moore Flinteur Sacre (FR) 6 11 7 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Fly Smart (FR) 6 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE For Pleasure (IRE) 6 11 7 Premier Plastering (UK) Limited Alex Hales Frere Tuck (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Cathal Hughes W. P. Mullins IRE Gabynako (FR) 6 11 7 Mick & Molly Syndicate Gavin Cromwell IRE Gaillard du Mesnil (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE Galopin des Champs (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins IRE Ganapathi (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE Gentleman de Mee (FR) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins IRE Gentlemansgame (GB) 5 11 7 Robcour M. F. Morris IRE Get My Drift (FR) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus M. F. Morris IRE Gipsy de Choisel (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson Gloire d'Athon (FR) 5 11 7 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE Gowel Road (IRE) 5 11 7 Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies Grand Bornand (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE Great Bear (GB) 5 11 7 Thomas J. O'Connor T. Gibney IRE Grumpy Charley (GB) 6 11 7 Mr G. Thompson Chris Honour Guard Your Dreams (GB) 5 11 7 Graham and Alison Jelley Nigel Twiston-Davies Hes A Hardy Bloke (IRE) 6 11 7 Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Noel Meade IRE Irascible (FR) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE Irish Poseidon (GER) 5 11 7 Spoonful of Irish Syndicate Matthew J. Smith IRE Jesse Evans (IRE) 5 11 7 Jack Singleton Noel Meade IRE Jungle Boogie (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Malcolm C. Denmark W. P. Mullins IRE Kalkas (FR) 5 11 7 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Henry de Bromhead IRE Keskonrisk (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Claudio Michael Grech Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE Make My Day (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr Steven Packham Gary Moore M C Muldoon (IRE) 6 11 7 Mrs J. M. Mullins W. P. Mullins IRE Metier (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr G. C. Stevens Harry Fry Micro Manage (IRE) 5 11 7 Merriebelle Irish Farm Limited W. P. Mullins IRE Mr Coldstone (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr David Bobbett W. P. Mullins IRE My Drogo (GB) 6 11 7 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Dan Skelton N'Golo (IRE) 6 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE Natural History (GB) 6 11 7 Hail Sargent Evans Gary Moore Numbers Man (IRE) 5 11 7 The Reserve Tankers Colin Tizzard On To Victory (GB) 7 11 7 HP Racing On To Victory Alan King Orbys Legend (IRE) 5 11 7 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Milan Philip Hobbs Pipesmoker (FR) 6 11 7 Lady Dulverton Nicky Henderson Power of Pause (IRE) 6 11 7 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins IRE Qualismart (FR) 5 11 7 Kate & Andrew Brooks Harry Whittington Raf Tavel (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Ben Pauling Rayapour (FR) 5 11 7 McNeill Family W. P. Mullins IRE Restandbethankful (GB) 5 11 7 McNeill Family & Patrick&Scott Bryceland Olly Murphy Robin's Dream (GB) 5 11 7 Mr Jerry Hinds & Mr Ashley Head Gary Moore Rumoroso (GB) 6 11 7 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins IRE Sea Ducor (GB) 5 11 7 C. Jones A. L. T. Moore IRE Sextant (GB) 6 11 7 Straightline Bloodstock Keith Dalgleish Shakem Up'arry (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling Soaring Glory (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr P. Hickey Jonjo O'Neill Solwara One (IRE) 7 11 7 Mrs Jane Gerard-Pearse Neil Mulholland Stoner's Choice (GB) 6 11 7 Mrs Carolyn Kendrick Fergal O'Brien Straw Fan Jack (GB) 6 11 7 Mr Graham Wilson Sheila Lewis Thedevilscoachman (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus Noel Meade IRE Third Time Lucki (IRE) 6 11 7 Mike and Eileen Newbould Dan Skelton Uhtred (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE Visionarian (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Basil Holian Peter Fahey IRE Wide Receiver (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE Witness Protection (IRE) 8 11 7 FOXTROT RACING WITNESS PROTECTION Martin Keighley Beret Rouge (IRE) 6 11 0 Mrs J. M. Mullins W. P. Mullins IRE Echoes In Rain (FR) 5 11 0 Barnane Stud W. P. Mullins IRE French Aseel (FR) 4 11 0 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE Gauloise (FR) 5 11 0 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins IRE Haut En Couleurs (FR) 4 11 0 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE Hook Up (FR) 5 11 0 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE Manitopark Aa (FR) 5 11 0 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins IRE Mighty Blue (FR) 5 11 0 Capel Street Syndicate Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE Nada To Prada (GB) 6 11 0 Mrs Lynne Maclennan Michael Scudamore Royal Illusion (IRE) 9 11 0 Ballylinch Stud W. P. Mullins IRE Teahupoo (FR) 4 11 0 Robcour Gordon Elliott IRE Tritonic (GB) 4 11 0 McNeill Family & Mr Ian Dale Alan King Youmdor (FR) 4 11 0 McNeill Family W. P. Mullins IRE Zanahiyr (IRE) 4 11 0 Noel Moran/Mrs Valerie Moran Gordon Elliott IRE 96 entries 59 Irish-trained
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Post by dennisg on Jan 28, 2021 8:13:52 GMT
Ground conditions are likely to dictate where Love will kick off her 2021 campaign. Aidan O’Brien’s filly enjoyed a flawless 2020 – recording a pair of Classic victories with brilliant performances in both the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Oaks at Epsom. After dominating her rivals once more in the Yorkshire Oaks, the daughter of Galileo looked poised for a mouthwatering clash with Enable in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but was ruled out Europe’s premier middle-distance contest on account of the prevailing testing conditions. And while a trip to America for the Breeders’ Cup was briefly mooted, O’Brien ultimately decided to give Love an extended holiday ahead of what he hopes will be an exciting four-year-old season. Speaking via Zoom at the British Horseracing Authority’s two-year-old classifications press conference, O’Brien said of his top-class older filly: “She’s very well and cantering away at the moment. “She will be ready for all those mile-and-a-quarter and mile-and-a-half races. She likes better ground and where she’ll start, I suppose, will depend on that.” He added: “There’s the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, but we probably wouldn’t go unless it was nice ground. “She should be there for all those nice middle-distances races during the summer and into the autumn. “Physically, she’s done very well.”
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Post by dennisg on Jan 28, 2021 8:15:03 GMT
Willie Mullins and Paul Townend secured a Grade Two double at Thurles with victories for Allaho and Colreevy. Click here for FREE video replays and full results Third in the RSA at Cheltenham in March, Allaho had reappeared in the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown before finishing fourth to A Plus Tard in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Sent off the 10/11 favourite for the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned seven-year-old took the field along under Townend before being pressed by Mark Walsh-ridden stablemate Elimay. The latter briefly looked like being a major threat, but the market leader was quick to assert on jumping the last and came home three lengths to the good. A crack at the Ryanair Chase looks like being on the agenda for Allaho at this year’s Festival, a race for which he was cut to 5/1 from 6/1 by Betfair and Paddy Power, who both offer non-runner no-bet. Sky Bet are 6/1 for the same race (from 8s). Winning trainer Mullins said: “I think he was idling in front all the time, and that (two and a half miles) might be more his trip. I was a little worried when Elimay got to him, but when he saw her he picked up and went away again like a decent horse. “Elimay ran a fantastic race as well, and she will go for the Opera Hat Chase in Naas next and maybe on to the mares’ chase in Cheltenham after that. “Allaho is a huge horse, and I thought he was a three-miler, but maybe he is better off coming back to two-four or two-five – I am thinking about the Ryanair for him. “He is making progress, and I think he will improve into the spring – which is the time of year you want to improve in. I’m looking forward to his next run, and he’ll probably go straight to Cheltenham.” Colreevy (4/5 favourite) took her record over fences to three from three in the Coolmore N.H. Sires Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase. Like Allaho she was in front from the outset, although Scarlet And Dove was giving her a race before crashing out at the second-last. Mullins said: “She jumps very well and takes it all in her stride. Paul was very happy with her, and how she did everything for him with no fuss about her. “There’s a Grade Two chase at Limerick in March that we’re looking at next – but whether or not she has higher expectations, I don’t know. I’ll chat with the owners – but they were hoping, coming here today, to hopefully win and then go on to Limerick. Mullins added: “We might revise plans, but we’ll see – whether or not she has enough experience over fences to go to Cheltenham is another day’s work. Certainly what she has done at Limerick over Christmas and today would lead you to think she might have as good a chance as anything over there.” Rest of the meeting... Mullins completed a treble when Eurotiep gave Aubrey McMahon his first win over the smaller obstacles in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle. The 15/8 shot, owned by the Down The Hatch Syndicate that includes McMahon’s father, Luke, romped home by 19 lengths. “That was a good performance from the horse having run a cracker in a bumper at Christmas,” said Mullins. “We’ll stay novice hurdling now and I wouldn’t be afraid to go out in trip with him either as he is well able to gallop. He is a horse to look forward to for his syndicate.” Mullins’ son Patrick steered Noble Yeats (5/4) to victory for his cousin Emmet in division one of the Thurles (Pro-Am) Flat Race. Division two went to the Jonathan Sweeney-trained evens favourite Churchstonewarrior. Torygraph put up a good staying performance to win the W. T. O’Grady Memorial Irish EBF Novice Hurdle. The well-backed 11/8 favourite, trained by Gordon Elliott, followed up his Fairyhouse maiden hurdle success with a three-and-three-quarter-length verdict over over Angels Dawn in the hands of Jack Kennedy. The winning rider said: “He is a lovely horse and has improved from Fairyhouse. He is a lazy old horse and you have to keep him up to his work, but he does his best work at the business end of things. “To look at, he is not your typical big, massive staying horse, but he is definitely more effective over a longer trip.” The Dublin Racing Festival beckons for Blanketontheground (11/2) after her four-length success in the Lough Handicap Hurdle under 5lb claimer Gearoid Brouder. Trainer Eoin McCarthy was delighted to see the eight-year-old mare regain winning ways after she was beaten at Limerick last time. “She is a lovely filly and I suppose we got the tactics wrong at Limerick, but that is behind us,” he said. “She is entered in the big mares’ handicap at Leopardstown and we need a couple to come out but that is the plan.”
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Post by dennisg on Jan 28, 2021 8:16:28 GMT
The initial entries are out for both the Betfair Ascot Chase and the William Hill Grand National Trial at Haydock in February - get the latest news here. Cyrname among Ascot entries Cyrname claims the scalp of Altior at Ascot Cyrname has an entry in the Betfair Ascot Chase Multiple champion trainer Paul Nicholls accounts for four of the 18 entries for the G1 Betfair Ascot Chase on Saturday, February 20. The Betfair Ascot Chase, run over the intermediate distance of two miles and five furlongs, is the most valuable chase run at Ascot. Nicholls has a strong hand as he chases a record fifth Betfair Ascot Chase, with his quartet headlined by the stunning 2019 victor Cyrname, the 2/1 favourite with Betfair, and dual G1 King George VI Chase hero Clan des Obeaux. The Ditcheat handler can also call upon progressive 10-year-old Master Tommytucker, who looked as good as ever in a G2 event at Kempton Park earlier this month, and G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup sixth Real Steel. Nicholls, 11-times champion Jump trainer and Betfair ambassador, said: “Of our four, Master Tommytucker definitely goes for the Betfair Ascot Chase. “It just looks the obvious race for him given the trip and everything, and I don’t see the track posing any problems at all. He is improving rapidly and deserves his place in a race like this. “Cyrname’s main target could be the Gold Cup, although we have not made a final decision on that. “The Betfair Ascot Chase is another option we wanted to have, but if we decide to go for the Gold Cup, then he won’t be able to run in both races. We will have to make our minds up over the next fortnight about what we want to do. “After how impressive he was in the Charlie Hall, I was keen to aim him towards the Gold Cup. Then obviously what happened at Kempton [pulled up] didn’t help, but I have put a line through that. “Clan des Obeaux will run in the Denman Chase at Newbury, though with the way the weather is at the moment, we felt it was worth making an entry for Ascot just in case. “Real Steel is a possible for Ascot, but he would not want to run if the ground is too soft. We may keep him fresh for the Ryanair.” Last year’s Betfair Ascot Chase victor Riders Onthe Storm (Nigel Twiston-Davies) could attempt to emulate Riverside Theatre (2011 & 2012), the only horse to win the race in successive years. Other proven G1 performers among the entries include Ryanair Chase second Saint Calvados (Harry Whittington) and 2019 Betfair Chase scorer Lostintranslation (Colin Tizzard). Leading owners Simon Munir & Isaac Souede have four entries of their own, all in the care of Nicky Henderson - Caribean Boy, Janika, Terrefort and Top Notch. Henderson is also responsible for Mister Fisher, winner of the rearranged G2 Peterborough Chase at Cheltenham in December. Venetia Williams is represented by Fanion d’Estruval, a creditable fourth behind First Flow in the G1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 23, and recent Chepstow scorer Cepage. Dashel Drasher (Jeremy Scott) has enjoyed two victories over the course and distance this season, most recently defeating Bennys King (Dan Skelton) in a valuable handicap chase on January 23. Cyrname won the same race in 2019 prior to his Betfair Ascot Chase success. Caspian Caviar Gold Cup second Midnight Shadow (Sue Smith) and Kalashnikov (Amy Murphy) are also engaged. Betfair spokesman Barry Orr commented: “Off the back of a good run in the King George, Cyrname went off the 4/11 favourite in this race last season when seeking back-to-back wins. “He is still at the head of the market for this year’s renewal, although is 2/1 following his disappointing run in the King George last time out. “On these entries, it looks like a strong field could go forward and that is reflected in the betting.’’ Betfair Ascot Chase - Betfair odds: 2/1 Cyrname 4/1 Mister Fisher, Saint Calvados 5/1 Clan des Obeaux, Master Tommytucker 7/1 Kalashnikov, Lostintranslation 14/1 Dashel Drasher, Fanion d’Estruval 20/1 Midnight Shadow, Top Notch, Riders Onthe Storm 25/1 Bennys King, Caribean Boy 25/1 Cepage, Janika, Real Steel 33/1 Terrefort Santini heads 34 entries for Grand National Trial at Haydock Santini wins at Cheltenham Santini has the Haydock option Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Santini (Nicky Henderson) is the headline name among 34 entries received for the William Hill Grand National trial at Haydock Park on February 20. The 3m 4 1/2f Grand National Trial has been won by some of the sport’s most famous staying chasers, including three-times Grand National winner Red Rum in 1975, the 1992 Grand National hero Party Politics, who lifted the prize in 1993, and subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Cool Ground and Master Oats, who won the 1992 and 1994 renewals respectively, the latter having been staged at Kempton Park. Seven Barrows trainer Nicky Henderson is yet to win the race, but in G1 winning nine-year-old Santini he has a top class prospect that could change that statistic. He said: “The plan is to run at Cheltenham on Saturday but if it is very testing ground we would think again as it’s not the right time to be doing that. There is only the Denman Chase after this weekend and the plan is to run Champ there, but I am not saying they both can’t go there. “Everything is just a bit up in the air with the ground like it is so it is hard to make plans. I’m not saying he would jump into a Grand National by having an entry in this race I just want to make sure all avenues are covered. “It is unlikely that he runs there as it probably comes a bit too close to Cheltenham but the options for him are so limited. Haydock is unlikely to come up with better ground at this time of year but you never know - we will just have to see what happens. “He would easily stay the trip around Haydock that’s for sure.” Henderson has another entry in Pym, who was last sighted finishing fifth in the Listed Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle, having previously made a winning return at the same level in the Future Stars Intermediate Chase at Sandown Park in November. Henderson added: “Pym is another that really wants decent ground and he has been having a bit of break during the winter. The race at Newcastle probably came a bit quick for him a bit like how the race at Sandown did for If The Cap Fits so we are just freshening him up. “He does want decent ground but at the same time he is a hard horse to place. He would get the trip at Haydock no problem though as he is a thorough stayer.” Another eye-catching entry is Bristol de Mai, who is one of three put forward by trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies alongside Ballyoptic and Cogry. Bristol de Mai has won five of his six starts at Haydock - a tally which includes three victories in the G1 Betfair Chase (2017, 2018, 2020). Paul Nicholls, who saddled Shotgun Willy to glory in the 2003 renewal, is represented by last season’s Midlands Grand National winner Truckers Lodge, and recent Taunton scorer Yala Enki. Nicholls said: “I’ve entered Truckers Lodge and Yala Enki in the race as both horses want to be in there. We have not decided a plan yet whether to run them in it or not but that will be made in time. “I have given Yala Enki an entry in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday, though it is only a tentative entry and he would only run if they had lots of heavy rain. “Yala Enki was third in the race last year and he will probably end up carrying 11st 12lbs in it but we will have a look at it for him. Truckers Lodge didn’t run in the race last year as he had a little injury and we then went fresh to the Midlands National. I will chat to the owners and see what they want to do. “It took him a while to get over the race the other day but he is back on form now. If you look at his Chepstow run with Yala Enki he was 16lb higher than in the race the year before. He was put up too much for winning the Midlands National and that is what has stopped him off that mark so he still ran very well. "Truckers Lodge put everything into it at Chepstow and he just takes a bit more time to get over races than Yala Enki.” Charlie Longsdon expects the step back up in trip to be more suitable for his sole entry, Just Your Type, who finished third at the track over three miles last Saturday, 23 January 23, behind Royale Pagaille in the G2 Peter Marsh Limited Handicap Chase. Longsdon said: “Just Your Type will either go for the Grand National Trial or the Eider Chase. He ran a cracking race the other day. The trip was too short for him as three miles is not his cup of tea, and if you took the winner out, who is getting all the hype he deserves, then he would have probably won. “I know he finished third but we probably paid the penalty for trying to chase the winner early doors and if we just sat quietly for longer we wouldn’t have lost second place.” Nicky Martin hopes her stable star The Two Amigos can better his fourth place finish in the race from 12 months ago by going one better than in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. Martin said: “He is such a superstar. Considering he is only 15”2 you would not think he would be a chaser but he jumps so well on the whole and the plan is to go to Haydock. “He doesn’t always finish his races well when he comes off the bridle and I was worried he would get caught for second in the Welsh Grand National, but on what was better ground than it was described at Chepstow he stayed on well. “He is only 2lb higher than when he finished fourth in the race last year and the horse is in better form than 12 months ago. He is very fresh again after running over nearly four miles at Chepstow two and a half weeks ago. He deserves to win a race like this as he has been knocking on the door for a while.” Secret Reprieve, 7/1 joint-favourite with William Hill, winner of last month’s re-arranged Welsh Grand National, is one of two entries for Evan Williams, along with Prime Venture, while last year’s winner Smooth Stepper features alongside stablemate Fagan for trainer Alex Hales. William Hill’s other 7/1 joint-favourite is Notachance (Alan King), winner of the G3 McCoy Contractors Civil Engineering Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick earlier this month. WILLIAM HILL GRAND NATIONAL TRIAL HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3) Achille (FR) 11 Mrs Vida Bingham Venetia Williams Ballyoptic (IRE) 11 Mills & Mason Partnership Nigel Twiston-Davies Bristol de Mai (FR) 10 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies Canelo (IRE) 8 Mr John P. McManus Alan King Captain Drake (IRE) 8 Gary Stevens and Brian and Sandy Lambert Harry Fry Claud And Goldie (IRE) 12 The Border Racers Sandy Forster Cloudy Glen (IRE) 8 Mr Trevor Hemmings Venetia Williams Cogry (GB) 12 Graham and Alison Jelley Nigel Twiston-Davies Copperhead (GB) 7 Mrs G. C. Pritchard Colin Tizzard Dominateur (FR) 8 Kate & Andrew Brooks Oliver Sherwood Enqarde (FR) 7 Off The Clock Partners & Dr RDP Newland Dr Richard Newland Fagan (GB) 11 Mr Ben Brackenbury Alex Hales Just Your Type (IRE) 9 Mr Tyrone Hanlon Charlie Longsdon Lamanver Pippin (GB) 8 Dr Donna Christensen Colin Tizzard Lord du Mesnil (FR) 8 Mr Paul Porter & Mike & Mandy Smith Richard Hobson Newtide (IRE) 8 Lady Dulverton Kim Bailey Notachance (IRE) 7 David J S Sewell & Tim Leadbeater Alan King Perfect Candidate (IRE) 14 ISL Recruitment Fergal O'Brien Potters Legend (GB) 11 Mrs J. May Lucy Wadham Prime Venture (IRE) 10 Mrs Janet Davies Evan Williams Pym (IRE) 8 Mrs Patricia Pugh Nicky Henderson Ramses de Teillee (FR) 9 John White & Anne Underhill David Pipe Regal Encore (IRE) 13 Mr John P. McManus Anthony Honeyball Saint Xavier (FR) 9 Mr D. W. Fox Richard Hobson Santini (GB) 9 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson Seaston Spirit (GB) 8 Mr Michael Fiddy Oliver Sherwood Secret Reprieve (IRE) 7 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams Smooth Stepper (GB) 12 Mr Ben Brackenbury Alex Hales Sojourn (IRE) 8 Jon & Jacqueline Hughes Anthony Honeyball Some Neck (FR) 10 Some Neck Partnership John McConnell Springfield Fox (GB) 8 O'Donohoe, Cavanagh, Robinson, Nelson Tom George The Two Amigos (GB) 9 Bradley Partnership Nicky Martin Truckers Lodge (IRE) 9 Gordon & Su Hall Paul Nicholls Yala Enki (FR) 11 Hills of Ledbury Ltd Paul Nicholls 34 entries
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Post by dennisg on Jan 29, 2021 9:23:42 GMT
Donald McCain is weighing up a couple of options for Navajo Pass following his defeat of Buveur D’Air at Haydock last weekend. The five-year-old, owned by Tim Leslie, has put in career-best performances on his last two starts with his victory in the Grade 2 The New One Unibet Hurdle a new personal best. He looked to have a hard race after toughing it out from the front end in heavy ground, but McCain reports him to be in great heart following the run. “He’s absolutely bouncing,” McCain said on Thursday evening. “He could have run again this weekend if I’d wanted he’s that fresh. “I need to have a chat with Tim [as to where we go next] but there are two options; the Kingwell at Wincanton and the National Spirit at Fontwell. “They’re the only two races this side of Cheltenham he can run in.” Navajo Pass was well beaten on his first two starts of the season at Aintree, but turned a corner with a dominating success at Musselburgh. “We’ve always liked him,” McCain said. “The disappointing thing was the first couple of runs, maybe it was a case of him acclimatising to life in the tough lane, taking on seasoned older horses.” Navajo Pass is not the only promising young hurdler owned by Leslie in the McCain yard with Catterick scorer Bareback Jack getting a Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle entry this week. The Getaway gelding beat subsequent Ludlow winner Long Stay at Musselburgh in November, before accounting for Kildimo and Tonyx at Catterick on January 3. That pair ran well in second and third, respectively, at Fakenham on Thursday and Bareback Jack beat them by nine lengths, easily, while giving away plenty of weight. “He goes to Musselburgh next weekend [for the bet365 Scottish Supreme Novices’ Hurdle],” McCain said. “We might get slightly better ground. His form’s a long way from good enough of turning up in a Supreme, but we like the way he’s doing his job. These early closing races, if you’re not in it you can’t win it and he justified an entry. “He’s a grand horse, he works well and we like him. Obviously next weekend will tell us if we’re pie in the sky or not.” Bareback Jack is a 40/1 chance with the sponsors for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
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Post by dennisg on Jan 29, 2021 9:25:35 GMT
Coko Beach led home a one-two for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud in the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park. Click here for FREE video replay and full result Elliott and Gigginstown had previously teamed up to win the prestigious handicap with Monbeg Notorious in 2018 and were well represented once more, with Coko Beach one of four runners for the combination, while Gigginstown had seven representatives overall. Fitted with blinkers for the first time, Coko Beach travelled strongly throughout the three-mile-one-furlong contest in the hands of Jack Kennedy and hit the front early in the home straight. From that point the 8/1 shot never looked in serious danger of being caught and safely negotiated the remaining obstacles to seal a four-length verdict, with stable companion Run Wild Fred best of the rest in second. Elliott’s great rival Willie Mullins saddled the third, fourth and fifth in Class Conti, Saturnas and Acapella Bourgeois respectively. Kennedy, winning the race for a second time after steering Monbeg Notorious home in front three years ago, said of Coko Beach: “He’s been struggling to win a beginners’ chase. “Gordon asked me the other morning what I’d like to ride in it and I was thinking Farclas, but he didn’t show up here. Gordon fancied this lad and I went with what he said and thank God he was right. “I got left at the start, but he winged the first and was able to travel well enough to get me into a position. I was handy the whole way and on that ground you are not going to get too many coming from behind. “The blinkers sharpened him up an awful lot and he travelled a lot better than he has been. “It’s a big race and one of the biggest handicaps of the year, so it’s great to win it.” Coko Beach’s odds for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival were widely slashed - Sky Bet going 14/1 from 40s - and Elliott’s assistant Ian ‘Busty’ Amond confirmed that contest as a likely target. He said: “Gordon was sweet enough on him and Jack picked him. The blinkers obviously did the trick – he jumped great and travelled great and he was the winner from a long way out. “I’d imagine he will be on the team for Cheltenham after that and I think the National Hunt Chase is the one Gordon has in mind. He’ll have a few easy days after this and we might have a look at the Irish National as well. “Sean (Flanagan) was delighted with Run Wild Fred. He was never going to get to your man in front, but he kept at it well and there should be a big day in him as well.”
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Post by dennisg on Jan 29, 2021 9:28:29 GMT
Emma Lavelle has admitted the Paddy Power Cleeve Hurdle will be Paisley Park’s only opportunity to run before The Festival at Cheltenham in March. The trainer remains hopeful that her stable star will be able to run in Saturday’s Grade Two race at Jumps HQ to help “banish any bad memories” of last year’s defeat in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle. But with the course set for an inspection on Friday ahead of Festival Trials Day, Lavelle has been considering alternatives. She said: “Clearly (losing the race) would be very disappointing, because Trials Day sits in a perfect position as a lead-up meeting to the Festival. At the end of the day it’s out of our control and if he can’t go there we can just do plenty of work with him and almost train him as if he had run and pick him back up again for March. “I wouldn’t want to be getting too much closer to Cheltenham than this and we would almost certainly either go for a rescheduled version of the Cleeve or head straight to Festival.” Paisley Park is aiming to become just the second horse in history to win the Cleeve Hurdle three times after the Venetia Williams-trained Lady Rebecca (1999, 2000 and 2001) and Lavelle is hopeful that her charge will have a favourite’s chance. She added: “I think we’re the one to beat, but it’s always interesting in this division. Main Fact came into Ascot with a very similar profile to the one that Paisley had two seasons ago and it will be interesting to have him back in opposition again. “Itchy Feet is the new one in the mix, so we’ll have to see what he brings to the table. All of these races are competitive and although we’ve got to give away weight, on all known form he’s the one to beat.” Paisley Park will arrive at Cheltenham on the back of a dramatic victory in last month’s Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. And with that coming in testing conditions, Lavelle is confident that similar going on Saturday would not be an issue. She said: “Ideally it wouldn’t be bottomless because I think very few horses are at their absolute best on it, but he handled heavy ground at Ascot last time so it’s not a big deal as far as we’re concerned.” The 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle hero was handed a shock defeat in last year’s race by the 50-1 outsider Lisnagar Oscar and Lavelle feels that getting a preparatory run at Cheltenham would only enhance his claims this year. She said: “One of the nice things about wanting to run in the Cleeve this time around was almost to get an experience into him at Cheltenham after what happened last year, to banish any bad memories as far as he’s concerned. “His style makes it exciting. He travels through his races well, but I suppose it’s that flat spot he hits, where you wonder what he’ll find. You know if he’s there or thereabouts, you can never write him off until the line.”
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Post by dennisg on Jan 29, 2021 9:29:54 GMT
Sams Profile made a winning return to timber in the Grade Two John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park on Thursday. Click here for FREE video replay and full results The lightly-raced seven-year-old was a very promising novice a couple of seasons ago and despite missing the whole of the last campaign through injury, was sent off an 8/1 chance to pick up where he left off in this sphere under Philip Enright. He was held up right at the back of the 10-runner field on his first ever start over three miles and gradually crept into proceedings three flights from the finish. When Mary Frances appeared like she may have slipped the field, Enright became more animated on Sams Profile but the front-running mare weakened on the run between the final two obstacles, leaving Sams Profile and old foe Diol Ker (who he'd beaten a couple of lengths in a point-to-point in their youth) to fight it out. Both horses tired quickly on the heavy ground and the local stewards looked into potential interference between the front two after Sams Profile appeared to edge across fellow 8/1 chance Diol Ker, forcing him to the outside, but they were satisfied with the result. Mouse Morris' runner dug deep in the closing stages to eventually win the argument by half a length, with 11 lengths back to the third home, Sixshooter (11/2). Sky Bet reacted by cutting the winner - who had run twice over fences earlier this season including a solid third behind the hugely exciting Monkfish - to 25/1 from 100/1 for the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Betfair and Paddy Power, who both offer Non-Runner No-Bet on the Festival races, went 16/1 from 66/1. Morris, who won the Galmoy Hurdle with his former Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition in 2010, said of Sams Profile: “He hasn’t been easy and fractured ribs at Thurles from the horrible fall he got and he ran with it afterwards. “He bled when he got home after his Fairyhouse run and it was the vets who found it. He bruised his lungs and we gave him box rest. “He is as tough as old boots and it was just one of those things in Thurles, but it got too late in the year (to continue novice chasing). He had a couple of good runs, but isn’t the luckiest horse in the world. The Stayers’ Hurdle will be pencilled in now.” The trainer was keen to praise Enright, adding: “Being quite frank with you, I thought maybe he was a bit far back at the top of the hill, but you have to take it off to him – he is a cool dude. “He was dead right and I was wrong.”
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Post by dennisg on Jan 30, 2021 10:18:29 GMT
Our top gossip column returns and is expecting Boldmere to go close in a fascinating Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster. 3.15 Doncaster - Boldmere 9 Horse silk Boldmere49 Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 140| BF| CD 13/2 Form: 11F-444 Live betting powered by So far this season Boldmere hasn't produced anything like his best form as a novice over fences last term but he still retains the ability to win a big race and looks worth taking a chance on in the Sky Bet Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday. Old rivals Cap de Nord and Canelo dominate the market and look sure to be involved in the finish but there is plenty of scope for each-way investments and Caroline Bailey's gelding offers good value at around 14/1. A winner over course and distance last season, he was very unlucky not to win at Grade 2 level on his next attempt at Wetherby. He had the race at his mercy but fell at the last, presenting the prize to Newtide. Connections have clearly had this race in mind for some time and it is interesting to note that Sean Bowen, who steered him to that success here just over 12 months ago, is back on board. 12.55 Doncaster - Sunset West 5 Horse silk Sunset West51 Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Joe Williamson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 117| BF 11/8 Form: 221-3F2 Live betting powered by Ex-Irish pointer Sunset West looks the pick of the weights in the opening Visit Attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle. His three outings so far this season make very solid reading. Unlucky when falling at Kelso on his second start, his two placed efforts behind the smart Ask A Honey Bee at Wetherby and Enqarde at Newcastle either side of that setback look very solid. Both winners (Enqarde over fences at Ascot last week) have done well at a level higher level since and this looks a good opportunity to land a deserved first win. 2.40 Doncaster - Emir Sacree 6 Horse silk Emir Sacreeh43 Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Nico de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 131 13/2 Form: 3222F/1 Live betting powered by Emir Sacree is in good form at home and looks ready for a step up to Grade 2 company in the Albert Bartlett River Don Novices Hurdle. A consistent performer over hurdles and fences in his native France, he made the best possible start to his career with Nicky Henderson when landing an emphatic success in a conditional jockeys event at Ascot just before Christmas. The form of that race does not look anything too startling but the manner of win for a horse returning from a long absence was impressive and his experience should stand him in good stead on this return to novice company. 3.50 Doncaster - Financial Outcome 4 Horse silk Financial Outcomet16 Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 117| C| D 11/2 Form: 3P-28R3 Live betting powered by Financial Outcome has been hampered with breathing problems during his career but produced a sound effort behind Echo Watt on his first appearance after an operation at Bangor last time. He looks worth an interest in the Sky Bet Money Back As Cash Handicap Chase having shown his liking for this course in the past and he'll handle the prevailing soft ground. 4.25 Doncaster - Alchemystique 8 Horse silk Alchemystiquet156 Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Billy Garritty| T: J Tuite| OR: - 12/1 Form: 35 Live betting powered by Alchemystique can show the benefit for recent throat surgery in the British European Breeders Fund (EBF) Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race. The ever shrewd Joe Tuite has always thought a bit of this daughter of Hunter's Light and she showed plenty of promise on her debut when third to the smart Mayhem Mya at Warwick in November. She was again an each-way whisper on her only subsequent start at Wetherby but came up against an even better filly there in subsequent listed winner Eileendover. In truth she disappointed slightly in finishing only fifth to Pam Sly's well-bred and unbeaten daughter of Canford Cliffs. Connections clearly felt she would benefit from a wind op after that performance and hopes are high she can make it third time lucky on what looks her easiest opportunity so far. 12.35 Lingfield - Lamorna Cove 9 11 Horse silk Lamorna Cove45 Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: K Shoemark| T: D Menuisier| OR: - 12/1 Form: 94- Live betting powered by Lamorna Cove could reward an each-way interest in the Play Ladbrokes 5-A-Side On Football Novice Median Auction Stakes at Lingfield. David Menuisier likes to bring his youngsters along steadily and there was plenty to like about this daughter of Footstepsinthesand's second appearance on this course last month. Although she ran green as on her debut, she finished nicely in the closing stages to occupy fourth behind Sealed Offer in what looked a decent novice. The extra yardage here should suit judged on that effort and more improvement is anticipated. 4.05 Lingfield - Angel Mill 6 8 Horse silk Angel Mill14 Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: J Tate| OR: 63 17/2 Form: 5-63 Live betting powered by James Tate's Angel Mill finished a close third to two decent types from the respective stables of William Haggas and John Gosden when third to Skulk and Kestenna on her latest start over course and distance two weeks ago and looks reasonably weighted with a rating of 63 on her first outing out of maiden and novice company in the Get Your Ladbrokes Daily Odds Boost Handicap. 3.45 Kempton - Lottie Marie 2 1 Horse silk Lottie Marie18 Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J Tuite| OR: 75| C| D 2/1 Form: 85501-2 Live betting powered by Lottie Marie has won and finished second in three outings since joining the Tuite team from Robert Cowell and looks to have been found a good opportunity to gain compensation for her narrow defeat at Lingfield last time in the Unibet Extra Place Offers Everyday Fillies Handicap at Kempton.
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Post by dennisg on Jan 30, 2021 10:19:46 GMT
Four runners for Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls at Doncaster on Saturday. Check out his thoughts on them. For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content visit betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/13:30 - Fast Buck He is obviously up against it against Shiskin but has run really well in both starts over fences since joining us in the summer and with a bit of luck would have won each time. He was going best when he came down in front at the second last at Hereford before being chinned on the line by East Illic after a sustained duel at Doncaster. He was giving lumps of weight to the winner and should gain some valuable experience in this. 14:05 - Miranda She won gamely on her return to action at Ludlow early in December and was then beaten barely a length when fourth in a tight finish at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day. I have a feeling the galloping nature of the Doncaster track will be more suitable for Miranda who loves soft ground and worked great on Thursday morning. She must have a leading chance. 14:40 - Flash Collonges (NON-RUNNER) He is a lovely chasing prospect who is progressing nicely and won well at Wincanton three weeks ago despite running green when clear on the run-in. This is a handy target for him at this stage of his career and he is learning all the time. But he doesn’t want deep ground so if the going gets really testing he will not run. 15:15 - Give Me A Copper He hasn’t been the easiest to train and made a very pleasing return from a year off when keeping on stoutly to run Rocky’s Treasure close at this track last month. Doncaster suits him well, he handles the ground and we know he is a proper stayer. Give Me A Copper is in serious order at the moment which is key to his performance. When he is right he is a good horse. For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content visit betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/
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Post by dennisg on Jan 30, 2021 10:20:59 GMT
Check out the view from connections ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster including Alan King on Canelo. View from connections: Alan King has been eyeing the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster for the improving Canelo ever since his Rowland Meyrick success on Boxing Day. The JP McManus-owned eight-year-old has always been highly regarded at Barbury Castle Stables, and is now delivering on that promise. A win at Aintree was followed by a runner-up spot to Cap Du Nord at Newbury, before he beat Snow Leopardess over Christmas. “He’s done very little wrong this year and has been very progressive since we put the headgear (cheekpieces) on him,” said King. Canelo jumps to the front over the last at Wetherby Canelo jumps to the front over the last at Wetherby “He’s improved race for race, and this looked the logical place to go after his win in the Rowland Meyrick. “That might have been a decent race – he beat the right horse (Snow Leopardess), who had won at Haydock before. “He’s on 148 now, he travels very well through his races but might not do a whole lot when he hits the front. I’m hoping there’s a bit more to come from him. This will be another test, but it looked the obvious place to come after Wetherby.” Aye Right bids to gain due reward on Saturday for a series of consistent efforts. Trained in the Scottish Borders by Harriet Graham, the eight-year-old was second over an inadequate two miles and a furlong first time out this season to subsequent Old Roan winner Nuts Well. He was then a very creditable third to Cyrname in the Charlie Hall Chase before posting arguably a career-best effort when second in the Ladbrokes Trophy to Cloth Cap. Since then, Aye Right has run in a jumpers’ bumper at Newcastle – where he showed up well for a long way before finishing sixth – but Graham does not want the ground to get any softer. Cloth Cap is away and clear in the Ladbrokes Trophy Aye Right chases home Cloth Cap at Newbury Graham told Sky Sports Racing: “We’ve been hit hard by the weather up here – we’ve only just got rid of the snow, but James Armstrong at Newcastle has been helpful, (so Aye Right) galloped there the other day and ran in a jumpers’ bumper. “He’s a very consistent horse and he’s easy to train. He’s always jig-jogging and loves to go out. We sometimes feel we do too much with him, but Callum (Bewley) said he couldn’t pull him up the other day – he nearly went round again. “We’ll not run if it gets heavy, but the forecast is much more positive now. Earlier in the week, I didn’t think we’d be running. In an ideal world I’d have liked it to be good to soft – and probably over another three furlongs.” Christian Williams on CAP DU NORD ahead of the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster Cap Du Nord has been all the rage for this race all week as Christian Williams attempts to win a contest he landed as a jockey on Big Fella Thanks in 2009. A winner at Newbury in November, Cap Du Nord then chased home Royale Pagaille at Kempton over Christmas – form which continues to be well advertised. The winner scored in even easier fashion at Haydock last weekend to be talked of as a Gold Cup candidate – while the third Double Shuffle, 19 lengths behind Cap Du Nord, won next time out. Despite the handicapper raising Cap Du Nord twice since his initial reassessment, he is 3lb well-in because this was an early closing race. “We thought it would be competitive. But it’s good prize-money, and I think the track will suit our horse,” said Williams. It’s nice to be in a feature race on a Saturday. It’s great to have a horse on the upgrade with a chance. Cap Du Nord on his way to victory Cap Du Nord on his way to victory “Cap Du Nord could go for the cross-country race at Cheltenham, along with Potters Corner. I’ll speak to the owner. We’ll see how we get on on Saturday. “There’s a chance he could get in the Grand National. We might go straight there, or we could use the cross-country race at Cheltenham for him.” Trainer Olly Murphy has always had a high opinion of The Butcher Said, but he fears the ground may be too testing this weekend for him to show his best. “I think he’s well capable of winning a nice handicap,” said Murphy. “I’m not sure he wants it as testing as it’s going to be – but he’s in good form, and it’s worth a lot of money. He’d have an each-way chance if he got the rub of the green and things went his way.” Paul Nicholls runs Give Me A Copper, who is part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson. “He hasn’t been the easiest to train and made a very pleasing return from a year off when keeping on stoutly to run Rocky’s Treasure close at this track last month,” Nicholls told Betfair. “Doncaster suits him well – he handles the ground, and we know he is a proper stayer. Give Me A Copper is in serious order at the moment, which is key to his performance. When he is right, he is a good horse.” The Nick Williams-trained One For The Team and Philip Hobbs’ Musical Slave are others among the market leaders. Man On The Spot verdict: 2 Horse silk Aye Right10 Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Bewley| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 151| BF| D 15/2 Form: 15-2326 Live betting powered by Yorkhill wound back the clock to record a 66/1 victory in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle, when Takingrisks was fourth and The Butcher Said sixth, but consistency is not a strong point. Give Me A Copper was only beaten half-a-length by Rocky's Treasure here seven week ago and is 4lb better off, though this is a better race and neither have much scope. Mister Malarky has been raised 6lb for winning a similar contest at Ascot but Cap Du Nord will be 3lb higher from next week with his second to Royale Pagaille at Kempton having been upgraded. There’s a big handicap in AYE RIGHT judged on his second in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November and a recent run in a jumpers’ bumper should have blown away the cobwebs so he gets the nod ahead of Rowland Meyrick winner Canelo and the novice One For The Team. Musical Slave could be a threat off bottom weight back over 3m and Boldmere is better than he’s shown so far this season and already a course and distance winner. Like what you've read? Share Tweet Email Link
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Post by dennisg on Jan 30, 2021 10:22:59 GMT
Betfair Ambassador Olly Murphy runs two of his stable stars on Saturday afternoon across the cards at Doncaster and Cheltenham For more exclusive content from Olly visit betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/olly-murphy/Doncaster 15:15 – The Butcher Said "The Butcher Said has done well over fences so far this term and he’s a horse I always thought would run well in a big handicap. "We probably ran him a bit quick back at Newcastle the last day, but he’s had a nice break and has freshened up. He’s a horse who could run well at a big price if staying three miles in these conditions." Cheltenham 15:35 – Itchy Feet "Itchy Feet reverts back to hurdles after a frustrating couple of runs over fences, where he’s gone well in defeat but hasn’t jumped with any fluency. "We’re looking forward to running him and his schooling has been good. He’s a horse who has got plenty of ability and fingers crossed he’s got a good each-way chance – albeit Paisley Park will be tough to beat." For extensive exclusive content from Olly visit betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/olly-murphy/
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Post by dennisg on Feb 1, 2021 9:13:30 GMT
Ben Pauling will give serious consideration to supplementing The Cob for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival following his impressive victory at Doncaster. The seven-year-old made a flying start to the current campaign with back-to-back wins at Uttoxeter and Haydock, but came up short in his hat-trick bid at Newbury over Christmas. As a result, he was a 25/1 shot for his first start over three miles in Saturday’s Grade Two Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle – but ran out a dominant winner under Daryl Jacob to leave connections dreaming of Festival glory. Pauling said: “I was delighted with him, and he seems in great form this morning. Was it a big shock? I think he was under-estimated at the prices, but I can’t say I expected him to win in that fashion. “The step up to three miles has obviously brought out the best in him – he’s handled the ground and he’s got a decent engine.” Cheltenham has therefore entered the equation. “It’s just over £4,500 to supplement him for the Albert Bartlett,” added Pauling. “We don’t have to supplement him until March 13, so we can train him up to that day – and if he’s in bang-on form then I think we will supplement him. “I didn’t enter him originally because I probably thought he was 10lb short of being worthy of an entry. Over two and a half miles, he might have been, but going three miles has clearly made a big difference to him. “I think he probably deserves to have a go at the Albert Bartlett now, particularly because it looks a very open race this year.” More immediately, the Cotswolds trainer is eyeing big-race success with Shakem Up’Arry in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on February 13. Runner-up to the brilliant Shishkin in a novice hurdle at the Berkshire circuit last season, the Harry Redknapp-trained seven-year-old was last seen chasing home Harry Fry’s Metier in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown. “There is a strong possibility he will go for the Betfair Hurdle if the ground stays like it is at the moment,” Pauling added. “He is a big, raw horse that will want two and a half miles in time – but he has the gears for two miles, and we know he handles very soft ground very easily and he jumps beautifully. “I think next season over a fence he is going to be something else – you don’t get many that jump as well as he does. He is just a very cool horse that I think is going to be a proper novice chaser.”
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Post by dennisg on Feb 1, 2021 9:14:36 GMT
David Pipe is undecided as to whether to give his exciting juvenile Adagio another run before the Cheltenham Festival. The German-bred youngster has won three of his four starts over hurdles since arriving from Britain – following up victory at Cheltenham last month with a Grade One success in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow. He had the option of return to the Cotswolds for Saturday’s JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial – but with conditions deemed too testing on a card which was eventually abandoned for waterlogging anyway, Pipe will consider alternative options before the Triumph Hurdle itself in March. “It’s possible he’ll have one more run before the Festival. We just felt the ground would be too wet for him on Saturday and decided to give it a miss,” said the Pond House trainer. “There’s the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Musselburgh (next weekend), and there’s also a race at Exeter he could run in. They are the only two options for him really – otherwise, we could just give him a racecourse gallop and go straight to Cheltenham in March.” Adagio is a best priced 10/1 with William Hill for the Triumph Hurdle, making him the shortest-priced British contender behind Gordon Elliott’s Zanahiyr and Willie Mullins’ new recruit French Aseel.
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Post by dennisg on Feb 1, 2021 9:16:18 GMT
Eklat De Rire put himself in the Cheltenham Festival picture with a fine display in the Grade Three Naas Racecourse Business Club Novice Chase. Click here for FULL results and FREE video replays All eyes were on Henry de Bromhead's charge following his impressive chasing debut success at Punchestown and he barely put a foot wrong here, producing a flawless round of jumping before comfortably holding Escaria Ten on the run-in. Jockey Rachael Blackmore, who was riding her second winner of the afternoon following the earlier victory of Mr Incredible in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle, was keen to ensure the race was run on her terms and she still cut a confident figure as the chasing pack stacked up in behind turning for home. Pencilfulloflead was the first of the three market leaders to crack when Eklat De Rire kicked again entering the home straight, and though he plugged on in vain back in third, it was Escaria Ten who laid down the final challenge to the 11/4 winner, threatening to make a real race of it when closing approaching the final fence. However, Eklat De Rire produced another terrific leap and though Escaria Ten came for one final crack late on, Blackmore was never too animated as she nudged her mount out to record a one and three quarter-length success. Sky Bet reacted by cutting Eklat De Rire to 12/1 from 14/1 for the Festival Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in March. Eklat De Rire is also entered in the National Hunt Chase, and his trainer said: “He was deadly and is improving all the time. I couldn’t have asked for any more. “He handles an ease in the ground well. He’s a big heavy topped fella – and while we have never run him on it, I’d say he wouldn’t want the ground too good. “I’ll have to speak to the owners, but we said if today went well we would aim for the Festival Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. He stays well and he jumps well. He was impressive there and I’d say he deserves his chance after that." De Bromhead added of Mr Incredible: “He’s a lovely big chasing prospect, still a big baby and very raw. “Colin Bowe recommended him to us, and I’m delighted to have him.”
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Post by dennisg on Feb 1, 2021 9:17:53 GMT
Controversy reigned at Naas following a unsatisfactory start to the Celebrating The 2020 ITBA Award Winners Handicap Hurdle. The two-mile contest was significantly delayed as Melly And Me got loose on the track for several minutes before eventually being caught – but that was only half of the story. As the remaining runners walked in to face the starter, Shakeytry dived left and unseated jockey Phillip Enright and badly hampered both Sean Says and, more notably, Aarons Day. Despite the incident, starter Derek Cullen allowed the race to get under way, instead of calling a false start, leaving Aarons Day to go in pursuit from a long way behind. Remarkably, the Oliver McKiernan-trained 9/1 shot managed to get himself back into contention and was beaten just over four lengths into second by Conor O’Dwyer’s 9-2 favourite Capilano Bridge. Winning jockey Ricky Doyle said afterwards: “I hadn’t a clue (what had happened) – I think I was nearly the first one out the gate. “It was only when we pulled up that Liam McKenna (rider of Aarons Day) told me he got left 30 lengths. I thought his horse must have stood still, but watching it back now – it didn’t look great.” The stewards inevitably called an enquiry before referring the matter to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. An unsurprisingly displeased McKiernan said: “They were hanging around for nearly half an hour at the start, and then that happens. It’s beyond belief that it could happen.” Former jockey Ruby Walsh was reporting on-course for Racing TV, and did not mince his words. Walsh said: “That should have been a false start – absolutely no doubt. “There is no way on earth Derek Cullen can start that race – that is shambolic. “I feel sorry for Oliver McKiernan. How that horse finishes second, is beyond me. “Let’s be fair, everybody is human – and everybody makes mistake. But it is frustrating that an owner, a trainer and a jockey can be sanctioned for mistakes they make, but nobody else seems to be. “That is what is really frustrating from a professionals’ point of view – that the officials aren’t held to the accountability of the participants.” Thankfully for punters who backed either of the two horses with Sky Bet, Betfair or Paddy Power, all stakes were refunded (as free bets in some cases).
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Post by dennisg on Feb 2, 2021 9:24:57 GMT
Willie Mullins may implement a change of tactics for Melon in Sunday’s Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, the headline event on the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival. The nine-year-old has the unwanted record of finishing second at the last four Cheltenham Festivals, hitting the bar in the Supreme and twice in the Champion Hurdle before being edged out by a nose in last year’s Marsh Novices’ Chase. He gained another near-miss in the Savills Chase at Christmas when A Plus Tard finished with a real flourish to scupper both third-placed Melon and stablemate Kemboy, who took second. “I was thinking one of them – please. If either of them had fallen at the last you’d have been thinking how far, but they didn’t. They probably didn’t help each other and I think we’ll probably change tactics with Melon,” said Mullins. “Up to now we’ve been putting cheekpieces on Melon, putting go faster stripes on him so he could be more competitive over two miles and two and a half. You’d have to think if we change tactics a bit, it might suit us better.” The recent weather has not been in Kemboy’s favour, but he will need a new jockey following the retirement of David Mullins. The trainer said: “He seems to like Leopardstown, but the only worry is the rain – they got a huge amount over the weekend.” Mullins would have liked a third runner in the race but Castlebawn West, winner of a big handicap with top weight over Christmas, is out for the remainder of the season. “Castlebawn West is unfortunately out, he split a pastern during the week. He’s up in hospital now with five new screws in. So he’s out for the season, but hopefully he’s back next season,” said Mullins. Willie Mullins with Monkfish Willie Mullins with Monkfish Arguably Mullins’ banker of the meeting is due to run in the Flogas Novice Chase – the impressive Monkfish – although who will join him has still to be decided. “I suppose Monkfish is the obvious one, Colreevy won’t go she had a hard race the other day. Janadil I’d be keen to have a crack there, Franco De Port and Energumene will run over two miles,” said Mullins. “I didn’t run Asterion (Forlonge) over three miles yesterday so he could go here, he’s won a Grade One there over two miles. I know he jumps a little bit right, but we might try different tactics on him. It’s a bigger concern he fell at the first the last day than jumping right! “Monkfish looks a real natural. All this rain will suit him and two-five won’t be an issue.” French Aseel leads his rivals a merry dance French Aseel leads his rivals a merry dance A new recruit to the yard heads Mullins’ team in the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle in French Aseel, a winner for Ellmarie Holden first time out. “French Aseel looked very good at Christmas and the form got franked again yesterday. He’s a lovely type and has settled in well. I’m pleased with him so we’ll see how he goes during the week,” said Mullins. “Youmdor got a hard fall. On the day I thought he was quite knocked about, but he came home that night and ate up and he’s been fine since. I’ll have to think about whether I’m going to run him or not, I’ll see how he works this week. “He was going well and would have been the shortest price in running, he just changed his mind when Paul (Townend) asked him.” Ha D’or and Saint Sam could also run. “Ha D’or was having his first run over hurdles at Christmas, he’s sure to improve a huge bit. We just wanted to see how he could jump and he jumped well. He’ll be a nice horse some day, but this might be too early in his career,” reasoned Mullins. “I think Saint Sam ran better than his finishing position, he got the worst run of the race and he’s improving all the time. He’s got ground to make up on Zanahiyr, but I do think he’s improving.” Paul Townend on Appreciate It Paul Townend on Appreciate It The Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle is the next stop for Appreciate It, current favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He could be joined by Mr Coldstone. “Appreciate It is in great shape. I was hugely taken with the performance he put in at Christmas,” said Mullins. “Gauloise will run in the Solerina Hurdle next Monday, but Mr Coldstone impressed me with what he did down in Tramore, so maybe he’ll take his chance and we’ll see what he is.”
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Post by dennisg on Feb 2, 2021 9:26:33 GMT
Willie Mullins remains hopeful his son Patrick will be able to ride at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Amateur jockeys are currently prevented from riding in Britain due to a tightening of coronavirus regulations, as they do not fall under the elite sport banner that enables racing to continue in Britain. With the Festival not starting until March 16 this year though, Ireland’s champion trainer is optimistic his assistant can still be involved in the saddle. “It was another surprise, but we are getting used to those in these pandemic times,” said Mullins on a call to promote this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival. “I’m hoping that something can be done because we’ve about eight weeks to go and hopefully the figures on both sides of the Irish Sea will be better and governments will be looking at things differently. That’s the best we could hope for at this stage.” With his nephew David Mullins recently springing a surprise by announcing his retirement, Patrick would be in line for even more rides than usual. “Certainly he would be a top member on our team at Cheltenham – he could have half a dozen nice rides, especially with David retiring, it puts him in for a lot more. He’s a top guy to have on your team over there,” said Mullins. “We’ve discussed it, but there’s nothing much we can do. Obviously there are talks ongoing. It’s very unfair on the top English amateurs too, like Mr (Sam) Waley-Cohen and Will Biddick. There are some top amateurs there and they look forward to Cheltenham like everyone else. Sam Waley-Cohen riding Igor to victory Sam Waley-Cohen riding Igor to victory “I haven’t fully read through the protocol that keeps them out of it because I feel things might shift about in a month or six weeks time, and there might be a chance they can ride at the Festival. “I’m sure Patrick and the other amateurs will be doing their best and we’ll be trying to help them as well.” As for how the pandemic might affect his team in other ways, Mullins hopes staffing will not prove an issue. “I hope it won’t be a smaller team because of everything. We’re making arrangements to have things in place ready to bring our usual team, but until we see what rules and regulations are going to be applied, all we can do is prepare the usual stuff,” he said. “There are a few headaches. We’re trying to get a team of staff together – we’ve plenty to go, but we’re wondering about getting them back. I have people who work for me in England, so I’m getting them involved as well. “I’m trying not to get too bogged down in it because the whole scenario could change in a month or six weeks, at least that is what we are hoping anyhow.” One horse not running at Leopardstown this weekend is dual Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, who will head for a racecourse gallop in the coming days. “Al Boum Photo is in great shape and he’ll do a major bit of work this week because he’s not running,” said Mullins. “I need to get a good bit into him. My focus is just to get him there, I’m not getting sidetracked about the others. “I was hoping to take him to Naas, but because of the Covid protocols that wasn’t possible. I have something organised and hopefully it will work out.” Faugheen Faugheen Cheltenham will come too soon for the veteran Faugheen, but Punchestown is still in the mix after a setback earlier this season. “Faugheen is just OK now, he’s certainly not going to run this weekend or anything, but we’ll try to prepare him for Punchestown. He’s in good shape anyhow. “The way the season is panning out that will be the option that is left open, all being well,” said Mullins, who also had news of another of Rich and Susannah Ricci’s stars, Benie Des Dieux who was beaten by Honeysuckle last March. “I’d say it will be straight to Cheltenham with her (Benie Des Dieux). The mares’ chase is a target I’ve had in mind for her, but we’ll see how both races cut up – we might have old business to attend to from last year!”
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Post by dennisg on Feb 2, 2021 9:27:42 GMT
The British Horseracing Authority have confirmed both the Cotswold Chase and Cleeve Hurdle will be run on Saturday. The races were due to take place on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham last weekend only for torrential rain to wash the card away. The Cotswold Chase, due to feature both Santini and Bristol De Mai, will now take place at Sandown, while Wetherby hosts the Cleeve Hurdle, which was expected to be Paisley Park's final run before the Stayers' Hurdle before trainer Emma Lavelle confirmed he'd go straight to the Festival. The Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase is set to be Sandown’s Grade One feature, with Dan Skelton’s Kauto Star Novices’ Chase winner Shan Blue going for a second top-level strike. He is unbeaten in three starts over fences – while Alan King’s Messire Des Obeaux has won both his chases this season, having also scored at Grade One level over hurdles before injury intervened in his career. Dame De Compagnie, Allart, Hitman and Sporting John also figure among 10 contenders.
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Post by dennisg on Feb 2, 2021 9:28:58 GMT
Officials at Sandown are pursuing the possibility of staging an all-chase chase card on Saturday should the hurdle track remain unraceable. The next 24 hours could be crucial as to what form the programme will take, with more rain forecast at the Esher venue. As a consequence, an inspection has been called for midday on Tuesday with particular emphasis on the hurdles course. There are currently set to be eight races on the card – four over hurdles and four over fences, following confirmation the Cotswold Chase is to be moved after Cheltenham was abandoned at the weekend. Before that announcement from the British Horseracing Authority, Sandown clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: “The entries closed at midday today on the basis of a seven-race card, including hurdle races. “Our view is, as it stands, we’d be raceable over fences but not raceable over hurdles. “We’ve got a week with potentially a couple of spells of rain, which could be appreciable overnight tonight and throughout the course of Wednesday in particular. There is rain certainly in the first half of the week. “We’re giving some thought to the possibility of going all steeplechase if that seems to be the best way to go to make sure we race in some shape or form on Saturday. “If we didn’t look at that and stuck to the conventional chase-hurdle card we could come to a point with the latter that we might lose everything later in the week, so we have to develop a contingency option. I think there will be quite a lot happening over the next 24 hours. “There’s a lot to run its course, and we’d hopeful of getting some racing here on Saturday, but quite what format that meeting would take remains to be seen. “The Cotswold Chase has been kicked around as a possible race to be rescheduled here from Cheltenham. With the Cotswold, we’d be up to eight races. It is volatile at the moment, and there is a lot of weather to come through.” The going is described as soft, heavy in places on the chase course but raceable – and heavy, soft in places on the hurdles course with some waterlogging/saturation on the home straight. The BHA confirmed on Monday afternoon that the Cotswold Chase will be run at Sandown, while the same day’s Wetherby card will feature the Grade Two Cleeve Hurdle – which was also initially due to be run at Cheltenham. The Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase is set to be Sandown’s Grade One feature, with Dan Skelton’s Kauto Star Novices’ Chase winner Shan Blue going for a second top-level strike. He is unbeaten in three starts over fences – while Alan King’s Messire Des Obeaux has won both his chases this season, having also scored at Grade One level over hurdles before injury intervened in his career. Dame De Compagnie, Allart, Hitman and Sporting John also figure among 10 contenders.
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Post by dennisg on Feb 3, 2021 11:45:20 GMT
The National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell is next on the agenda for Olly Murphy’s Brewin’upastorm. Having disappointed on his first two starts of the season over fences, the eight-year-old was switched back to the smaller obstacles at Taunton last month and could hardly have been more impressive. Murphy has not given his charge any entries for the Cheltenham Festival at this stage – and hopes to have a clearer idea of where his charge might head in the spring after he tests the water at Grade Two level on February 28. He said: “The plan is to go for the National Spirit at Fontwell next. He is in good form and he has come out of Taunton really well – hopefully that will have done his confidence the world of good. “We will stay hurdling for the time being and see how high we can go over hurdles. We know he has a good level of ability, but it was a good performance at Taunton. “He is not a very big horse, so I was impressed with him carrying that sort of weight in a handicap. He did beat older horses, but the manner in which he did it was smart and he can only improve from that.”
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Post by dennisg on Feb 3, 2021 11:48:26 GMT
Honeysuckle will face a maximum of five rivals when she bids for back-to-back victories in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle. Henry de Bromhead’s charge was a narrow winner of the feature event on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival last season, before going on to claim the notable scalp of Benie Des Dieux in an epic clash for the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. The seven-year-old made a winning reappearance when successfully defending her crown in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in November and is the hot favourite to stretch her unbeaten record to 10 on Saturday in the hands of Rachael Blackmore. “She seems well at home and was good in the Hatton’s Grace. There is no Grade One out there that is easy to win and she seems to have produced the goods every day, so I can’t fault her,” said the jockey. “She’s definitely captured my imagination, anyway. She’s been fantastic to me and hopefully we can keep it going.” Honeysuckle’s biggest threat appears to be the Willie Mullins-trained Sharjah, who disappointed in last year’s renewal but was last seen winning his third Matheson Hurdle over the course and distance. Sharjah’s stablemates Saint Roi and Saldier, who were fourth and sixth behind him over Christmas, are set to be in opposition once more, while the field is completed by Gordon Elliott’s pair of Petit Mouchoir an Abacadabras, who were third and fifth in the same race. Chacun Pour Soi beats Min at Leopardstown Chacun Pour Soi beats Min at Leopardstown Mullins appears to hold all the aces in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, with last year’s one-two Chacun Pour Soi and Min set to renew rivalry. The Closutton maestro could also saddle Tornado Flyer, with Castlegrace Paddy (Pat Fahy), Fakir D’Oudairies (Joseph O’Brien), Notebook (De Bromhead) and Sizing Pottsie (Jessica Harrington) the other hopefuls. Mullins has won the Patrick Ward And Company Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Chase with Un De Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016) and Footpad (2018) in recent years, and houses a leading contender this year in Energumene. The Tony Bloom-owned gelding could be joined stable companions Blackbow, Franco De Port and Unexcepted, while Gavin Cromwell’s Darver Star and Paul Nolan’s stable star Latest Exhibition also feature. Gaillard Du Mesnil clears the final flight Gaillard Du Mesnil clears the final flight The first of four Grade Ones on the card is the Nathaniel Lacy And Partners Solicitors 50k Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle, in which Mullins again possesses a strong hand, with Gaillard Du Mesnil and Stattler leading a seven-strong entry. Also among the 17 contenders are the Harrington-trained Ashdale Bob, Emmet Mullins’ Cape Gentleman and Gentlemansgame from the Mouse Morris yard. Elliott’s Sir Gerhard is a warm order for the concluding Goffs Future Stars I.N.H. Flat Race. Elliott has also confirmed Chemical Energy, while Mullins has a trio in Kilcruit, Ramillies and Whatdeawant.
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Post by dennisg on Feb 3, 2021 12:14:52 GMT
Oliver Sherwood expects Seaston Spirit to revel in the testing conditions when attempting to extend his unbeaten record this season in Thursday's Dick Hunt Handicap Chase at Wincanton. The progressive eight year old is two from two this campaign having followed up his facile success in his return to action over hurdles at Ffos Las with victory in last month’s Sussex National at Plumpton on his switch back to fences. Although the Lambourn trainer has reservations about the suitability of the track for Seaston Spirit, who is one of 14 entries in the 3m 1f prize, he is optimistic those fears can be allayed by the presence of heavy ground. Sherwood said: “This race wasn’t the number one plan but I wanted to get another run into him before we look at either the Eider or Midlands National as a target. I couldn’t keep him on the boil between now and either of them and though Wincanton is not his ideal track but beggars can’t be choosers. “The track might be a bit too sharp for him but he is in the form of his life and he will love the ground.” Had it not been for a victory at Lingfield just before Christmas in 2019 then Seaston Spirit may not have been lining up in the race at all, according to Sherwood. He added: “I said after his last race I can’t believe how much he has improved. In 2019 Leighton (Aspell) won a race on him off 98 at Lingfield but before that the owner and I were tearing our hair out and we were going to sell him, and he was in the sales. “Since then, bar one disappointing run at Chepstow, when I shouldn't have run him as he had a reaction to a flu jab, he has not stopped progressing. It’s just bizarre, he must have known he was going to be sold as since then it’s been onwards and upwards!” Meanwhile Tom George is confident Springfield Fox can bounce back to form on more suitable conditions after pulling up in last month’s re-arranged Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. The Slad handler said: “I couldn’t believe how quick the ground was in the Welsh National as it felt like good to soft ground and he really wants testing ground. “In a race like that on that sort of ground he wasn’t experienced enough and they were just going that stride too quick for him. He made a mistake and that was the end for him. “He has come out of the race well and if the ground is bottomless it will slow everything else down no matter where it is. After this he might well go to the Eider or the Grand National Trial as they are the races he needs to be running in on really deep ground.” The Ben Case-trained Shanty Alley is another seeking to secure a hat-trick of wins this season following victories at Uttoxeter and Doncaster, while The Kings Writ, from the yard of Kayley Woollacott, will bid to go one better than in last month’s Somerset National at the track. Other notable entries include Lamanver Pippin, who finished third in last year’s National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novice Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and is one of two runners in the race for trainer Colin Tizzard alongside Darlac. Elsewhere on the card, the Paul Nicholls-trained Sametegal is the stand-out name among the 18 declared for the Stewart Tory Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase. The evergreen 12 year old will bid to secure his first success since claiming Grade Three glory in the 2015 Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury. In the opening EBF Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle the Emma Lavelle-trained Wouldubewell, who is one of two runners in the 2m 51/2f contest for the Owners Group syndicate along with Fable from the Nicky Henderson yard, will be out to follow up her last time out Uttoxeter success and maintain her unbeaten record under rules.
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Post by dennisg on Feb 3, 2021 12:16:29 GMT
Fergal O’Brien will chart a direct course to the Cheltenham Festival with Imperial Alcazar. The seven-year-old ran out a comfortable two-and-a-quarter-length winner of a Pertemps qualifier at Warwick last month, and is as low as 8/1 with some firms for the Final at Cheltenham on March 18. While Imperial Alcazar is also entered in the Stayers’ Hurdle on the same day, O’Brien is looking towards the big handicap instead. He said: “He’s in good form and goes for the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham now, all being well. “He runs well fresh, so he’ll go straight there without another run in between.”
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Post by dennisg on Feb 5, 2021 9:54:40 GMT
Saturday’s meeting at Wetherby will be an all-hurdles card after the chase track failed an inspection on Friday morning. The venue was due to stage three chases, highlighted by the Grade Two Towton Novices’ Chase. However, the chase track is not fit for action, with two hurdles now added to the card instead, although the meeting must still pass an 8am inspection on Saturday if it is to go ahead. The track tweeted: “Sadly, the steeplechase course has not improved enough & with further rain expected tonight, we have decided to cancel all steeplechase races for tomorrow & revert to the pre-planned all hurdle programme. “The hurdle course has improved greatly & would be fit to race on today (Friday). The ground remains heavy. However, in view of the fact that there is rain forecast for tonight, we will stage a precautionary inspection at 8am on Saturday morning to check conditions again.” Sunday’s meeting at Musselburgh is subject to a precautionary inspection at 8am on raceday. No problems are anticipated for the first day of a two-day fixture, but temperatures are expected to drop on Sunday, prompting a morning check. Friday’s card at Chepstow goes ahead as planned after the track passed an inspection.
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Post by dennisg on Feb 5, 2021 9:55:56 GMT
Jonjo O’Neill Jr reached the 50 winner mark for the season after completing a double at Wincanton with victory aboard Time To Get Up in the feature Dick Hunt Handicap Chase. The 23 year old, who rode a personal best 61 winners last campaign, reached the milestone following a career first success for his eight year old partner, who is trained by his father and former jockey Jonjo O’Neill. Having shaped with promise on his first run in Britain over 2m 4f at Aintree in November, the JP McManus-owned gelding appeared to take a step back when finishing fourth over a similar trip at Wetherby last time out. Gradually working his way into the race Time To Get Up demonstrated that stamina is his forte when making his first start over 3m 1f a triumphant one with a five length victory over the hat-trick-seeking Shanty Alley. Jonjo Jr said: “He is a big fine chasing type and he has had his problems in the past. His hurdle form back in Ireland was decent. I thought the ground would be plenty soft enough for him as he is by Presenting, but he seemed to handle it and I’m very happy with him. He was a bit green out in front but he is a lovely big fine chaser. “That day at Wetherby everything we sent out ran appallingly. I kind of wrote off every horse Dad’s that day as they just didn’t give their running and I think the ground played a part in that. That is more like his Aintree run. “I thought he would be okay over two and a half but he is that kind of staying chasing type. How good he is I don’t know but it wasn’t a bad race today.” Jonjo Jr, who had earlier steered the Colin Tizzard-trained Rose Of Arcadia to glory by a neck in the EBF Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle, hopes the winners keep flowing for the rest of the campaign. On reaching the landmark of 50 for the season he added: “I knew I wasn’t far off. I’m very happy. That was the first milestone last season and I’m glad to reach it by the beginning of February, so hopefully with a couple of good months we can get a little bit further.”
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Post by dennisg on Feb 5, 2021 9:57:24 GMT
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has moved to “unreservedly apologise” to all parties affected by the controversial start to a race at Naas last weekend. The Celebrating The 2020 ITBA Award Winners Handicap Hurdle was significantly delayed after the Noel Meade-trained Melly And Me got loose for several minutes, before eventually being withdrawn. As the remaining runners walked in to face the starter, Shakeytry dived left and unseated jockey Phillip Enright – badly hampering both Sean Says and, more notably, Aarons Day. Despite the incident, starter Derek Cullen allowed the race to get under way, instead of calling a false start – leaving Aarons Day to go in pursuit from a long way behind. Remarkably, the Oliver McKiernan-trained 9/1 shot managed to get himself back into contention and was beaten just over four lengths into second by Conor O’Dwyer’s 9/2 favourite Capilano Bridge. The on-course stewards inevitably called an enquiry, before referring the matter to the IHRB. In a report released on Thursday, the regulatory body admitted mistakes had been made not only at the start of the race but also in the immediate aftermath, including the decision of the stewards to clear the race for the purposes of the ‘winner-all-right’ being announced – effectively confirming the result. The report confirmed that had the ‘winner-all-right’ not been signalled, the stewards would have had the option to declare Shakeytry and Sean Says non-runners, or could even have declared the race void if they felt the start could be deemed “manifestly unfair as a false start should have been called”. Following the referral to the IHRB’S CEO Denis Egan, it has been confirmed the starter “now accepts a false start should have been called”, and that the ‘winner-all-right’ signal was given “prematurely and in error by the stewards”. The IHRB has made a number of recommendations in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the incident. Egan said in a statement: “The IHRB unreservedly apologise to everyone that was affected by this unfortunate incident. “An error at the start was compounded by errors made post-race. While it is accepted that human errors will occur from time to time, systems are in place to minimise the chances of such errors occurring, and to address them if they happen. “The systems did not work on this occasion, and we commit to taking the necessary steps to avoid anything similar happening in future. “I have apologised to the trainers of the three affected horses, and they have acknowledged that what arose was due to human error. “The Stewarding Committee will continue to monitor significant decisions, including what occurred in this instance, and provide feedback to stewards and officials to ensure consistency and the highest standards of stewarding.”
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Post by dennisg on Feb 5, 2021 9:58:41 GMT
Sametegal moved a step closer to a third outing over the famous Grand National fences at Aintree when securing his first victory in almost five years to complete a doubles for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden at Wincanton. Without a victory to his name since landing the 2016 Grade Three Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury in March 2016 the evergreen 12 year old returned to winning ways with victory in the Stewart Tory Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase. Putting in a bold jump at the last in the 3m 1f contest the 6/5 favourite, who finished third in the 2017 Grand Sefton at Aintree and sixth in this season’s renewal of the Grade Three, rallied well to defeat Porlock Bay by half a length. Nicholls said: “He hasn’t won for five years but he has been running consistently. I opted to go hunter chasing and his aim will be Aintree as he is good around there. “He was brilliant at the last today. He never finishes strongly but it was great to get his head in front. It is good for those older horses the chance to win a race or two.” Highlighting the COVID restrictions which currently prohibit amateur riders competing, he added: “Natalie (Parker), who is one of our pupil assistants, he was for her to ride but what with all that has happened it’s a shame. But the minute it changes back she will be on board, and she might be able to ride him at Aintree.” Meanwhile a step up to Grade Two company is on the cards for Lucky One, who got the ball rolling for Nicholls and Cobden with a straightforward 20 length success in the Southwest Syndicate Novices’ Hurdle over 1m 71/2f. Nicholls said of the 5/4 winner: “He used to pull and pull and he almost pulled up on his first run as he ran too free. He then settled and won at Southwell but he then ran too free the next day at Cheltenham. We’ve done a lot of work on him and he is just beginning to relax now and he is going the right way. “I could go to Kelso on March 6th and I wouldn’t be afraid to step him up at Aintree in the spring as I think the track would suit him nicely there.”
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Post by dennisg on Feb 6, 2021 11:39:53 GMT
Our gallops insider has the latest tips for the weekend's top-quality action including Itchy Feet at Wetherby. 1.15 Sandown - Caribean Boy Caribbean Boy can return to winning form in the Virgin Bet Handicap Chase at Sandown on Saturday. Nicky Henderson is pleased Caribean Boy has not had to wait too long for his chance to get a preparatory outing in for the Festival in five and a half weeks time, even if this race is a bit shorter than his original target at Cheltenham's abandoned meeting last weekend. Given that he has never experienced anything like the undulations at Cheltenham, he is in some ways, on safer ground here, and the prevailing testing surface will in, itself present a stamina test. The seven year old made a great start to his second season at Seven Barrows with a win in a grade 2 at Newbury, and he was found not to be quite right after a slightly below par effort at Ascot in a conditions event on his latest attempt just before Christmas. Now back in A1 nick, his overall form reads very well, and hopes are high he can show his appreciation for a return to handicap company. 1.50 Sandown - Messire Des Obeaux Messire Des Obeaux can maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the Grade 1 Virgin bet Scilly Isles Novices Chase. Alan King has enjoyed a very lucrative time on both the flat and over jumps over the past year or more, but his performance in bringing this very talented performer back from a long spell on the sidelines, is one of the undoubted highlights. A most impressive debut winner over fences on his return to action at Wincanton, he followed up in similar style on his return to the Somerset course last month. Both performances saw off some high quality opposition, most notably the latest effort, when both Protektorat the odds-on favourite, and subsequent easy Ffos Las winner Lieutenant Rocco were very much second and third best. The winner of the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle back in 2016, he deserves his return to the highest level. 2.20 Sandown - Saint Calvados Saint Calvados ran a blinder to finish fourth in the King George VI Chase on his first appearance over this trip, and he should give his five opponents plenty to think about in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase. Only narrowly beaten in the Ryanair at the Festival last season, he still has plenty to prove over this trip, but both his main opponents also have questions to answer. He should be that bit sharper for his Kempton exploits, and having progressed last season, looks the only one in the field capable of further improvement. Cheltenham most definitely is on his agenda again, and this race will be informative as to which target, the Gold Cup or a second crack at the Ryanair, is the most attainable. 2.55 Sandown - Alnadam Alnadam is just preferred to Champagne Mystery in the Virgin Bet Warriors Handicap Chase. Dan Skelton's eight year old disappointed on his most recent start at Kempton, but he had previously landed a comfortable win over Before Midnight over this course and distance, and the form of that race has worked out pretty well. The Skelton camp believe Alnadam was not best suited to the tight turns of Kempton, and he looks worth persevering with on his return to a course which clearly plays to his strengths. 2.05 Musselburgh - Ashington Ashington, beaten half a length by Sebastopol in this corresponding race 12 months ago, should go well on his first appearance for Brian Ellison in the bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh. Little has gone right for the six year old since that performance, but he looks the type to be rejuvenated by a change of scenery and he looks well reasonably handicapped. Thomas Gibney, a near neighbour of Gordon Elliot, sends Never Do Nothing over from the Emerald Isle, he is also expected to go well at a big price. 3.45 Mussselburgh - Le Breuil Le Breuil can concede weight all round in the bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase. The extended four miles will be ideal for Ben Pauling's diehard stayer, who finished strongly to go down by only six lengths in a valuable event at Warwick three weeks ago. The opposition here does not look as strong and he has taken the exertions well. 2.30 Wetherby - Itchy Feet Itchy Feet, who won the Scilly Isles on this day 12 months ago, has not been jumping fences with the fluency shown on the way to that win, and returns to the smaller obstacles for the William Hill Cleeve Hurdle at Wetherby. If he can reproduce the sort of performance he produced to finish third to Klassical Dream in the 2019 Supreme Novice, he will be a big player here, and he has given the impression over fences that he has a good chance of staying this trip. 3.25 Lingfield - Waldfabel John Gosden's Waldfabel can make it two wins from three outings in the betway Novice Stakes at Lingfield. A half brother to Gosden's St Leger winner Masked Marvel, he showed that staying was his game when running on strongly to beat Green Planet in a mile and three furlong maiden at Kempton in December. He looks to have a bit more to do here, but he gives the impression there is plenty more to come, and gets the vote over the more experienced Prismatic. 2.51 Lingfield - Hooves Like Jagger Hooves Like Jagger did well to finish sixth on his latest outing over a mile at Kempton, and looks capable of running a big race in the Ladbrokes Watch Racing Handicap. David Probert reported to the stewards afterwards that his mount was hanging left rounding the home turn, and he certainly did lose some ground at that stage. However, he stuck on to good effect in the closing stages, and gave the impression he would be more effective over this extra quarter mile. 7.00 Kempton - Minster Benoit De La Sayette looks a very gifted addition to the apprentice jockey ranks, and he teams up with Minster for Kevin Philippart de Foy in the Try Our New Price Boosts at Unibet (Division I) at Kempton. Both trainer and jockey are in great form at the moment and this son of Mastercraftsman looks open to plenty of improvement,, and looks nicely weighted with his young rider more than good value for his 7lb claim. 2.25 Musselburgh Sunday - Threeunderthrufive Paul Nicholls is braving the trip North to Musselburgh on Sunday with a small but select team and, if the meeting beats the early morning inspection, he should strike with Threeunderthrufive in the bet365 Scottish Stayers Novices Hurdle at Musselburgh on Sunday. There has been plenty to like about his two wins over hurdles so far, and his victory over the very useful Valleres last time, suggests he will both handle this sharp track and the step up in trip.
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