Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Meydan, Friday

Al Shindagha Sprint Sponsored By Gulf News (Group 3) 6f, AW

HITCHENS came with a sustained challenge in the home straight to the outside of Krypton Factor and Captain Obvious, getting up late to win his second Group 3 under a strong ride from Silvestre de Sousa

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POPULAR chaser Baby Run will not run this term after picking up a minor leg injury, but trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is confident the 12-year-old will return for next season when his campaign could include a crack at the John Smith's Grand National.

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ROYAL ASCOT has been confirmed the priority goal for Black Caviar this summer - but a run in Dubai's $2 million Golden Shaheen became a more likely addition to her programme after a meeting between the connections of the unbeaten Australian mare on Friday.

Managing owner Neil Werrett said they would do nothing to prejudice the world's top rated sprinter's chances of running in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot in June

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Punchestown, Sunday

Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase (Grade 2) 2m, 5yo+

AFTER Hurricane Fly and Big Buck's last weekend, Sizing Europe became the latest Cheltenham Festival champion to throw down the gauntlet to his rivals, taking 15 lengths out of main market rival Big Zeb in an impressive performance that oozed class.

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Punchestown, Sunday

Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m, 5yo+

TRIFOLIUM, runner-up behind So Young at Navan last month, had no problems getting back to winning ways with an impressive victory at Punchestown

A delighted Byrnes, said: "I’m very happy with that. He’d probably prefer better ground, but he settled much better today and when he learns to settle even better he could be a very good horse. He’ll probably go for the Supreme Novices'."

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RUBY WALSH will ride ante-post favourite Zarkandar in Saturday's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury after a dramatic series of events on Monday.

The transfer of the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase to Newbury's meeting means that due to the race's Grade 1 status, Walsh is free to ride on the card and trainer Paul Nicholls subsequently shuffled around his riding arrangements for the valuable handicap hurdle.

Nicholls tweeted: "After discussing with owners Ruby now switches to Zarkandar and Daryl Jacob rides Empire Levant at Newbury on Saturday."

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KERRIN McEVOY is looking to next month's World Cup night in Dubai with great anticipation after being given the nod by Sheikh Mohammed to ride star colts Sepoy and Helmet.

McEvoy had been waiting in hope since the announcement in late November the colts would join Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin team for the Dubai World Cup night of racing on March 31.

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http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...4.html&BID=465

Paul Nicholls believes it will be "even stevens" when Kauto Star and Long Run clash in the Betfred Gold Cup at Cheltenham on March 16.

The champion trainer has remarkably brought Kauto Star back to peak form this season during which he has beaten the defending Cheltenham champion in the Betfair Chase and William Hill King George VI Chase.

However he is under no illusion about the size of the task he faces next month, telling the Racing UK podcast: "If Kauto was four years younger, then he would be favourite, but I suppose people think Long Run will be better suited to Cheltenham and he is the champion after all.

"Without a doubt, Kauto is better than last season, and it is difficult to know whether Long Run has improved since last year, so it should bring them closer together.

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Ladbrokes have agreed with Doncaster to sponsor the St Leger for another three years.

The bookmaker will be taking their association with the world's oldest Classic up to a decade and have helped to raise the value of the 2012 total prize fund to a record £550,000.

Mike Dillon, director of media affairs at Ladbrokes, said: "We have worked closely with Arena and Doncaster to re-build the reputation of this great race

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EXCITING novice chaser Sprinter Sacre could be joined by stablemate andlast year's winner French Opera as part of a two-pronged assault from trainer Nicky Henderson on Saturday's Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase.

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http://www.godolphin.com/NewsArticle.aspx?id=6058

Blue Bunting has been retired to stud and will be bred to top Darley stallion Street Cry.


Godolphin’s leading performer of 2011 sustained a leg injury when being prepared to run during the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan where her first major target of 2012 was going to be the US$5-million Dubai Sheema Classic on March 31.


Veterinary tests have revealed that she would require a long time off before being able to return to training.

Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager, explained: “Because Blue Bunting would have needed a long period of recuperation before coming back into training, the decision has been made to retire her to stud for an early covering


“It is a pity Blue Bunting will not have the chance again to show what a brilliant racehorse she was but we look forward to her becoming a great success at stud.

Very sad to hear this news.

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LEADING fancy Quito De La Roque has been ruled out of Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown following a bad scope, trainer Colm Murphy has reported.

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JESSIES DREAM, 7-1 for Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, has been ruled out of the Grade 1 and could miss the Cheltenham Festival.

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BOB CHAMPION, who rode Josh Gifford's most famous winner of them all, the 1981 Grand National hero Aldaniti, led the tributes to his former boss who died on Thursday aged 70.

Gifford, who stood by Champion when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and his subsequent fight to regain his health, was praised by the ex-rider for his loyalty and patience - which was typified by his handling of the fragile Aldaniti.

"He was a great jockey, a fantastic trainer, and a wonderful man," Champion said on Thursday. "It's very sad news. Loyalty was one of his special qualities. He was exceptionally loyal to all of his jockeys.

"He was a true gent, I've never met anyone who would say otherwise, you couldn't wish to meet a better man. My thoughts are with his wonderful family in such tough times."

Very saddened to hear this news.

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UAE, Thursday

Meydan: Al Maktoum Challenge R2 Sponsored By Dubal (Group 2) 1m1½f, Tapeta 3yo+

MENDIP ground his way to victory under Kieren Fallon, continuing Saeed Bin Suroor's fantastic form at the meeting with a fourth winner from the five thoroughbred races.

The jockey said: "He's a bautiful horse to ride, he needed the run last time but has bounced back. He had a lot in hand."

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UAE, Thursday

Meydan: Firebreak Stakes (Group 3) 1m, Tapeta, (northern hemisphere 4yo & southern hemisphere 3yo)

BOLD SILVANO could manageonly fifth on his return from injury as Sandagiyr came out on top to give Godolphin a fourth win from the first four thoroughbred races on the Meydan card.

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UAE, Thursday

Meydan: UAE 2,000 Guineas (Group 3) 1m, Tapeta, 3yo

KINGLET provided Mahmood Al Zarooni with back-to-back wins in the UAE 2,000 Guineas as he went one better than in the trial for this race on his last start

Winners of thishave a formidable record in the UAE Derby on World Cup night and Al Zarooni continued: "The plan is to go to the Derby. I am not 100 per cent sure he will stay or not because after the race he looked very tired. Maybe it was the pace, I don't know but we will go back home, see how he is and if he is okay we will try him."

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NEWBURY'S lost Saturday card has been rescheduled for next Friday with Channel 4 televising the first three races and free entry for racegoers.

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OSCAR WHISKY got ready for a clash with Big Buck's in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month with a straightforward beating of his rivals on Kempton's Polytrack.

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Australia, Saturday

Caulfield: Sportingbet CF Orr Stakes (Group 1) 7f, turf, 3yo+

DESPITE stepping up in trip, the brilliant Black Caviar (Peter Moody/Luke Nolen) appeared to have little more than an exercise gallop as took her unbeaten record to 18 in the CF Orr Stakes.

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Naas, Saturday

BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Novice Chase 2m, 5yo+

BOG WARRIOR bounced back to winning ways with a bloodless success over Slieveardagh.
Sent off the 1-5 favourite, Bog Warrior made all the running and cruised home in the hands of a motionless Davy Russell.
The eight-year-old, who landed the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase two starts back, took a crunching fall on his latest outing in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown in December.

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ALL eyes will be on Leopardstown on Sunday as it hosts a stellar Grade 1 card including the Hennessy Gold Cup and Deloitte Novice Hurdle

The eight-race meeting also includes the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase and the Spring Juvenile Hurdle as well as an intriguing 3m hunter chase, which will see Foxhunter fancy On The Fringe bid to follow up last year's victory

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Leopardstown, Sunday

Hennessy Gold Cup (Grade 1) 5yo+, 3m

QUEL ESPRIT gave trainer Willie Mullins an eighth Hennessy Gold Cup success with a swashbuckling front-running performance under Ruby Walsh.

The win is likely to secure Quel Esprit's participation in the Betfred-sponsored Cheltenham Gold Cup, for which Stan James go 20-1 (from 25) and the sponsors go just 14-1 (from 20).

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Leopardstown, Sunday

Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice Chase (Grade 1) 2m5f 5yo+

A NEAR fautless round of jumping from Last Instalment ensured the odds-on favourite saw off the challenge of the Willie Mullins-trained duo Call The Police and Lambro.

William Hill left the winner unchanged at 7-1 for the RSA Chase, while BetVictor go 6-1 (from 7) after the 8-11 shot's trainer Philip Fenton pointed the way towards a potential clash with Grands Crus.

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Leopardstown, Sunday

Spring Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) 4yo, 2m

DERMOT WELD took the Spring Juvenile Hurdle for a second year running as Triumph Hurdle contender Hisaabaat won by under two lengths from Shadow Catcher.