Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/

FINGAL BAY hit a high of 20 (19-1) for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle on Betfair on Thursday night after trainer Philip Hobbs revealed the unbeaten hurdler had met with a setback and is not certain to run at the Cheltenham Festival.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...91297/related/

GRANDOUET, one time 5-1 second favourite for the Stan James Champion Hurdle, will miss Cheltenham due to an injury to his near hind (back left) fetlock joint.

More disappointing news in the build up to Cheltenham.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...an/991240/top/

PAUL HANAGAN is to be Hamdan Al Maktoum's first jockey when Richard Hills retires on Dubai World Cup night next month.
Hanagan said: "I followed Sheikh Hamdan's horses when at school and therefore to be appointed his number one jockey is a dream.
"I wouldn't be in this position but for Richard Fahey and it was quite emotional when I went to his home last night to break the news about the job. But I must stress I will still be riding for Richard when available."

Fully deserved after his great loyal service to Richard Fahey.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...on/991228/top/

TRAINER Richard Hannon said on Thursday he was still hopeful that star juvenile Harbour Watch would be ready in time to contest the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...991409/latest/

UAE, Thursday
Meydan: UAE Oaks (Group 3), 1m 1½f, 3yo fillies

MAHMOOD AL ZAROONI added the UAE Oaks to his wins in this season's UAE 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas at Meydan, but it was second-string Falls Of Lora who came out on top in an astonishing race.

Its that Godolphin second string or third string again.

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...in/992445/top/

Kempton, Saturday

williamhill.com Dovecote Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m, 4yo+

GRUMETI scored a comfortable victory against promising but inexperienced rivals to cement his position among the market leaders for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Reasonable performance but whether he should be favourite is another matter.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...in/992341/top/

Kempton, Saturday

Download William Hill from the App-Store Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m, 4yo

BABY MIX is the new favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle after puncturing some big reputations with a decisive success from Sadler's Risk in the Adonis

Another too short for Cheltenham in my mind.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...ck/992339/top/

Fairyhouse, Saturday

Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m, 4yo

AFTER all the hype there was a tremendous sound of bubbles popping around Fairyhouse after JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Minsk was beaten on his debut over hurdles by Burrenbridge Lodge

Another talking horse who's bubble has well and truly been burst.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...992496/latest/

VETERAN chaser Nacarat could attempt to win a second consecutive Betfred Bowl at Aintree's Grand National meeting after delighting fans with victory at Kempton on Saturday.
The Tom George-trained 11-year-old won Kempton's Grade 3 Racing Plus Chase after running out a clear winner from Hector's Choice.

A wonderful old servant for his trainer especially at Kempton.

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SEABASS was cut for the John Smith's Grand National on Sunday after winning the Grade 2 Paddypower.com Chase at Naas under Ruby Walsh, just one day after Prince De Beauchene was installed the latest Aintree favourite.

Stan James cut him to 16-1 (from 33)for the marathon spectacular, as did Paddy Power (from 25), while Boylesports went just 14-1 (also from 25).

Bookies running scared again in my mind.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...le/992672/top/

Fontwell, Sunday

totepool National Spirit Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m4f, 4yo+

THIRD INTENTION hardly came out of second gear as he registered an impressive success under Joe Tizzard, who was riding for his father Colin.

The five-year-old, who was beaten 14 lengths by Zarkandar in the Betfair Hurdle last time out, took up the running with two to jump and eased clear of Topolski, who just snatched second ahead of Duc De Regniere.

A tip in itself here for the Champion Hurdle as the best is yet to come from Zarkandar.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Mon

Kauto Star is reported to be in tremendous shape ahead of his bid for a third Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup success next month.

The only horse ever to regain the crown after adding success in 2009 to his first two years earlier, Clive Smith's gelding has been in irresistible form this term, defeating 2011 hero Long Run in both the Betfair Chase and King George VI Chase, and has been unaffected by the recent coughing outbreak among some horses at trainer Paul Nicholls' stables.

Nicholls said: "He's in good form. Clifford (Baker) worked him on Saturday morning and we've got three weeks to get him in tip-top form."

To win a third Gold Cup would be his greatest achievement at the grand old age of 12.

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/

KAUTO STAR is rated 50-50 to make the Gold Cup on March 16 after trainer Paul Nicholls revealed the record-breaking chaser suffered an "awful fall" when schooling.

The Clive Smith-owned 12-year-old suffered the fall under Ruby Walsh last Friday and with the four-time King George winner failing to show as much improvement as Nicholls would like, his chances of being fit for the festival hang in the balance.

Writing in his Betfair column, Nicholls said on Thursday: "Kauto took a tumble when Ruby schooled him at the end of last week. I say tumble, but in truth it was a pretty awful fall.

lt will be very disappointing if he does not reach Cheltenham but the horses welfare must come first.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...an/994421/top/

THE Godolphin trainers were again in dominant form at Meydan on Thursday evening with Do It All, originally a reserve but granted a run with the defection of Rock Jock, springing a surprise in the featured Group 2 Zabeel Mile.

Ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, the five-year-old made every yard of the running with the pair granted an easy lead until the runners swung for home.

De Sousa's mount had plenty left though and again kicked away from Derbaas (Ali Rashid Al Raihe/Richard Hills) who gamely held on to second from Dux Scholar (Herman Brown/Ryan Moore).

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/

PAUL NICHOLLS has announced that a decision on Kauto Star's Gold Cup participation could be made a week on Sunday as he plans to test the two-time Gold Cup winner in a gallop with Big Buck's on the Saturday before the festival.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...ay/994816/top/

JOCKEYS and stewards will only have a week to familiarise themselves with the new whip rules before the Cheltenham Festival starts after the BHA revealed the latest version of the regulations will come into force from Tuesday.

The finishing touches are being put to the guidelines over the weekend and will be announced on Monday

Lets hope we don't have none of the chaos we had before.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...up/994737/top/

MICKAEL BARZALONA is to join Godolphin's roster of retained jockeys after the Dubai World Cup on March 31.

The rider, who won the Investec Derby last season on Pour Moi, will be based in Newmarket where he will join Godolphin number one Frankie Dettori and Silvestre de Sousa.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford told their website: "It is tremendous news that one of the world's most talented riders, Mickael Barzalona, is joining Godolphin.

"He will work together with Frankie and Silvestre as a team of jockeys for the horses trained by Saeed Bin Suroor and Mahmood Al Zarooni. They will all share the rides."

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/

JUNIOR'S narrow defeat in the Williamhill.com Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster on Saturday led to the nine-year-old being promoted to joint-favouritism for the John Smith'sGrand National with Ladbrokes.

After a gallant effort conceding nearly two stone and going down by a short head to Ikorodu Road, Ladbrokes made Junior a 10-1 shot at the head of their market with Prince De Beauchene.

Both jockey Tom Scudamore and trainer David Pipe were delighted with the run, and Pipe, who was at Newbury rather than Doncaster, said: "I haven't actually seen it but he must have run a blinder. It's all systems go now for Aintree."

Last year's winner Ballabriggs was also in action, finishing fourth on his seasonal reappearance at Kelso, a performance which led to Ladbrokes making him a 12-1 chance [from 16] to retain his crown.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...er/995195/top/

PAUL NICHOLLS reported on Saturday that Kauto Star has made progress in his bid to line up for the Betfred Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

The participation of the 12-year-old in the festival showpiece has become shrouded in doubt after the news emerged that he took a heavy fall while schooling at Ditcheat.

However, Nicholls, speaking on Channel 4 on Saturday afternoon said: "He's going in the right direction very quickly, Clifford [Baker] had difficulty pulling him up which is a good sign with him."

Thats good news and its looking like all systems go for the Gold Cup.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...od/995361/top/

Newbury, Saturday

Barbury International Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup (Grade 3 handicap chase) 2m4f 5yo+

A SUPERB ride from Ruby Walsh gave favourite backers a great result as the 100-30 market leader Aerial got up in the shadow of the post to defeat the David Pipe-trained Dan Breen. Rileyev ran a cracker to finish close up in third.

In a thrilling finish Walsh conjured up a late rally from Aerial, having sat well off a fierce pace set by Pickamus. He said afterwards: "At least we got there. He's an honest little horse who jumps really well."

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...re/996133/top/

JOCKEY Ruby Walsh believes that the best chance of his Racing Post Arkle hope Al Ferof beating odds-on favourite Sprinter Sacre next week is if the pair end up in a head-to-head fight.

Al Ferof landed last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle and is no bigger than 7-2 second favourite for the Arkle after finishing third to Somersby in the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot last time.

Walsh feels that Al Ferof's form is stronger than Sprinter Sacre's last run where he beat French Opera and I'm So Lucky by six lengths at Newbury in a Grade2 without coming off the bridle.

He told Racing UK: "Sprinter Sacre was breath-taking, but to me he beat two handicappers. Al Ferof on the other hand ran in a proper Grade 1. I thought it was a great run and that he'd benefit greatly from it

It will still end up with the same result though.

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...ls/996380/top/

TRAINER Paul Nicholls said on Tuesday that Kauto Star will work after racing at Wincanton on Friday in his bid to make the field for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday week.

The five-time King George VI Chase winner was due to gallop alongside stablemate Big Buck's at home on Saturday but Nicholls said he would instead work with Mon Parrain at Wincanton on Friday.

Nicholls, writing in his Betfair column, said: "I can reveal that we have had a change of plan over the so-called 'D-Day' home gallop on Saturday.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...ng/996372/top/

JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Grumeti was on Tuesday reported lame by Alan King butthe trainer said he was confident the horse will be fine in 48 hours.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...as/996227/top/

BOG WARRIOR, as short as 12-1 for the Racing Post Arkle with Paddy Power, will miss the Cheltenham Festival in favour of a run at Naas on Sunday.

The Grade 1 Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase winner also holds entries in the RSA Chase and Jewson Novices' Chase, but will not take up any of his engagements in Britain

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...al/996558/top/

NICHE MARKET and Massini's Magurie were both ruled out of next month's John Smith's Grand National on Wednesday

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...ed/996700/top/

CAMELOT hardened to 5-2 favourite with Coral after heading the list of hopefuls aiming to follow in the footsteps of Frankel in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5.

The unbeaten Racing Post Trophy winner is among 63 entries for the first Classic of 2012 and heads 11 nominees from Aidan O'Brien.

The Qipco 1,000 Guineas has attracted 70 entries of which ten are O'Brien's and no fewer than seven from Mahmood Al Zarooni, who won it twelve months ago with Blue Bunting.

O'Brien again heads the ante-post market with general 7-2 chance Maybe, while Godolphin's three main hopes appear to be LyricOf Light, Discourse and Gamilati.

Gamilati, recent winner of the UAE 1,000 Guineas at Meydan, was cut to 12-1 (from 14) by Coral after the entries were unveiled.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...on/996607/top/

STAR hurdler Hurricane Fly could face eleven rivals in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday as he bids to follow up his blistering performance in the race last year and register back-to-back wins in the race.

Others in the reckoning to take on the Willie Mullins-trained 4-5 favourite include the 2010 race winner Binocular, who missed the race last year, and last year's Triumph Hurdle winner Zarkandar.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...le/996605/top/

SPRINTER SACRE could face as many as nine rivals in Tuesday's Racing Post Arkle as the entries were whittled down to ten possible runners on Wednesday.

With Donald McCain stating earlier in the week that Peddlers Cross will go for the Jewson and Bog Warrior staying in Ireland for a Grade 3 at Naas on Sunday, Al Ferof heads the challengers to the Nicky Henderson-trained ante-post favourite.

Roll on Cheltenham.

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...nd/997256/top/

ALL the big guns, including Sizing Europe, Big Zeb and Finian's Rainbow, remain on course for the Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase following Thursday's declarations.

Sizing Europe is generally odds-on but William Hill are evens about the Henry de Bromhead-trained ten-year-old in the day two feature, which attracted ten entries

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/

KAUTO STAR delighted trainer Paul Nicholls after comingunscathed through a racecourse gallop at Wincanton after racing on Friday.

"I'm delighted with that, thrilled," said Nicholls afterwards. "He's worked very enthusiastically. I think we are very nearly there. We'll see how he is in the morning and then he'll school on Monday."


Kauto Star completed over a circuit of the track alongside Mon Parrain and owner Clive Smith said: "It's all system go, I think."

Great news.

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/

HURRICANE FLY is all set for his defence of the Stan James Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, according to trainer Willie Mullins who described his stable star as a "very special horse".

Odds-on for the opening day highlight of the Cheltenham Festival, Hurricane Fly made a sensational winning return to action in the Irish Champion Hurdle in January and Mullins is pleased with how he has gone since.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...19/998384/top/

HEAVYWEIGHTS Long Run and Kauto Star were among 19 acceptors for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup at the six-day stage on Saturday.

The possibility of their season-defining rivalry ending in a head-to-head in the Gold Cup became more likely after Kauto Star impressed in a crucial workout at Wincanton, with Paul Nicholls confident on Saturday morning that the two-time Gold Cup winner will bid for a third crown.

Having defeated last year's Gold Cup hero twice already this season, Friday's mouthwatering conclusion now rests on the results of a schooling session at Ditcheat on Monday

Lokking forward to it.

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...99288/related/

KAUTO STAR has been confirmed an intended runner in Friday's Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup after producing an "awesome" performance in a key schooling session on Monday morning.

The two-time Gold Cup hero had been described as only "50:50" to return to Cheltenham after sustaining a "pretty awful fall" when jumping a fence at trainer Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat yard last month.

Doubts surrounding his participation eased considerably when the 12-year-old pleased Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh in a Wincanton gallop last Friday and any remaining doubts disappeared on Monday.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...99262/related/

SPRINTER SACRE will face five rivals in the Racing Post Arkle Chase at Cheltenham on Tuesday, for which he was general 5-6 favourite following declarations, though Coral went 8-11.

Al Ferof, Cue Card and Menorah will likely pose the threats to the Arkle favourite, victory for whom is estimated to cost Paddy Power £3million as they are offering money back on losing horses if Sprinter Sacre wins.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...99263/related/

PUNTERS looking to oppose red-hot Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Sizing Europe will like the shape of the contest, with eight horses declared on Monday morning.

Each-way betting terms in such races are often subject to scrutiny, especially on course, and it is not unknown for some bookmakers to be reported to bet to much worse than the regular one-quarter or one-fifth the odds for a top-three finish.

Big Zeb will renew rivalry with Sizing Europe, with Finian's Rainbow the shortest-priced British runner at around 5-1

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Damn it just pipped in the first at Cheltenham.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...2.html&BID=465

Cheltenham, Tuesday

William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) 2m 1/2f Old, 4yo+

A LAST flight blunder proved to be no hindrance to Cinders And Ashes who took the first race at the Cheltenham Festival for Donald McCain and Jason Maguire.

However, they were unable to get to him on the run in and despite Prospect Wells storming up the hill from way back, Cinders And Ashes scored by a length and a quarter from Darlan (7-1) with a neck back to third home Trifolium (15-2).

---------- Post added at 14:21 ---------- Previous post was at 13:52 ----------

Wow that was simply awesome.


http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...2.html&BID=465

Cheltenham Festival, Tuesday

Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Grade 1) 2m, 5yo+

SPRINTER SACRE marked himself down as one of the most exciting novice chasers in years with an electric winning display in the Racing Post Arkle.

Winning jockey Barry Geraghty said: "He is a very good horse to ride. I said he is possibly the best and he might be.

"He gives you some feel. He knew what he was doing and if anything he was guilty of over jumping. He was not as fresh today, the boss had him in great shape."

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Cheltenham, Tuesday

Stan James Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) 2n 1/2f Old, 4yo+

ROCK ONRUBY put his stamina to good use as he stormed up the Cheltenham hill to shock the big two in the Champion Hurdle.

Overturn set a testing gallop from the off under Jason Maguire meaning that Hurricane Fly and Binocular were never in place to mount serious challenges as Rock On Ruby saw off the front runner by three and three-quarter lengths at odds of 11-1. Overturn (20-1) finished a further length and three quarters in front of 4-6 favourite Hurricane Fly.

This was a first win in the race for champion trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Noel Fehily who was enjoying a first big race win since he was injured last season when riding as stand in number one jockey to Nicholls.

Nicholls, who saddled four runners in the race said: "It's a brilliant team effort and it was a great ride from Noel."

Willie Mullins, trainer of Hurricane Fly, said: "It was disappointing but we live to fight another day and he will go to Punchestown now.

Well another so called certainty beaten.