EP: 48 Hong Kong Derby Special March 19, 2021 The long-awaited Hong Kong Derby takes place at Sha Tin racecourse on Sunday and our expert Wally Pyrah joins us to discuss the chances of some of the big names taking part. Wally also previews two further races on the card where trainer John Size runs a couple of exciting future prospects. Hosted by Chris [...]
Ollie Phillips: Angry France will keep Six Nations in balance by unpicking Wales; England must reproduce last week’s brilliance to win in Ireland March 19, 2021 England’s win over France by the width of a blade of grass last weekend was the best match of this Six Nations by a country mile. The quality and intensity of rugby, especially in the first half, were world class. France were phenomenal, as they have been throughout this tournament, and England finally performed as [...]
Dale Vince interview: Forest Green Rovers chairman and green energy tycoon on climbing the football leagues while saving the planet March 19, 2021 With a large green Union Jack behind him and a casually dishevelled appearance, Dale Vince brings to mind the leader of some rebel republic when he appears on the Zoom call. Being cast as a revolutionary is nothing new to Vince. In business, the former New Age Traveller has turned once-leftfield ideas about green energy [...]
Hong Kong Racing Tips: Hayes can be the Master this weekend March 18, 2021 TAKE trainer David Hayes to cap a memorable day when he saddles expensive Australian import MASTER MONTARO in the Rapper Dragon Handicap (9.50am). This highly competitive handicap is a minefield of seasoned gallopers and unexposed, but potentially exciting, four-year-olds including Super Football and the progressive Flagship Glory, who was unlucky not to make the HK Derby line-up. Master [...]
Hong Kong Racing Tips: Courier’s a Wonder at Sha Tin March 18, 2021 THERE are not many horses that get the battle-hardened local bettors excited after making their debuts in Hong Kong, but COURIER WONDER was an exception. The New Zealand-bred import spreadeagled his rivals in impressive fashion when making all over the course and distance back in October, and will be short odds to produce the goods again in [...]
Hong Kong Racing Tips: Shadow to be the HK Derby Hero March 18, 2021 MAKE sure you set your alarm for 8.40am on Sunday morning for the £2.2million BMW HK Derby at Sha Tin. With no stand-out performers in the race, this is a fascinating and wide-open contest and trying to find the winner is like detective Hercule Poirot trying to solve an Agatha Christie who-done-it mystery. There are [...]
It could be Third Time Lucki for Eclair De Beaufeu March 18, 2021 CHELTENHAM handicaps are always complex puzzles to unravel, but in the McCoy Contractors County Hurdle (1.55pm) punters might as well just back Dan Skelton or Willie Mullins’ runners. Incredibly it’s 3-3 between the two yards in the last six years with no-one else having a look in since Paul Nicholls won it with Lac Fontana [...]
Gabynako can cap great meeting for Cromwell March 18, 2021 THERE may only be the eight runners in the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.20pm) but it promises to be one of the races of the meeting with exciting Irish juveniles Zanahiyr and Quilixios taking on recent Kempton winner Tritonic. The market suggests that Zanahiyr only has to turn up to win, but Fitzdares 6/5 favourite may [...]
Visor may just spark Santini back to life on the biggest stage March 18, 2021 ALL eyes will be on the Willie Mullins-trained Al Boum Photo as he looks to land his third consecutive WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.05pm). The nine-year-old has once again been wrapped up in cotton wool since landing the Festival feature 12 months ago with only the one prep race at Tramore on New Year’s Day. There is [...]
How to pick the Gold Cup winner March 18, 2021 | Sponsored Forget natural instinct, paddock picks or pure luck. The only way to consistently back winners is with cold, hard data. Trends are clues. If you find enough, you’ll solve the puzzle. This puzzle is called the Cheltenham Gold Cup and it’s been going since 1819. Just don’t ask us for a receipt… Age No horse [...]