Fahey and Sir Alex in the Spirit for more big race success December 6, 2024 HORSE racing has some wonderful stories, but perhaps the biggest one over the past year or so has been the exploits of Spirit Dancer for his owner-breeder Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary Manchester United manager. The seven-year-old son of Frankel took his career earnings past the £2 million mark when landing back-to-back renewals of the [...]
O’Brien’s Luxembourg aiming to sign off in style with Hong Kong Vase victory December 6, 2024 AIDAN O’Brien is hoping that Luxembourg can bow out in style in the £2.4 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, a race that has proved the most fruitful opportunity at Sha Tin so far for the Master of Ballydoyle, having won the one-and-a-half-mile contest three times in the past. The five-year-old son of Camelot joins [...]
I predict a Gaboriot for Greenall and Guerriero in the Becher December 3, 2024 SATURDAY also sees prestigious action up at Aintree in the shape of the Grade Three Becher Handicap Chase (2.07pm). The runners will have to contest 21 famous Grand National fences, so there’s no harm identifying contenders who’ve got experience over the uniquely testing obstacles. King Turgeon immediately comes to mind after his spring-heeled victory on [...]
Edwardstone to lead Jonbon up the creek en route to glory December 3, 2024 SANDOWN’s card this Saturday looks a pre-Christmas cracker, headlined by the Grade One Tingle Creek (3.00pm), where Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon will attempt to win consecutive editions of this coveted two-mile prize. Jonbon is remarkably consistent, and if successful on Saturday, he would take his career record to 16 wins from 19 starts and his earnings [...]
McDonald has a Smart chance of success aboard Fighter December 3, 2024 JAMES McDonald is probably going to need a large slice of luck if he is to win his first International Jockeys’ Championship title. Officially the world’s best jockey cannot count on any of his four gallopers being at the forefront of the betting, although Chateauneuf from the David Hayes stable does hold strong claims in [...]
Purton set to have the Lucky Touch on Cruz’s Stunning Peach December 3, 2024 IT’S SHOWTIME at Happy Valley in Hong Kong today, when a dozen of the world’s best jockeys head into battle for the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship award. With four allotted races worth around HK$750,000 (£75,000) each in prize money, and the top jockey who gains the highest number of points during the four-race contest picking [...]
Newnham’s Wish to be his command at Sha Tin November 29, 2024 A 10-RACE programme at Sha Tin in Hong Kong this Sunday will serve as a tasty hors d’oeuvre for next week’s international racing in the city. With half the card on the all-weather surface and the rest of the action on the ‘C+3’ course –measuring just over 18 metres in width – bettors need to [...]
Sing Dragon to hit the right notes in Golden Jubilee November 29, 2024 SUNDAY’s feature race on the Sha Tin programme is the highly competitive Class Two Peninsula Golden Jubilee Challenge Cup (8.05 am), a handicap over six furlongs run on the all-weather surface. A dozen of the quickest speedsters in the territory bursting out of the stalls and vying for positions before the first bend suggests that [...]
Rate looks to have Special chance in Newcastle’s Rehearsal November 26, 2024 CONSTITUTION Hill was all set to make his long-awaited reappearance in Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2.10pm) on Saturday, but lameness after his much-publicised Newbury gallop has ruled him out. What remains might not be a vintage renewal on paper, but it does feature some exciting youngsters testing their Champion Hurdle mettle. Nicky Henderson swiftly shuffled [...]
V is for Venetia and Victtorino to continue winning spree November 26, 2024 LAST Saturday’s racing in Britain was dominated by one yard, with trainer Venetia Williams winning three big races in the space of 45 minutes and taking home the best part of £200,000 in prize money. The winning spree included Haydock’s Grade One feature, won for the second consecutive year by the tenacious Royale Pagaille, and [...]