Fugitif can escape with December’s Gold Cup December 10, 2024 WE’RE back at the home of the Jumps this week as Cheltenham hosts its two-day Christmas Meeting. While there’s some good racing on Friday, Saturday’s card makes more appeal at this stage from an ante-post perspective and the big handicap, the December Gold Cup (1.50pm), is definitely a race to focus on. This is the [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Pagaille can Catch rivals cold with cut in the ground November 19, 2024 NATIONAL Hunt trainers will be breathing a sigh of relief with the wet and wintry weather that has swept into all corners of the UK this week, with it bringing a notable easing in the ground. Conditions have been dry for so long that many horses have had to delay their seasonal reappearances, but now [...]
No masking Kot’s chance when Ascot mud starts flying November 19, 2024 WE’RE also jumping at Ascot on Saturday with a pair of Grade Twos headlining the card. Pic D’Orhy and Golden Ace are favourites for the 1965 Chase (1.30pm) and Ascot Hurdle (2.45pm) respectively, but their prices are both on the short side and I’m looking elsewhere in search of some value. The Hurst Park Handicap [...]
Fergal O’Brien can be Manothepeople with Enos November 12, 2024 SUNDAY is the third and final day of Cheltenham’s November Meeting and it looks another competitive card with the feature being the Greatwood Hurdle (3.30pm). I’ve been over the race again and again but at the end of the day I keep coming back to DYSART ENOS. Fergal O’Brien’s mare has won all six of [...]
Jack and Law look far from short Straws November 12, 2024 THREE days of Cheltenham’s November Meeting bring some top-class Jumps action to the table this week, but putting anything up ante-post at the moment is far from easy with so little rain around. Jumps trainers throughout Britain and Ireland are crying out for rain so they can get a run into their horses, without having [...]
Beckett’s stellar season can end with Valvano high November 5, 2024 SATURDAY also sees the curtain fall on the British Flat turf season with the November Handicap (3.45pm) at Doncaster. The mile-and-a-half finale at Doncaster is always a hot betting heat, and this year is no different, with bookmakers currently offering 7/1 the field. VALVANO immediately catches my eye at the top of the market and [...]
