Tea to Clip rivals’ wings at Wincanton November 5, 2024 JUMPS racing comes from Wincanton and Aintree this Saturday, where the historic Badger Beer Handicap Chase (3.30pm) and Grand Sefton (2.40pm) are the major betting contests. The first of those races is often run on good ground, and with so little rain around this year, it’s likely those taking their chance will encounter a quicker surface [...]
Power set to be Dynamite on his return October 29, 2024 WITH the Jumps back in full swing and top-class Flat action from across the pond at the Breeders’ Cup, this Saturday promises to provide nearly 12 hours of racing and is not to be missed. Ascot hosts its first Jumps meeting of the season and with the unseasonably dry weather, Chris Stickels and his ground [...]
Be Content with Frankie aboard Breeder’s Cup hope October 29, 2024 SATURDAY is a truly international day of top-class racing with the Breeders’ Cup taking place in Del Mar, California. City Of Troy is the star attraction at the meeting as he attempts to become the first European-trained horse to win the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Classic (9:41pm) on dirt since 1993. However, I’m not convinced [...]
Futurity rivals may struggle to Detain Gosden contender October 22, 2024 DONCASTER is the setting for the final Group One of the British Flat season this weekend, the William Hill Futurity Stakes (2.40pm). In recent years this mile contest has had a real impact on the Classics the following season, with three of the last five winners – Auguste Rodin, Mac Swiney and Kameko – all [...]
Drama can upset Skelton big gun in the Old Roan October 22, 2024 SUNDAY’S Old Roan at Aintree (1.50pm) is another clear indicator that the Jumps season is firmly kicking into gear, as we regularly see some of the best jumpers around use the race to start their campaigns. The great Kauto Star began his magical 2006-2007 Gold Cup-winning season with victory in the event, but also managed [...]
Cheval has the X Facteur on heavy ground October 15, 2024 SINCE being introduced in 2011, Ascot’s British Champions Day fixture has provided the chance to see many stars of the Flat season for a final time before attention turns to the Jumps. Recent rain has turned the Ascot going soft and with up to 17mm of rain forecast for Friday, the conditions could be attritional [...]
More rain the better for Iresine and Quantanamera October 15, 2024 SATURDAY’S feature race, the Group One Champion Stakes (3.55pm), sees an intriguing clash between the hugely exciting Economics and emphatic Royal Ascot winner Calandagan. The former broke through at the highest level in the Irish version of this last time, while the latter was the only one to ruffle City Of Troy’s feathers in the [...]
Dawn ready to Rise in the Cesarewitch October 8, 2024 AFTER Longchamp’s Arc weekend the top-class racing continues this week, with Group One contests on both Friday and Saturday’s cards at Newmarket. Saturday’s Dewhurst traditionally provides key Classic clues for next season and, at the moment, Ballydoyle and Godolphin hold seven of the eight entries. With Aidan O’Brien accounting for five, and most of those [...]
Stoute’s Anna set to deliver Fillies’ Mile Swan song October 8, 2024 SIR Michael Stoute’s career has been littered with remarkable training performances, but managing to win a Group One with one of his final top-level runners would be some feat. The master of Freemason Lodge is set to retire at the end of the season and is due to run the unbeaten ANNA SWAN in Friday’s [...]
Salt can keep them at Bay on soft ground October 1, 2024 ASCOT hasn’t avoided the country’s torrential downpours, having been pelted with 40mm in the past seven days, making the going currently soft, heavy (in places) on the Round Course and soft on the Straight Course ahead of Saturday’s card. Things look to be drying up as we head into the weekend but conditions at the [...]
