Boys in Blue set to land back-to-back Blue Riband Trials with Nahanni April 19, 2022 TO SAY that Charlie Appleby’s stable is red hot at the moment would be a complete understatement. The form figures of the last 10 runners from the yard read as follows: 1111211122. It’s been a lightning start to the campaign for the master of Moulton Paddocks and I’m expecting his sole runner at Epsom Downs [...]
SECOND CAN TURN THIRD INTO FIRST THIS TIME AROUND April 7, 2022 Bill Esdaile’s Grand National 1-2-3-4-5 Any Second Now Run Wild Fred Delta Work Longhouse Poet Fortescue BUSINESS as usual. That’s the message from Aintree as the crowds flock back in their thousands after last year’s ‘behind-closed-doors’ Randox Grand National. However, one notable absentee this year is Tiger Roll, who will not be bidding for a historic [...]
Three Stripe Life looks a Steel in Mersey Novices’ Hurdle April 7, 2022 SATURDAY’S Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (2.25pm) doesn’t look the most competitive Grade One and the one that stands out on form is Gordon Elliott’s THREE STRIPE LIFE. This son of Leading Light has finished second in each of his three starts this season – all in Grade One company – and on the last two occasions has [...]
Mac Tottie can light up Ladies’ Day in Topham April 7, 2022 TODAY’S Randox Topham Chase (4.05pm) is the only chance for many of the Grand National jockeys to get a sight of the famous fences ahead of tomorrow’s big one. They’ll of course already be eyeing up National glory, but this would certainly be the ideal preparation ahead of the world’s greatest steeplechase. As with most big handicaps [...]
It looks just the White Thyme to take Rum Before Midnight  April 6, 2022 YOU’VE got to have a few pounds in hand to win today’s Red Rum Chase (4:40pm) at Aintree. Last year’s winner, Editeur Du Gite, won off a mark of 132, and has since gone on to win competitive handicaps at Cheltenham off 140, 147 and finish fourth in unsuitably heavy ground Grand Annual off 153. [...]
Fresh Kemboy can give Mullins another Bowl April 6, 2022 THERE is no mistake that currently the Irish have the upper hand in National Hunt racing. Tornado Flyer’s dominant victory in the King George and a clean sweep of all four championship races at the Cheltenham Festival were further evidence that they are streets ahead of their British counterparts at the moment. It’s certainly a [...]
Brazil set to silence the Piper at Aintree April 6, 2022 PLENTY predicted another Irish whitewash at this year’s Cheltenham Festival but luckily the home team held their own until the last day at least. That said, one division where the Irish appear to hold all the aces is the juveniles with dominant performances in both the Triumph Hurdle and the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. Irish-trained horses [...]
Life is definitely Good for Dubai favourite backers March 24, 2022 Bill Esdaile’s Dubai World Cup 1-2-3: 1. Life Is Good 2. Hot Rod Charlie 3. Chuwa Wizard WHILE it may no longer be the world’s richest race, the Dubai World Cup (4.30pm) is still a huge draw, and this looks a top-class renewal of the £8.8 million spectacle at Meydan. Form from the best middle [...]
NO DESERTING GALVIN IN GOLD CUP March 17, 2022 Bill Esdaile’s Gold Cup 1-2-3 Galvin Protektorat Royal Pagaille WEDNESDAY’S deluge at Cheltenham has meant the ground for today’s Gold Cup (3.30pm) will be on the soft side and whichever way you look at it, the 3m2f trip is going to take some getting. With that in mind, you’ve got to be looking for horses [...]
Irish pair Banbridge and I A Connect can go well in the Martin Pipe March 17, 2022 ALL THE talk in the build-up to the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (5.30pm) has been around last season’s runner-up Langer Dan who is back attempting to go one better off just a 2lbs higher mark. Dan Skelton’s six-year-old bumped into Galopin Des Champs this day 12 months ago and actually did well to get as close as he did when [...]
