O’Brien’s Stone coming of Age for Derby Day May 9, 2022 Tom Marriott reports from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle base ahead of the Cazoo Derby Festival IT’S ALL change at Ballydoyle. Not just the installation of floodlights and speedometers on the gallops at Aidan O’Brien’s already state of the art training establishment – the home of a record-breaking eight Derby winners – but most importantly with the horses set to [...]
French fillies to the fore in 1000 Guineas and Dahlia Stakes April 29, 2022 I’LL BE waving my French flag at Newmarket on Sunday as I’m keen on the chances of two fillies trained across the English Channel both of whom are trained by Francis-Henri Graffard. The first is MALAVATH in the Qipco 1000 Guineas (3.40pm), who I’m confident will put up a bold show in the first fillies Classic of [...]
Couple of outsiders might Trail Native home in the Guineas April 29, 2022 NEWMARKET’s Qipco 2000 Guineas (3:40pm) marks the first Classic of the season and also the first chance for UK Tote customers to bet on domestic action with the World Pool. A field of 15 runners are set to go to post, and other than odds-on favourite NATIVE TRAIL the race has an open look to it, so [...]
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 [...]
