Watson could solve puzzling Grand National case Sport HAVING saddled the first three home in the Grand National 12 months ago, punters will be undertaking a close assessment of Willie Mullins’ runners again this year – all eight of them! It will be the most the Irish master trainer has ever put on the boat for Saturday’s Aintree spectacle, an embarrassment of riches [...]
All points West to Grangeclare in Stellar Grand National Sport FOLLOWING yesterday’s declarations for the 2026 Grand National (4.00pm), the time has come to offer up this year’s selections for the world’s most famous steeplechase. As ever, there will be a maximum field of 34 runners taking on this unique test. With 30 big fences to negotiate over the stamina-sapping four-mile -two-and-a-half-furlong trip of Aintree’s [...]
Strong feeling Leader will be in Aintree Cruz Control Sport ONE mustn’t forget that Aintree is not just about the Grand National, with a host of top-class supporting action across the three days, such as Saturday’s Grade One Liverpool Hurdle (3.05pm). As ever, given its proximity to Cheltenham, we see many horses who starred at the Festival rock up to Merseyside looking to do the [...]
Fortune can Favour La brave on Friday with outsiders April 8, 2026 WHILE playing with a straight bat looks the strategy on Thursday, it could be worth swinging for the boundaries a little more on Friday. In the day’s opening race, the William Hill Handicap Hurdle (1.45pm), FAVOUR AND FORTUNE represents a bit of each-way value at around 12/1, lining up here off just a pound higher [...]
No need for form Study to see chance of Snow at Aintree April 8, 2026 AINTREE’s big three days of the year are here with the highlight of course being Saturday’s Grand National. Before that there is plenty of other top-class action to get stuck into, beginning with today’s card which includes four Grade One races. Many of the contests feature horses that ran at the Cheltenham Festival and several [...]
General can give Magic Man Moreira Perfect start April 7, 2026 REGULAR Hong Kong racing fans will have plenty to look forward to when they arrive for a nine-race programme at Happy Valley on Wednesday, especially with the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira back in town. The former four-time champion jockey has joined the jockey ranks again in the city and teamed up with trainer Caspar Fownes [...]
Violet Star ready to rise for resurgent Whyte at the Valley April 7, 2026 WHILE most of the media attention will surround Joao Moreira joining the jockey ranks again and returning to Happy Valley, it may pay to follow another legendary figure and former 13-time champion jockey-turned-trainer, Douglas Whyte. The Whyte stable have had a tough time this season, with winners hard to come by, and they are sitting [...]
Take Galaxy to star in Chairman’s Trophy at Sha Tin April 3, 2026 THERE are no prizes for guessing that Ka Ying Rising will be the star of the show when racing at Sha Tin in Hong Kong gets underway with a 11-race programme on Easter Monday. It is safe to forecast this will be another victory parade for the fastest galloper on the planet, who is seeking [...]
Responder can give promising Yuen a Fast second success April 3, 2026 EXCITING 25-year-old apprentice jockey Nichola Yuen certainly made a splash with both media and racing enthusiasts at Sha Tin in midweek with a well-executed winning ride aboard Pi Legend on only her second career ride in the city. While all the plaudits were well-founded, it will get more difficult from now on, especially with her [...]
Cotai can leave name in Lights at Newcastle March 31, 2026 THERE is a feast of all-weather action to look forward to on Good Friday, with contests from Newcastle, Lingfield and Chelmsford all live on ITV. One horse that caught my eye is COTAI LIGHTS, who is set to line up in the BetMGM All-Weather Three-Year-Old Championships Handicap (1.50pm) at Newcastle. Trainer Adrian Keatley is bringing [...]