Real Gain and Thunder ready to rumble on Rowley Mile September 23, 2025 THERE aren’t many races that befit the title of a cavalry charge more than Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Handicap (3.40pm). Most years it sees a field of over 30 horses race down the straight nine furlongs of the Rowley Mile, fanning out across the breadth of the track as they do. It’s certainly a stirring spectacle and [...]
Fixate on Fitzella to spoil Royal Cheveley Park party September 23, 2025 WHILE the Cambridgeshire is the big betting race of the day at Newmarket, there’s also Group One action to enjoy, and I’m particularly drawn to the Cheveley Park Stakes (2.25pm). Ed Walker’s Royal Fixation has looked a top-drawer juvenile in her three starts, earning a tilt at this level when winning the Group Two Lowther [...]
Fownes can crack Sha Tin Code with The Heir September 19, 2025 IT MAY be early days in the new Hong Kong season, but Caspar Fownes looks to have already set out his stall for a tilt at the trainers’ championship. Fownes has won the championship on four occasions, the last in 2020/21, and has been fast out of the blocks this campaign with six winners in [...]
Don’t Desert Purton as Star set to shine again September 19, 2025 EIGHT-time champion jockey Zac Purton leaving Happy Valley without a winner in mid-week is a real rarity these days. It certainly can’t be considered desired collector’s item, however, with Purton’s army of fans sure to have left the Hong Kong city track low in spirit and light of pocket after their man failed to find [...]
The Punter Podcast Episode 48: Ayr Gold Cup and Mill Reef Day at Newbury September 16, 2025 Tom Marriott and Bill Esdaile look ahead to Saturday’s cards at Ayr and Newbury, with the Ayr Gold Cup headlining the action in Scotland. The Mill Reef Stakes is the feature at Newbury, where trainer Jim Boyle gives an update on the chances of antepost favourite Into The Sky. The Punter ‘The Punter’ has been [...]
Don’t take Lor’s Keefy lightly at the Valley September 16, 2025 WITH the weather set fair in Hong Kong, racegoers can look forward to an exciting eight-race card at Happy Valley on Wednesday, with the Class Two Shek O Handicap (3.50pm) over the extended mile the feature race on the programme. It was mostly all doom and gloom for the Zac Purton fan club at Sha [...]
King Lotus ready to keep Newnham in the winning groove September 16, 2025 TRAINER Mark Newnham must have breathed a huge sigh of relief when Max Que finally got the stable off the mark for the 2025/26 season. It may be early days in the current campaign, but Newnham had failed to strike with his first fourteen runners, with seven of them starting at single figure odds. After [...]
Anmaat and Aeronautic can sprout wings at Leopardstown September 12, 2025 IRISH Champions weekend begins with a high-class card at Leopardstown on Saturday, where World Pool will be in operation for all nine races. The feature is the Irish Champion Stakes (5.30pm), a race that is often considered one of the best middle-distance races on turf anywhere in the world. The race has an international flavour [...]
Fallen Angel to shine brightest in Matron Stakes September 12, 2025 ALONGSIDE the showpiece Group One Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, the Group One Matron Stakes (4.25pm) headlines the supporting card for the Irish Champions Festival opener. Run over a mile, it’s attracted a good field of 11 fillies and mares and looks a good betting heat with World Pool in operation. There are [...]
Size’s charge Must Go and get back in winners’ enclosure September 12, 2025 SHA TIN in Hong Kong hosts a 10-race programme on Sunday, including a couple of contests on the all-weather surface. The Class Three Oi Tung Handicap (10.10am) over six furlongs on dirt is the most intriguing race on the card, with a number of all-weather specialists lining-up, and very little between them, judged on the [...]