Purton can maintain championship lead in battle of the Big Two April 19, 2022 JOCKEY Zac Purton can be relied upon to maintain his narrow advantage over arch-rival Joao Moreira in the race for the Jockeys’ Championship when a nine-race programme gets underway at Happy Valley today. A winning treble at Sha Tin last Saturday saw Purton leap to the top of the table by one winner over Moreira, [...]
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 [...]
EP: 125 Newcastle & Hong Kong April 14, 2022 Newcastle’s tapeta surface hosts the annual All Weather Championships on Easter Friday with a host of exciting flat runners from top stables on display. Fairyhouse in Ireland features the traditional running of the Irish Grand National on Easter Monday and we take a look at some potential runners in the big race field. City A.M. racing [...]
Fearless Hewitson can Fire Let’s Do It to a first victory April 12, 2022 JOCKEY Lyle Hewitson can continue his run of good fortune when the former three-time South African champion partners bottom-weight LET’S DO IT in the Canal Handicap (2.45pm) over the extended mile at Happy Valley today. Hewitson, who has ridden winners at Happy Valley and Sha Tin in the past week, has found it tough going since returning [...]
Purton’s skill can help Dragon escape ‘kiss of death’ from dreaded stall 12 April 12, 2022 STALL 12 at Happy Valley, especially in extended mile races, is normally the kiss of death for any galloper housed there. There are reasons to believe however, that it won’t stop HK DRAGON successfully following up last month’s course and distance win in the second division of the Morrison Hill Handicap (2.15pm). His victory with Zac Purton [...]
EP: 124 Aintree Grand National Day & Hong Kong April 8, 2022 For some, the greatest jumps race in the world takes place on Saturday afternoon at Aintree racecourse when 40 horses line up in this year’s Grand National, run over the unique and historic fences. Jockey Davy Russell talks us through the Gordon Elliott runners. Charlie Longsdon has always hoped his exciting grey Snow Leopardess would [...]
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 [...]
EP: 123 Aintree – Friday April 7, 2022 We can look forward to some high class jumps racing at Aintree on Friday, a day before the Grand National takes place. Four Grade 1 races feature on Friday, alongside the Topham Handicap Chase which is run over the national fences, albeit over a shorter trip. City A.M. racing editor Bill Esdaile previews the best [...]