Back Bawn to start the New Year with a Boom January 6, 2026 AFTER huge crowds packed into Kempton for two high-class days of racing over Christmas, which saw a brilliant three-way finish in the King George, racing returns to the Sunbury-on-Thames venue this Saturday. Ground conditions continue to be much dryer than the norm for this time of the year, and while rain is due later this [...]
Have a few Bob on Olinger to retain Stayers’ Hurdle January 6, 2026 WITH the turn of the year behind us and the 2026 Cheltenham Festival looming in the not-so-distant future, now is the time to begin building our ante-post portfolio for the Festival. Tipping an 11-year-old in one of the Championship races at this point might raise a few eyebrows, but I think there’s plenty to suggest [...]
Fownes and Ho Perfect Together at the Valley January 6, 2026 LOCAL racegoers can look forward to the first race meeting of the year at Happy Valley, when the city track hosts a nine-race card, starting at 10.40am on Wednesday. Former four-time champion trainer Caspar Fownes will surely be licking his lips with anticipation at a return to his favourite track after a relatively quiet Christmas [...]
Rapid frontrunner Mega Bonus to leave rivals behind January 6, 2026 HAPPY Valley always guarantees plenty of competitive and exciting racing, but a close look at the form book suggests there are plenty of average performers on show on Wednesday. The highest-rated galloper on the card is nine-year-old Harmony N Blessed – rated 85 – suggesting it will not be easy finding winners, and it could [...]
The Punter Podcast Episode 64: Kempton, Warwick, Happy Valley and the Road to Cheltenham January 6, 2026 Tom Marriott and Bill Esdaile preview the Saturday’s action from Kempton, featuring the Lanzarote Hurdle, with a look at Warwick’s William Hill Half A Mill Classic Chase card also. Bill also kicks off his Road to Cheltenham antepost tips, while Wally Pyrah is back to preview Happy Valley. The Punter ‘The Punter’ has been City [...]
King and Ascend could deliver Eustace a Swift double January 2, 2026 RACING continues to come thick and fast in Hong Kong, with an 11-race programme at Sha Tin on Sunday following hot on the heels of the New Year card at the same venue on Thursday. The feature race on the card, the Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (8.05am), a handicap over five furlongs, is full [...]
Sagacious Life looks Smart enough for Purton January 2, 2026 WITH the all-important Four-Year-Old Classic Series starting with the Classic Mile at the beginning of next month, it is imperative for many stables that their potential contenders have a rating high enough to take part in the contests. One horse that has no such worries about his present rating is lightly raced, but potentially smart, [...]
Trust in Sky to get 2026 off to a winning start December 31, 2025 RACEGOERS will arrive for an 11-race programme at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Thursday, armed with all their ‘Lucky Start 2026’ merchandise, and hoping to begin the New Year with a fistful of dollars. The feature race of the day, the Group Three £400,000 Chinese Club Challenge Cup, a handicap over seven furlongs (8.05am), [...]
Legendary Bowman can be punters’ Golden Knight December 31, 2025 LEGENDARY pilot Hugh Bowman, having visited the winners’ circle seven times in the past month, can keep the fire burning into the New Year, when he takes the ride on a host of winning chances on the Sha Tin card. He climbs aboard talented but wayward galloper Crossboderpegasus, who makes his seasonal appearance for the [...]
Purton and Shum hope to print the Christmas Cash at Sha Tin December 24, 2025 RACING in Hong Kong has come thick and fast over the Christmas and New Year period – five meetings in the past fortnight – and resumes again at Sha Tin on Saturday with a 10-race programme. With a mixed bag of action, including three on the all-weather surface and seven on turf, racing enthusiasts will [...]