J-Mac and Yiu Simply the go-to pairing at the Valley December 10, 2024 FOLLOWING all the drama and razzmatazz associated with international racing in Hong Kong last week, it is back to Happy Valley today for another fiendishly difficult and competitive nine-race programme starting at 10.40am. Trainer Ricky Yiu certainly endeared himself to the majority of the 70,000 spectators at Sha Tin on Sunday, saddling well-backed and popular [...]
Forward Planning set to pay off for Honeyball at Doncaster December 10, 2024 THERE’S no doubt that Cheltenham’s Saturday action will capture most punters’ attention this weekend, but I think I’ve found a bet on a less heralded card on the same day. Kateira is clearly a mare going in the right direction for the Skelton team, but her price is on the short side for my liking [...]
Fugitif can escape with December’s Gold Cup December 10, 2024 WE’RE back at the home of the Jumps this week as Cheltenham hosts its two-day Christmas Meeting. While there’s some good racing on Friday, Saturday’s card makes more appeal at this stage from an ante-post perspective and the big handicap, the December Gold Cup (1.50pm), is definitely a race to focus on. This is the [...]
Giavellotto scoops the jackpot in Hong Kong December 8, 2024 BRITAIN were celebrating their first win at the Hong Kong International Races in 12 years when Giavellotto stormed clear to land the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase. Trained by Marco Botti in Newmarket and ridden by Oisin Murphy, it was a first Group One success for the son of Mastercraftsman – and a first victory at [...]
City Of Troy’s Derby win voted World Pool Moment of the Year December 6, 2024 CITY Of Troy’s Derby win has been named World Pool Moment of the Year, after receiving 48% of the public vote to beat three other finalists to the first prize. The three-year-old’s Derby triumph was named as Moment of the Year ahead of Rashabar’s Coventry Stakes success at Royal Ascot, Celestial Legend’s win in the [...]
Purton sees a Champion in Johannes Brahms December 6, 2024 TRUSTING horses not to repeat recent disappointing performances, can be a quick road to the ‘poor house’ but there is every reason to be believe YOUNG CHAMPION is ready to bounce back to form in the Highland Reel Handicap (10.00am) over seven furlongs. An expensive purchase from Johnny Murtagh’s stable, after winning at Leopardstown last [...]
Rivals will struggle to burst Voyage’s Bubble in Hong Kong Mile December 6, 2024 IT IS that time of the year again, when Hong Kong takes centre-stage in the world of horse racing. Four Group One races – worth a staggering £12.6 million in prize money – are the main attractions on a 10-race programme, featuring some of the best gallopers on the planet. The city has been gripped [...]
Fahey and Sir Alex in the Spirit for more big race success December 6, 2024 HORSE racing has some wonderful stories, but perhaps the biggest one over the past year or so has been the exploits of Spirit Dancer for his owner-breeder Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary Manchester United manager. The seven-year-old son of Frankel took his career earnings past the £2 million mark when landing back-to-back renewals of the [...]
O’Brien’s Luxembourg aiming to sign off in style with Hong Kong Vase victory December 6, 2024 AIDAN O’Brien is hoping that Luxembourg can bow out in style in the £2.4 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, a race that has proved the most fruitful opportunity at Sha Tin so far for the Master of Ballydoyle, having won the one-and-a-half-mile contest three times in the past. The five-year-old son of Camelot joins [...]
I predict a Gaboriot for Greenall and Guerriero in the Becher December 3, 2024 SATURDAY also sees prestigious action up at Aintree in the shape of the Grade Three Becher Handicap Chase (2.07pm). The runners will have to contest 21 famous Grand National fences, so there’s no harm identifying contenders who’ve got experience over the uniquely testing obstacles. King Turgeon immediately comes to mind after his spring-heeled victory on [...]