Jim Culloty: Grand National is not scary at all! April 12, 2024 THE GRAND National was one of Jim Culloty’s favourite, and apparently easiest, races as a jockey, winning the 2002 renewal aboard Bindaree. Looking back on his previous rides in the race, Culloty revealed that he wasn’t at all scared by facing some of the biggest fences that National Hunt racing has to offer. Culloty, [...]
Purton could be Striding towards more records April 12, 2024 IT WAS good to see six-time Champion Jockey Zac Purton receive all the accolades at Happy Valley last Wednesday, when reaching the 1,700-winner milestone in the city. The Zac-Man, who later went on to ride another winner at the meeting, will now set his sights on Douglas Whyte’s all-time record of 1,813 victories and attempt [...]
Ting can place Absolute trust in Ferraris April 12, 2024 SPARE a thought for trainer Jimmy Ting who will be looking for his first winner in Hong Kong since January 24th. The 57-year-old local handler must wonder what he has done to upset the Gods of fortune, sitting bottom of the trainers’ championship table with just four winners this season and on a present losing [...]
Jim Culloty: Bindaree needed one chance and the rest was history April 12, 2024 AS A jockey Jim Culloty rode some of the best around and will forever be associated with the three-time Gold Cup winner Best Mate, while later he would train the winner of the Cheltenham showpiece himself, when successful with Lord Windermere in 2014. Culloty also won the Grand National as a rider aboard Bindaree in [...]
EP: 266 Aintree – Grand National Day & Hong Kong April 12, 2024 For many, the Grand National is the greatest race in the world and Saturday is the big day for the maximum field of 34 runners. Aintree also hosts three Grade 1 races on what should be another fantastic day of jumps racing. City AM Racing editor Bill Esdaile previews Aintree’s Grand National Day action, with [...]
Waters the one to end Mullins’ National drought April 10, 2024 YOU CAN almost certainly count on one hand the amount of big races that Willie Mullins has won only once. And while Saturday’s Randox Grand National (4.00pm) isn’t exactly an easy race to win, the fact the Closutton supremo has only trained the winner of it once will be a statistic he’ll be keen to [...]
Rain at Aintree but Brighterdaysahead nonetheless April 10, 2024 IT HAS been a miserable winter, but the rain clearly has no interest in ceasing in time for Grand National day, hence heavy ground form is looking the most persuasive, even at this time of year. With that in mind, Dan Skelton’s GWENNIE MAY BOY could be the one in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle [...]
Tres Bon Jon set for more success stepping up in trip April 10, 2024 IT HAS been a miserable couple of months for Nicky Henderson. Not only has he had to deal with the setbacks to his stable star Constitution Hill, but a sickness bug worked its way through the yard, resulting in no winners at the Cheltenham Festival and some high-profile absentees. JONBON was one of them in [...]
Bridge and Water won’t be troubled by handicap marks April 10, 2024 DAN Skelton’s knack of plundering valuable handicap hurdles has been clear for all to see. Langer Dan has been haunting the handicapper since winning the William Hill Handicap Hurdle (2:20pm) for the Skeltons in 2022, and tomorrow they fire five bullets at this year’s renewal. Harry has opted to ride 7/1 favourite Kateira, who could [...]
Impaire to not let his rivals Passe in Aintree Hurdle April 10, 2024 AINTREE’s Grand National Festival gets underway today and while the big race on Saturday will be the spectacle many are waiting for, today’s card is full of top-quality contests. I struggled to find a bet in the opening two Grade Ones, as I expect the Manifesto (1.45pm) to be fought out by the one-two from [...]