Entries by DaveM

Christian Williams looking to a familiar friend to kick-start 2023

Christian Williams is ready to ramp up the pace after a quiet start to 2023, and hopes staying chaser Kitty’s Light can take one of the big prizes over the coming months. The Glamorgan handler may have lost last season’s Eider and Scottish National winner Win My Wings to injury and subsequent retirement, but in […]

Iwilldoit all set for Classic Chase return at Warwick

Stan Sheppard will take the reins when Iwilldoit makes a long-awaited comeback in the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick on Saturday. The Sam Thomas-trained gelding was last seen winning the Welsh Grand National in late 2021, a nine-length success with Sheppard in the saddle. At Warwick the 10-year-old will return from a lengthy […]

Geraghty not shocked by Russell’s decision to call temporary halt on retirement

Davy Russell has the opportunity to find closure after coming out of retirement that lasted barely a month. That is the view of two-time Irish champion jockey and the second winning-most rider at the Cheltenham Festival, Barry Geraghty. Russell confirmed in a statement on Wednesday evening that he will return this weekend to fill the […]

Surprise riding return does not represent retirement U-turn, insists Russell

Davy Russell insists he has not made a “U-turn” on his retirement and is only stepping into the breach while Jack Kennedy recovers from a broken leg. Russell announced his retirement on December 18 having ridden Liberty Dance to victory at Thurles – but has been tempted back into action by Gordon Elliott. Russell and […]

Conflated ‘more likely’ to go straight to Cheltenham for Gold Cup tilt

Conflated is likely to head straight to the Cheltenham Gold Cup where he will be given the chance to become Gigginstown House Stud’s third winner of the blue riband. The Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old announced himself as a player in the staying division when causing a shock in last year’s Irish Gold Cup but instead of […]

Country Grammer among star-studded Saudi Cup entries

Country Grammer is on course to give Frankie Dettori a landmark winner in the Saudi Cup, in what is the jockey’s final year in the saddle. The Bob Baffert-trained six-year-old was partnered by the Italian to glory in the Dubai World Cup in March last year, and Dettori was reunited with the son of Tonalist […]

Longsdon contemplates cross-country mission with Leopardess

Charlie Longsdon’s popular chaser Snow Leopardess will be taken for a Cheltenham schooling session to see how she takes to the cross-country course. The mare enjoyed a superb run of form last season, which included a brilliant round of jumping to land the Becher Chase at Aintree in December. She found the ground too quick […]

Davy Russell making riding return to cover for injured Kennedy

Davy Russell is to come out of retirement to cover for Jack Kennedy while the current Irish championship leader is on the sidelines with a broken leg. Russell only retired last month, after riding a winner at Thurles on December 18. The 43-year-old – who won the Grand National twice on Tiger Roll and the […]

Hanlon ‘couldn’t be happier’ with stable star Hewick

Shark Hanlon is dreaming of huge prizes in the spring with his stable star Hewick. Hewick was one of the sport’s most popular success stories last year, winning the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and the Galway Plate before exiting at the final fence when looking poised to land the Kerry National. He then headed […]

Clonmel meeting on Thursday rescheduled to Tuesday

Clonmel’s meeting on Thursday has been cancelled due to a waterlogged track and rearranged for Tuesday. An inspection had been called for 7.30am on race day, however following further heavy rain on Wednesday an early decision was taken at 4pm. The meeting – due to feature the exciting Gaelic Warrior – will now take place […]