Entries by DaveM

Appreciate It stakes Festival claim with stylish Naas verdict

Appreciate It cemented his Cheltenham Festival claims with a routine victory on his second start over fences at Naas. A 24-length winner of the 2021 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park, the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old was due to pursue a novice chase campaign last season before injury intervened. He ultimately only made it to the […]

Irish Champion Hurdle to determine Honeysuckle future

Connections of Honeysuckle have effectively ruled out a tilt at the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, stating she will either bid for a third Champion Hurdle victory or be retired. Henry de Bromhead’s superstar mare beat Benie Des Dieux in an epic Mares’ Hurdle in 2020 and has since returned to the Cotswolds to […]

King mapping out Festival route for Edwardstone

Alan King is keen to keep Edwardstone busy before a crack at the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. Last season’s Arkle winner had a delayed start to the season due to the warm autumn, with planned appearances in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham and in a handicap at Ascot scuppered due to quick ground. When […]

I can’t believe it actually happened – Noel Fehily savours a huge day

Though he has ridden Queen Mother Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle winners in a stellar career, Noel Fehily has seldom had too many better moments than he had at Sandown on Saturday. The retired jump jockey’s Midas touch has continued out of the saddle, for his burgeoning ownership venture with Dave Crosse enjoyed a golden […]

O’Toole proves the class act on chasing bow at Newcastle

Punters did not have to look too far back in the form book to see O’Toole looked well treated ahead of the Best Odds Guaranteed At Vickers.Bet Everyday Handicap Chase at Newcastle – and he rewarded favourite-backers in style. Trainer Stuart Crawford is a regular visitor to the northern UK tracks from his base in […]

Xcitations gives Pam Sly plenty to celebrate at Sandown

Xcitations jumped with aplomb under Jack Andrews at Sandown to make it four wins from seven over fences. The Pam Sly-trained gelding drew well clear of joint-favourites Corrigeen Rock and Frero Banbou in the Unibet Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Chase. Sly’s runner had been beaten Elixir De Nutz by a neck on […]

Soumillon out of luck on return to the saddle in South Africa

Christophe Soumillon came away winless as he made his race-riding comeback in South Africa. The Belgian jockey was the retained rider for the Aga Khan until an incident occurred at Saint-Cloud in September involving Rossa Ryan. Soumillon appeared to elbow Ryan out of the saddle during a race, causing him to fall, and subsequently served […]

Wishing And Hoping springs 50-1 surprise in veterans’ final

At the grand old age of 13, Wishing And Hoping caused a 50-1 shock in the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final at Sandown. The Mel Rowley-trained winner travelled sweetly on the front end in the three-mile test and barring accidents, looked to have the race won at the Pond Fence. Though he got in close […]

Tahmuras takes top honours in Tolworth for Nicholls and Cobden

Tahmuras gave Paul Nicholls a fifth Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle in sauntering to an easy success at Sandown. A stylish winner of a Listed contest at Haydock on his previous run, Harry Cobden’s mount travelled supremely well throughout in the two-mile contest, and was content to allow Colonel Harry to make the running under Gavin […]

Raasel starting out on what could be fruitful spell in Dubai

Mick Appleby’s Raasel will make his Meydan debut with a run in the Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash on Friday. The chestnut’s career followed a steep upward curve last year as he signed off 2021 an 86-rated handicapper and ended 2022 contesting Group One sprints in England, Ireland and France. Along the way he won the […]