Entries by DaveM

Bill Baxter shines over the National fences to put Greatrex on top again

Bill Baxter got Warren Greatrex back into the big-race winner’s enclosure with a determined victory over the Grand National fences in the Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Chase at Aintree. While run over a distance some way short of the big one, the Topham traditionally gives jockeys a chance to get their eye in […]

Pic D’Orhy graduates to Grade One glory at Aintree

Pic D’Orhy provided champion trainer Paul Nicholls with his first winner of this year’s Grand National meeting at Aintree as he posted an assured display in the Marsh Chase. Twice a winner at Grade Two level earlier in the season, the eight-year-old was last seen chasing home Thursday’s Aintree Bowl hero Shishkin in the Ascot […]

Retirement may be looming, but Russell all set to go for National gold with Galvin

Davy Russell will look for the fairytale ending to his surprise comeback when he partners Galvin in the Randox Grand National on Saturday. Coming out of a three-week retirement from the saddle, the Cheltenham Festival did not produce the storybook return that he had hoped. Undoubtedly one of the greatest jump jockeys of the modern […]

Inthepocket collects Top Novices’ prize for De Bromhead and Blackmore

Rachael Blackmore steered Inthepocket to a first Grade One success in the Poundland Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree. A Grade Two winner at Navan earlier in the season for Henry de Bromhead, the JP McManus-owned six-year-old went on to fill the runner-up at the highest level at the Dublin Racing Festival before finishing a creditable […]

Appleby set to be double-handed in Craven Stakes

Charlie Appleby has the chance to enhance his stellar record in the bet365 Craven Stakes with both Naval Power and Mysterious Night featuring among the 15 entries for the Newmarket contest. The Moulton Paddocks handler has won three of the last four runnings of the one-mile Group Three which serves as a key trial for […]

Gerri Colombe bounces back with Mildmay glory

Gerri Colombe put a narrow Cheltenham Festival reverse behind him with a dominant victory in the Air Charter Service Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree under Davy Russell. The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old won two bumpers, two novices hurdles and his first three starts over fences, ensuring he was a hot favourite to maintain his unbeaten record […]

‘Blackmore effect’ sees Ain’t That A Shame power to forefront of National market

Punters are backing Rachael Blackmore to land a second Randox Grand National, with her mount Ain’t That A Shame rocketing to the top echelons of the market for Saturday’s Aintree showpiece. Blackmore created history two years ago when steering Minella Times to victory, becoming the first woman to ride the winner of the four-and-a-quarter-mile marathon. […]

Elliott looking to Delta to deliver fourth National success

Gordon Elliott is sweet on Delta Work as he goes in search of a joint-record fourth victory in Randox Grand National on Saturday. The master of Cullentra was a fresh-faced and relatively unknown 29-year-old when first claiming the world’s most famous steeplechase with Silver Birch in 2007. But he is now very much established as […]

Marie’s ready to Rock in Liverpool Hurdle

Marie’s Rock will finally get a crack at three miles when she goes to post for the Jrl Group Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. Connections had mooted a move up in trip for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before electing to defend her Mares’ Hurdle crown over an intermediate distance. However, having seen her […]

Peter Fahey confident The Big Dog has big National chance

If a trainer’s confidence was a guide to winning the Randox Grand National, The Big Dog would be already be home and hosed. It is never easy to be overly-optimistic in any horse race, especially so in the four-and-a-quarter-mile Aintree showpiece. More so if that horse fell on his last start. Though The Big Dog […]