Saturday’s Betfair Imperial Cup meeting at Sandown will need to pass an 8am inspection if it is to go ahead as scheduled. Racing took place at Sandown on Tuesday, but persistent wintry showers since have eased conditions significantly and clerk of the course Andrew Cooper admitted the track would have “struggled to race” on Thursday. […]
Connections of Marie’s Rock are still no nearer to determining whether she will defend her Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle or instead attempt to land the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next week. The Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old made a sparkling return to action, winning the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day, having not run since […]
Officials at Sandown insist there is “a real fighting chance” that Saturday’s Betfair Imperial Cup meeting will go ahead as planned. The Esher track was fit to race on Tuesday, although persistent wintry showers have subsequently eased the ground to soft, heavy in places. Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said precautions will be taken […]
Martin Brassil will send Longhouse Poet to Down Royal next Friday for his Grand National prep run. The nine-year-old was a well-supported sixth behind Noble Yeats in the Aintree marathon last year and is currently a general 16-1 chance for the four-and-a-quarter-mile spectacular on April 15. He reverted to hurdles on his first three runs […]
Willie Mullins has supplemented Adamantly Chosen for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday. Second to Gordon Elliott’s Mighty Potter in Grade One company at the Dublin Racing Festival over two miles and five furlongs, it appears connections are now keen to step him up to three miles. He is one of six […]
Bars across Cheltenham should brace themselves for a Shark attack of Jaws-like proportions if Hewick can complete his fairytale rise by claiming Gold Cup glory. In an era when National Hunt horses are readily selling for half a million and more, the Hewick story is one that gives hope those rags-to-riches tales can still come […]
Unquestionably Constitution Hill would be the best chance. Jonbon would hold a fair shout. A victory for Marie’s Rock, Shishkin, Luccia or Epatante would be a bonus. Yet arguably victory for any of those Nicky Henderson runners at the Cheltenham Festival would not give the Seven Barrows handler more delight than seeing Steal A March […]
The list of owners who will employ the services of Nicky Henderson during the Cheltenham Festival is a roll call of the rich and powerful racing elite. But the owners of Theatre Glory hail from much closer to home as the upwardly-mobile Warwick winner prepares to tackle one of the week’s hottest contests. That is […]
Danny Mullins will not be resting on his laurels as he bids to build on the momentum of a memorable campaign on home soil by playing a major part at the Cheltenham Festival. Although a nephew of the most successful trainer in Cheltenham Festival history in Willie Mullins, the 30-year-old is well aware the family […]
One of the things that makes the Cheltenham Festival so great is it sees equine superstars from both sides of the Irish Sea do battle for top honours on the sport’s grandest stage. There is no doubt the balance of power has very much been with the raiding party in recent years – a theory […]