Entries by DaveM

Thunder Rock ready to step up for Festival test

Thunder Rock will be tested over three miles for the first time when he lines up in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. The Olly Murphy-trained seven-year-old made a fine start to the season, winning his first two chasing appearances by a combined 13 lengths. But his progress was halted by the […]

Wednesday racing action hinges on morning inspections

All four British meetings scheduled for Wednesday must pass inspections if they are to go ahead. Catterick and Fontwell, who both race over jumps, stage precautionary inspections at 8am while the all-weather Flat meetings at Kempton and Lingfield are also subject to precautionary checks at the same time. Officials at Catterick are seeing forecasts suggesting […]

Irish National bid not ruled out for Lord Lariat

Last year’s winner Lord Lariat and the veteran Captain Cj could represent Dermot McLoughlin in his bid for a remarkable third successive victory in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Based less than five miles from the track, the County Meath handler saddled 150-1 shot Freewheelin Dylan to claim the traditional Easter Monday feature […]

The Big Dog impresses Fahey with racecourse school

The Big Dog is firmly on course for the Randox Grand National on April 15 following a successful racecourse schooling session at Navan. Aintree has been the plan for Peter Fahey’s charge since winning both the Munster National and Troytown Handicap Chase in the early part of the season and he continued his fine campaign […]

Fowler hoping Mustard can make Festival date

Lorna Fowler remains “hopeful” stable star Colonel Mustard will be fit for next week’s Cheltenham Festival despite suffering an overreach in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday. The eight-year-old finished third behind Champion Hurdle aspirant State Man and the high-class First Street in the County Hurdle 12 months ago and connections are keen to […]

Oppenheimer eager to see Lingfield winner Burglar on turf

Anthony Oppenheimer is relishing the start of the Flat turf season and the next move for Burglar following his impressive debut at Lingfield. Due to the incredibly dry summer in 2022, only three of the Derby-winning owner’s string made the track as two-year-olds meaning there are plenty of fresh-faced three-year-olds waiting to set out on […]

Alan Hill dreaming big with I K Brunel

Alan Hill’s I K Brunel could be in line for a Cheltenham-Aintree Hunter Chase double after winning both starts on the circuit so far. The nine-year-old was bred by Zara Tindall and formerly trained by Olly Murphy, winning three times before changing hands last spring. His first start for Hill came at Larkhill in late […]

Newcastle abandoned as cold snap begins to bite

Racecourses are bracing themselves for the latest cold snap to cause disruption to the fixture list with Catterick on Wednesday and Carlisle on Thursday facing inspections after Newcastle’s meeting on Tuesday was abandoned due to snow. Officials at Catterick will stage a precautionary inspection at 8am ahead of racing with the forecast suggesting temperatures could […]

Zoffany Bay giving Fahey chance of Imperial Cup defence

Peter Fahey will seek back-to-back victories in the Betfair Imperial Cup with Zoffany Bay, who is one of 30 entries for the Sandown handicap. The nine-year-old was off the track for almost two years before making an eyecatching debut for the Monasterevin-based handler at Ascot last month and Fahey believes his charge will have no […]

Echoes In Rain firing Festival dream for Craig Kieswetter

Former cricket star Craig Kieswetter believes Echoes In Rain has a great chance of causing a small upset when she lines up in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Kieswetter played 71 times for England in white-ball internationals before injury led to him retiring at the tender age of 27. Since then […]