Having seen several of his former proteges light up the Cheltenham Festival in previous years, Andrew Slattery is looking forward to saddling his first ever runner at the showpiece meeting next month in the form of promising juvenile hurdler Sir Allen. The County Tipperary is better known as a Flat trainer under Rules, with Group […]
Leading Cheltenham Festival contender Hiddenvalley Lake follows a tried and tested route for Henry de Bromhead in the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday. The Knockeen handler first claimed the Grade Three prize in 2017 with the top-class Monalee before he went on to finish second to Penhill in the Albert Bartlett the […]
Tom Marquand is facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury sustained in a fall at Randwick last Saturday. The rider headed to Australia for a prolonged spell earlier this month after a couple of previous successful visits, most notably landing three Group Ones with Addeybb, and he enjoyed a […]
Dan Skelton believes the lack of British-trained runners in the Grand National shows responsibility from his colleagues in the training ranks – while also calling some of the recent remarks from the handicapper unhelpful. Only 31 of the initial 85 entries for the Aintree marathon on April 15 are trained in the UK with the […]
Dan Skelton has highlighted Galia Des Liteaux as his best chance of picking up a fifth Cheltenham Festival victory, providing the mare gets her optimum conditions at Prestbury Park. The soft-ground loving seven-year-old has looked a real versatile talent this year, with chasing successes over both two miles and three miles sandwiching her one blip […]
Betfair Hurdle hero Aucunrisque will miss the Wincanton Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle on Saturday after a bout of colic. The seven-year-old was an impressive winner at Newbury, part of a big TV double for trainer Chris Gordon. While in such ripe form, Gordon was hoping to strike while the iron was hot, but plans have […]
Dan Skelton hopes there are no whip bans at the Cheltenham Festival following the amendment of the new rules after widespread condemnation. Speaking at a pre-Festival press day at his Alcester stable, the trainer said he felt the situation had been badly handled. The changes to the whip rules have been subject to much discussion […]
Charlie Johnston’s Subjectivist is on course to make a long-awaited return to action in the Red Sea Turf Handicap at the Saudi Cup fixture. The bay son of Teofilo looked the new dominant force in the staying division when landing the Gold Cup at Ascot in 2021, but his career was then interrupted by an […]
Oisin Murphy returns to the saddle with one ride at Chelmsford on Thursday, following his 14-month ban for alcohol and Covid breaches. Murphy, a three-time champion jockey, will partner the Mick Appleby-trained Jupiter Express in the second race on the card, the Winning Connections Networking Handicap. The British Horseracing Authority announced last week that Murphy […]
Dan Skelton remains convinced his star staying chaser Protektorat will once again make his presence felt in next month’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. The eight-year-old finished best of the British in the blue riband last season when third behind Henry de Bromhead’s pair of A Plus Tard and Minella Indo – and could hardly have […]