Lorna Fowler is considering plans for Colonel Mustard after quick ground scuppered his intended run in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. The chestnut had been well-fancied for the valuable handicap, a race in which he was due to switch back to smaller obstacles after two credible runs over fences. But with the ground described as […]
Harry Fry is concentrating solely on Love Envoi as his star mare prepares to complete her Cheltenham Festival preparation at Warwick on Saturday. The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle is shaping up to be one of the events of the whole week with dual champion hurdler Honeysuckle confirmed to join Love Envoi and possibly the likes […]
One of the leading British-based contenders in the ante-post market for the Randox Grand National, the Sam Thomas-trained Iwilldoit, will miss the deadline for qualification and as a result not run at Aintree. The 10-year-old won the Welsh National at Chepstow in December 2021, after which he was off for 383 days before returning to […]
Mark Walsh faces another spell on the sidelines after a fall at the Dublin Racing Festival. Walsh, JP McManus’ retained rider in Ireland, only returned to the saddle on Saturday after a bruising Christmas period which saw him suffer several heavy falls, although he did ride a Grade One winner on Saint Roi. His rides […]
Marble Sands upset short-priced favourite Rare Edition to take the M1 Agency Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon. The latter was a 4-5 shot when lining up for the race undefeated under rules, having won a bumper and four hurdle contests by a combined 29 and a half lengths. For trainer Charlie Longsdon and […]
Baracouda, the four-time Long Walk Hurdle winner and dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero, has died at the age of 28. Handled superbly well by Francois Doumen and ridden for the majority of his career by the trainer’s son, Thierry, Baracouda was seen more in Britain than France after his initial foray in 2000. That first trip […]
Dual Grade One-winning hurdler Saldier made a winning chasing debut at the age of nine for Willie Mullins at Thurles. Winner of the Galway Hurdle in 2021 off top-weight, he also has a Flat rating of 103. Injuries have perhaps prevented him reaching the heights which once looked likely, but he showed the fire still […]
Lazuli is out to confirm form with stablemate Man Of Promise as the two clash once more in the Blue Point Sprint at Meydan on Friday. The Charlie Appleby-trained pair were first and second in a Listed race in January and now meet in the Group Two which Lazuli won 12 months ago from Acklam […]
Paul Nicholls believes the lack of entries by British-based trainers in this year’s Randox Grand National is cyclical and that within a few seasons the pendulum may well swing back. Threeunderthrufive is Nicholls’ sole entry for the Aintree spectacular, as just 31 of 85 initial entries hailed from the home-based team. Nicholls stated his Ditcheat […]
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is readying a strong squad for one of his favourite meetings of the season at Newbury on Saturday. Two solid chances in the feature Betfair Hurdle with Hacker Des Places and Rubaud, Hitman looking to get back on track in the race named after former Ditcheat star Denman and McFabulous aiming […]