Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

[denphone]

Bookies wary of Pipe's Power play.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...r+play&day=Fri

[denphone]

Pine leads Ferguson duo.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Pine Creek heads a pair of runners for Newmarket-based trainer John Ferguson at Cheltenham on Sunday.

The five-year-old took his record to three wins in five starts over hurdles when landing a highly competitive Listed event at Ascot when last seen two weeks ago and now takes his chance in the StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle, for which he is a general 6-1 second-favourite.

[denphone]

Geraghty chasing Greatwood cash

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...3&sub=&day=Fri

Barry Geraghty feel Cash And Go has a big chance of going one better than last year in the StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday.

Second last season behind Olofi, Nicky Henderson's charge rather lost his form thereafter, but the jockey feels he has the ability to be a major player once more off the same handicap mark.

[denphone]

Whisky soured by stylish Seuil.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Taquin Du Seuil put one over on top-class hurdler Oscar Whisky in a fascinatingly tactical but ultimately inconclusive Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

Oscar Whisky (4-6 favourite), twice star of the Aintree Hurdle at this distance, suffered a fright at his first fence in public when put off his stride by The Cockney Mackem nearly refusing right alongside, leaving him in front against jockey Barry Geraghty's will.

[denphone]

Balthazar the cross country king

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Balthazar King survived an almighty blunder early in the race to gamely hold off Uncle Junior in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham.

Despite his mistake at the third fence, Richard Johnson had Philip Hobbs' popular nine-year-old up with the pace throughout and dictated affairs from halfway.

[denphone]

Royal success in Triumph trial.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Royal Irish Hussar stretched his unbeaten run to three with a game success in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham.

Sent off the heavily backed 10-11 favourite after winning his first two starts over obstacles, the Nicky Henderson-trained three-year-old was always in the firing line.

[denphone]

O'Neill in the winning spirit

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...spirit&day=Sat

Johns Spirit provided Richie McLernon with the biggest success of his career by gamely clinging on to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Jonjo O'Neill's six-year-old had won at the previous meeting but had a 10lb higher mark to contend with and was settled last in the early stages. He jumped into contention running up the hill, where Easter Meteor was still going great guns at the head of affairs.

Hidden Cyclone and Colour Squadron were both heavily involved approaching two out, but Johns Spirit (7-1) was kicked into the lead as Easter Meteor came down. Colour Squadron ran on strongly from the last, but Johns Spirit had gone clear and although idling, he had enough left to win by three-quarters of a length.

[denphone]

Champagne gets the corks popping.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Sat

[denphone]

Felix floors Craddockstown rivals

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Sun

Felix Yonger continued the hot streak for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh when flooring odds-on favourite Defy Logic in the Grade Two Madigans Bars Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown.

Walsh brought the Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned seven-year-old to challenge the pacesetting Defy Logic after the third-last fence and the pair soon pulled clear.

[denphone]

Hurricane flies to world record

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sun

Hurricane Fly set a new world record of 17 Grade One victories as he opened his campaign with a fluent success in the StanJames.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

Willie Mullins' brilliant hurdler overtook Paul Nicholls' outstanding chaser Kauto Star and legendary American Flat performer John Henry as the winning-most horse at the highest level with his eighth course and distance success.

Sent off at highly-prohibitive odds of 1-16, Hurricane Fly was registering a 21st career victory from 32 starts, while jockey Ruby Walsh was completing a four-timer on the card and later added a fifth.

[denphone]

Dell delivers for Pipe team

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sun

Dell' Arca was the highlight of a Cheltenham four-timer for trainer David Pipe when taking the feature StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle.

Making his British debut, the four-year-old French import came out on top in gutsy fashion under Tom Scudamore.

The 280,000 euro purchase got the better of the Paul Nicholls-trained Sametegal by half a length, with the pacesetting Rawnaq a length and a quarter away in third and Flaxen Flare fourth.

[denphone]

McCoy strikes on Cassidy.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sun

Kid Cassidy wore down Sire De Grugy on the run-in to claim the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.

Tony McCoy bided his time on the Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old (4-1) as Sire De Grugy set sail for home after Special Tiara had made the running.

The 18-times champion jockey delivered the J P McManus-owned gelding after the last to collar Gary Moore's 5-6 favourite and win by three and a quarter lengths.

---------- Post added at 09:18 ---------- Previous post was at 07:23 ----------

Liquidator leads all the way.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...3&sub=&day=Mon

[denphone]

Nicholls on target with Bullets.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...3&sub=&day=Mon

Paul Nicholls finally got off the mark at the Cheltenham Open meeting when Dodging Bullets took the Racing Post Arkle Trial Novices' Chase.

The favourite Raya Star took charge before the third-last, but Daryl Jacob was stalking him, looking confident, and pushed the formerly smart hurdler (2-1) ahead at the final fence and was five lengths in front at the line.

[denphone]

Assembly wins Florida thriller.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...3&sub=&day=Mon

Morning Assembly gave Ruby Walsh another Punchestown winner on the way to a five-timer with a hard-fought victory over Don Cossack in the Grade Two Dobbins Outdoor Catering Florida Pearl Novice Chase.

Pat Fahy's charge (6-4) made the running with Si C'Etait Vrai, who carried the colours of Gigginstown House Stud as well as the eventual runner-up.

[denphone]

Fehily takes Conti ride.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...s&sub=&day=Tue

Noel Fehily will partner Silviniaco Conti when he aims to secure back-to-back victories in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Ruby Walsh has ridden the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old on all but one of his 10 appearances over fences, including when running out a hugely-impressive winner of this Grade One prize 12 months ago.