Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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BUCK'S HEADS HURDLE CONTENDERS

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

Big Buck's will face a maximum of seven rivals as he seeks to win the Sportingbet Long Distance Hurdle for the fourth year running at Newbury on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls's crack performer is unbeaten in 17 races since he returned to hurdles after unseating Sam Thomas in the Hennessy at the Berkshire track in 2008.

WORTH WORRY AHEAD OF HENNESSY

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

Hennessy Gold Cup favourite Bobs Worth's participation in Saturday's big race will not be confirmed until trainer Nicky Henderson has walked the course at Newbury and spoken with connections.

The trainer was inspecting the Berkshire track on Tuesday afternoon as he is worried about potentially heavy ground and wanted time to mull over his thoughts. A dual Cheltenham Festival winner, Bobs Worth has not been seen since beating First Lieutenant in the RSA Chase last March.

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CARRUTHERS TEAM EYE HENNESSY REPEAT

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

Carruthers will bid to emulate Arkle and land back-to-back victories in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

The legendary Irish jumper is the only horse to win the prestigious staying handicap chase in successive years in 1964 and '65, but while Arkle defied the massive burden of 12st 7lb on both occasions, Carruthers carried only 10st 4lb last year and has 3lb more this time.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I hope it doesn't dry up too much and make it really sticky ground. especially after a day's racing on Friday," his trainer Mark Bradstock told At The Races.

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MCDONOGH TAKES UP AGA KHAN ROLE

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

Declan McDonogh has been confirmed as the Aga Khan's Irish retained rider next season.

McDonogh takes over from Johnny Murtagh, whose contract was terminated in August.

The 2006 Irish champion jockey, 32, said: "I'm delighted to have been given this amazing chance. It's a huge honour and a huge privilege to be riding for His Highness."

McDonogh had already been given a chance to shine aboard the Aga Khan's horses following Murtagh's departure.

TRIFOLIUM BIDS TO BLOSSOM IN FIFTH

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

Trifolium will take his chance in the Grade One StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.

The five-year-old, third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham earlier this year, is also engaged in Sunday's Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, but is instead set to cross the Irish Sea.

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SANCTUAIRE CAMP NOT SCARED OF SACRE

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

Paul Nicholls believes Sandown will play to Sanctuaire's strengths when his exciting second-season chaser takes on Sprinter Sacre in the Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday week.

The six-year-old was a talented but quirky performer over hurdles but was a revelation when switched to the larger obstacles last term. He won his three starts by an aggregate of 74 lengths, with his last two victories coming at the Surrey track.

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DARLAN OUT OF FIGHTING FIFTH

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

Darlan will not run in the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday, trainer Nicky Henderson confirmed.

The high-class five-year-old was not declared this morning due to the prospect of testing conditions.

"Darlan will not be going to Newcastle. We ummed and aahed about it for a long time, but the decision was taken because of the ground," the Seven Barrows handler told Press Association Sport.

LYVIUS LIVES UP TO EXPECTATIONS

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

Lyvius ran out a comfortable winner of Newbury's Sportingbet Intermediate Hurdle, better known as the Gerry Feilden.

Nicky Henderson's four-year-old was a 7-2 chance for a Listed race won last year by subsequent Champion Hurdle hero Rock On Ruby, and he was always moving sweetly in the hands of Barry Geraghty.

For a moment at the top of the home straight it appeared the front-running Call Back still had something in reserve and kicked a couple of lengths clear, but Lyvius tracked him and took over the lead three flights from home. Top-weight Edgardo Sol did his best to reel him in after the last, but Lyvius passed the post with two lengths in hand.

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BOBS WORTH THE WAIT IN HENNESSY

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

Bobs Worth aims to emulate Denman by graduating to full company with victory in Saturday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Bobs Worth won the RSA Chase in March and is pitched into this ultra-competitive Grade Three handicap on his first start back, a route taken by Paul Nicholls with Denman in 2007.

Henderson said: "It was always where we were going to start. He stays and I think he handles soft ground."

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LIEUTENANT GUNNING FOR WORTH

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

Mouse Morris is hopeful First Lieutenant can overcome Bobs Worth in Saturday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

The Irish raider chased home Bobs Worth at Cheltenham and was eventually beaten two and a half lengths, before going on to finish third at the Punchestown Festival.

Trainer Mouse Morris said: "Bobs Worth is obviously a much shorter price than us. Maybe they (bookmakers) are right, but it won't bother me - the horse doesn't know what price he is."

BRILLIANT BUCK'S GOES THE DISTANCE

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

Big Buck's will have just three rivals as he seeks to win the Sportingbet Long Distance Hurdle for the fourth year running at Newbury on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls's brilliant stayer is unbeaten in 17 races since he returned to hurdles after unseating Sam Thomas in the Hennessy at the Berkshire track in 2008.

Big Buck's stablemate Five Dream, who took the runner-up spot 12 months ago, tries again, while the Emma Lavelle-trained Fox Appeal and Reve De Sivola from Nick Williams' stable are the only other ones taking on the champion staying hurdler.

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DYNAMITE DYNASTE STRIKES AGAIN

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

Dynaste (4-9 favourite) turned in another faultless round of jumping to land the Grade Two Fuller's London Pride Novices' Chase at Newbury.

David Pipe's charge made a dream start to his chasing career when winning at Cheltenham earlier this month and he kept up the good work under Tom Scudamore.

The front-running Valmari was still in front four fences from home with Dynaste switched to her outside to challenge, but Valmari failed to pick up at all, taking a heavy fall and leaving Dynaste in front.

Court In Motion tried to make a race of it but Scudamore was always in control and came home four and a half lengths clear.

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Pride takes Drinmore test

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

Pride Of The Artic steps up in class for the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase after winning his last four races over fences.

The seven-year-old was most recently seen beating Jacksonslady in a Grade Three at Tipperary in October in heavy ground, and now tackles Grade One company for the first time at Fairyhouse on Sunday

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Bobs proves his worth in Hennessy

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

Bobs Worth showed his class with a convincing victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Last season's RSA Chase hero was giving trainer Nicky Henderson his second success in the race and jockey Barry Geraghty his first.

Leading at the final fence in an incident-packed race, the 4-1 shot strode away to score from Tidal Bay, with gallant Irish raider First Lieutenant third and The Package fourth.

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Buck's cashes in again

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

Big Buck's took his winning run to 18 with an effortless victory in the Sportingbet Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.

The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old, ridden by Ruby Walsh, was hardly out of a hack canter as he and his stablemate Five Dream made the running, with the two other runners, Fox Appeal and Reve De Sivola, just a few lengths adrift.

The order remained unchanged until after the third-last, where Fox Appeal tried to make ground on the stands rail but Walsh was unmoved as he kept a tight hold of the 1-12 shot.

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Flame lights up Fighting Fifth

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

Countrywide Flame captured the scalp of Cinders And Ashes in impressive fashion to land the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

The two Cheltenham Festival winners had the race to themselves over the last two flights, and it was the Triumph Hurdle hero who came out on top.

Denis O'Regan always looked confident on the John Quinn-trained 11-4 chance, and he pulled 12 lengths clear of 10-11 favourite Cinders And Ashes to stake an early claim for the Champion Hurdle.

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Benbulben opens chasing account

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

Mount Benbulben got his fencing career back on track when easing to an ultimately smooth success in the Nicky Connors - Lifetime In Racing Beginners Chase.

A Grade Two winner last season as a novice hurdler, the Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old was third on his chasing debut at Naas in October and fell at Punchestown last month.

Davy Condon's mount made a bad mistake on this occasion too, at the second fence, but slowly recovered his momentum.

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Zaidpour graces Fairyhouse

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

Zaidpour dug deep to claim the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Ruby Walsh's mount showed a great attitude in going past fellow joint-favourite Voler La Vedette going to the last, after the star mare had moved smoothly to the lead two out, where long-time leader So Young made a mistake.

Willie Mullins' charge soon mastered Voler La Vedette, who lost second on the run to the line as Monksland finished well. The winning distance was two and a half lengths.

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Arvika demolishes Drinmore rivals

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

Arvika Ligeonniere made all to win the Bar One Racing Drinmore Chase in impressive style at Fairyhouse.

The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old (2-1) soon opened up a huge advantage over the field in the Grade One event, jumping with lots of dash in the hands of Ruby Walsh.

The pack briefly threatened to close, but Walsh could afford to look round twice between the final two fences and as even-money favourite Dedigout started to toil, Arvika Ligeonniere safely negotiated the last to make it two wins from as many starts over fences, finishing 11 lengths clear.

Jezki bursts Champagne bubble

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

Jezki completed a significant hat-trick in an exciting renewal of the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Champagne Fever, last season's Cheltenham Champion Bumper hero, attempted to make all the running under Ruby Walsh, and still held an advantage after the last flight.

But the Jessica Harrington-trained Jezki (9-4) looked to be travelling strongly and showed plenty of fight on the run-in to take the two-mile Grade One contest by a length and a half in the hands of Barry Geraghty.

The well-regarded Minsk had every chance, but finished fourth. Zuzka, by contrast, stayed on stoutly to take third spot