Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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IRISH EYES SMILING AT KEMPTON

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Paul Nicholls fired back after a quiet Boxing Day at Kempton with an impressive winner of Thursday's opening race.

The champion trainer already has a leading Triumph Hurdle contender in Far West, but he can be joined by Irish Saint after he skipped 18 lengths clear in the William Hill - iPad App Now Available Juvenile Hurdle. Sent off the 10-11 favourite after taking his debut in France, Irish Saint is 14-1 across the board for the Festival itself.

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SIZING DIALLED IN FOR VICTORY

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Sizing Europe registered his third victory of the campaign with a determined performance in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown.

Henry de Bromhead's stable star was a 1-3 favourite to add to his Grade One tally and was disputing the lead with Rubi Light throughout the two-mile-one-furlong test.

Despite travelling noticeably better than his closest rival heading down the back straight, some fine leaps from Rubi Light kept him in contention. Sizing Europe and Andrew Lynch looked set to ease clear from the home turn, but it was hard work in the testing conditions and Rubi Light galloped on tenaciously to make the market leader pull out all the stops.

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DESERT DELIGHT FOR SANCTUAIRE

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Sanctuaire returned to winning ways with an excellent round of jumping in the williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton.

Having been put well in his place by Sprinter Sacre in the Tingle Creek, the Paul Nicholls-trained Sanctuaire was ridden with a bit more restraint in front by Ruby Walsh on this occasion. He was even headed turning into the straight by Wishfull Thinking and looked to be treading water.

Wishfull Thinking soon began to stop in front, however, and with Sanctuaire deciding to put his best foot forward, he regained the lead and powered clear for a 13-length win as the 11-8 favourite from Kumbeshwar.

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JET-POWERED JEZKI IMPRESSES

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Jezki maintained his unbeaten record over obstacles with a hugely impressive performance in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Jessica Harrington's four-year-old was sent off the 11-8 favourite on the strength of his win in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse and was always travelling powerfully in the hands of Robbie Power.

He cruised to the lead halfway up the home straight, safely negotiated the final flight, and then powered clear on the run-in to beat main market rival Waaheb by six lengths.

SIMPLE FOR SIMON AT KEMPTON

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Nicky Henderson's profitable Christmas continued as Simonsig excelled in his second race in less than a week.

Sent off the 1-6 favourite for Kempton's williamhill.com Novices' Chase, the bold-jumping grey never saw another rival. Whereas nothing much was learned about him when he dismissed inferior rivals at Ascot six days ago, this time the smart Hinterland was unable to live with him.

Not every fence was met on the perfect stride, but he was able to fiddle a couple. He also jumped slightly out to his left going down the back straight, but after a long look over his shoulder turning in, Barry Geraghty was able to take it easy up the straight to replicate the victory of Sprinter Sacre in this Grade Two 12 months ago.

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MENORAH COMES GOOD IN PETERBOROUGH

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Menorah provided the connections of narrow King George runner-up Captain Chris with some compensation courtesy of a clear-cut success in the rearranged Levy Board Peterborough Chase at Kempton.

Having been salvaged from abandoned meetings at Huntingdon and Exeter, Kempton stepped in and Philip Hobbs will be delighted.

The former Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner was lifeless behind Cue Card on his return to action but a positive move from Richard Johnson down the back straight signalled his intentions. Jumping well, the race was soon put to bed, with the pacesetting Ghizao fading as Hunt Ball ran on into second.

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BAY FINDS PLENTY TO SNATCH LEXUS

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Tidal Bay got up in the final strides to land what looked an unlikely victory in a thrilling renewal of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Ruby Walsh got an amazing run out of the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding to pass several rivals on the run-in to give owner Graham Wylie a second Grade One on the card after Back In Focus took the Topaz Chase.

In a bunch finish, Tidal Bay (9-2) snatched the spoils from First Lieutenant, with Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs just behind.

The Neil Mulholland-trained Midnight Chase made the running with Hidden Cyclone and Quito De La Roque on his heels and Tidal Bay held up in the rear.

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MONKSLAND WINS CHRISTMAS CRACKER

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Monksland (11-4) gained his revenge over Zaidpour with a cosy success in the woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Noel Meade's five-year-old overturned a defeat in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse with the help of a 2lb pull over Willie Mullins' runner.

Whatuthink set out to make all the running and held a big advantage at one stage. However, he was swallowed up before the final flight where Zaidpour jumped into the lead, but Paul Carberry delivered Monksland with a perfectly-timed challenge on the far side to swoop for a two-and-a-half-length verdict.

FOCUS SEES IT OUT BEST

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Ruby Walsh conjured a late rally out of Back In Focus to deny Aupcharlie as Willie Mullins claimed a one-two in the Topaz Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

The strong-travelling Aupcharlie was going the better on the run to the final fence but he pecked slightly on landing and could not pull far enough clear of his nearest pursuer.

Walsh kept at the Graham Wylie-owned seven-year-old on the long run-in and the 6-4 favourite battled on bravely to get up close home to score by a head. Texas Jack was third.

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HURRICANE BLOWS AWAY FESTIVAL FOES

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Hurricane Fly swept to a comfortable success in the Istabraq Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The 2011 Champion Hurdle hero showed he will be one to beat back at Cheltenham when following up his victory in this race two years ago.

Willie Mullins' ace took over from stablemate Thousand Stars on the turn for home and the 1-5 shot strode away under Ruby Walsh for a seven-length verdict. Unaccompanied was second and Thousand Stars stayed on again to claim third from Captain Cee Bee.

Mullins said: "We're delighted with that, not just with the win but by the way he settled. He was easier to lead around the ring beforehand and Ruby said he settled beautifully throughout the race.

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TAQUIN TAKES CHALLOW HONOURS

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Taquin De Seuil (13-8 favourite) graduated to Grade One level with a comfortable victory in Newbury's Betfred Mobile Sports Challow Novices' Hurdle.

Jonjo O'Neill's charge sat in last place in the early stages as Tony McCoy was happy to bide his time, with Ballybough Pat setting a very steady pace up front. He was still in front three flights from home but Taquin De Seuil was travelling noticeably well in company with his main market rival Clondaw Kaempfer.

However, the latter was under pressure after jumping that hurdle and soon fell away, being pulled up before the penultimate flight. That left Easter Day to battle it out with Taquin De Seuil and while the favourite made slightly hard work of it by running around a bit in front and clattering the last, he still had nine lengths in hand at the line.

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UNIQUE TIDAL EXCITES NICHOLLS

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Paul Nicholls believes Tidal Bay could be the horse to try for the unique double of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and the John Smith's Grand National.

The talented but quirky 11-year-old leapt into the picture for the Betfred Gold Cup with a dramatic last-gasp triumph in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, but Nicholls would only seriously consider the blue riband event for Graham Wylie's charge if the ground was soft.

The champion trainer told At The Races: "He'll have an entry for the World Hurdle and for the Gold Cup. The ground will play a big part in it. I'll obviously have a big chat with Mr Wylie and see what is the right thing to do."

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RYANAIR OR GOLD CUP FOR CRUS

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David Pipe will aim Grands Crus at either the Betfred Gold Cup or the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival following his pleasing comeback run at Kempton.

The seven-year-old grey was an excellent third to Long Run in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day in his first race since undergoing a wind operation following a disappointing performance in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November.

"I thought it was a fantastic run, the best we could have hoped for in those conditions after he had a wind op," Pipe told At The Races.

"He had a bit of time off so I thought he ran a cracking race. He just got tired up the home straight.

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WARRIOR CLAIMS PUNCHESTOWN WIN

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Grade One-winning chaser Bog Warrior notched his second consecutive victory over the smaller obstacles with a smart display in the Follow Punchestown On Facebook Hurdle.

After falling on his seasonal reappearance over fences at Down Royal, Bog Warrior was given a confidence-boosting run over timber at Fairyhouse, running out an impressive winner. Stepped up in class at Punchestown, the gelding was sent off the 11-8 favourite for a fascinating affair that also featured top-class hurdler Solwhit's return from over 700 days off the track.

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SIR REMAINS ON GOLD TRAIL

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Connections of Sir Des Champs retain hope he will be a major player in this season's Cheltenham Gold Cup following his staying-on fourth in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown last week.

The Willie Mullins-trained French import is set to return to Leopardstown for the Hennessy Gold Cup in February after he was beaten just three-quarters of a length by Tidal Bay.

Eddie O'Leary, manager for owners Gigginstown House Stud, is keeping his fingers crossed a better round of jumping can see him back on the winning trail.

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HENDERSON DUO IN TOLWORTH FIELD

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Nicky Henderson could saddle Golden Hoof and Royal Boy as he chases a hat-trick in the 32Red Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

The master of Seven Barrows has saddled Minella Class and Captain Conan to win the last two renewals of the Grade One contest, better known as the Tolworth Hurdle.

CHELTENHAM OPTIONS OPEN FOR EUROPE

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Sizing Europe will be given entries in three championship races at Cheltenham - the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Ryanair Chase and the Betfred Gold Cup.

While trainer Henry de Bromhead admits the Champion Chase would be the "favourite" he wants to keep all options open, as his latest success came in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase over two miles and a furlong at Leopardstown, but he was not quite as convincing there as he had been for his two previous wins this season, both over two and a half miles.

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TELESCOPE KEEPING HIGHCLERE EXCITED

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While Highclere Thoroughbred Racing now has interests in a handful of National Hunt horses, Harry Herbert's passion still remains with the big summer Festivals on the Flat.

Last season Highclere really broke through into the big time and in Bonfire and Vow had genuine claims in the Derby and Oaks - although both were eventually found wanting. Harbinger won the King George And Queen Elizabeth Stakes for Highclere in 2010 but injury cruelly robbed connections of seeing how good he really could be

In Telescope, like Harbinger trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Highclere once again have a top-class middle distance prospect.