Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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COURT PRIMED FOR FESTIVAL PREP

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

Champion Court is set to complete his racecourse preparations for Cheltenham in Friday's kempton.co.uk Graduation Chase.

An excellent second to Sir Des Champs in the Jewson Novices' Chase at last year's Festival, the eight-year-old has continued his good form this season and was last seen finishing an excellent fourth in the King George VI Chase.

Having seemingly failed to get home over three miles in the Boxing Day showpiece, Champion Court is set to come back in trip at Kempton before a tilt at the two-mile-five-furlong Ryanair Chase next month.

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CONTI FEATURES IN DENMAN NINE

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Leading Cheltenham Gold Cup contender Silviniaco Conti could face up to eight rivals in Saturday's Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury.

The three-mile Grade Two, which now carries the name of Silviniaco Conti's former Gold Cup and dual Hennessy-winning stablemate, was reopened for 24 hours on Monday after failing to attract enough entries.

Silviniaco Conti was a top novice last season and has taken his game to another level this season, running away with the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on his seasonal return before beating former Gold Cup hero Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November.

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SEABASS ON COURSE FOR NATIONAL

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Last year's Grand National third Seabass confirmed himself a major contender for this season's renewal of the Aintree spectacular with a tremendous comeback run over hurdles at Fairyhouse.

The Ted Walsh-trained 10-year-old was a heavily supported joint-favourite for the world's most famous steeplechase last April and gave the trainer's daughter Katie Walsh a fantastic spin to be beaten just five lengths.

Making his first appearance since in a two-mile hurdle race, Seabass was hardly going to be seen to best effect but ran on strongly to fill the runner-up spot behind the impressive Rock Critic.

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JONCOL SEEKING HENNESSY GOLD

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Paul Nolan is hoping Joncol can put his troubles behind him when he bids to lift the Hennessy Gold Cup for a second time at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Nolan had the 10-year-old, winner of this race in 2010, treated for a back problem as he felt Joncol was not jumping his fences with his usually fluency and accuracy.

The County Wexford handler is happy once again with the condition of his stable stalwart and is looking forward to saddling him in the big three-mile contest.

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BABY AIMING TO BE IN BETFAIR MIX

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

Tom George is hopeful Baby Mix is returning to something like his best ahead of the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

The five-year-old looked destined for the top when winning at Cheltenham and in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton last season, but he disappointed in the Triumph Hurdle and has failed to sparkle in two starts this term.

SOLWHIT NOT CERTAIN FOR FESTIVAL

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

Charles Byrnes has revealed it is "50-50 at best" stable star Solwhit will line up in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

Despite being sidelined for almost two years by injury, the six-time Grade One winner has returned seemingly as good as ever this winter. He ran a fine comeback race behind Bog Warrior at Punchestown in December and took another step forward to beat the talented So Young in last month's Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas.

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BRIAN STILL IN CHELTENHAM FRAME


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

Bold Sir Brian could still line up at Cheltenham, despite being scratched from both the Betfred Gold Cup and the Ryanair Chase.

The JLT Specialty Handicap Chase is the likely target at next month's Festival for the Lucinda Russell-trained seven-year-old, who took a heavy fall in the Murphy Group Chase at Cheltenham last month.

"We've been speaking to the owners and what we're going to do with him is aim for the big ones at Cheltenham next season. It's a year too early for him," said the Kinross handler.

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HUNTER'S LIGHTS UP MEYDAN

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

Saeed bin Suroor's Hunter's Light showed a smart change of gear to claim round two of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan under Silvestre de Sousa.

The Group Two attracted a top quality field, with former Andre Fabre inmate Saint Baudolino making his debut for Mahmood Al Zarooni. Await The Dawn was another fascinating participant, a former winner of the Hardwicke Stakes for Aidan O'Brien, but now trained by South African maestro Mike de Kock.

While that pair were held up, 7-2 shot Hunter's Light was never far off the pace in the extended nine-furlong contest and quickened up to go by Surfer in the straight and win decisively. Another Godolphin runner, Prince Bishop, picked up minor honours in third, with Saint Baudolino doing all his best work at the finish in fourth.

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SILVI SERVICE IN DENMAN CHASE

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

Leading Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup fancy Silviniaco Conti returns from a midwinter break in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

A convincing winner of both the Charlie Hall Chase and Betfair Chase, the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old is among a field of eight declared for this three-mile heat.

He will be taken on by last season's Gold Cup runner-up The Giant Bolster, trained by David Bridgwater. Philip Hobbs is stepping Menorah up to three miles for the first time following his Peterborough Chase success over an extended two and a half miles at Kempton over Christmas

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COY CASEY BANKS ON FLEMENSTAR

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

Trainer Peter Casey is keeping race tactics close to his chest ahead of Flemenstar's crucial test in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Given the eight-year-old was beaten less than a length in the Lexus - his first try over three miles - connections are keen on a second crack at the distance to confirm whether or not he is a realistic Cheltenham Gold Cup contender.

There has been much debate about whether Flemenstar should be ridden less forcefully this weekend, but Casey is not giving anything away.

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Here are my best tips for today.


Newbury 1.15 Chatterbox
Newbury 1.50 Monetary Fund & Spirit River e/w
Newbury 2.25 Silviniaco Conti
Newbury 3.00 Shooters Wood
Newbury 3.35 Cause Of Causes
Newbury 4.10 Unioniste
Warwick 1.30 Kells Belle
Warwick 2.05 Hey Big Spender
Warwick 2.20 Fago

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RAINBOW SET FOR ASCOT COMEBACK

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

Finian's Rainbow is in line to make his protracted return to the track at Ascot next weekend.

Last season's Queen Mother Champion Chase winner has not been sighted since disappointing in the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot in November.

Nicky Henderson's inmate has since undergone a wind operation, and is set to contest the Betfair Ascot Chase after satisfying jockey Barry Geraghty in a piece of work at Seven Barrows on Saturday morning.

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CONTI DELIVERS GOLD STANDARD

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

Silviniaco Conti further cemented his position as a leading contender for Cheltenham Gold Cup honours with a straightforward success in the Denman Chase at Newbury.

Rapidly progressive this season and arriving on the back of victory in the Charlie Hall Chase and a defeat of Long Run at Haydock last time out, the seven-year-old jumped three out in unison with The Giant Bolster and Mail De Bievre, who made a bold bid from the front on his British debut.

Silviniaco Conti (8-11 favourite) asserted going to the final fence and was quickly away from it, staying on well to see off last year's Gold Cup runner-up The Giant Bolster, to whom he was giving 4lb, by seven lengths.

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SIR DES SEES OFF STAR

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

Sir Des Champs finally got the better of Flemenstar to claim Grade One glory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old, ridden by Davy Russell, outstayed Peter Casey's stable star, who seemingly failed to last out the three miles despite being held up for most of the journey.

Quel Esprit set the pace in a four-horse affair, but the race developed into a duel between the big two over the last two fences. Andrew Lynch hung on to Flemenstar until after the last, but he could not quicken to go past Sir Des Champs (11-8), who prevailed by a length and three-quarters.

Sir Des Champs is two from two at the Cheltenham Festival and was cut to 9-2 second-favourite with Stan James to make it a hat-trick in the Betfred Gold Cup, for which the Nicky Henderson-trained Bobs Worth is 3-1 favourite.

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MULLINS BACK AT FEVER PITCH

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Champagne Fever returned to winning form when making all the running in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Last season's Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner had run a listless race last time out at Naas, but Willie Mullins' charge bounced back to his best in this Grade One test.

The strongly-fancied Waaheb fell at the second flight when at the rear of the field and the 2-1 favourite brushed aside Bright New Dawn, his only serious challenger, and galloped on strongly to the line in the hands of Paul Townend to score by a length and three-quarters.

TENT HACKS UP IN BETFAIR HURDLE

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My Tent Or Yours ran out a very impressive winner of the valuable Betfair Hurdle at Newbury for Nicky Henderson and Tony McCoy.

Still a novice, the six-year-old was sent off the 5-1 favourite and was cruising all the way up the straight under a very tight hold.

When McCoy let out an inch of rein the JP McManus-owned gelding moved effortlessly clear, and his margin of victory over Cotton Mill, who ran a fine race on his return to action, was five lengths. Swing Bowler was another length and a quarter back in third.

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LAST-GASP BOB GRABS MORIARTY

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Boston Bob got up in the very last stride to win a thrilling race for the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins' charge looked beaten when he dropped back to fourth after tracking the pacesetting Lyreen Legend, but rallied in amazing fashion on the run to the line.

Paul Carberry appeared to have brought Texas Jack with a perfectly timed run and though he got the better of Lord Windermere and Lyreen Legend, he simply had no answer to the late dash of Paul Townend on the 6-4 favourite.

Mullins said: "Once Paul dropped him back and gave him a breather he flew home and we're very pleased with him. It was a very brave performance from the horse and we changed tactics from Navan, where he jumped very big and carefully.

OUR CONOR OOZES SPRING CLASS

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Our Conor completed a hat-trick over jumps with an impressive display to take the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown and is now set to head the Irish challenge for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Bryan Cooper brought the Dessie Hughes-trained four-year-old to challenge long-time leader Diakali two out in the Grade One contest and quickly put the race to bed.

Our Conor (100-30) pulled five lengths clear to land the spoils in style, with Diakali second and British raider Ruacana a further four and a quarter lengths away in third.