Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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WALSH 'PERPLEXED' BY FLY DOUBTERS.

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

Ruby Walsh has revealed he is "utterly perplexed" by the negativity surrounding Hurricane Fly as he aims to regain his crown in Tuesday's Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 2011 winner was a disappointing third when odds-on favourite 12 months ago, but has appeared as good as ever in three starts this season, completing the hat-trick with his third triumph in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

"I know there has been much negativity of late about the horse, but it has left me utterly perplexed," the jockey said in his Irish Examiner column.

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TWELVE REMAIN IN GOLD CUP.

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

There are 12 horses remaining at the latest entry stage for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, with all the big guns standing their ground.

Bobs Worth and 2011 winner Long Run give Nicky Henderson a strong hand as he attempts to wrestle the trainers' championship from Paul Nicholls.

Long Run will be wearing cheekpieces in public for the first time, while Bobs Worth has not had a run since the Hennessy Gold Cup over 100 days ago.

Sir Des Champs will be aiming to give Willie Mullins a first victory in the race and Ireland their first winner since War Of Attrition in 2006.

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IMPERIAL GLORY FOR MONGAN.

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

First Avenue came from the clouds to cause a 20-1 surprise in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown to give Laura Mongan the biggest winner of her career.

With more in front of him than behind him as he turned into the straight some 15 lengths behind the runaway leader Kazlian, his young jockey Nathan Adams refused to panic.

Kazlian was still some five lengths clear when he crashed through the second-last, losing his momentum and letting his challengers close the gap, and First Avenue hit top gear to power away and win by three and and a half lengths from the staying-on Tanerko Emery. Kazlian finished third

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CLOSE TOUCH A ROYAL WINNER

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

The Queen has a bright prospect to look forward to after Close Touch landed a 12-length victory in the EBF paddypower.com 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown.

A home-bred related to the likes of Open Hearted and First Love, the chestnut had been unbeaten in his first three starts before running into African Gold at Doncaster last time.

Many Clouds continued to dig deep from the front and finished an admirable second, but he was no match for Close Touch, who surged relentlessly forward over the last two flights.

BIG GUNS HOLD SWAY IN TRIUMPH

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

All the major ante-post fancies are among 21 acceptors for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday.

The Dessie Hughes-trained Our Conor, Paul Nicholls' Far West and Nicky Henderson's Rolling Star are the three main market fancies and all appear.

As well as Our Conor the Irish challenge could also be supplemented by Willie Mullins' Blood Cotil and Diakali, among others.

Gary Moore's Chris Pea Green, the John Quinn duo of Kashmir Peak and Hidden Justice, and John Ferguson's Grade One winner Ruacana are all there.

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GODOLPHIN HIT DOUBLE CENTURY.

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

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor sent out a Group One double at Meydan to take Godolphin's tally at the highest level to 201.

Hunter's Light provided the first leg of the brace, and the landmark 200th victory, as he claimed the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 at the Dubai track. The 10-furlong contest is an acknowledged trial for the World Cup and Monterosso won the race last year before going on to glory in the main event.

He was in the line-up once again, but was some way off the pace on his first start in 245 days. Breeders' Cup Turf winner Little Mike, having his first start since arriving from America, took it up turning for home but faded, and Silvestre de Sousa produced Hunter's Light with a perfectly timed run to win well.

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RUBY READY TO ROCK IN CHAMPION NINE.

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

Last year's winner Rock On Ruby is among a field of nine for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

Hurricane Fly and Binocular, the previous two winners of the two-mile blue riband, bid to regain their crown.

Harry Fry's Rock On Ruby will wear blinkers as he attempts to become the first horse since Hardy Eustace in 2004 and 2005 to retain his title. Paul Nicholls, who officially trained Rock On Ruby last year, is represented by Zarkandar, who is unbeaten in three starts this season and is the mount of Daryl Jacob with Ruby Walsh electing to ride Hurricane Fly.

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CHELTENHAM WELL COVERED UP.

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

All frost covers were in place at Cheltenham by 2pm on Sunday ahead of the four-day Festival fixture.

The operation on the Old Course, where racing takes place for the first two days of the meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, was completed on Saturday afternoon, along with vulnerable areas on the cross country course, used on Tuesday only.

The New Course, used for racing on Thursday and Friday, was covered on Sunday.

In total, the area protected by the covers is 65 acres, or the equivalent of 45 football pitches, and has involved 630 individual covers.

"All the frost covers are now down," said clerk of the course Simon Claisse.

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DYNASTE HEADING FOR JEWSON.

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

Dynaste will run in the Jewson Novices' Chase rather the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival because of the prospect of testing ground.

Connections of the David Pipe-trained grey feel the shorter distance of the Jewson is the better option due to the change in the conditions.

"Touch wood he's the best horse in either race. We thought that on the ground the RSA could be a real slog, so we've leant towards the Jewson," said Pipe.

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TENT TOPS SUPREME FIELD.

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

Ante-post favourite My Tent Or Yours will face 11 rivals in the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

Nicky Henderson's six-year-old obliterated a field of top-drawer handicappers in last month's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and with Tony McCoy on board, he is going to be a warm order to claim the Festival curtain-raiser.

Leading owner JP McManus has a formidable hand, with My Tent Or Yours joined by Jessica Harrington's Irish raider Jezki, unbeaten in four starts over obstacles.

SACRE LEADS QUEEN MOTHER CONTENDERS.

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

Sprinter Sacre and Sizing Europe are the star names among seven declared runners in the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

Last year's Arkle hero Sprinter Sacre remains unbeaten in seven starts over fences, having barely come off the bridle in winning the Tingle Creek and Victor Chandler Chases so far this season.

Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old will be long odds-on to notch another Grade One triumph on Wednesday, but the presence of former champion Sizing Europe does at least add some spice to the race.

FLY 'IN GREAT FORM' FOR CHAMPION.

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

Willie Mullins could not be happier with Hurricane Fly as his stable star bids to regain his crown in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

A winner of no less than 14 Grade One prizes, the nine-year-old is one of the most prolific two-mile hurdlers of the last decade.

However, he arguably returns to Prestbury Park with something to prove, having suffered a shock odds-on reverse when only third 12 months ago behind the reopposing Rock On Ruby.

Although he has looked as good as ever in winning each of his three starts this season, most recently securing a third victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January, many bookmakers have been keen to take on the deposed champion.

For those interested in Cheltenham here is a excellent site to try to help you pick some winners.

http://www.attheraces.com/cheltenham/

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HENDERSON HAS FAITH IN BINO.

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

Nicky Henderson is keeping his fingers crossed that Binocular can produce his best form in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

The Seven Barrows handler, who has won the showpiece race on five previous occasions including with Binocular in 2010, also saddles Grandouet and Khyber Kim.

The enigmatic Binocular was fourth a year ago and has run just once this season, finishing third behind Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

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ARVIKA'S JUMPING PUT TO TEST.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...o+test&day=Mon

Arvika Ligeonniere will be out to make amends for a fall last time out when he takes on Simonsig in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

The eight-year-old looked a top recruit for the Willie Mullins team when completing a hat-trick over fences with victory over Oscars Well in a Leopardstown Grade One on Boxing Day.

However, he blotted his copybook when falling in the Irish Arkle on the same track in January.

"He's in good form and hopefully if he jumps well, and doesn't make an elementary mistake like he did the last day, he'll run well," said the County Carlow trainer.

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CHELTENHAM BEATING ICY BLAST.

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

Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse is satisfied the Festival can go ahead without a hitch, despite a freezing cold Monday in the Cotswolds.

The whole of the Old Course (used for the first two days of the meeting), the New Course (for the second half) and vulnerable areas of the cross country track are under 65 acres-worth of black frost covers.

It snowed briefly on occasions during a bitterly cold morning and afternoon on Monday and the blankets will not be removed until as late as possible on Tuesday.

Lets hope the great meet is on today.

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Here are my best tips for day one of The Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham 1.30 My Tent Or Yours (Win) and Cheltenian (E/W)
Cheltenham 2.05 Simonsig
Cheltenham 2.40 Loch Ba & Pete The Feat
Cheltenham 3.20 Zarkandar
Cheltenham 4.00 Saddlers Storm
Cheltenham 4.40 Quevega
Cheltenham 5.15 Shangani

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FESTIVAL OPENER HINGES ON INSPECTION.

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

Cheltenham will have to pass a 10.30am inspection if the opening day of the Festival meeting is to go ahead.

Although the covers were put down at the track over the weekend, officials report the track to be frozen in a few places this morning after a wind chill of -12C overnight.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: "We are frozen in places but it seems to be small areas. We can't really tell the extent of the frozen areas until we start to take the covers up. If the weather does what we expect it to and the temperature gets up to 3C by 12 noon, we should be kicking off as planned at 1.30pm."

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GOOD NEWS AT CHELTENHAM.

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

This afternoon's opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is set to go ahead as planned, although the start will be delayed by 35 minutes.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse was forced to call a 10.30am inspection as parts of the course were frozen following a -12C wind chill overnight. The track passed that inspection, although the first race has been put back from 1.30pm to 2.05pm.

The cross-country course was due to be in action at 4pm but that race is now scheduled for 5.45pm. However, if the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase is to go ahead, the banks course must pass a further inspection at 2.15pm.