Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Annie powers to magnificent seven.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Mon

Annie Power stretched her unbeaten run to seven with a superb display in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse.

The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old had beaten male opponents when running out a most impressive winner of a Grade Two at Naas in February, meaning she was the 4-11 favourite for a race which was this year given Grade One status.

Ruby Walsh settled her at the rear of the six-runner field for much of the two-and-a-half-mile journey, but she pulled her way to the front still full of running rounding the home bend and dismissed stable companion Glens Melody as she stretched clear for a 12-length win.

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Mala swoops to defy Logic.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Mon

Mala Beach mowed down Defy Logic to claim a thrilling Coolmore NH Sires Fame And Glory & Sans Frontieres Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse for Gordon Elliott.

Having finished second to Annie Power last time out, it was no surprise to see the money come for Paul Nolan's free-going Defy Logic and he was sent off the 11-8 favourite under Tony McCoy before adopting his customary pacesetting tactics.

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Stars on show in Melling.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Mon

Sprinter Sacre, Cue Card and Flemenstar feature among a fascinating list of nine possible runners for the John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday.

The incredible Sprinter Sacre extended his unbeaten record over fences to eight with a scintillating display in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and trainer Nicky Henderson is now keen to test the water at two and a half miles on Merseyside.

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Commander tops 49 left in National.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Mon

Imperial Commander heads a list of 49 horses left in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday following the five-day stage.

The 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero's trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has won the world's greatest steeplechase twice with Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002), has also left in Major Malarkey and Viking Blond.

The big guns at the head of the market have all stood their ground, headed by ante-post favourite On His Own, whose handler Willie Mullins is also represented by Quel Esprit and Quiscover Fontaine.

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Liberty breaks free in National.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Tue

Liberty Counsel ran out a shock 50-1 winner of the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse for trainer Dot Love and conditional jockey Ben Dalton.

The 10-year-old mare was last seen finishing down the field in the Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, so it was no surprise to see her sent off at big odds for this fiercely competitive contest.

However, Liberty Counsel was in front rounding the home turn and fought off the challenge Away We Go to record a famous victory for her small-time connections.

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Sous sweeps to Grade Two success.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Tue

Pique Sous showed a smart change of gear to seal another victory for Willie Mullins in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Ruby Walsh sent the winner's stable companion Tennis Cap to the lead from the outset, but it was clear early in the home straight Tennis Cap was coming to the end of his tether and as he dropped away, Cops And Robbers, Sizing Gold and Pique Sous went for home.

Cops And Robbers led Pique Sous to the final flight, but the 11-4 chance picked up best on the level to take the Grade Two with a degree of authority under Paul Townend

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Katie Walsh defends Aintree race.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/21994749

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Paralysed jockey 'planned to retire'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21999327

JT McNamara, the Irish jockey paralysed after a fall at Cheltenham, was planning to retire from racing this summer, the BBC has learned.

Mr McNamara fractured two vertebrae when his horse fell in a race at the festival last month.

Strabane trainer Barry Potts was the jockey's best man at his wedding.

"He was going to give up the riding after Punchestown apparently, unfortunately this happened," Mr Potts said.

"He's ridden over 600 point to point winners, I think he's ridden about 100 on the track as well - he's ridden in a lot of races.

"He got an awful slap on the ground. The horse hit the fence and drove him into the ground. You knew whenever he hit the ground and didn't move, which wasn't like him.

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Whisky chasing more Aintree glory.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Tue

Oscar Whisky will face eight rivals in his bid to win Thursday's John Smith's Aintree Hurdle for the third consecutive year.

Nicky Henderson's eight-year-old ran a lifeless race at Cheltenham in the World Hurdle but reverts to his ideal trip of two and a half miles.

Oscar Whisky will be ridden by Tony McCoy for the first time as stable jockey Barry Geraghty has chosen to ride Grandouet, a faller in the Champion Hurdle.

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Conti leads Bowl field.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Tue

Silviniaco Conti will attempt to atone for a late departure in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when he lines up in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree on Thursday.

The Paul Nicholls-trained chaser has already won the Charlie Hall Chase, Betfair Chase and Denman Chase this season and looked sure to be involved in the blue riband when crashing out three fences from home.

Zarkandar to wear blinkers.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Tue

Zarkandar will wear blinkers for the first time over hurdles in Thursday's John Smith's Aintree Hurdle after pleasing in a workout in headgear at trainer Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat base this morning.

The 2011 Triumph Hurdle winner was a shade disappointing in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month and Nicholls is hoping headgear will work the oracle with the son of Azamour, a faller in this race 12 months ago.

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Fine surprise for Harrington.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Wed

One Fine Day produced a telling turn of foot to spring a 16-1 surprise in the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Only four went to post for the Grade Three event, with Willie Mullins providing Dogora and Djakadam and Dalasiri representing Sabrina Harty. There wasn't much between those three in the betting or on the official figures, but Jessica Harrington's filly appeared to have plenty to find.

With his mount clearly appreciating the better ground, Robbie Power bided his time as the other three took each other on, before pouncing between the final two flights. One Fine Day sprinted clear to beat Djakadam by three and a quarter lengths

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Carberry swoops on Foildubh.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Wed

Foildubh gained an overdue big-race success in the Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse and gave a boost to supporters of John Smith's Grand National fancy Chicago Grey in the process.

John Ryan's stable star, sent off the 7-4 second favourite, had been without a win since scoring at Tipperary in October but had run several good races in defeat in the interim, including when second to Gordon Elliott's stayer at Navan last time.

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Mon Mome, 100-1 winner in 2009, is retired.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/22010222

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Lieutenant set Bowl assignment.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Wed

Mouse Morris expects the step back up in trip to suit First Lieutenant in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree on Thursday.

After lengthy discussions with his owners Gigginstown House Stud before the Cheltenham Festival, it was decided the eight-year-old would run in the two-mile-five-furlong Ryanair Chase, rather than the Gold Cup over three and a quarter miles.

That left Sir Des Champs to run in the Gold Cup for the same owners and while both ran very creditably to finish second, Morris is happy his stable star gets to try his luck over a longer distance this week.

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Sprinter stars in Melling sextet.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Wed

Jump racing's superstar Sprinter Sacre graces Aintree on Friday as he bids to take his unbeaten record over fences to nine in the John Smith's Melling Chase.

The Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old has lit up the world of fencing with a series of impressive performances. The latest came in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham where he treated a quality field with contempt, brushing aside the 2011 winner Sizing Europe by 19 lengths.

However, this is a different test as he is stepping up to two and a half miles for the first time over the bigger obstacles and his five rivals include two talented performers in Cue Card and Flemenstar

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Camelot in Lockinge frame.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Wed

Dual Derby winner Camelot could reappear in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 18.

Aidan O'Brien's star, who narrowly failed to lift the Triple Crown last season, is one of 32 entries for the one-mile event. It would represent a significant drop in trip from the St Leger, when Camelot met with his first defeat over one and three-quarter miles, before he managed only seventh in the Arc.

Joseph O'Brien felt the Leger distance was too far and believes he will be much more at home over shorter this season.