Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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RED-HOT FEVER LANDS SUPREME.

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

Champagne Fever put up a superb front-running performance to get Ireland off to a great start at the Cheltenham Festival in the opening William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh set out to make all on the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old (5-1), who had stablemate Un Atout for company for most of the way, with hot favourite My Tent Or Yours always close behind and looking a major threat as they turned into the straight.

There was nothing in it between Champagne Fever and My Tent Or Yours as they jumped the final flight, but the front-runner responded to every call and forged ahead up the hill to win by half a length. Jezki finished third.

[denphone]

HURRICANE STORMS TO VICTORY.

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

Hurricane Fly regained his Stan James Champion Hurdle crown with what was in the end a commanding victory at the Cheltenham Festival.

There was a stage in the race when the Willie Mullins-trained 13-8 favourite did not seem to be going well at all under Ruby Walsh as Rock On Ruby bowled along in front, but he was travelling strongly again when they reached the business end of the contest.

He led on the turn for home and jumped the last in front, and though Rock On Ruby kept on in determined fashion, Hurricane Fly had enough in the locker to dig deep and score by two and a half lengths. Countrywide Flame ran a great race to finish third, another length and three-quarters away.

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ROCK ON EARNS FRY PRAISE.

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

Harry Fry was full of praise for Rock On Ruby after his stable star finished second to Hurricane Fly in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old, who won the title last season when his training was supervised by Fry at Paul Nicholls' satellite yard, made a bold bid from the front and galloped all the way to the line to ensure the winner pulled out all the stops.

"We've gone out there and served it up to them and just been beaten by a true champion and a better horse on the day," said the young trainer

SIMONSIG SCRAPS TO ARKLE GLORY.

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

Red-hot favourite Simonsig was made to pull out all the stops to claim the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

Unbeaten in two previous starts over fences, Nicky Henderson's dashing grey was an 8-15 market leader and travelled powerfully throughout in the hands of Barry Geraghty. He was left in front after Overturn blundered his way over the third-last.

There was still time for a scare for odds-on backers, though, as Mouse Morris's 33-1 outsider Baily Green tracked him into the straight, but Simonsig found enough after the final fence to seal a two-and-a-quarter-length triumph.

[Cobbydaler]

John McCririck taken ill

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21764630

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

John McCririck taken ill

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21764630

Yes l hope he gets well quickly as he is a iconic figure in the world of Horse Racing.

---------- Post added at 05:41 ---------- Previous post was at 05:36 ----------

INSPECTION AHEAD OF SECOND DAY.

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

The second day of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday is under threat from the cold snap, with a precautionary inspection called for 8am.

Overnight temperatures are forecast to get as low as minus 5C and eventually rise to 4C in the afternoon.

Tuesday's opening day card went ahead 35 minutes late after a mid-morning inspection and the loss of the cross-country race.

A racecourse spokesperson said: "With the temperature forecast as low as minus 5C tonight, clerk of the course Simon Claisse will put the covers down again immediately after racing and will hold a precautionary inspection at 8am."

QUEVEGA MAKES FESTIVAL HISTORY.

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

Quevega made it a remarkable five-timer in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle with a thrilling victory at the Cheltenham Festival.

She came from a difficult position to land the spoils and equal the 1930s Gold Cup hero Golden Miller's record of winning the same race five years in a row, in the process completing a first-day treble for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh.

Almost knocked over at the top of the hill, Quevega still had plenty to do at the last, where French raider Sirene D'Ainay looked to have the race in the bag, but the 8-11 favourite finally got going and flew up the hill, passing many rivals to get her head in front in the last 100 yards and win by a length and a half.

What a truly wonderful achievement.

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CHELTENHAM GIVEN GREEN LIGHT.

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

The second day of the Cheltenham Festival will go ahead as planned after the track was declared fit to race.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse had planned to inspect at 8am but was able to give the meeting the go-ahead much earlier than planned.

Temperatures are reported to have fallen to -5C overnight but a warmer day than of late is expected. Claisse and his team covered the track after racing finished on Tuesday and he reports the ground to be frost-free on Wednesday morning.

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Here are my best tips on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham 1.30 Buddy Bolero & Tofino Bay
Cheltenham 2.05 Pont Alexandre
Cheltenham 2.40 Unioniste
Cheltenham 4.00 Fiveforthree & Buck Magic
Cheltenham 4.40 Saphir Du Rheu & Pistol
Cheltenham 5.15 Le Vent D'antan

[denphone]

SACRE SEEKS CHAMPION CROWN.

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

Nicky Henderson admits he will be disappointed if Sprinter Sacre is beaten in the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham today.

The seven-year-old is many punters' idea of the banker of the week and has been long odds-on for the two-mile showpiece since the ante-post book was opened.

Unbeaten in seven races over fences, including the Arkle Trophy at last year's Festival, Sprinter Sacre has understandably frightened away a lot of the opposition. He still has decent rivals to beat, headed by the 2011 Champion hero Sizing Europe, and Henderson is not taking anything for granted.

PONT THE STAR NAME IN NEPTUNE.

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

Willie Mullins believes Pont Alexandre "seems to have everything" ahead of his highly anticipated run in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

It is a measure of the regard in which the five-year-old is held that Ireland's champion trainer threw him straight in at Grade One level on his debut, and that confidence was justified as he produced a scintillating display at Navan.

He was arguably even more impressive at Leopardstown in January, with many having him down as the Irish banker of the Festival.

Mullins said: "We've asked him two big questions so far this season and he's answered the call well on both occasions. We're asking him another big question, so we'll see how he gets on. He's in good form - the ground wouldn't be a worry for me, or the trip.

[denphone]

BOBS TOPS GOLD CUP FIELD.

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

Ante-post favourite Bobs Worth spearheads 11 declarations for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

The Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old has not been seen since the beginning of December, when he emerged an excellent winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Henderson is also represented by the 2011 Gold Cup winner Long Run, who claimed the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Captain Chris, a narrow runner-up in the King George, is in contention for the Philip Hobbs team.

EXPRESS DELIVERY FOR WALEY-COHEN.

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

Sam Waley-Cohen punched out Rajdhani Express to claim a thrilling triumph in the Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

The amateur rider, who partnered Long Run to win the 2011 Gold Cup and will be back on board the same horse on Friday, appeared confident coming down the hill aboard the Nicky Henderson-trained 16-1 chance.

POWELL IS A GOLDEN GREAT.

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

Jockey Brendan Powell jnr enjoyed his first Cheltenham Festival winner when storming to victory on Golden Chieftain in the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase.

The 3lb claimer, who is the son of former top jumps jockey Brendan Powell snr, got a good tune out of the bottom weight, trained by Colin Tizzard.

Golden Chieftain (28-1) came through to tackle the 13-2 favourite Our Mick, who had set sail for home at the third-last fence, and he shrugged Donald McCain's charge aside before galloping on strongly to score by 10 lengths.

---------- Post added at 15:58 ---------- Previous post was at 14:00 ----------

AWESOME SPRINTER JUST CHAMPION.

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

Sprinter Sacre confirmed his superstar status with a stunning victory in the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old stretched his unbeaten record over fences to eight races with another power-packed display in the feature race on day two of the Festival.

Barry Geraghty's partner was sent on his way the 1-4 favourite, and easily justified those cramped odds in front of an expectant grandstand. Sizing Europe finished second, but was beaten out of sight.

Sprinter Sacre was in third for most of the early exchanges as the supplemented Mail De Bievre and Sizing Europe took the field along at a moderate pace.

Sizing Europe, the 2011 Queen Mother winner and runner-up last year, took the lead four out, but was swiftly joined by the winner at the next fence. There was little in it at that stage, but that was as close as the race came to being a genuine contest.

Simply spellbinding.

[denphone]

NEW ONE ON ROLL OF HONOUR.

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

The New One showed heart and class in equal measure to win the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained five-year-old (7-2) benefited from a fine ride from the Naunton handler's son, Sam, to defeat Irish raider Rule The World by four lengths.

Pont Alexandre, the 6-4 favourite from Willie Mullins' stable, was always to the fore under Ruby Walsh but finished third in a race devoid of any serious pace, with The New One scampering along the outside of the field to secure his third victory from four starts this season.

DE BROMHEAD TAKES IT ON CHIN.

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

Connections of Sizing Europe were quick to praise Sprinter Sacre after finishing a well-beaten second to Nicky Henderson's superstar in the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Sizing Europe was the only one to give the winner a race, though he was unable to raise a threat once Barry Geraghty went through the gears on Sprinter Sacre, and passed the post 19 lengths in arrears.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead said: "We have been beaten by a phenomenon. We had a go, but came off second best. Andrew (Lynch) said he tripped on the path, but that it made no difference to the result.

[denphone]

INSPECTION AT CHELTENHAM.

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

Cheltenham have announced an 8am precautionary inspection for the chase and hurdles courses ahead of the third day of the Festival meeting.

With overnight temperatures due to fall to minus 6C, officials at Prestbury Park are again taking no chances.

An 11am inspection had already been called to assess prospects for the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase on the cross-country track.

FOCUS GRABS OAKSEY GLORY.

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

Back In Focus put up a determined staying performance to give trainer Willie Mullins his fourth winner of this year's Cheltenham Festival in the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase.

The Patrick Mulllins-ridden eight-year-old, who has stamina in abundance, looked beaten in the closing stages, but he wore down Tofino Bay up the hill to snatch the spoils from Nina Carberry in the four-mile contest for amateur riders.

Rival d'Estruval fell at the second-last when separating the two principals and it was Back In Focus (9-4 favourite) who scored for owner Graham Wylie by half a length from Tofino Bay. Godsmejudge was 19 lengths back in third.

WINDERMERE SIMPLY THE BEST.

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

Triple Gold Cup-winning rider Jim Culloty enjoyed Festival success as a trainer when Lord Windermere took the RSA Chase at Cheltenham.

He possibly looked a fortunate winner, however, as the Willie Mullins-trained Boston Bob crashed out at the final fence when in front.

That left Lord Windermere (8-1), ridden by Davy Russell, to get the better of Lyreen Legend by a length and three-quarters to give Culloty, best known for his association with Best Mate, a first winner at the meeting since he gave up riding.

Russell said: "I've only ridden him once at home, so all the credit goes to Jim Culloty, who has instilled confidence in him. Jim's done a marvellous job. I only steered him today and he was in super order."

[denphone]

Day three at the Cheltenham Festival goes ahead after early inspection.

http://www1.skysports.com/horse-raci...ontent=Betting

This afternoon's meeting at the Cheltenham Festival has survived an early-morning inspection and goes ahead as scheduled.

Although overnight temperatures dipped to a shuddering minus 7C, clerk of the course Simon Claisse was able to give the fixture the thumbs-up at first light.

Here are my best tips for day three of the festival.

Cheltenham 1.30 Captain Conan
Cheltenham 2.05 Sam Winner
Cheltenham 2.40 Riverside Theatre
Cheltenham 3.20 Get Me Out Of Here
Cheltenham 4.00 Hunt Ball (Win) & Poquelin ( E/W)
Cheltenham 4.40 Frisco Depot & Galaxy Rock ( Both E/W )
Cheltenham 5.15 Saddlers Storm

[Verified]

Originally Posted by denphone

Day three at the Cheltenham Festival goes ahead after early inspection.

http://www1.skysports.com/horse-raci...ontent=Betting



Here are my best tips for day three of the festival.

Cheltenham 1.30 Captain Conan
Cheltenham 2.05 Sam Winner
Cheltenham 2.40 Riverside Theatre
Cheltenham 3.20 Get Me Out Of Here
Cheltenham 4.00 Hunt Ball (Win) & Poquelin ( E/W)
Cheltenham 4.40 Frisco Depot & Galaxy Rock ( Both E/W )
Cheltenham 5.15 Saddlers Storm

Been so busy with work I've missed most of the festival but going to spend some time in front of the box today, was going to ask for some tips so thanks!

[denphone]

Well l will do the best l can giving out tips but Cheltenham is a most difficult place to get winners.

---------- Post added at 10:57 ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 ----------

MEDINAS LIFTS CUP FOR KING.

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

Medinas sprang a 33-1 surprise for jockey Wayne Hutchinson and trainer Alan King in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

Hutchinson brought Medinas with a rattling run on the wide outside to challenge at the final flight, as the winner's stablemate Meister Eckhart and Fiveforthree from the Willie Mullins stable battled it out on the stands side.

Medinas, winner of the Welsh Champion Hurdle on his previous start, held the aces and swept to victory by two lengths from Meister Eckhart, with Fiveforthree just a nose away. Master Of The Sea was fourth and Ericht fifth.

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JEWSON BENEFIT FOR MARTIN.

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

Benefficient produced a gutsy performance to land the Jewson Novices' Chase, the opening event on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Tony Martin's charge was allowed to go off a 20-1 shot in the hands of Bryan Cooper, but he made a mockery of his odds as he accounted for hot favourite Dynaste.

Benefficient had been prominent throughout, but his challenge looked to be over when he was headed some way from home. However, Cooper switched him back to challenge up the inside and he found a second wind to power up the hill and win by three and a quarter lengths.

Cooper said: "It's unbelievable, it's what you dream of as a young boy. Tony said to me that if he gets headed turning in, to just sit on him and let him fiddle away.

[denphone]

SOLWHIT CROWNED WORLD CHAMPION.

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

Solwhit arrived late on the scene to deny the Stewart family a fairytale victory with Celestial Halo in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

In the absence of Big Buck's it was left to Celestial Halo to carry the red and white silks of Andy Stewart for Paul Nicholls, and though he looked likely to win as they came down the straight, in the end he had no answer to Solwhit's surge up the hill.

So often the bridesmaid behind Hurricane Fly in his early days, the Charles Byrnes-trained nine-year-old was guided to a two-length success by Paul Carberry.

CARD THE ACE IN RYANAIR.

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

Cue Card made all to claim a second Cheltenham Festival success for Colin and Joe Tizzard in the Ryanair Chase.

Winner of the Champion Bumper three years ago, Cue Card was well in control from the top of the hill and easily held favourite First Lieutenant by nine lengths at odds of 7-2.

For Non Stop hung on gamely for third, a further three and a quarter lengths adrift, with last year's winner Riverside Theatre fourth after flying up the hill.

Joe Tizzard said: "People think that when he gets taken on his jumping falls apart, but he was so relaxed in front that it didn't matter that Jason (Maguire, on Champion Court) was beside me. He did it well.