Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Briar battles for Slaney spoils.

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

Briar Hill stayed on course for one of the longer events at the Cheltenham Festival in March as he kept his unbeaten record under Rules intact with a workmanlike victory in the Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas.

Last season's Champion Bumper hero made short work of inferior rivals on his hurdling debut at Wexford in November and asserted his authority over just one rival in last month's Navan Novice Hurdle. He had to carry a Grade One penalty in the two-and-a-half-mile Slaney, but was still a 1-3 favourite to beat two opponents.

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Encke stays in training.

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

Godolphin have announced that some of the horses banned from racing due to the Mahmood Al Zarooni scandal, including St Leger winner Encke, will return to action in the coming months.

Encke has not been seen since he foiled Camelot's bid to land the Triple Crown at Doncaster in 2012 but will go back into training with Charlie Appleby in Newmarket, with the intention of running in Europe later this year.

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Young guns to renew Fly rivalry

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

Hurricane Fly, Jezki and Our Conor, the first three home in the Ryanair Hurdle over Christmas, are among seven entries for the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle back at Leopardstown on January 26.

Hurricane Fly will be bidding for an amazing 19th Grade One victory and, in an ominous warning to his younger rivals, trainer Willie Mullins predicts there is even more to come from the 10-year-old, who has won the Irish Champion for the last three years.

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Leopardstown makes sense for Logic

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

Defy Logic remains on course to bid for further Grade One honours in the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown on January 26.

Paul Nolan's smart hurdler made a most impressive start to his career over fences at Naas at the end of October, but was then beaten in the Grade Two Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown.

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Sire tops Clarence entries

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

Sire De Grugy is the star name with Sprinter Sacre understandably absent from the 19 entries in the Sodexho Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 18.

Gary Moore's chestnut capitalised when Sprinter Sacre swerved the Tingle Creek at Sandown, and was left with the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton at his mercy when Nicky Henderson's superstar dropped out of the race with his well-publicised heart issue, from which he is recovering.

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Buck's team ponder jockey plans.


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

Big Buck's' owner Andy Stewart insists there are many names in the hat to discuss with trainer Paul Nicholls before deciding which jockey will get the call-up for the ride on the supreme staying hurdler.

Nicholls will consider possible plans with Stewart in Barbados this week, with Big Buck's set to return from absence in the Cleeve Hurdle back at Cheltenham on January 25.

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Bobs tops Gold contenders.


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

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Head salutes retiring Cloud.

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

Freddie Head paid tribute to Moonlight Cloud after the great mare left his stables on Wednesday morning and headed into retirement.

The six-year-old failed to sign off her career with a victory when she could only finish sixth in the Hong Kong Mile, but before that had won three consecutive Group Ones in France in sensational style.

A truly wonderful horse who gave us many good memories.

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Sprinter tops Champion contenders.

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

Sprinter Sacre features among 26 entries for the BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 12.

Nicky Henderson's superstar has questions to answer at present after being diagnosed with a fibrillating heart on his first start of the season when pulled up at Kempton and while his participation is still in the balance, last year's winner remains the standout contender.

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World market rocked by Sol blow

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

Big Buck's is as short as 6-4 favourite to regain his Ladbrokes World Hurdle crown after the current champion Solwhit was ruled out of the race with injury.

Trainer Charles Byrnes was forced to draw stumps with the luckless 10-year-old after a problem which prevented him from making his reappearance at Leopardstown over Christmas failed to show the required improvement.

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Artigiano third on Meydan return.

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

Artigiano was a promising third on his comeback run after an enforced absence as Mushreq made a successful return in the Singspiel Stakes at Meydan.

Artigiano showed he retains plenty of ability on his first start after being suspended for six months last year for testing positive for anabolic steroids when with disgraced trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.

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Upazo takes Tolworth test

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

Willie Mullins is keen to find out where Upazo ranks in his talented crop of novice hurdlers by letting him line up in the williamhill.com Levy Board Tolworth Hurdle at Kempton.

Mullins has a formidable hand in the division this season, with the likes of Briar Hill, Faugheen and Vautour expected to bid for major honours at the Festivals this spring. French bumper winner Upazo surprisingly failed to find the winner's spot in four attempts over hurdles in Ireland last season, but as a result, maintained his novice status for the new campaign

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Buck's 'delight' for Twiston-Davies.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...Davies&day=Sat

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Royal reigns in Tolworth.

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

Royal Boy and Josses Hill gave champion trainer Nicky Henderson a one-two in the rearranged williamhill.com Levy Board Tolworth Hurdle Novices' Hurdle at Kempton as hot favourite The Liquidator was well-beaten.

Tony McCoy came out on top on the Michael Buckley-owned Royal Boy, edging out stable jockey Barry Geraghty on Josses Hill by half a length.

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Saphir lands Lanzarote gold.

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

Saphir Du Rheu powered to victory under 5lb claimer Harry Derham in the William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton.

The promising conditional brought the five-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls, to lead at the second-last and the 6-1 chance asserted his authority to win by six lengths from If In Doubt, with Like Minded a length away third.