Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Mullins drops Vautour Champion hint.

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

Willie Mullins has given the clearest indication yet that brilliant Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Vautour could be campaigned with a potential Champion Hurdle tilt in mind next season.

The five-year-old produced a dominant front-running display in the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser last month, after which connections appeared to be favouring sending the youngster over fences next term.

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Big guns remain in Guineas frame.

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

Kingman and Toormore are among 27 horses in contention for the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday week following the latest forfeit stage.

The John Gosden-trained Kingman rocketed to the top of ante-posts lists following a breathtaking display in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, while Richard Hannon's Toormore is also unbeaten following a determined effort in Newmarket's Craven.

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Balder to take novice test.

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

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Treve among stellar Ascot entries.

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

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve is the star name among an exciting list of international entries for the seven Group One races at Royal Ascot.

Criquette Head-Maarek's filly was a brilliant winner of Europe's premier middle-distance prize at Longchamp in October and is due to make her eagerly anticipated return in the Prix Ganay in Paris later this week.

Assuming all goes well, she is expected to head for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting in June.

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Tonto strives for Sandown scalp.

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

Trainer Brian Ellison has warned stable star Top Notch Tonto is not yet at the peak of his powers as he prepares to make his seasonal reappearance in the bet365 Mile at Sandown on Friday.

The four-year-old did not join Ellison until the middle of last season, having previously been trained by Ian McInnes, but made a winning debut for the Norton-based handler in a Newmarket handicap at the end of July.

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Hymn is simply divine.

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

Western Hymn stretched his 100 per cent record to three as he successfully stepped up to Group Three company in the bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown.

Sent off the 1-2 favourite after an impressive victory at Newbury on his seasonal bow, John Gosden's colt was held up in the early stages as Red Galileo and Automated made the running on the rain-softened ground.

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Kingman set for weekend spin.

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

Ante-post favourite Kingman will be put through his paces this weekend ahead of the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next Saturday.

Trainer John Gosden reported the unbeaten Greenham Stakes winner to have pleased in a spin at the beginning of the week and while the Newmarket handler would appreciate some rain for the Khalid Abdullah-owned colt, he hopes it will not be too testing.

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Celebration for Grugy team.

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

Sire De Grugy brought his spectacular season to a fitting end with another impressive victory in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown.

In the absence of sidelined superstar Sprinter Sacre, Gary Moore's charge has been the undoubted king of the two-mile chasing division this season and returned to defend his Celebration Chase crown having won five of his previous six starts this season.

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Hadrian's hits Gold target.

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

Hadrian's Approach mowed down Burton Port to claim a thrilling renewal of the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

The dangerously well-handicapped Burton Port travelled really well in the hands of Tony McCoy, carting the champion jockey to the lead down the back straight while most of his opponents were being ridden along, and he was still hard on the bridle rounding the home turn.

But 10-1 shot Hadrian's Approach emerged as a serious threat at the final fence and after a titanic tussle up the hill, Nicky Henderson's charge saw out the three miles and five furlongs best under Barry Geraghty to claim the traditional end-of-season highlight by three-quarters of a length.

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Exciting options for Tullius.

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

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Treve suffers Ganay reverse.

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

Arc heroine Treve suffered the first defeat of her career when she was outbattled by the top-class veteran Cirrus Des Aigles in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp.

The two principals fought out a tremendous finish through the final furlong and though Treve got her head in front, Cirrus Des Aigles got up in the final strides to strike by a short neck for trainer Corine Barande-Barbe and jockey Christophe Soumillon.

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King-maker Doyle eager for weekend.

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

James Doyle has his best ever chance of landing his first British Classic on Saturday with the ride on Kingman in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The John Gosden-trained colt was imperious in slamming a strong field in the Greenham at Newbury and is a short price to win the opening Classic of the season.

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Rizeena spearheads Guineas charge.

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

Ante-post favourite Rizeena heads a list of 26 possibles for Sunday's Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Clive Brittain's charge has been among the leading lights for the Classic following a juvenile season that saw her win the Moyglare Stud Stakes and finish second in the Fillies' Mile.

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Nicholls calls on Twiston-Davies.

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

Sam Twiston-Davies is to replace Daryl Jacob as stable jockey to champion trainer Paul Nicholls next season.

Announcing the news in his Betfair column, Nicholls said there had been "no falling out" with Jacob, who is currently sidelined with an injury suffered in a freak accident at the Cheltenham Festival.

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Godolphin star Be Ready could yet make French 2000 Guineas.

http://www1.skysports.com/news/465/9...medium=twitter

Be Ready is back in training, with the French 2000 Guineas nominated as a possible target.

The colt was a huge disappointment in the Craven Stakes, but it was subsequently discovered he was suffering from a fibrillating heart, a condition similar to that which kept Sprinter Sacre on the sidelines.