Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/ne...-from-bbc.html

The BBC is reportedly ready to admit defeat in its battle to keep major horse racing events, such as the Grand National, the Derby and Ascot, out of the clutches of Channel 4.

Channel 4 is thought to have lodged a higher bid for the premium events and the current climate of austerity at the BBC, including a 15% cut to sports rights bidding, means that senior executive at the corporation will not increase their own offer.

Due to expire at the end of this year, the BBC's contract for the horse racing events is thought to involve it paying £7.5m over three years to show 13 days of action per year.

The Guardian reports that the BBC has offered to increase the terms, but it is facing tough competition from Channel 4, which already shows various horse racing events, including the Cheltenham Festival which is currently on air.

Well l for one won't miss BBC's substandard Horse Racing coverage and l look forward to watching C4 enhanced racing coverage in future.

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Cheltenham Festival, Tuesday

Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed Race) 2m4f, 5yo+

HUNT BALL continued his rags-to-riches story by landing a spectacular seventh race of the season on the biggest stage of all for first-season trainer Keiran Burke

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...ie/999849/top/

Cheltenham Festival, Tuesday

JLT Specialty HandicapChase (Grade 3) 3m½f, 5yo+

ALFIE SHERRIN, advised by Pricewise at a colossal 25-1 on Tuesday morning, gave jockey Richie McLernon a first Cheltenham Festival success at the 42nd attempt.

Racing in the second colours of owner JP McManus, Alfie Sherrin was settled in mid-division by McLernon as Fruity O'Rooney and Pentiffic set a frantic pace from the off.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...ow/999966/top/

Cheltenham Festival, Tuesday

OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) (Grade 2) 2m4f, 4yo+

SUPERMARE Quevega claimed her fourth consecutive success in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle under a typical stalking ride by Ruby Walsh.

The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old joins an illustrious list of horses, including the great Golden Miller, who have won the same festivalrace on four occasions.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...on/999956/top/

Cheltenham, Tuesday

Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (Cross Country Chase) (Class 2) 3m 7f cross country, 5yo+

THE Philip Hobbs-trained Balthazar King (11-2) snapped Ireland's seven-year domination of the Cheltenham Festival cross country race.

But it was a close call, as he gamely held the spirited challenge of A New Story (20-1) who won the corresponding race two years ago. Third was Wedger Pardy (33-1) who forced much of the pace.

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Cheltenham Festival, Wednesday

Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase 4m, 5yo+

TEAFORTHREE got favourite backers off to a winning start on day two of the Cheltenham Festival when he produced a strong staying display to land the Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase.

Trained by Rebecca Curtis, who was enjoying her first festival success, Teaforthree was given a positive ride by JT McManamara and stuck on well to beat Harry The Viking.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...n/1000346/top/

Cheltenham, Wednesday

Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m5f, 4yo+

NICKY HENDERSON created history by becoming the winningmost trainer at the Cheltenham Festival as 2-1 favourite Simonsig gave him his 41st winner at the meeting, eclipsing Fulke Walwyn's record of 40 wins.

It was an impressive victory for the six-year-old, vindicating Henderson's decision to go for the Neptune rather than the Supreme, although he was left in isolation after Cotton Mill attempted to run out with two flights remaining, unseating Denis O'Regan in the process

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...e/1000395/top/

Cheltenham Festival, Wednesday

RSA Chase (Grade 1) 3m½f, 5yo+

BOBS WORTH added to a red-letter day for Nicky Henderson with a battling and impressive victory over First Lieutenant, as hot favourite Grands Crus faded disappointingly from the home turn.

Henderson's 42nd Cheltenham Festival winner was returned at 9-2 as he scored by two and a half lengths, with runner-up First Lieutenant the same price. Call The Police (20-1) was 11 lengths back in third.

Grands Crus, sent off at 6-5, was in between the eventual front two rounding the turn but went out like a light and trailed home a well-beaten fourth, 18 lengths behind the winner.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...n/1000425/top/

Cheltenham, Wednesday

Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) 2m Old, 5yo+

FINIAN'S RAINBOW gave trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Barry Geraghty a third win on the afternoon as he edged out reigning champion Sizing Europe in a dramatic running of the Champion Chase.

Front-runner Wishfull Thinking crashed out at the fence in front of the stands with a circuit to go, taking out a photographer, and with nobody certain as to what was going to occur at the final fence Andrew Lynch on Sizing Europe looked like jumping it before changing his mind at the last moment when spotting the chequered flag.

Both Sizing Europe and Finian's Rainbow came close to each other but it was Geraghty's mount who was a lengthand a quarter to the good crossing the line, scoring at 4-1 from the 4-5 favourite. There was 15 lengths back to the third horse home Biz Zeb.

The photographer was being treated for cuts after the race, while Richard Johnson, who was taken to an ambulance on a stretcher after parting company with Wishfull Thinking was stood down for the rest of the afternoon.

Nice to have a winner but lets hope the jockey and photographer are okay.

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Cheltenham Festival, Wednesday

Coral Cup 2m5f, 4yo+

SON OF FLICKA landed a monster gamble to give trainer Donald McCain and jockey Jason Maguire their second success of the week following Cinders And Ashes' first-day win.

Available at 66-1 in the morning, Son Of Flicka was sent off 16-1 and powered up the hill to beat Get Me Out Of Here, who ran another blinder at Cheltenham but simply found the winner too well handicapped.

Staying on resolutely, Son Of Flicka scored by three and a half

Nice to have a 14-1 winner.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...enhamfestival/

Cheltenham Festival, Wednesday

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m½f, 4yo

TRAINER Nicky Henderson's dominance of the Cheltenham Festival extended to a near 3,382-1 four-timer on Wednesday after 40-1 shot Une Artiste sprung a surprise under Jerry McGrath in the Fred Winter.

The victory - Henderson's fifth of the week - brought more milestones as the red-hot trainer set a record for most festival wins in a day and equalled Paul Nicholls' 2009 record for most winners at a festival.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...enhamfestival/

Cheltenham Festival, Wednesday

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m½f, 4-6yo

CHAMPAGNE FEVER made all the running to give Willie Mullins an incredible seventh victory in the Champion Bumper.

The all-the-way winner looked certain to be reeled in as they turned for home but he found more under the trainer's son Patrick to foil a gamble on runner-up New Year's Eve

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Jewson Novices' Chase (Registered As The Golden Miller Novices' Chase) Grade 2 2m4f, 5yo+

SIR DES CHAMPS maintained his unbeaten record in impressive style, the six-year-old advertising his credentials as a star of the future with a faultless round of jumping through the misty gloom of Cheltenham's New Course.

Bookmakers were suitably impressed and BetVictor go 8-1 about next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup, a race winning trainer Willie Mullins was quick to nominate as Sir Des Champs' target.

Mullins said: "It's the first time he's had a real test this year as Gigginstown had so many good novice chasers so we kept him to little races and maybe that built up his confidence. He's very, very good and the Gold Cup is the plan. "

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...n/1000971/top/

Cheltenham Festival, Thursday

Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Listed) 3m, new course

CAPE TRIBULATION landed the Pertemps Final under an ultra-cool ride from jockey Denis O'Regan, narrowly holding off Cantlow and Catch Me in a tight finish at 14-1.

Palace Jester and Kayf Aramis kicked on and made the race their own after the first half-circuit but flicking over two out the pair were coming back to the field.

Cantlow, who had been travelling smartly for jockey Dominic Elsworth, took the lead on the run to the last while O'Regan sat steady on Cape Tribulation before launching him level at the final flight.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...r/1000993/top/

Cheltenham, Thursday

Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m5f, 5yo+

RIVERSIDE THEATRE maintained trainer Nicky Henderson's blistering form at this year's Cheltenham Festival as he got the better of Albertas Run and Medermit in a pulsating drive to the line.

The success provided Henderson with his sixth win at this year's meeting, which is a new record, and movedhim to the top of - and past Paul Nicholls - in the jump trainers' championship.

Albertas Run was game in defeat and was only overhauled inside the finalfurlong while Medermit kept on doggedly for Robert Thornton, but neither could master Riverside Theatre, who stayed on in tremendous fashion under an animated Barry Geraghty.

Well Henderson's remarkable Cheltenham Festival run continues.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...e/1001055/top/

Cheltenham Festival, Thursday

Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m, new course

BIG BUCK'S made it sweet 16 unbeaten with his fourth consecutive Ladbrokes World Hurdle as he maintained his air of invincibility in another Cheltenham classic.

Ruby Walsh hugged the inside through the race, sitting more prominently than usual, and faced a major challenge going to the last as Voler la Vedette, ridden with restraint, cruised into contention.

Walsh was flat out into the last but got the last of some superb leaps to break Voler la vedette, who was switched sharply right to keep well away from the champion to challenge.

A remarkable feat by the greatest staying hurdler in history.

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Cheltenham, Thursday

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase 3m1½ f, 5yo+

SUNNYHILLBOY gave trainer Jonjo O'Neill his second success at this year's Cheltenham Festival as he found plenty for pressure to reel in long-time leader Becauseicouldntsee over the last fence.

He was given a cracking ride by Alan Berry, who was hard at work a long way out, and he galloped on to score by four and a half lengths from Becauseicouldntsee, who held on to second from Exmoor Ranger and Up The Beat.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...l/1001090/top/

Cheltenham Festival, Thursday

Byrne Group Plate (Handicap) (Grade 3) 2m5f, new course

SALUT FLO made all the running to give trainer David Pipe and jockey Tom Scudamore the first win of a disappointing festival and land a good few bets in the process.

The defeat of Grands Crus in Wednesday's RSA Chase had put the Pipe team on the back foot but Scudamore made no misake on Salut Flo.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...a/1001194/top/

A MEMBER of Nicky Henderson's staff who was on Thursday night anxious to remain anonymous is understood to have become a millionaire thanks to an accumulator featuring five of the trainer's six Cheltenham Festival winners.

What is believed to have been a £50 bet at antepost prices was placed with bet365 in November.

The winning horses were Sprinter Sacre (Racing Post Arkle Chase), Simonsig (Neptune Investment Novices' Hurdle), Bobs Worth (RSA Chase), Finian's Rainbow (Queen Mother Champion Chase) and Riverside Theatre (Ryanair Chase

Now here is where l have been going wrong.

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Cheltenham, Friday

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m

BRINDISI BREEZE, trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell, made just about all the running to land the Albert Bartlett from hot-favourite Boston Bob, to give the trainer and jockey Campbell Gillies a first success at the festival.

The winner was returned at 7-1, with 6-5 shot Boston Bob finishing ahead of Grand Vision for second

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...d/1001513/top/

Cheltenham, Friday

Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade3) 2m1f

TONY MCCOY had to wait until the final day of the festival but finally bagged a winner when Alderwood overcame a difficult path in running to take things up after the last and surge clear for the 16-time champion jockey.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...1/1001486/top/

Cheltenham Festival, Friday


JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m1f, 4yo

THE JCB Triumph Hurdle - the opening race on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival - produced a shock when 33-1 chance Countrywide Flame charged home under Dougie Costello.

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Cheltenham, Friday

Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) (Class 1) 3m 2 1/2f , New, 5yo+

SYNCHRONISED outstayed his rivals up the famous Cheltenham hill to give jump racing's leading owner JP McManus a first ever win in the Gold Cup.

The improving nine-year-old won at 8-1 from The Giant Bolster who ran a massive race to finish second at 50-1 with favourite Long Run finishing in third at 7-4.

Kauto Star, who was trying to win the race for a third time was pulled up with more than a circuit to go.

Could not happen to a nicer trainer and jockey and also thank god the great Kauto Star is safe and sound after pulling up on the first circuit.

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Cheltenham, Friday

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup (Handicap) (Grade 3) (Class 1) 2m ½f New, 5yo+

BELLVANO led home a 1-2 for Nicky Henderson in the concluding race named in honour of his father to complete a memorable week for the record-breaking trainer.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...e/1001645/top/

Cheltenham, Friday

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle (class 2) 2m41/2f

ATTAGLANCE made it an unforgettable Cheltenham Festival for Malcolm Jefferson. The trainer addedto the win of Cape Tribulation in the Thursday's Pertemps Final when narrowly landing an exciting renewal of the Martin Pipe Hurdle.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...y/1001620/top/

Cheltenham, Friday

Christie's Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup (Class 2) 3m2½f

SALSIFY, ridden by Colman Sweeney on a horse owned by his mother and trained by his father, came from near last to win the Christie's Foxhunter Chase under a fine waiting ride.

In the early stages the pair were settled some 20 lengths off the pace and with a circuit to go they were even further back. However Sweeney was incredibly patient and picked his moment, waiting well into the home straight to deliver his challenge.

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Uttoxeter, Saturday

Betfred Midlands Grand National Chase Handicap (Listed Race) (Class 1) 4m1½f, 5yo+

MASTER OVERSEER put in a gallant front-running performance to see off the challenge of Major Malarkey and give David Pipe back-to-back wins in Saturday's feature.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...s/1002271/top/

TOP OFFER, the winner of a Newbury maiden on his sole start as a two-year-old, emerged on Saturday as the likeliest danger to Camelot for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas after he was the subject of an across-the-board wholesale gamble.

With Cheltenham out of the way, punters sights turned to the Flat and Newmarket in May and it was the Roger Charlton-trained son of Dansili that they all wanted to know.

Having started Saturday as a 14-1 chance for the May 5 Classic, Top Offer was no bigger than 8-1 by the end of the day as punters latched on to him.

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Terrestrial racing to be shown exclusively on C4.

BRITISH racing will be broadcast on terrestrial television exclusively by Channel 4 from 2013 for at least the following four years, after the broadcaster tabled a winning bid to representatives of Britain's second biggest spectator sport to expand its portfolio.

A highly competitive domestic TV rights bidding process drew interest from a range of broadcasters but it was Channel 4 who won the right to air the John Smith's Grand National meeting from Aintree, Investec Derby festival from Epsom, Royal Ascot and Qipco British Champions Day from Ascot, all of which are presently televised by the BBC, to add to their existing 80 days of racing.

The new deal, first revealed by the Racing Post last week, providessubstantially increased revenues for British racing, which lured nearly five million extra viewers from its domestic TV coverage on Channel 4 last year (42.2m against 37.4m in 2010), while attendances grew to a record 6.15 million in 2011.

Channel 4's financial commitment to racing over the next four years amounts to one of its largest programming outlays.

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France, Saturday


Saint-Cloud: Prix Exbury (Group 3) 1m2f, 4yo+

CHINCHON (Carlos Laffon-Parias/Olivier Peslier) may have earned a tilt at the Sheema Classic following an effortless victory in the first Group race of the European season.

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CHAMPION trainer Paul Nicholls on Monday said any talk of retirement for legendary chaser Kauto Star was "very premature" and he does not expect to contemplate the horse's future until he returns from his summer break.

Nicholls, writing in his Betfair column, reflects on the disappointments the yard suffered at Cheltenham last week, a meeting where "luck and fate weren't really with us".

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...e/1002913/top/

CLARE BALDING on Monday insisted she is "not rushing into any decisions" amid speculation that Channel 4 will attempt to secure her services following its acquisition of the BBC's racing crown jewels.

Balding, the BBC's lead racing presenter since 1998, described herself as "desperately sad" after confirmation came that Channel 4 had secured a four-year deal that grants it exclusive terrestrial rights to British racing.

That news, first exclusively revealed in the Racing Post nine days ago, will bring an end to BBC Television's more-than-60-year association with the sport, whose partnership with Channel 4 is expected to accrue in the region of £15 million between 2013 and 2016.

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THE PROSPECT of Synchronised becoming just the second horse in history to land the John Smith's Grand National and the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season remains a distinct possibility, after trainer Jonjo O'Neill said on Tuesday that he saw "no reason" not to run in the Aintree marathon on April 14.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...d/1003262/top/

MOST IMPROVED, Brian Meehan's main Classic hope this season, is set to take the same route as former stable star Delegator by tackling the Craven Stakes before bidding for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

The Dubai Dewhurst Stakes third has pleased his trainer over the winter and is in full work as he trains for a comeback in therace Delegator captured in 2009 before going on to finish second to Sea The Stars in the Newmarket Classic.

Most Improved is approaching "a crucial stage of his Classic preparation" according to Meehan, who has been pleased with the progress Iraj Parvizi's son of Lawman has made.

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...e/1003629/top/

STRONG SUIT, champion trainer Richard Hannon's flagship older horse this year, could be set for an early-summer showdown with the mighty Frankel in Newbury's JLT Lockinge Stakes on May 19.

A two-time Group 2 winner, Strong Suit was last seen finishing down the field in the Breeders' Cup Mile and connections are keen for him to bag a top-level success even if it means taking on Frankel, officially rated the world's best Flat horse.

Looking forward to it.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...n/1003269/top/

FINGAL BAY, who was forced to miss the Cheltenham Festival with a hamstring injury, is back cantering and on course for the John Smith's Grand National meeting at Aintree, according to trainer Philip Hobbs.

A leading fancy for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the festival before meeting with a setback, Fingal Bay is yet to taste defeat in five starts and had over two lengths to spare when beating impressive Neptune winner Simonsig at Sandown in December

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HARBOUR WATCH, a general 10-1 chance for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas on May 5, has suffered a setback and faces a race against time to be fit for Newmarket.

The Richard Hannon-trained colt missed the end of the last season with a leg injury and connections said on Thursday that his latest setback will rule him out of running in a Classic trial.

Not the news punters wanted to hear.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...004145/latest/

MARCO BOTTI is thrilled his new recruit Planteur will get a run in the Dubai World Cup on March 31 after Gitano Hernando, formerly with the trainer, was withdrawn which allowed the first reserve into the field of 14.

"He runs, I'm delighted," said Botti, whose five-year-old is likely to be partnered by Ryan Moore.

"We have been very pleased with everything he has done since he arrived with us.

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/

TOP OFFER and Most Improved were on Friday cut for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas as the odds compilers digested the news that leading fancy Harbour Watch is unlikely to line-up at Newmarket on May 5.

The Roger Charlton-trained Top Offer was the subject of an across-the-board gamble for the Guineas and he is now no bigger than 7-1 for the opening Classic of the season while Most Improved is now a general 8-1 chance after Harbour Watch was taken out of the betting following the revelation on racingpost.com that he has met with a setback.

The Richard Hannon-trained colt suffered a hind leg injury in the build-up to last season's Dewhurst Stakes which brought about a premature end to his juvenile campaign and David Redvers, racing adviser to part-owner Sheikh Fahad, on Friday said it was that injury which

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...s/1004841/top/

DAVID PIPE revealed on Friday that there may have been a physical explanation for Grands Crus's disappointing effort in the RSA Chase last week.

The 6-5 favourite, who was previously unbeaten over fences and had come under serious consideration for the Gold Cup, was beaten 18 lengths into fourth place behind Bobs Worth at Cheltenham.

But the trainer said: "I am glad to say that we may have got to the bottom of Grands Crus's effort in the RSA Chase last week.