Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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NO STAMINA WORRIES FOR STAR

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

Trainer Peter Casey has no doubt three miles is well within Flemenstar's range following his superb performance in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.

The seven-year-old appeared to face his toughest task to date in tackling the previously unbeaten chaser Sir Des Champs, but he produced a foot-perfect round of jumping under Andrew Lynch to beat his fellow Cheltenham Gold Cup hope with plenty to spare.

Casey said: "There's not a bother on him this morning. He didn't have that hard a race really. I was a bit worried last week as he seemed very quiet, and he was the same at the races yesterday, but maybe he's just growing up."

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FELTHAM HONOUR FOR KING KAUTO

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

National Hunt legend Kauto Star is to be recognised in the renaming of the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Clive Smith's gelding, who has now been retired, managed to win the William Hill King George VI Chase five times from six attempts on the feature afternoon at the Sunbury venue.

The Grade One event, over the same course and distance, will be known this year as the Kauto Star Feltham Novices' Steeple Chase (in memory of Nigel Clark) until approval has been agreed for a permanent renaming of the race.

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O'BRIEN PLOTS CAMELOT CAMPAIGN

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

Aidan O'Brien outlined 2013 plans for Camelot as the superstar colt was named Horse of the Year at the 10th annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards at Leopardstown.

The Coolmore-owned three-year-old became the first son of his late sire Montjeu to win a mile Classic when powering up the Newmarket hill to claim the 2000 Guineas, and he added the Investec Derby at Epsom to his laurels. Further glory awaited in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.

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ROCK HEADS INTERNATIONAL POSSIBLES

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

Last season's Champion Hurdle hero Rock On Ruby is one of nine entries for Saturday's StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Rock On Ruby will be having his first start under the name of Harry Fry, but the young trainer was credited with most of his preparation before his famous win in March.

Fry has been happy with his stable star and is excited about getting his season under way after he missed the Fighting Fifth on account on soft ground at Newcastle.

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RUSSELL: FLEMENSTAR SETS STANDARD

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

Davy Russell is hoping Sir Des Champs will find the improvement needed if he takes on Flemenstar again in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

The six-year-old met with his first defeat since joining Willie Mullins from France when he was beaten fair and square by Peter Casey's brilliant chaser in the John Durkan on Sunday, albeit over two and a half miles, and Sir Des Champs remains prominent in the ante-post betting for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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UPSET NICHOLLS BIDS KAUTO FAREWELL

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

Paul Nicholls admitted his "sadness" after Kauto Star's time at his Ditcheat yard came to an abrupt end on Tuesday.

The winner of five King Georges and two Cheltenham Gold Cups had been officially retired in late October and was expected to remain at Manor Farm Stables in Somerset until Boxing Day, when he was due to parade at Kempton.

Owner Clive Smith had announced on Monday that the 12-year-old would be moving away to be prepared by European bronze medalist eventing rider Laura Collett and long-time Great Britain manager and coach Yogi Breisner for a new career in the world of dressage - a decision not popular with Nicholls and his staff.

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WHISKY GOING FOR RELKEEL DOUBLE

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

Last year's winner Oscar Whisky is among nine entries for Saturday's Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham after the race was reopened.

Nicky Henderson's classy hurdler has few peers over the intermediate trip of two and a half miles and looked imperious on his comeback this season.

Raya Star was no match for Oscar Whisky at Ascot but could take him on again for Alan King

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GRUMETI ON CHAMPION TRAIL

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

Alan King is aiming to get two runs into Grumeti in the early part of next year before an attempt at the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

A close third in the Triumph Hurdle last season, Grumeti went on to reverse placings with the winner and Champion contender Countrywide Flame at Aintree.

Max McNeill's gelding subsequently had a couple of runs on the Flat in late spring but is behind some of his stablemates ahead of a return to jumping.

"Grumeti had that summer hiccup, but he has made phenomenal progress this past month," the trainer told www.alankingracing.co.uk.

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NEW ERA FOR TV COVERAGE IMMINENT

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

Channel 4's programmers have announced a handful of new features for their shows in 2013 including the intention to run Saturday's major race at 3.50pm as often as possible.

Using a new production team from IMG Sports Media from the start of next year, when the station takes over all the remaining fixtures from the BBC, they will be broadcasting 88 days of live racing action. Possible additional coverage of the Dubai World Cup and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is something which may be announced in the coming weeks or months.

Channel 4 sports editor Jamie Aitchison and executive producer Carl Hicks outlined a number of possible changes to the way racing will be shown at a presentation in London on Wednesday.

"The big race of the day will be run at 3.50pm for most of the year, apart from the time when the days are short, and this won't be the crown jewels like the Derby and the Grand National," said Hicks.

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FINGAL BAY OUT FOR THE SEASON

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

Philip Hobbs has confirmed his classy novice chaser Fingal Bay will miss the rest of the season after suffering a tendon injury.

The Grade One-winning hurdler made a perfect start to his career over fences at Chepstow in October and ran a fine race to chase home Dynaste at Cheltenham a month later.

But having been sent off a 1-12 favourite at Exeter to regain the winning thread at Exeter last week, Fingal Bay jumped violently left for much of the journey before eventually running out at the third last, after which the injury was discovered.

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CHRIS BOUNCING AHEAD OF GEORGE BID

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

Captain Chris delighted trainer Philip Hobbs in his latest workout ahead of the William King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The eight-year-old was a well beaten third behind Kauto Star in the Festive highlight 12 months ago and while he ran no sort of race on his next appearance at Cheltenham, he did sign off with a fair fourth in the Ryanair Chase at the Festival.

Back on a right-handed track, he made an impressive return to action in the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot and is a 12-1 shot with the sponsors to follow up at Kempton.

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BOY AIMING FOR MORE BOLGER GLORY

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

Enda Bolger is hoping Arabella Boy can emulate the exploits of his past cross-country stars when the seven-year-old tackles Cheltenham's unique course for the first time on Friday.

Bolger's two most prolific exponents, Spot Thedifference and Garde Champetre, enjoyed considerable success at this discipline.

Now Arabella Boy gets his chance to show his prowess in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase - providing the course passes an 8am inspection. He lines up on the back of a victory over Punchestown's cross-country course at the main expense of Boston's Angel and Shakervilz who are also among a 12-strong field

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PETERBOROUGH SWITCHED TO EXETER

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

Exeter will host the Peterborough Chase next week following the abandonment of Thursday's meeting at Huntingdon, the British Horseracing Authority has confirmed.

The Grade Two contest will be sponsored by the Levy Board and has been added to Exeter's existing meeting on December 20 to form part of an eight-race card. A deadline for fresh entries has been set for noon on Friday with the original field no longer standing.

Exeter's general manager Tim Darby said: "I'm delighted the Levy Board Peterborough Chase will be run at Exeter next Thursday.

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DENMAN CHASE AIM FOR CONTI

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

Grade One-winning chaser Silviniaco Conti will make his next appearance in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on February 9.

Having already won the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and eclipsed Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, trainer Paul Nicholls has hopes he will develop into a big Cheltenham Gold Cup contender.

Speaking in his Betfair column Nicholls said: "Talking of Silviniaco Conti, next stop for him is the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury in February.

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MIDNIGHT RETURNS TO SPIRITUAL HOME

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

Neil Mulholland is hopeful a return to Cheltenham will help Midnight Chase return to winning ways on Friday.

The 10-year-old has a fearsome record at Prestbury Park, having won five times from nine course starts. He has also finished fifth and seventh in the last two renewals of the Gold Cup. Having finished third behind Silviniaco Conti on his seasonal return in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, Midnight Chase takes a significant drop in class for the Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase.

"We're looking forward to getting back to Cheltenham with him. He obviously loves it round there and the ground is lovely at the moment," said Mulholland.

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WALK IN RUNNING FOR CHELTENHAM GOLD

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

Alan King has high hopes for Walkon in the Paul Stewart IronSpine Charity Challenge Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The grey's form tailed off a bit during last term's novice campaign, but he bounced back to chase home Al Ferof in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his return.

"I have heard the theory that Walkon might be best fresh, but when he first came to us he ran four times in two months and won three of them," the Barbury Castle trainer told www.alankingracing.co.uk.