Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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EIGHT REMAIN IN LONG WALK

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

Eight runners were declared for the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday after Big Buck's was the only defection at the 48-hour final declaration stage.

A wide-open race for the three-mile-one-furlong Grade One is on the cards after the brilliant stayer, winner of this race for the last three years, was ruled out through injury.

Paul Nicholls, the trainer of Big Buck's, could still take the honours with either Prospect Wells or Five Dream, while Nick Williams saddles Reve De Sivola, who stuck on well in the closing stages to finish second behind Big Buck's in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his first run for almost a year.

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Sizing Europe out of King George VI Chase at Kempton

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/20798673

Sizing Europe has been ruled out of the King George VI Chase at Kempton because of the rain-softened ground.

The former champion chaser was fourth favourite for the Boxing Day race.
He is set to run at Leopardstown instead, probably in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase on 27 December, with the longer Lexus Chase an alternative option a day later.
Another Irish-trained horse ruled out of the King George is First Lieutenant, who will line up for the Lexus.

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DARLAN SET FOR CHRISTMAS CRACKER

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

Darlan will carry the colours of JP McManus in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day in the absence of dual winner Binocular.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Darlan was due to make his seasonal reappearance in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle earlier this month but missed that race on account of the testing conditions.

McManus' racing manager, Frank Berry, said: "Darlan is in good form and we're looking forward to get him out. He'll definitely run at Kempton all going well and we just hope the ground isn't too testing for him."

HENDERSON: NOT SO SIMPLE FOR SIMON

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

Trainer Nicky Henderson has no idea how Simonsig will handle what promises to be ultra-testing conditions on his chasing debut at Ascot on Friday.

The six-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at last season's Cheltenham Festival and was similarly impressive on his final start of the campaign at Aintree.

He is already a best-priced 3-1 favourite for the Arkle Trophy back at Cheltenham in March and faces four rivals on his fencing introduction in the Grade Two Betfred Novices' Chase.

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WINNING START FOR SUPER SIMONSIG

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

Simonsig drained the pressure from a tense Nicky Henderson with a flawless novice chasing initiation at Ascot to become an even shorter-priced favourite for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

It soon became a matter of Simonsig (2-9 favourite) against the fences, as three of his four rivals in the Grade Two Betfred Novices' Chase departed at the first two obstacles entering the final circuit, and Sulpius was soon struggling to keep pace himself.

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GERAGHTY CONSIDERS GEORGE MOUNT.

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

Barry Geraghty has yet to make a decision on whether he will partner Finian's Rainbow or Riverside Theatre in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Finian's Rainbow won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at last season's Cheltenham Festival, but struggled in heavy ground on his reappearance at Ascot in November.

Riverside Theatre, who finished second to Long Run in the King George two seasons ago, landed the Ryanair Chase at the Festival in March but has not been seen since he was pulled up at Aintree in April.

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REVE DESTROYS LONG WALK RIVALS

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

Reve De Sivola made full use of the enforced absence of Big Buck's to claim Grade One glory in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Soon tracking Kayf Aramis, who opened up an early lead, Richard Johnson bided his time on the Nick Williams-trained seven-year-old before just taking off in front some way out.

The 9-2 chance steadily stamped his authority from there and jumped particularly well barring one slight error, opening up going to the final flight and streaking clear for a 14-length success over favourite Smad Place.

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FINIAN'S TO SWERVE KEMPTON

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...empton&day=Sun

Finian's Rainbow is to swerve the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day because of the soft ground.

Nicky Henderson will be represented by Long Run and Riverside Theatre in the Grade One showpiece, with the Queen Mother Champion Chase hero giving it a miss.

"After long deliberations and long thoughts I think Finian's Rainbow is going to stay at home," Henderson told At The Races from Ascot.

"He told us here at the last meeting that ground wasn't his type and I always thought that was the case with him. It's sad because when he won at Aintree last year we felt the King George was his sort of race.

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LONG RUN TEAM HAVE HIGH HOPES

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

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen hopes a tip-top Long Run can regain his crown in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

The seven-year-old did not please everyone when beaten by Silviniaco Conti in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month, but Waley-Cohen felt there were valid reasons for that defeat.

"The race wasn't run to suit at Haydock and the ground was quite tricky for a horse that isn't used to running on that sort of heavy ground," he said.

"We were always worried there wouldn't be enough pace and it might turn into a sprint finish - he was always vulnerable to that - but we didn't want him to leave his season behind in that race.

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DARLAN FACING CHRISTMAS TEST

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

Tony McCoy feels Darlan has to go close in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day if he is to warrant a place in the Champion Hurdle itself.

Nicky Henderson's charge is among an eight-strong field for the Grade One contest, which also features his stablemate Punjabi, who has not raced for 978 days.

"The ground will probably be soft enough for Darlan, but it's the time of year when he needs to get out - hopefully he can make up into a good horse," said McCoy.

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DYNASTE CHASING FELTHAM GLORY

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

Dynaste bids to confirm his position at the head of the ante-post market for Cheltenham's RSA Chase when he faces six rivals in the Kauto Star Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The six-year-old, trained by David Pipe, has looked the best young staying chaser around this term with convincing victories at Cheltenham and at Newbury.

He is now given the task of emulating his stable companion Grands Crus, who took this race from Silviniaco Conti 12 months ago.

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ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR FLEMENSTAR

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

Peter Casey reports Flemenstar on course for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Friday following a pleasing schooling session under big-race jockey Andrew Lynch.

The seven-year-old is hot favourite for the Grade One contest after his defeat of previously unbeaten chaser Sir Des Champs in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

It will be Flemenstar's first attempt at three miles under Rules, but Casey remains confident his stamina will last out.

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FLAME READY FOR CHRISTMAS TEST

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

John Quinn explained why he decided not to take on Hurricane Fly and company in the Istabraq Festival Hurdle with his stable star Countrywide Flame.

The four-year-old will instead battle for Grade One honours closer to home when he lines up in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Wednesday.

"There were various reasons we decided not to go to Ireland," said the Malton handler.

"With everything we're better off not travelling. The weather is terrible and he'd have as much chance at Kempton as he would have in Ireland. The ground will be fine - he goes on all types of ground."

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King George VI Chase: Long Run wins in thrilling finish

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/20831627

The 15-8 favourite Long Run claimed victory in a thrilling finish to the King George VI Chase at Kempton to win the race for a second time.

Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen's mount made a bad mistake five out and also struggled over the final fence under pressure from Captain Chris.

Captain Chris, who was third last year, had come out of the pack to challenge and jumped the last strongly.
But last year's Gold Cup winner dug deep on the run-in to win by a neck.

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DARLAN CLAIMS CHRISTMAS CROWN

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

Darlan (3-1) staked a massive claim for Champion Hurdle honours with an emphatic win in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

The Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old, owned by JP McManus, became a major contender for the Cheltenham Festival championship as he beat several other leading players in tremendous fashion.

There was all to play for with two flights to jump and it was Darlan who quickened impressively for Tony McCoy to stride away on the run to the last. He went on to win on his seasonal debut by four and a half lengths from Raya Star, with Dodging Bullets third and Countrywide Flame only fourth.

DYNASTE DELIVERS IN FELTHAM

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

Dynaste maintained his 100% record over fences with an impressive display in the Kauto Star Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton.

Already favourite for the RSA Chase after wins on his first two starts over fences at Cheltenham and Newbury, Dynaste cemented his position at the head of the ante-post market for the staying novice chase championship with an impeccable performance.

Tom Scudamore held up the David Pipe-trained grey at the rear in the early stages but moved the 8-13 shot into a more prominent spot as the race progressed. Jumping into the lead four out, Dynaste had the opposition at full

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ARVIKA CLAIMS ANOTHER GRADE ONE

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

Arvika Ligeonniere was made to pull out all the stops to maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

With Paul Townend deputising in the saddle for the otherwise-engaged Ruby Walsh, the 9-10 favourite adopted the front-running tactics that were so successful on his last start in the Drinmore, albeit this time not pulling quite so far clear.

He began to wind up the tempo moving down the back straight, but a mistake at the third-last gave his closest pursuers Baily Green and Oscars Well a chance. He was much better at the second-last and although he was tiring after the final obstacle, he had enough in reserve to hold off Oscars Well by two and a half lengths.

COTIL STAMPS CLASS AT LEOPARDSTOWN

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

Blood Cotil made it two wins from as many starts since joining Willie Mullins with victory in Leopardstown's Q8 OILS Juvenile Hurdle.

The Grade Two contest was rendered far less competitive by the withdrawal of likely favourite Our Conor, leaving runaway Fairyhouse scorer Blood Cotil a warm order as the 4-9 market leader.

Paul Townend cut a confident figure throughout the two-mile contest and his mount was still hard on the bridle rounding the home turn. Stocktons Wing briefly threatened to make a race of it between the final two flights, but Blood Cotil jumped the last well and galloped on strongly to seal a three-length win.