Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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HENDERSON PLOTS ROUTE TO CHAMPION

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...3&sub=&day=Tue

Nicky Henderson has been left with a puzzle as to where he sends his trio of Champion Hurdle challengers for their Cheltenham prep runs.

The Seven Barrows handler has leading contenders in Darlan, Grandouet and Binocular as well as a possible fourth in Oscar Whisky.

"Grandouet is a very classy horse, but it all went wrong last year, literally just a week before the Champion Hurdle," he told Channel 4's new racing team, headed by Clare Balding.

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BYRNES DELIGHTED WITH SOLWHIT

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...3&sub=&day=Tue

Charles Byrnes has given Solwhit a clean bill of health after his fine comeback at at Punchestown yesterday.

The six-times Grade One winner had been off the track for very nearly two years but ran a mighty race to finish second to the classy Bog Warrior, and Byrnes is now looking towards the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas later in the month.

"Solwhit has come out of the race very well, and I was delighted with the way he travelled and jumped," said Byrnes.

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SPRINTER TOPS CHANDLER ENTRY

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

Sprinter Sacre is the standout name among just 13 entries for the Victor Chandler Chase at ascot on January 19.

Nicky Henderson's superstar appears to have scared off plenty of rivals, which is hardly surprising given the way he strolled to victory on his seasonal return in the Tingle Creek Chase.

Sizing Europe has not been entered by Henry De Bromhead but his stablemate Days Hotel has been given the option. A smart novice, he returned from a lengthy absence to win the Hilly Way Chase on his return.

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FFOS LAS ANNOUNCE CHAMPION CHANGES

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

Ffos Las has announced the William Hill Welsh Champion Hurdle will now be run as a limited handicap over two and a half miles, with an increase in prize money also confirmed.

Officials at the Carmarthenshire venue have made the changes to their feature race on February 2 in a bid to make it more competitive and to avoid a clash with the Betfred Mobile Sports Contenders Hurdle at Sandown the same day.

Tim Long, Ffos Las general manager and clerk of the course, said: "We are proactively taking this initiative to ensure that the William Hill Welsh Champion Hurdle is as competitive as possible in the years to come.

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BOLSTER TO BID FOR REDEMPTION

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

David Bridgwater is keeping his fingers crossed The Giant Bolster can get his season back on track in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham at the end of the month.

Runner-up in last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup and a fine third on his return to action in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, the eight-year-old was considered a major challenger for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

However, a couple of early jumping errors under Tony McCoy set the tone for a disappointing display and he was eventually pulled up.

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SUPER SEVEN IN RESCHEDULED DIPPER

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...3&sub=&day=Thu

Captain Conan and Unioniste feature among seven high-class entries for the rescheduled 32Red HBLB Dipper Novices' Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Saved from the abandoned New Year's Day fixture at Cheltenham, the Grade Two contest could prove informative.

Nicky Henderson's Captain Conan is unbeaten in two starts over fences and has experienced the challenging Sandown circuit, having landed the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at the track a month ago.

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'CRITICAL MOMENT' FOR DETTORI

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

John McCririck believes Frankie Dettori is about to take a chance on Celebrity Big Brother with the jockey's riding career "at a crossroads".

The latest series of the Channel 5 reality show will start this evening and, as ever, the line-up is a closely guarded secret.

It has been rumoured for some time that the Italian could be involved as he is currently serving a six-month riding ban for testing positive for a banned substance at Longchamp back in September.

Racing pundit McCririck, who was a surprise hit in the show back in 2005, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think he is (going in), it has been going around the racing circles for some weeks now, and of course it's a critical moment in Frankie Dettori's career.

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CRUS POISED FOR FESTIVAL PREP

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

Grands Crus is likely to have one more outing before the Cheltenham Festival in March.

David Pipe's grey showed no ill effects from a wind operation when he finished third behind Long Run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The eight-year-old is now poised to have a prep run for either the Gold Cup or the Ryanair Chase at the Festival.

Pipe told the Telegraph: "I haven't done much with him since, but then I'm sure Long Run and company haven't done much either.

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BIG GUNS IN IRISH CHAMPION ENTRY

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

Nicky Henderson has entered both Binocular and Grandouet in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 29, for which Hurricane Fly is also among 14 top-class entries.

Binocular has yet to reappear this season after returning to training later than many of his stablemates, and with Henderson having so many Champion Hurdle contenders this race has been mentioned as a possible starting point.

Grandouet, forced to miss the Cheltenham Festival in March through a late setback, made a pleasing return to action in last month's International Hurdle against Zarkandar and Rock On Ruby.

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HENDERSON LOOKS TO SCILLY ISLES

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

Nicky Henderson is considering waiting for the Betfred Mobile Lotto Challengers Novices' Chase - better known as the Scilly Isles - at Sandown on February 2 with his exciting prospect Captain Conan.

The Seven Barrows handler had targeted the Dipper Novices' Chase and even when the original staging was abandoned at Cheltenham on New Year's Day he was happy to send him to Sandown for the rearranged version.

However, due to only two other horses being declared, Levy Board funding of £17,500 was not available and the race was scrapped, much to Henderson's frustration.

FINALE FORTUNE FOR RUACANA

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

John Ferguson saddled his first Grade One winner as a trainer when Ruacana benefited from the last-flight fall of Swnymor in the coral.co.uk Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow.

Tim Vaughan's Swnymor had travelled best throughout for Richard Johnson and had just got the better of Megalypos approaching the final flight when he took a crashing fall, interfering with the Nicky Henderson runner.

That enabled Ruacana (100-30), formerly trained by Michael Bell on the level, to take full advantage and hold off the fast-finishing favourite Caid Du Berlais.

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WELSH GLORY FOR COOL DUDE CARBERRY

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

Paul Carberry rode a peach of a race to land the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on the Michael Scudamore-trained Monbeg Dude.

Settled at the back of the field, the 10-1 shot crept into contention on the final circuit but still had plenty to do coming down the straight in the marathon contest as the jockey sat motionless.

Hot favourite Teaforthree was making the best of his way home under Tony McCoy, but Carberry timed his move to perfection and after challenging at the final fence, where Monbeg Dude wasn't foot-perfect, he got the better of a battle up the run-in by half a length. Triggerman stuck on for third.

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MELODIC HITS TOP NOTE

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

Melodic Rendezvous provided trainer Jeremy Scott and jockey Nick Scholfield with the first Grade One success of their careers in the 32Red Hurdle (registered as the Tolworth Hurdle) at Sandown.

The seven-year-old opened his account over timber last month at Cheltenham and was sent off a 7-2 chance, with Royal Boy, who finished behind him that day, favourite to gain his revenge.

Melodic Rendezvous was travelling well turning in and when Royal Boy, who took them along with Pendra, made yet another blunder at the second-last, he made his challenge. Pendra stuck gamely to the task but lost his unbeaten record, beaten four and a half lengths.

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WORLD RULE FOR MORRIS

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

Rule The World never came off the bridle in winning a hot renewal of the Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas, in which the long odds-on Champagne Fever was a big disappointment.

Trained by Mouse Morris, Rule The World had only previously met with defeat once before, to Our Vinnie at Cork, but the presence of the Cheltenham and Punchestown Bumper winner meant he was sent off a 7-1 chance.

Champagne Fever (1-4) set out to make all, closely followed by Minsk, but Ruby Walsh was niggling from some way out and eventually the grey nearly stopped to a walk. Minsk took over turning in, but Davy Russell had not moved a muscle and breezed past to win by 16 lengths on Rule The World.

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GROUND KEY TO TIDAL GOLD RUN

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

Owner Graham Wylie insists Tidal Bay will not run in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in March "if the ground is good or faster".

The Paul Nicholls-trained 12-year-old looked as good as ever in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas when he secured a pulsating last-gasp victory under Ruby Walsh.

Although the Gold Cup would seem the logical target, Tidal Bay could yet revert to smaller obstacles for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

"He has always been a good horse and I think things have worked out well for him this season because the ground has been so soft," said Wylie.

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VAUGHAN OUTLINES SWNYMOR OPTIONS

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

Tim Vaughan may look for a confidence-boosting race for Swnymor after the Grade One Finale Hurdle was snatched away from him with a last-flight fall on Saturday.

The former William Haggas-trained juvenile travelled like the best horse in the race and had struck the front before clipping the final hurdle and coming down.

"Thankfully he's fine, he's got a few scrapes but he's had a little stretch this morning and he seems fine," said Vaughan.