Racing (Horse) General Horse Racing Thread - Page 75

denphone · 16-01-2013, 05:38

CIRRUS NOT CERTAIN FOR DUBAI

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

Quote:

Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe has warned Cirrus Des Aigles is not certain to head to this year's Dubai Carnival as he continues to recover from injury.

The seven-year-old kicked off an excellent campaign by winning the Dubai Sheema Classic on World Cup night last March, going on to claim the Prix Ganay and the Prix Dollar at Longchamp before finding only Frankel too strong when defending his crown in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Cirrus Des Aigles then travelled to the Far East to contest the Hong Kong Cup but had to be withdrawn after suffering a ligament injury, and his trainer is unsure whether he will be ready for a return to Dubai.

denphone · 16-01-2013, 10:14

A NEW DAWN RISING

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

Quote:

Jim Bolger's Dawn Approach maintained the recent dominance of Irish juveniles as he was crowned the champion two-year-old on the European Thoroughbred Rankings.

Unbeaten in six races, including the National Stakes and Dewhurst, the Godolphin-owned son of New Approach received a respectable rating of 124 and was upwards of 6lb ahead of his peers.

Garry O'Gorman, the senior Irish handicapper who is part of the ratings process, said: "Dawn Approach is the seventh Irish-trained champion or joint-champion in the last eight years, which we're obviously pleased about, but it was not a vintage bunch of two-year-olds."

denphone · 16-01-2013, 13:52

RUBY FEATURES IN CHAMPION ENTRY

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

Quote:

Titleholder Rock On Ruby is one of the last four winners among 34 entries for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 12.

Hurricane Fly, successful in 2011, Binocular (2010) and Punjabi (2009) are the past champions who could try to regain their crown.

Last season it was Rock On Ruby's turn when he was officially in the hands of Paul Nicholls, but under the supervision of rookie trainer Harry Fry. And he made an encouraging seasonal reappearance for Fry when third behind fellow Champion hopefuls Zarkandar and Grandouet in the StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December.

denphone · 17-01-2013, 05:29

FAGO LIVES UP TO BILLING ON UK BOW

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

Quote:

Paul Nicholls' French import Fago made an impressive British debut in the Betfred Double Delight Novices' Chase at Newbury.

Although seen to good effect over longer distances in France, Graham Wylie's purchase was dropped down to two miles and a furlong here and is considered a prospect for the Arkle Trophy.

Sent off a well-backed 5-4 favourite, the dark-coloured gelding was slick over his fences and pushed out by Ruby Walsh to finish three and a half lengths clear of Ohio Gold.

denphone · 18-01-2013, 05:14

SACRE TOPS CHANDLER SEVEN

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

Quote:

Sprinter Sacre is set to face six rivals in Saturday's Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot, if the meeting survives a 4.30pm precautionary inspection on Friday.

Nicky Henderson has described the gelding as his "big black aeroplane" and the seven-year-old is unbeaten in his six starts over fences. In his sole outing so far this season, he dished out a 19-and-a-half-length beating to Sanctuaire, who was thought to be the only two-miler capable of giving him a race.

Paul Nicholls has decided to pitch Sanctuaire against his old rival again after he returned to winning ways at Kempton over Christmas

denphone · 18-01-2013, 11:59

HENDERSON HOPING FOR SACRE OUTING

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

Quote:

Nicky Henderson is keeping his fingers crossed Ascot can defy the grip of the weather so that he can get a much-needed start into Sprinter Sacre on Saturday.

The Seven Barrows trainer wants to get just one run into the hot favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the timing of the Victor Chandler Chase is ideal ahead of Cheltenham in March.

Should Ascot fall at a 4.30pm precautionary inspection today, it would give Henderson another headache with the Festival less than two months awa

denphone · 18-01-2013, 16:18

ASCOT SUCCUMBS TO SNOW

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

SNOW CLAIMS HAYDOCK AND TAUNTON

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

denphone · 20-01-2013, 05:06

SOLWHIT STRIKES NAAS GOLD

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

Quote:

Solwhit showed his rivals a clean pair of heels as he ran out an impressive winner of the Grade Three Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas on a big day for Davy Russell.

The nine-year-old, a six-time Grade One winner who recently returned to action after being sidelined for nearly two years, was sent off the 4-5 favourite and cruised up to brave front-runner Whatuthink coming to the penultimate flight.

Russell, on his way to four winners, only had to give the signal for his mount to hit the front and although market rival So Young tried to make a battle of it, his effort ended with a poor jump at the last, and Solwhit cleared away to score by four lengths.

denphone · 21-01-2013, 05:24

HEADGEAR CONSIDERED FOR RUN

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

Quote:

Long Run is likely to wear cheekpieces when he bids to regain his crown in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen said the application of that type of headgear was "under serious consideration" for the eight-year-old, who was victorious in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day for a second time.

"It is definitely under serious consideration for the Gold Cup. Whether he will wear them beforehand I don't know," he said.

denphone · 21-01-2013, 15:03

STAYERS CONVENE FOR CLASSY CLEEVE

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

Quote:

Several leading fancies for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, including Oscar Whisky, are among 16 entries for the Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Trainer Nicky Henderson is keen to try the eight-year-old over three miles again as he felt Oscar Whisky was not right when fifth to Big Buck's in the stayers' championship last March. Oscar Whisky has won his three subsequent starts, including the Relkeel Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles on this track last month.

denphone · 22-01-2013, 05:21

STARS ALIGN FOR STELLAR NEPTUNE

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

Quote:

The New One, Puffin Billy and Coneygree could all clash in a mouthwatering renewal of the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' The New One looked electric in winning at Warwick recently, while Puffin Billy is unbeaten in four starts for Oliver Sherwood.

Mark Bradstock's Coneygree showed a great attitude when twice victorious at Cheltenham earlier in the season.

denphone · 22-01-2013, 15:28

ELEVEN ENTRIES FOR VC CHASE

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

Quote:

The reopened Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday has attracted 11 entries, including Sprinter Sacre.

Nicky Henderson's Arkle winner is the headline act in the race, which has been transferred from last Saturday's abandoned Ascot card.

However, Cheltenham's meeting is also still in the balance.

---------- Post added at 15:28 ---------- Previous post was at 13:52 ----------

NO ADDITIONS TO TRIAL FIELD

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

Quote:

No extra entries were received for the reopened StanJames.com Champion Hurdle Trial, rescheduled for Doncaster this weekend.

The race was saved from Haydock's abandoned card last week, but unfortunately Doncaster's meeting is also in the balance due to the freeze.

If the meeting were to take place, a cracking contest is in store with 2010 Champion Hurdle hero Binocular and 2011 runner-up Peddlers Cross among the entries, although the former is also in at Leopardstown on Sunday.

denphone · 23-01-2013, 07:33

CHAMPIONS ON SHOW AT LEOPARDSTOWN

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

Quote:

Two former Champion Hurdle winners are set to clash at Leopardstown on Sunday, with Hurricane Fly and Binocular among six remaining possible runners in the BHP Irish Champion Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained Hurricane Fly is going for a hat-trick in Ireland's feature hurdle race and has looked right back to his best this season in winning the Morgiana and the Istabraq Festival Hurdle.

"He's in great shape. Looking at him coming off the gallops on Monday morning he's fit and ready," Mullins told At The Races. "Hopefully then we'll just count down to Sunday.

denphone · 23-01-2013, 15:39

WISHES SET SACRE TEST

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

Quote:

William's Wishes will go toe-to-toe with Sprinter Sacre in the rearranged Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham this weekend.

The eight-year-old gelding is a notoriously bad worker at his home in Wales, but is unbeaten in five starts over fences and looked most impressive at Sandown earlier this month.

"We'll be running him at Cheltenham," said trainer Evan Williams.

denphone · 24-01-2013, 07:32

TIME CALLED ON BIG ZEB CAREER

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

Quote:

Big Zeb, winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in 2010, has been retired.

Trainer Colm Murphy took the decision to call time on the 12-year-old's highly successful racing career due to problems with the horse's joints. Big Zeb has not responded well enough to treatment after he finished fourth to Sizing Europe in the Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

"It's a pity, but unfortunately he's had a few niggly problems," said the County Wexford handler.

"He didn't come out of Leopardstown as well as we'd hoped. His joints are troubling him a little bit. He deserves his retirement now.