Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

[denphone]

GRANDOUET TO MISS KINGWELL

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

Grandouet will not run in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday.

Trainer Nicky Henderson said concerns over a setback earlier in the week had dispersed but he does not want to run on very testing ground after an interrupted preparation.

In a statement to Press Association Sport, Henderson said: "The filling in Grandouet's near fore has dispersed as we had hoped with exercise and is now negligible."

He went on: "However, in view of the likelihood of very testing conditions at Wincanton and the fact that his training for this race has obviously been interrupted, we have all decided to forego a prep race and train him at home without a run before the Champion Hurdle.

[denphone]

TENT CAMP KEEP CHAMPION IN MIND

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

Connections of My Tent Or Yours have not ruled out supplementing the impressive Betfair Hurdle winner for the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

While the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle that kicks off the first day of the Cheltenham Festival remains the likely target, there is a possibility My Tent Or Yours could switch to the big race on the card.

BLACK IN BUSINESS

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

Trainer Peter Moody believes Black Caviar is as well as she has been "for a few years" ahead of her return to the track at Flemington on Saturday.

Australia's champion mare is unbeaten in 22 starts, but has not been seen since her dramatic victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Although her racing career had been in the balance following her exertions in England, the extraordinary sprinter has reportedly made a seamless return to full training. Her first port of call is a Group One five-furlong sprint which has this year been named in her honour - the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

[denphone]

CUE TAKES AIM AT ASCOT PRIZE

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

It is crunch time for Cue Card at Ascot on Saturday as the 2010 Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner warms up for a fourth successive appearance at the Festival.

Trainer Colin Tizzard expects Cue Card's performance in the Betfair Ascot Chase to tell him whether to aim for the Ryanair Chase or the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase. The seven-year-old has to put behind him a disappointing display in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, where he failed to stay three miles.

KEY KINGWELL TEST FOR ZARKANDAR

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

Zarkandar attempts to boost his strong claims for the Stan James Champion Hurdle when he lines up at Wincanton.

The second favourite for next month's Festival showpiece has this term won the Elite Hurdle on this track and the International Hurdle at Cheltenham. He has his final race before the big one when facing five rivals in the Grade Two Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle.

Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "This is his final preparation race before the Champion Hurdle. We'd prefer better ground, but he's won on similar going so we are not worried. He goes well fresh. We've trained him differently this year and it seems to suit him."

[denphone]

Here are my best tips for today.

Haydock 1.45 Zamdy Man
Haydock 2.55 Teaforthree
Haydock 4.05 Cloudy Too
Ascot 1.30 Aaim To Prosper
Ascot 2.40 Tatenen
Ascot 3.15 The Bear Trap
Ascot 3.50 Somersby
Wincanton 1.55 Definite Ruby
Wincanton 3.35 Zarkandar

[denphone]

Black Caviar races to 23rd win on return from injury.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/21483379

Black Caviar broke the Flemington track record as she returned from eight months off to record her 23rd win.

The unbeaten Australian mare had been on the brink of retirement after tearing a quadriceps muscle while running at Royal Ascot last June.

But she was a convincing winner of a race named in her honour - the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes - leading the field by two lengths.

"I am just so proud of her and my team," trainer Peter Moody said.

This lady is not for beating.

[denphone]

REFRESHED POWERS TO TRIAL TRIUMPH.

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

Well Refreshed overcame a bad mistake at the last to power to victory in the Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock.

Gary Moore's 9-2 favourite was ridden by the trainer's son Josh, who bided his time on the Sussex National scorer as last year's winner Giles Cross, Teaforthree and Rigadin De Beauchene set the pace.

Well Refreshed was brought into contention in the straight and went on two out before making a big hole in the final fence. He lost no momentum, however, and galloped away to beat Rigadin de Beauchene by 10 lengths. Welsh National hero Monbeg Dude stayed on late to claim third, nine lengths away.

[denphone]

CARD ON CUE FOR ASCOT SUCCESS

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

Cue Card put his King George disappointment well behind him by claiming his first Grade One win over fences in the Betfair Ascot Chase.

Colin Tizzard's stable star (15-8 favourite) looked imperious when landing the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, but failed to see out the three miles at Kempton in testing conditions.

Joe Tizzard set out to make all, but his mount was keen and he did not meet every fence on an even keel. Captain Chris moved up menacingly and was still going well when he made a bad blunder at the second-last, and Cue Card was kept up to his work to run out a six-length winner.

[denphone]

EASY FOR ZARKANDAR IN KINGWELL

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

Zarkandar completed his public preparation for the Stan James Champion Hurdle when maintaining his 100% record this season at Wincanton.

The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old is 5-1 from 6s with Paddy Power and 9-2 from 5s with Stan James for the Cheltenham showpiece after justifying prohibitive odds of 1-3 in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle.

Monte Cavallo set the pace, with Zarkandar well placed in the hands of Daryl Jacob. A mistake three out halted Raya Star's progress as Zarkandar moved in for the kill, and he was not hard pressed to pull away and win by four and a half lengths from Khyber Kim, who made a pleasing return after 681 days off.

[denphone]

ROCKY COMPLETES CHASE HAT-TRICK.

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

Rocky Creek galloped to a workmanlike success in the Sodexo Prestige Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot.

The seven-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls, completed a hat-trick over fences, but he had to work hard to see off Houblon Des Obeaux.

Ruby Walsh took Rocky Creek to the lead two out only for the 8-13 favourite to slow down on the approach to the last, but the jockey quickly gathered his mount to go on and win by a length and three-quarters.

[denphone]

WHISKY ON COURSE FOR WORLD

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

Owner Dai Walters has confirmed Oscar Whisky is likely to take his chance in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Trainer Nicky Henderson and Walters have had sleepless nights over the Cheltenham target for the dual Aintree Hurdle winner.

But after he ran a fine race to be touched off by Reve De Sivola in the Cleeve Hurdle over three miles, the World Hurdle is now preferred over another crack at the Champion Hurdle, in which he finished third in 2011.

[denphone]

BBC Radio announces new four-year horse racing coverage deal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/21472771

[denphone]

TENT TO TAKE SUPREME TEST

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

Nicky Henderson has stated My Tent Or Yours will run in the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

There had been speculation the talented six-year-old could be supplemented for the Stan James Champion Hurdle following his effortless victory in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, but connections have decided to run him in the Supreme on March 12.

"He's very good and he goes for the Supreme. I have been speaking to AP (Tony McCoy), Frank Berry (racing manager) and JP McManus (owner) and that is the plan, I believe," said Henderson.

[denphone]

CLASSY STARS OUT TO SHINE IN BOYNE

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

Thousand Stars bids to make his first appearance at Navan a winning one when he lines up in the Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle.

The nine-year-old has to give weight all round due to winning the Grade One French Champion Hurdle, and was last seen finishing second behind his brilliant stablemate Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

"Hopefully he's back to his best form. He's not run in Navan before, but I'm sure it's a track he will be well able to handle. While he has got winners' penalties, I think he is getting into better form, so I hope it's a nice opportunity for him," said champion trainer Willie Mullins.

[denphone]

STRONG SQUAD ASSEMBLED

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

Nicky Henderson might publicly admit he does not expect to match last year's phenomenal haul of seven Cheltenham Festival winners, but a team of at least 35 from his Lambourn stable will be out doing their best.

These include virtually all of his returning heroes, such as Sprinter Sacre, Bobs Worth, Simonsig and Riverside Theatre as well as a former Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in Long Run, which explains why Henderson is long odds-on to be top trainer when the meeting begins in three weeks' time.

[denphone]

TEA HEADING STRAIGHT TO AINTREE

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

Rebecca Curtis believes a combination of a big weight, unsuitable ground and track conditions caused Teaforthree to underperform in the Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock.

The Welsh National runner-up was expected to enhance his claims for the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree but finished a well-beaten 10th of the 11 finishers on Saturday.

However, Curtis retains faith in the winner of the four-mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last March and will send him straight to Aintree without another run.