Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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PUZZLED PIPE UNSURE ON CRUS.

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

David Pipe's highest-profile horse Grands Crus remains an uncertain runner at the Cheltenham Festival with the trainer admitting he is "just taking things day by day".

Two years ago Grands Crus looked a mighty prospect when finishing just under two lengths away from Big Buck's in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, but there have been more than a fair share of let-downs ever since.

While he made a bright start over fences last season, he was a well-beaten fourth behind Bobs Worth in the RSA and there have been two further setbacks at Cheltenham this season, when he was pulled up in both the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Argento Chase.

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CHICAGO DELIGHTS IN RED MILLS

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

Chicago Grey boosted his claims for the John Smith's Grand National when springing a 25-1 surprise in the Red Mills Chase at Navan.

The Gordon Elliott-trained outsider of four led between the last two fences before going on to defeat Foildubh cosily in the two-and-a-half-mile heat run in testing conditions.

Chicago Grey travelled kindly for Davy Condon at the rear of the field all the way and was too strong for Foildubh in the closing stages, although the pair were separated by the width of the track.

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ROCK-SOLID DYNASTE LEADS CHARGE

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

David Pipe has nominated Dynaste as the most obvious candidate to provide him with a ninth Cheltenham Festival success.

Just like his record-breaking father Martin, whose Pond House Stables he took over seven years ago, Pipe kept specific plans close to his chest when parading a few of his likely runners for the meeting at a gathering on Tuesday.

As the team will generally be looking to plot their path through the handicaps, many of the horses are entered in more than one race as the trainer sifts through the most viable options.

Dynaste, favourite for the RSA Chase and the Jewson Novices' Chase, has followed the same route as stablemate Grands Crus did a year ago, winning at Cheltenham, Newbury and then the Feltham at Kempton on Boxing Day.

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RUBI RULED OUT OF CHELTENHAM.

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

Rubi Light has been ruled out of next month's Cheltenham Festival after suffering an injury during his disappointing run at Navan on Tuesday.

Robbie Hennessy's stable star was the odds-on favourite to win the Grade Two Red Mills Chase for the third successive year, but was beaten a long way into third by Grand National candidate Chicago Grey.

Hennessy had been looking forward to a third tilt at Cheltenham's Ryanair Chase with his eight-year-old, having finished third and fifth the last two years, but he is now set to be saved for the Punchestown Festival in April.

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ZARKANDAR 'IN A GREAT PLACE'

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...26#39;&day=Wed

Paul Nicholls insists it should be of no concern to Zarkandar's supporters that jockey Ruby Walsh has once again chosen to side with Hurricane Fly in the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Walsh, the stable jockey to both Nicholls and Willie Mullins, rode Zarkandar to win the International at Cheltenham earlier in the season, but deserted him in the last Champion in favour of the defending champion Hurricane Fly.

In the end, he managed to finish third, with Zarkandar fifth, but both Nicholls and Mullins believe their respective charges are different horses this time around. Daryl Jacob is to take over on the former Triumph winner, having helped him through his final trial in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.

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NICHOLLS HAS CONFIDENCE IN CONTI.

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

Paul Nicholls believes Bobs Worth and Sir Des Champs are the ones to beat in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup next month.

The champion trainer has high hopes for his blue riband contender Silviniaco Conti, who has risen right through the ranks this term, landing the Charlie Hall, beating Long Run in the Betfair Chase and enjoying a smooth third success in the Denman at Newbury.

My view is that the three novices - Bobs Worth, Silviniaco Conti and Sir Des Champs - could be the three. Long Run you can't rule out but those novices might be the ones that move forward," said Nicholls.

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MAJOR PLUS FANCIES STAND GROUND

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

Wyck Hill and Rolling Aces head a competitive 13-runner field for Saturday's Racing Plus Chase at Kempton that also includes dual winner Nacarat.

The David Bridgwater-trained Wyck Hill was bought by leading owner JP McManus on Wednesday and a good performance in this £100,000 event could see him take up his entries in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National.

Rolling Aces has been progressing steadily for champion trainer Paul Nicholls and appears to have been saved for this race since winning easily at Wincanton on Boxing Day. The same yard also run top weight What A Friend for the first time this season.

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MCCAIN: CATCH OVERTURN IF YOU CAN

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

Trainer Donald McCain has challenged Overturn's Racing Post Arkle rivals to take him on for the lead in the Cheltenham contest on March 12.

A winner of major handicaps on the level and good enough to be runner-up in a Champion Hurdle by employing front-running tactics, there have been rumblings the way to upset the nine-year-old is to challenge him up front.

However, McCain does not see that as an issue as he believes nothing will be able to live with Overturn over the first few fences.

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BIG GUNS CLASH IN ADONIS

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

Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls have used the Racing UK Subscribe For Cheltenham Adonis Juvenile Hurdle to unearth a Triumph winner in recent years and both are trying to bolster their squads again at Kempton on Saturday.

As has been the case in their battles all season, Britain's top two trainers are hard to separate in the Triumph betting, with Henderson's Rolling Star and Nicholls' Far West generally the joint-favourites at this stage.

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NACARAT CLOSING IN ON SWANSONG

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

Nacarat's fifth successive appearance in the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton Park might be his swansong on the racetrack.

Ton George, who trains the 12-year-old grey, feels the valuable Grade Three handicap could be the perfect stage for him to end his career.

Nacarat has been a standing dish around Kempton, winning this race in 2009 and again 12 months ago, as well as being placed the two years in between, and although he has shown little in two races this season, George hopes a return to his favourite course will turn around his fortunes.

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PRINCE ON TRIAL IN BOBBYJO

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

Leading John Smith's Grand National contenders Prince De Beauchene and Seabass clash in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

The Willie Mullins-trained Prince De Beauchene was a hugely impressive winner of one of Ireland's biggest National trials 12 months ago, but an injury suffered during the race ruled him out of a trip to Aintree.

However, he appeared as good as ever when winning on his seasonal reappearance over hurdles at Limerick in December.

Mullins told At The Races: "He won last year and came into the winner's enclosure 100%, but by the time he got back up to the veterinary unit he was lame and he just got lamer and lamer. He pulled some type of ligament or something and I hope he can get through that this year.

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WALSH HOPEFUL FOR HURRICANE

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

Ruby Walsh does not believe Hurricane Fly has been seen at his very best on either of his previous two trips to the Cheltenham Festival.

A narrow winner of the 2011 Champion Hurdle from Peddlers Cross, the nine-year-old was beaten into third by Rock On Ruby and Overturn when an odds-on favourite to defend his crown at Prestbury Park 12 months ago.

Walsh believes the fact he was made to work hard to win his final start of the campaign at the Punchestown Festival showed Hurricane Fly was out of sorts last spring and he has looked much more like his old self so far this season, winning the Irish Champion Hurdle for the third successive year last month.

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ROI FLOORS NATIONAL CONTENDERS

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

Roi Du Mee made all to land the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse as leading John Smith's Grand National contenders Prince De Beauchene and Seabass had to settle for minor honours.

Davy Russell executed an excellent front-running ride aboard the 5-1 chance, who had last year's winner Prince De Beauchene travelling on his heels for much of the three-mile-one-furlong trip, although the 8-11 favourite lost momentum when making a mistake at the fourth-last fence.

He soon came back on the bridle for Paul Townend and as the race got serious two fences from home, Katie Walsh produced Seabass to launch his challenge too. Roi Du Mee proved game up front, however, and kept finding for Russell to hold off Prince De Beauchene at the line.

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BIG GUNS PLEASE HENDERSON

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

Nicky Henderson was left perfectly satisfied as he worked a high-profile Cheltenham team after racing at Kempton.

Leading Betfred Gold Cup contenders Long Run and Bobs Worth were joined by former Champion Hurdle hero Binocular in an illustrious party of three, while Kid Cassidy, Riverside Theatre and Triumph Hurdle favourite Rolling Star were also in action.

Long Run, under Nico De Boinville, led his two stablemates, picking up the pace on the final circuit of a blowout lasting roughly two miles. He was pushed out quite vigorously before Bobs Worth and Barry Geraghty finished just ahead, with Binocular (Tony McCoy) hard-held upsides

BATSMAN HITS RIVALS FOR SIX

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

Harry Fry's first season as a trainer in his own right took a major step forward as Opening Batsman stole the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton from under the nose of the young handler's mentor Paul Nicholls.

Although responsible for last season's Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby, whom he prepared from what was Nicholls' satellite yard in Seaborough, the 26-year-old's name is now above the same Dorset premises and this Grade Three event was by some way his biggest success so far.

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FIRST-CLASS MAIL IN CHAMPION FRAME

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

Exciting French recruit Mail De Bievre is set to be supplemented for the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham next month, trainer Tom George confirmed.

Having shown impressive form in his homeland, the eight-year-old jumped superbly towards the head of affairs on his British debut in the three-mile Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury before weakening into fifth in the straight.

Connections are now ready to stump up the required £17,500 to add him to the Champion Chase field.

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WELLS SHOWS WINNING SPIRIT

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

Prospect Wells opened his account for the campaign with a solid victory in the totepool National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.

The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old has been found out by the very soft ground this winter, except for when he was just touched off by his stablemate Zarkandar at Wincanton.

However, with conditions improving, the real Prospect Wells (3-1) was on show as he pulled clear of his rivals from the final flight to take the Grade Two heat over two and a half miles by seven lengths from Meister Eckhart.