Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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STAR ON SHOW ON NEWBURY.

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

Kauto Star will show Newbury's spectators a little of the new skills he has learned when he participates in a dressage demonstration before racing on Saturday.

The Berkshire course is holding a showcase from the British Equestrian Federation, showcasing different ranges of sport horses, and eventer Laura Collett, who has been working with Kauto Star, will also be providing a jumping masterclass along with the expert coach Yogi Breisner.

Collett received the celebrated chaser and dual Gold Cup winner before Christmas when his owner Clive Smith decided he should do something different.

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LONG RUN PLEASES IN CHEEKPIECES

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

Long Run is set to wear cheekpieces for the first time in public when he aims to regain his crown in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup later this month.

The eight-year-old won the Festival feature in 2011 but endured a disappointing campaign last term, being beaten twice by Kauto Star before having to settle for third behind Synchronised in the Gold Cup

Trainer Nicky Henderson looks to have brought him back to top form this season, with Long Run landing a second King George title on Boxing Day. However, connections are keen for Long Run to be fully focussed in the closing stages of the blue riband and decided to school him in the headgear as an experiment this morning.

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SOMERSBY SET FOR SACRE CLASH

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

Mick Channon has confirmed Somersby will come back in distance for a tilt at the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Narrowly beaten in the 2010 Arkle and fifth in the Champion Chase a year later, Somersby has been largely campaigned over longer trips since, but did win last year's two-mile-one-furlong Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

He was a well beaten third behind red-hot Queen Mother favourite Sprinter Sacre at Cheltenham in late January, but having seemingly failed to get home over further in last month's Betfair Ascot Chase, he is set for a return to the minimum distance.

HEFTY BAN FOR PROBERT

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

David Probert was hit with a 28-day ban for dropping his hands and losing first place at Lingfield.

Joint champion apprentice in 2008, Probert will miss the first three weeks of the Flat turf season that starts at Doncaster on March 22.

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Here are my best tips for today.

Doncaster 2.55 Night In Milan
Doncaster 3.30 Lord Wishes
Doncaster 4.05 Lienosus
Newbury 2.40 Sona Sasta
Newbury 3.15 Sporting Boy
Newbury 3.50 The Knoxs
Newbury 5.35 Ifits A Fiddle
Kelso 4.15 Harry Topper

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MCCOY STICKS WITH TENT CAMP.

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

Tony McCoy has confirmed he will ride My Tent Or Yours in the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

McCoy also had the option of partnering fellow JP McManus hurdler Jezki, trained in Ireland by Jessica Harrington.

My Tent Or Yours is favourite for the Supreme after easily winning the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury for the Nicky Henderson team.

KATENKO OUT OF GOLD CUP

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

Katenko has been scratched from the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup and the John Smith's Grand National.

The Venetia Williams-trained seven-year-old had been quietly fancied in some quarters for the Gold Cup after winning his last two races in the manner of a progressive horse.

But he was officially taken out of the Cheltenham Festival highlight on Saturday morning.

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Channel Four Racing on the Cheltenham Festival.

http://www.channel4.com/info/press/p...enham-festival

Twenty thrilling races and over 20 hours of live action, featuring the world’s best jump jockeys and horses, will be televised live on Channel 4 from the fabled four-day Cheltenham Festival on March 12 - 15.

Channel 4’s high definition Festival coverage starts daily on March 12 with The Morning Line live from 7:55am presented by Nick Luck. Former top jump jockey Mick Fitzgerald will be track-side every morning to give his expert evaluation of that day’s runners with Sam Thomas reporting from the stables. The Morning Line will be packed with features, racing news, tips and a daily guest to provide viewers with crucial pointers for the day ahead.

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GUTSY GREY GRABS GRIMTHORPE PRIZE

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

Quentin Collonges (15-2) gamely held off the late lunge of Mr Moss to win the William Hill Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster for trainer Henry Daly.

Winning on Town Moor for the third time, the nine-year-old jumped for fun at the head of affairs in the hands of Andrew Tinkler.

At the other end of the scale Mr Moss was given a waiting ride by Paul Moloney and despite looking awkward at times, was produced perfectly after the last, but the grey battled back to win by half a length.

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NICHOLLS CONTINUES DOMINATION

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

Trainer Paul Nicholls claimed the feature StanJames Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup for an amazing sixth time in the last eight years at Newbury.

Since Cornish Sett dead-heated in the Grade Three handicap back in 2006, it has barely left the champion trainer's clutches and this time the representative was Pacha du Polder.

The 18-1 chance was barely challenged for the lead under conditional Ryan Mahon and came home five lengths clear of Big Fella Thanks.

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KATENKO CONTINUING COLIC RECOVERY.

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

Venetia Williams reports Katenko to be making good progress after having to undergo an emergency colic operation on Friday evening.

Hugely impressive handicap victories at Sandown and Cheltenham had connections dreaming of Cheltenham Gold Cup glory, but a fortnight before the blue riband, the seven-year-old has been struck down by illness.

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RAIN WOULD SUIT CURTIS PLANS.

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

Rebecca Curtis is hoping Cheltenham catches some of the forecast rain this week as she prepares leading contender At Fishers Cross for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

The highly-progressive six-year-old booked his Festival ticket when proving too strong for highly-regarded The New One at Prestbury Park on trials day in January.

Galvanised by Tony McCoy, the six-year-old stayed on strongly after the last to account for the odds-on favourite by a neck in a thrilling finish.

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QUEVEGA BUILDS TOWARDS CHELTENHAM

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

Willie Mullins declared himself "very happy" with Quevega after the history-seeking mare made a gentle appearance after racing at Leopardstown.

The nine-year-old is attempting to become the first horse since Golden Miller in the 1930s to win the same event at the Cheltenham Festival five times when she lines up for the David Nicholson OLBG Mares' Hurdle. Quevega galloped with another long-term absentee, Fiveforthree, and two other stablemates.

Mullins said: "We just brought them for a day out really. The intention was to just canter round for one circuit as they will work again during the week. They've been off the course for a long time so we just did it to knock the fizz out of them really, Fiveforthree certainly was fresh."

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SOLWHIT LOOKING LIKELY FOR WORLD.

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

Solwhit is set to take his chance in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday week after pleasing trainer Charles Byrnes in a gallop on Saturday.

Despite being sidelined by injury for the best part of two years, the six-time Grade One winner has returned seemingly as good as ever, building on a promising comeback run behind Bog Warrior with an impressive victory at Naas.

"He galloped on Saturday. He worked adequately, it was nothing spectacular, but we were happy enough," said Byrnes.

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WALSH HAS HIGH HOPES FOR HURRICANE.

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

Ruby Walsh would love Hurricane Fly to show his true colours again in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next week.

The nine-year-old has won his three starts this term but has faced small fields on each occasion, including when winning the Irish Champion Hurdle last time.

Walsh does not feel the 14-time Grade One winner gets the credit he deserves, having missed a few Festivals through injury before being beaten in his title defence last year.

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CAMELOT BACK ON TRACK.

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

Aidan O'Brien has issued an upbeat bulletin on his dual Derby winner Camelot, who has recovered well from a serious bout of colic.

Having won the 2000 Guineas as well as the Classics at Epsom and the Curragh, he was sent off a short price to complete the Triple Crown in the St Leger but came off second best to Encke.

He then trailed home in seventh in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe under Frankie Dettori but remains in training as a four-year-old.

O'Brien told At The Races: "He's in full work. We're delighted with him really, he's made a good recovery.

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HENDERSON PLEASED WITH SUPER SIMON.

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

Nicky Henderson endured another frustrating morning but after finally getting to gallop Simonsig, he described the grey's work as "simply fantastic".

An odds-on favourite to follow up his victory in the Neptune Novices' Hurdle 12 months ago with a win in next week's Racing Post Arkle, Simonsig had been due to gallop at Newbury on Sunday morning with some stable companions.

However, an unexpected frost threw those plans into disarray and Henderson rearranged the work for Monday morning only to find the track had suffered the same fate again overnight. He was forced to head back to his Lambourn base with Simonsig and Grandouet, one of his Champion Hurdle hopes.