Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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O'NEILL STRIKES IN PERTEMPS.

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

Holywell broke a frustrating run of second place finishes where it mattered most when holding on to win the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill was opening his account for the week and the six-year-old was steered to victory by Richie McLernon, who would not have been able to believe how well he was going turning into the straight.

He joined the hard-ridden Berties Dream and scooted five lengths clear, but Captain Sunshine stayed on from the rear to throw down a challenge as the 25-1 shot idled a little in front, though there was still a length and a half in it at the line.

BOY BOUNDS TO BYRNE GLORY.

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

Carrickboy made just about every yard to land the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.

Venetia Williams' charge finished sixth in the race last year but was allowed to go off at odds of 50-1 in the hands of Liam Treadwell. He rode an excellent race from the front, though trainer David Pipe appeared to hold the upper hand as his pair of Matuhi and favourite Ballynagour were lining up in behind to challenge.

However, Treadwell had conserved a little energy and pushed on again with only Vino Griego pursuing him, and though the runner-up tried his best, Carrickboy proved too strong and won by a length and a half.

Jockey JT McNamara injured in fall at Cheltenham.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/21790055

Amateur jockey JT McNamara has been airlifted to hospital after being seriously injured in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 37-year-old Irish rider was treated by paramedics after his mount Galaxy Rock fell at the first fence in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.

Racing was delayed for 30 minutes as the jockey was transferred from a course ambulance to an air ambulance.

McNamara was then flown to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

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SAME CAPTURES FESTIVAL GOLD.

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

Nigel Twiston-Davies landed his second winner of the Cheltenham Festival when Same Difference edged out Super Duty in a thrilling finish to the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.

Having entered the week under a cloud with several of his horses being ruled out of the meeting, Twiston-Davies has answered every question with a string of good runs to go with the victory of The New One on Wednesday.

LONG IN GOLD RUNNING.

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

Long Run recaptured his King George VI Chase crown at Kempton over Christmas and attempts to do the same in the Betfred Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Friday.

Nicky Henderson's 2011 winner could manage only third in the blue riband 12 months ago.

"I think we're happy. He came back and won the King George - it was a bit of an untidy one admittedly, but he won it. He likes Cheltenham and I do think he was a bit flat last year. I can't say he is miles better this year, but I think he is better," said the Seven Barrows handler.

"The whole race has a look to it that there's a very, very big door that's wide open and inviting someone go through. There are a lot of very good horses but room for a star to come out of it.

INJURED RUSSELL TO MISS SIR DES.

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

Davy Russell will miss the ride aboard Sir Des Champs in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup after suffering a punctured lung.

The rider took a crashing fall from Un Beau Matin at the final flight in Wednesday's Coral Cup, but was fit enough to take up his first two mounts on Thursday's card.

However, after finishing unplaced on both Argocat in the Jewson Novices' Chase and Stonemaster in the Pertemps Final, Russell was ruled out for the rest of the meeting.

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Here are my best tips for today so happy punting.


Cheltenham 1.30 Rolling Star
Cheltenham 2.05 Cotton Mill (Win) & Olofi (E/W)
Cheltenham 2.40 Utopie Des Bordes
Cheltenham 3.20 Long Run
Cheltenham 4.00 Salsify
Cheltenham 4.40 Toner D'oudairies (E/W) & Gevrey Chambertin (Win)
Cheltenham 5.15 Rody (Win) & Shooters Wood (E/W)

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McNamara faces surgery.

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...-faces-surgery

JT McNamara could undergo surgery on Friday after sustaining a serious neck injury in a fall at Cheltenham on Thursday.

McCoy rides Sir Des Champs.

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...sir-des-champs

It has been confirmed that Tony McCoy will take the spare ride aboard Sir Des Champs in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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CLASSY CONOR TRIUMPHANT AT FESTIVAL.

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

Our Conor put up a scintillating display to run away with the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Never out of the first two in running, Dessie Hughes' youngster stretched his 100% record over jumps to four with an emphatic success.

The 4-1 shot, ridden by Bryan Cooper, bounded clear from the second-last to win unchallenged by 15 lengths from Far West, with Sametegal a further two and a quarter lengths away in third.

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BOBS WORTH HIS WEIGHT IN GOLD.

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

Bobs Worth justified 11/4 favouritism in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Not sighted since landing the Hennessy on his only start of the season, the eight-year-old was defending an unbeaten record of four previous wins at Cheltenham but looked in trouble when Long Run and Sir Des Champs set sail for home rounding the turn.

But Barry Geraghy didn't panic on Bobs Worth and his stamina kicked in approaching two out, before taking the lead at the last, and he stuck to his guns to pass the post seven lengths clear of Sir Des Champs.

Geraghty said: "I'd love to be happier. All we can think about is John Thomas McNamara. We just hope and pray to God he's OK. This is a brilliant, he is a gorgeous horse and he has a great attitude. He never travelled, he struggled on that ground, but he kept fighting.

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MCCOY AT HIS BEST ON FISHERS.

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

Tony McCoy broke his duck for the 2012 Cheltenham Festival with a cheeky success on At Fishers Cross in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

The 17-times champion jockey toyed with African Gold on the long run to the final flight and pressed on after getting a great leap out of the Rebecca Curtis-trained gelding. The 11-8 favourite pulled clear up the hill to score by four and a half lengths from African Gold, with Inish Island just a nose back in third.

McCoy was quick to reaffirm his thoughts are with amateur rider JT McNamara, who suffered a serious neck injury in a fall on Thursday and is firmly associated with the At Fishers Cross colours of owner JP McManus.

TED THE KING OF THE COUNTY.

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

Tony Martin and Bryan Cooper teamed up for their second Cheltenham winner in two days when Ted Veale reeled in long-time leader Tennis Cap in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.

After the victory of Benefficient in the Jewson on Thursday, Cooper followed up his first win at the Festival in the opening Triumph Hurdle on Our Conor to make it a dream week for the young jockey.

Tennis Cap adopted his usual front-running role and had everything on the stretch coming down the hill - apart from Ted Veale (10-1) who was travelling ominously well. While Ted Veale did not pull right away from the game Tennis Cap, he was always holding him and won by a length and a half.

ALDERWOOD DOES IT AGAIN.

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

Alderwood followed up his success in the Country Hurdle of 12 months ago with victory in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual to give Ireland a record number of winners at Cheltenham 2013.

The victory for Tom Mullins' nine-year-old provided Ireland with a 14th success compared to Britain's 13 over the week.

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UNLUCKY CONTI CRASHES OUT.

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

Ruby Walsh hopes there is another day for Silviniaco Conti after his fall in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Paul Nicholls' classy chaser was still travelling well within himself on the heels of the leaders, with eventual winner Bobs Worth behind him, only to crumple on landing three out.

MULLINS HAILS CHAMPS PERFORMANCE.

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

Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs could make his next appearance at the Punchestown Festival.

Willie Mullins' ace gave Tony McCoy a great spin and looked the likely winner when taking the lead off Long Run at the top of the straight, only to be pegged back by Bobs Worth, and he eventually crossed the line seven lengths adrift.

Mullins said: "It was a hell of a run. He didn't appear to travel as well as he normally does and Tony was all the time niggling him. He jumped well enough and Tony was keen to be handy, he has lots of experience around here so I was happy enough to leave it to him."

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MCNAMARA 'STABLE' FOLLOWING SURGERY.

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

T McNamara is reported to be in a "stable condition" following surgery on the serious neck injury he sustained at Cheltenham on Thursday.

The 37-year-old was injured in a first fence fall from Galaxy Rock in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup and was airlifted to hospital after being treated by the on-course medics.

Conscious following the fall according to officials at the track, the leading amateur rider was put in an induced coma before his transfer to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, and underwent surgery on his fractured C3 and C4 vertebrae on Friday.

Lets pray that he comes through this.



SALSIFY SNATCHES DRAMATIC FOXHUNTER.

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

Salsify was a dramatic winner of the CGA Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup at Cheltenham after Oscar Delta unseated Jane Mangan when leading on the run-in.

Oscar Delta jinked to the left, hitting the rope where there was no permanent rail. The daughter of trainer Jimmy Mangan was unshipped, leaving Salsify to repeat last year's victory.

Oscar Delta took it up after the fourth-last and pulled away from Salsify between three and two out, and jumped the last with a handy lead. He looked set for victory until it turned into defeat and agony for connections.

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NO HURRY FOR WORTH PLANS.

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

Trainer Nicky Henderson will let the dust settle before beginning to formulate a plan for his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Bobs Worth.

The eight-year-old stayed on up the Cheltenham hill to land the Festival feature by seven lengths on Friday on what was just his second start of the season.

In winning the Gold Cup, he became the first horse since Flyingbolt in the 1960s to secure three different Cheltenham Festival events in consecutive years after claiming the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle in 2011 and last year's RSA Chase.

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GRANDOUET SET FOR FLY REMATCH.

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

Grandouet will have another crack at Hurricane Fly in Punchestown's Rabobank Champion Hurdle to determine whether he will commence novice chasing next year.

Trainer Nicky Henderson was left wondering what might have been after his horse fell when still appearing to be going nicely in Tuesday's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, eventually won by Willie Mullins' star.

It was only Grandouet's second start of the campaign and the trainer said on Saturday: "The Champion Hurdle was the missing race, so we'll definitely go to Ireland. We'll know whether to stay hurdling if we're good enough to give Hurricane Fly any sort of a fright there.

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IT'S A BIG OCCASION FOR PIPE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...r+Pipe&day=Sat

Big Occasion gave trainer David Pipe a third successive victory in the Betfred Midlands Grand National when cruising home in the Uttoxeter marathon.

The six-year-old, the youngest winner of this extreme test in living memory, powered clear of the opposition in the testing conditions from the third-last.

The well-backed 6-1 shot won by six lengths from Rebeccas Choice (20-1) with One In A Milan (8-1) 10 lengths away in third.

WINTER DERBY JOY FOR FARRAAJ.

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

Straight after winning the Spring Cup on Teophilip, jockey Andrea Atzeni completed a quick big-race double when driving Farraaj to a hard-fought triumph in the Group Three Blue Square Bet Winter Derby at Lingfield.

After getting the better of Cai Shen, Robin Hoods Bay made the 6-4 favourite work hard in the final half-furlong but Farraaj's class shone through as Roger Varian's four-year-old prevailed by half-a-length.

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LADIES FIRST IN LISTED HEAT.

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

Ladies Are Forever (10-1) followed up a recent course success when powering to another Listed win in the Blue Square Bet Hever Sprint Stakes at Lingfield.

Willy Twiston-Davies had the Geoff Oldroyd-trained mare handily-placed as Timeless Call burst out from her rail draw to make the running in the five-furlong dash, with Bear Behind close up.

TEOPHILIP TAKES SPRING SPOILS.

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

Teophilip (10-1) continued on the upgrade with a comfortable victory in the bluesq.com Spring Cup at Lingfield.

Winner of a Wolverhampton handicap on his reappearance, the Marco Botti-trained three-year-old was not fazed by the step up to Listed company.

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NEWMARKET NEXT FOR O'BRIEN PAIR.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...n+pair&day=Sun

Kingsbarns and Cristoforo Colombo, Aidan O'Brien's two big hopes for the Qipco 2000 Guineas, may have their first runs of the season in the Newmarket Classic.

The Ballydoyle trainer reports both colts, as well as Camelot, his star three-year-old of 2012 who won the Guineas and both the English and Irish Derbys, to be building steadily towards the new campaign.

"They're going nicely. I don't know if the two Guineas horses will run before Newmarket, but I would say maybe they won't," said O'Brien.

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MORRIS RUES CHELTENHAM FORTUNES.

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

Mouse Morris is pleased to report his Cheltenham Festival runners have arrived home in good shape after all three filled the runner-up spot in their respective races.

The Fethard maestro is widely considered as one of the best trainers in the land when it comes to preparing his string for the Festival and each of this year's representatives did him proud without quite hitting the target.

Morris said: "They're all fine. It just didn't happen for them on the day, but hopefully they're all winners for further down the line