Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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De Sousa expects Light to shine.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Thu

Silvestre de Sousa is sure Hunter's Light will do himself justice when he lines up in Saturday's Dubai World Cup at Meydan.

The Godolphin-owned five-year-old has won both his starts at the track this winter, most recently claiming the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge.

That victory in the acknowledged World Cup trial saw him promoted to the head of the ante-post market and a favourable draw in stall four has further enhanced his chances

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Bolster set for crack at Bowl.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Thu

David Bridgwater is hopeful stable star The Giant Bolster can end his season on a high in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree next Thursday.

A superb second at 50-1 in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup, the eight-year-old has gone on to prove that was no fluke with some excellent efforts in defeat this season.

He was third on his comeback in the Betfair Chase at Haydock but ran below-par in the King George, before bouncing back with a good second in Newbury's Denman Chase and an excellent fourth in the Gold Cup.

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Imperial team wait on National call.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Thu

Connections of Imperial Commander are likely to wait until Tuesday before deciding whether to run the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero in the John Smith's Grand National.

The 12-year-old is reported to be back in rude health after recovering from a lung infection that denied him the chance to reclaim his Gold Cup crown earlier this month.

However, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding, who would have to defy top weight of 11st 10lb at Aintree on Saturday week, will not be risked should the ground be heavy. Should be conditions be testing, he would also be likely to miss his alternative engagement at the meeting, the Betfred Bowl.

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O'Brien set for Abbey spin.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...y+spin&day=Fri

Joseph O'Brien is set to partner St Nicholas Abbey during his work at Meydan on Friday ahead of his bid for glory in Saturday's Dubai Sheema Classic.

Aidan O'Brien's top-class middle-distance performer was last seen finishing a close third when defending his crown in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita in early November and has pleased connections since arriving in Dubai. He trotted in the quarantine barn on Thursday, but will take to the racecourse on Friday.

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New owner for Toronado.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Fri

Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani has added to his Classic hand with the purchase of 2000 Guineas hopeful Toronado.

Having already bought the Richard Hannon-trained Olympic Glory last season, Sheikh Joaan now has now snapped up his stablemate, who won the Champagne Stakes last term.

Both horses remain in Hannon's care, with his son and assistant Richard expecting the pair to be kept apart this term.

"Sheikh Joaan wanted a horse for this season's Classics and, hopefully, he might now have two," said Hannon jnr on www.richardhannonracing.co.uk

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Albertas Run retired.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Fri

Dual Ryanair Chase winner Albertas Run has been retired at the age of 12.

Trained by Jonjo O'Neill and owned by Trevor Hemmings, the dark-coloured gelding earned over £900,000 in prize money as a winner of 15 of his 36 starts.

Aside from his Cheltenham Festival victories over two and a half miles in 2010 and 2011, Albertas Run finished second in the same race last year, landed an RSA and a Melling Chase and was second to Kauto Star in the 2008 King George

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McNamara 'positive' despite injury.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...injury&day=Sat

JT McNamara is reported to be in a "very positive" frame of mind despite suffering an injury at the Cheltenham Festival which his family report resulted in paralysis.

The 37-year-old amateur was hurt in a fall in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup and had to be airlifted to Bristol, where he remains, although plans are to be made for a transfer to Dublin in due course.

A statement disclosing further details of McNamara's injury has been issued jointly by Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Irish Turf Club Senior Medical Officer, and Lisa Hancock, CEO, Injured Jockeys Fund, on behalf of the McNamara family.

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Here are my best tips for today.

Doncaster 1.20 Spinatrix
Doncaster 1.55 Nameitwhatyoulike
Doncaster 2.30 Hitchens
Doncaster 3.05 Justonefortheroad
Doncaster 3.40 Space Ship
Meydan 1.10 Sarkiyla
Meydan 2.25 Secret Number
Meydan 3.45 Mental
Meydan 4.40 French Fifteen
Meydan 6.05 Hunter's Light
Haydock 2.40 Lifetime
Haydock 3.15 Pepite Rose
Haydock 3.50 Frontier Spirit

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Monterosso misses World defence.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sat

Monterosso will not defend his title in the Dubai World Cup after the Godolphin horse was declared a late non-runner.

The six-year-old claimed the 10-furlong prize in the hands of Mickael Barzalona last year and the pair had been due to go for glory once again.

However, Monterosso is reported to be lame and will now miss the race.

Rain pours it on in Mile.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sat

Paul Hanagan and Soft Falling Rain defied stall 13 to win the Godolphin Mile at Meydan.

Sent off the 9-4 favourite, the Mike de Kock-trained four-year-old was trapped wide throughout and Haatheq got first run on him in the straight, with his unbeaten record looking in serious danger.

However, despite connections harbouring stamina doubts, Soft Falling Rain quickened up very impressively and Hanagan drove him home for a superb victory by three-quarters of a length, with a further length back to Moonwalk In Paris

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Levitate lifts Lincoln prize.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sat

Levitate just denied Global Village and Brae Hill in a thrilling finish to the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster.

Last year's winner Brae Hill appeared set to enter the history books as a dual victor under Tony Hamilton but Levitate, having his first start for John Quinn, came with a late lunge under Darren Egan to deny the Richard Fahey-trained seven-year-old, who had also finished second two years ago.

Brian Ellison's Global Village absolutely flew home under Martin Lane and nabbed Brae Hill on the line for second. Completing the places was Brae Hill's stablemate Justonefortheroad.

The well-fancied Eshtibaak held every chance heading into the final furlong but was run out of it close home.

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World-beater Kingdom holds Red.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sat

Red Cadeaux ran a huge race in second as Animal Kingdom stamped his class on the Dubai World Cup to give America victory in the world's richest race at Meydan.

The 2011 Kentucky Derby hero was given a no-nonsense ride by Joel Rosario, who always had crack mare Royal Delta just in front of him as she set the early pace

Classic show from St Nick.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sat

St Nicholas Abbey put up a magnificent performance to land the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan under an inspired Joseph O'Brien ride.

Second 12 months ago, his young rider was keen to have him handy from the off as he sat on the heels of Shareta, with much-vaunted Japanese mare Gentildonna keen through the early stages on his outside.

O'Brien opted to kick on entering the straight and while Gentildonna gave chase, she never quite looked like she would get there and in the end was well-held by the Aidan O'Brien-trained winner.

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Too Shea in Al Quoz.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sun

Mike de Kock's Shea Shea came with a devastating late burst to land the Al Quoz Sprint in real style at Meydan.

The six-year-old was produced to perfection by Christophe Soumillon inside the furlong pole, readily picking up Hong Kong raider Joy And Fun, who had briefly asserted two furlongs out. Streaking clear from there, the son of National Emblem never looked in any danger of being caught.

Free and easy for Sajjhaa.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sun

Saeed bin Suroor's mare Sajjhaa ran out an impressive winner of the Dubai Duty Free to give Silvestre de Sousa a double on World Cup night in Meydan.

Three times a winner already at the Carnival, the six-year-old has finally fulfilled the promise she showed as a filly with the late Michael Jarvis, for whom she ran in the Oaks on just her second start.

De Sousa had earlier won on Cavalryman and always looked confident, streaking clear inside the final furlong and holding Mike de Kock's The Apache at bay.

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Battle won for O'Brien.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...;Brien&day=Sun

Aidan O'Brien's Lines Of Battle held of Elleval to lead home an Irish one-two in the UAE Derby at Meydan.

Just 12 months on from O'Brien's win in the race with Daddy Long Legs, Ryan Moore made a positive move off a slow early pace to track Snowboarder into the straight.

Lines Of Battle kicked a couple of lengths clear, but David Marnane's Elleval emerged from the pack as his most serious challenger. He could never get on terms, though, and Lines Of Battle was a decisive winner. Snowboarder clung on for third.

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Cavalry charge captures Gold.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...s&sub=&day=Sun

Cavalryman showed a devastating turn of foot to roll back the years in winning the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan

Settled at the rear of a sedate early pace set by Declan McDonogh on John Oxx's Saddler's Rock, the challengers were queuing up two furlongs out.

Tenenbaum looked a threat in the Godolphin second colours while Imperial Monarch was struggling to find racing room, but once Silvestre de Sousa asked Cavalryman to quicken the race was over and Saeed bin Suroor's seven-year-old sprinted clear to win impressively from the Kieren Fallon-ridden Ahzeemah.

De Sousa said: "He's a proper stayer and I knew he would come on from his last race.

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Jacob and Nicholls together again.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sun

Paul Nicholls has confirmed Daryl Jacob will partner Join Together in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Nicholls and Jacob combined to take the race with Neptune Collonges 12 months ago and will this time team up with a horse who is a best-priced 20-1 for the four-and-a-half-mile contest.

Jacob's appointment aboard Join Together would suggest Ruby Walsh is likely to partner the Willie Mullins-trained favourite On His Own

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Mor the merrier for Elliott.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/

Realt Mor produced a superb front-running display to claim the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on a red-letter day for trainer Gordon Elliott, who sent out four winners in all including Roi Du Mee in the big race at Cork.

Formerly trained in Britain by Nicky Richards, 10-1 shot Realt Mor was taking a huge step up in class after opening his Irish account at Navan.

The eight-year-old set a sound gallop in the hands of Davy Condon and was well clear at one stage, before being given a breather and kicking clear again to take the Grade One prize by two and a half lengths from staying-on favourite Dedigout.