Carlton House Injury Scare
Derby horse betting favourite Carlton House will be forced to miss any heavy training in the build up to the Derby this weekend after a joint problem was discovered just four days before the big race. The colt, owned by the Queen, had been placed as the clear favourite for the race after an impressive win …
Gold Cup Line-up Taking Shape
Declarations have been made for the feature Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 18 with 34 high quality steeplechasers currently in the running to take home a share of the record £500,000 prize money, writes Elliot Slater. Reigning champion and current ante-post favourite Imperial Commander heads the list, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding bidding to continue the …
Dulcote Does Nicholls Proud
On a red-letter day for champion trainer Paul Nicholls on which he sent out a stunning 96/1 four-timer at Newbury, the victory of Pride of Dulcote in the four-runner Bathwick Tyres Supports Heros Mandarin Graduation Chase may well have given the Ditcheat handler the most pleasure, writes Elliot Slater. Those looking at cheltenham tips note that …
Imperial Set To Rule At Haydock
Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander is set to make his seasonal reappearance on Saturday in Haydock’s Grade 1 Betfair Chase, writes Elliot Slater. He failed to win the race by the narrowest of margins twelve months ago, being defeated by Kauto Star in a battle that proved to be a turning point for both horses, Although …
Overdose Passes Bratislava Race Test
After 15 months out of action and in front of a bumper crowd at Bratislava racecourse in Slovakia, Hungarian sprint sensation Overdose made a winning return to the fray when landing a listed race over five furlongs on Sunday, writes Elliot Slater. Much to the relief of his many Irish Racing fans, including an estimated 1000 …
Borderlescott Runs In The Prix de l’Abbaye
Gloomy predictions of an early end to the season for hugely popular sprinter Borderlescott appear to have been just a touch premature after recent x-rays revealed the Wetherby-based gelding has not suffered a chipped pelvis and may recover in time to take his chance in Paris in the Prix de l’Abbaye, writes Elliot Slater. The eight-year-old …
A Stayer Of Great Potential
Every now and then a performance jumps out at you and screams that a horse has to be followed. When Tactic romped away with a competitive listed race at York in May I was convinced that he was a horse to keep on the right side and nothing he has done since has lessened that …
Foinavon ~ The 1967 Grand National Winner
Foinavon was the shock winner of the 1967 National, when a mass pile-up at the 23rd fence meant that he was the only horse to come out well. On the day of the race he was a 100-1 outsider but the day before he had a 500-1 chance! In fact so bad were …
Pandorama Cheltenham Injury Drama
The news that Pandorama, one of Ireland’s leading hopes for the RSA Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, is reported a “very doubtful” runner having suffered a muscle injury in his hindquarters, must come as a serious blow to trainer Noel Meade, writes Elliot Slater. Meade had guided his smart performer through a highly …
Market Forces Affect Grand National Runner
Niche Market’s chances at the English Grand National are gradually improving and according to trainer Bob Buckler, he is a ‘model’ horse for the race. His running in the Newbury Aon Chase where he came second to Tricky Trickster has encouraged bookmakers to make him the clear second favourite for the Aintree race, and …