2012 Grand National Guide
The Grand National is one of the most famous horse races in the world, and ranks alongside the FA Cup Final, Wimbledon, and the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race as one of the great traditions of the British sporting calendar. It is one of those rare events that has the power to capture the attention of even …
Massive Boost as Monet’s Returns Home
Greystoke-based trainer Nicky Richards and his team have been through a very tough few months, recently losing the high class Money Trix who suffered fatal injuries in a fall in Ireland a few weeks ago, and fighting the ongoing battle to save stable star Monet’s Garden, who had been given up for lost after suffering …
Dunguib Rerouted To Face Hurricane
Philip Fenton’s hugely popular hurdler Dunguib will miss his intended seasonal reappearance run on Saturday in the Limestone Lad Hurdle and will instead go head-to-head with current Stan James Champion Hurdle favourite Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle a week later, writes Elliot Slater. The eight-year-old has met with hold-ups to his training schedule over …
Menorah Set For Champion Hurdle
Philip Hobbs has confirmed that his stable star Menorah will not run again before his bid to land the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 15, writes Elliot Slater. The winner of last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, Menorah went on to only narrowly fail to complete a Festival double when beaten a …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Ayr Of Greatness About Hello Bud
Hello Bud is a great contender for the Grand National at Aintree, and given his top form of late, as well as his victory at the Scottish Grand National at Ayr, one would think that he is most definitely in with a chance. So can he achieve the double in consecutive seasons or is this …