Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Grands Crus was an easy winner of the Grade One williamhill.com Feltham Novices' Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) at Kempton on Boxing Day.

David Pipe's charge settled things in the straight with more fluent jumping as Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth stayed on well, but without troubling the winner who was eased down for a two-and-a-quarter length victory.

Pipe added: "He jumped and travelled, and will probably have one more run before Cheltenham - I'll discuss it with the owners but he'll probably have an entry in the Gold Cup as well.

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Binocular beat Rock On Ruby by a neck in a thrilling renewal of the Grade One williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

"It was brilliant he won, but I just feel he's a long way off the horse that won the Champion Hurdle.

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Paul Nicholls' Kauto Star won his fifth William Hill King George VI Chase in stunning fashion at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The 11-year-old won four renewals of the Grade One contest in consecutive years from 2006-2009 but could only manage third in last season's race behind Long Run

Nicholls said: "He's just awesome and I knew we had him in serious order.

"If he gets to Cheltenham in that form he'll be the one to beat (in the Gold Cup)."

A performance up there with the great Arkle.

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...in/967336/top/

HIS EXCELLENCY was inserted into the Triumph Hurdle betting at 33-1 after losing his maiden tag at the sixth time of asking in the Grade 2 United Arab Emirates Embassy Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Monday.

Another Gigginstown House Stud runner, last season's Cheltenham Festival winner Sir Des Champs, was handed a second win over fences after Knockfierna ran out in dramatic fashion at the second last in the Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase at Limerick.

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Leopardstown, Monday

Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1) 2m1f, 4yo+

BLACKSTAIRMOUNTAIN wore down the David Pipe-trained Notus De La Tour in the closing stages of this dramatic race, which lost much of its interest when hot favourite Bog Warrior crashed out down the back straight

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PAUL NICHOLLS believes Kauto Star is "in the form of his life" after the 11-year-old created history by winning a fifth William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Monday.

Nicholls said: "He was fantastic, right back to the top of his game. He's now won two races this year and both times has beaten the reigning champion Long Run. Long Run is six and Kauto is 11 - it was just awesome by the horse.

Kauto Star's stablemate Master Minded was pulled-up in the King George after injuring a tendon.

He was taken to Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons in Newmarket after the race and Nicholls tweeted on Tuesday morning: "Master minded had surgery last eve onvery nasty injury. Comfortable this morning. Career-threatening but hopefully not life-threatening. Will keep all updated daily."

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Ranjaan reasserted his Triumph Hurdle claims when winning the £25 Free Bet with williamhill.com Mobile Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton.

"We'll give him a little break now, and come out again for a couple of spring targets before we press on towards the Triumph.

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Sprinter Sacre was a brilliant winner of the williamhill.com Novices' Chase at Kempton.

Geraghty said: "I adore this horse. That was top class. "He was all wrong at the last but was very clever at it. He jumped from fence to fence and is a horse that gets your blood up. We always knew he was going to make a smashing chaser.

Most impressive.

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Chepstow, Tuesday

Coral Welsh National (Grade 3) 3m5½f, 4yo+

LE BEAU BAI got the better of fellow front-runner Giles Cross in a stirring battle that lasted throughout the marathon race distance, winning for jockey Charlie Poste and trainer Richard Lee at 10-1.

Winning jockey Poste said: "He was absolutely brilliant. He's been a fantastic servant to me and the yard. He was so brave today, brilliant. Before the race I spoke to the owners and picked out Giles Cross as the one to beat

Lee, who trains on the Welsh borders added: "It's a race we've always wanted to win and it's all gone according to plan. I was just worried the ground wouldn't be soft enough for him. I was at Ffos Las yesterday and it rained all day, but it didn't here. It was soft enough and wasn't he brave.

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Kempton, Tuesday

Williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase (Grade 2 ) 2m, 4yo+

LEADING Champion Chase contender Finian's Rainbow made his first start of the season a winning one with an extraordinary victory in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on Tuesday

Paddy Power and William Hill shaved a point off Finian's Rainbow's Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase odds to 7-1 and he will likely test his Cheltenham credentials in the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on January 21.

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Chepstow, Tuesday

Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m ½f, 3yo

HOLLOW TREE enjoyed the testing Chepstow conditions and produced a tremendous staying performance to make all under Timmy Murphy, running out a decisive winner on Tuesday

Murphy said: “He's the gamest three-year-old I've ridden - he'll go to war for you. If the ground is soft at Cheltenham he could be a Triumph Hurdle horse.”

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GOLDEN SILVER, the winner of three Grade 1 races including the 2009 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase, died on Tuesday following a fall in this year's race at Leopardstown.

Paying tribute, Mullins said: "He will be sorely missed in our yard because he was one of our great servants. He was a character too and all the girls in our place loved him and anyone could ride him.

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Leopardstown, Tuesday

Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase (Grade 1) 2m1f, 5yo+

BIG ZEB rallied after the final fence to beat Noble Prince and claim his third success in the race

Winning trainer Colm Murphy said: "I'm thrilled to bits. He looks better than ever this season and deserves another shot at the Queen Mother Champion Chase. He'll probably run next in the Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown."

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Leopardstown, Tuesday

Paddypower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m, 4yo+

CASH AND GO triggered an upset when beating 4-9 favourite Soux Les Cieux into third at Leopardstown on Tuesday.

A delighted Edward O'Grady reported the Supreme Novices Hurdle as his likely end of season target.

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Leopardstown, Wednesday

Topaz Fort Leney Novice Chase (Grade 1) 3m, 4yo+

LAST INSTALMENT was cut to 8-1 (from 14) for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival with Boylesports after he put in a spectacular round of jumping to secure his first Grade 1 victory over fences at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

Fenton said after the race the winner is not certain to head to Cheltenham. He said: "We weren't surprised that he won. We'd love to have seen more rain, but he coped with it well.

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Leopardstown, Wednesday

woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle (Grade 2) 4yo+, 3m

VOLER LA VEDETTE beat Mourad to Graded glory for the second time in a month with a slick performance at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

The race was notable for an extraordinary in-running market on Betfair. Over £800,000 was matched on the winner at 28-1.

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BETFAIR announced they have voided all in-running bets on a race at Leopardstown after a two and a half hour investigation into unusual betting patterns.

A near incredible incident left the betting exchange facing a pay out of £23million after the monster sum of £1,642,094 was matched in running at a price of 29 (28-1) on Christmas Hurdle winner Voler La Vedette.

"In accordance with our terms and conditions, all in running bets on this race, both win and place, will be made void.

"We fully appreciate the dissatisfaction this will cause many customers, and apologise for a very poor customer and betting experience."

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Leopardstown, Wednesday

Lexus Chase (Grade 1) 3m, 5yo+

SYNCHRONISED rewarded the faith shown in him by owner JP McManus and trainer Jonjo O'Neill as he routed a classy field on his first start at Grade 1 level

Winning trainer O'Neill said: "We were afraid the ground would be too good for him and were surprised how well he handled it.

"AP gave him a fantastic ride. We don't have another Gold Cup horse so maybe if the ground is soft he could run. He'll also have a Grand National entry."

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BETFAIR on Wednesday came in for fierce criticism from customers after they made the decision to void all in-running bets placed on a Leopardstown race after an incredible lay bet left a punter facing a theoretical £23 million payout.

A total of £1,642,094 was matched at that price after a lay bet of £21.3m was offered on the 13-8chance at 29 - which would have resulted in a whopping payout of almost £600m if it was all matched.

"

To offer that kind of amount you would have to have £600 million in your account and anybody backing it at that price knew that something was wrong."

He continued: "It is clearly a technical failure that somebody somewhere was able to place a bet with that liability. Clearly nobody in their right mind would want to strike a bet like that."

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HURRICANE FLY, the Champion Hurdle winner, will not run in the Istabraq Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown on Thursday, according to trainer Willie Mullins.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...le/968242/top/

TWO-TIME Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Mark Bradburne has retired from the saddle after a 19-year career.

He added: "I have loved my riding both as an amateur and as a professional and I've had a great time.

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Leopardstown, Thursday

Istabraq Festival Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m, 4yo+

UNACCOMPANIED made the most of her considerable 10lb weight allowance as she beat the boys to land her second Grade 1 at Leopardstown on Thursday.

"This year was one of the best ever Triumph Hurdles. She was beaten by a better horse on the day and I will speak to her owner and we might consider the Champion Hurdle.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...ed/968819/top/

BETFAIR said on Thursday that the problem that allowed one customer to put up a lay with potential liability of almost £600 million had been fixed.

Betfair said in a statement on Thursday: "Firstly, we would like to re-iterate that anyone betting in-running in yesterday’s Leopardstown race clearly received a very poor customer service and betting experience. We apologise once again for this.

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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...31/969106/top/

SEE YOU THEN, the triple Champion Hurdle winner of the mid-1980s, has died in Italy, where he had lived in retirement, just days before his official 32nd birthday.

"He was my first Cheltenham winner and still top of the tree up there with the greats for me," added Henderson, who made his name preparing the fragile star on one or two races a season.

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Leopardstown, Thursday

ITBA Fillies Scheme EBF Mares' Hurdle (Grade 3) 4yo+, 2m4f

OUR GIRL SALLEY won for the first time since January as she successfully defended the Grade 3 Mares' Hurdle on the final day of Leopardstown's Christmas meeting

Dobbs said: "She was excellent there. She wasn't ready for her other runs this year because I wanted to have her spot on for today and she's done it brilliantly.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...ut/968932/top/

HIDDEN CYCLONE was cut to 12-1 (from 16) with Paddy Power for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after an impressive performance on his chasing debut at Leopardstown on Thursday.

"He wasn't 100 per cent and will improve a good bit. His jumping was good but Andrew[McNamara] said it would have to improve to move up to Graded class," said Hanlon.

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LAMBOURN will rejoice on Saturday after the news that Peter Walwyn, the former champion trainer known locally as the 'Father of the Valley of the Racehorse', has received an MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list for services to racing.

Nicky Henderson, acknowledging the honour, said: "I can't think of anyone who is more deserving of this recognition. Pete's training career was legendary but what he has done for racing, and Lambourn in particular, is immeasurable. I know the entire community will join me in congratulating him."

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...bs/969558/top/

CHAMPION JOCKEY Tony McCoy could be out for up to two weeks after a final hurdle fall at Taunton left him with fractured ribs.

McCoy confirmed the news on Twitter on Friday evening saying: "Broke a few ribs so not 2 bad and hopefully back 2 work very soon just need the doctor 2 let me out of the hospital now and I'll be happy

A spokesman for Taunton racecourse said: "Tony McCoy took a real kicking when Laudatory fell at the final hurdle and it seems he has broken two ribs, maybe three."

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Fingal Bay kept his unbeaten record with a workmanlike win in the Bathwick Tyres Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

Richard Johnson's mount was sent off the 1/4 market leader for the Grade 1 contest and having travelled well in behind the leaders, went to the front at the second-last flight.

Double Ross cried enough from that point and although the favourite never looked like being collared, 25/1 chance Ballyrock ensured the winner had to be driven out to the line to score by a length

Owner Roger Skan said: "I think if it's good ground he'd run over three miles (Albert Bartlett) at Cheltenham and if it's softer then he'd go two-mile-five (Neptune). Obviously, anything can change."

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Cue Card got back to winning ways over fences in the Betfred Goals Galore Novices' Chase at Newbury.

The winner is 10/1 from 16s for the Arkle and 6/1 from 10s for the Jewson Novices' Chase with Sky Bet.

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CHAMPION jockey Tony McCoy remained in Musgrove Park Hospital on Saturday night undergoing further tests after he broke his ribs in a fall at Taunton on Friday.

"I am not sure when he will be let out yet, we will have to wait for the test results. By tomorrow [Sunday] we will hopefully have a better idea of how long he will be out from riding, hopefully not too long."

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Mikael d'Haguenet duly dispatched his three rivals as he took another step to rebuilding his career with a smooth success in the Follow Punchestown On Facebook Hurdle.

The three-times Grade One winner has not always delivered but had little trouble in justifying odds of 2-5 in this two-and-a-half-mile heat.

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THE New Year wishes of racing fans that Frankel can keep on winning throughout the year could well come true with trainer Sir Henry Cecil declaring he will be "very disappointed" if the unbeaten colt is not even better as a four-year-old.

Cecil has said that he expects Frankel to start in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May before stepping up beyond a mile for the first time in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July.

"He has grown up a lot and he is getting much stronger. He is easy, he is relaxed more and I would be very disappointed if he isn't a better horse."

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...in/970556/top/

Cheltenham, Sunday

Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices' Chase (Registered As Dipper Novices' Steeple Chase) (Grade 2) 2m5f, New course, 5yo+

CHAMPION COURT put in a gallant front-running performance to see off the late challenge of Solix having led from the off under Alain Cawley

In doing so he was boosting the form of Grands Crus, who had finished one place in front of Champion Court when winning at the course back in November.