Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Exeter, Friday

Harry Dutfield Memorial Novices' Chase 2m3½f, 4yo+

WALKON made a fluent start to life over fences, as Alan King's Grade 1-winning hurdler demonstrated he still retains plenty of ability when accounting for Zaynar and Notus De La Tour.

Walkon is as short as 12-1 for the Arkle with Ladbrokes, but

King added that Walkon will continue over 2m4f for the forseeable future, and could go up, rather than back in trip in the spring.

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Sandown, Friday

Neptune Investment Management Novices´ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m4f, 4yo+

FINGAL BAY was cut to 5-1 (from 8) with William Hill for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after he preserved his unbeaten record at Sandown on Friday.

Hobbs said: "I'm obviously delighted. I think a stronger pace would have helped as all he does is stay, but I'm glad the rain came as softer ground suits him.

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Sandown, Saturday
Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1) 2m, 4yo+

SIZING EUROPE put in a spectacular round of jumping toscore a convincing victory in the prestigious Tingle Creek Chase.

Winning trainer De Bromhead added: "He was a bit slow at the second down the back and I got a bit worried, but then he was brilliant and just winged fences. He then did his normal thing where whenever the others start struggling he starts cantering. He is an amazing horse.

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Sandown, Saturday

Markel Insurance Henry VIII Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 2m, 4yo+

AL FEROF made it two from two over fences with victory at Sandown on Saturday but the 4-11 favourite was made to battle for the win by the Nick Williams-trained For Non Stop, who pushed the John Hales-owned winner all the way to the line

Jockey Ruby Walsh was keen to utilise the stamina of last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero and for the first time asked his mount to stretch clear. Despite gaining a couple of lengths on the field turning in, Al Ferof was unable to shake off the attentions of For Non Stop.

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WHILE attention was focused on Sandown and Aintree in Britain, Sir Des Champs launched his chasing careerat Fairyhouse on Saturday with an impressive win that saw him cut for the Jewson Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins said: "He jumped economically and efficiently and hopefully we'll find something for him at Christmas. I'm not sure which direction we'll take. If we drop him back in trip, it might teach him plenty."

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Aintree, Saturday

Betfred Becher Handicap Chase (Listed) 3m2f Grand National course

WEST END ROCKER ran out a wide-margin winner of a grueling Becher Chase to make up for an unlucky effort in the John Smith's Grand National in April.

Hutchinson said: "I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it - what good fun he was. He was absolutely awesome and gave me a great feel all the way round.

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Fairyhouse, Sunday

Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m4f, 4yo+

VOLER LA VEDETTE gained her first Grade 1 success when beating the boys in good style at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Murphy said: "I'm delighted for everyone. We couldn't have been happier with her coming here and she's been knocking on the door in these races and she deserved her turn.

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Fairyhouse, Sunday

Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase (Grade 1) 2m4f, 4yo+

BOG WARRIOR put in a fantastic display of jumping to make it two wins from two starts over fences as he landed the Drinmore in a highly impressive manner.

Bog Warrior was given a first quote of 8-1 by William Hill for the Jewson Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after following up his easy win at Navan last time while First Lieutenant was shunted out to a high of 20-1 with Ladbrokes for the RSA Chase after failing to complete.

Martin said: "We were very confident that he would put up a good show and I thought deep down that he was the one they all had to beat.

Fairyhouse, Sunday

Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4yo+

ALWAYS seen as a top prospect by his trainer, 6-4 favourite Sous Les Cieux lived up to the hype to give trainer Willie Mullins a fourth success in this race.

This is a contest that has been won by the likes of Istabraq, Moscow Flyer and Hardy Eustace. A few years back Mullins landed the race with his Champion Hurdle hero Hurricane Fly, and he thinks a fair deal of Soux Les Cieux, admitting in his Racing Post column that he's never hidden his admiration for him.

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SNOW FAIRY, who was ruled out of this month's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase through injury, will remain in training next year.

"My veterinary surgeon Mike Shepherd examined her this morning and a decision has been made by me and Mrs Patino [owner] that she will not be retired," Dunlop revealed on his website.

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TRAINER Richard Hannon on Wednesday drew level with Mark Johnston’s record tally of 216 British winners in a calendar year.

Well done.



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SHAHRASTANI, the horse who claimed a famous Derby victory over Dancing Brave in 1986, has died at stud at the age of 28.

Bred and owned by the Aga Khan and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Shahrastani won the Sandown Classic Trial and Dante Stakes before winning at Epsom under Walter Swinburn, where he held off the fast finishing Dancing Brave by a neck.

He then went to the Curragh where he added the Irish Derby in emphatic style, clinching his fourth success in a row by a resounding eight lengths. After finishing fourth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and fourth in a star studded Arc, made memorable by the winning performance of old foe Dancing Brave, he was retired to stud.

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Huntingdon, Thursday

Betfred Peterborough Chase (Grade 2) 2m4½f, 4yo+

GAUVAIN atoned for his Tingle Creek mishap and struck for followers of Pricewise when he ran out a ready winner of the Peterborough Chase on Thursday.

The performance of the winner prompted Boylesports to cut him to 12-1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase, while Somersby was pushed out to 20-1 (from 10) with Victor Chandler for the William Hill-sponsored King George.

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Hong Kong: Rookie trainer Charlie Hills believes Redwood has what it takes to give him a first Group 1 success in Sunday's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase.

Hills was especially pleased with the condition of the track, which he believes will show Redwood in his best light. The trainer added: "He's best on a fast surface and the ground looks perfect. If you take his run when second to Rewilding in Dubai he would have a serious chance."

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PAUL NICHOLLS announced on Friday morning the retirement of Denman after damage to his near fore tendon meant "it was the only course of action to take."

Nicholls added: "We are all devastated here at Ditcheat but Denman has given us some wonderful moments on the track, winning a Gold Cup, finishing runner-up in three more, as well two Hennessys, a Lexus and a Sun Alliance Chase.

Very sad to hear this news about the tank but his performances will long live in the memory.

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JOCKEY Sam Thomas paid tribute to Denman, who was retired due to injury on Friday, by describing the immensely popular chaser as one of all-time greats.

"He was unbelievable - on his day there was no better horse in the world," said Thomas.

A statement from Newbury racecourse said: "Denman has given many fond memories to racegoers and he loved Newbury, notching five wins during his outstanding career at the Berkshire track, including two Hennessy Gold Cups, with his 2009 victory considered as a vintage performance as well as the Grade 2 Aon Chase.

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Cheltenham, Friday

Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase (Grade 3)3m1½f, 4yo+

SHAKALAKABOOMBOOM had too many guns for his rivals as he galloped up the hill to pull well clear of the fading favourite Mon Parrain, who was pipped for second close home by Knockara Beau.

"He was very good at Punchestown next year and he progressed all season. You will have to think about him as a National horse. He jumps and he stays. It would be a pity to put him away but he is the right profile for it."

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Cheltenham, Saturday

JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Class 2) 2m 1f, 3yo

BABY MIX made a highly impressive British debut as he slammed odds-on favourite Hinterland and five other rivals with an effortless win in Cheltenham's opener to leap to the head of the betting for the JCB Triumph Hurdle

Bookmakers were quick to give him quotes for the Festival with William Hill making Baby Mix their 10-1 joint-favourite for the Triumph Hurdle, though they were forced to cut that to 8-1 as it proved too popular. He is as short as 6-1 with Victor Chandler and Paddy Power for the same race.

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Cheltenham, Saturday

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m 4yo+

PAUL NICHOLLS and Ruby Walsh will rarely get a luckier winner than Deireadh Re was in this event

Walsh knew how fortunate he was in victory on his mount. "Maybe I should go home and do the lotto," he said.

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Cheltenham, Saturday

StanJames.com International Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1) 2m 1f 4yo+

GRANDOUET put himself firmly in the picture for the StanJames.com Champion Hurdle with a taking success to complete a big-race double for Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson who was celebrating his 61st birthday

Henderson, who later saw Oscar Whisky land the Relkeel Hurdle said: "We knew what we had to do. Overturn was always going to make it and Menorah was always going to keep tabs on him so the plan was to let Menorah bring us to Overturn.

"That is the way to ride him because he has got a gear so you have to ride him to use it. Barry said that he has improved dramatically. I would think we'll give him a bit of time off now, bring him back and give him one run before the Champion."

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Cheltenham, Saturday

Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) 2m5f, 4yo+

QUANTITATIVEEASING, overlooked by Tony McCoy in favour of the heavily backed Sunnyhillboy, was given a masterful ride by Barry Geraghty to win this Grade 3

Nicky Henderson, who was celebrating his 61st birthday, added: "He has been very consistent here and I have to say he deserves one. He has got one back at last, which he deserves. They have gone a real good gallop and it looked as if he was a bit further back than intended and he was always creeping, creeping, creeping."

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Cheltenham, Saturday

Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m4½f, 4yo+

A GOOD birthday got even better for Nicky Henderson, with Oscar Whisky the final leg of a quickfire treble for the 61-year-old andBarry Geraghty at Cheltenham.

"It's nice, it's pure luck that it falls on my birthday," said a delighted Henderson, who ate into Paul Nicholls' lead in the trainers' championship with the 34-1 treble adding nearly £150,000 to Henderson's total. Coral reacted by cutting Henderson to 7-4 (from 11-4) for the trainers' title.

Whether Oscar Whisky will step up in trip and take on Big Buck's, or return to two miles for the Champion Hurdle is a question many will be asking and Henderson gave little away when he said: "The only certainty is that he will not go to Ascot next weekend to take on Big Buck's.

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Cheltenham, Saturday

Ryman Stationer Novices' Chase 3m11/2f 4yo+

HE'LL never be a Denman, but Join Together showed shades of his old stablemate here as, in the same colours as the great horse, he saw off 7-4 favourite Mossley with a fine round of jumping.

The win was Nicholls' third in four years in this race. It's a contest which has also seen the likes of Time For Rupert, Joe Lively, Therealbandit and Sir Rembrandt emerge victorious, though none went on to win the RSA Chase. That race could be the main target for the winner now, and being a good jumper and strong stayer he has the main attributes needed for that Grade 1.

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Hong Kong, Sunday

Sha Tin: Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (Group 1) 1m4f, 3yo+

DUNADEN (Mikel Delzangles/Craig Williams) added another valuable prize to his collection after the Melbourne Cup winner quickened smartly to see off local favourite Thumbs Up.

"I still can't believe it," beamed winning trainer Mikel Delzangles. "If you had told me in May that we would win in Australia and Hong Kong I would never have believed you.

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Hong Kong, Sunday

Sha Tin: Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (Group 1) 6f, 3yo+

LUCKY NINE (Caspar Fownes/Brett Prebble) edged out Entrapment and old campaigner Joy And Fun to continue the Hong Kong near-domination of the Sprint.

Winning trainer Caspar Fownes, who saddled Thumbs Up to finish second in the Vase, said: "After he came back from Japan in October we were really struggling. His coat had gone and he wasn't himself.

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Hong Kong, Sunday

Sha Tin: Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup (Group 1) 1m2f, 3yo+

CALIFORNIA MEMORY (Tony Cruz/Matt Chadwick) rallied to take the Cup from last year's second Irian and local star Ambitious Dragon only fourth.

Cruz said: "This is the race you want to win. I'm lucky to train a horse like him and there's bigger things to come. He will be going for all the big local races but I would also like to go to Singapore and Dubai."

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Hong Kong, Sunday

Sha Tin: Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (Group 1) 1m, 3yo+

ABLE ONE (John Moore/Jeff Lloyd) just lasted home from the fast-finishing trio of Cityscape, Xtension and Dubawi Gold to land the Mile by a neck

Of the winner, trainer John Moore said: "He was meant to be the pacemaker! I'm thrilled for everyone involved. If a nine-year-old can do that there's hope for everyone. He's had five stress fractures and this win tells everyone how good my team is."

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VETERAN sprinter The Tatling will be retired at the end of an extraordinary career after running in his 176th race under rules at Wolverhampton on Monday.

"He has got a little bit steadier and it is unfair to run him after he has been such a good servant to us," the trainer said on Sunday. "He has just lost a bit of his sparkle."

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Punchestown, Sunday

John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1) 5yo+, 2m4f

RUBI LIGHT confirmed himself as one of the most exciting chasing prospects in Ireland as he won the John Durkan Chase with impressive ease

"He loves the ground and will probably go for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28. That will decide the rest of his season and we'll know whether we have a Gold Cup horse or a Ryanair horse."

Sadly, Kempes sustained a leg injury falling at the fifth last and was put down. The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old was a dual Grade 1 winner, having won the Champion Novice Chase at the 2010 Punchestown festival and the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown this February.