Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Ascot, Saturday

Victor Chandler Chase (Grade 1) 2m1f, 5yo+

SOMERSBY landed his first Grade 1 when getting the better of Finian's Rainbow in a thrilling finish to the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Second in the race last year, Somersby trailed jumping the final fence, but powered home under Dominic Elsworth for a famous triumph, which provided trainer Henrietta Knight with her first top-level success for seven years

"He travelled very well throughout. It was one of those days where everything went right. It's a wonderful feeling."

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Haydock, Saturday

Peter Marsh Chase (Limited Handicap) (Grade 2) 3m 5yo+

THE Rowland Meyrick winner According To Pete doubled up on his Wetherby victory to land another big Graded chase here. The 11-year-old isn't the biggest, but he likes soft ground and Haydock and that was a good combination to have as the Malcolm Jefferson-trained gelding did enough to see off Pearlysteps and Consigliere to land the £28, 475 first prize.

According To Pete continued the remarkable run of Pricewise this jumps season, as Tom Segal tipped the 9-1 winner up at 10-1.

“He jumped brilliantly," said the winning rider. "He has not put a foot wrong although it was very testing out there. He finished very tired and was walking from the last home."

Ascot, Saturday

1942 Was A Vintage Year Mares' Hurdle (registered as the Warfield Mares' Hurdle) (Grade 2) 3m, 4yo+

PAUL NICHOLLS and Ruby Walsh found themselves in the winner's enclosure after Violin Davis reversed form withKentford Grey Lady to win the Grade 2 mares hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

Nicholls, who trains the six-year-old for Andrew Polson, added: "She's okay. I don't think it's a great bunch of mares, but she's tough and genuine and gives her owner a lot of fun.

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MIKAEL D'HAGUENET showed signs of his old swagger when easing to victory at Naas on Saturday according to owner Rich Ricci, who admitted whichever race he goes forat the Cheltenham Festival will provide a stiff challenge.

"The question is what to do with him. He'll go to Cheltenham for the World Hurdle or the Champion Hurdle, so he'll take on Big Buck's or Hurricane Fly. We'll figure it out."

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Fairyhouse, Sunday

Normans Grove Chase (Grade 2) 2m1f, 5yo+

BLAZING TEMPO was cut to 14-1 (from 33) with Boylesports for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after she completed a brilliant treble for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh in the first three races at Fairyhouse on Sunday

"It was a great ride by Ruby and for Willie to keep her going is tip top. She owes us nothing.

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CHAMPAGNE FEVER was promoted to favourite for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival after sealing a four-timer for trainer Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

"I think he should probably go [for the Champion Bumper] on that. I think it was just greeness that beat him first time."

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ASCOT has announced that it will refund all premier enclosure customers following its public relations blunder on Saturday when racegoers who did not conform to the track's strict new dress code had to wear an orange sticker.

Ascot chief executive Charles Barnett said on Sunday morning: "It is clear that we let down many of our premier enclosure customers yesterday with a well intentioned but misguided policy.

Speaking on Radio 5 live on Sunday morning, new BHA chief executive Paul Bittar said: "I was at Ascot yesterday and the hospitality and customer offerings are world class. The course have apologised and they recognise they made a mistake. I hope it is an incident that we can move on from."

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BIG BUCK'S is on course for the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday, trainer Paul Nicholls has confirmed.

Big Buck's will bid for a 15th consecutive victory and a sixth over the Ladbrokes World Hurdle course and distance

However, a change of heart from trainer Paul Nicholls and Stewart means he will run in the Cleeve Hurdle for the first time since he beat Punchestowns byfour lengths in 2009, just the second win of his remarkable current sequence.

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THE Triumph Hurdle picture could become a lot clearer on Saturday with Baby Mix, Sadler's Risk and Grumeti, the 8-1 co-favourites for the festival race with most firms, all featuring among the 14 entries for the Grade 2 opener on trials day at Cheltenham.

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OSCAR TIME, who finished runner-up to Ballabriggs in last season's John Smith's Grand National, is set to miss this year's Aintree spectacular through injury.

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BRITISH racecourses attracted record crowds in 2011 with aggregate attendances exceeding 6.15 million for the first time,
but those numbers disguised a downward trend in jump racing
as the average number of racegoers fell.

Despite the dip in numbers at jumps meetings, Racecourse Association chief executive Stephen Atkin was delighted with the general increase.

"I'm very pleased to see racecourse attendance on the up for
a third year in a row, and to break the previous record is fantastic,"he said. "Financially it is a very difficult time for people at the moment, so it's a vindication of the exemplary work being done on Britain's racecourses that more and more people are enjoying a day out at the races."

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Hurricane Fly features among just six remaining entries for Sunday's BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The Willie Mullins-trained star cleaned up in the two-mile division last season, landing this Grade One prize before going on to further Champion Hurdle success at Cheltenham and later at Punchestown.

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TONY McCOY will make his return to action with a ride in the bumper at Warwick on Thursday, 27 days after suffering multiple broken rubs and puncturing a lung when unseating at Taunton.

Speaking on At The Races on Wednesday morning, McCoy said: "I have been feeIing good for the last week or ten days. I saw the doctor and he was very happy with all my scans and he was happy with my ribs and my lung so I am pleased."

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TRAINER David Pipe will decide on Thursday if Grands Crus will have his first start over fences outside novice company at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Asked if he was going to run, Pipesaid: "It hasn't been decided yet. It does look a hotter race than last year. There will be a true run gallop.

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UAE, Thursday

Al Rashidiya sponsored by Dubai Duty Free (Group 2) 1m1f, turf, 5yo+

MUSIR, winnerof round one of the Al Maktoum challenge earlier this month and a three-time winner at last year's Dubai World Cup Carnival, ran out an easy winner as the 4-7 favourite.

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TONY McCOY finished second aboard favourite Key To The West on his comeback ride from injury in the closing bumper at Warwick on Thursday.

The 16-time champion jockey was in action for the first time since December 30 when has he suffered multiple broken ribs and a punctured lung after unseating at Taunton.

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Gowran, Thursday

Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase (Grade A) 3m, 5yo+

OWNER Graham Wylie, who has enjoyed plenty of big-race success in Britain with the likes of Inglis Drever and Tidal Bay, watched his silks carried to victory in one of Ireland's feature handicaps as On His Own made just about all to win the Thyestes Chase at 10-1.

Mullins won the 2004 Thyestes with Hedgehunter, who went on to lift the John Smith's GrandNational the following year, and Boylesports introduced On His Own at 20-1 for this year's Aintree marathon, a race Wylie likes to target.

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Gowran Park, Thursday

John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m, 5yo+

ZAIDPOUR ended star mare Voler La Vedette's winning run under an astute tactical ride by Ruby Walsh in the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle

Attempting the 3m trip with Zaidpour for the first time, Mullins said: "Tactics won it for us. It was a very sharp ride by Ruby [Walsh].

"Zaidpour will probably go to Cheltenham although you couldn't say that was any kind of trial for either the Champion or the World Hurdle."

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THE Racing Post was on Thursday unveiled as the new sponsor of the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Grade 1 contest, which has attracted 27 entries, is one of the most eagerly awaited of this year's meeting with Sprinter Sacre, Peddlers Cross and Al Ferof set to do battle over the 2m trip.

The agreement signals the return of the Racing Post as a sponsor at the festival, having supported what is now the Byrne Group Plate from 2006 to 2008.

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CAPTAIN CHRIS, Diamond Harry and Time For Rupert will have the chance to press their Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup claims after they were declared on Friday in a field of nine for the £100,000 for the Argento Chase at Cheltenham.

The star draw of the track's festival trials day will be Big Buck's, who will bid for a 15th victory in a row in the Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle.

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HURRICANE FLY will face four rivals when he returns from nine months off the track in Sunday's BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

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Australia, Friday


Moonee Valley: Australia Stakes (Group 2) 3yo+, turf, 6f

BLACK CAVIAR took her unbeaten run to 17 as she sauntered home, pulling clear of her rivals with ease and powering home to win under a motionless Luke Nolen.

With a trip to Royal Ascot on the cards and the possibility of running on Dubai World Cup night, Moody added on At The Races: "Hopefully it's the start of a wonderful six months.

"It's wonderful to see her back in great shape. She's just terrific for our sport, and it's great for our industry. This filly puts us [racing] on the front page for the right reasons."

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Grumeti was awarded the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham after a stewards' enquiry.

The orginial first-past-the-post was the Paul Nicholls-trained Pearl Swan, but he hung to his right on the run-in under Ruby Walsh and gave the runner-up a couple of hefty bumps in the process.

Just a short-head separated them at the line but the stewards were straight into action and saw enough to reverse the result after an enquiry

The winner and runner-up are 9-1 with Sky Bet for the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival while Walsh was handed a three-day ban for his ride on Pearl Swan.

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Calgary Bay (12-1) stayed on strongly to win the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster.

The winner has spent some time in the doldrums but made it two wins in the space of a month after his victory at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

The winner was given a beautifully patient ride by Dominic Elsworth as his mount gradually crept into contention three from home.

He was upsides at the second last with Shakalakaboomboom (6-1) but a slick jump at the final fence by Henreitta Knight's inmate gave him the impetus to go on and score by two and a half lengths.

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Midnight Chase (9-2) notched another win at his beloved Cheltenham in the Argento Chase.

Neil Mulholland's stable star was recording a fifth win at the track as he adopted his usual front-running tactics and got into a good ryhthm with his jumping.

The challengers lined up in behind on the second circuit headed by Little Josh and Diamond Harry but they had both been seen off at the second last.

It left Tidal Bay to go in pursuit in the closing stages after Ruby walsh cajoled him into contention but he could not reel in the gallant winner and went down by two and three quarter lengths.

Mulholland added: "I thought he was in the same form as a year ago but he's got stronger and he's very genuine.

"He loves racing and he loves Cheltenham so he has to go for the Gold Cup after that."

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Cheltenham, Saturday

Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m, 5yo+

BIG BUCK'S made it 15 straight wins with an awesome performance, pulling seven lengths clear of Dynaste from the last, having trailed the runner-up going into the final flight.

Nicholls added: "He just switches off and then comes there travelling. Ruby said he was in front too soon at Ascot and said he was going to leave it much later today. He came there before the last, jumped it and bingo. It is a lot of pressure but he is such a brilliant horse. We could have ridden him closer two the pace but we were mindful about saving some petrol for Cheltenham

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Cheltenham, Saturday

Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Registered As Classic Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) 2m4½f, 4yo+

BATONNIER completed a memorable day for trainer Alan King and jockey Wayne Hutchinson as he stormed up the Cheltenham hill to complete a 267-1 treble for the pair

"I have gone the best part of a year without a winner here and then I have had three in a day," said King. "The horse has improved a hell of a lot.

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Leopardstown, Saturday
Boylesports.com Bet On Your Mobile Novice Chase (Grade 2) 2m5f, 5yo+

SIR DES CHAMPS survived a blunder at the final fence to stretch his unbeaten record to six and complete a treble for champion trainer Willie Mullins.

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Hurricane Fly didn't come off the bridle when winning the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Willie Mullins' star (4-5 fav) had been absent since winning at Punchestown in May but oozed class throughout the race under Ruby Walsh.

Walsh pushed him into the lead from front-running stablemate Thousand Stars turning for home and was not hard pressed to saunter to a six and a half length victory.

Jessica Harrington's Oscars Well (8-1) ran his best race of the season to fill the runner-up spot, whilst the well-fancied Unnaccompanied was outpaced before the home turn and could only finish fourth behind Thousand Stars.

Mullins said: "He completely surprised me. It must be as good a performance as he's ever produced

How good was that.


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Boston Bob (9-4 fav) stayed on best to land the Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins' seven-year-old, owned by Graham Wylie, was giving weight to all of his rvials but showed an abundance of stamina in gruelling conditions to win by a couple of lengths under Ruby Walsh.

Dessie Hughes' Lyreen Legend (12-1) had tried to pinch the race under Bryan Cooper kicking for home but was overhauled at the final flight.

The previously unbeaten Make Your Mark (5-2), a stablemate of the winner, travelled powerfully but had no answers in the closing stages and finished well-held in third.

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Flemenstar made nearly all the running to run out a very impressive 19 length winner of the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Peter Casey's exciting novice (6-4 fav) had won his previous two starts following a promising chasing debut behind Bog Warrior.

In testing conditions here, Andrew Lynch gave his mount a positive ride and had quickened away from the field before the turn for home.

Lynch was able to ease up the winner 100 yards from the line, with Tony Martin's Gift Of Dgab (16-1) the horse who plugged on best for the runner-up spot.

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GODOLPHIN trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni appears to hold all the aces in the UAE 1,000 Guineas, the most valuable race on Friday's seventh meeting of the 2012 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Al Zarooni said: "They are both very nice fillies with very good form in Europe but Gamilati has that run under her belt this year and has proved herself on the Meydan Tapeta.

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THE BHA and Levy Board on Tuesday announced the first additional fixtures off the back of bad weather for nearly a year, in a bid to keep the racing show on the road this weekend.

While racegoers, punters and horsemen will be hoping the jump fixturesat Sandown, Ffos Las and Wetherby on Saturday will beat the cold temperatures which have returned with a vengeance in the past couple of days, racing's organisers are taking no chances.

Extra all-weather fixtures at Wolverhampton on Saturday afternoon and at Kempton 24 hours later, have been programmed, while twilight cards slated for Wolverhampton on Thursday and Friday have been brought forward to start earlier in the afternoon.

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TRAINER Paul Nicholls on Tuesday said that Zarkandar has it all to do if he isto defeat last year's Stan James Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly when the pair meet at Cheltenham in March.

Speaking to At The Races, he said: "He was impressive, you can't not be impressed and I know Ruby was pleased with him. He's the reigning champ and the one to beat."

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IRISH champion trainer Willie Mullins recorded the fastest century of winners for a season in Ireland when Soll won the beginners chase at Down Royal on Wednesday.

Ridden by Ruby Walsh, Soll was sent off the 2-5 favourite and made all the running in the 2m4f contest to score by four and a half lengths from Harpsy Cord.

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BALLABRIGGS, the brilliant winner of last year's John Smith's Grand National, was among 82 entries revealed on Wednesday for this year's Aintree marathon.

William Hill's outright favourite at 14-1, Ballabriggs will be bidding to become the first horse since Aintree legend Red Rum (1973 and 1974) to win back-to-back Nationals but he faces a stern test against a field high on quality

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RUBY WALSH has had his appeal against a three-day ban imposed on him by the Cheltenham stewards last weekend thrown out by a BHA disciplinary panel on Thursday morning meaning he misses Newbury's Super Saturday meeting next week.

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STEPS TO FREEDOM, Cinders And Ashes and Darlan were among 91 entered for the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle as the entries for the Cheltenham Festival novice hurdle races were revealed on Thursday.

The JCB Triumph Hurdle attracted 77 entries including Sadler's Risk, Grumeti and the Paul Nicholls-trained duo Pearl Swan and Dildar.

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UAE 1,000 Guineas (Listed) 1m, Tapeta, 3yo fillies

GODOLPHIN have a phenomenal record in the UAE 1,000 Guineas, with Saeed bin Suroor having saddled seven of the previous 11 winners, five in the Godolphin blue, but this year it is colleague Mahmood Al Zarooni who looks set to win the race at the first attempt.

Not only does he saddle trial winner Gamilati, but also UAE debutante Pimpernel, who looks the main danger in the first Classic of the season, a race which has often thrown up a 1-2 for the winning stable.

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UAE, Friday


Meydan: UAE 1,000 Guineas sponsored by Gulf News (Listed) 1m, 3yo fillies, AW

GODOLPHIN'S Gamilati (Mahmood Al Zarooni/Frankie Dettori) produced an ultra-impressive performance to win the UAE 1,000 Guineas at Meydan on Friday

Dettori added: "I was obviously very hopeful but I did not expect that - I was swinging off her turning for home and she picked up very well indeed off a steady pace. I was pleasantly surprised and that was impressive."