“Imagine if AP McCoy had never been born.” Richard Johnson MUST have mused over that possibility. He’s only human. I would have done if I was him. Thing is, if AP wasn’t around we would now be eulogising about RJ. He would probably be chasing his 4,000th winner and his umpteenth jockeys’ title. Instead, while …[Read More]
REMEMBER Dawn Run? She was female. What about Quevega? Yep, another wonderful mare. I was reminded of these equine luminaries after learning more about a campaign being waged to raise the profile of mares racing. OLBG.com and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) have set out with an agenda to try to increase the number of …[Read More]
TIS the season to be jolly… so with tongue firmly in cheek here’s a few predictions for the next 12 months. January: Freddie Flintoff announces he is to become a flat jockey. And in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot, connections of Sprinter Sacre agree to give his rivals a one-mile headstart. He still manages …[Read More]
THE dust has settled on Flemenstar’s impressive demolition of Sir Des Champs at Punchestown but there are still doubts about whether he is a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner-in-waiting. In fact, does this flamboyant jumper really deserve his position near the head of the ante-post market? Peter Casey’s rapidly improving gelding has won seven chases on …[Read More]
The £150,000 Ladbroke Hurdle is growing in stature and prestige. Now Europe’s richest handicap hurdle, it has attracted a quality field of 48 entries with a strong challenge from Ireland. And while the Long Walk Hurdle will provide a small but select field on the same Ascot card on December 22, the Ladbroke promises to …[Read More]
by Rory Jiwani, StanJames.com Step two on the Road To Cheltenham takes place on Saturday with three of the top six in the Champion Hurdle ante-post betting set to do battle in the StanJames.com International Hurdle. The Fighting Fifth gave us a real contender in John Quinn’s Triumph Hurdle hero Countrywide Flame, who handed Supreme …[Read More]
IT’S slightly strange how we become attached to certain racehorses. I have no idea why I loved Ben Nevis, so much so that I backed him to win the Grand National in 1980 as a young lad. Likewise, there was Barton Bank. He seemed to be around for years in the 90s and I willed …[Read More]
FERGAL O’Brien is making training horses look easy. Just over a year since striking out alone following 19 years as Head Lad to Nigel Twiston-Davies, the affable Irishman and his team are thriving at his base at Cilldara Stud in Gloucestershire. Tipped by Donald McCain as a “trainer to watch” Fergal spoke exclusively to Horse …[Read More]
by RORY JIWANI, Head of PR at StanJames Saturday’s StanJames.com Fighting Fifth at Newcastle is sure to be the best renewal for many a year with three winners from this year’s Cheltenham Festival set to line up. StanJames Champion Hurdler Rock On Ruby will head to Gosforth Park with Supreme victor Cinders And Ashes and …[Read More]
The Hennessy Gold Cup has a special place in national hunt hearts. It’s been won by the equine elite including Mill House, Arkle, Burrough Hill Lad and Denman, and remains one of the jewels in the crown of the jumps season. It has also been unspoilt by having different names and has the longest commercial …[Read More]
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