HE MAY have mopped up most of National Hunt racing’s biggest prizes, but the Grand National remains the holy grail for leading trainer Nicky Henderson. He has hit the crossbar a few times: remember his first Aintree runner Zongalero coming second to Rubstic in 1979 (I do, I’m that old!) Or The Tsarevich chasing home …[Read More]
23
Dec 2013
Cue Card the ace in King George VI Chase
NINE runners have been declared for the highlight of the Christmas sporting calendar – the King George VI Chase at Kempton. In its 63rd year, the William Hill-sponsored contest race has a £200,000 prize pot. And bookies can’t seem to separate leading contenders CUE CARD and DYNASTE. Favourites have a good record in the race …[Read More]
22
Nov 2013
Ground the key in Betfair Chase
IT HAS already been labelled a “mini Gold Cup”. And with some justification. This year’s Betfair Chase has attracted a field of supreme quality including the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth, last year’s victor Silviniaco Conti and the young pretender Dynaste. Throw in middle distance specialist Cue Card, The Giant Bolster, former Gold …[Read More]
04
Nov 2013
Is Harry Topper another Master Oats?
I CAN’T quite work out Harry Topper. Kim Bailey compared him to his Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Master Oats after his victory in the Charlie Hall Chase on Saturday and holds him in the highest regard. But is he a Gold Cup horse? Well, I think that will depend entirely on the weather. If the …[Read More]
01
Nov 2013
Saturday selections: Harry Topper can topple Long Run
FABULOUS racing on Saturday. The Breeders’ Cup will take centre stage this evening but before that there is some serious National Hunt fare at Wetherby, Ascot, Down Royal and Ayr. There will be Cheltenham Festival clues aplenty, even at this early stage of the season. So here are a few fancies… MENDIP EXPRESS (12.45 Wetherby): …[Read More]
14
Mar 2013
Cheltenham Gold Cup: Horse-by-horse guide
IT’S six years since there was a Cheltenham Gold Cup without the great Kauto Star lining up. We have become so accustomed to those familiar green and yellow silks stalking the leaders, jumping his rivals into the ground and powering up the hill. But this year’s race is all about the young pretenders. Ten horses …[Read More]
09
Jan 2013
Cheltenham Gold Cup attracts 40 entries
FORTY horses have been entered in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup after the entries were published today. The main contenders for national hunt racing’s blue riband all stood their ground including the ante-post favourite and Hennessy winner Bobs Worth, pictured left. The March 15 highlight looks wide open and that is reflected in the latest …[Read More]
19
Dec 2012
Stamina the key in King George
HANG ON a second! Is the King George VI Chase over two miles or three? The list of possible runners reads like a Champion Chase field: Finian’s Rainbow, Sizing Europe, Cue Card, Captain Chris… The list goes on. I cannot remember a King George field so chock full of two-mile specialists and middle distance horses. …[Read More]
19
Nov 2012
Memory Lane: The Betfair Chase
NOW here’s a good pub quiz question. Apart from Kauto Star and Imperial Commander, which two horses have won the Betfair Chase? Not easy, is it? So you’d better read on… There have only been seven runnings of the Betfair but the Grade One contest is firmly established as one of the major early season …[Read More]
22
Oct 2012
A chat with… Tom Symonds
YOUNG, hungry and ambitious, Tom Symonds looks destined for big things as a trainer. After spending five years as assistant to Nicky Henderson, he set up on his own in 2011 at the former yard of John Edwards at Dason Court in Ross-on-Wye. Here he talks exclusively to Horse Racing Chat. Tom, how many horses …[Read More]
