MY third favourite race of the year (behind the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup) rarely disappoints when it comes to drama. I was reminded the other day of the man dressed as Santa who nearly ran into and brought down a knackered Kicking King on the run-in in 2004. Seconds earlier Kicking King had …[Read More]
I LIVE about 45 minutes from Haydock Park and was surprised when Clerk of the Course Kirkland Tellwright assured the racing world last Monday that the Betfair Chase meeting would definitely go ahead. The rain that has fallen in the North West during the past week has been of biblical proportions and there is more …[Read More]
IT happens nine weeks on Tuesday. You know, that familiar roar, when the tape goes up for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The roar kick-starts four days of heaven for National Hunt purists. Yup, the Cheltenham Festival is well within punting distance. After the plethora of festive Jump racing, the fog has cleared a little from …[Read More]
CHRISTMAS during my late teens involved lots of eating, drinking… and feverish speculation about the King George VI Chase. It has always been one of the highlights of my festive fare and watching Desert Orchid dismantle the opposition in the 1980s became a much-loved part of the yuletide routine. Greys and the King George have …[Read More]
PHILIP Hobbs and Richard Johnson can do very little wrong at present. Everything they run has to be respected as the Minehead yard is in stellar form. On Saturday MENORAH came close to providing another big weekend winner when just being outstayed by Silviniaco Conti in the Betfair Chase. This is a race that provides …[Read More]
THERE appears to be a wave of expectation surrounding Jonjo O’Neill this season. Many pundits are tipping him to break the grip that Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson have on the trainers’ championship. In fact, people are now referring to the trio as the “big three” in the training ranks (which is a minor insult …[Read More]
by ROI MADHAN THE biggest National Hunt race over the Christmas period takes place at Kempton Park on Boxing Day and features some of the best three-mile chasers from the UK and Ireland. I am, of course, talking about the King George VI Chase. This Grade 1 contest is open to horses aged four years …[Read More]
The Cheltenham Festival kicks off 10 weeks tomorrow and the excellent Christmas racing has had a shuddering effect on the ante-post markets. But the brilliant performances of Silviniaco Conti, My Tent Or Yours, Bobs Worth and Hurricane Fly were all overshadowed by the plight of the great Sprinter Sacre. The irregular heartbeat that caused him …[Read More]
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]
by JACK MILNER. The Betfair Chase has been a fantastic race in recent times and a stepping stone for Cheltenham Gold Cup winners past, present and future. None more so than Kauto Star won the race an incredible four times, most recently in 2011 when raising the roof off Haydock Park when beating Long Run …[Read More]
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