Category Archives: Racing News

Permalink to Big Fella ‘Better Than Ever’

Big Fella ‘Better Than Ever’

by Jockey|on March 27, 2011 |in Racing News |tagged , , |Leave a comment

Big Fella Thanks is a name that will be familiar with many of the punters looking for a bet in the Grand National 2011. The ten-year-old has run in the four-and-a-half mile marathon event for the past two seasons and has acquitted himself with great credit both times to finish sixth in 2009 and a game fourth last year.

For each of those Grand National starts Big Fella Thanks was trained by the Champion Paul Nicholls however, after a change of ownership the gelding has switched to the care of Ferdy Murphy and he seems to have thrived for the move.

At Newbury on his most recent start he ran a cracker, when he was noted as finishing full of running in a valuable two-and-half mile handicap chase. The power and verve he travelled with that day will be a big asset at Liverpool and his experience of the big day will be a valuable asset and anyone looking at the Grand National odds should remember this.

His current trainer believes his charge is better equipped for a Grand National challenge this season than ever before. Murphy thinks that Big Fella Thanks is a looks stronger physically this season and is also more grown-up and amenable as a result. With that in mind Murphy believes his jockey will be able to switch the horse off in the early stages of the race and allow him to bring the gelding with a late run.

If his new trainer is correct and Big Fella Thanks is a better horse this season he will surely go very well at Aintree and he is definitely worth a place on your shortlist.

Permalink to Trickster Fails To Enhance National Credentials

Trickster Fails To Enhance National Credentials

by Jockey|on March 21, 2011 |in Racing News |tagged , , |Leave a comment

The Paul Nicholls-trained Tricky Trickster did little to encourage his supporters ahead of a second bid for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree next month when getting only as far as the second fence in the feature Totesport.com Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter on Saturday, writes Elliot Slater.

Sent off a well supported 13/2 shot, the eight-year-old had just settled in behind the leaders when he came to grief at the second of the 22 fences, leaving connections and the betting public pretty much in the dark as to what sort of shape he is in with only three weeks remaining until the big race on April 9. Anyone with a Grand National free bet to place will probably want to look elsewhere.

Tricky Trickster’s whole season has been tailored around a repeat big for the Aintree marathon, a race in which he ran with plenty of credit very nearly 12 months ago when coming home ninth of the 40-runner field behind the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Don’t Push It. The Oscar gelding jumped well in the main in last year’s Grand National and was beginning to make a move from the mid-division when hampered by a faller at the 20th fence. He managed to latch on to the coat tails of the leaders approaching four out, before the effort of recovering from being hampered took its toll after the next and he eventually faded on the long run-in from the final fence. The Aintree Grand National betting suggests he could struggle again this time around.

So far this term Tricky Trickster, now as big as 50/1 to win next month’s showcase event, had raced just twice prior to his unfortunate effort at Uttoxeter, pulling up in the Grade 3 Morson Group Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in November, then shaping with a bit more promise when finishing fifth over an inadequate trip in a novice hurdle at Newbury in mid-February.

Permalink to Johnson Talks Good Sense

Johnson Talks Good Sense

by Jockey|on March 9, 2011 |in Racing News |tagged , , , |1 Comment

Richard Johnson received a five day ban (March 21-25) for marking his mount Stop The Show in the three-mile handicap chase at Ffos Las on Monday then put forward one or two more than reasonable suggestions as to how the infringement occurred and just what might be done in future to take mitigating factors into account, writes Elliot Slater.

One of the brightest and most articulate jockeys in the business, Johnson would be amongst the last riders to spring to mind as ‘whip happy’, but following on from the recent suspensions received by both Jason Maguire and Jamie Moore, Philip Hobbs’ stable jockey believes that the rules need looking at again, although he has no intention of appealing as according to the law as it currently stands he has no basis on which to defend himself.

Fortunately for Johnson, set to partner strongly fancies Menorah in next Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle, his suspension runs during a period where there are no showcase meetings, but that certainly wasn’t the case for Maguire who had to go to a BHA appeal before having his suspension reduced from seven days to six, enough to allow him to maintain his partnership with leading Champion Hurdle fancy Peddlers Cross in next week’s big race. Anyone who follows the horse racing betting odds will know that not having the preferred jockey on board can really harm a horse’s chances.

Under the rules as they stand, if a horse returns with wheal marks caused by the whip a jockey must be suspended. The rules don’t take into account the fact that the horse could have been ridden in exactly the same way in previous outings but had never previously marked. Johnson believes that the recent spate of suspension coincides with the arrival of spring and horses losing their winter coats, making them more susceptible to marking even if such an occurrence had never happened before.

It sounds a reasonable explanation, and although excessive or incorrect use of the whip should always be punished, there should surely be some discretion allowed stewards who determine there to have been mitigating circumstances.

Permalink to Aegean Eyeing Big Handicap Double

Aegean Eyeing Big Handicap Double

by Jockey|on March 9, 2011 |in Racing News |tagged , , , , |Leave a comment

There are some 40 horses entered at the five-day stage for Saturday’s Paddy Power Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle at Sandown Park, but it is highly likely that most punters won’t be looking much further than the unbeaten Aegean Dawn for their idea of the winner and the horse most likely to head to the Cheltenham Festival next week with the chance of landing a juicy £75,000 bonus for connections, writes Elliot Slater.

Saturday’s race sponsors Paddy Power are tempting trainers with the bonus once again, a pot not landed since David Pipe’s Gaspara did the double by winning the 2007 Imperial Cup and then the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival five days later.

With only Pipe’s Ronaldo Des Mottes rated above him in the handicap Aegean Dawn is sure to have to shoulder a big weight at Sandown, but there will be many who will reckon that he is more than up to the task having won all four career outings including at Cheltenham on November 12 in a 23-runner handicap hurdle, then again at Ascot seven days later where he got the better of live Champion Hurdle contender Mille Chief to announce himself as a horse very much on the up. The Cheltenham 2011 tips suggest is has more than enough about him to win at the Festival, but a lot could depend on what happens in his first race.

Raised 26lbs to a mark of 145 since his four-and-a-half length defeat of Mille Chief, (who in hindsight had a near impossible task in trying to concede Henderson’s gelding 22lbs), Aegean Dawn, should he win on Saturday, would then have the option of bidding for either the County Hurdle or the Coral Cup, both races potentially qualifying him for the bonus. A punt on Aegean landing the double could be an attractive alternative for anyone currently struggling to pick a fancy in the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting.

A rock solid 4/1 favourite for the Imperial Cup, the Alflora gelding is offered at 18/1 to complete a Sandown/Cheltenham double for those brave enough to believe he can indeed repeat the success of Gaspara five seasons ago.

Permalink to Kalahari Team Happy With Ryanair Chase Build Up

Kalahari Team Happy With Ryanair Chase Build Up

by Jockey|on March 3, 2011 |in Racing News |tagged , , |Leave a comment

Middleham-based Ferdy Murphy, a trainer with a particularly good strike rate at the Cheltenham Festival, has expressed himself very happy with the way his Kalahari King is shaping up ahead of his bid to land the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase on the third day of the four-day fixture, writes Elliot Slater.

Kalahari King, a 12-time winner, goes particularly well at Cheltenham in the spring and this will be his fourth successive visit to the Festival meeting having run with tremendous credit on each occasion. In 2008 the now 10-year-old finished a creditable fourth of 22 to Captain Cee Bee in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle before returning a year later to run arguably the race of his life in going under by only a short-head to Forpadydeplasterer in a memorable renewal of the Arkle Chase.

Last year the gelded son of Epsom Derby winner Kahyasi again ran well to be third behind Big Zeb in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, so there can be no doubting his Cheltenham Festival pedigree. The big question for 2011 is whether or not Murphy’s stable star will stay the extra distance of the Ryanair Chase having for so long been campaigned at or around the minimum trip? The Cheltenham race odds cast some doubt over his ability to do so.

Looking back at his hurdles career, the northern raider has wins at Musselburgh and Punchestown to his name over two-and-a-half miles, so there is more than a little hope that he might last home if the race is run to suit. Good ground would be ideal for Kalahari King who can act in the soft, but is able to use his turn of foot to better effect on top of the ground.

Expected to have a racecourse gallop at Doncaster at the weekend, Kalahari King is ante-post fourth favourite and generally on offer at 8/1 to win the Ryanair Chase, behind 9/2 favourite Poquelin, another course specialist.

Permalink to Walkon To Take All The Beating

Walkon To Take All The Beating

by Jockey|on February 18, 2011 |in Racing News |tagged , , |Leave a comment

The postponed Totesport Trophy is developing into a very interesting affair.

The original race was scheduled to take place at Newbury last Saturday but the death of two horses in the parade ring just before the first race on the card meant that all subsequent races were abandoned and re-scheduled for Friday.

The impact of this has been two-fold. First, the reduction in prize money from £120,000 to £60,000 and the changing weather conditions has resulted in a significant number of withdrawals, such as the well-liked Alan King-trained Iolith.

But on the other hand, the delay has given online betting favourite Walkon, another Alan King runner, the opportunity for another gallop at home.

King had initially worried that the horse was under-prepared so the extra six days was gratefully received. The horse finished second at Ascot last month on it’s return from a 21-month layoff and is expected to put in a big performance at a decent price.

Other notable runners in the 15 strong field include last years winner, Get Me Out Of Here, and three from the Nicky Henderson yard – Soldatino, Solix and Eradicate.

Of the Henderson runners, Soldatino, the winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle, is the most fancied whilst Alan King will also be quietly confident of a good run from Salden Licht.

The only Irish runner, and sure of some support in the betting ring, is the Willie Mullins-trained Sweet My Lord.

All the favoured horses should enjoy some cut in the ground and with the rain at the course over the past week it is anticipated that there will be a lively betting market with prices sure to encourage professional punters to get stuck in.

The live broadcast of the feature races on Channel 4 is expected to increase betting exchange liquidity with armchair backers sure to get involved.

Overall, we expect a highly entertaining race with Walkon the one to beat.

Permalink to Medermit Receives Arkle Chase Green Light

Medermit Receives Arkle Chase Green Light

by Jockey|on February 15, 2011 |in Racing News |tagged , , , |Leave a comment

It didn’t take Barbury Castle-based trainer Alan King very long to make a decision as to whether or not Saturday’s Grade 1 Totesport Challenger Novices’ Chase winner Medermit should contest the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, or go for the Jewson Novices’ Chase instead, writes Elliot Slater.

After discussing the matter with the grey’s owners, and with jockey Robert Thornton who was on board as the seven-year-old came right back to his very best form in the race formerly known as the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, the decision was made to go for the Arkle Chase over two miles. Bookmaker reaction was swift, Medermit being trimmed to a general price of 13/2 third favourite, (although 7/1 was still available in the odd place), behind Finian’s rainbow (4/1f) and Ghizao (9/2) so there is plenty to think about for those looking to put on horse racing bets.

Medermit had looked an unlikely chasing star after refusing when clear in a novice chase at Huntingdon in November, but since then has done nothing but improve over the larger obstacles, winning at Plumpton, finishing a narrow second to Hell’s Bay in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham, before his brave Grade 1 success at Sandown. It might have been that the two-mile-five-furlong trip at the Esher venue stretched the Medaaly gelding’s stamina to the limit, as having been nicely clear going to the last in a race where he always travelled well and jumped fluently, he began to empty on the uphill run-in and in the end was all out to hold the late rally of Captain Chris.

The run from the last might well have been the deciding factor for the King team in returning to the stiff two miles at Cheltenham, a track that has brought out the best in Medermit over the years, including when beaten only a neck in the 2009 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle by the top class Go Native.

Permalink to Merigo Continues Grand National Preparation

Merigo Continues Grand National Preparation

by Jockey|on February 15, 2011 |in Racing News |tagged , , , , , , |Leave a comment

The build-up to the John Smith’s Grand National 2011 is gathering pace with an informative contest taking place this Saturday at Doncaster.

Of the runners taking place in the Sky Bet Chase perhaps the one that has captured the imagination of the professional horse racing backers the most is Merigo.

The Andrew parker-trained runner is currently available to back at 25/1 for the Grand National and 20/1 for the race this Saturday. With a convincing victory in the 2010 Scottish Grand National under Timmy Murphy followed by a disappointing fall in the Bechers at Aintree in November, the horse has been on the betting radar for some time but hasn’t raced since the fall.

However, this doesn’t seem to have affected the horse betting prospects for victory in the April show piece with the trainer commenting about the fall “It hasn’t dented the horse’s confidence in any way because I schooled him a couple of days after and he never missed a beat. I actually schooled him today and he was fantastic. He’s in fine form for Doncaster.”

Meanwhile, Denman remains the ante-post favourite for the Grand National with last year’s winner, Don’t Push It, still available at odds of 22/1, despite some positive murmurs from JonjoO’Neill regarding his chances earlier this week.

Another causing some ripples in the market is Niche Market which is as short as 16/1 at the moment whilst Big Fella Thanks is also reported to have attracted a little early shrewd money.

Permalink to The Cheltenham Festival Courses

The Cheltenham Festival Courses

by Jockey|on February 15, 2011 |in Racing News |tagged , , , |Leave a comment

As with any major racing event, it is always worthwhile taking note of horses with good course records and ones which have proved that they can handle the unique test that the course provides and anyone interesting in horse racing betting should do their homework.

Both normal Cheltenham courses provide a really good test of a horses stamina and they really do need to handle the undulations and the fact that they are turning for plenty of the time and in places the course is quite sharp.

The Old Course first has undergone some modifications ahead of the Cheltenham Festival 2011, whereas the New Course is pretty much the same as it always was and provides just a good a test as the Old Course does – neither allowing you to escape with any poor or lack of fluency in your jumping style.

The New Course has two fences in a longer home straight than the Old Course, with one fence on the downhill run, which as with the downhill fence on the Old Course still provides a very tricky test. A key obstacle here used to be the fence taken four out up at the top of the hill as the horses started to turn left, it often used to catch out even the most seasoned chasers given that the course fell away to the left immediately after the fence. However, the fence has now been moved back 15 metres meaning it is jumped on a slightly flatter part of the track. As well as testing a horse’s jumping to the limit, the longer run-in on the New Course, up the famous Cheltenham hill, will ruthlessly expose any chinks in a horse’s stamina and many results have changed very quickly on the hill where horses can empty very quickly almost like a car running out of petrol and coming to a halt.

The big difference on the New Course is that it has a rather unusual layout to its hurdles track given that there are only two flights in the last seven furlongs. Two out, on the downhill run, is about half-a-mile from home leaving a near three furlongs run to the final flight in the home straight. This means that the run between the last two favours the stronger stayers who can build up a head of steam and not be too worried about their jumping ability. In the Triumph and County Hurdles, contestants cross eight flights of hurdles, but the first is only a matter of strides from the start, and in the big fields often encountered at the Festival this can upset the rhythm of some if they don’t meet the first right and that can hinder them for the remainder of the race so make sure that your horse is in a rhythm and takes the first fluently if you are betting in-running.

Completing the triumvirate of courses at Cheltenham is the Cross Country course which was introduced to the Festival in 2005 and plays host to the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase. The course is mainly situated inside the two main courses and has a collection of natural fences which the runners wind their way around before coming onto the course proper for the finish. The cross country course takes racing at Cheltenham back to its roots with a selection of natural and man-made obstacles incorporating banks, ditches, hedges, water and timber rails.

All of the courses present one of the toughest tests in National Hunt racing and horses need multiple qualities to handle the unique course characteristics.

Permalink to Cheltenham Festival Race Facts – Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Cheltenham Festival Race Facts – Weatherbys Champion Bumper

by Jockey|on February 15, 2011 |in Racing News |tagged , , , |Leave a comment

The only flat race to be run at the Cheltenham Festival, the Weatherbys Champion Bumper steadily gained in prestige and it always pays to take a look at the form of the Festival bumper with a view to hurdling form in the years ahead.

The first winner of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper was Montelado, who achieved what is thought to be the unique feat of winning two consecutive Festival races. The Bumper, now run on Wednesday, was originally the last race of the Festival. Montelado went on to win the opening race of the 1993 Festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The race attracts plenty of different types and occasionally you will spot a well-known flat jockey having a ride in the race – Jamie Spencer won the 2002 event on Pizarro for Edward O’Grady and Pat Smullen better known for his flat exploits took the ride on Hidden Universe last year for Dermot Weld.

Since 1992, 11 Champion Bumper winners have returned to the Festival the next year, three of whom won their Festival race (Montelado won the Supreme Novice Hurdle, Florida Pearl won the RSA Chase and Monsignor won what is now the Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle).

The Champion Bumper is certainly a good breeding ground for Cheltenham horses for the future and anyone looking for Paul Nicholls tips for a few years down the line may want to keep track of the event.

In 2010 we had the first non-Irish winner of the race since 1993 when Cue Card simply blew his rivals away, he also became the first four year old to win the race since Dato Star in 1995. He was undeniably impressive always travelling easily and striding away up the hill. Al Ferof completed a UK 1-2 albeit from a distance of 8 lengths away. Best of the Irish was the somewhat unheralded, but relatively experienced, Frawley.

The favourite, Shot From The Hip ended up well back in 20th as he pulled too hard and ruined his chances as a result.

The Irish are dominant here, having trained 14 of the last 18 winners. Willie Mullins has a particularly good record and shouldn’t be overlooked going into the Cheltenham Festival 2011.

Even after the Cue Card demolition last year it should really pay to concentrate on the Irish runners and to dismiss runner that were beaten last time out. The race generally attracts a big field and the majority of the runners have won in double figure fields, highlighting the need to have experienced some hustle and bustle before. Once raced horses, unless trained by Willie Mullins, should also be crossed off the list of contenders.

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