horses

Weekly Eye-Catchers

Frost Returns to Cheltenham Not for the first time I find myself praising the riding skills of Bryony Frost as she steered Frodon to victory in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup on Saturday. It’s a long time since I have seen a Cheltenham meeting runs in such gloomy conditions, but Frodon’s win did add some brightness to the day. It…

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Frequent Flyer Miles – Can You Trust Trainers and Jockeys with Vast Experience at a Particular Course?

Experienced horse racing punters know better than to take strike rates at face value. Although a jockey or trainer (or perhaps a combination of the two) may have an excellent strike rate at a specific track, it means a lot less when their horses are primarily short-priced favourites. Likewise, having a low strike rate doesn’t mean avoiding a bet because…

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Are Irish Trainers Worth Following in the UK?

There are a plethora of Irish stables who each possess a string of talented horses that are often seen running in the UK. The likes of Gordon Elliott, Willie Mullins, Aidan O’Brien and John Feane are familiar names to horse racing fans and their stables tend to fire in winners on a regular basis. These talented trainers are always on the lookout for winning opportunities…

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Weekly Eye-Catchers

The last two weeks have seen some top-class Championship performances from Bristol De Mai and Buveur D’Air on their seasonal reappearances. This week it was the turn of Altior at Sandown. There have been some great winners of the Tingle Creek Chase over the years, like Moscow Flyer, Kauto Star and Sprinter Sacre, and this year’s victor is up there…

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Who Will Win the Mini-Grand National, a Showcase for the Real Thing?

The Becher Chase, a 3m 2f handicap Chase race, takes place this weekend at Aintree. It was only established in 1992, but since then, it has become something of a ‘training ground’ for future Grand National winners. Why? Because it is run over the same fences as its iconic bigger brother.  It is not as long or as gruelling as…

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Weekly Eye-Catchers

In recent years, the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle hasn’t had the quality of field you would like to see for a race of its history. On paper, this year’s renewal looked like the race of the season so far, with Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air, and Cheltenham Festival novice hurdle winners Samcro & Summerville Boy all standing their ground.…

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Can the Ladbrokes Trophy Find a Future Superstar?

The upcoming Ladbrokes Winter Carnival is Newbury’s winter highlight, and racing lovers especially look forward to the feature race, the Ladbrokes Trophy, which is for horses aged 4yo+. Although it is ‘only’ a Grade 3 handicap event, this 3m 2.5f test of stamina has a habit of highlighting horses worth following in the season’s major events. The Ladbrokes Trophy was…

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Weekly Eye-Catchers

Well, I am back in the saddle so to speak, after a short break away. Plenty to go at this week. Saturday it’s the Ladbroke Trophy Handicap Chase, formerly known as the Hennessey Gold Cup, at Newbury, which is one of my favourite handicap chases of the season. Also on Saturday it’s the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. The Fighting…

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Forgiving a Forlorn Run: Should You Risk Money on Horses That Failed to Finish Their Last National Hunt Race?

Admit it: You have dismissed horses in the past because they failed to finish their last National Hunt race. In some cases, it is a dangerous omission because there are a variety of reasons why a horse doesn’t complete a race. Perhaps the Going was all wrong, or the jockey misjudged a fence.  Did you know that over 18% of…

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The Racing Week Ahead…

With John Burke on holiday this week, the estimable Andy Newton has stepped-in to give us his take on the week ahead. His is a detailed, interesting read, from a different perspective. Enjoy… With last weekend’s Cheltenham November Meeting behind us, it’s fair to say……jump racing is back! It’s the hedgehoppers all the way now for the next six months…

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The Cheltenham Open – Finding the Next National Hunt Superstar

Although there have been numerous National Hunt events already, the Cheltenham Open is often regarded as the true beginning of the jumps season. In recent years, the Open’s importance has grown, and it is now a three-day meeting that attracts challengers from all around Europe.  There are multiple Class 1 events and highlights include the BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase…

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In the Long Run – Is Stamina a Defining Factor for Longer Races?

The weather is cold and wet which means one thing: The National Hunt season is upon us! The hurdles and fences are out, the going is sometimes Heavy, and the races are longer with every mistake capable of taking a horse out of a race. After backing a horse to win a 3m 4f Chase race on Heavy ground, your…

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Weekly Diary – Horse Racing

I have decided to take a break from jumps racing for just one week to look at the flat and, in particular, last weekend’s Breeders Cup and the upcoming Melbourne Cup.   There’s no horse for the tracker this week, but I have provided a Melbourne Cup selection and a Monday stat. There’s no better jockey for the big occasion than Frankie…

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Who To Watch – Week Beginning 5th November

Following Enable’s history-making weekend at Churchill Downs, it’ll be impossible to better that but nonetheless, there is more high-class International racing this week. The Melbourne Cup, known as ‘the race that stops a nation’, is at Flemington on Tuesday morning. There is plenty of European interest so hopefully, they can do us proud. Elsewhere on Tuesday, the Haldon Gold Cup…

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Halloween Horror Show? Get Over it by Nabbing National Hunt November Profits

By the time you read this, the British Flat season will officially be over which means it is time to switch focus to the National Hunt scene. While summer Flat racing is associated with fancy hats, Pimm’s, and the occasional sunny day, we’re about to get deep down and dirty. National Hunt racing in the UK is traditionally a mucky…

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Weekly Diary – Horse Racing

King Power Racing I start my weekend round-up on a sad note. The football and horse racing worlds are facing the possibility that Leicester City & King Power Racing owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabh, lost his life in a tragic helicopter crash outside the Leicester’s ground on Saturday evening. At the time of writing, there has been no confirmation of any deaths,…

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Who To Watch – Week Beginning 29th October

One of the biggest weeks in the International racing calendar as the Breeders’ Cup takes place at Churchill Downs on Friday and Saturday. 14 Grade 1’s at the meeting make for an exceptional couple of days racing, the brilliant Enable will aim to be the first Arc winner to follow up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. As well as the…

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Weekly Diary – Horse Racing

Champions Day was launched in 2011 to much ‘wailing and gnashing of teeth’, with commentators on racing forums predicting the end of flat racing as we know it. Champions Day would destroy the pattern. Ascot had got too big for its boots, and a few other things. I am sure you read them too. Well the modern-day Jeremiah’s have been…

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Doncaster Racing Post Trophy

Also known as the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes, the Racing Post Trophy takes place at Doncaster on October. It is a significant race for two reasons. First of all, it is the final Group 1 race of the British Flat season. Secondly, horses that perform well in this one-mile race for 2yo colts and fillies often feature prominently in at…

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Who To Watch – Week Beginning 22nd October

Even though Champions Day has now been and gone, it’s not quite the end of the flat turf action as the final Group 1 of the season is at Doncaster on Saturday. The Vertem Futurity Trophy (formerly the Racing Post Trophy) has an exceptional role of honour and with the 1-2 from last year being Saxon Warrior and Roaring Lion,…

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