Stick with last year’s leading contenders in lucky last May 31, 2024 THERE wouldn’t be a better example of a horses for courses track than Epsom. Its unique configuration, with all the undulations, Tattenham Corner and the camber up the home straight means only a few horses enjoy the demanding test. I’m hoping that’s the case in the closing JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap (5.50pm) over six [...]
Lessons from the trading floor helping to drive World Pool May 2, 2024 RAIN is lashing down and the skies are gloomy, sound familiar? Well, this interview isn’t taking place in London, but almost 6000 miles away in Hong Kong ahead of FWD Champions Day, one of two major international horse racing fixtures in the territory. Oh yes, and it’s also nearly 30 degrees. I am here to [...]
Warrior continues Romantic affair with QEII Cup April 28, 2024 HISTORY was made at Sha Tin on Sunday when the brilliant Romantic Warrior became the first horse to win three editions of the FWD QEII Cup. Danny Shum’s six-year-old, who claimed the Cox Plate in October, scooped a huge £1.5 million despite concerns about his ability to handle the rain-softened ground. Even though the son [...]
Seeing is Believing for Boughey and Bentley April 26, 2024 NO BRITISH-trained horse has ever won the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Sunday, 7.50am), but that isn’t stopping trainer George Boughey and owners Highclere having a crack at the £2.2 million pot with four-year-old filly Believing. The daughter of Mehmas finished a close third in the Haydock Sprint Cup last September following a Group Three [...]
Haggas hoping to get Hong Kong monkey off his back with Dubai Honour April 26, 2024 WILLIAM Haggas has had great success overseas, but he is yet to have a winner in Hong Kong. “That really irks me,” said the 63-year-old Newmarket-based trainer. “We’ve had a bit of luck abroad in other places but not in Hong Kong, so I’d like to get that monkey off my back so to speak.” [...]
I Am Maximus records best rating by a Grand National winner this century April 16, 2024 I AM MAXIMUS produced the best performance this century by a Grand National winner when taking the Aintree showpiece last Saturday, eclipsing the 165 which Tiger Roll recorded when winning for the second time in 2019. The eight-year-old carried 11-6 to victory which was a big burden by recent Aintree standards. Since the days of [...]
Cheltenham on the hunt for 2025 Festival principal partner March 10, 2024 WE ARE now just 24 hours away from the greatest four days of jump racing anywhere in the world. Early tomorrow morning thousands of Londoners will pack themselves onto trains heading west from Paddington to enjoy the drama and delights of the Cheltenham Festival. With 28 races over the four days, the very best horses [...]
Mullins needs six for Cheltenham century February 12, 2024 WILLIE Mullins has been leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival in nine of the last 11 years, and as he showed at the Dublin Racing Festival earlier this month, his dominance shows no signs of slowing down. An army of 70 plus horses from his County Carlow base will descend on the Cotswolds in four [...]
Danny the champion of the world for Uncle Willie February 3, 2024 WHAT more can you say about Willie Mullins? He came into this year’s Dublin Racing Festival mobhanded as always, but to win all four Grade Ones, the first three all ridden by his nephew Danny, is just another example of his genius. Yes, he obviously has the best horses and the biggest spending owners, but [...]
Sixty puts in Golden performance December 11, 2023 HONG Kong’s champion miler Golden Sixty lit up the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday with a mesmerising performance in the Group One LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. Ridden by regular pilot Vincent Ho, who was following up his victory in Wednesday’s International Jockeys’ Championship, the eight-year-old produced a blistering turn [...]
