|
News last Updated at: 18:10 on 10/03/2010
|
|
'No problems' as D-day looms for Dun
Dunguib heads 34 horses left in at the confirmation stage for the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday. Last season's Champion Bumper winner, trained by Philip Fenton, is seen by many as a banker and is odds-on to get the Irish off to a flier in the opening race of the four-day feast. Fenton said: "Dunguib is grand and all has gone very smoothly, no problems thankfully. He'll possibly jump a few flights on Thursday mor...read more
|
Native remains in Champion hunt
Go Native features among 17 entries for next week's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the confirmation stage. The Noel Meade-trained seven-year-old comes into the race in pursuit of a £1million bonus from betting exchange wbx.com, having already won the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season. Meade has also entered Donnas Palm and Muirhead, while Nicky Henderson could saddle three runners in last year's first and third - Punjabi and B...read more
|
Tataniano skips Arkle
Tataniano was a surprise withdrawal from the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at the confirmation stage. The six-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls, bypasses Tuesday's two-mile novice championship at Cheltenham in favour of the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase on Friday. "He's absolutely fine, but we just didn't think he was good enough for the Arkle and he's going to go for the Grand Annual instead," said owner Andy Stewart. "It was ob...read more
|
Garde champing at the bit
Garde Champetre is on course to bid for a hat-trick of victories in the cross-country chase at the Cheltenham Festival. The 11-year-old defied top weight of 11st 12lb 12 months ago and will attempt to do the same again in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase on Tuesday. Of the 25 possibles for the three-m...read more
|
Commander in fighting form
Part-owner Hugh Doubtfire believes Imperial Commander is in the form of his life ahead of his crack at the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. Last season's Ryanair Chase winner ran no sort of race in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, but Doubtfire hopes a return to his beloved Cheltenham will see him...read more
|
Bay following the Drever route
Graham Wylie admits his Ladbrokes World Hurdle hope Tidal Bay has a long way to go before he can emulate former stablemate Inglis Drever. The latter, who had to be put down in October after suffering from colic, won the staying hurdle title three times for Wylie and while Tidal Bay appreciated the r...read more
|
Salut swerves Imperial Cup
Leading Paddy Power Imperial Cup fancy Salut Flo will miss Saturday's valuable handicap in favour of a trip to the Cheltenham Festival. David Pipe's French recruit was mightily impressive on his British debut at Doncaster last weekend, making a mockery of an initial chase mark of 118 to beat Soulard...read more
|
All well with Murphy Festival bid
Ferdy Murphy is hoping a trip to the Cheltenham Festival will not be a season too soon for the former troublesome gelding The Hollinwell. The seven-year-old is second-favourite at around 8-1 for the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase after showing bags of promise in his three starts over fences. The Wes...read more
|
Planet primed for Ryanair
Philip Hobbs report his Ryanair Chase contender Planet Of Sound none the worse following his crashing fall at Ascot last month. The eight-year-old landed Exeter's William Hill Gold Cup on his first start of the season before chasing home Albertas Run in the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot. He only made it...read more
|
Velazquez set for House party
Jamie Spencer will be replaced on Crowded House by John Velazquez in the $10million Dubai World Cup at Meydan later this month. Connections believe the American rider's experience in a race he won in 2005 could be key to the four-year-old chances, but they stress Spencer will be back aboard the hors...read more
|
