UK Horse Racing Tips

Archive for the ‘Racing Festivals’ Category

They don’t call it the sport of kings for nothing, and horse racing really is a big part of the fabric of british sport. With all of the talk of the premier league and so on, it’s easy to forget how much racing goes on, day in, day out in the UK, and the little (and big!) truimphs that take place at courses all over the country. Big events too, like The Grand National, Royal Ascot, Ebor Festival, the list goes on. Surely though, the jewel in the crown has to the the Cheltenham Festival.

This national hunt event has been taking place now since way back in 1860, so to say that it’s steeped in history is an understatement. During the Festival racing takes place each March over four days in front of huge on-course crowds and audiences watching at home. Top drawer Grade I races such as the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup draw the crowds and attract the very best horse, jockeys, trainers and owners to the course. Such is the atmosphere on-course during the most anticipated races, that the crowd reaction is known as the Cheltenham Roar. In 2016 there were 28 races in total, starting with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday and ending with the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase on Sunday.

The most popular race of the festival, taking place on the final day has to be the aforementioned Cheltenham Gold Cup. With total prize money last year of over £550,000 last year it’s certainly one not to be missed. This year’s winner was Sizing John, ridden by Robbie Power and trained by Jessica Harrington. If we go way back to 1990, we can see that the race’s winner, Norton’s Coin, won at 100-1. Not a bad day, by all accounts, to be backing outsiders or following big priced cheltenham tips!

As the Cheltenham Festival attracts the cream of the crop of the racing world, it’s perhaps no surpise then, that the jockeys and trainers are eager to stamp their mark on the festival. Paul Nicholls had a memorable festival run having the most winners to 2004 (4), 2006 (3), 2007 (4), 2008 (3) and 2009 (5). In recent years another respected trainer, Willie Mullins, has been a frequent winner of the accolade. The most stunning individual performance though surely goes to jockey Ruby Walsh. Since 2004 Walsh has won the most races for a mind boggling 11 of those years and a total of 46 individual winners over that period of time. I wouldn’t mind his prize money!

The next Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday 13^th March 2018 at 1:30pm and ends on Friday 16^th March. Be sure to tune in for what is bound to be top horse racing action!

Source: BHAPressOffice via Twitter

Singlefarmpayment will be aiming to overcome his recent disappointment at the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase when he competes at the Lavazza Silver Cup Handicap Chase. The bay gelding has been a solid operator over the past two National Hunt seasons, although a major victory has eluded him.

Tom George’s charge has notched just three wins over the course of his career and will have to put forward an outstanding performance to triumph at Ascot. The seven-year-old is considered the favourite for the meet, despite suffering a fall in his last outing. Therefore, it will be worth monitoring Singlefarmpayment’s odds at Timeform along with the rest of the field before punting on the event.

The bay gelding had made his debut in the National Hunt in the 2014-15 campaign, but struggled in the early stages of his career. He placed sixth in his debut at Stratford before suffering a fall in his next outing at Exeter. Singlefarmpayment finally into gear with a strong performance at the Novices’ Hurdle at Southwell Racecourse, finishing second behind Irish horse Monbeg Theatre. The horse came within inches of his first victory at Chepstow in the National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle, but just lacked the closing speed down the stretch to beat out Sidbury Hill.

Singlefarmpayment failed to compete in his next two outings, but again came close to a breakthrough in the final meet of the campaign. The bay gelding challenged Fleet Dawn down the stretch at the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber Of Commerce Handicap Hurdle, only to be beaten out by a length. His frustration continued at the start of the new term when he finished second in his debut at Ascot, on this occasion losing out to Masterplan, who upped the ante in the closing stages of the contest.

However, he finally notched his first win with jockey Richard Johnson in the saddle easing to a comfortable victory by seven lengths at the Novices’ Hurdle at Southwell Racecourse. Much like buses, his second triumph followed in the bay gelding’s next outing. Singlefarmpayment was considered the favourite for the Handicap Hurdle on his Cheltenham debut and did not disappoint by coming through the field at the precise moment to clinch the victory by three-and-half lengths.

Source: CheltCountdown via Twitter

The bay gelding took a step back by pulling up at Huntingdon to end his campaign, which would be the last with Tom Lacey as his trainer. He returned to action for the start of the 2016-17 season with George in place for his outing Richard Davis Memorial Chase, but struggled for pace down the stretch and could only finish in third. At Ascot, George’s charge came across Beware the Bear, and was made to rue a slow start as he made his surge too late to close the gap on the Irish horse.

Singlefarmpayment returned to Cheltenham at the beginning December and did not disappoint with a fine run to triumph in the Jockey Club Ownership Syndicate Novices’ Chase. Jockey Adrian Heskin timed the move to perfection to come through the pack and the bay gelding was able to close out the victory two-and-a-half lengths. George’s charge was considered the joint-favourite for the Novices’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham at the end of January, only to be brought down at the 12th fence by More Buck’s.

As a result, the seven-year-old did not have the greatest preparation for Cheltenham Festival. However, he put forward a fine performance in the Handicap Chase, and he battled Un Temps Pour Tout all the way down the stretch to claim the win, but was just beaten out by a short head by the Irish horse. Singlefarmpayment made his fourth appearance on the bounce at Cheltenham to kick off the new term, but began the season slightly off the boil, finishing four lengths behind Cogry in the Handicap Chase.

George’s charge was making good headway in his last outing at Ladbrokes Trophy Chase, only to suffer the first fall of his career three fences from the end of the race. Momentum is not on his side heading into the Lavazza Silver Cup Handicap Chase, but has proven at the least that he can be competitive right until the end of the race. It’s an important meet for George and his charge and he may finally get over the line to secure his first major triumph at Ascot.

Beware The Bear put down a marker for the Welsh Grand National with a fine win to start his 2017-18 National Hunt season. The Irish horse had not competed in the early stages of the campaign, but returned to action after an eight-month absence to notch the fifth victory of his career. The result will make his rivals aware of his speed for the meet at Chepstow, with the bay gelding and his team eyeing the first major triumph of his career at the end of December.

There are quality competitors that will challenge Beware The Bear at the event. None more so than Rock The Kasbah, who has enjoyed a strong run of form at the racecourse. Therefore it will be worth monitoring the odds for the Welsh Grand National and earlier races when online at sportsbet.io as the meet will be extremely competitive due to the quality of the field. We’ll now break down the horses that will be vying for the crown and their form throughout their respective careers.

Beware The Bear

Source: Steve_Grocutt via Twitter

Nicky Henderson’s charge began his career in Uttoxeter and notched a second-place finish on his debut, although he was comfortably beaten down the stretch by four lengths by race favourite Onefitzall. The bay gelding’s second race did not go to plan with Freddie Mitchell in the saddle. Although he kept pace with the leaders in the early stages of the race, the Irish horse was unable to make a meaningful impact, finishing fourth, well behind the eventual winner, Born Survivor. Beware The Bear’s winless run continued in his next outing at Haydock Park in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. A mistake towards the end of the race was to cost the bay gelding, leaving him off the pace down the stretch as Sharpasaknife claimed the victory.

Beware The Bear broke his duck in the Maiden Hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee with a change of jockey in the form of Jeremiah McGrath. He was considered the favourite of the event, but had a slow start to the meet. However, the Irish horse was able to pull away from the rest of the field to claim a dominant win by 29 lengths. Henderson’s charge ended his first season in the sport on a high note with a fine run at Southwell, delivering a strong performance to secure the triumph by eight lengths.

The Irish horse made his debut at Ascot at the start of the 2016-17 National Hunt campaign in the UK Chase. Although he was named the joint-favourite for the event, Beware The Bear defeated Singlefarmpayment by a comfortable margin down the stretch, beating out his rival by two-and-three-quarter lengths. With McGrath in the saddle, the bay gelding made it four wins on the bounce with a triumph at Newbury in the CSP Chase. Despite his form, Henderson’s charge was unable to rise to the occasion in his first appearance at Cheltenham Festival. He was a strong contender for the National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase title, but placed well off the pace in seventh with the worst performance of his career. He ended the season on a low note with another below-par outing at Ayr Racecourse, placing in fourth well off the pace even though he was the favourite for the contest.

Beware The Bear began the new campaign on a high note, suggesting that he was back to his best form with a fine performance at Newcastle. The bay gelding won the even by two-and-three-quarter lengths, which will send the Irish horse into the Welsh Grand National with momentum. At his best, he can certainly win the event, although he cannot afford to lose his composure on the big stage.

Rock The Kasbah

Source: mjyharris via Twitter

The Irish horse began his career at the site of the Grand National at Chepstow. In his first outing, he was considered the leading contender for the win, but finished second on his debut. However, Philip Hobbs’ charge delivered his first victory in his second race at the Maiden Open NH Flat Race, dominating the rest of the field. With James Best in the saddle, he continued his momentum with victory at the Novices’ Hurdle at Fontwell Park.

The chestnut gelding’s fine run of form came to an end at Taunton with an underwhelming performance at the National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle, while he was also beaten at The Racehorse Sanctuary Novices’ Hurdle. Rock The Kasbah found his form with a strong win at the Racing Novices’ Hurdle, edging out compatriot Inner Drive by a nose. Hobbs’ charge suffered the first failure of his career, ending his debut campaign on a low by pulling up at Ayr Racecourse.

To start the new campaign Hobbs put his charge forward for the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow. However, he suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of outsider Court Minstrel, although he did manage to get back to winning ways, stringing two victories together at Haydock Park and in his first appearance at Ascot in Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle. The narrow win by half-a-length at Ascot over Baron Alco sent him into Cheltenham Festival with a good performance under his belt. The chestnut gelding produced the worst display of his career at the Coral Cup, failing to find a rhythm during the meet, placing all the way down in 22nd out of 26 competitors. Rock The Kasbah ended his season with another poor outing in his debut at Aintree.

At the start of the new campaign, he was able to find form at Chepstow with a solid performance in the Novices’ Chase. The seven-year-old was unable to sustain his rhythm on the track, finishing off the pace in his next three outings at Cheltenham, Ascot and Sandown Park. Chepstow was his saving grace to get back to winning ways with a fine performance in another Novices’ Chase outing, narrowly overcoming Swincombe Scorchio, displaying his stamina to fend off the outsider. Rock The Kasbah ended the last campaign with a meek performance at the Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Sandown Park, lacking the pace at the crucial moment of the race to close on the leaders.

For all of his issues elsewhere, Hobbs’ charge made it three wins on the bounce at Chepstow with victory in the Handicap Chase at the beginning of October. The chestnut gelding’s form at the venue certainly make him a formidable opponent for any horse in the field.

Chase The Spud

Source: UttoxeterRaces via Twitter

The horse had a slow start to his career, but could pose a challenge due to his strong run of results in 2017. Fergal O’Brien’s charge was off the pace in the opening three races of his career, but with Timmy Murphy in the saddle, he made his breakthrough at the Michael Quinlan Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntington Racecourse to win by 17 lengths. The bay gelding lost momentum towards the end of the campaign and did not register another victory until the start of the 2014-15 National season. At Exeter in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, he delivered a fine performance to secure a dominant victory over the rest of the field, beating his nearest rival by six lengths. The rest of the campaign was lost as Chase The Spud pulled up in his next two outings before O’Brien called time on the term in January.

His form returned at the start of the new season and at Lingfield Park in the Intermediate Handicap Chase, the horse almost notched the third win of his career. He took the lead in the closing stages of the meet, but was not able to fend off the challenge of Wilton Milan losing out by a neck. The bay gelding’s first experience of the Welsh Grand National did not go to plan as he pulled up at the 12th fence, although he was not in contention anyway. The nine-year-old was able to bounce back with a victory at Exeter in the Bridgwater Graduation Chase with another comfortable finish. He returned to Chepstow at the end of the season, and although he didn’t claim a victory, Chase The Spud was able to complete the race in third place.

The new campaign was to be a struggle for O’Brien’s charge. He placed in the top three in only one of his four races to begin the term in the Handicap Chase at Haydock Park, struggling immensely in his other three meets. However, his fortune was to change at Uttoxeter in the Midlands Grand National. With Paddy Brennan in the saddle, the bay gelding was able to overcome two mistakes at the start of the race to come through the field. He surged down the final stretch of the course and was able to beat out Mysteree with a strong finish, clinching his place in the winners’ circle.

He secured back-to-back victories for the first time in his career by beginning the 2017-18 season with a win at Haydock Park in the Handicap Chase. Chase The Spud secured a comfortable victory by six lengths, dominating the rest of the field. O’Brien’s charge has the ability to win the Welsh Grand National as he has proved when he’s at his best it’s hard to surpass him on the track.

“Breeders Cup 2010” (CC BY 2.0) by Just chaos

The 2017 edition of the Breeders’ Cup is almost upon us and this year the two-day meeting will be staged at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in San Diego County, California. During the course of the event, there will be a total of 13 races, with four on Friday November 3 and nine on Saturday November 4, including the headline Breeders’ Cup Classic. For this preview, we will be focusing our attention on the $6m main event.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is a Grade 1 race for three-year-olds and over and is run over 1 1/4 miles. Pre-entries will be confirmed on October 25, with the final entries and draw for positions being announced on Monday October 30.

Of the early contenders, Gun Runner stand outs of the pack, having won three straight Grade 1 races in the lead up to this with his only defeat in last six coming at the Dubai World Cup back March. On that occasion the Steve Asmussen-trained colt was bettered by Arrogate, who will be defending his 2016 crown at Del Mar.

Despite his impressive run in Dubai, Arrogate has failed to retain confidence among many punters following back-to-back defeats at Del Mar. With the course seemingly against Bob Baffert’s horse, many are viewing the in-form Gun Runner as a safer option.

Another Bob Baffert entry who does have form on this course is Collected. Not only is he unbeaten in 2017 but he also excelled at Del Mar in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic last time out coming home ahead of stablemate Arrogate.

Outside of those three, West Coast arrives here on the back of five straight wins including a Grade 1 triumph in the Pennsylvania derby last time out. Also from the Bob Baffert stable, the three-year-old is still improving and should be right in the mix.

So can Arrogate live up to the hype that surrounded him last year? Will Gun Runner carry the momentum into this race? Or will they both be pipped by one of the many strong contenders? A host of horse racing bookies are already taking bets ahead of the final draw at the end of the month, with Gun Runner currently the clear favourite.

“Santa Anita Horse Races / The Breeders’” (CC BY 2.0) by Bahman Mahmoudi

Verdict

This race might just have come too soon for the impressive West Coast and he is likely to be too short a price for a place bet. However, Collected is worth considering for a place at the current prices available.

Of the two big names, Gun Runner juts gets the nod here. He has course and distance form on his side and his trajectory seems to have been timed perfectly for this race. He was by no means disgraced in Dubai and has won his last five on home soil.

With Arrogate due to retire after this race, it would make a great story if he could sign off in style. And if this race was being held anywhere else, he would be our pick.

1. Gun Runner

2. Arrogate

3. Collected

Whatever happens, it’s set to be a world class meet in stunning Californian surroundings.