Bookmakers were saved a huge payout as day one Cheltenham Festival accumulators were foiled by 11-1 shot Black Tears. The Denise Foster-trained runner collared favourite Concertista on the run to the line in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle. The runner-up had been sent off the 10-11f, to follow the successes of market leaders Appreciate It, Shishkin and Honeysuckle. Many punters […]

SEMPO is fancied to give this trainer Joseph O’Brien a first victory in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National (5.00) at Fairyhouse today. The seven-year-old son of Oscar is untried at this afternoon’s three-mile, five furlong distance – but has given the impression when campaigned over shorter this season that a stamina test will see him in his best light. Last […]

Matt Cumani gave Khoekhoe a “hell of a shout” in the Rosehill Guineas but he’s hoping to save his breath for a few moments longer when his colt lines up in Saturday’s Australian Derby (2400m). Cumani heads to day one of The Championships at Randwick chasing a maiden Group 1 and believes his son of Turffontein is capable of delivering […]

The expectation is James McDonald will have the pick of the rides on the first day of The Championships, but good barriers are just as important for the premier jockey’s two group 1 favourites and Australian Derby second-pick Sky Lab. McDonald was happy with gate 12 for Avilius in the Doncaster, which is a $15 outsider, and six for Sky […]

Form analyst Jett Hatton runs his eye over the Wednesday card at Sale. BEST BET KNOWITALL JACK (R5 No.1 – $6) Former NSW galloper having his first start down south and his form is good enough to be winning this. Always thereabouts in midweek company in Sydney and this is the easiest race the gelding has contested in a while. […]

This striking chestnut colt is expected to be one of several “million dollar babies” to go through the ring on the opening day of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale which starts at the Riverside Stables on Tuesday. The yearling colt by first season sire sensation Capitalist, is a half-brother to brilliant Group 1-winning sprinter Exceedance and it is likely […]

Irish jump jockeys' championship leader Paul Townend has injured his foot and misses his Easter Monday rides. The top sportsman was assessed in hospital after he fell from the Willie Mullins-trained Egality Mans in the Grade Two Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle on Sunday. Stablemate Power Of Pause, ridden by Bryan Cooper, was brought down in the incident three hurdles […]

Ante-post favourite Cloth Cap is among 68 confirmations for Saturday’s Randox Grand National at Aintree. Following several withdrawals at the five-day stage, Evan Williams’ Welsh National hero Secret Reprieve is 43rd on the list, on the same weight as Some Neck who is 42nd. The maximum field size is 40, with four reserves eligible if there any defectors from the […]

Emma Lavelle reports Paisley Park firmly on course for a likely rematch with Thyme Hill in the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle at Aintree. The Philip Hobbs-trained Thyme Hill came out on top when the pair first met in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November, before Lavelle’s stable star reversed the form in an epic Long Walk at Ascot the […]

Richard Johnson joked “I had no idea I was so popular” as he enjoyed his first day of retirement from racing riding yesterday. The 43-year-old shocked the sport when quitting the saddle with immediate effect after drawing a blank from six mounts at Newton Abbot on Saturday. No sooner had the four-time champion jockey broke the news than tributes flowed […]