If I had to attend just one preview event before the Cheltenham Festival (and I lived in the west of Ireland), I think it would be the one organised by John Mulholland bookmakers.
It boasts a stellar line up:
Tom Segal, Pricewise of the Racing Post
Barney Curley, gambler
Patrick Mullins, son of trainer Willie Mullins
Danny Mullins, jockey, Our Conor
Details:
Monday 3 March 2014, 8pm
Salthill Hotel, Galway
Tickets: EUR 20
https://www.facebook.com/events/616288565087528/?ref=5
27 February 2014
24 February 2014
Sprinter Sacre will miss Cheltenham Festival
Sprinter Sacre will not line up at Cheltenham to defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase title at the Festival in March 2014 after failing to show he was back to his best in a piece of training work over the weekend.
Nicky Henderson's stable star was pulled up in his last race at Kempton over Christmas and was found to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat. His appearance at the Festival was always uncertain after that and Henderson decided it would not be fair to ask Sprinter Sacre to compete.
Sprinter Sacre will miss the rest of the season and his connections are looking to the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December.
Nicky Henderson's stable star was pulled up in his last race at Kempton over Christmas and was found to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat. His appearance at the Festival was always uncertain after that and Henderson decided it would not be fair to ask Sprinter Sacre to compete.
Sprinter Sacre will miss the rest of the season and his connections are looking to the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December.
23 February 2014
Festival race preview: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Paul Nicholls’ Irving joined Vautour (Willie Mullins) at the head of the betting for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with some bookmakers after his five-length win in the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday (22 February).
Jockey Nick Scholfield said afterwards that Irving would be “much better on better ground” (it was soft at Kempton).
First Mohican (Alan King) had looked good in a novices’ hurdle event at Doncaster earlier this month but finished 13 lengths behind Irving in the Dovecote. He didn’t build upon his performance at Doncaster and did not jump fluently.
Vautour is unbeaten in three races this season and was last seen winning the Deloitte Novices’ Hurdle at Leopardstown at the start of February. He beat The Tullow Tank that day by three lengths but the Deloitte runner-up seems unlikely to take part in the Cheltenham Festival opener.
Another of Mullins’ entries is Wicklow Brave, who has won both of his starts over hurdles. His most recent win was in a listed novices’ hurdle at Punchestown (2 February). The runner-up that day was Lieutenant Colonel (4.25 lengths), who was also beaten by Vautour (5.5 lengths) at Navan last December.
Favourites do not have a good recent record in the race. The last favourite to win was Brave Inca (7/2) in 2004 and last year’s winner Champagne Fever (5/1) was the shortest-priced SP winner since Brave Inca.
Jockey Nick Scholfield said afterwards that Irving would be “much better on better ground” (it was soft at Kempton).
First Mohican (Alan King) had looked good in a novices’ hurdle event at Doncaster earlier this month but finished 13 lengths behind Irving in the Dovecote. He didn’t build upon his performance at Doncaster and did not jump fluently.
Vautour is unbeaten in three races this season and was last seen winning the Deloitte Novices’ Hurdle at Leopardstown at the start of February. He beat The Tullow Tank that day by three lengths but the Deloitte runner-up seems unlikely to take part in the Cheltenham Festival opener.
Another of Mullins’ entries is Wicklow Brave, who has won both of his starts over hurdles. His most recent win was in a listed novices’ hurdle at Punchestown (2 February). The runner-up that day was Lieutenant Colonel (4.25 lengths), who was also beaten by Vautour (5.5 lengths) at Navan last December.
Favourites do not have a good recent record in the race. The last favourite to win was Brave Inca (7/2) in 2004 and last year’s winner Champagne Fever (5/1) was the shortest-priced SP winner since Brave Inca.
13 February 2014
Crabbie’s Grand National 2014 weights
The weights were announced for the 2014 Crabbie's Grand National this week.
The race takes place at Aintree on Saturday 5 April 2014 and will be a GB£ 1 million race for the first time (total prize money).
Paul Nicholls’ 13-year-old Tidal Bay has been allocated the top weight of 11st 10 lbs, one pound ahead of former Gold Cup winner Long Run (Nicky Henderson).
Last year’s winner Auroras Encore has been retired through injury so cannot defend his crown. But last year’s beaten favourite Sea Bass is entered with a weight of 11st 2 lbs. Teaforthree (third in 2013) is also back with a weight of 10 st 12lbs.
If the race were being run this weekend, given the UK’s current weather, one imagines Tidal Bay (16/1), There’s No Panic (40/1), Storm Survivor (50/1) and Tranquil Sea (100/1) would all be popular for their names.
Full list of weights on the BBC Sports website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/26135845
The race takes place at Aintree on Saturday 5 April 2014 and will be a GB£ 1 million race for the first time (total prize money).
Paul Nicholls’ 13-year-old Tidal Bay has been allocated the top weight of 11st 10 lbs, one pound ahead of former Gold Cup winner Long Run (Nicky Henderson).
Last year’s winner Auroras Encore has been retired through injury so cannot defend his crown. But last year’s beaten favourite Sea Bass is entered with a weight of 11st 2 lbs. Teaforthree (third in 2013) is also back with a weight of 10 st 12lbs.
If the race were being run this weekend, given the UK’s current weather, one imagines Tidal Bay (16/1), There’s No Panic (40/1), Storm Survivor (50/1) and Tranquil Sea (100/1) would all be popular for their names.
Full list of weights on the BBC Sports website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/26135845
07 February 2014
Turf notes: 7 February 2014
Trainer Nicky Henderson said Vaniteux was “one for the future” after the five-year-old won the novice hurdle race (1.50) at Doncaster by a comfortable 12 lengths on Thursday.
Vaniteux has two wins from three starts and, whilst he holds and entry for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, his trainer said he is unlikely to line up there in 2014:
Reported on sportinglife.com Henderson said: "I don't think we'll go to Cheltenham this year, the two-and-half-miler at Aintree might be more his cup of tea. He's one for the future and hopefully he'll be at Cheltenham one day."
On the same card First Mohican (Alan King) was having his first run over hurdles after a career on the Flat with Sir Henry and Lady Cecil. Sired by Tobougg, First Mohican had a winning start for Sir Henry back in 2010 and repeated the feat with a debut win over hurdles for Alan King (7/2).
The trainer was pleased with the horse’s performance:
"He really stuck his neck out on the run-in, his hurdling has been very good at home and physically he has been doing very well.”
“For a novice first time out that was as good a round of jumping as you could get.”
“He'll go to the Dovecote (Novices’ Hurdle, 2 miles, Kempton Park, 22 February) now, that has always been the plan. I'd love to get another run into him as I imagine he'll take it all very well.”
Vaniteux has two wins from three starts and, whilst he holds and entry for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, his trainer said he is unlikely to line up there in 2014:
Reported on sportinglife.com Henderson said: "I don't think we'll go to Cheltenham this year, the two-and-half-miler at Aintree might be more his cup of tea. He's one for the future and hopefully he'll be at Cheltenham one day."
On the same card First Mohican (Alan King) was having his first run over hurdles after a career on the Flat with Sir Henry and Lady Cecil. Sired by Tobougg, First Mohican had a winning start for Sir Henry back in 2010 and repeated the feat with a debut win over hurdles for Alan King (7/2).
The trainer was pleased with the horse’s performance:
"He really stuck his neck out on the run-in, his hurdling has been very good at home and physically he has been doing very well.”
“For a novice first time out that was as good a round of jumping as you could get.”
“He'll go to the Dovecote (Novices’ Hurdle, 2 miles, Kempton Park, 22 February) now, that has always been the plan. I'd love to get another run into him as I imagine he'll take it all very well.”
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