Cheltenham Festival 2015 preview evenings

For anyone looking for a Cheltenham Festival preview evening to attend in 2015, the bettrends site has compiled a page with all the details of the various events.

Bettrends Cheltenham Festival Preview Evenings
http://www.bettrends.co.uk/cheltenham-festival-preview-evenings-listings/

There are currently more than 70 events listed in the UK and Ireland, so no doubt the eventual winner of every race at the Festival will be mentioned by someone at some point in one of the previews!

Newcastle racecourse ends picnics

Health and safety concerns have caused the management of Newcastle racecourse to issue a ban on picnics at all fixtures except for the Blaydon Races.

The course's executive director David Williamson explained:

"The decision has been made purely for the comfort and safety of all racegoers. The amount of people bringing in chairs, rugs, picnic boxes etc. caused space to be limited for the number of people attending the race days due to picnickers spreading out."

"The added furniture was a potential trip hazard and a few people reported to first aid because of this. People are under no obligation whatsoever to purchase food while in the racecourse grounds."

"For those who wish to have a picnic before coming into the racecourse, we will have a designated area within the estate where picnics can be had if they so wish."

At The Races Rich Ricci feature

At The Races' Matt Chapman hosts a feature which profiles Rich Ricci, the owner of National Hunt stars Faugheen, Vautour, and Champagne Fever.

At The Races Rich Ricci feature
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJLuHg6nuC0

Champion Jockey AP McCoy announces retirement

Champion jockey AP McCoy announced his retirement from the saddle at the end of the 2014/2015 season on Channel 4 Racing this afternoon (7 February 2015).

The jockey was being interviewed after winning the The Game Spirit Chase at Newbury aboard Mr Mole (7/2). The ride brought up his 200th win of the season and McCoy told Channel 4 Racing presenter Rishi Persad that it would be the last time he achieved that feat because he would be retiring at the end of the season.

AP McCoy has been champion jockey 19 times (consecutively) and he is on course to retire at the end of the season as a 20-time champion jockey.

"I want to go out at top. I want to go out as champion jockey and it will be my 20th year if I can win the jockeys' championship [this season]," McCoy explained.

He has won more than 4,300 races in his career and has been awarded an MBE (2003) and OBE (2010) for his services to horse racing.

GBR Fantasy Jumps Series 2014 - 2015

The combination strategy paid dividends again in Saturday double-header from Cheltenham in the latest round of races in the GBR Fantasy Jumps Series.

172 points were earned through the combination of Many Clouds (4/1), jockey Leighton Aspell and trainer Oliver Sherwood in the BetBright Cup Chase. This was followed up later on the card with the trio of Saphir Du Rheu (3/1), Sam Twiston-Davies and Paul Nicholls earning over 90 points in the Cleeve Hurdle.

So, with nearly 300 points earned overall from the two races, our stable has moved inside the top 100.

The practical realities of in-running betting

A link to the Racing Post's special report into the realities of on-course in-running betting operations and the pursuit of "as live" racing pictures:

Boxed in but ready to strike
http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/special-report-boxed-in-but-ready-to-strike/1802313/

GBR Fantasy Jumps Series 2014-2015

Paul Nicholls and Unioniste (5/2) earned us 75 points for their win in the handicap chase at Sandown Park on Saturday. We missed out on the jockey's points because Noel Fehily was in the saddle and not Sam Twiston-Davies.

But a third place for Nicky Henderson's Triolo D'alene at 16/1 was also clearly a popular selections and our stable slipped around 50 places after all the points were totted up.

The series rolls on to Warwick next Saturday and the Betfred Classic Chase.