news archive

Cheltenham Ushers in the New Year with Traditional Fixture 29/12/08
Cheltenham Racecourse ushers in the New Year with its traditional fixture on Thursday, January 1, 2009, comprising a fantastic seven-race card that features the £55,000 Grade Three skybet.com Handicap Chase (2.10pm), run over two miles and five furlongs.

Murphy Aiming for a Happy New Year at Cheltenham with Three Mirrors and Noir Et Vert 29/12/08
Trainer Ferdy Murphy is confident that Three Mirrors can get 2009 off to a flying start with victory in the £55,000 Grade Three skybet.com Handicap Chase (2.10pm), run over two miles and five furlongs, at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1.

Grand National Worth Record £900,000 in 2009 29/12/08
Aintree Racecourse is pleased to announce that the 2009 renewal of the world’s greatest steeplechase, the John Smith’s Grand National, will be worth a record £900,000, an increase of £100,000 on the 2008 value.

Mister McGoldrick Among Eight for Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase 23/12/08
A total of eight horses have been declared for the £65,000 Grade Three skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.45pm), highlight of the first day of Wetherby’s two-day Sky Bet Christmas Meeting on Boxing Day, Friday, December 26.

Options Less Cloudy for Lane as McCain Opts for Skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase
23/12/08
Cloudy Lane looks set to try and continue the scintillating recent form of trainer Donald McCain when he lines up in the £65,000 Grade Three skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.45pm), highlight of the first day of Wetherby’s two-day Sky Bet Christmas Meeting on Boxing Day, Friday, December 26.

Obligation Looking to Leave His Rivals Standing in Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby 19/12/08
Trainer Peter Monteith is optimistic that Standin Obligation can gain the biggest success of his career in the £65,000 Grade Three skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase on Boxing Day.

New Name for an Historic Race at The Festival 18/12/08
Cheltenham Racecourse today announced that the most famous race in the calendar for staying novice chasers will have a different title when it is next run on Wednesday March 11, 2009.

Calatagan Aiming for Hat-Trick of Wins at Wetherby 17/12/08
Trainer Malcolm Jefferson is confident that Calatagan can gain a third successive victory in the £30,000 skybet.com Castleford Handicap Chase (3.00pm), highlight of the second day of the Sky Bet Christmas Meeting at Wetherby on Saturday, December 27.

388 Yearlings Entered for 2010 Derby at Epsom Downs
16/12/08
A total of 388 entries have been received for the 2010 Derby. The Classic will be run at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 5, 2010,with a prize fund of at least £1,250,000.

Godolphin Seven Stars 2008 Goes to Italy 15/12/08
Paolo Figini has become the first Italian winner of the Godolphin Seven Stars competition.

2008 TBA Breeders’ Awards Announced 15/12/08
The 2008 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) Awards acknowledge the notable achievements of a diverse selection of British breeders, and are announced today, Monday, December 15, 2008.

Jump Racing at Doncaster This Season 12/12/08
Doncaster is most famous as the home of the world’s oldest Classic, the Ladbrokes St Leger, on the Flat but the racecourse is also a traditional bastion of National Hunt racing.

Imperial Commander Heads 16 for Boylesports.com Gold Cup 11/12/08
A field of 16 will line up for Saturday’s handicap highlight at the Boylesports International, the £150,000 Boylesports.com Gold Cup (2.30pm) following the final 48-hour declaration stage.

Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby 10/12/08
State Of Play and Ollie Magern are aiming for a Wetherby rematch in the £65,000 Grade Three skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, run over three miles and a furlong on the first day of the Yorkshire course’s two-day Sky Bet Christmas Meeting, Friday, December 26.

Mongan Hoping Alsadaa Can Go One Better in The Ladbroke at Ascot 10/12/08
Trainer Laura Mongan is optimistic that last year’s runner-up Alsadaa can get his head in front in The Ladbroke at Ascot on Saturday, December 20, after the weights for the £150,000 Listed contest were revealed today.

Nicky Henderson Talks About His Contenders for the Boylesports International 09/12/08
Born on December 10, 1950, Nicky Henderson was destined for a racing career, with his late father Johnny being the founder of Racecourse Holdings Trust, which saved Cheltenham Racecourse and now has 14 courses under its umbrella.

Harty Considering Boylesports.com International Raid 08/12/08
County Kildare trainer Sabrina Harty is keeping one eye on the weather as she prepares Won In The Dark for a tilt at the £200,000 Grade Two Boylesports.com International (3.05pm), run over two miles and a furlong at Cheltenham on Saturday, December 13.

Taaffe Keeps His Finger Onthe Pulse and Opts For the Boylesports.com Gold Cup 04/12/08
Finger Onthe Pulse will return to the scene of his greatest triumph when he lines up at Cheltenham for the £150,000 Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup (2.30pm) over two miles, five furlongs on Saturday, December 13.

20 for Ascot's BGC Long Walk Hurdle 03/12/08
A cracking renewal of the Grade One £100,000 Grade One BGC Long Walk Hurdle (1.40pm) is in prospect at Ascot on Saturday, December 20, with 20 entries having been received.

Saoirse Abu Tops Opening Day of Tattersalls December Mare Sale 02/12/08
Jim Bolger’s dual Group 1 winning filly topped proceeding’s on the opening day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale with trade robust given market conditions and plenty of competition for the quality fillies and mares on offer.

Spearing Aims Simon at Cheltenham’s Boylesports.com Cashback Chase 27/11/08
Kinnersley trainer John Spearing intends to run stable star Simon in the £100,000 Listed Boylesports.com Cashback Chase (1.55pm) at Cheltenham’s Boylesports International on Friday, December 12.

Sky Bet Renew Sponsorship of Wetherby’s Christmas Meeting in 2008 25/11/08
Wetherby Racecourse is pleased to announce that Sky Bet will once again back the popular Christmas Meeting at the West Yorkshire venue in 2008, which this year takes place on Boxing Day, Friday, December 26 and Saturday, December 27.

Boylesports.com Gold Cup on the Agenda for Murphy Trio 24/11/08
Despite plenty of big-race triumphs at Cheltenham, Ferdy Murphy has yet to clinch victory in the £150,000 Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup (2.30pm) but the North Yorkshire-based trainer is bidding to remedy that situation on Saturday, December 13, when he could saddle three of his stable’s big guns.

Snoopy Loopy Takes Betfair Chase at Haydock 22/11/08
Snoopy Loopy will not be resting on his laurels, despite handing connections a surprise payday when taking the £225,000 Betfair Chase under Seamus Durack.

Jump To It At Ayr 21/11/08
Jumps racing returns to Ayr on Monday 24th November with the start of the 2008-2009 campaign at the Craigie track.

Osana Looking for Repeat Victory in the Boylesports.com International at Cheltenham 21/11/08
Connections of Osana are hoping that the star hurdler can join the likes of Comedy Of Errors, Bird’s Nest and Relkeel by winning the £200,000 Grade Two Boylesports.com International for a second successive year at Cheltenham on Saturday, December 13, day two of the Boylesports International.

Competitive totesport.com Becher Chase in Prospect at Aintree 21/11/08
A top quality field of 16 has been declared for the £120,000 Listed totesport.com Becher Chase (2.50pm), run over three miles and two furlongs of the Grand National course at Aintree on Sunday, November 23, the second day of the Northwest Racing Masters.

16 for Betfair Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle 20/11/08
The main supporting action at Haydock Park on Saturday is the £100,000 Betfair “Fixed Brush” Handicap Hurdle (1.40pm), which has received 16 declarations.

Walsh Looking for National Clues at Northwest Racing Masters with Southern Vic 19/11/08
Trainer Ted Walsh could be on the John Smith’s Grand National trail once again as Southern Vic is set to contest the £120,000 Listed totesport.com Becher Chase (2.50pm), run over three miles and two furlongs of Aintree’s famous Grand National fences on Sunday, November 23, day two of the Northwest Racing Masters.

Jefferson Mulling Options Ahead of Northwest Racing Masters 18/11/08
Trainer Malcolm Jefferson is looking forward to seeing According To Pete take his chance in the £100,000 Betfair “Fixed Brush” Handicap Hurdle (1.05pm), run over three miles at Haydock Park on Saturday, November 22, the first day of the Northwest Racing Masters.

Aga Khan Pays Tribute to Zarkava at the 2008 Cartier Racing Awards 18/11/08
The Aga Khan elaborated on why Zarkava meant so much to him when collecting the filly’s prizes as Cartier Horse Of The Year and Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Filly at the 2008 Cartier Racing Awards in London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane.

Mangan Primes Himalayan Trail for the totesport.com Becher Chase at Aintree 17/11/08
Jimmy Mangan scaled the heights of John Smith’s Grand National glory when Monty’s Pass won the world’s most famous steeplechase in 2003 and the County Cork trainer is plotting further Aintree success with Himalayan Trail, who is among 28 entries for the fantastic £120,000 Listed totesport.com Becher Chase on Sunday, November 23.

Smith Hoping for Kauto Hat-Trick in Betfair Chase at Haydock Park 17/11/08
Owner Clive Smith is optimistic over the chances of Kauto Star completing a hat-trick of victories in the £225,000 Grade One Betfair Chase (2.15pm) at Haydock Park, highlight of the first day of the Northwest Racing Masters on Saturday, November 22.

Numide Steals Limelight in Greatwood Hurdle 16/11/08
Trainer Gary Moore stayed closer to home at Fontwell where he was celebrating the victory of Heathcote but another of his charges, Numide, and the trainer’s son Jamie stole the limelight at Cheltenham, winning the feature race of Sunday’s card after a determined tussle with the favourite Aigle d’Or.

Commanding Win for Twiston-Davies in the Paddy Power Gold Cup 15/11/08
Nigel Twiston-Davies, who won the Paddy Power Gold Cup in 1992 with Tipping Tim and scored earlier on the card with Ballyfitz, sent out Imperial Commander to win on his seasonal debut in the £150,000 feature, the Paddy Power Gold Cup contested by 19 runners.

Third Time Lucky for Bowen at Northwest Racing Masters with Souffleur? 13/11/08
Trainer Peter Bowen is hopeful that Souffleur can rise to the occasion in the £100,000 Betfair “Fixed Brush” Handicap Hurdle (1.05pm), run at Haydock Park on the first day of the Northwest Racing Masters on Saturday, November 22.

Cheltenham Announces New Raceday Radio Station in Partnership with Timeform 12/11/08
Cheltenham Racecourse today announced that Cheltenham Radio, powered by Timeform, is being launched for The Open this weekend and will operate at every Cheltenham meeting between The Open in November and The Festival in March.

Guest Dreaming of European Glory in totescoop6 Handicap Chase 12/11/08
Trainer Ferdy Murphy hopes that Leading Man can return to winning ways at his favourite racecourse as both he and stablemate Trisons Star are set to take their chances in the three mile, one furlong, £20,000 totesport.com Handicap Chase (2.55pm), the highlight of a quality seven-race card at Wetherby on Saturday, November 15.

Saticon Bids to Give King a Juvenile Hurdle Hat-Trick 12/11/08
Alan King is hoping he has another hurdling star on his hands as he bids for a hat-trick of victories in the £30,000 Grade Two Ryman The Stationer Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle (12.50pm) over an extended two miles at The Open on Saturday, November 15.

Fitzgerald Looking for totesport.com Becher Chase Glory 11/11/08
Irish trainer Davy Fitzgerald could be double-handed in this year’s £120,000 totesport.com Becher Chase (2.50pm) with both Mister Top Notch and Operation on the second day of the Northwest Racing Masters, Sunday, November 23.

Sponsor's Paddy Power Gold Cup Prices at Five-Day Stage 10/11/08
There were 34 horses declared today for the £150,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday, November 15.

David Pipe to Have Two Runners in Paddy Power Gold Cup 10/11/08
David Pipe revealed today at a stable visit organised by Cheltenham Racecourse & sponsor Paddy Power that he is to have two runners in the £150,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday, the middle day of The Open at Cheltenham - the meeting that kick starts the jump season.

Barbers Looking to be a Cut Above in Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham 06/11/08
Sir Michael Oswald, racing manager for the Queen’s jump horses, reports the home-bred Barbers Shop to be in good form ahead of a possible tilt at the £150,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup over an extended two and a half miles on Saturday, November 15, day two of The Open.

The Betchworth Kid Primed for November Handicap Glory at Doncaster 05/11/08
Doncaster plays host to the finale of the Flat season on Saturday, November 8, when the highlight of a superb seven-race card will be the £85,000 £2 Million totescoop6 November Handicap (3.10pm).

Cross Country Specialist Oh Jackie Aiming for Cheltenham Success at The Open 05/11/08
Former international three-day-eventer Stuart Crawford has high hopes for his stable star Oh Jackie, who is set to make her Cheltenham debut in the £25,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase (3.00pm), run over three miles and seven furlongs on the first day of The Open, Friday, November 14.

Bowen Aiming for Wetherby Glory with Snoopy Loopy and Yes Sir 30/10/08
Trainer Peter Bowen has high hopes that Snoopy Loopy can gain the biggest victory of his career in the £90,000 Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby this Saturday, November 1.

bet365 Extend Support of Charlie Hall Meeting 27/10/08
bet365 and Wetherby Racecourse are pleased to announce that bet365 will continue to support the Charlie Hall Meeting at Wetherby for a further three years, up to and including the 2011 renewal.

Pettifour and Lough Derg Aiming for Wetherby Glory in John Smith’s Hurdle 24/10/08
Pettifour and Lough Derg look set to take their chances in the £42,500 Grade Two John Smith’s Hurdle (3.00pm), run on the second day of the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase Meeting at Wetherby on Saturday, November 1.

King Trio On Course for The Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham 23/10/08
Alan King could saddle a classy trio in the £150,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.35pm) at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 15, as he seeks a first victory in the extended two and a half mile showpiece.

State Of Play and Monkerhostin Set for Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby 23/10/08
Wetherby hosts the highlight of its year with the prestigious two-day bet365 Charlie Hall Chase Meeting on Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1.

Monet’s Garden Seeks a Second intercasino.co.uk Old Roan Chase at Aintree 21/10/08
Monet’s Garden bids for back-to-back victories in the £70,000 Grade Two intercasino.co.uk Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Sunday, October 26. The two and a half-mile contest is the first race in the 2008/2009 Order of Merit.

23 Go Forward in Search of Racing Post Trophy Glory at Doncaster 20/10/08
This year’s £216,000 Group One Racing Post Trophy (3.35pm) looks set to be another superb contest with 23 colts going forward for the mile-long contest, run at Doncaster on Saturday, October 25, following today’s five-day confirmation and supplementary stage.

Legend Lester Special Guest at Ayr Races
19/10/08
Racing legend Lester Piggott will be the main attraction at Ayr Racecourse on Friday 24th October when he makes a guest appearance on behalf of sponsors Victor Chandler.

Imperious New Approach 18/10/08
New Approach brought the curtain down on his career in spectacular fashion with a devastating six-length victory in the highlight of Champions’ Day, the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

Veteran Lands the Spoils and Leads Home Jumping Trifecta 18/10/08
Eleven-year-old Caracciola defied age and odds of 50/1 to record a memorable victory in the totesport.com Cesarewitch. The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding was second in the race last year and has the rare distinction of having won on the Flat, over hurdles and fences.

Hat-Trick for Bolger as Intense Focus Gets the Nod in Dewhurst Thriller 18/10/08
First Teofilo, then New Approach, now Intense Focus. For the third year running, a Jim Bolger-trained juvenile prevailed in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes when the Giant’s Causeway colt just held on in a thrilling three-way photo finish with Lord Shanakill and Finjaan, by two noses.

Fair Along to Return Over Hurdles at Cheltenham’s Showcase Meeting 15/10/08
Trainer Philip Hobbs is set to give Fair Along his first start over hurdles for more than 18 months in the £20,000 Royal Gloucestershire Hussars “Help For Heroes” Handicap Hurdle (2.20pm), run on the second day of The Showcase, at Cheltenham on Saturday, October 18.

Bailey Has Aspen Darlin Primed for Champions’ Day at Newmarket 15/10/08
Aspen Darlin is the form filly going into the £80,000 Group Two Countrywide Steel & Tubes Rockfel Stakes (4.25pm) at Newmarket on Champions’ Day, Saturday, October 18, following a fantastic effort on The NatWest Rowley Mile two weeks ago.

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