Connections of Leoncavallo were left bemoaning the fact that they cannot run their horse in Saturday’s rescheduled Betfair Hurdle at Ascot as a result of their hurdler not having the necessary flu vaccination within the allotted six-month period – the horse had his last jab in July. Trainer Dr Richard Newland has not been affected by the virus and none of his horses could have been in contact with a contaminated animal. It is hard not to have some sympathy with the owners. A maximum of 16 will go to post for the race with Al Dancer 11/4 favourite at BetVictor and Getaway Trump 3/1 next best. A cracking card at Sandown this afternoon including the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novice Chase re-routed from Warwick last weekend. The mare Dalila Du Seuil is fitted with a […]
cormack15
Paul Nicholls was bullish about the chances of Give Me A Copper at the lunch announcing the weights for the Randox Health Grand National on Tuesday and the gelding – who is owned in partnership by Sir Alex Ferguson – was the big market mover and is now halved in price at 25/1 with BetVictor from 50s for the great race. Note the horse is 7/1 favourite at BetVictor (Non Runner No Bet) for the Ultima Handicap Chase on the opening day and he would escape a penalty for Aintree if winning at the Festival. The ground is good ahead of today’s card at Kelso where the feature race is the Morebattle Hurdle. Nicky Henderson has saddled the winner of the race twice in recent years with the brilliant but ill-fated Simonsig (2012) and Top […]
No racing in Britain until Wednesday at the earliest following the confirmation earlier in the week that three horses at the yard of Donald McCain had tested positive for equine influenza. Over a hundred stables were being tested on Friday morning to see if the virus had spread beyond McCain’s yard in Cholmondeley in Cheshire. Wednesday would appear to be the very earliest day that racing will return in Britain and I would suggest next weekend is more realistic date, although BHA chief executive Nick Rust suggests it could be weeks rather than days. At this stage there appears no threat to the Cheltenham Festival next month and I feel the BHA have acted swiftly and effectively to avoid a potential crisis and should be applauded for their swift response. The ITV4 cameras are at […]
Fulham vs Manchester United – Saturday 12.30pm Even a price of 4/6 (general) seems rather generous for a Man United side in this kind of form going up against one of the favourites for relegation. Fulham’s 4-2 win over Brighton 10 days ago gave them hope, but they came crashing back to earth with a disappointing defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend. It would take a near miracle for their unreliable defence to keep out a United attack which has well and truly found its groove again under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Since the Norwegian’s arrival nobody has been involved in more goals than Paul Pogba, and a double of a United win and Pogba anytime goal will give you odds of 12/5 (Paddy Power) Watford vs Everton – Saturday 3pm After an acrimonious departure from […]
Trainer Gordon Elliot gave the green light yesterday for Saturday’s brilliant Irish Champion Hurdle winner Apple’s Jade to take her chance in the Cheltenham equivalent next month. The mare was cut from 3s to 7/4 joint favourite at BetVictor for the Champion Hurdle following the Gigginstown U-turn – given connections initially reported they would still contest the Mares’ race at the Festival. The mare will receive a 7lbs sex allowance from dual-champion Buveur D’Air – a facile winner at Sandown on Saturday – who has eased with BetVictor to 7/4 from 11/8 following yesterday’s revelation. Apple’s Jade was so impressive at Leopardstown it really was a no-brainer although she did show a slight tendency to jump out to her right at the weekend. Taunton – who have a slight dusting of snow on the track […]
Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper was optimistic that racing would go ahead at Sandown Park this afternoon and, at the time of writing, no inspection was planned at the Esher track. There are no problems expected at Leopardstown either for their eagerly-anticipated two-day Dublin Festival. The ground is likely to be soft at Sandown which will suit champion hurdler Buveur D’Air who looks to have a relatively simple task of returning to winning ways after his shock defeat in the Christmas Hurdle last time. I am not a fan of the framework of the race – how can a duel champion hurdler just have a 6lb penalty in a listed contest? Only five go to post for the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase, but it is a small but select field and preference for […]