The trainer was in a bullish mood when he discussed his horses’ chances at next month’s meeting on WednesdayStoicism is a useful – perhaps essential – trait for any racehorse trainer, but few carry it off quite as well as Colin Tizzard, who opened his yard on Wednesday morning for his annual pre-Cheltenham Festival media day. Tizzard drew a blank from 21 runners at last year’s meeting and returned home empty-handed in 2014 and 2015 too, but was fairly convincing when he said that he does not feel any extra pressure ahead of this year’s meeting. Related: Robbie Power set to be first jockey for Alan Potts’s Cheltenham runners Sedgefield 1.40 Aaron Lad 2.10 Steps And Stairs 2.45 Bal De Rio 3.20 Kilronan...
Nothing has gone right for the novice chaser, who could be overpriced at 16-1 for Cheltenham’s Arkle TrophyBrain Power was one of the names I had rattling around in my head after yesterday’s media morning at Nicky Henderson’s yard. It has become a disappointing season for the zippy seven-year-old, who hasn’t finished a race with his jockey aboard since November, and he’s 16-1 for the Arkle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, but his trainer is keeping the faith. Related: Nicky Henderson hopes Buveur D’Air can get Kempton workout Doncaster Continue reading...
With the jockey seemingly out of form, could we see a change of rider for the Potts family horses at Cheltenham?One of the trickier trainer/jockey relationships in the run-up to the Cheltenham Festival will be that between Colin Tizzard and Bryan Cooper. The pair were unexpectedly brought together by the late Alan Potts in early October and it has never seemed that either man exactly rejoices in the company of the other. Related: Bryony Frost finds her name pencilled in for enviable double at Ascot Southwell 2.20 Star Ascending (nap) 2.55 Caged Lightning 3.25 Serenity Now (nb) 4.00 Sooqaan 4.30 Essential 5.00 Archimedes Continue reading...
The 2015 Gold Cup winner has been switched from Saturday’s Cotswold Chase to run at Newbury next monthCheltenham’s Trials day card on Saturday lost a significant name this morning with the news that Coneygree, the 2015 Gold Cup winner, has been ruled out of the Cotswold Chase, in which he was due to run for the first time since undergoing wind surgery following a disappointing run in the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap at Newbury in early December.Coneygree was reported to be on course for Saturday’s race earlier in the week, and had been quoted at around 8-1 to record his first win since November 2015. The testing ground at Cheltenham, though, means that he will now be an absentee. Related: Racing...
Middleham trainer who’s never had a runner at the Cheltenham Festival now finds himself with the favourite for a Grade One thereWhen Sam Spinner lines up for the Stayers’ Hurdle in a couple of months’ time, a race for which he is currently the clear favourite, he will be Jedd O’Keeffe’s very first runner at the Cheltenham Festival. It’s a fact that illustrates just how unlikely the Sam Spinner story is, a top-class racehorse landing in the laps of a low-profile outfit who paid just £12,000 for him less than three years ago. Related: O’Faolains Boy can breathe life into Rebecca Curtis’ difficult season Wetherby: 12.40 Aardwolf, 1.15 Pennywell, 1.50 Very First Time, 2.25 Jammin Masters, 2.55 Joseph Mercer, 3.25 Up To No...