Nick Williams runner is thought likely to cope well with a testing surface and will get his chance to prove it at DoncasterGiven what Royale Pagaille did in the Peter Marsh last weekend, it is entirely natural for the betting market to latch onto Cap Du Nord, who chased that one home at Kempton last month and seems sure to run a big race in Doncaster’s Sky Bet Chase, also known as the Great Yorkshire. But Cap Du Nord might be about to bump into another good one in One For The Team (3.15). Related: Talking Horses: Paisley on course for Cleeve switch if Cheltenham is off Lingfield12.00 Arabic Welcome 12.35 Year Of The Dragon 1.10 Give ’em The Slip 1.45...
Saturday’s crucial card is in danger of being called off after the clerk of course calls an inspection for Friday afternoonCheltenham’s Trials card on Saturday, due to be the final action at the track before the Festival meeting in March, is in serious doubt due to waterlogging after 45mm of rain at the course since Tuesday, with an inspection of the course scheduled for 2pm on Friday.Paisley Park, the hugely popular 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle winner, and the former Gold Cup winner Native River were among the big names expected to line up on Saturday’s seven-race card, which includes four Grade Two contests and a competitive Grade Three handicap. The course also lost its New Year’s Day fixture earlier this month,...
Nicky Martin spent Monday fighting through snow so her star hurdler could get a bit of exercise before his toughest test yetThose who worry about the major stables hoovering up all the best prizes will be cheered to see Bear Ghylls is favourite for one of the TV races at Cheltenham on Saturday. The unbeaten novice hurdler, with clear star potential, is trained up on Exmoor by Nicky Martin, a permit-holder who bought him years back for just €22,000 and now believes she has a contender for the Festival itself. Related: Talking Horses: Williams plays down Royale Pagaille as Gold Cup contender Tips by Chris Cook Continue reading...
Irish jockey added another major contender to her mounts at the Festival when Bob Olinger impressed at NaasRachael Blackmore added another major contender to her book of rides at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday when Bob Olinger, the 6-4 favourite, burst clear to win the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle at Naas, marking himself out as Ireland’s leading contender for the Ballymore Novice Hurdle on 17 March as he did so.Bob Olinger went into Wednesday’s race with only one win over hurdles to his name, but had previously finished a close second to Ferny Hollow, last year’s Champion Bumper winner, on his debut over timber in November. Related: Talking Horses: weighing room spat behind Bryony Frost investigation Catterick...
The usual raiding party may be slimmed down but insiders see no reason to expect a Festival without big names from IrelandThe end of the Irish travel ban this weekend should bring with it the end of fears that Covid-19 could somehow prevent Irish runners from lining up at the Cheltenham Festival in March. While those concerns were natural amid the worrying news and fast-changing rules of the past fortnight, I understand senior figures in the sport in Ireland regard the real risk as being essentially nil and are inclined to think of the issue as a non-story. Related: Talking Horses: lockdown is costly but the feeling in racing is one of relief Tips by Chris Cook Continue reading...