Davy Russell travels to Uttoxeter for a single ride after a disappointing Festival and may make it count in the Midlands NationalCheltenham ended in disappointment for Davy Russell, who could not find a winner during the week and was eighth in the Gold Cup aboard the much-fancied Presenting Percy. But all may not be lost, as the Irishman travels on to Uttoxeter for a single ride and may make it count by landing the Midlands National aboard Folsom Blue (3.35).The doughty chaser was unlucky not to land last year’s Irish National, when he was knocked sideways at the final fence. He comes here just 2lb higher and his hurdles run at Sandown last month may have put him spot on,...
Course officials will consider whether it is worth continuing with separate finish lines for races over hurdles and fencesThe Grand National-winning jockey Liam Treadwell is making a comeback, more than a year after announcing his retirement. The 33-year-old will be in action in the last race at Taunton on Monday, riding Czech Her Out for Michael Scudamore. Related: Pat Kelly, quiet man of horse racing, could make big noise in Gold Cup Related: Willie Mullins fears Cheltenham withdrawals over documentation Stratford 2.10 Red Force One 2.40 Master Vintage 3.10 Clondaw Westie 3.40 Eskendash 4.10 Bletchley Castle 4.40 Starsky 5.10 Full Time Party Plumpton 2.20 Myplaceatmidnight 2.50 Champion Chase 3.20 Potters Hedger 3.50 Secret Door 4.20 Heresmynumber 4.55 Polar Light Taunton 2.30 Urtheonethatiwant 3.00 Scaramanga 3.30 Micras 4.00 Achille (nap) 4.30 Smarty Wild 5.05 Shintori 5.40 Miss Honey Ryder Kempton 5.00 Physics 5.30 Bubbelah 6.00 Sybil...
Monsieur Lecoq, running in Saturday’s Imperial Cup at Sandown, can give Jane Williams her most notable prize since she started training in her own name last summerSaturday’s Imperial Cup at Sandown can become the most notable prize won by Jane Williams, since she started training in her own name last summer. The Devon trainer, whose horses formerly ran in the name of her husband, Nick, fields Monsieur Lecoq (2.25), who looks an important talent on the basis of his course-and-distance success early in January.The five-year-old French-bred was having just his fourth run in this country and has shown handy improvement each time. It is hard to believe the handicapper has a hold of him yet, even after a 12lb hike....
Regulator says it is ‘urgently engaging’ with the firm, but where is the reassurance that such voiding of bets is not allowed?I got a new line out of the Gambling Commission on Thursday night, when I asked what they were doing about the disgraceful goings-on at BetBright. A spokesman said: “We are clearly concerned that an operator has indicated that it will void all outstanding ante-post bets and are urgently engaging with the business, with the aim of achieving the best possible outcome for consumers.”Which is encouraging, but only up to a very limited point. This controversy has been rumbling on for days. Why does the GC not reassure us that bookmakers are simply not allowed to act in this...
The anger among punters over BetBright’s decision to void all outstanding ante-post bets shows little sign of abatingThree days on from the sale of BetBright’s technology platform to rival gambling firm 888.com, the anger among punters over BetBright’s subsequent decision to shut down its operation immediately and void all outstanding ante-post bets shows little sign of abating.Rich Ricci, BetBright’s former executive chairman as well as a leading National Hunt owner, told the Guardian on Wednesday that the deal with 888.com was an “unusual transaction”, and so it was. 888.com previously had its own tech for gaming, bingo and poker, but not for betting. As a result, it had an interest in a very specific part of BetBright’s operation: the betting...