The favourite for the Champion Hurdle is back, the highest-rated hurdler since the 1970s and the ill-fated Golden Cygnet “The best since …” was a theme of the final weeks of the Flat season, as the merits of the unbeaten colts, Flightline and Baaeed, were weighed in the balance against Secretariat and Frankel respectively, but when Constitution Hill steps onto the track before the Coral Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday afternoon, no “since” will be required.With a Timeform rating of 177 at the end of the 2021-22 season, Nicky Henderson’s gelding is, quite simply, the best novice hurdler in the 60-odd years since the firm starting crunching the numbers over jumps. Unbeaten in three outings, Constitution Hill rounded off his...
The favourite for the Champion Hurdle is back, the highest-rated hurdler since the 1970s and the ill-fated Golden Cygnet “The best since …” was a theme of the final weeks of the Flat season, as the merits of the unbeaten colts, Flightline and Baaeed, were weighed in the balance against Secretariat and Frankel respectively, but when Constitution Hill steps onto the track before the Coral Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday afternoon, no “since” will be required.With a Timeform rating of 177 at the end of the 2021-22 season, Nicky Henderson’s gelding is, quite simply, the best novice hurdler in the 60-odd years since the firm starting crunching the numbers over jumps. Unbeaten in three outings, Constitution Hill rounded off his...
New structure to run the sport could end the factionalism and squabbling that has dogged the Turf for decadesBritish racing took a significant step towards what it hopes will be a brighter and more harmonious future on Monday, as the British Horseracing Authority unveiled a new governance structure for the sport which Julie Harrington, the BHA’s chief executive, insists will “enshrine the BHA board as the ultimate authority for the sport as a whole.” If the new structure works as planned – which, of course, remains to be seen – it could finally end, or at the very least significantly reduce, the factionalism and squabbling that has dogged the sport for decades.The new regime, which was finalised when the Racecourse...
Paul Nicholls’s horses are in exceptional form and Hermes Allen posted an impressive front-running success at CheltenhamEven by the standards of a 13-times champion, Paul Nicholls’s horses are in exceptional form at present and Hermes Allen, a £350,000 purchase to run in Sir Alex Ferguson’s colours after winning an Irish point-to-point, extended the trainer’s record this November to 17 wins from 32 runners with an impressive front-running success in the Grade Two Ballymore Novice Hurdle here on Friday.Hubrisko, a rare runner for Willie Mullins at Cheltenham’s November meeting, was sent off favourite for the card’s feature event, but while he travelled well enough until the turn for home, the five-year-old could not respond as Hermes Allen skipped further clear in...
Charlie Hills’ runner is a cracking bet on ITV Racing’s 10-hour marathon including all the action from the big Keeneland cardThe European runners look a cut above their locally trained rivals in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Saturday and Charlie Hills’s Pogo (7.10) is an interesting bet at around 16-1 to come home in front.He is most familiar as a seven-furlong performer but that is often an ideal profile for the Mile winner on a typically sharp American turf course. Pogo also likes to race up with the pace, should get a good position from stall one, and his form behind Kinross – a 4-1 chance for this – in August suggests he should not be four times...