Willie Mullins’s mare hasn’t been seen for more than a year but punters fancy her chances for Monday’s return to Flat racingChris Cook: Limini, who won the mares’ novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival a couple of years ago, returns to action at Galway on Monday evening after more than a year on the sidelines. She’s evidently a warm order for the 7.40pm race, having been cut to 7-4 for that 20-runner handicap. Related: Glorious Goodwood 2018 preview: Stradivarius has class to retain Cup Ayr1.30 Magical Wish 2.00 Inglorious 2.30 Pop Telecom 3.00 Question Of Faith (nb) 3.30 Chinese Spirit 4.00 Dukhan 4.30 Desert Frost 5.00 Brendan Continue reading...
Poet’s Word, running for Sir Michael Stoute in the King George at Ascot on Saturday, has blossomed in his last two racesCracksman will not run in today's #KingGeorge VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO), it has been confirmed.#cracksman out of the King George at #Ascot due to good-to-firm ground - the same as it was when he was declared to run. Betting market in limbo until <3hrs before race. Any guesses how much the fine will be? Related: Talking Horses: Cracksman needs storms at Ascot to run in King George Ascot 1.50 Royal Intervention 2.25 Papa Stour 3.00 Firmament (nap) 3.40 Poet's Word 4.15 Nate The Great 4.50 Ghayyar 5.20 Bajan GoldNewcastle 1.10 Sirius Slew 1.40 Mizen Master...
A heavy shower shortly before the last race will have done little to affect the official going, which left Cracksman’s supporters hoping for more significant rainfall overnightThe spectators were glancing nervously at a darkening sky as they started to leave the track here on Friday, but they were still no closer to knowing whether Cracksman, last year’s Champion Stakes winner, will line up for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday afternoon after several thunderstorms passed nearby while leaving Ascot itself largely untouched.There were several points during the afternoon when a downpour seemed inevitable, not least as Clon Coulis was led back to unsaddle after winning the Valient Stakes, the card’s feature race at 3.35, with thunder...
Following Magic Wand’s flop in the Irish Oaks last weekend, Aidan O’Brien says some of his horses are under the weatherUgh, what a pity that Kew Gardens has been taken out of Saturday’s King George, apparently suffering from an infection of some kind. The Racing Post report that he “didn’t scope 100% clean” this morning, the latest suggestion that there’s a bug at Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable. Related: ‘There’s no leeway given. We both want to ride winners in King George’ | Chris Cook Sandown 1.50 Havana Rocket 2.20 Look Around 2.55 Ghostwatch 3.25 Dorella 4.00 Sageness 4.30 Antagonist (nap) 5.00 Duke Of North Continue reading...
Only 31 horses have been declared for seven races at Bath on Wednesday where the turf is lightning fastThe extended heatwave is starting to have a clear impact on the field sizes for races on unusually fast turf ground, with the average number of runners per race in July now below eight – the “magic number” when it comes to maximising betting turnover. There is a particularly thin bill of fare for racegoers on Wednesday at Bath, where just 31 horses have been declared for seven races, but as is the case when the climate is at the other extreme, Britain’s all-weather tracks are providing some relief. Chelmsford City’s valuable card later on has 9.4 per race, while at Newcastle...