Chosen Path (1.50) was a nine-length winner on his debut and is worth backing to upset an odds-on favourite at KemptonThere are two odds-on shots in the JP McManus colours on an 83-runner card at Kempton on Friday, but while they may look like a safe haven for backers amid some otherwise fiercely competitive events, both could prove to be worth opposing at the prices.First up is Ok Corral in the novice hurdle at 1.50, who returns to the scene of his 12-length success on his hurdling debut back in May. He was absent for eight months after that, but still set off at 4-5 at Newbury last month before going down by three-quarters of a length to his stable...
Michael O’Leary feels At The Races will be on borrowed time after RUK grabbed the rights to cover Irish racingAll three of Monday’s race meetings in Britain will be broadcast on At The Races, which is available in any home with a basic satellite or cable package, while subscribers to Racing UK, its subscription-based rival, will get hour upon hour of replays for their £25 a month.Midwinter Mondays, though, are not what they pay for, as RUK has much of the best of British racing and the bulk of our good stuff is staged between Wednesday and Saturday. As a result, today’s apparently lop-sided split between three meetings on ATR and nothing on RUK is probably in the best interests...
The great hurdler may find his bid for a second success in Leopardstown’s prestigious race thwarted by stablemateIt’s a pity ITV4 viewers will not see it but there is no doubt the focal point on Saturday is Faugheen’s return to action in the Irish Champion Hurdle, to be shown on At The Races. After a mystifyingly poor effort at Leopardstown over Christmas, can this great hurdler bounce back to win this prize for a second time at the age of 10?Age itself should not be the problem, Hurricane Fly, Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace having all won this race after turning 10. Soft ground helps these old stagers by making raw speed less important. Related: Cue Card fit and on...
There’s surely going to be a ‘Frost effect’ on the odds of whatever she rides at Aintree, and it could be aboard MilansbarGreg Wood: The death has been announced at 71 of Malcolm Jefferson, a leading figure in the ranks of northern trainers for three decades. A statement released by the trainer’s family on Friday morning read: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Malcolm Jefferson after a brave battle with cancer. Malcolm passed away at home peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday February 2. We would like to thank everybody for the kindness and support they have given during recent months.” Related: Cue Card fit and on course for Ascot...
Credit is due to punter pressure groups as bookmakers bow to government pressure over unfair termsThe firm now known as Ladbrokes Coral have provided us all with a cheap laugh this morning, saying in a statement as it agreed to make changes to the way it offers bonus promotions that “things had unintentionally gone too far”. Oh well, so long as it was unintentional... Related: Blaklion to prepare for Grand National at Haydock and skip Gold Cup Chris Cook’s Thursday tips Continue reading...