The pair meet again on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, while Tiger Roll also prepares to sign off at the meetingThe Clarence House Chase at Ascot was the race of the season so far and the rematch between Shishkin and Energumene before a packed house at Cheltenham on Wednesday promises to be better yet.Shishkin will be the punters’ favourite after that one-length success at Ascot, while Willie Mullins, who trains both Chacun Pour Soi and Energumene, says the former is the better horse. He does not seem keen to show his best form abroad, however, while Shishkin is always likely to put in the occasional sloppy jump. Continue reading...
The selection put up the best performance of her career to the blue riband of hurdling at last year’s Cheltenham FestivalHoneysuckle delivered the best performance of her career to win last year’s Champion Hurdle and there is no reason to suspect any of the also-rans 12 months ago can narrow the gap this time.Appreciate It and Teahupoo, by contrast, are fresh opponents for Honeysuckle with considerable scope for improvement. The time of Teahupoo’s recent Grade Three win at Gowran Park suggests the form is stronger than it might have looked. Continue reading...
The 20-1 each-way selection is just 4lb higher in the weights after another battling success at Leicester in FebruaryIt is always a good idea to warm up before serious exercise and the 22-runner Imperial Cup at Sandown Park on Saturday is an ideal way to stretch the betting tendons and sinews ahead of the Cheltenham Festival next week.Balco Coastal, runner-up in a Grade Two novice event last time out, has emerged as favourite and has obvious scope for improvement after just three starts over timber. Nicky Henderson’s form is a slight concern though, as his yard has not sent out a winner since mid-February, and an opening mark of 134 looks no more than fair. Continue reading...
Organisation launches new ‘self-help’ guide but sends warning about what controversial Gambling Act can achieve for backersThe biggest week of the year for betting turnover on racing is almost upon us and here come the ads full of pumped-up punters, projecting the image of gambling that the bookies want you to see: bonuses, free bets, a giddy four-day ride of fun and frolics in the west country with a rousing chorus of Sweet Caroline to round it all off. And for thousands of their customers in Cheltenham week at least, the reality may not be too far off the mark.If, however, you turn out to be one of those whose experience of betting with the UK’s regulated gambling industry is...
Improving Brian Ellison-trained hurdler will be bidding for six-figure bonus if winning at Kelso and at CheltenhamThe introduction of a £100,000 bonus if the winner can follow up at Cheltenham has revitalised the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso, and eight of the 12 declared runners in today’s renewal hold at least one entry at the Festival in less than two weeks’ time.The reappearance of Buveur D’Air, the Champion Hurdle winner in 2017 and 2018, adds extra depth to what is now one of the season’s most valuable handicap hurdles, and Nicky Henderson’s runner has gone well fresh in the past. Continue reading...