Jockeys fail to find fault with the mounts as racefans prepare for a clash to savour at Ascot on Saturday“Not too many,” Paul Townend said with a broad smile here on Friday when asked if he had spotted any weaknesses in Shishkin ahead of his long-awaited first meeting with Energumene in Saturday’s Clarence House Chase at Ascot. “I just see all the 1s alongside his name, so I’ll do a bit of homework tonight, ride the race another 20 times and hopefully we’re still finishing in front.”Nico de Boinville, Shishkin’s rider, had earlier used words like “fantastic” and “electric” to describe Energumene. If the race was a title fight in Vegas – and there are certainly some similarities – the...
The selection has yet to race over the trip but he is bred to improve for the step up in distance at KemptonThe 66-1 success of Boreham Bill in last season’s Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton Park was a skinner for the bookies but this has generally been a good race for punters since the trip was extended in 2007, with lightly raced, improving hurdlers holding a clear edge over more experienced handicappers.Marie’s Rock, Gelino Bello and Green Book all arrive with the right profile for Saturday’s renewal, and represent big-name stables that have sent out a Lanzarote winner within the last six years. Continue reading...
The Tolworth Hurdle is a highlight of Saturday’s action, but the following race there offers even more interestHorses at opposite ends of their careers are centre stage at Sandown on Saturday and while the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at 2.25pm (all times GMT) should be a useful pointer towards the Cheltenham Festival in March, the final of the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase Series offers weekend punters a more immediate chance of a decent payout.Aso, second in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in 2019 and a runner in the Gold Cup 10 months ago, is an obvious favourite, not least as his form behind Blaklion at Haydock in December was franked when the winner went in again last week. Continue reading...
Zanza could get the better of Coole Cody at Cheltenham … and there is good reason to follow Greg Wood’s adviceThe Guardian’s racing correspondent, Greg Wood, was the UK’s leading newspaper tipster in 2021, finishing several lengths clear of the opposition in the Racing Post’s annual National Press Challenge in his first year as our lead tipster.Wood went to the top of the table in June and maintained a clear lead for the second half of the year, in a contest based on the total return to a notional £1 stake at starting price on all selections. The Guardian’s picks over the course of 2021 had the highest strike-rate of any tipster at 27.6%, and showed a return of just...
The Newbury contest has a fine record of pinpointing future chasing stars and Wednesday’s race looks a strong renewalThe Challow Hurdle at Newbury has a fine record of pinpointing future chasing stars, with past winners including Denman, Champ, Taquin Du Seuil and Sunday’s Kempton winner, Bravesmansgame, all going on to land Grade Ones over fences later on in their careers, and Wednesday’s race looks like one of the stronger renewals in recent seasons.Stage Star has not put a foot wrong in two starts over hurdles and he stopped the clock in a decent time when winning over course and distance in November. Lossiemouth, too, is unbeaten over timber this term after progressing rapidly from an Ascot handicap in October, while...