Now that some off-course bookmakers have ditched pre-race betting shows from the track, the starting price mechanism will be debated once moreSignificant change appears to be in the offing for that grand old feature of horse racing, the Starting Price, which has hitherto been derived only from the prices offered by racecourse bookmakers. Its future has been under debate for many a year and is once more a hot topic, following the recent decisions by William Hill and Paddy Power/Betfair to trade their own prices online right up to the ‘off’, instead of taking betting shows from the track for the last 10 minutes before a race. Related: Talking Horses: course bookmakers suggest child-exclusion zones Leicester 1.45 Imperial Alcazar 2.15 Pistol...
Irrigation has been used to avoid a dry surface for the Dublin Racing Festival but rain on Saturday night could be a problemSomehow the weather is contriving to be a problem for horse racing around Britain and Ireland, in differing ways at each trouble-spot. The most immediate casualty has beenTuesday’s card at Lingfield, abandoned this morning when the course was found to be waterlogged, 7mm of rain on Monday having been the last straw.Happily we still have jump racing taking place, as the feared frost turned out to be pretty low-key at Newcastle. However, Wednesday’s fixture at Hereford is in doubt, with standing water on the track and an inspection planned for 4pm on Tuesday. Related: ‘Shell-shocked’ bookmakers face big...
It’s great that the Dream Alliance story has been filmed with Toni Collette and Damian Lewis but racing films usually prove problematicI love horse racing movies, or at least I love the fact that they are occasionally made. It’s so encouraging when Hollywood turns the full wattage of its attention on your little world; it justifies your enthusiasm and is one in the eye for all those baffled by it. Related: Aggrieved Twiston-Davies puts Bristol De Mai firmly on course for Gold Cup Kelso 1.15 Tortuga Bay 1.45 Kalaharry 2.15 Manetti 2.45 Skyhill 3.15 McGowan’s Pass (nap) 3.45 Black Pirate 4.15 Master Malachy Continue reading...
The selection makes more appeal than the underwhelming Santini and it is surprising to see him at a much bigger priceColin Tizzard’s yard has been awash with classy staying chasers for the last few seasons and he has another on his hands in Slate House (2.25), who can land the Cotswold Chase on Cheltenham Trials day. A horse who travels strongly for a long way in his races, he can gain compensation for what happened here in November, when he knuckled over at the second-last in the BetVictor.Slate House has won twice since then, including in the Kauto Star, for which he gets only a half-penalty. He makes more appeal than Santini, so underwhelming at Sandown in the autumn, and...
The jockeys’ title leader has four chances to increase his lead over the injured Richard Johnson at DoncasterBrian Hughes pointed out after a fall in the first at Wetherby on Thursday that the jump jockeys’ title is “by no means an open goal” despite Richard Johnson’s absence for at least four weeks after suffering a broken arm earlier this week. But it is now overwhelmingly likely that he will end the season as champion, and the fact that he could pick himself off the floor yesterday and then ride the winner of the feature event at 16-1 shows why.Even before Johnson’s painful misfortune, Hughes was riding like a champion, with a 21% strike-rate overall since May which jumped to 24%...