British racing’s top jumps handicapper sincerely hopes Tiger Roll goes for a historic third straight Grand National win but says the race weights he allots must be ‘fair for everybody’British racing’s top jumps handicapper has rebuffed a call from the owners of Tiger Roll, asking for the horse to be given lenient treatment when the weights are set for next year’s Grand National. “You can’t blackmail a system to get him running,” said Martin Greenwood, responding to a suggestion that the horse might not attempt to win the Aintree race for a third time unless his rating was reduced.Eddie O’Leary, who manages the racing interests of his brother, Michael, said last month: “They say they condense the weights to encourage...
‘We went too big, too quick,’ says owner, whose partnership faced annual running costs of £500,000Mike Grech says he may not be able to face attending a Doncaster sales ring today to witness the dispersal of the string of jumps horses he built up with his friend and co-owner, Stuart Parkin. “It’s going to be incredibly sad,” Grech said as he reflected on the sale of 28 horses, including classy types like Claimantakinforgan, River Wylde and Mr Whipped, all to be offered without reserve.Asked if he would be present, Grech said: “I’m not too sure. I’m a very emotional guy, I’m not an actor. If I want to show tears, I’ll show tears and I don’t know whether it’s appropriate...
Drainage work problems have plagued the track since the Ayr Gold Cup was transferred to Haydock in 2017It has been a long time coming but Ayr’s Flat racing season gets underway on Wednesday, when the track’s executives will hope to draw a final line under a troubled period in the course’s 248-year history.Three meetings at Ayr have been abandoned already this year because the course took longer than expected to recover from drainage work over the winter, and that was in turn carried out to address problems identified after the entire Western meeting in September – the most prestigious event of the year on the Flat in Scotland – was lost in 2017. Related: Aidan O’Brien team favouring Epsom bid...
The Ballydoyle trainer has four of the top six in the betting for the Epsom Derby but has even spoken of running likely favourite Sir Dragonet at ChantillyThis year, more than any other year, it has become important to anticipate Aidan O’Brien’s running plans for the Derby. The master of Ballydoyle has four of the top six in the betting plus other potential runners, only he’s considering sending a couple of them to the French Derby instead. He has even spoken of the possibility of Sir Dragonet, who would start favourite for Epsom if he ran there, turning up at Chantilly. A significant edge awaits any punter who can work out the plans in advance although he has been speaking...
Jockey who partnered the greatest Flat racehorse has since fallen from favour and hasn’t had a winner since DecemberThe Tin Man enlivens Monday night’s card at Windsor by making his seasonal reappearance there. He’s a really likeable veteran sprinter who always makes me think of Tom Queally, the Irishman having twice won big races on him Ascot, but Oisin Murphy was given the ride in the autumn and looks set to keep it. Related: Davy Russell makes a breakthrough in Grand Steeplechase de Paris Redcar 2.00 Great Aspirations 2.35 Huraa 3.05 Dancing Mountain 3.35 Sharp Breath 4.05 Makanah (nap) 4.35 La Sioux 5.05 Puzzle 5.35 Blowing Dixie Continue reading...