The Ascot clash felt like the kind of race we are fortunate to see once in a decade, not twice in the space of eight weeksAs countless football managers have discovered over the years, the hardest thing of all to manage is the fans’ expectations. Amid the euphoria after Saturday’s Clarence House Chase at Ascot, though, a race that promised much and delivered even more, it was only natural that thoughts would soon turn towards Shishkin vs Energumene II: the Rematch. If both horses turn up and if both run to form, the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on 16 March seems certain to be the race of the Festival.But those are, of course, two very big “ifs” right...
Saturday’s crucial card is in danger of being called off after the clerk of course calls an inspection for Friday afternoonCheltenham’s Trials card on Saturday, due to be the final action at the track before the Festival meeting in March, is in serious doubt due to waterlogging after 45mm of rain at the course since Tuesday, with an inspection of the course scheduled for 2pm on Friday.Paisley Park, the hugely popular 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle winner, and the former Gold Cup winner Native River were among the big names expected to line up on Saturday’s seven-race card, which includes four Grade Two contests and a competitive Grade Three handicap. The course also lost its New Year’s Day fixture earlier this month,...
The selection’s fourth in the Welsh National suggests it is only a matter of time before he collects a prize over fencesThe Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, racing’s annual hangover cure after the excesses of Cheltenham, can fall to Prime Venture (3.35), who looks overpriced at 10-1 or thereabouts. He has yet to win over fences but it is surely only a matter of time in light of efforts like his fourth in the Welsh National.A couple of things have gone wrong since then but there is nothing fundamentally wrong with his ability. The fitting of blinkers may help him focus and he is preferred to the Irish raider Se Mo Laoch. Related: Cheltenham Festival bubble brings respite despite disbelief...
A deadline is looming for the classy chaser, deregistered along with other Supreme Horse Racing Club runners recentlyAn end could be imminent to the barrier that prevents entries being made for Kemboy, according to his trainer, Willie Mullins. The triple Grade One-winner, currently second-favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, became deregistered when the Supreme Horse Racing Club was recently barred from owning racehorses, but efforts are being made to get him re-registered in the name of the Supreme members who paid for shares in him.The importance of getting this done quickly lies in the fact that noon on Wednesday brings the deadline for entries to the Savills Chase, Irelands equivalent of the King George and a very valuable contest which...
Chester specialist Franny Norton steers smooth success Mark Johnston: Norton comes into his own on track like this Few jockeys in the long history of racing at Chester have ridden the Roodee as confidently as Franny Norton, but until Friday morning, the course’s most famous and historic race was still one of the few here that had eluded him.The runners went to post for the Chester Cup in a cloudburst of spectacular proportions, however, and as the downpour continued throughout the race, Norton drew on all his experience and trackcraft to win from front on Making Miracles, having set off from an apparently hopeless position in stall 16. Related: Circus Maximus grinds out Chester win as O'Brien looks to Dante...