British Horseracing Authority

Bay considered for Galway Hurdle

John McConnell is contemplating the Guinness Galway Hurdle as a possible target for Orgilgo Bay. The County Meath trainer has yet to firm up plans for the four-year-old following his excellent effort in finishing third to Hawk High in the Fred Winte... Read More...

Balder chasing Punchestown riches

Balder Succes will take on the best two-milers around at Punchestown after his convincing victory in the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree on Saturday. Trainer Alan King is considering the Boylesports.com Champion Chase on April 29 to see if the tal... Read More...

Sandiva to swerve Newbury heat

Sandiva will bypass the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury on Saturday and instead head for the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket next Wednesday as she prepares for the Qipco 1000 Guineas. The Footstepsinthesand filly finished runner-up in ... Read More...

Saighdiur given Naas mission

An Saighdiur will be targeted at the Woodlands Stakes at Naas on April 28 following his runaway victory at Cork on Sunday. Andrew Slattery's charge cut out much of the running in the Listed Cork Stakes in the hands of Billy Lee, and sluiced through ... Read More...

Lion tamed by ‘disaster’ start

Trainer Thomas Gibney believes the controversial start to the Crabbie's Grand National cost Lion Na Bearnai virtually all chance of victory at Aintree. With Battle Group reluctant to jump off and the rest of the field recalled after a false start, G... Read More...

‘Gorgeous’ Rock signs off

Relic Rock, narrow runner-up in the Grade Two bumper at Aintree on Saturday, will not run again this season. Lincolnshire trainer Steve Gollings will instead keep the six-year-old on ice until the autumn, when he will embark upon a novice hurdling c... Read More...

Telescope sights set on Sandown

Telescope is due to kick off his four-year-old campaign in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown on April 25. The Galileo colt was considered a major contender for the Investec Derby this time last year, but missed the Epsom Classic after a n... Read More...

Appleby to test Guineas hopes

Charlie Appleby is planning to test out a pair of Qipco 1000 Guineas contenders in next Wednesday's Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket. "A couple could head to the Nell Gwyn," said the Godolphin trainer. "Majeyda is a two-time Listed winne... Read More...

Spencer looking for Zou to star

Jamie Spencer is already excited about the chance of riding Australian star sprinter Zoustar at Royal Ascot. It was known since before the colt's victory in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington last November that trainer Chris Waller had been soun... Read More...

Stevens outlines sprint plans

Olly Stevens is finalising plans for his two big sprinting hopes Green Door and Extortionist. The pair were first and third respectively in the Flying Childers at Doncaster, with Extortionist running once more in Ascot's Cornwallis Stakes while Gree... Read More...

Walsh aiming for Punchestown return

Ruby Walsh expects to be back riding in time for the Punchestown Festival later this month after receiving a positive update from his specialist on Monday. Walsh dislocated his shoulder and fractured the top of his humerus after suffering a bad fall... Read More...

Ascot aim for Panther

Michael Owen expects Brown Panther to take in a warm-up race this spring before being given a chance in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Last summer's Goodwood Cup winner was most recently seen in November's Melbourne Cup, where he showed up prominently... Read More...

Huge handicap prize at Ascot

Ascot will stage the richest mile handicap in Europe with the addition of the Balmoral Handicap to the Qipco British Champions Day card on October 18. The race, worth �250,000, will have a maximum field of 30 and will only be open to horses that have finished in the first six in 18 nominated qualifier races that take place throughout the season. Those qualifiers include the likes of the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket, three events at Royal Ascot and the Betfair International at Ascot, while there is at least one qualifying race staged at each of the Qipco British Champions Series' participant racecourses. Charles Barnett, chief executive at Ascot, said: "Her Majesty The Queen has graciously consented to the name Balmoral Handicap being re-introduced for the new race on Qipco British Champions Day. "The last time the race title was used was at Royal Ascot 2003, when it was a five-furlong handicap, which was replaced to make way for the then new Group Two Windsor Forest Stakes. "It has very much been on our mind to bring back this name when an appropriate opportunity such as this arose." Read More...

Treve clash possible for Cirrus

A mouthwatering clash with brilliant filly Treve or a trip to Hong Kong are the two options under consideration for Cirrus Des Aigles. Despite being a veteran in Flat racing terms at the age of eight, the Corine Barande-Barbe-trained gelding showed ... Read More...

Treve work has Dettori ‘excited’

Harry Herbert reported Frankie Dettori to be "seriously excited" after partnering brilliant filly Treve in a workout at Chantilly on Tuesday morning. Criquette Head-Maarek's unbeaten stable star was a scintillating winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Tri... Read More...

Big Shu up for another Cup bid

Peter Maher is eyeing Punchestown Festival compensation for Big Shu after his stable star's early exit from the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday. The nine-year-old clinched Punchestown's La Touche Cup last April, following up his victory in the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham Festival. Having finished a good third when defending his Cheltenham crown, Big Shu was strongly fancied by some for the world's most famous steeplechase, but he only made it as far as the third fence before falling under Peter Buchanan. Maher is looking forward to seeing his charge run in the La Touche Cup again and is already thinking of a return to Merseyside in a year's time. The trainer said: "It was disappointing, but that's the National. If it was easy it wouldn't be worth a �1million and you wouldn't have 40 lunatics galloping down to the first! "A horse fell in front of Big Shu at the second and going down to the third the loose horse backed off it, our horse's head was right up his backside and he didn't even see the fence. It was just one of those things. "He came back in one piece, which is the main thing, and he is a National horse, I'm still sure of that. "We had the back man look at him when he got home as he's always had a back problem and unbelievably, whatever he did when he came down at Aintree has put the back problem right. "He didn't go half a mile on Saturday, so I would imagine he'll go to Punchestown now for the La Touche Cup. "There are plenty of races there he could run in, but I'm a cross-country man through and through and I think that's where he'll go." Maher plans to send his charge down the cross-country route again next season before a return trip to Aintree and is keen on a rematch with this year's Cheltenham Festival winner and National runner-up Balthazar King. Maher said: "He's still only a baby really, so hopefully he'll be back there (Aintree) next year and he'll go down the same route. "We'll stick to the cross-country races, he has a date with Balthazar King lined up and we'll find out who is the best. "I'd be fairly hopeful we could maybe beat him at Cheltenham, but we'll see." Read More...

Naas repeat plan for Maarek

Maarek will aim for back-to-back victories in the Woodlands Stakes at Naas in three weeks' time before running at the Dante meeting at York in May. Trainer Evanna McCutcheon felt the ground was to blame for his disappointing seasonal debut on Saturd... Read More...

Toast supplemented for Epsom

Runaway UAE Derby winner Toast Of New York has been supplemented for the Investec Derby at a cost of �8,000 with a potential run in the Kentucky Derby having been ruled out. The American-bred three-year-old was taking a huge step up in class at Meydan following a couple of admittedly impressive victories at Wolverhampton, but he justified trainer Jamie Osborne's faith with a scintillating display. Having won on the Wolverhampton Polytrack and the Tapeta in Dubai, a switch to dirt for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3 was a possibility, but connections have decided to keep the exciting colt at home for the time being and a trip to Epsom in June is now under serious consideration. Osborne said: "The Kentucky Derby is definitely out and this morning we have supplemented him for the Derby at Epsom. "There is nothing wrong with the horse, we are very satisfied with how he came back from Dubai. We just felt piling him on a plane again so soon to take him to another continent and tackle another different surface would be a lot to ask. "To put him in the Epsom Derby at this stage costs �8,000 and to add him at the next stage would be �75,000. It is by no means a certain plan he will run there, but it makes sense to keep our options open." If Toast Of New York is to line up at Epsom on June 7, it seems unlikely he will make a racecourse appearance between now and then. His trainer said: "Fitness-wise he doesn't need a prep run. Experience-wise it could be a help, but a race like the Dante Stakes (at York) is only three weeks before Epsom and could you leave your Derby at the Dante? "If he does go to Epsom I'm pretty sure he'll go straight there." The one race that is firmly on the youngster's agenda is the 2015 Dubai World Cup. "We hope he is a horse with a great future and longer term his aim has to be next year's Dubai World Cup," said Osborne. "I think that can be carved in stone and it is just a case of thinking about what route we take between now and next March." Read More...

Straight to Guineas for Rizeena

Rizeena will bypass this weekend's Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury and head straight for the Qipco 1000 Guineas after delighting trainer Clive Brittain in a workout on Tuesday morning. The daughter of Iffraaj is among the market principals for the... Read More...

Picts heading to Punchestown

King Of The Picts will chart a route towards the Punchestown Festival following his pleasing performance at Aintree. Pat Shanahan's consistent five-year-old put the gloss on a satisfying campaign when taking third place behind Josses Hill in the Gra... Read More...

Sea could Sail to Punchestown

David Pipe has indicated his exciting prospect Sail By The Sea could travel to the Punchestown Festival. The Roger Brookhouse-owned six-year-old, a former point-to-point winner in Ireland, was tremendously impressive in winning a maiden hurdle by 25 lengths at Newton Abbot at the beginning of this month, building on what was a solid Wincanton debut second in February, where he was a bit keen. Bought for �85,000 in November 2012 after his win at Glenbane the previous month, he looks set for a return to his native land. Pipe, who could have more than one runner at Punchestown, wrote on his website blog: "(Sail By The Sea) was particularly impressive in landing the maiden hurdle and while his task was made easier by the disappointing performance of the favourite, he could do no more than beat the remainder of his rivals convincingly. "A winner over three miles between the flags, it is encouraging that he has the speed for two miles one around a sharp track like this. There are plenty of opportunities open to him and he is a nice prospect for the future. "He is another that could head across to the Emerald Isle at the end of the month." Read More...

Knock may have hindered Tea chance

Rebecca Curtis believes Teaforthree may have suffered a knock in the early stages of Saturday's Crabbie's Grand National after the leading contender returned sore following his exit from the race. Having finished third in the 2013 renewal of the Ain... Read More...

Tuesday decision on Rizeena prep

A workout at Newmarket on Tuesday morning will determine whether Rizeena takes her chance in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. Although trainer Clive Brittain would be unruffled by the filly running in the Qipco 1000 Guineas without... Read More...

Kingman tops Greenham contenders

Kingman, a leading contender for the Qipco 2000 Guineas, is one of 20 possible runners in what could be an epic renewal of the Aon Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. The unbeaten John Gosden-trained colt looked the real deal in two starts as a ... Read More...

Dettori jetting in for Treve work

Frankie Dettori is looking forward to putting the "finishing touches" to Treve on Tuesday morning ahead of her eagerly-awaited return to action in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp later this month. Criquette Head-Maarek's Motivator filly took her unbeate... Read More...

Good Friday an option for Ertijaal

Connections of potential Classic contender Ertijaal will consider letting the exciting colt line up on All-Weather Championships Final Day at Lingifeld on Good Friday. The three-year-old made a big impression when landing the Spring Cup at Lingfield... Read More...

Bay limbering up for Easter mission

Robin Hoods Bay will this week move through the gears ahead of his big-race assignment at Lingfield on Good Friday. The Ed Vaughan-trained six-year-old is a major player for the Coral Easter Classic following his sweet success over course and distan... Read More...

Lantern set to bypass Lockinge

Sky Lantern is likely to swerve the JLT Lockinge Stakes and start her four-year-old campaign in the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot. The multiple Group One-winning filly claimed the Qipco 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and King of Bahrain Sun ... Read More...

Toormore on course for Craven

Richard Hannon feels he has Toormore as ready as he can be for the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday week. The champion juvenile, owned by Middleham Park Racing, has completed his major homework ahead of his first big... Read More...

Aces rolls on to Sandown

Melling Chase runner-up Rolling Aces will set sail for Sandown on the final day of the jumps season on April 26. The inaugural bet365 Chase, a Listed race over two miles and six furlongs, is viewed as a suitable next destination for Paul Nicholls' r... Read More...

Cossack heads field for Fairyhouse

Don Cossack heads the weights after 69 horses were entered for the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Gordon Elliott's talented chaser finished second behind Holywell in the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree and will have to concede wei... Read More...

Park faces Ballysax test

John Murphy believes Davids Park has enough raw ability to fight his corner in the PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Navan on Saturday. The son of Lucky Story made an encouraging seasonal bow in Leopardstown's 2,000 Guineas Trial on March 30, w... Read More...

Tent pitching up for Ayr

My Tent Or Yours is set to take his chance in the QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr on Saturday. Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old finished runner-up in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and is one of 21 possible runners in the Grade T... Read More...

Tidal could take Scottish chance

Paul Nicholls will make a decision later this week on whether to let Tidal Bay turn out quickly for the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday. The popular veteran only made it as far as the eighth fence in the Crabbie's Grand National at ... Read More...

Thorpe given key role with ARC

Arena Racing Company has appointed David Thorpe as its new non-executive chairman with immediate effect. Lord Howard resigned from the role in December last year and ARC feels Thorpe, a former chairman of the Racecourse Association and part of the c... Read More...

Lynch hoping for speedy return

Jockey Andrew Lynch is optimistic the shoulder injury he sustained at Fairyhouse on Sunday is nothing too severe. Lynch fell from Sizing Machine at the last fence of a two-mile-one-furlong novice handicap chase and plans to fully assess the damage l... Read More...

Tullius in line for top mile prizes

Tullius, runner-up in the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster, will step up to Group Two class for bet365 Mile at Sandown on April 25. The Andrew Balding-trained six-year-old is likely to be ambitiously campaigned this season, with the Lockinge at New... Read More...

McCain hails Bay effort

Donald McCain is wondering what might have been with Across The Bay following his luckless run in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday. The 10-year-old jumped soundly and was bowling along at the head of affairs before being carried v... Read More...

Novice chasing on Midnight agenda

Sandy Thomson will resist the urge to run Seeyouatmidnight again this spring following his honourable effort in defeat at Aintree on Friday. The Berwickshire-based handler will give the popular six-year-old a break before he returns next term for a ... Read More...

Dude set for summer break

Monbeg Dude is set for his summer holidays after a creditable effort in defeat in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday. The Michael Scudamore-trained nine-year-old was among the leading contenders for the world's most famous steeplech... Read More...

Injury forces Fiorente retirement

Last year's Melbourne Cup hero Fiorente has been retired due to a tendon injury. The six-year-old presented trainer Gai Waterhouse with a famous victory in the Flemington feature last November but suffered a surprise defeat in a Group One event at R... Read More...

Saighdiur strikes in Cork feature

An Saighdiur blitzed his rivals to land the Listed Cork Stakes for trainer Andrew Slattery. The 12-1 chance travelled serenely at the head of affairs in the hands of Billy Lee, and it was apparent a long way out that hot favourite Maarek, winner of ... Read More...

Newland eyes Pineau repeat

Dr Richard Newland is already looking forward to seeing Pineau De Re defend his crown in next year's Crabbie's Grand National following his brilliant display at Aintree on Saturday. The 11-year-old produced prodigious leaps at the final two obstacle... Read More...

Normans conquest for Arvika

Arvika Ligeonniere led home a one-two for trainer Willie Mullins as he swept to an easy all-the-way victory in the Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse. The Rich Ricci-owned nine-year-old bounced back after being pulled up in the Queen Mother Champion ... Read More...

Rasen joy for National heroes

Crabbie's Grand National heroes Dr Richard Newland and Leighton Aspell were straight back to winning ways at Market Rasen. Twenty-four hours on from Pineau De Re's triumph in the world's greatest steeplechase at Aintree, the trainer, jockey and owner John Provan returned to action in the rather more tranquil surroundings of the Lincolnshire track. Having hosted the press at his Worcestershire yard in the morning, Newland, accompanied by Provan, arrived by helicopter weighed down by several bottles of champagne. First to strike for Newland was the Ali Sterling-ridden Dalmo (13-8 favourite), who made just about every yard of the running to land the Racing UK Lady Riders' Selling Handicap Hurdle in Provan's white, green and black colours. "They all count!" said Newland. "I've got no voice left now after yesterday and now that one. I thought Ali did really well there." Provan said: "They are all sweet. I've been drinking champagne on a regular basis since straight after the National, we were even drinking it in the chopper. You could say we were on cloud nine!" Newland then teamed up with Aspell to take the feature �12,000 Double M Novices' Chase with Ardkilly Witness. The 8-11 favourite was second to Smad Place earlier in the season and was a gallant runner-up in the valuable Betfred Masters at Sandown. Another trip to the Esher venue is now on the cards, for the former Whitbread Gold Cup. "I'd hoped he'd do it like that," said Newland. "His novice status ends in two months so I wanted him to have one more run against novices as he'll be in handicaps the rest of his life. "His target is the bet365 Chase. I've only got 12 horses and a lot seem to be staying chasers, but I haven't specifically looked for them, it's just how they've turned out." Aspell had a fall from Newland's Regal D'Estruval in the Wet Wet Wet Performing 16th August Handicap Chase, but happily both horse and rider emerged none the worse. Read More...

Aspell giving it his best shot

Grand National-winning jockey Leighton Aspell felt his time away from the sport made him appreciate every aspect of it even before hitting the headlines with Pineau De Re at Aintree on Saturday. Aspell, 37, lost his appetite for the game at the end ... Read More...

Dalmo joy for National heroes

The saying is little fish are sweet but when you have just won the Crabbie's Grand National perhaps all other races pale into insignificance. While it would be pushing it to suggest that Dr Richard Newland and owner John Provan enjoyed the success o... Read More...

Dalmo joy for National heroes

The saying is little fish are sweet but when you have just won the Crabbie's Grand National perhaps all other races pale into insignificance. While it would be pushing it to suggest that Dr Richard Newland and owner John Provan enjoyed the success o... Read More...

Date awaited for start hearing

It is likely to be a couple of days before a date is announced for the referral hearing into the start of the Crabbie's Grand National. The hearing was passed on to the British Horseracing Authority after jockeys chose not to go back to see the stew... Read More...

Murphy praise for supreme Aspell

Trainer Pat Murphy paid a glowing tribute to Leighton Aspell following his triumph aboard Pineau De Re in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday. Murphy has been one of Aspell's biggest supporters during his riding career and trained Su... Read More...