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Crowded House to miss the Guineas.
Connections of Crowded House have today confirmed the Dewhurst winner will by-pass the Stan James 2,000 Guineas in favour of a prep race for the Epsom Derby in York's Dante Stakes in May.
Meade lays out the challenge.
Noel Meade is to run Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Go Native in the 4 Year Old Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, and he is offering Willie Mullins the opportunity of gaining the overal champion title if he feels Hurricane Fly has recovered sufficiently to take on Go Native in the Grade 1 contest.
If all of the potential rivals turn up for this particular race, it could cause a major shift in the betting for next year's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Taazeez shows improvement as Twice Over disappoints.
For a major portion of today's Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket, odds on favourite Twice Over looked like he only had to pick up to win, but when John Gosden's Taazeez took it up with three furlongs to go, he continued to stretch his lead, and by the two furlong marker he had Twice Over in trouble. The eventual winner galloped all the way to the line in today's one mile one furlong contest, and this marked improvement on his three year old form makes Taazeez a prospect for Group standard mile and a quarter races during the remainder of the season.
Twice Over's disappointing run was compounded when he was pipped for second position by Steel Tango, and connections must now wonder what to do with him for the rest of the season.
Delegator can only win!
As soon as Brian Meehan's Delegator lived up to his pre-race hype with a comfortable win in today's Group 3 Craven Stakes, the usual gathering of cynics lined up to criticise the quality of today's race.
Well, sorry to disagree with the combined wisdon of hacks who have not yet made their fortunes from horse racing, but a horse can only beat what is in front of him, and Delegator did that easily enough this afternoon.
Are we any wiser for the 2,000 Guineas - Probably not, but Delegator has certainly improved over the winter, and now has to come into the reckoning for this year's Colts Classic.
Tax Free gets best of two horse race.
The Listed Abernant Stakes turned into a two horse race as favourite Equiano and Tax Free battled for the lead right from the start. There tussle carried them clear of the remainder of the field, and no other horse could get into the race in the latter stages.
Tax Free took it up at the final furlong marker, and try as hard as he could Equiano could not peg the winner back in the final stages.
Made in Japan a shock winner.
For a long way in today's three mile handicap hurdle at Cheltenham, it looked as if Kayf Aramis had recaptured his Cheltenham Festival form, and as he lead approaching the last, many loyal punters could feel the anticipation of a pay out, but on the Cheltenham hill the handicap took its effect, and bottom weight Made in Japan managed to overcome the brave but highly weighted Kayf Aramis.
This was Made in Japan's first win in over four years, and his thirty three to one price tag franked the pre-race assessment of his chances.
James Bowe passes after a long illness.
On what is turning out to be a sad day for racing, it has been announced James Bowe passed away this morning after a long illness.
James Bowe was the epitomy of national hunt racing. A farmer who turned his hand to training, he was responsible for the breeding and training of such great horses as Limestone Lad and Solerina. But it is good to know, he has left a rich heritage, and his son Michael, who now handles the training operation, had a great Grade 3 winner earlier this week when Coolcashin landed a major prize at this year's Fairyhouse Festival.
Tattarniano impresses with all the way victory.
Ruby Walsh had an armchair ride on Tattarniano in the first race at Cheltenham. Leading throuhout, he saw off the challenge of the fancied Aachen three from home, and it was left to Post Master to run on for a distant second in today's two mile one furlong novice hurdle.
Militarist scores for favourite backers.
John Gosden kept up his excellent start to the current season when Militarist stayed with the pace before quickening two and a half furlongs from home to land today's Wood Ditton Stakes at Newmarket.
The race always produces winners, and apart from today's favourite, second placed Harbinger will almost certainly perform better when he gets a mile and a half trip, while third placed Big Bay will also win a race before the end of the season.
Chevalier could line-up in Coventry.
There is no doubt Monsieur Chevalier was a good winner of yesterday's juvenile sprint at Newmarket, and connections are indicating today, the run may be good enough to persuade them to enter their two year old in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Tregonning keen on Finjaan chances.
Marcus Tregonning is confident he has prepared Finjaan to the best of his ability for Saturday's Greenham Stakes at Newbury, and providing his three year old lives up to the preparation in the weekend contest, it will then be all systems go for a crack at the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas.
A friend of racing passes away.
For anyone who knew Sir Clement Freud, they will be a little sadder this morning at the notice of his death. A sound supporter of horse racing, Clement wrote some of the most poignant and informative articles ever produced on the subject of horse racing.
From my own experience, an article he penned on a visit to the old Sedgefield racecourse in the middle of winter will stay with me for the rest of my life. So I suppose the best thing I can say is, "Clement, have a good time, and back a few winners!"
Strawbridge could change his mind.
After Fantasia's demolition of her rivals in yesterday's Nell Gwyn Stakes, owner George Strawbridge indicated he could have a change of heart over his original decision to avoid a confrontation with Rainbow view in this year's Newmarket 1,000 Guineas. Although the Guineas favourite turned in a good gallop prior to yesterday's meeting at Newmarket, Fantasia did it in actual race conditions, and based on the run, Rainbow view will have to be something very special to defeat Fantasia if they clash in the Clasic.
Young Mick withdrawn from John Porter.
George Margarson has decided not to take up the option of running Young Mick in Saturday's John Porter Stakes at Newbury. The trainer believes his seven year old still has plenty to offer in the large summer handicaps, and he is worried if Young Mick were to do well in Saturday's pattern race, he would pick up a penalty for his handicap runs later in the season.
Reading between the lines, the trainer obviously believes his charge still has plenty to offer in major middle distance handicaps, and he is worthy of a notebook entry to that effect.
Equiano could keep up Hills early season charge.
Virtually all the horses emanating from the Barry Hills stables are major contenders in this early part of the season, and Redwood yesterday notched up the veteran trainer's three hundredth success at Newmarket. So when assistant trainer Charlie Hills says their Kings Stand winner Equiano is in top condition, and has trained exceptionally well over the winter, it is worth putting him on the short list for today's Abernant Stakes at Newmarket.
Nolan made right choice for Moskova.
Paul Nolan had considered running his double Grade 3 winning mare Moskova against the likes of Aran Concerto in Sunday's Powers Gold Cup, but on reflection he dicided to turn her out in yesterday's Ashbourne Mares Chase, and the decision proved well founded.
Cruising around at the back of her rivals, jockey Davy Russell only had to ask the mare for an effort, and to the delight of favourite backers, she readily responded, going on to win by three and a half lengths in yesterday's contest.
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