Get the facts about your family tree from Genes Reunited, and dependant on your level of interest you can obtain either our Standard or Premier package. For full details, click the link below:
Neptune to be missing for a year.Today's news coming out of the Ditcheat stables of Paul Nicholls was not good for followres of Neptune Collonges. It seems certain the popular grey will be absent from the race track for at least a year after being diagnosed with tendon problems. Today's Grand National News.Officials representing owner Sir Robert Ogden have withdrawn Exotic Dancer and Star de Mohaison from this year's Grand National field. It would appear the Jonjo O'Neill trained Exotic Dancer will now run in Aintree's Totesport Bowl, a race he won two years ago, while the Paul Nicholls trained Star de Mohaison will either run in the Totesport Bowl or the three mile one furlong John Smiths Handicap Chase. With the withdrawel of the top rated horses in the handicap, current anti post favourite My Will is currently eight pounds 'well in' on his official handicap mark, and if he can combine the class of last week's fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with extra stamina and an ability to cope with the Aintree fences, then he could be a 'good thing'. Trainer Mouse Morris has never won the Aintree Grand National, but he seems confident War of Attrition could be the horse to break his duck. The 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has won two of his four starts this season, and although he had to miss last week's Cheltenham Festival due to a training setback, Morris is confident he will be fully fit in time for Aintree, and that missing Cheltenham could actually help his chances of winning this year's Grand National. However, as a note of caution to supporters of Hear The Echo, Morris has already indicated he is unhappy with the handicap mark allocated to his charge, and the trainer is said to be favouring a run in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse rather than the Aintree event. Kauto Star moves to the top of the official handicap.Not suprisingly, Kauto Star's scintallating performance in last week's Cheltenham Gold Cup has enabled the nine year old to replace stable mate Masterminded as the top rated steeplechaser on the official BHA handicap lists. This decision is totally correct, for Kauto Star has proved he can win at the highest level from two miles up to three miles two and a half furlongs, whereas Masterminded is outstanding at two miles, but he has still to prove winning ability at two and a half miles or beyond in top class races. Fallon starts work out riding at Newmarket.Kieran Fallon, who due to two different bans has not ridden in Britain since 2006, has returned from a winter of work riding in California, and has today started riding out for Sir Michael Stoute prior to his return to race riding in September of this year. Such is the acknowledged riding prowess of the former champion flat jockey, the bookmaking firms are already taking wagers on his likelyhood of picking up Group One wins and Breeders Cup victories before the end of the upcoming flat season. Ladbrokes agree Curragh sponsorship deal.Ladbrokes have signed a new sponsorship deal with the Curragh, which will see the firm support Ireland's leading two year old race, The National Stakes, which is due to take place this year on 12 September. Ladbrokes have agreed to provide sponsorship worth two hundred and fifty thousand euros for the Group One race first run in 1849. Ladbrokes, who also operate the Curragh's on-course betting shop, have also agreed to renew their sponsorship of the Rockingham Handicap, which is due to take place this year on 12 July. Hopes for a Levy agreement today.At today's meeting between the Levy Board and Bookmakers representatives, it is hoped a final agreement can be reached on the Levy needed so desperately by the racing industry. At present, the main proposal revolves around a suggested levy of ten per cent on the gross profits of the bookmaking firms, and if a final agreement can be ironed out, it will go a long way to securing the future of horse racing for the next three years. Seven length victory for Fiveforthree.The 2008 Ballymore Properties Hurdle winner Fiveforthree has obviously fully recovered from the back problem which has kept him off the track for the majority of the current season, for in his reappearance run in yesterday's Richard Brown and Sons Handicap Hurdle at Wexford, he won his race with consummate ease. In the hands of top jockey Ruby Walsh, the seven year old virtually cantered through the two mile race, winning by an easy seven lengths from the fast finishing Splurge. Trainer Willie Mullins now intends to run Fiveforthree in the two mile four furlong Aintree Hurdle, where he will come up against the four timer seeking Al Eile, then the intention is to go forward to the Punchestown Festival at the end of April. Cool Down Royal performance books Cookie an Irish National place.Despite having to carry top weight in yesterday's Guinness Chase at Down Royal, Charlie Swan's One Cool Kookie was more than up to the task, winning by a length and a half from runner up Selection Box. After this excellent weight carrying performance, the trainer confirmed One Cool Kookie would now take his chance in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Vets give Mullins considerable hope.When he left for the Cheltenham Festival, trainer Willie Mullins was very downbeat about the chances of his top novice hurdler Hurricane Fly being fit in time to compete in this year's Punchestown Festival. But a positive report on the state of the splint injury from the stable veterinarians has persuaded Mullins to believe a return for Punchestown will be possible. However, Mullins is still cautious, as he knows he will have to get Hurricane Fly back to full fitness if he is to confirm his Grade One superiority over last week's Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Go Native. Last time they met Hurricane Fly won by ten lengths, but Mullins believes Go Native has improved, and Hurricane Fly would have to be at his best at Punchestown if he is to frank the form. O'Brien Guineas hopes to have Curragh work out.Aidan O'Brien has advised the press his main Newmarket 2,000 Guineas hopefuls Mastercraftsman and Rip Van Winkle will be among several three year olds to have a post racing gallop after this Sunday's Curragh race meeting. This gallop could be very informative in relation to the current anti post market for the Classic, as the latest rumours suggest Mastercraftsman is very forward, while Rip Van Winkle could be a late developer, so it will be great to actually see both horses stride out on Sunday.
Celebrate your winnings, or commiserate with others with fine wines & champagne’s: ------------------------------------------ Archives:
News Stories prior to July 2008
|
||
|
||
