#Anna Bunina

Nicky Henderson believes Epatante must be treated as "still a possible runner" in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle - despite her not featuring among the initial entries for the Cheltenham Festival contest. The winner of the Unibet Champion Hurdle in 2020 before placing behind Honeysuckle the following two years, Epatante has been given the option…

THE latest Cheltenham Festival entries have been revealed - and there are some early shocks. Racing's biggest meeting gets underway nine weeks today and several of the fields are starting to take shape. But there were eyebrows raised on Tuesday when it was revealed JP McManus' Epatante had not been entered in the Mares' Hurdle. The Nicky…

Day two of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival takes centre stage in Ireland on Tuesday and there's £10000 up for grabs in the Paddy's Pick 5 competition, which is free to enter. Below, we have shared our selections for the five races. Best of luck! DYSART DYNAMO was a smart novice hurdler last season and was still travelling well when falling…

At The Races expert Alan Thomson gives his thoughts and a big-race verdict on the Race of the Day at Ascot, an ultra-competitive handicap hurdle. The Sky Sports Racing cameras focus on Ascot's Friday slot and nine runners go to post for the Class 2 Garden For All Seasons Handicap Hurdle (3.15) over two miles. Fancied Herbiers has been declared a…

Can the Skeltons land the Scottish Champion Hurdle with West Cork? The Scottish and English Grand National meetings have flip-flopped in the calendar this season and a change in the pattern means Ayr precedes Aintree. The 30-day gap between the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and Scottish Champion Hurdle in 2021 is reduced to 15 days this…

A busy week for the ITV Racing team continues with action from three meetings on Saturday, with an eight-race broadcast dominated by Lingfield's Classic Trials card. ITV4 is the place to tune in from 1.30-4.30pm, with three races from the Surrey course plus two from Ascot and three from Haydock Park. John Hill has recommendations for all eight…