#Barry Orr

PUNTERS all over could be holding onto extremely valuable betting slips - after bookies revealed which Cheltenham Festival fancies have slashed in price. The blockbuster Christmas racing period saw a surge of activity in the ante-post markets. And with 11 weeks to go until the biggest four days in the racing calendar, punters were quick to hoover…

You would be forgiven for thinking we are set for a Willie Mullins match between Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi in Tuesday's feature Champion Chase (5.25) but the market suggests Envoi Allen should not be discounted at a double-figure price. The Cheveley Park-owned eight-year-old has reverted to two miles on his last couple of starts, winning a…

Protektorat flew the Lodge Hill flag high with victory in the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock but it is Skelton's handicappers who have been in scintillating form since then and the trainer has chances in both the Betfair Exchange Trophy - a race he first won with Willow's Saviour in 2013 - and the Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase. The…

HE is known as'The Lizard' and is said to be worth more than a billion quid. But for the owner of a Premier League team, little is actually known about Tony Bloom, the man who has been called the'Godfather of Gambling'. One thing is for sure, though. Despite famously saying "I'm no Roman Abramovich" after taking charge of the Seagulls, Bloom has…

Mirror Racing asked the leading bookies which horses they don't want to win, with punters expecting decent payouts if the likes of Golden Pal and Bay Bridge live up to the hype Royal Ascot is here again with its top class racing, fashion and entertainment throughout the week. The five-day fixture, summer's biggest occasion for fans of the sport,…

Greaneteen: three wins from four starts over fences at Sandown and well fancied for the Tingle Creek Paul Nicholls has delivered a bullish update on his Betfair Tingle Creek Chase contender Greaneteen, believing his horse is the most likely winner and challenging Shishkin and Edwardstone "to come there and beat us". Greaneteen is seeking…

BOOKIES think Constitution Hill will miss this weekend's Fighting Fifth - after the Ascot fiasco. Trainer Nicky Henderson said there was no chance he was going to run his sensational Supreme winner on good ground last weekend. That immediately raised the prospect of a head-to-head with stablemate Epatante at Newcastle this Saturday. But…

THE QUEEN has been dealt a big personal blow for her Platinum Jubilee weekend - after her best horse was ruled out of her favourite race. Her Majesty, 96, had been planning to attend the Epsom Derby on June 4 to see her three-year-old colt Reach For The Moon finally land her a first winner in the prestigious contest. But the 7-1 chance, who likely…

Connections of A Plus Tard ended speculation he may not run in Saturday's Betfair Chase (3.00), declaring the Gold Cup winner for the Haydock Grade 1 and stating "we're green for go". A drift on Betfair overnight prompted doubts around his participation on social media, but Cheveley Park's Chris Richardson was unequivocal last year's runaway winner…

Jockey Daryl Jacob believes three-time winner Bristol De Mai still has "a great chance" of landing a record-equalling fourth victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday. Nigel Twiston-Davies' popular grey is now an 11-year-old and turns 12 on January 1 but his regular rider Jacob thinks he can still run a big race against last year's…

Trainer Henry De Bromhead believes last year's winner and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard is ready to return as he heads back to Haydock Park for Saturday's Betfair Chase. The eight-year-old, who landed the Haydock feature by a massive 22 lengths on his first run last year and then took the blue riband at the Cheltenham Festival on his final…

Royal Ascot: five-day meeting starts on Tuesday, but who do the leading firms fear most? Royal Ascot kicks off on Tuesday, June 15, with five days of top-class Flat action taking place at the glamorous Berkshire venue. Frankie Dettori has been the key ally for punters in the battle with the bookmakers for the past two years, and here leading firms…

James Knight, Coral Secret Reprieve was a really popular winner with punters when winning last year's Coral Welsh National (2.50 Chepstow) and I have a feeling he would be a very poor result for us again as he bids for a repeat win in the race. Frank Hickey, Paddy Power Forever Blessed has looked really good in two starts over hurdles and I don't…