#Coral Hurdle

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…

The 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero runs today, but many won't give him a second glance with Michael Buckley's gobsmacker Constitution Hill primed to take centre stage at Ascot. I will be at the Berkshire track for Sky Sports Racing to bring you all the best interviews. Don't miss a minute. Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen, Constitution Hill goes in the…

RUBY WALSH is sweet on the chances of Honeysuckle retaining her Champion Hurdle title. The brilliant mare is unbeaten in 16 career starts - but last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Constitution Hill is ahead of her in the Champion Hurdle betting. That has come as a surprise to many, including legendary jockey turned pundit Walsh. Nicky…

NICO DE BOINVILLE says Constitution Hill could be the next Altior as the fab five-year-old gears up for his seasonal return. The jockey told owner Michael Buckley his star was'Altior-esque' after his Tolworth Hurdle romp - before he was even more impressive in the Supreme at Cheltenham. Nicky Henderson's hero, favourite for the Champion Hurdle, was…

Le Milos and Harry Skelton take the last in the Coral Gold Cup from stablemates Remastered (left) and Gericault Roque The breathy sound that greeted Constitution Hill's thumping victory over Epatante and co in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle was partly awestruck gasp but mainly a collective sigh of relief that this wondrous talent is just as good as…

Henry de Bromhead has hailed Honeysuckle an "all-time great" no matter what happens when young pretenders Constitution Hill and State Man challenge over the coming months. The trainer is well aware of the whizz-kids arriving on the scene this season, but thinks his unbeaten wondermare still holds all the aces in the Champion Hurdle pot. The…

Many a true word is said in jest as the saying goes and I was reminded of that maxim when reading a tweet early last week that said there would be more Festival clues at Fairyhouse last Tuesday than there had been at Cheltenham the previous weekend. Given the star entries at Ascot's upcoming weekend fixture, I doubt the poster also had it in the…

With the weekend's Premier League schedule ravaged because of Covid-19 outbreaks at a number of clubs, the betting focus switches to an excellent card for the second day of the Christmas Racing Weekend meeting at Ascot. The feature race is the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle (2.25pm). A high-class field of eight goes to post despite the withdrawal…

Constitution Hill: red-hot Champion Hurdle favourite was withdrawn at Ascot on Saturday Nicky Henderson offered a robust defence of the decision to withdraw Constitution Hill from the Coral Hurdle at Ascot due to the going, insisting the welfare of his star hurdler was at the centre of all of the decision making on Saturday. Constitution Hill was…

Ascot's card was decimated by non-runners Racegoers at Ascot were due to see Constitution Hill, Edwardstone and L'Homme Presse, but instead missed out on seeing any of the Cheltenham Festival-winning trio - and even had to watch a walkover. Quick ground was the reason all three were declared non-runners, with the absence of Constitution Hill…

Paul Nicholls considers Hitman a serious rival to stablemate Bravemansgame in the King George VI Chase following a dominant display at Haydock. The Ditcheat handler has saddled a record 12 previous winners of Kempton's Boxing Day showpiece and Bravemansgame is as short as even money to add his name to the roll of honour. But Hitman - second on his…

ITV Racing are covering races at Ascot, Haydock and Lingfield on Saturday in a cracking day of racing. Cheltenham Festival favourites Constitution Hill and A Plus Tard are both hoping to kickstart their seasons with victories in the Coral Hurdle and Betfair Chase respectively before going on to bigger and better meetings. The ITV7 jackpot certainly…

L'Homme Presse takes what connections hope will be the first step towards a Gold Cup challenge in the Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase at Ascot. The seven-year-old, trained by Venetia Williams, was an impressive winner of the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham in March and connections believe he will continue to progress and make up into a blue riband…

A PLUS TARD can win the Betfair Chase (Registered As The Lancashire Chase) (GBB Race) (3pm) again at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon. Henry de Bromhead's eight-year-old is the leading staying chaser around and he can take the Grade One feature on Merseyside for a second successive year. Having been second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup to…

The highlight of Saturday's racing is the Grade 1 Betfair Chase (1500) from Haydock, and there's plenty of other intersting races, including some Grade 2s, to get your teeth stuck into. First a quick run through of our selections, you can find more detail on each of our selections further down the page. Selections: 13:50 (Haydock) Hitman 14:05…

Nigel Twiston-Davies has won the Betfair Chase (3.00) four times and another victory in the race for Bristol De Mai would bring the house down. The popular grey is responsible for three of his trainer's successes in Haydock's signature jumps race but was pulled up last season. He is an outsider this time around and is bidding to emulate Kauto Star,…

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…

The Horsham trainer was suitably impressed by the Gallagher Bloodstock-owned five-year-old's hurdling and seasonal bow, which saw him power to a 15-length success over Broadway Boy under son Jamie Moore on Tuesday. Authorised Speed had proved a very capable bumper horse and while landing just one of five races in that sphere, he was last seen…

Constitution Hill arguably goes into the 2022-23 jumps season as the most exciting horse in training. Last season's stunning Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner sets out on the road to the 2023 Champion Hurdle when he returns in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot this Saturday. The Michael Buckley-owned five-year-old is a red-hot 5/4 favourite to dethrone…

A Plus Tard will take centre stage when he defends his Betfair Chase crown at Haydock Park on Saturday but connections of mud-loving Protektorat, who is a class act in his own right, will be enjoying all the weather bulletins suggesting plenty more rain at the track between now and the weekend. It's not that A Plus Tard does not handle deep ground…