#Derek O'Connor

A town normally in carnival mode is eerily quiet. Where banners and marquees should herald the boisterous crowds to come, there is calm. For four days in March, the Cheltenham Festival usually welcomes thousands of visitors for its annual carnival. This year is different - no spectators or racehorse owners and a sport seeking a boost after negative…

The world's most prestigious horse race returns to our screens on Saturday evening as the eagerly-anticipated Grand National takes place at Aintree. With the cancellation of last year's race due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been a full two years since race fans were able to watch the most anticipated race of the year. Last…

eel the roar greeting the opener at the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon and you will soon realise how much you missed it. With two novice races of nine runners or less, day one reflects the field-size issues that have become a major concern in British racing - yet the opener still goes back in time. Nicky Henderson supplies a hot favourite and…

CLOTH CAP can enhance his Randox Grand National credentials with victory in the Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.37pm) at Doncaster on Saturday afternoon. After some of the Grand National hopefuls from Ireland put down their case last weekend with Any Second Now narrowly beating Escaria Ten in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse, some…

NOW the dust has settled on a fantastic Christmas and New Year period of racing, it's time to look forward to the holy grail of National Hunt racing - the Cheltenham Festival. Firms are opening markets for the handicaps and some are going non-runner no bet on a few races already. This is the time where the ante post bets begin to become more…

Chacun Pour Soi lit up day one of the Punchestown festival. The Punchestown Gold Cup is the highlight of day two. The late defection of Minella Indo has slightly taken the gloss of the race. It's still a fascinating, and well contested, heat. The supporting card looks well up to scratch. 3.40 pm Adare Manor Handicap Hurdle Mt Leinster Gold brought…

3 - Truckers Lodge 1 Any Biscuits (IRE) Mr Derek O'Connor 2 Bidentime (IRE) Mr Rob James (7) 3 Embassy Gardens Mr Patrick Mullins 4 Kiki Badger (IRE) Mr K Callaghan (7) 5 Lighthouse Hill Ms K L Derwin (7) 6 Percy Pi Mr Finian Maguire 7 Rohirrim Lad (IRE) Mr D G Lavery (3) 8 Santonito (FR) Mr B O'Neill 9 Susans Sensation (IRE) Mr J Dunne (7) 10 The…