#Just Beautiful

Mr Jack and Niall Houlihan on the way to an emotional victory at Plumpton on Monday Mr Jack's victory in the concluding 2m handicap hurdle provided a poignant success for Andy Irvine, partner of trainer Zoe Davison who died earlier this month after a long battle with cancer. Davison's death on January 3 was preceded by a double for the yard on the…

The first of two days of top class horse racing action takes place at Leopardstown this afternoon as Irish Champions Weekend kicks off. The eight-race card features two Group 1s, two Group 2s, one Group 3, a listed race and two incredibly competitive handicaps. Just seven line up in the Irish Champion Stakes, but it is a high class field, as you…

When Cue Card landed the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton last year the traditional Boxing Day family party hosted by trainer Colin Tizzard turned into a'bloody good night'. Goodness knows how Tizzard will describe the celebrations this time round if everything goes to plan. Not that Tizzard seems to know what that means. Five horses will line…

Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick. Rachel King (Knights Order): "He was the nicest horse ever to ride over 3200m and to get one for Gai (Waterhouse) it means a lot definitely. She's been such a huge supporter of mine and being apprentice to her for so long, it's just…

William Haggas: in sensational form on Saturday William Haggas was left struggling to remember such a glut of winners after Dubai Honour in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and Cloudy Dawn in the Group 3 Prix de Lieurey completed an across the Channel four-timer in the space of 40 frantic minutes on Saturday. With Sacred striking in the Group 2…

Irish 1000 Guineas (G1) winner Empress Josephine is the best of the trio of Europeans set for Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland. We'll give a quick update on her before examining the stateside debutantes - fellow Irish invader Nicest and progressive British shipper Cloudy Dawn. As discussed in her scouting report for the…

Racing at The Curragh takes centre stage on Sunday and the best bet of the day can be found in the William Hill Ireland Renaissance Stakes. Ger Lyons' POWER UNDER ME (3.05 nap) was a respectable three-length 10th of 20 to Dexter Belle in a handicap at this course and distance two weeks ago. With blinkers on for the first time, Colin Keane can take…

Rain In Holland won the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks at Turffontein on Saturday and in doing so became the fifth Triple Tiara champion. The Sean Tarry-trained filly was pushed all the way to the line by Light Of The Moon but in the end class prevailed, as did Rain In Holland, ridden once again by Richard Fourie. Going off at 9-20, the daughter of…

There are few forces more unstoppable than a trainer on a roll and, in the case of Simon and Ed Crisford, the father and son combination maintained their irresistible run of form on Longines Irish Champions Weekend when Jadoomi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) burned his rivals off from the front in the G2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang…

Jean-Claude Rouget has targeted his three-year-old Vadeni at the 10-furlong contest since he beat his elders in the Eclipse at Sandown. That day he held off the late thrust of John and Thady Gosden's Mishriff, who many considered to be slightly unlucky in running at Sandown, and he will have another crack at the favourite. Luxembourg was Aidan…