#Knappers Hill

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…

MONSTER hurdler Constitution Hill is already on track to beat a Cheltenham Festival record - nine weeks before it begins. Nicky Henderson's superstar two miler is 1-4 to win the Champion Hurdle on the first day of the Festival. Nothing has got within 12 lengths of Constitution Hill in his five runs under rules. And his 17-length demolition job of…

Well, we've finally arrived at my final blog of 2022. Have you had enough of racing yet this festive period? Of course not! Let's kick off 2023 as we ended 2022, with more superb sport headlined by Cheltenham's New Year's Day fixture. The first horse I'm pinning my hopes on to get the new year off to a flyer is SECRET REPRIEVE in the AIS Handicap…

The lightly-raced eight-year-old has won three of his nine starts over fences and triumphed in six of 17 races under rules, with three runner-up efforts to his name. The consistent Yeats gelding won at Cheltenham in October, before chasing home previous King George VI Chase winner Frodon in the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton. His last run…

MEGAN NICHOLLS celebrated her retirement from racing at the age of 25 - by frolicking in the sea in Barbados. With gigs on ITV Racing and a regular on Racing TV, Meg is going to focus on her blossoming media career instead of riding winners. But first comes some time off in the Caribbean hotspot. A regular to the island where her old man relaxes…

Mares' Hurdle champion Marie's Rock faces a considerable challenge on the first stop towards her Cheltenham Festival defence, but trainer Nicky Henderson hopes the mares' allowance will give her the advantage. The eight-year-old is against geldings in open company for the first time and also lacks the match fitness of all eight rivals, with this…

Mortlach is 4-10 over fences but much more exposed than most of these and appears to have had limitations exposed lately. Beauport looked a smart recruit when beating experienced opposition at Carlisle but then failed to land the odds at Haydock. Thunder Rock is 2-2 over fences, however, but is elevated from handicap company along with Harper's…

Paisley Park is absolutely flying at the moment and he was brilliant in his win at Kempton, where I thought he might struggle. The Stayers' looks wide-open, and he's an interesting player at a double-figure price, despite his advancing years. I think that the strength of the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown was questionable. Home By The Lee, of…

Handicap Chase (Class 3) - 2m½f Gamaret 1pt Win @ 3/1 singleSelection Still completely unexposed as a Horse let alone over fences, I think Gamaret is absolutely chucked in on his Chase debut - and this doesn't seem like a race which will require much winning. A good Bumper winner on his debut under rules in a Bumper at Ffos Las last October when…

National Hunt's traditional curtain-raiser to a new year will take place on Sunday as Cheltenham racecourse will host their New Year's Day card, and our man Steve Chambers has taken at the action from Prestbury Park and looks to kick off 2023 with some winning tips... Classy hurdler MONMIRAL was handed an almighty test on chasing debut when he…

Marie's Rock: returns to Cheltenham on Sunday Mares' Hurdle heroine Marie's Rock will return to Cheltenham and take on the boys for her seasonal comeback in the Dornan Group-sponsored Relkeel Hurdle (2.30) on New Year's Day. The Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old is one of nine declarations for the Grade 2 prize, with Knappers Hill,…

John "Shark" Hanlon told Racing TV that Hewick, the easy winner of Sandown's feature race at odds of 16-1, impressed him at the sales. Full results from the jumps season finale here Jockey Jordan Gainford, trainer John Joseph Hanlon and winning connections with Hewick after his bet365 Gold Cup triumph John "Shark" Hanlon has revealed the secret to…

Broomfield Burg and JPR One are fancied for Betfair Hurdle glory. Clan Des Obeaux, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, is one of several Paul Nicholls runners on the Newbury card Broomfield Burg (left) is favourite for the Betfair Hurdle Favourite Broomfield Burg bids to roll back the years for JP McManus and Nicky Henderson in the Betfair Hurdle…

Racing is really finding its stride after the cold snap derailed the programme last week, with six meetings across Britain and Ireland on Wednesday. Jumps cards take place at Fairyhouse (11.35-3.07), Hereford (12.15-3.45), Lingfield (12.30-3.30) and Taunton (12.53-3.53) before the all-weather kicks in from Dundalk (4.15-7.45) and Wolverhampton…

Michael Buckley, still revelling in the sensational atmosphere he experienced when Constitution Hill shone at Newcastle last month, hopes the Christmas crowd at Kempton can enjoy an equally thrilling treat on Monday when the sport's newest superstar lines up in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (1.55). Trained by Buckley's close pal Nicky Henderson,…

With more than £1.1 million in prize-money already banked from his 46 previous starts the popular 10-year-old, who is one of three likely runners in the race for trainer Paul Nicholls, will bid to increase his career earnings with a third outing in the prestigious Grade One. In 2020 the Nickname gelding produced one of the stories of the season…

Il Ridoto became favourite for Saturday's AIS December Gold Cup (1.50) at Cheltenham after ante-post market leader Midnight River was taken out by in-form trainer Dan Skelton due to the ground. Midnight River looked set to try to continue the yard's remarkable run of Saturday success following big-race victories with Protektorat in the Betfair…

The bookmakers reckon the Unibet Champion Hurdle crown may as well be gift-wrapped and popped underneath Constitution Hill's Christmas tree. Last season's runaway Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner was similarly jaw-dropping on his return at Newcastle last month and that, coupled with Honeysuckle fluffing her lines at Fairyhouse on Sunday, means that…

Of course, this whole article depends on the weather Gods playing ball. It's going to be cold later this week and some more meetings could fall by the wayside. Fingers are firmly crossed for Cheltenham and Doncaster, who have made provisions in the way of frost covers and fleecing. Both racetracks are due to race on both Friday and Saturday and…

Harry Cobden believes Henri The Second could be the'real deal' after following in the hoof prints of his half-brother Enrilo to provide trainer Paul Nicholls with a record-equalling fifth win in the Ballymore Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown Park this afternoon. After filling the runner-up spot on his hurdles debut at Chepstow 38 days ago the…

Chris Wilson looks ahead to the International Meeting and shares five names to note on an exciting card from the home of jumps racing this Saturday, live on Racing TV. Fingers crossed the weather doesn't get in the way! Winter is officially here - but jumps fans should not crack open the mulled wine just yet. Cheltenham's executive will no doubt be…

Stolen Silver: unseated his rider three out when favourite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month Market principals Midnight River, Il Ridoto and Stolen Silver remain in contention for Saturday's £130000 Ais December Gold Cup at Cheltenham (1.50) after the confirmations stage on Monday. Midnight River could bid to continue the fantastic run of…

Harry Cobden believes Henri The Second could be the'real deal' after following in the hoofprints of his half-brother Enrilo to provide trainer Paul Nicholls with a record-equalling fifth win in the Ballymore Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown Park. After filling the runner-up spot on his hurdles debut at Chepstow 38 days ago the gelded son of…

Hewick provided Ireland with another big-race success on British soil when running out an impressive winner of the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. £800 horse Hewick runs out a ready winner of the £160000 feature Winner of the Durham National at Sedgefield in the autumn, Shark Hanlon's charge was pulled up on his return from a break in last month's…

TEMPLEGATE takes on a simply massive Saturday of action confident of banging in a few winners. Our man has all the action covered from Doncaster to Kentucky via Down Royal. You can find his top three tips below - but don't forget to check out his race-by-race guide to ALL the top class Breeders' Cup action HERE as well. Our top tipster also goes…

Cheltenham Festival preps continue in Britain and Ireland this weekend, albeit with nothing as grand as the Dublin Festival to watch for potential Prestbury Park winners. The main races this weekend are at Newbury in England, where features include the Denman Chase (G2) over just short of three miles, the Game Spirit Chase (G2) for two-mile…

RacingGav returns to tip for Easyodds this week for all three days of Cheltenham. Today's tips sees a six point spread across three seperate tips for the opening couple of races at Cheltenham. Remember if any of the selections that Gavin has chosen take your fancy, then click on the odds to add that horse to your bet slip where you can always get…

The Betfair Hurdle is one of the feature races on Super Saturday at Newbury. The Grade 3 handicap takes place over an extended two-mile trip at the Berkshire racecourse. Trainer Nicky Henderson has won this race a record five times and he has two entries this year as he looks to extend his record in the contest. Fourteen runners have been declared,…

THE nights are drawing in, the winter coats are finally coming out and racing really clicks into gear at the November meeting. It was always a meeting I really enjoyed as the real winter horses come out to play. Cheltenham is a testing track, but on the Old course there's more of a speed element to it. After this weekend everything will be on the…

channel for our exclusive free betting tips, picks and offers. Following a winner advised at 5/4 and sent off odds-on on Monday, the horse racing NAP of the Day for Tuesday, 8 November with SportsLens experts is Eric Bloodaxe. He runs in the 2m 4f conditions hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon (2:22). Next Best, meanwhile, is Boombawn in the 2m…

David Pipe seems fairly sweet on Umbrigado (left) The fingerprints of the Pipe family are all over the Paddy Power Gold Cup and there is hope Saturday's showpiece at Cheltenham (2.20) can find its way back to their Devon yard. Legendary trainer Martin Pipe won the race a record eight times before handing the licence to his son David, who struck in…

Paul Nicholls: red-hot trainer has won the first two races at Sandown and has two more chances Paul Nicholls has enjoyed a superb week with trebles at Chepstow on Wednesday and Exeter on Friday. The latter included a 1-2 in the feature Haldon Gold Cup and the champion trainer landed another Grade 2 prize on West Country weekend when Knappers Hill…

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has had his say on a promising week of racing which includes the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday. Nicholls also has a few chances that are being aimed at either Cheltenham Festival in March or at Aintree during the Grand National meeting in April. The road to Cheltenham Festival is almost relentless for some…

On a busy day of National Hunt and Flat racing, the ITV Racing cameras are at Aintree, Doncaster, Down Royal and Wincanton on Saturday afternoon. The broadcast is on air on ITV4 between 12.25 and 3.30pm and our expert has predictions for all 11 races. Enda McElhinney has recommendations for all 11 races on Saturday. You can read the analysis behind…

Can up-and-coming hurdler Knappers Hill (right) take Sceau Royal's crown at Wincanton? If Sceau Royal wins this race again then it wouldn't be a surprise if it were to be named after him at some point in the future, because the ten-year-old has dominated the contest in recent years. He won his first Elite Hurdle off a mark of 149 when it was a…

Entries have been revealed today for the £160000 Paddy Power Gold, the highlight of The November Meeting at Cheltenham (Saturday 12th November). Staged over two and a half miles, the Premier Handicap Chase was inaugurated in 1960 and is the first big race of the Jump season. Sponsor Paddy Power has three 7-1 co-favourites - French Dynamite (Mouse…

Saturday horse racing tips feature selections from a huge day of racing including the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, flat racing at Doncaster and top-class jump racing at Wincanton and Aintree. talkSPORT have gone through the race cards and form so you don't have to, with betting tips across all the racing from the UK. Israr won last time out not only…

Two of the crown jewels in the West Country racing calendar are combining for the first time this weekend - with a star-studded equine line-up helping the region take centre stage. The idea of creating the "double" was a Jockey Club initiative that has seen Exeter's Haldon Cup Day move from its traditional Tuesday slot to a Friday, joining it onto…

1pt win Masters Legacy in 3.00 Exeter at 9/1 (General) 1pt e.w. Be Your Best in 8.20 Keeneland at 18/1 (Sky Bet, William Hill 1/5 1,2,3,4,5) Some classy jumpers are on show across ITV4's Exeter and Down Royal coverage, before attentions turn to Future Stars Friday at the Breeders' Cup, but attractive betting races are unsurprisingly at a premium.

Doncaster and Wincanton hold big meetings on Saturday with many races covered on ITV, including the highlights of the cards. Later on, the Breeders' Cup features at Keeneland Racecourse for the big US meeting that sees the best rated horse in the world. ITV Racing free bets and new customer offers Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet…

The ITV Racing cameras are at Haydock, Leicester and Sandown on Saturday afternoon, serving up action on the Flat and over the jumps. There are six televised races, including the Grade 1 Celebration Chase and the bet365 Gold Cup from Sandown. Our expert has a race-by-race guide to Saturday's ITV Racing action, with the programme on air from…

Frodon: will not defend his Ladbrokes Champion Chase crown at Down Royal Three-time Grade 1 winner Frodon will not defend his Ladbrokes Champion Chase crown at Down Royal this weekend and will instead head to Wincanton after soft ground in Northern Ireland forced connections to change their plans. The ten-year-old was last seen finishing midfield…

Exeter and Wincanton Racecourses have reported'outstanding' interest in the inaugural West Country Weekend, when both tracks will combine their two feature race days on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th November. The Jockey Club initiative will see Exeter's Betway Haldon Cup Day moved from its traditional slot on Tuesday 1st November to the Friday of…

It's Imperial Cup Day at Sandown on Saturday. The competitive handicap hurdle is the feature race at the Surrey racecourse. We have predictions for all six of the Placepot races at the meeting. Sandown Tote Placepot predictions - Saturday selections The Tote is the home of the Placepot and new customers can place their first bet on a Placepot or…