#Philip Hobbs

After two days of brilliant racing in Liverpool, amid the fancy hats and the tossed bet slips, it all comes down to this: day at Aintree. The flagship race, a four-mile steeplechase, leads the attractions on Saturday, the big one at 5:15. But there's plenty of other racing before that. And after a thrilling Thursday and a fantastic Friday, you can…

Cheltenham's Showcase meeting is one of the highlights of the opening salvos of the jumps season and Saturday's card looks an absolute cracker. The ITV cameras will be at Prestbury Park for five of the seven races, including two £60000 handicap chases and a £40000 Masterson Holdings Hurdle that has been won by the likes of Dodging Bullets, Tiger…

Tucked away from view in a luscious green field at the foot of the Blackdown Hills in Somerset is a chestnut gelding who - if only he could talk - would have an extraordinary tale to tell indeed. As it is, the 19-year-old retired racehorse will have to make do with Hollywood speaking for him: Dream Alliance is about to be immortalised on the big…

Messire Des Obeaux: won at the highest level over hurdles Paul Nicholls trained the winner of this race in 2021 and in the previous five runnings was responsible for the favourite. It is doubtful that any of those market leaders were as well handicapped as Magic Saint might be. Less than two years ago, Magic Saint finished second in the Silver…

It is the first afternoon of racing at Wincanton of the New Year and the ITV Racing cameras are in town showing three live contests on terrestrial television. Virgin Bet are sponsors of the entire card, with seven races underway from 12.20pm through until 3.50pm and our racing expert has taken a look at all the Wincanton action on Saturday. Kim…

TAHMURAS can provide Paul Nicholls with another noivce success at the top level in the Unibet Novices' Tolworth Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.25pm) at Sandown Park on Saturday afternoon. Nicholls claimed the Challow Hurdle with Hermes Allen at Newbury last week and he is heading to the Cheltenham Festival with a big chance. Now Tahmuras can book…

Saturday sees the 174th running of the Grand National at Aintree. The Charlie Longsdon-trained Snow Leopardess heads the betting but here we run through the entire field, in order of allotted weight. 1) MINELLA TIMES (Henry de Bromhead) Rating (out of 10) 6, weight 11st 10lbs Created history for Rachael Blackmore last year but he has only run twice…

Geraghty has had 43 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, and gives his thoughts on how the Irish and British runners will do plus Supreme fancy Constitution Hill Chris Hughes takes a tour of Dan Skelton's racing stables before Cheltenham When Barry Geraghty celebrated the first of his 43 Festival winners in 2002, his triumph on Moscow Flyer in the…

Chantry House: drops in class for the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase Into Overdrive started the season as perhaps the most exciting prospect ever to emerge from Mark Walford's underrated North Yorkshire yard. In two runs this year he has only advanced his peak Racing Post Rating by 1lb, but he has enhanced his reputation considerably and the…

Paisley Park won a third Ladbrokes Long Walk Hurdle in the rescheduled 2022 renewal at Kempton. Emma Lavelle's charge wasn't expected to be suited by the switch of venue from Ascot and turning in he was in third as old rival Champ and Goshen duelled up front. However he began to close and once in front going to the last, the race was over. the…

The crowds are about to descend on Aintree - the Grand National is finally upon us. Bookies will hold their collective breaths at 4.15pm, hoping for one of the outsiders to storm to the front and be first past the post. All of the best jockeys have a horse. The departing AP McCoy is on the favourite, Shutthefrontdoor, while Ruby Walsh will be…

It might sometimes be difficult to believe with the same stables dominating, but fairytales do still exist on the Flat and the story of Pyledriver is proof. Owners Guy and Hew Edwards had limited success in syndicates before purchasing La Pyle to race over hurdles. She beat just five horses home in her five starts for Philip Hobbs before she was…

2022-12-24Boxing Day racing at Wetherby: Andy Gibson previews the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase One can comprehend why the Dan Skelton-trained Shan Blue has opened as the early favourite for this Class 1 handicap chase. That's not to say that the market is necessarily correct, but his performance over course and distance in the 2021 Charlie Hall…

The Sky Sports News presenter will be providing us with her fancies throughout each week Alex Hammond provides us with her daily double from today's racing and she is hoping that both Harry Fry and Richard Johnson enjoy an upturn in fortunes after the former saw stable stars Neon Wolf and Unowhatimeanharry hit the frame at the Cheltenham…

Paisley Park should enjoy a victory stroll in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (3.30) at Cheltenham today. Emma Lavelle's star captured Thursday's feature race 12 months ago and returns to the Festival on the back of a seven-race winning streak. "He's done everything right - he's barely foot a put wrong - and hopefully we can do it again," said the…

Love Envoi did plenty wrong but still managed to gain a fourth successive victory in taking the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Sandown. Love Envoi strikes again for trainer Harry Fry and jockey Jonathan Burke in the Noel Fehily Racing silks Harry Fry's six-year old relishes deep winter ground and…

A scroll through Twitter on the evening of December 26 in recent years has tended to reveal Paul Nicholls celebrating King George success with a McDonald's on the way back from Kempton. The Ditcheat maestro, who is seeking a record-extending 13th win in the race, could well be lovin' it again on Monday with Bravemansgame and Hitman among the main…

Bravemansgame and L'Homme Presse feature among a final field of nine horses declared for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton. Paul Nicholls has long since considered the Boxing Day showpiece as a tailor-made target for Bravemansgame, who was a brilliant winner of the Kauto Star Novices' Chase on this day last season. The seven-year-old…

THIS is the wild moment an out-of-control horse dumped his jockey to the ground before trying to headbutt two others. Camprond, who was hugely fancied for the Coral Cup at this year's Cheltenham Festival, went all over the place on his debut over fences at Exeter on Monday. Trained by Philip Hobbs and owned by legendary billionaire JP McManus,…

The Randox Grand National is underway and racegoers have returned to the world's greatest steeplechase for the first time in three years. Punters have not been at Aintree to cheer on the Grand National runners since 2019, after the race meet was cancelled in 2020 and held behind closed doors last year. They braved rain and chilly temperatures on…

Thyme Hill is fancied to finally land a big Cheltenham win in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle. Philip Hobbs' runner, 5-1 with bookies Betfred, has past champions to see off in Thursday's feature. Over 60000 people will be at the track on St Patrick's Day, all hoping to find some winners. Unlike 2021, when Ireland dominated, the British runners are…

The weights for the 2022 Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse have risen by 5lbs after the top three in the handicap - Galvin, Conflated and Melon - were taken out at the latest scratchings' stage. There are now 78 entries remaining, with Henry De Bromhead's Chris's Dream now topping the weights at 11st10lb, for the Aintree showpiece on…

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…

Well two for Paul Nicholls and with neither Nicky Henderson or the Ditcheat maestro having runners in the feature - he looks firm favourite to take a 13th Trainers' Championship. We had a winner for Ireland - one for Scotland - and one for Wales... Make sure you join Andy Jones and myself for all of the action tomorrow from 10am. The feature race…

Get the most interesting trends and statistics from today's horse racing with the free Stat Selector tips and best bets. Smart Stat: 21% - Philip Hobbs's strike rate at TAUNTON since the start of the 2018/19 season Midnight Midge had been given a chance by the handicapper and duly opened his account over fences on his return to action and debut for…

There are five meetings scheduled across Britain and Ireland on Thursday, weather permitting. The National Hunt fare comes thick and fast from Clonmel (12.05-3.15pm), Newcastle (12.12-3.22), Warwick (12.20-3.30) and Taunton (12.28-3.40), with a pause before the solitary Flat card of the day on the all-weather at Chelmsford (4.30-8.30). Thursday's…

The Grand National Festival ends with the world-famous steeplechase today. The three-day race meeting at Aintree began on Thursday, continued on Friday with Ladies Day and will culminate for another year today. Come 5.15 pm on Saturday there will be 70000 on the racecourse for the Grand National and 500 million people watching the racing across the…

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…

A RARE Triple Crown attempt is on the cards for Constitution Hill as racing's most exciting prospect is finally unleashed at Newcastle today. After only three runs, Constitution Hill is just 7lb off officially being more talented than triple Champion Hurdle hero and legend Istabraq - that's why today's Grade 1 event is a'must win' event. Last…

THE Cheltenham Festival ante post markets have been in full swing since March. Shrewd punters have been busy plotting and predicting how this year's races will finish. Irish trainers dominated last year and with the likes of Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead having such strong yards, it's no surprise many of their superstars lead the way…

Constitution Hill: big step up on his first run outside novice company Constitution Hill's stunning win in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle had many calling him the best-ever two-mile hurdler and propelled him into the ranks of the greatest based on Racing Post Ratings, which started in 1988. Here is the kind of company he's keeping…

There is a simple but effective example in the Plate of the sort of trends worth noting and those that are stories, which are of use to the casual viewer but not to punters. The link has been made from Celebre D'Allen to Salut Flo and Ballynagour, who both won this race in the same colours early in the 2010s. You would have heard less often that…

Kapcorse: Harry Cobden sported Sir Peter O'Sullevan silks when successful in this race last year Perhaps the name most synonymous with the Coral Gold Cup undercard in recent years is dual Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial winner Kapcorse, and bookmakers are giving him more respect than is typically the case. The early favourite has contested three of…

Several of the principals in last month's Paddy Power Gold Cup, won by Midnight Shadow (second right), are set to clash again Saturday's big race is the newly named Racing Post Gold Cup at Cheltenham. The long-established feature has been won by some of jump racing's greats including Flyingbolt and Pendil, as well as popular performers such as…

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…

The Grand National isn't the most prestigious horse race in the world for nothing. It's an incredibly challenging course, featuring 30 jumps (16 fences, with 14 of those being jumped twice) on the four-mile and two and a half furlong race. But, while safety improvements have been made in recent years, the Grand National remains a challenging task…

Jake Price returns for yet another round of Saturday horse racing betting tips and predictions. This time his selections come from the meets at Ascot and Haydock. This Saturday Jake is tipping 3pts worth of tips spread over three races at Haydock and Ascot including a 1pt tip for a 8/1 selection. If any of these tips take your fancy, then click on…

ENTRIES have been announced for three of the biggest races at the Cheltenham Festival. And, much like last year, it looks like the Irish contingent could be set to dominate yet again. Henry de Bromhead, Willie Mullins and Co smashed the home team 23-5 in 2021. De Bromhead alone scooped the holy grail of the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold…

At The Races expert Alan Thomson gives his thoughts and a big-race verdict on the Race of the Day at Ascot, an ultra-competitive handicap hurdle. The Sky Sports Racing cameras focus on Ascot's Friday slot and nine runners go to post for the Class 2 Garden For All Seasons Handicap Hurdle (3.15) over two miles. Fancied Herbiers has been declared a…

Trainer Dan Skelton says Protektorat has had the perfect build up for his re-match with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday. Protektorat, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, was the first British-trained horse home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March when third. But the seven-year-old has 17-and-a-half…

McFabulous: runs for the second time over fences at Exeter on Monday There's a fascinating clash in store between three high-class hurdlers who are all expected to develop into better chasers this season. McFabulous, officially 6lb superior to Camprond, makes a quick return after fluffing his lines as 4-6 favourite for the Grade 2'Rising Stars'…

Another big day ahead for the ITV racing team this Sunday (13 Nov) as they take in four races from Cheltenham on the final day of their three-day November Meeting. Like all big race days, here at GeeGeez we are on hand with all the LIVE ITV race trends and stats……….. 1.

Shishkin and Energumene are on course for a mouth-watering rematch at Cheltenham on Wednesday with the pair among eight runners declared for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. The top-class duo served up one of the races of the season in January's Clarence House Chase at Ascot when the Nicky Henderson -trained Shishkin narrowly got the better…

The Randox Grand National takes centre stage on the third and final day of the Aintree Festival - and what a race we have in store. The world's greatest steeplechase is woven into the fabric of the sporting year - an occasion when once-a-year punters get to pit their wits against the bookies, while more dedicated racing fans will look at the race…

Day one of the International Meeting at Cheltenham on Friday features a bumper eight-race card from the Cotswolds with an early start time of 11.30am. That's down to the addition of the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase, which was lost to a waterlogged course at Huntingdon last Sunday, and adds even more quality to Friday's Cheltenham offering. Racing at…

Philip Hobbs gave Grade One-winning hurdler Thyme Hill a mark of "eight and a half" out of ten following his decisive success on his debut over fences in the Betway'Future Stars' Silver Bowl Novices' Chase at Exeter. The eight-year-old demonstrated that he could easily be as good over fences as he was hurdles when making his first outing over…