#Sky Games

Narrowly beaten on his racecourse debut at the Curragh, the son of No Nay Never went on to win each of his four subsequent starts, including the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. But it was his scintillating display on what proved to be his final juvenile appearance in the Group One Phoenix Stakes that saw him top the charts with a rating of…

The five-year-old was sent off the 1/3 favourite for Sunday's Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle on the back of a wide-margin Irish debut win in a Naas maiden during December. Supporters of Willie Mullins' son of Diamond Boy didn't have much to worry about throughout the two-mile contest, Paul Townend pushing the 1/3 favourite out to a six and a…

Willie Mullins' raider was just under three lengths adrift of the winner at the line, but having been ridden with patience in the early salvos, was rattling home at a fair pace under the Irishman, keeping on and reducing the deficit with every stride. Mr Incredible is owned by Paul Byrne, who was the owner of last year's Grand National winner Noble…

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh hold the records for the most wins by a trainer and jockey respectively at the Cheltenham Festival. Walsh, who was leading jockey at the meeting on 11 occasions, retired in 2019 having taken his Festival record to 59 when successful for the final time at Cheltenham on Klassical Dream in the Supreme Novices' earlier…

Galia Des Liteaux never put a foot wrong as she jumped her rivals into submission in the eventmasters.co.uk Hampton Novices' Chase at Warwick. Dan Skelton has made no secret of the regard in which he holds the seven-year-old mare, and when she won a Listed event for mares on her chasing debut the sky looked the limit. Upped to Grade One level for…

Nicky Henderson plans to waste no time in trying to secure Arclight some valuable black type after she maintained her unbeaten record over jumps facile in the Play Coral "Racing-Super-Series" For Free Fillies' Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday. Faced with just the three rivals the daughter of Champs Elysees saw her task made all the more…

The nine-year-old won six successive races over obstacles between November 2020 and December 2021, but has since endured a spell in the doldrums. However, having been pulled up on four successive occasions, Bushypark hinted at a return to form when runner-up as a 50/1 shot over hurdles at Newcastle last weekend and he was the 2/1 favourite turned…

Those that are just getting into college basketball have been treated to some good games and some interesting developments. Make sure you are playing to your strengths since there are so many teams and so many games on a nightly basis. There are 55 games on the CBB card, to go along with six in the Association and a full-on 12-pack on the ice. I've…

Okay, it wouldn't be quite as dramatic as Lester Piggott at the 1990 Breeders' Cup. "I have decided to come out of retirement and ride for the short period while Jack [Kennedy] is on the sidelines," Russell said in his statement. But, with Kennedy breaking his leg for a fifth time at Naas on Sunday, the Cheltenham Festival, just two months away,…

Not sighted since winning the two-runner Grade 2 Jacquart Noel Novices' Chase at Ascot on December 202019, the grey Angels Breath makes his long-awaited return to action in Kempton's Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase on Saturday. Still owned by'Walters Plant Hire & Ronnie Bartlett' but under a new trainer having been switched from Nicky Henderson to Sam…

Bought from France where he was a Listed winner on very soft ground, L'Eau Du Sud looks to have been gaining some vital experience in his first couple of starts for Dan Skelton in Britain. He seemed badly in need of the outing first time out, following 230 days off the track, at Haydock in November but stepped forward from that when a good third -…

Nicky Henderson's Jonbon was safely tucked away in his Seven Barrows box at Christmas but he still got some festive cheer when Boothill won the Wayward Lad at Kempton. Before that boost - he had easily seen off Harry Fry's horse in the Henry VIII at Sandown - his chasing form had little substance to it (in terms of what he had beaten), even if he…

The week just gone over jumps was a welcome pause after the unrelenting Christmas and New Year action, but it has nevertheless thrown up several Festival clues in the last few years. The feature event at Sandown, the Unibet Tolworth Hurdle, has gone to subsequent Sky Bet Supreme winners Constitution Hill and Summerville Boy in recent seasons, while…

Having beaten a pair of better-fancied horses from each of Willie Mullins' and Gordon Elliott's yards, the son of Walk In The Park is now as short as 8-1 for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival on March 15. Fascile Mode had to come wide in the two-mile contest under 7lb claimer Charlie Mullins, but had the race in the bag a…

The Ditcheat handler began the afternoon on 97 winners for the campaign and sent a strong team of five runners across Somerset. He was double-handed in the Broadway & Horton Cricket Club Novices' Hurdle, with punters unable to split stablemates Iliko D'Olivate and Pleasant Man, who were the 6/4 joint-favourites. Pleasant Man ran with credit in…

1pt win Stattler in Cheltenham Gold Cup at 14/1 (General) I unashamedly find it quite hard to take the plunge when it comes to antepost bets on the Cheltenham Festival. If you believe what you read elsewhere then the real value is only on offer around September/October time the previous year and there is, of course, a modicum of truth in…

Not without late support but sent off at 100/30 as the Willie Mullins second-string behind stablemate Grangeclare West, Champ Kiely set off in front and barely saw another rival en route to winning Sunday's two and a half-mile feature. The seven-year-old son of Ocavango, who disappointed when only fourth as the odds-on jolly in the Royal Bond over…

The Henry De Bromhead-trained daughter of Stowaway, winner of the mares' novices' hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021, hadn't tasted success in any race since that high-profile Grade Two score but had made an encouraging enough start over fences at Thurles last month. She was 5/4 to go one better and ultimately proved six lengths too good for…

It may have been a race comprised of old favourites but, in keeping with the theme of late, there was a big-price shock in the Veterans' Final at Sandown on Saturday. Wishing And Hoping, one of four teenagers in the line-up, was a 50/1 shot and a shorter price than only one of his 17 rivals, but he rolled back the years to register a…

1pt win Ballygriffincottage in Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at 16/1 (Coral, Unibet, Ladbrokes, bet365) There might not be a huge amount of strength in depth when it comes to the British novice chasers this year but Sporting Life Arkle favourite Jonbon obviously looks the real deal, while the likes of Thyme Hill and The Real Whacker have thrown…

Love Envoi was an ultra-impressive winner of the Listed Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Mares' Hurdle at Sandown and propelled herself towards the head of the market for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham. The Harry Fry-trained seven-year-old travelled supremely well throughout in the two-and-a-half-mile contest and pulled herself to the…

1pt win Francesco Clemente in Cazoo St Leger at 25/1 (Sky Bet) No shortage of water yet to pass under the bridge prior to the Cazoo St Leger on September 10 so with one firm cutting Westover to a ridiculously skinny 6/4 for the Doncaster Classic on the back of winning a decidedly weak Irish Derby last weekend, I can't resist exploring some of the…

Four teenagers feature among the 18 runners in the eighth edition of the Veterans' Final and they will be bidding to emulate Seeyouatmidnight (2021) and Pete The Feat (2017) who both took the prize at 13. Pete The Feat also went close the following season when runner-up to Buywise as a 14-year-old, more than a decade after he had made his debut.…

The gelded son of Authorized will face seven rivals when bidding to extend his unbeaten run over hurdles on his return to Grade One company in the two-mile prize, which was claimed 12 months ago by current Unibet Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill. While victory for Moore would be a first in the race, he feels it would be extra fitting for…

The Challow Novices' Hurdle has a stellar roll of honour this century and Paul Nicholls, responsible for the last two winners, Bravemansgame and Stage Star, won it again with Hermes Allen (144p from 135p). This renewal combined both quantity - it was the first double-figure field since 2009 - with quality, though the testing conditions took their…

Picking up from my last column to cover the remainder of the holiday program (December 28 to January 1) in what was the busiest post-Boxing Day period for some time, the narrative seemed to me more of the same - some horses enhanced their reputations, a bigger number diminished theirs, and a standout performance to breathe new life into some…

Willie Mullins has farmed the New Year's Day feature in winning eight of the last 10 runnings, but Minella Indo's battling display in the hands of Rachael Blackmore ended the Closutton handler's five-year stranglehold on the Grade Three contest and gave Henry de Bromhead his second win in the race after Champagne West's success in 2017. Winner of…

The high-class James Du Berlais made no mistake as 1/4 favourite on his debut over fences and first run for 612 days in the McInerney Beginners' Chase. Willie Mullins' charge has always held a lofty reputation since arriving as an experienced hurdler from France, so much so he made his belated first start for the yard in the 2021 Unibet Champion…

The exciting Jet Powered lost his unbeaten record in the Coral Racing Club Join For Free'Introductory' Hurdle at Newbury as Jupiter Du Gite recorded a wide margin success at 66/1. Sent off at a prohibitive price, Jet Powered tracked Jupiter Du Gite through the early stages with the field well strung out at halfway. The field closed a little on the…

Shewearsitwell provided Willie Mullins with a sixth victory in the last seven runnings of the BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown. Two subsequent Cheltenham Festival heroines in Let's Dance and Concertista are among the champion trainer's recent winners of the Grade Three contest and Shewearsitwell was actually sent off favourite…

Nicky Henderson's Constitution Hill is long odds-on to lift the Champion Hurdle crown in March following his latest demolition job in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. And while connections of the unbeaten five-year-old are unlikely to be quaking in their boots, State Man gave further evidence he may well prove his biggest threat with…

It was a shame Edwardstone unseated Tom Cannon at the fifth in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton. He had been brilliant in the Tingle Creek and this was supposed to be further evidence that he's ready to have a real crack at Energumene in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Alas, it wasn't to be, but at least he returned unscathed and the Champion…

Winner of the Irish Gold Cup here last season, the 2/1 favourite was always travelling sweetly towards the head of affairs and was in front two out. Jack Kennedy's mount was last off the bridle and he had this won some way out, drawing five lengths clear of Kemboy (18/5). His task was made easier when favourite A Plus Tard was withdrawn at…

The outstanding performer in the bumper sphere last season with wins at the Dublin Racing Festival, the Cheltenham Festival and the Punchestown Festival, the five-year-old made a smooth transition to the jumping game at Fairyhouse earlier in the month. Returning to Grade One level, the son of Walk In The Park and six-time Cheltenham Festival…

The sextet includes a brace of Grade One prizes with Blue Lord capturing the Paddy Power Rewards Club Chase and Facile Vega maintaining his unbeaten record in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle. Winter Fog made a winning start for the yard when coming clear in the Paddy Power'Je Suis Une Baguette' Handicap Hurdle while the Closutton…

Edwardstone was lobbing along at the back of the field when he got in too close to one down the far side leaving Cannon no chance as he was catapulted out of the saddle. Editeur Du Gite was bowling along nicely in front under Niall Houlihan at that stage and he didn't see another rival as he galloped on relentlessly for a 13-length success from…

Having only found the mighty Jonbon too good last time out in the Grade One Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown Park, Boothill came home the ultimately comfortable winner of the Grade Two Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase. With 13/8 favourite Lac De Constance unseating Harry Skelton at the eighth fence, Boothill made smooth…

One of last season's leading two mile novice chasers, he was always travelling sweetly in this Grade One feature and could be called the winner going to the last. A sound leap there sealed matters and he hit the line hard, 11 lengths clear of nearest pursuer Captain Guinness. Sky Bet, Betfair and Paddy Power cut the winner to 6/1 from 16s for the…

The 1/7 favourite was making it five from five over timber and landing his fourth Grade One with another near flawless display. Highway One O Two set out to make all and kept the market leader company to the home turn before he was passed by last year's winner and stablemate Epatante. But Nico De Boinville went through the gears aboard Constitution…

The winner's stablemate Frodon cut out the running until the home turn when he was passed by L'Homme Presse, who had jumped left throughout, occasionally impeding the winner. Bravemansgame joined issue at the second last and was driven clear of his rival soon after. He had the race in safe keeping at the final fence - where L'Homme Presse pitched…

Saint Roi and Lossiemouth were the highlights of a sparkling Willie Mullins treble at Leopardstown on Monday. The former came from last to first to open his account over fences in the Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase at Leopardstown. Fourth in the Irish Champion Hurdle, the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Punchestown Champion Hurdle…

I'm going over to Leopardstown on Boxing Day to ride NUSRET in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle and I'm really looking forward to it. I worked Nusret around the Curragh the other day and I really liked what I felt, he's a lovely horse and it'll be nice to see where he ranks in the juvenile pecking order this year. I'm hoping he'll be there…

I rarely turn down work, but the enquiry on Saturday as to whether I would be interested in writing something about a fascinator modelled on the Scales of Justice that the lady asking was wearing had to be politely declined. Such a request would never happen at Cheltenham, though in most other ways Royal Ascot is the Flat's version of the…

Epsom was where it all started for Richard Kingscote. While it might not have been the Derby, it might well have felt like it to the teenager was thrown in the deep end for his very first ride in public, taking on the likes of Frankie Dettori, Johnny Murtagh and Kieran Fallon - all now Derby-winning jockeys themselves - in a conditions race there…

2pts win Meditate in the 1000 Guineas at 7/1 (Betfred, Betway, Coral and Ladbrokes) 1pt win Silver Knott in the Derby at 25/1 (Betfred, BetUK) 1pt win Bridestones in the Oaks at 33/1 (bet365, BetVictor, Unibet) If there's value in the Qipco 2000 Guineas betting it's probably Little Big Bear at 5/1. Aidan O'Brien's son of No Nay Never was the…

A dominant winner on his first start for Willie Mullins at Tramore on New Year's Day, the five-year-old did not run again until pushing Nicky Henderson's Jonbon close in a Grade One novice hurdle at Aintree in the spring. On the strength of that form, he was a short price for his reappearance and first start over the larger obstacles in the Irish…

The Gordon Elliott-trained Itswhatunitesus successfully conceded weight all round in the opening Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Rated Novice Hurdle. The five-year-old was a maiden winner at Cork in November under the recently retired Davy Russell and, sent off at 5/4, duly followed up in the hands of stable jockey Jack Kennedy. Kennedy kept things…

Last season's Sporting Life Arkle hero was always travelling sweetly under Tom Cannon and was hard on the bridle as he chased his only serious rival going to the second last. He settled it in a matter of strides too, going clear to score by nine lengths. Shishkin was well-held in third after a mistake at the Pond Fence. "I couldn't believe how well…

Cieren Fallon had nowhere to go for much of the Ascot straight in the St James's Palace Stakes, but when he did have daylight the German Guineas winner flew home and just ran out of time to catch Coroebus, having to settle for what looked a desperately unlucky fourth. Trainer William Haggas has dismissed the notion of supplementing him for the…