Top jumpers do battle in Grand National Hurdle

Proud part-owner Peter Grieve leads The Cossack and a happy jockey Aaron Kuru back to the winner's stall following the horse's success in last Saturday's Great Northern Hurdle Prominent Hawke's Bay thoroughbred owner/breeder Peter Grieve celebrated one of the most special wins from his long career in racing when The Cossack took out last Saturday's…

The feature jumps races at Warrnambool are likely to come around too soon for Wil John but the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper could still be a player at the May Carnival. Wil John will make his long-awaited return to racing when he steps out in the VOBIS Gold Heath (2100m) at Sandown on Saturday. The gelding has not raced since…

Galileo Invader (right) jumps to the front at the last fence in a maiden hurdle race at Woodville last week. The Hastings-owned and trained gelding raced clear in the run to the line to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Hawke's Bay owner-breeder Ivan Grieve has let one top jumper slip through his hands, but he might have another one coming on after Galileo…

Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde has three runners in this year's Grand National Steeplechase. Picture by Sean McKenna SYMON Wilde has three runners in Sunday's $400000 Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat. Count Zero, Vanguard and Tolemac carry Wilde's hopes in the last jumps feature for 2023 but the Warrnambool trainer admits they face a tough…

Jumps racing looks set to provide what is a rarity these days - a grand final at Te Rapa next month. While most sports have a final or finals, New Zealand thoroughbred racing doesn't have many season-ending, champion-crowning races. The Group 1 Guineas races come too early in the season for that, the Derby and Oaks are great races but often also…

Jockey Willie McCarthy questioned those who doubted the staying ability of Stern Idol after the imported jumper gave a dashing display to claim the Crisp Steeplechase at Sandown. As Stern Idol crossed the line in the 4200m contest 25 lengths clear of his rivals on Sunday, McCarthy put his hand up to his ear. "There was a lot of doubters about him…

Trainer Dane Smith could not have asked for a better birthday present than the one San Remo presented at Sandown. As Smith contemplated birthday celebrations after turning 53 on Sunday, San Remo stormed home to claim the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown to give the trainer his biggest success. Smith did win the Listed Ballarat Cup with…

Punters expected trainer Ciaron Maher to collect a seventh Grand Annual Steeplechase but it was not the one they expected. Stern Idol was sent out the $1.85 favourite in Thursday's 5500m marathon but was pulled-up prior to the last obstacle by jockey Steven Pateman. Instead, it was left to stablemate Rockstar Ronnie, who led throughout to give…

ROCKSTAR IN NAME AND PERFORMANCE Rockstar Ronnie lived up to his name in front of an enthralled crowd with his breathtaking Grand Annual Steeplechase win but co-trainer Ciaron Maher said it was not that long ago that he thought the Annual dream was over for the import purchase. The horse was scratched from a flat race at Sandown after playing up…

Rachael Cunningham could talk for hours about stable star Bee Tee Junior. The recently turned 12-year-old heads to the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown on Sunday as a prelude to the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on August 27. If successful for a second time in the Grand National Steeplechase, Cunningham would consider…

Punters expected trainer Ciaron Maher to collect a seventh Grand Annual Steeplechase but it was not the one they expected. Stern Idol was sent out the $1.85 favourite in Thursday's 5500m marathon but was pulled-up prior to the last obstacle by jockey Steven Pateman. Instead, it was left to stablemate Rockstar Ronnie who led throughout to give…

Declan Maher knows only too well what is required to win Australia's longest race, Warrnambool's Grand Annual Steeplechase. A round table discussion between those involved in Stern Idol has led the jumper to the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained former French jumper had been entered for the Brierly…

Hansard on his way to an impressive success in the 2m novice hurdle Sunday: Huntingdon Hot on the heels of Authorised Speed's impressive success at Sandown on Saturday, trainer Gary Moore unleashed another smart hurdler as Hansard made a winning debut over jumps in an intriguing 2m novice hurdle. A bumper winner for Charles Byrnes, Hansard was…

The jumping juggernaut of the early winter, Hastings trainers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal continued their successful roll last weekend by taking out two of the feature races at the Waikato meeting at Te Rapa. The red-hot combination produced star hurdler The Cossack to win his steeplechasing debut in the $20000 Ken and Roger Browne Memorial…

The Ballarat Turf Club is scheduled to host a six-race card on Sunday afternoon for Grand National Steeplechase Day, where all six races are to be held over the obstacles. Following plenty of rain in the Ballarat area, we are set to be racing on a track rated a Heavy 10, whilst the rail comes out 5m the entire circuit. The day of jumping starts at…

After being retired from the Grand National Hurdle last year, Saunter Boy has returned to Sandown 12 months later to claim victory in the race. A near disaster has turned into triumph for the connections of Saunter Boy who claimed the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Saunter Boy almost fell at the first…

TRIBUTE: Veteran jumps trainer Eric Musgrove (pictured) has paid tribute to Collingwood great Bill Picken. Picture: Morgan Hancock VETERAN jumps trainer Eric Musgrove was shocked to hear of the sudden passing of Collingwood great Bill Picken at Hamilton on Saturday. Picken, 66, who played 212 games of VFL-AFL footy, received numerous accolades from…

William McCarthy has only been a regular in Australian form guides for a little more than a year but he has already built a feature-race CV many jumps jockeys with decades experience would be jealous of. The Irishman on Sunday won a stirring edition of the $350000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) aboard the Paul Preusker-trained St Arnicca at…

Flying Agent (NZ) ridden by Lee Horner jumps on his way to winning the Hammonds Paints Thackeray Steeplechase at Warrnambool. Photo / Racing Photos. Trainer Amy McDonald, rider Lee Horner and their banner horse Flying Agent gained compensation for last year's Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m) defeat by winning the latest edition of the 3450m race at…

Warrnambool's Ciaron Maher claimed a fifth Grand Annual in clinical fashion, with Ablaze torching his rivals as an odds-on favourite in front of an empty trackside hill. Champion Zed Em, under Arron Lynch, who replaced Stephen Pateman following an earlier fall, set the tempo in the 5500-metre challenge. But Ablaze rounded him up just after the…

Champion jumper Wells will line up in a capacity field of 12 in his attempt at a record fourth victory in the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat. Wells won the Grand National at Sandown in 2014 before his victories in the race at Ballarat in 2016 and 2017 and shares the record with Bashboy who was successful in 2012, 2013 and 2015. The Kathryn…

Jumps jockey Aaron Kuru is in for a whirlwind weekend as he aims for Trans-Tasman feature jumps victories. This Saturday, he returns to New Zealand to partner with Nedwin and The Cossack at Te Rapa. The phone call invitation from his long-time supporters, trainer Paul Nelson and co-trainer Corrina McDougal, was enthusiastically received. "If Paul…

As a Warrnambool stalwart, trainer Aaron Purcell is always looking forward to the annual Three-Day Carnival in the seaside town each May. The Grand Annual Steeplechase is the feature of the Carnival and Purcell, as a former winner with Ginolad in 2008, would love nothing more than to add another trophy to his cabinet. Purcell has recently returned…

There was a time where it was uncommon to see a horse in Australia have their first start over a mile and even rarer at 2000m. As for a hurdle race, that is almost unheard of. But the Warrnambool May Carnival is like no other with 30 races spread over the three days with a mix of feature races for sprinters and stayers, maiden races, restricted…