#Asterion Forlonge

There are some surprising names still left in the 28 entries for the Stayers' Hurdle, particularly the name of star 2 mile chasing veteran Chacun Pour Soi for Willie Mullins. The master of Closutton is not averse to making multiple entries for the Festival, and has also thrown in last season's Ballymore hero Sir Gerhard. The betting is wide open…

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…

What a week it has been! The racing has been phenomenal, the weather largely clear and most crucially of all, fans were back where they belong on the terraces. Cheltenham felt like it was truly back this week as a result. See you in 2023! It's the seventh Irish-trained winner from seven races on Friday! Mark McDonagh did an excellent job steering…

2022-01-17Shock in the King George VI Chase as Tornado Flyer makes history at Kempton It is 20 years since Florida Pearl got the better of triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate to give Ireland's perennial champion trainer his only previous success in the Kempton Park showpiece. Two decades on, Mullins fired a twin assault, with Asterion Forlonge very…

Though still in its relative infancy, the two-day Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday and Sunday has become a huge part of the Irish jump-racing scene already. The Leopardstown meeting takes place in early February and has fast become an all-guns-blazing dress rehearsal for the Cheltenham Festival for some of Ireland's leading National Hunt…

Minella Indo and A Plus Tard, last year's first and second, top 30 entries for the Cheltenham Gold Cup - the highlight of the Festival meeting in March. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the duo were separated by just a length and a quarter in 2021, but it is A Plus Tard who is the ante-post favourite at this stage after winning the Betfair Chase…

Kempton's Ladbrokes King George (3.00) was won by the outsider Frodon, giving trainer Paul Nicholls his 12th success in the race Bryony Frost judged her fractions to perfection as Frodon served up a 20-1 shock in the 2020 Ladbrokes King George VI Chase. The pair have had a tremendous partnership in recent seasons and hit the heights in the festive…

Another blank week of jumps racing has forced me, not unreluctantly I should add, to widen the scope of the column this week. The latest prolonged cold snap might not have been as severe as some of those in my living memory - December in 1981 in Newcastle in my second year at Uni living in a soon-to-be-condemned terrace in Elswick with three others…

Paul Nicholls will look to tighten his grip on the trainers' championship as he heads to Boxing Day with 12 chances across the day, three of which feature in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (3.05). Clan Des Obeaux was king of Kempton in 2018 and 2019 before his stablemate Frodon caused a surprise last season and the pair are poised to play a…

THE Gold Cup is the big race at this year's Cheltenham Festival. Can you find the winner from the quality-packed field? The Gold Cup racecard is below. Gold Cup odds (correct at time of writing) 10-3 A Plus Tard 7-2 Galvin 9-2 Minella Indo 8-1 Allaho, Protektorat 10-1 Al Boum Photo 11-1 Conflated 12-1 Tornado Flyer 16-1 Chantry House, Royale…

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…

THE CHELTENHAM Festival is here...and we count down to the marquee race, the Gold Cup TODAY. The prestigious race caps a stunning week at Prestbury Park, as punters return for the first time since 2020. A Plus Tard remains top of the pile after his runaway success in the Betfair Chase at Haydock earlier this season. He was beaten narrowly by Galvin…

The Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup is perhaps the most prestigious race in the National Hunt calendar All of the runners and riders for this year's race have been confirmed, with the race itself set to start at 3.30pm on Friday afternoon. Jack Kennedy won it last year on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Indo. Here's a complete list of all the…

We're now just a day away from one of the biggest events in the British sporting calendar - the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It is the main race of the final day at the Festival and sees horses race over a distance of 3 miles 2½ furlongs (3 miles 2 furlongs and 70 yards, or 5294 m). The winner in 2021 Minella Indo received a prize of £263766 and will race…

Key horse racing results from cards at Kempton, Wetherby, Leopardstown and Limerick. Mullins' winners, at cumulative odds of 305-1, included 28-1 shot Tornado Flyer Ferny Hollow won the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown Ferny Hollow took charge at the head of the Arkle betting with a top level success at Leopardstown, part of a five-timer…

ONE of the biggest days of the year is finally here. Yeah, yeah Christmas Day was OK - but it's really all about the amazing racing on Boxing Day. Sun Racing brings you all need to know for a massive few hours of action, all shown live on Sky Sports Racing, Racing TV and ITV. And don't forget to see our free bets page too. This is a list of all the…

The most prestigious National Hunt race is set to take place this Friday (18 March 2022) at the Cheltenham Festival where crowds have returned for the first time in two years. Tickets for the southwest festival sold in record time and around 60000 people are expected to attend each of the four days. The Gold Cup is the most highly anticipated race…

PADDY POWER have stumped up a massive £125000 bonus to anyone who can complete the Irish and Cheltenham Gold Cup double. The Irish bookmaker has issued a direct challenge to UK trainers to come and have a go in their big race at Leopardstown next month. Henry de Bromhead, Willie Mullins and Co helped account for the 23-5 mauling of the home team at…

THE Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup is the most prestigious National Hunt race in the calendar. And all the runners and riders have been confirmed. Jack Kennedy won it last year on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Indo. It was heartbreak for Rachael Blackmore, as she gave up the ride on the winner for eventual runner up A Plus Tard. But she jumps…

Further intrigue has been added to an already sublime Punchestown clash between Monkfish and Envoi Allen as Cheltenham heroine Colreevy has been confirmed for the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase - a race that looks set to be her final start. Willie Mullins will attempt to plunder a third top-level win with Colreevy before her…

Jump racing fans were treated to a bonanza weekend that reshuffled the pecking order of many markets for the Cheltenham Festival. From Gordon Elliott's seven-timer at Navan on Saturday to Kilcruit getting beaten at odds of 1/14 on Sunday, there was a lot to digest. Here we look at the potential ramifications for the Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase,…

Get the most interesting trends and statistics from today's horse racing with the free Stat Selector tips and best bets. Smart Stat: 6 - Willie Mullins' number of winners in the past ten runnings Willie Mullins has won this beginners' chase six times in the last ten years and has used the race as a starting point over fences for the likes of…

Willie Mullins takes this Morgiana Hurdle business seriously. We know that he does, because he has won it 11 times in total, and 10 times since 2011. His one lapse in the last 11 years was in 2020, when Abacadabras beat Saint Roi by a neck. If you had to nominate a point in the season, a weekend in the season, at which the Willie Mullins wheel…

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…

The bookies could be running for cover on St Stephen's Day if everything goes to plan for Willie Mullins. The 15-time champion trainer has been a thorn in the side of betting firms on countless occasions over the years and they'll be hoping that some of his short-priced runners are beaten on Sunday. Mullins comes into the festive period in…

Go for GALVIN in the Cheltenham Gold Cup as the Festival reaches its grand finale. Gordon Elliott, already with a winner of the feature on his CV, looks to have an ideal candidate. The son of Gold Well has stamina in abundance - and scooped the National Hunt Chase prize at last year's meeting. A narrow verdict over A Plus Tard at Leopardstown over…

Finished second in the Galway Plate last year, just a length behind his stable companion Royal Rendezvous. He is 3lb higher now than he was then, but he is a classy chaser, he is four for four this season, and he warmed up for this nicely with an impressive victory at Tramore last time. We haven't seen him since he finished third behind Blue Lord…

This is a glorious collection of the best chasers in Ireland. Seven of the ten runners are rated 161 or higher and perhaps what best sums up the quality of the fare is Grand National hero Minella Times is the outsider of the lot. It is absolutely delicious. Willie Mullins has won six of the last eight runnings, including the last three with the…

Minella Indo's owner Barry Maloney is relishing the chance to finally have a shot at the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (3.05) with his Gold Cup hero, who is set to wear cheekpieces for the first time when he faces eight rivals at Kempton on Sunday. Maloney had been due to be represented in last year's King George by Monalee, but a travel ban due…

Rachael Blackmore can make history and win her first Cheltenham Gold Cup riding A Plus Tard. Henry De Bromhead's chaser, second last year, was extremely impressive in the Betfair Chase at the start of the season. He was then pipped by Galvin, when Blackmore probably hit the front a little sooner than ideal against a strong stayer, at…

James Knight, Coral Secret Reprieve was a really popular winner with punters when winning last year's Coral Welsh National (2.50 Chepstow) and I have a feeling he would be a very poor result for us again as he bids for a repeat win in the race. Frank Hickey, Paddy Power Forever Blessed has looked really good in two starts over hurdles and I don't…

Rachael Blackmore is being backed to land another Grade 1 on board Minella Indo in the Ladbrokes King George on St Stephen's Day. The Gold Cup winner is now the favourite for the three-mile contest at Kempton with the race sponsors at 5/2 ahead of Clan Des Obeaux, who is seeking his third victory in the race, at 11/4. The firm also report that…

While for most Christmas is all about tradition, family and plenty of food, it's on Boxing Day that the real excitement begins for racing fans - accompanied by all those Christmas leftovers, of course. Enjoy the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase and a brilliant card from Kempton live on Racing TV There are 11 scheduled meetings across Britain and…

Frodon: an impressive winner at Down Royal last year Owner Paul Vogt is looking forward to sending Frodon into the lion's den to take on Ireland's finest at this weekend's Dublin Racing Festival. The ten-year-old is on course for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.15) on Saturday but will not be joined at Leopardstown by stablemate Clan Des Obeaux,…

Rachael Blackmore could be the toast of punters once again when she partners Gold Cup hero Minella Indo in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton. The top Irish jockey, recently voted BBC World Sports Star of the Year, has already teamed up with trainer Henry de Bromhead to plunder the Betfair Chase this season. The 32-year-old has an…

In-form tipster Angus McNae selected three winners in his racingtv.com tipping column last week and expects it to be a successful day for Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse on Sunday. Three winners last week from four selections was a nice start to the New Year, and hopefully I can keep the momentum up this week. I have another quartet of selections for…

Punters and racing fans will truly be treated this weekend with the racing in Ireland for the Dublin Racing Festival held at Leopardstown. The meeting will feature eight Grade 1 races and many horses that are being aimed at the Cheltenham Festival in just a few weeks, giving a much better idea on the market as we approach the highlight of the…

Just over a week remains before the greatest show on turf gets underway and the anticipation from both sides of the Irish Sea is palpable. The Irish once again have a plethora of talent heading over and after the 23-5 drubbing of the English in the Prestbury Cup, they'll be supremely confident of taking the trophy back to Ireland. As with any other…

The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle appears to be the main Cheltenham target for Champ, with Nicky Henderson pointing at the Cleeve Hurdle as his likely festival prep run. Plans for the ten-year-old had been unclear after he triumphed in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on his comeback this season. That run was intended as a warm-up before a return for…

We may just have seen the Cheltenham Champions Bumper winner... Facile Vega is a general 11/10 for next month's race. The fact that he's a son of the brilliant and popular Quevega will only add to the hype, too. 1. Facile Vega 8/11 2. Sandor Clegane 17/2 3. Carnfunnock 28/1 Facile Vega wraps up a fabulous four-timer for Willie Mullins! A superstar…