#Franco de Port

The entries for the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup have this week been announced, with A Plus Tard in the mix to defend his crown for Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. Last year, Blackmore and the then seven year old were favourites going into the race and won in stunning fashion with 2021 winner Minella Indo second and Protektorat third. The duo…

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…

Hot favourite Galopin Des Champs headed another bumper entry from Ireland for the Boodles Cheltenham Cup on Tuesday. He is a best-priced 7-4 for the festival highlight on March 17, having won all his four completed chases. The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was among 13 entries from Ireland in a potential field of 27, for a race that country…

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…

Consistency had been a notable trait in A Plus Tard's star-studded career before bombing out in the Betfair Chase, and Henry de Bromhead is optimistic the scintillating Cheltenham Gold Cup winner is back to himself. Cheveley Park Stud's dual Cheltenham Festival winner had never finished out of the first three in his 19 starts before pulling up at…

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…

Coronavirus fears have not dampened spirits when it comes to Cheltenham Festival and as Day Two gets underway it is all about the outfits as much as the action on the course. It is Ladies' Day in Cheltenham and the racecourse will match the catwalks when it comes to fashion, from tweed to feathers and everything in between. On the course all eyes…

It was when winning the Christmas Grade One in 2020 that the eight-year-old first announced himself as a leading player in the staying division and although having to settle for second behind stablemate Minella Indo at Prestbury Park later that season, got his crowning moment earlier this year when romping away with the blue riband in the hands of…

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…

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…

Galvin, Conflated and Fil Dor are among the big names set to be in action for Gordon Elliott over the festive period as the Cullentra handler shuffles his pack for Leopardstown's Christmas Festival. Elliott has enjoyed huge success at the four-day meeting in recent years, with Galvin's thrilling Savills Chase victory over A Plus Tard a clear…

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…

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…

Indeed, the Grand National is one of the most eagerly anticipated jump races of the campaign. However, in many ways, it is a bit of a lottery as the course is littered with tough hurdles. And out of the usual 40 runners and riders, more times than not, it is quite lucky if more than half of them complete the full circuit unscathed. The horses are…

St Donats flanked by jockey James Reveley and his father James, as well as trainer Hugo Merienne (blue suit) James Reveley may not have won the feature Prix la Haye Jousselin with the Willie Mullins-trained Franco De Port, but a haul of two Grade 1s out of three resulted in him showing his very best at Auteuil. Not that Mullins will have been too…

Ferny Hollow has not been seen since December last year due to injury but managed to win a Grade One before his season was interrupted. Gentleman De Mee signed off last term with a trio of wins, culminating in a defeat of the Arkle hero Edwardstone by four and a half lengths at Aintree. On Saturday Naas hosts the Barberstown Castle Poplar Square…

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…

Local trainer Dermot McLoughlin has incredibly won the Irish Grand National for the second year running. Lord Lariat was ridden to victory by jockey Paddy O'Hanlon, who lives close to the track, at odds of 40/1. The victory comes after Ratoath trainer McLoughlin won the €500000 contest with 150/1 shot Freewheelin Dylan 12 months ago. Gaillard Du…

There is a feast of action to look forward to on Racing TV over Easter and undoubtedly one of the highlights is the €500000 Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday. The contest has a roll of honour which includes Rhyme'n' Reason (1985), Desert Orchid (1990), Bobbyjo (1998), Commanche Court (2000), and Numbersixvalverde (2005). This…

Ireland's 2022 Classic season starts at the Curragh this weekend with Native Trail in line to secure a notable hat-trick for Godolphin in Saturday's Tattersalls Irish 2, 000 Guineas. Following Guineas wins in England (Coroebus) and France (Modern Games) already this season, Sheikh Mohammed's team has a clean sweep of Europe's prestigious top mile…