#Funambule Sivola

Energumene: is entered into the Clarence House at Ascot on Saturday The week kicks off with two seven-race cards at Fontwell and Hereford. At the former, the Chris Gordon-trained Coolvalla is attempting to complete a four-timer in the £20000 3m2f handicap chase (2.30). Three runners go to post in Hereford's feature race, the 3m1f novice handicap…

By Andrew Asquith, Friday 06 January 2023 Posted in: Cheltenham Festival Tips Andrew Asquith looks ahead to the 2023 Champion Chase and picks out his best ante-post bet. The entries for the 2023 Champion Chase were made earlier this week and one of the most notable absentees was 2021 Sporting Life Arkle winner Shishkin, who was pulled up when…

It's nearly time for the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase. Saturday's Sandown feature (2.55) is one of the highlights of the jumps season, attracting the heavyweights of the two-mile division. Down the years, the Tingle Creek has been won by some of the greatest names in the game and here we look at who is most likely to follow in the footsteps of racing…

Dual Ryanair Chase winner Allaho is one of 27 horses entered for the 2023 Ryanair Chase, which will be run on day three of the Cheltenham Festival on March 16, and the aforementioned Willie Mullins-trained raider will be a hot favourite for the 2m 5f contest. We take a look at the entries here and have all the latest odds for what should be a…

Broomfield Burg and JPR One are fancied for Betfair Hurdle glory. Clan Des Obeaux, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, is one of several Paul Nicholls runners on the Newbury card Broomfield Burg (left) is favourite for the Betfair Hurdle Favourite Broomfield Burg bids to roll back the years for JP McManus and Nicky Henderson in the Betfair Hurdle…

It's time to get excited everyone as one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar, the Cheltenham Festival, is about to get underway. Jump racing's elite will descend upon Cheltenham this week with the 2022 edition kicking off on Tuesday and there are plenty of exciting runners to keep your eye out for. Fans will be back in their numbers to…

FAKIR D'OUDAIRES can land a big prize for Ireland in the Grade 1 Marsh Chase. Joseph O'Brien's chaser is as tough as they come and bounded clear by 11 lengths in this race 12 months ago. Returning in his usual consistent manner, JP McManus' seven-year-old recorded a 15-length score at Grade 2 level in November. There was no disgrace in finding…

The aura of invincibility that surrounded Shishkin prior to his Champion Chase flop has evaporated for the time being. With Energumene 2-1 favourite - two points shorter than Shishkin - to retain his title in March, it will be difficult for Nicky Henderson's star to regain that aura. However, if one accepts the Cheltenham defeat - his first over…

Sky Sports Racing senior analyst Jamie Lynch assesses the leading candidates for one of the most eagerly-anticipated races of the Cheltenham Festival, the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The Godfather Part II, Aliens, The Empire Strikes Back and Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps. Those are rare examples of the sequel being better than the original, but it…

Edwardstone: last year's Henry VIII Novices' Chase winner returns to Sandown on Saturday in the Tingle Creek Chase The big races come thick and fast in the run-up to Christmas and the best of Saturday's action comes from Aintree and Sandown. Here we look at three of those races and what the results of the last ten years can tell us about what might…

The Grade 1 Tingle Creek is one of the leading races in the 2m chase division. Its roll of honour includes Desert Orchid, Moscow Flyer, Kauto Star, Master Minded and Sprinter Sacre. Six runners have been declared for the Sandown feature on Saturday afternoon at 2.55pm, including last year's winner Greaneteen and one of the stars of the division,…

Cheltenham Festival-winning mare Love Envoi makes her seasonal reappearance at Sandown on a huge day for her trainer Harry Fry. The Mares' Novice Hurdle winner tackles handicap company for the first time off a mark of 139 in the Betfair Daily Rewards Handicap Hurdle (2.20). The six-year-old won a Grade 2 on her only previous trip to the Esher track…

Shishkin bids to give favourite backers the edge on day two of the Cheltenham Festival. The Champion Chase (3.30) favourite has starred for trainer Nicky Henderson, winning twice previously at the meeting. He lines up in the feature with one success for his name over key market rival Energumene. Stablemate Chacun Pour Soi and Nube Negra are others…

Reigning champion Minella Indo will be hoping to make it successive Gold Cup wins toward the end of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, but will face plenty of competition from the likes of last year's National Hunt Chase winner Galvin and previous two-time winner of this race Al Boum Photo. That all comes after four full days of racing though, with…

The eight year old enjoyed a season to remember last term, twice winning Grade One prizes at Sandown Park including a 12-length demolition job of Sceau Royal in the Celebration Chase in April. And while there looks set to be a smart field standing in his way this Saturday, including last year's Arkle Trophy hero as well as the returning Nicky…

Greaneteen: three wins from four starts over fences at Sandown and well fancied for the Tingle Creek Paul Nicholls has delivered a bullish update on his Betfair Tingle Creek Chase contender Greaneteen, believing his horse is the most likely winner and challenging Shishkin and Edwardstone "to come there and beat us". Greaneteen is seeking…

One of the great National Hunt races of the season takes centre-stage on Saturday with the latest running of the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park. The two-mile chasing showpiece boasts that brilliant mix of a need for speed, matched with jumping fluidity which has seen illustrious stars of the sport including Desert Orchid, Kauto Star,…

Superstar Shishkin is out to land the Cheltenham Festival hat-trick in the Champion Chase. The Ladies Day feature, sponsored by Betway, sees Nicky Henderson's race favourite renew rivalry with Energumene. Just a length separated them at Ascot in their first encounter - and Shishkin thrives at Prestbury Park. With wins in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle…

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…

Thyme White: contests the Hurst Park Handicap Chase at Ascot Here we pick out two horses who catch the eye at the early prices. . . Get A Tonic (2.25 Haydock) There are a number of contenders for Saturday's Betfair Exchange Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock, but I'm backing the Dan Skelton-trained Get A Tonic to come out on top. The six-year-old…

The Melling Chase is a Grade 1 chase over 2m 4f that takes place on day two of the Grand National meeting at Aintree. It has been won by the likes of Moscow Flyer, Sprinter Sacre and Don Cossack, so it has a decorated roll of honour. Ten horses have been declared to run in this year's renewal, including last year's winner Fakir D'oudairies. If…

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…

At the time of writing, there are mixed messages about the weather forecast for Tuesday night going into Wednesday at Cheltenham. The Old Course, which plays host to the first two days of the Festival, hadn't been watered at all in preparation and the times from the first day suggested the going was good. Yet having looked as if there was clearly…

A Grade One winner in last season's Clarence House Chase at Ascot, Kim Bailey's charge went on to finish sixth in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and at Punchestown in the spring. Stepping up to two and a half miles on his seasonal reappearance, First Flow was a 12/1 shot in the hands of David Bass, but bounced back to form in fine…

86 - the number of runners Alan King has saddled at the Cheltenham Festival since his last winner Only four British-based trainers - Nicky Henderson (twice), Sue Smith, Jonjo O'Neill and Will Biddick - hit the target at last year's Cheltenham Festival as no fewer than 23 of the 28 races held at the fixture were won by their Irish counterparts. That…

The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase was billed as round two of heavyweight two-mile chasers Shishkin and Energumene, but in the end, there was only one horse in it. Shishkin got the better of their first meeting in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot, winning by a length and taking his unbeaten record over fences to seven. But in a dramatic…

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…

channel to stay up to date on breaking news coverage This Wednesday, 14 September, the horse racing NAP of the Day, according to SportsLens experts, is Gold Des Bois. He contests the 2m 1f handicap chase at Kelso this evening (5:45). Iain Jardine's runner looks very well-handicapped and appeals at terrific 13/8 odds here. Beginning a new National…