#Harry Cobden

Kim Bailey: trainer of Pay The Pilot Four of the ten runners boast winning form at Hereford, including the Charlie Longsdon-trained Zestful Hope, who is unbeaten in two starts at the track. The most recent success came by six lengths from Walkinthewoods in November, and he is effectively only 3lb higher when Lilly Pinchin's 3lb claim is taken into…

2023-01-13David Maxwell expecting better of Saint Calvados in Silviniaco Conti Chase The Paul Nicholls-trained Grade 2 winner proved much too keen when making his first appearance for Maxwell in the two-runner Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase at Ascot in November. "The hood will quieten him down and I imagine he'll be less strong with a few more runners…

Pic D'Orhy (Harry Cobden) landed the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last month As I scan the field for the Silviniaco Conti, one question keeps coming to mind: what on earth are you doing here? That is no slight on the quality of the runners, of whom four have won at this Grade 2 level and the other two have won Grade 3s. It is more to do with…

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…

Cobblers Dream: seeking to be the first back-to-back winner of the Lanzarote Cobblers Dream will bid to become the first dual winner of the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle as he takes on 19 rivals at Kempton on Saturday. The Charles Byrnes-trained Green Glory and Persian War runner-up Outlaw Peter head the market at 5-1 but Ben Case hopes Cobblers…

1pt Snake Roll in 2.25 Warwick at 8/1 (Sky Bet) 1pt Outlaw Peter in 2.40 Kempton at 11/2 (Betway) 1pt Threeunderthrufive in 3.00 Warwick at 7/1 (William Hill) A few trainers will have been eyeing Warwick's Wigley Group Classic Chase as they continue to prepare their charges with a tilt at Aintree's Grand National in mind, none more so than Paul…

Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden: in remarkable form at present There are three meetings on Tuesday at Doncaster, Exeter and Southwell. Here are statistics from each track which could help your punting. . . The master of big-priced winners at Doncaster is Sean Quinlan, whose 18 per cent strike-rate from 76 rides there in the last five years has…

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…

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…

Eight days later than advertised, Newbury's Betfair Hurdle will take place on Sunday afternoon, giving racing fans a nice boost after the original card was lost to freezing temperatures last Saturday. The Betfair Hurdle (3.35pm) is the feature race on "Super Sunday" at Newbury and has attracted a top-class field of 24 runners. Our tipster has a…

Clan Des Obeaux will face eight rivals as he goes for back-to-back victories in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, the highlight on day two of the Festival meeting. Paul Nicholls' charge kept on strongly to outgun Al Boum Photo in the hands of Sam Twiston-Davies 12 months ago, but it is Harry Cobden who rides the 10-year-old time around. Having…

To get my excuses in first, Newbury on New Year's Eve provided just about the worst possible conditions for anyone trying to glean meaningful observations from the paddock. Rain that was supposed to be off and on was never off, the wind was blowing and the horses were well rugged up until as late as possible. Just keeping my notes from being soggy…

Monmiral: the likely favourite for Paul Nicholls Weighing up Graded novice chases in the middle portion of the season has its unique challenges. Who do you side with: horses who have shown the most promise in their nascent chasing careers or those who have a generally larger body of work over hurdles which may not be as relevant? There is no…

There's plenty of top-class jumps racing this weekend with New Years Day kicking off 2023 in style at Cheltenham with the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle and big fields at Fairyhouse. There's multiple races to get behind on Sunday with graded, Class 1 and 2 contests ushering in the new year with a bang at Cheltenham, including the Paddy Power New Year's Day…

Hermes Allen was a very easy winner of the Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury, to give Paul Nicholls a third successive victory in the Grade One feature. Following on from Bravemansgame and Stage Star, Hermes Allen had to prove he could handle deep ground on this occasion. On paper at least, this year's renewal looked as strong as any in…

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a horse race, it's a social gathering and it's a handsome 96-year-old trophy. But it's also the most prestigious National Hunt (ie horses which race over jumps) festival in the calendar. This year the Cheltenham Festival runs from Tuesday March 10 to Friday March 13, with the highlight, the Gold Cup race itself, is…

Marie's Rock: returns to Cheltenham on Sunday Mares' Hurdle heroine Marie's Rock will return to Cheltenham and take on the boys for her seasonal comeback in the Dornan Group-sponsored Relkeel Hurdle (2.30) on New Year's Day. The Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old is one of nine declarations for the Grade 2 prize, with Knappers Hill,…

ITV Saturday gets under way here with a handicap chase over an extended 2m. A tricky heat. GALLIC GEORDIE scored in this off a mark of 99 last season for this column and even though he's up to 108 now he might just go in again. He's not an easy ride and fell last time, but he definitely has the ability to go well for Robbie Dunne and Sam…

Hermes Allen (right): bids to deliver Paul Nicholls a record fifth win in the Challow Hurdle Paul Nicholls believes Hermes Allen has the potential to follow the trajectory of King George star Bravemansgame as he bids for Grade 1 success in Saturday's Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle (3.00). The five-year-old dazzled in Grade 2 company last month at…

The world's most prestigious horse race returns to our screens on Saturday evening as the eagerly-anticipated Grand National takes place at Aintree. With the cancellation of last year's race due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been a full two years since race fans were able to watch the most anticipated race of the year. Last…

12:45 Kempton - Artistic Choice 13:05 Chepstow - Broken Halo (each way) 13:20 Kempton - Boothill 13:40 Chepstow - Scriptwriter 13:55 Kempton - Get A Tonic 14:10 Chepstow - Flight Deck (each way) 14:30 Kempton - Nube Negra 14:50 Chepstow - Truckers Lodge (each way) 15:09 Kempton - Kitty's Light (each way) *All prices are bang up to date with our…

Bravemansgame provided Paul Nicholls with a record 13th victory in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day. Bravemansgame's stablemate Frodon, the King George hero of 2020, gave his usual bold sight in front for much of the three-mile journey, but began to give way turning for home and at the top of the home straight it became clear…

Jockey Harry Cobden described Paul Nicholls as'addicted to winning' after he delivered the champion trainer a remarkable 13th success in the King George VI Chase with a 14-length win on Bravemansgame. Making the success more special for Nicholls was that it came 25 years after he won the race for the first time with See More Business, and on the…

John "Shark" Hanlon told Racing TV that Hewick, the easy winner of Sandown's feature race at odds of 16-1, impressed him at the sales. Full results from the jumps season finale here Jockey Jordan Gainford, trainer John Joseph Hanlon and winning connections with Hewick after his bet365 Gold Cup triumph John "Shark" Hanlon has revealed the secret to…

The Ladbrokes Christmas Festival is upon us once again. Horse racing fans will look toward the two biggest races on Boxing Day (Monday). Below, we will discuss the Ladbrokes Trophy 2022 entries confirmed. There are several horse races taking part during Boxing Day with two of them being Grade 1 races. The biggest race of the day is King George VI…

Market confidence in BRAVEMANSGAME wavered in the week leading up to the King George, but his trainer's didn't. Replaced as favourite by L'Homme Presse in the build-up to the Christmas highlight, Paul Nicholls didn't reference that in his pre-match notes, simply stating that "he looks fantastic, as well as I've ever had him." And this King George…

THE King George is a Christmas tradition like mince pies and socks as presents. Lucky for us though, this 2022 renewal looks set to be an absolute blockbuster with a whole host of chasing superstars. Venetia Williams' L'Homme Presse and Paul Nicholls' Bravemansgame have been vying for favouritism. But last year saw an upset with 28-1 Tornado Flyer…

Bravemansgame: winner of the King George Bravemansgame was brilliant in the King George as he earned a 13th King George for trainer Paul Nicholls, who confirmed immediately afterwards that the Cheltenham Gold Cup would be the next stop for his star chaser. L'Homme Presse looked certain to follow Bravemansgame home in second before unseating Charlie…

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…

Paisley Park won a third Ladbrokes Long Walk Hurdle in the rescheduled 2022 renewal at Kempton. Emma Lavelle's charge wasn't expected to be suited by the switch of venue from Ascot and turning in he was in third as old rival Champ and Goshen duelled up front. However he began to close and once in front going to the last, the race was over. the…

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…

There's four Grade 1s to feast upon this Monday, as the rearranged Long Walk Hurdle (1245), the Kauto Star Novices Chase (1320), the Christmas Hurdle (1355) and the showpiece King George VI (1430) will all be settled at Kempton. There's also some Grade 3 action from Wetherby in the form of the highly popular Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase…

Kempton hosts an absolutely cracking card on St Stephen's Day as some of the UK's best National Hunt horses do battle. The King George is the feature race of the day at 2.30pm, but it's a cracking support card too with old rivals Champ and Paisley Park set to do battle again in the rearranged Long Walk hurdle before Champion Hurdle favourite…

A scroll through Twitter on the evening of December 26 in recent years has tended to reveal Paul Nicholls celebrating King George success with a McDonald's on the way back from Kempton. The Ditcheat maestro, who is seeking a record-extending 13th win in the race, could well be lovin' it again on Monday with Bravemansgame and Hitman among the main…

Bravemansgame and L'Homme Presse feature among a final field of nine horses declared for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton. Paul Nicholls has long since considered the Boxing Day showpiece as a tailor-made target for Bravemansgame, who was a brilliant winner of the Kauto Star Novices' Chase on this day last season. The seven-year-old…

THIS is the wild moment an out-of-control horse dumped his jockey to the ground before trying to headbutt two others. Camprond, who was hugely fancied for the Coral Cup at this year's Cheltenham Festival, went all over the place on his debut over fences at Exeter on Monday. Trained by Philip Hobbs and owned by legendary billionaire JP McManus,…

Bravemansgame (left) and Hitman: in the running for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase Sam Twiston-Davies is pinning his hopes of another King George VI Chase (2.30) on the fantastic jumping of Hitman, the horse he rides in the Ladbrokes-sponsored event at Kempton on Monday. Twiston-Davies won the prestigious Grade 1 in 2019 when he rode Clan Des…

CHELTENHAM GOT off to a flyer yesterday on the opening day and day two promises to produce more of the same. Today punters and racing fans will get to see Sir Gerhard in the The Ballymore Novices Hurdle and Tiger Roll in the Glenfarclas Chase along with many other horses. Paul Nicholls has trained 3000 winners, won the 2012 Grand National, four…

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…

We gave you the chance to win £350 worth of free bets with Paddy Power by completing John Randall's festive quiz, with free bets of £100 and £50 also going to the runner-up and the third. Find out how you fared and if you finished in the money below. . .

Wet weather at Cheltenham Racecourse on Ladies Day led to the ground turning soft before the first race started, which was won by the Willie Mullins-trained Sir Gerhard Champion trainer Paul Nicholls hit out at the decision to water at Cheltenham with rain on the forecast. The Ditcheat handler withdrew his leading contender Bravemansgame from his…

Well two for Paul Nicholls and with neither Nicky Henderson or the Ditcheat maestro having runners in the feature - he looks firm favourite to take a 13th Trainers' Championship. We had a winner for Ireland - one for Scotland - and one for Wales... Make sure you join Andy Jones and myself for all of the action tomorrow from 10am. The feature race…