#Irish Gold Cup

Honeysuckle is set to be an odds-on favourite for the Champion Hurdle. We are a week away from the Cheltenham Festival, and as final preparations begin to take place across the UK & Ireland, punters are beginning to finalise their ante-post positions ahead of the imminent entries.

Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore will aim to bounce back from her first defeat at Fairyhouse to win a fourth consecutive Irish Champion Hurdle This year's Dublin Racing Festival looks set to play host to a star-studded line-up after early entries for the two-day Irish calendar highlight at Leopardstown were revealed on Thursday. Eight Grade 1s…

Al Boum Photo: new Punchestown Gold Cup favourite following defection of Minella Indo Your guide to Wednesday's Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55), the feature race on day two at the Punchestown festival. The field was on Monday reduced to six following the withdrawal of hot favourite Minella Indo.

The weekend's action at Leopardstown provided further pointers towards the Cheltenham Festival with plenty of movers in the betting markets ahead of the four-day extravaganza at Prestbury Park in March. Who are the big movers following the sixth renewal of the Dublin Racing Festival? We've taken a look at their impact on the big Grade Ones…

1pt win Stattler in Cheltenham Gold Cup at 14/1 (General) I unashamedly find it quite hard to take the plunge when it comes to antepost bets on the Cheltenham Festival. If you believe what you read elsewhere then the real value is only on offer around September/October time the previous year and there is, of course, a modicum of truth in…

Henry de Bromhead's charge was a brilliant winner of the Prestbury Park blue riband last season, but little has gone right for him since. The nine-year-old was found to be under the weather after being pulled up when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November and was withdrawn on the morning of last month's Savills…

Twice early in its history the Cheltenham Gold Cup fell foul of the weather, both times in the 1930s. The atrocious winter of 1962/63 abated just in time for Cheltenham to go ahead as normal that March but snow on the final day of the 1978 Festival resulted in that year's Gold Cup, won by Midnight Court, being postponed four weeks until…

By Andrew Asquith, Friday 06 January 2023 Posted in: Cheltenham Festival Tips Andrew Asquith looks ahead to the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup and picks out his best ante-post bet. A quick glance at the ante-post betting market for the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup shows what a cracking renewal this year's race could be with the first seven or eight in the…

Desert Orchid: scooping the Tingle Creek Chase Ahead of the Unibet Grey Horse Handicap (2.45) at Newmarket on Saturday, we take a look at five of the greatest greys to grace the track. . . Desert Orchid One who needs no introduction. Desert Orchid is a hero among jumps fans for his incredible versatility, success and front-running style that led…

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…

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…

Willie Mullins has farmed the New Year's Day feature in winning eight of the last 10 runnings, but Minella Indo's battling display in the hands of Rachael Blackmore ended the Closutton handler's five-year stranglehold on the Grade Three contest and gave Henry de Bromhead his second win in the race after Champagne West's success in 2017. Winner of…

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…

Here at Severn Sport not only do we cast our eyes over Gloucestershire Football, but we also follow horse racing and in particular the road to the Cheltenham Festival in March. As part of our annual coverage we host a tipster league in March and get local players involved as part of the fun and this year with the fact there isn't much football…

Ruby Walsh has offered his expert insight into the upcoming Cheltenham Festival with the legendary jockey expecting another thrilling week of action in England. Walsh is no stranger to Cheltenham having been the leading jockey 11 times at the Festival, nabbing 59 winners and twice racing to Gold Cup glory. And previewing the races, Walsh is backing…

Conflated put himself firmly in the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture with a dominant success in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. The Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old was a surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup over the course and distance last season and went on to run well before falling two from home in Cheltenham's Ryanair Chase before pushing…

Conflated put himself firmly in the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture with a dominant success in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. The Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old was a surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup over the course and distance last season and went on to run well before falling two from home in Cheltenham's Ryanair Chase before pushing…

Winner of the Irish Gold Cup here last season, the 2/1 favourite was always travelling sweetly towards the head of affairs and was in front two out. Jack Kennedy's mount was last off the bridle and he had this won some way out, drawing five lengths clear of Kemboy (18/5). His task was made easier when favourite A Plus Tard was withdrawn at…

2022-12-28Conflated in the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture after dominant win at Leopardstown The Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old was a surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup over the course and distance last season and went on to run well before falling two from home in Cheltenham's Ryanair Chase before pushing Clan Des Obeaux close in the Bowl…

2022-12-28Wednesday Leopardstown top racing tip: Kemboy set to lead from the front in Savills Chase The market revolves around the short-priced favourite, A Plus Tard, who is rated 180, but who is able to race on level terms with opposition rated 151-168. However, he comes here under a cloud after pulling up as the odds-on favourite for last…

Few people, if any, have had to confront the jumble of emotions Henry de Bromhead looks set to face on Wednesday. From a purely racing point of view, the Co Waterford trainer is throwing some of his greatest names at day three of Leopardstown's Christmas festival. They are topped by the brilliant Cheltenham Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard in the…

Leopardstown 13:10 - Falcon Eight (each-way) Leopardstown 13:45 - Flooring Porter Leopardstown 14:20 - A Plus Tard Leicester 14:35 - Issam (each-way) Leopardstown 14:55 - Gentlemansgame Leicester 15:10 - Honneur D'ajonc (each-way) *All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but…

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…

We hope you enjoyed a fantastic Christmas Day - but now is the time to switch your attention to the scintillating horse racing action from Leopardstown's three-day fixture, starting on Monday. Continue the jolly festive period by grabbing this excellent £40 in free bets sign-up offer, courtesy of leading bookmaker Betfair. Bet £10 get £40 in free…

The festive season is one of the busiest periods of the year for horse racing, with 11 meetings taking place between Ireland and the UK on St Stephen's Day alone. Leopardstown and Limerick both host four-day meetings, with Grade 1 races among the action at both tracks, while Down Royal also stages a card on December 26. Across the water, races like…

PAConstitution Hill is set to face just four rivals when he puts his unbeaten record and huge reputation on the line in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. # Preview Constitution Hill, Facile Vega, A Plus Tard - A star-studded cast for Christmas festivals Donn McClean looks ahead to the coming days' racing for The42. Donn McClean MANY STARS OF the…

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…

Thyme Hill is fancied to finally land a big Cheltenham win in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle. Philip Hobbs' runner, 5-1 with bookies Betfred, has past champions to see off in Thursday's feature. Over 60000 people will be at the track on St Patrick's Day, all hoping to find some winners. Unlike 2021, when Ireland dominated, the British runners are…

Frost and snow has hit hard in Britain and Ireland but over the festive period ITV are planning on covering action from 14 race meetings, featuring 41 races in total, across six joyous days of high-octane racing. From Boxing Day right through to New Year's Day, the Christmas jumpers are out in force and here we highlight the full schedule including…

Of course, this whole article depends on the weather Gods playing ball. It's going to be cold later this week and some more meetings could fall by the wayside. Fingers are firmly crossed for Cheltenham and Doncaster, who have made provisions in the way of frost covers and fleecing. Both racetracks are due to race on both Friday and Saturday and…

The Grade One-winning hurdler was brilliant in winning three times over fences last season and would have been four from four had he not crashed out at the final fence in the Turners' Novices' Chase at the Festival in March. He is a best priced 11/4 to provide trainer Willie Mullins with a third Gold Cup success following the back-to-back wins of…

Cheltenham Festival 2022 is just weeks away. Key runners will continue their preparations at Leopardstown, with contenders for the Gold Cup and Champion Chase on show Honeysuckle and Appreciate It could meet in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle Top class horses are put through their paces at this weekend's Dublin Racing Festival at…

Gold Cup third Protektorat meets the last two winners of the Betway Bowl on day one of the Grand National meeting. Dan Skelton's chaser, the best of the British runners in the Cheltenham Festival feature, is up against Clan Des Obeaux and Kemboy. The pair have flourished in the Grade 1 Aintree contest, run over conventional fences at a distance of…

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…

WILLIE MULLINS will be Galopin down the road to more big-race glory. The Closutton maestro may be knocking on a bit at 66 - but he has no plans to hand over the reigns to his son Patrick just yet. And his team of Galacticos will take some stopping. Such is his squad strength only a couple of star strikers from Britain would even make it into a…

A week on from Constitution Hill's dazzling display in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, it is the chasers who are booked for top billing in Britain on Saturday. Here are five who could light up what promises to be a compelling afternoon. 1.30 Aintree: Boylesports Many Clouds Chase. Odds: a general 5-2 One of last season's top staying novice chasers, he…

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…

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…

Minella Indo with trainer Henry de Bromhead. YOU CAN START the countdown to the Cheltenham Festival wherever you wish: 361 days beforehand if you want, on the Friday night, looking back on the four days that have just flashed past, trying to assimilate it all with the 20-20 vision that is hindsight and project to the future. Or you can start it at…

Former winners Al Boum Photo and Minella Indo with Gold Cup victor A Plus Tard (left) Robbie Power does not think any horse in training could have beaten A Plus Tard in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup this month and admitted he thought it was going to take something special to catch him on Minella Indo when he quickened clear off the final…

Now then folks, cast your mind back to 2021. Fond memories? Bit meh? Well, imagine being a UK racing trainer… Let's not forget they took one hell of a beating last year on their own turf, with Ireland recording a record 23 victories at Cheltenham. They shouldn't need any more motivation to come over here and win some pride back, should they? Well,…

Tiger Roll: popular gelding did not run in the National last year Michael O'Leary's decision to withdraw Tiger Roll from this year's Randox Grand National has dismayed British and Irish horseracing fans, with 90 per cent of those taking part in a poll wanting to see the 12-year-old try to emulate Red Rum at Aintree in April. O'Leary said on Sunday…

Al Boum Photo will attempt to become the fourth horse to complete the Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cup double when he faces seven rivals in Wednesday's showpiece contest, hopefully following in the footsteps of Kicking King (2005), War Of Attrition (2006), and Sizing John (2017). The seven-year-old ended trainer Willie Mullins' long quest for a…

IT seems like a Lifetime ago since I won the Grand National on Monty's Pass but it was one of the biggest thrills in my career. Jumping those famous Aintree fences - they were even bigger and tougher back then in 2003 - is a buzz I miss. So I will just be a little bit jealous when I see the jocks lining up for our first sight of them this season in…

2022-11-04Saturday ITV racing tips: Best bets for Aintree, Wincanton, Doncaster and Down Royal A bumper day of action this Saturday for the cameras to feast upon, with Aintree, Doncaster, Wincanton and a Grade 1 at Down Royal all in the spotlight as the National Hunt season starts to muscle its way back into view. First a quick list of our…

Last weekend we saw one of the first Cheltenham Gold Cup trials of the season in the Charlie Hall Chase, won by Bravemansgame. Ahoy Senor was the one punters will have wanted to see win impressively if looking at the Gold Cup antepost, but instead the Paul Nicholls' runner was the one to stride on and mark himself out as a leading King…

Sceau Royal heads a huge day for trainer Alan King as the ten-year-old seeks a record-extending fourth win in the Unibet Elite Hurdle (3.00) at Wincanton. The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned star won the Grade 2 for the first time in 2016 at the age of four and bids for a third straight success having won the race for the last two years. King…