#Tom Lacey

Haddex Des Obeaux: could be just the sort for a big handicap following his win at Warwick On a busy day of action across Britain and Ireland, there were plenty of clues on offer looking ahead to some of the major handicaps at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown this spring, but who caught the eyes of our judges? As Tony Blair might have said, the…

Guetapan Collonges looks to prove his stamina in the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick on Saturday. The Charlie Longsdon-trained gelding has been rising through the ranks since graduating to steeplechasing, winning three of his past four outings over fences with the sole loss caused by a fall. He has been incrementally stepped up in…

Newcastle's Flat card features a conditions race over a mile and a quarter with some smart older performers entered up. They include the John & Thady Gosden pair Harrovian and Forest of Dean who finished third and fifth respectively in a listed race at Lingfield in November which has thrown up some winners since. This looks a bit less competitive,…

Gemirande: represents last year's winning connections Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch Since this 0-130 was introduced in 2015, all but one of the winners has returned a Racing Post Rating between 137 and 150. Considering RPRs and the BHA work to a similar scale, those high figures suggest this is a classy race for the grade and that punters…

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…

Fittingly, there is both top jumps and flat action to enjoy as we see out 2022 on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday, all live from 11.50am. The In Memory Of June Taylor Handicap Hurdle (1.43) headlines Uttoxeter's New Year's Eve card, with returning Blue Stello looking like the one to beat in the absence of non-runner Go Dante. Nicky Henderson's…

CHRISTIAN Williams has already won his "home" Grand National in Wales and I'm backing the young Bridgend handler to add the Scottish version to his c.v with KITTY'S LIGHT in Ayr's big race at 3.35. The former Paul Nicholls jockey saddled Potters Corner to win at Chepstow in 2019 and Kitty's Light has been campaigned at the highest chasing level…

Champ pipped Paisley Park in a thrilling finish to the Coral Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Friday. The two 10-year-olds battled it out right to the line in the three-mile contest, with the strong-travelling, front-running Champ just getting the better of the popular former Stayers' Hurdle winner, who powered home under Aidan Coleman. Jonjo…

There is a simple but effective example in the Plate of the sort of trends worth noting and those that are stories, which are of use to the casual viewer but not to punters. The link has been made from Celebre D'Allen to Salut Flo and Ballynagour, who both won this race in the same colours early in the 2010s. You would have heard less often that…

Champ pipped Paisley Park in a battle royal in the Coral Long Distance Hurdle. The two 10-year-olds produced a thrilling finish in the three-mile contest, with the strong-travelling, front-running Champ just getting the better of the popular former Stayers' Hurdle winner, who powered home under Aidan Coleman, and was in front a stride or two after…

Jet Powered powers home in the opening maiden hurdle Friday: Newbury It would be stretching things to say Nicky Henderson has another aeroplane on his hands, but Jet Powered had plenty of fuel left in the tank after his romp in the maiden hurdle. Buveur D'Air and Jonbon were Henderson stars to use the race as a launchpad to bigger and better…

Ramses De Teillee: bounced back at Warwick under Tom Scudamore Wednesday: Warwick DavidPipe summed up what many racegoers were thinking following the success of Ramses De Teillee in the 3m veterans' handicap chase. The ten-year-old seemed destined for retirement after failing to make an impression in four runs last season but the spring was back in…

It's been two years and a day since the likeable grey last entered the winners' enclosure at Cheltenham's November Meeting though you could call this result some way out, with David Pipe's charge long having put the race to bed before clearing the last fence. It was a performance which delighted his long-time partner Scudamore, who was thrilled to…

Who turned off the taps? The weather is certainly causing plenty of headaches for clerks of the course and trainers alike. Having lost half of Sandown's card last Sunday to saturated ground, we have then seen Cheltenham's November Meeting dented by a host of non-runners due to the unseasonally good ground. Thankfully, it didn't stop the Paddy Power…

Pentland Hills (right) competing in the 2019 International Hurdle Early-season novice chases don't get much better than this. All bar outsider Fusain were rated 140-plus over hurdles and Pentland Hills is a Grade 1 winner in that discipline. Cheltenham is a tough place to jump and only six horses have made a successful debut over fences at the…

The Randox Grand National takes centre stage on the third and final day of the Aintree Festival - and what a race we have in store. The world's greatest steeplechase is woven into the fabric of the sporting year - an occasion when once-a-year punters get to pit their wits against the bookies, while more dedicated racing fans will look at the race…

Broomfield Burg (left) and Jpr One: leading hopes for the Betfair Hurdle (3.35) at Newbury Saturday's Betfair Hurdle (3.35) is the feature race on a top Newbury card and a total of 14 horses line up for the valuable handicap hurdle.

Tom Lacey: winner of the feature handicap chase with Highstakesplayer Tuesday: Hereford Highstakesplayer returned to the scene of his victory eight days ago and landed the feature 2m5f handicap chase for trainer Tom Lacey. The six-year-old extended his unbeaten record over fences to two when defying a 7lb penalty and beating Gemirande by nine…

Ridgeway: comfortable winner of his chase debut last month The early market favours the three last-time-out winners in a strong race for the grade and they are probably the horses to focus on here against a group of generally more exposed types who lack a run. Highstakesplayer, Ridgeway and Sheldon each hacked up on their previous start and appeal…

Frodon and Enrilo: Paul Nicholls-trained stablemates head the market for the Badger Beer Testing ground at Down Royal forced Paul Nicholls into rerouting stable legend Frodon to this valuable handicap from the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase. The three-time Grade 1 winner had been trained specifically for the Down Royal race that he landed 12…

Two of the crown jewels in the West Country racing calendar are combining for the first time this weekend - with a star-studded equine line-up helping the region take centre stage. The idea of creating the "double" was a Jockey Club initiative that has seen Exeter's Haldon Cup Day move from its traditional Tuesday slot to a Friday, joining it onto…

Dave Nevison has four bets spread across three meetings on Saturday, including York and Newmarket, live on Racing TV. Tea Clipper won the feature handicap hurdle on this card two years ago, plus also won a Listed chase on his seasonal debut at this meeting last year and has a terrific chance of landing a first-time out hat-trick at Chepstow on…

The six-year-old Knappers Hill, who won as a novice hurdler at this meeting 12 months ago, is Nicholls' sole entrant in the race which could be a sign that he is a likely runner for Ditcheat. Allmankind is another horse with previous winning form at Chepstow. He has been entered by Dan Skelton (follow link for in-depth Stable Tour) along with…

AN TOBAR looked a horse with a big future when destroying eleven opponents in a point-to-point at Ballyvodock in late January. The five year old powered away to score by 20 lengths and the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh have all lost their maiden tags since. Previously handled by Denis Murphy, he has joined Henry De Bromhead and will be…

We had four meetings to get stuck into this afternoon with the feature card over at Newbury as the Cheltenham Festival countdown continues. Glory And Fortune sprang a 20/1 surprise in the Betair Hurdle while it was a mixed day for Paul Nicholls as Bravemansgame was the first leg of and across-the-cards double for the Ditcheat maestro, but Clan Des…