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Groody Hill, if all things remain as they are currently, will go off the betting choice in the 2012 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse next Monday. Unraced since late December when 3rd from 26 at Leopardstown in the Paddy Power Chase, the JP McManus-owned six-year-old has been clipped down to 8/1 by several bookmakers from his previous quotation at 10/1.
The Roche yard seemingly found a different bit of form with this one for much of 2011 after he strung together a sequence of three victories in a row. A four-month freshening will have done him plenty of good but this...
There's plenty of interesting angles in play for one of the better flat races you'll see this early in the season at fourteen are set to contest the 2012 iteration of the Blue Square Winter Derby. It is the fourth race on the Scoop6 card and the only Group or Graded contest on offer. Several listed races feature some high-class jumpers but this one serves as the stepping stone for a number of bigger names with eyes on much larger prizes.
The win fund will start at around £190,000 and the bonus fund begins at £500,000. Punters are estimating a combined windfall of £800,000 should somebody take both legs of the prize...
One of the more disappointing losses for many punters at Cheltenham this year was when Hurricane Fly failed to capture the champion hurdle on opening day. Ruby Walsh simply hung him back too far and the pace horses were able to seal the deal over the short distance as the ground did not offer up much for those kicking on late.
A grand total of 59 contenders remain in the mix for the 2012 Grand National with several high-profile contenders dropping out of the frame in the post-Cheltenham phase of the festival season. Aintree is just under a month away and then it will be onwards to Punchestown for many top yards as the business-end of the National Hunt season unfolds.
The big news right now in the run up to the 2012 Grand National is the possibility of Gold Cup hero Synchronised bidding for a historic double as he remains entered in the mix for the massive Grade 3 fixture.
As it currently stands, Synchronised will head into the National as the top weight for this one while last year...
There was a whole lot of intrigue unfolding at Cheltenham with some big names coming home and a serious disappointment for many punters as Hurricane Fly was the victim of a shockingly poor ride from Ruby Walsh. Tony McCoy as well also put in a poor shift with Binocular as both were content to lope along at the back with Overturn and winner Rock On Ruby setting the pace the entire way and romping home.
It appears as though living-legend Kauto Star has pulled off another incredible result, this time however, it's an off-the-track victory that's earning him so many plaudits. Having taken a very bad fall just a few weeks ago while schooling over fences with regular pilot Ruby Walsh in the irons, Kauto Star was looking unlikely to run in the Gold Cup with many bookmakers taking him out to 8/1 from a 4/1 listing.
However, after just under two weeks of training and lots of top-notch care and attention, Kauto Star has been not only passed fit, but put in an “awesome” shift according to...
It appears as though, barring any last second surprises, that Big Buck's will once again be the biggest banker at this year's Cheltenham Festival. The talented Paul Nicholls runner is the undisputed champion of hurdles racing and looks a fair match for any horse running anywhere on the planet. He faces a tough challenge in the likes of Oscar Whisky but he needs to conjure up something genuinely magical if he's going to top one of the most popular jumpers of the modern era.
The well-monikered Cristal Bonus pays a hefty 7.8 right now on the exchange but there are still plenty out there looking for even more value on this one. This one is shaping up as the genuine sleeper in the Arkle lineup – a mysterious Nicholls horse coming out of Auteil, not looking great over hurdles but two for two with a Grade 2 novice win in there as well adds some credibility. At six, this one will still be progressing and a combined margin of 38 lengths separated him from his competition in his last two races.
The gulf between a Grade 2 novice chase at Kempton and the Arkle is certainly a significant one, but several might burn themselves out trying to outrun Sprinter Sacre. The favourite will be taking a keen hold as usual and this might draw a couple of the others...
Only a select few of this year's emerging 2m chasers are even bothering to attempt a go at Sprinter Sacre in the 2012 Arkle Challenge Trophy. The contest remains in its usual position as the 2nd race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
While last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle remains the only real blemish on Sprinter Sacre's relatively pristine record (a second place finish at Ascot in a novice hurdle being the other miss), it has been the manner of his victories that's prompted the bookmakers to smash him all the way down to 8/11 or 4/6 depending on who you're wagering with.
The pride of Nicky Henderson's yard hasn't had the best of year's but the bookmakers have made it clear that punters still have plenty of hope in Long Run's ability to get the victory over Kauto Star and scoop back to back Cheltenham Gold Cup's.
The talented seven-year-old son of Cadoudal has only been able to notch two second-place efforts this year – running behind the living legend out of the Nicholls yard on both occasions. It's a story that has dominated the longer distance chases this season and it looks set to continue into festival time as Kauto Star is said to be improving daily in his...
