The highlight of the 2013 John Smith’s Grand National Festival, the Grand National, will be held on Saurday 6th April at 4.15pm. This year is 40 years since Red Rum’s first win at the Grand National in 1973. He went on to win again in 1974 and 1977. Known as the “the ultimate test of a horse’s courage” the…
Memory Lane
Arkle and Flyingbolt still the Greatest
by Ian Wade •
Review of Newmarket July Meeting 2008
by Ian Wade •
This meeting is my favourite of the Flat racing calendar and this years meeting was exceptionally enjoyable. Wednesday’s Group 1 Falmouth Stakes, run in the pouring rain, showed how unlucky Nahoodh (pictured) was in the 1000 Guineas. She was given a great ride by Frankie Dettori and clearly relished the softer ground. Majestic Roi appeared…
Cheltenham Day 2 Abandoned
by Ian Wade •
With day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival abandoned due to high winds there will be a ten race card on Thursday and a nine race card on Friday. This will be a marathon for all concerned but at least no races will be lost. Unlike in 1975 when Cheltenham was waterlogged and the first day…
Hurdlers
Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Newbury 2012
by Ian Wade •
The Betfair Handicap Hurdle will be the centre piece of an excellent card at Newbury on Saturday 11th February, weather permitting. This race started off as the Schweppes Gold Trophy and was first run in 1963 at Liverpool. There were 41 runners that day on the tight Liverpool hurdle circuit. At the second flight Stan Mellor…
Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown 2011
by Ian Wade •
The BHP Insurance Champion Hurdle will be run this Sunday at Leopardstown in Ireland. A small select field will go to post with Hurricane Fly (pictured) a very warm favourite to add to his Grade 1 successes this season. He has put Solwhit in his place already this season and might have most to fear from…
Chasers
King George VI Chase at Kempton 2011
by Ian Wade •
As always the highlight of the Christmas Holiday period for Jump enthusiasts will be the King George VI Chase sponsored by William Hill, worth £180,000.00 and run over 3 miles at Kempton Park on Boxing Day (26th). Long Run (pictured) won this last year and is the bookies favourite to do so again. There will…
Hennessy Gold Cup Chase at Newbury 2011
by Ian Wade •
The Hennessy Gold Cup Handicap Chase, worth £150,000.00, will be run over 3 miles 2 furlongs at Newbury this Saturday (26th November). I doubt if we will have the excitment and emotion as experienced last Saturday with Kauto Stars’ brilliant comeback win in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park but there have been some great…
bet 365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby 2011
by Ian Wade •
Bet 365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase 2011
by Ian Wade •
It is only two weeks since all the drama and excitement of the Aintree Grand National Meeting and although we have had the Scottish Grand National together with the Classic Trials for the Guineas since, the racing to me has been low key. However the two day Bet 365 Meeting gets underway on Saturday the 23rd at…
Racing Post Chase at Kempton 2011
by Ian Wade •
The grey Nacarat (pictured) is a Kempton course and distant winner and will carry top weight tomorrow in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton. Nacarat won this race two years ago and last year in this race just lost out to Razor Royale who was ridden by Paddy Brennan. Tomorrow Paddy Brennan takes the ride on…
Irish Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown 2011
by Ian Wade •
Flat Horses
Newmarket July Festival 2012
by Ian Wade •
Full marks to Newmarket racecourses for continuing to give concessions on all admission prices to all enclosures for all their meetings including the July 3 Day Festival which starts on Thursday 12th with the Princess of Wales’s Goldsmith Stakes run over 1 mile 4 furlongs as the main race. Red Cadeaux is favourite for this and…
Royal Ascot 2012
by Ian Wade •
Royal Ascot, which kicks off tomorrow (Tuesday 19th) is the Flat racing equivalent to the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival. Royal Ascot is over five days as opposed to Cheltenham’s four. The main race each day goes off at 15.45 pm. Super star Frankel runs in the first race on Tuesday which is the Queen Anne…
Investec Oaks and Derby at Epsom 2012
by Ian Wade •
The third and fourth classics for the three year olds take place at Epsom on Friday June 1st and Saturday June 2nd. Both races look as though they could go to the all conquering stable of Aidan O’Brien from Ballydoyle in Ireland. Maybe is favourite for the fillies Investec Oaks worth £350,000.00 and run over 1 mile…
Qipco 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket 2012
by Ian Wade •
With the “Jump” season finishing last Saturday it is time to concentrate on the first two of the five classics for the three year olds at Newmarket this weekend. Both races are run over the straight Rowley mile. The 2000 Guineas for the colts will be on the Saturday and in this Aidan O’Brien has the…
Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot 2011
by Ian Wade •
Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe 2011
by Ian Wade •
Grand National
2013 Grand National: Aintree Runners and Riders
by Jonners •
The highlight of the 2013 John Smith’s Grand National Festival, the Grand National, will be held on Saurday 6th April at 4.15pm. This year is 40 years since Red Rum’s first win at the Grand National in 1973. He went on to win again in 1974 and 1977. Known as the “the ultimate test of a horse’s courage” the…
John Smith’s Grand National Day at Aintree 2012
by Ian Wade •
Cheltenham
Cheltenham Gold Cup Day 2012
by Ian Wade •
Day 4 of the Cheltenham Festival brings us to the main event, the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase run over 3 miles 2 furlongs. Last years race (pictured) was truly exciting with Long Run outstaying Denman and Kauto Star. There is no Denman this year and Kauto Star is getting no younger. He is now…
Cheltenham World Hurdle Day 2012
by Ian Wade •
The centre piece of the 3rd day of the Cheltenham Festival will be the Ladbrokes World Hurdle run over 3 miles. Big Bucks and Ruby Walsh (pictured) will be attempting to win the race for the fourth time. On Tuesday Quevega joined the short list of horses who have have been successful at four Cheltenham Festivals.…
Betting Guide
Racing Jargon
Racing Jargon for New Racegoers
by Ian Wade •
For those who are new to racing the jargon used can be very confusing at times, as confusing as trying to find winners. Here are just some of the expressions the new racegoer might hear on the racecourse or on the racing channels on the television. Racing Jargon :- Amateur You can identify a non-professional…