Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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PACKAGE PACKS WINNING PUNCH

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sun

The Package staked an early claim for the Hennessy Gold Cup as he fought off Michel Le Bon to land the Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase at Wincanton for David Pipe and Timmy Murphy.

The nine-year-old cruised to the front approaching the cross-fence five out, and from then was always in charge, even though Ruby Walsh and Michel Le Bon never gave up the chase. The winning distance was three and three-quarter lengths.

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STAR SHINES IN FORTRIA STROLL

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sun

Flemenstar made a superb seasonal reappearance with an impressive victory in the Irish Form Book Fortria Chase at Navan.

Coming back to two miles on his first outing since winning the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in early April, Peter Casey's seven-year-old was sent straight to the lead by Andrew Lynch and produced some brilliant leaps to maintain control of the race.

He was tracked into the straight by Foildubh and Big Zeb, the latter searching for a fourth consecutive win in this Grade Two prize, but 10-11 favourite Flemenstar saw them off with ease, beating Big Zeb by seven lengths.

VOLER IN SHOCK LISMULLEN DEFEAT

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Mon

Whatuthink produced a tremendously game performance under Tom Doyle to inflict a shock defeat on Voler La Vedette in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.

Colm Murphy's top-class mare was a 1-7 favourite to claim this Grade Two prize for the second successive year and was ridden with extreme confidence by Andrew Lynch, settled right out the back of the field.

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CRUS AND BALL IN POWER FIELD

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Mon

Grands Crus and Hunt Ball are among 22 confirmations for Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, the first major handicap of the new National Hunt season.

David Pipe's grey disappointed when only fourth in the RSA Chase at the Festival on his final start of last year, but was subsequently reported to be a sick horse.

Hunt Ball was the success story of the season, rising 88lb in the handicap and finishing third in the Betfred Bowl on his final start of the season for fledgling trainer Keiran Burke.

GOSDEN EXPECTING TITLE BATTLE

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Mon

Newly-crowned champion trainer John Gosden admits defending his title next season will not be a straightforward task.

The Clarehaven handler finally landed the prize for the first time in his career after the curtain came down on the 2012 campaign at Doncaster on Saturday, beating Aidan O'Brien by a little over £160,000.

However, with some of his stable stars moving on, Gosden acknowledges he now needs to rebuild his team for next year.

"We're perfectly realistic about the fact that of the six individual Group One winners, four of them are retiring, so we know we have to build up again," he said.

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Whisky staying over hurdles

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Tue

Owner Dai Walters has confirmed Oscar Whisky will remain over hurdles this season instead of embarking on a career over fences.

Third in the 2011 Champion Hurdle, Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old was stepped up to longer distances last term and won four times from six starts, showing two and a half miles is probably his ideal distance when signing off with a second victory in the Aintree Hurdle.

Walters said: "He's going to stay hurdling this season and he'll start off in the race at Ascot on the 24th (Coral Hurdle). He fell at the last in that race last year. This will be his last year hurdling. The plan would be to go over fences with him next season if all goes well."

National repeat bid for Le Beau Bai

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Tue

Richard Lee is looking forward to seeing Le Beau Bai defend his Coral Welsh National crown this Christmas following a surprise win over hurdles at Ffos Las.

The nine-year-old was well beaten on his seasonal return at Chepstow and was an early faller on his next start at Ascot, but bounced back to win an attritional affair at 25-1 on Sunday and is now likely to return chasing back at Chepstow early next month.

[Julian]

Frankie Dettori faces enquiry after positive test.

LINKY

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Originally Posted by Julian

Frankie Dettori faces enquiry after positive test.

LINKY

Yes that has come as a huge surprise Julian.

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SACRE SET FOR SUNDAY COMEBACK

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Wed

Brilliant young chaser Sprinter Sacre heads eight entries for the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday after the race was reopened.

The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old is set to have his first run outside novice company on his return to action in the two-mile contest.

Sprinter Sacre went through his first campaign over fences in impeccable fashion with five straight wins, including in the Arkle Trophy at the Festival in March.

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PADY BIDS FOR POWER GOLD

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Wed

Tom Cooper believes Forpadydeplasterer could be the forgotten horse of Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The 10-year-old may be without a win since the 2009 Arkle, but in that time he has finished second in another five Grade Ones and run well in other big races, usually when the ground has been against him. He still holds an entry in Thursday's Clonmel Oil Chase, but a trip to Prestbury Park is on the cards.

Cooper said: "He'll be going to Cheltenham, not Clonmel. He's never run in a handicap before and that's part of the reason why we're going, we want to see how he gets on."

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FRANKEL NAMED HORSE OF THE YEAR

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Wed

Frankel has been named Cartier Horse Of The Year for the second time at an awards ceremony in London.

Having won the award last year, Frankel joins Ouija Board on the list of dual winners. Ed Dunlop's mare took the accolade in 2004 and 2006.

Owned and bred by Prince Khalid Abdullah, Frankel is now standing at the Prince's Banstead Manor stud in Newmarket and was trained throughout his unbeaten 14-race career by Sir Henry Cecil.

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SIR DES HAS DURKAN OPTION

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Wed

Willie Mullins is considering next month's John Durkan Memorial Chase as a starting point for his exciting prospect Sir Des Champs.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned six-year-old is ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after going through his novice season unbeaten, winning at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals in the spring.

However, his Gold Cup credentials would be given an early test if Mullins opted to go to Punchestown on December 9 as the hugely talented Flemenstar is heading in that direction too, after making a winning return in Sunday's Fortria Chase.

BUCK'S ENJOYS EXETER SPIN

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...r+spin&day=Wed

Big Buck's, the winner of four Ladbrokes World Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival, came through a workout before racing at Exeter with flying colours.

The Paul Nicholls-trained superstar was ridden by his usual partner Ruby Walsh, with Daryl Jacob on work companion Cedre Bleu. They went about two miles and while the early pace was nothing too strenuous, it certainly looked stronger than in many public workouts.

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SANCTUAIRE ON COURSE FOR CREEK

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Wed

Paul Nicholls is looking forward to seeing Sanctuaire test his ability against Sprinter Sacre in the Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on December 8.

Having lost his way over hurdles, Sanctuaire began his career over fences earlier this year and was most impressive in winning each of his three starts. He slammed Somersby by 17 lengths in Sandown's Celebration Chase and he is now set for a return to Esher, where he is likely to find Sprinter Sacre lying in wait.

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LYNCH HOPING TO STRIKE OIL

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Wed

Andrew Lynch is looking forward to teaming up with brilliant two-miler Sizing Europe in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

The jockey believes trainer Henry de Bromhead made the right call in taking the 10-year-old out of the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal at the last minute because three miles on soft ground would have stretched his stamina.

However, Lynch expects soft ground over two and a half miles at Clonmel to be well within his compass following his first run of the season at Gowran.

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CRUS AND BALL IN POWER FIELD

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Thu

Grands Crus and Hunt Ball are among 20 final declarations for Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

David Pipe's Grands Crus is the 2-1 favourite with most bookmakers after a good novice campaign, but he disappointed when only fourth in the RSA Chase at Prestbury Park on his final start in March.

Hunt Ball aims to continue his progression for his popular owner Anthony Knott and trainer Keiran Burke after rising 88lb in the ratings last season.

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SIMPLE FOR SUPER SIZING

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Thu

Sizing Europe waltzed to victory, just as his prohibitive odds suggested he would, in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

Henry de Bromhead's multiple Grade One winner was sent off at 1-7 in the Grade Two contest against four rivals and he never looked in any bother as he jumped well all the way, following the pace set by Rathlin.

Andrew Lynch allowed him to jump to the front halfway down the back straight and he put 15 lengths between himself and his pursuers in no time at all to ease across the line well clear of Magnanimity, who was always being pushed along.

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DYNASTE READY FOR CHASING BOW

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Thu

Dynaste bids to follow in the hoofprints of his smart stablemate Grands Crus as he attempts to make a winning debut over fences in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

Like Grands Crus, who is a leading fancy for the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday, he had top form in staying hurdles, including when finishing second to the brilliant Big Buck's in January.

He is reported to have taken to fences well at home and his trainer David Pipe is expecting a good effort from the six-year-old.