Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Gigginstown up for the Cup.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Thu

Gigginstown House Stud are planning a powerful three-horse assault on the Bet Online With The Tote.com Punchestown Gold Cup at the County Kildare track on April 24.

The Willie Mullins-trained Sir Des Champs, runner-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, heads the trio, with Aintree's Betfred Bowl winner First Lieutenant from Mouse Morris's stable and Colm Murphy's dual Grade One scorer Quito De La Roque completing the strong team.

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Approach added to Derby mix.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Thu

Last season's champion two-year-old Dawn Approach is among a record 17 second-stage entries for the Investec Derby.

The unbeaten son of 2008 Epsom hero New Approach was added to the premier Classic at a cost of £8,000. He is already hot favourite for the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

As well as Jim Bolger's colt, Godolphin have also entered the Saeed bin Suroor-trained pair of Secret Number and Steeler.

First Cornerstone, owned by Team Valor whose runners include Dubai World Cup hero Animal Kingdom, has been put in by trainer Andy Oliver. Winner of two of his first three starts, he was a creditable fourth to Kingsbarns in the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October.

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Smart prospects set for Punchestown.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Fri

Gigginstown House Stud's squad of crack novices will give their owners a strong chance of further success at the Punchestown Festival.

Gigginstown aim to send a big team that includes several young recruits who are likely to be spread between the Grade One Herald Champion Novice Hurdle over two miles on April 23, the three-mile Grade One Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle on April 24 and the Grade One Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles on April 26.

"The plan is for Un Atout to run and he could go over two or two and a half miles, we'll keep the options open," said Gigginstown's racing manager Eddie O'Leary.

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O'Brien: All is well with Kings.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...+Kings&day=Fri

Joseph O'Brien has allayed fears about the well-being of leading Investec Derby contender Kingsbarns.

The Galileo colt headed ante-post lists for the Epsom Classic throughout the winter following his thoroughly impressive display in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, but trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed late last month he had suffered a minor setback.

The master of Ballydoyle effectively ruled Kingsbarns out of the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and he has been a notable drifter in the Derby betting in the last 24 hours, with some bookmakers promoting the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Telescope to outright favouritism.

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National hero Ballabriggs retired.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sat

Ballabriggs, winner of the 2011 John Smith's Grand National, has been retired after being pulled up in the latest renewal of the world's greatest steeplechase.

Owner Trevor Hemmings and trainer Donald McCain decided after lengthy discussion it was best to call time on the 12-year-old's career.

Ballabriggs will always be remembered for giving McCain victory in the Aintree showpiece which his late father Ginger won four times, with triple hero Red Rum and Amberleigh House.

"He's won me a Grand National and that is something I'll never forget," said McCain

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Caviar claims Randwick gold.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sat

Australian star Black Caviar landed her 15th Group One success as she landed the Darley TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick.

Winner of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, Black Caviar was a little keen in the early stages under regular rider Luke Nolen as Rain Affair went out in front.

Racing in third, Nolen switched wide at the top of the straight and Black Caviar lengthened her stride to pull clear of runner-up Epaulette in effortless fashion.

The Peter Moody-trained mare is now unbeaten in 25 starts and drew a huge crowd to the Sydney track.

Long live the queen.

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United States Classic case.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sat

The United States bids to build on a narrow debut success last season when he tackles the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes at the Dublin track on Sunday.

A half-brother to the classy filly Fire Lily, he is trainer Aidan O'Brien's sole representative from six original entries.

"He's only run once and Sunday will be his first run in a long time," said his jockey Joseph O'Brien.

"We're happy with him, he's ready to start off, but because he hasn't run in so long he might be a little bit rusty. That's why we're putting the cheekpieces on, just to sharpen him up a bit. Hopefully he'll run a nice race."

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Long Run to get National 'saver'.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...26#39;&day=Sat

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen has revealed Long Run will be given an entry in the Grand National next year.

While it is unlikely the gelding will run in both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree spectacular in the same season, an attempt at the world's greatest steeplechase is an option in the future.

Still only eight years old, the dual King George VI Chase hero is set to run in the Bet Online With The Tote.com Punchestown Gold Cup on April 24, as long as the ground is suitable.

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Gabrial sparkles in Mile strike.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sun

Richard Fahey's Gabrial looks booked for a big season following a stylish win in the Bet365 Doncaster Mile on Town Moor.

After competing in Group One company last year with credit, he found the return to Listed class much easier, despite meeting trouble in running with two furlongs to go.

Without really asking for everything, Kieren Fallon moved his mount to the outside and Gabrial (100-30) quickened up smartly to put the race to bed.

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Zurigha stakes Guineas claim.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sun

Zurigha could have done enough to earn herself a spot in the Qipco 1000 Guineas after showing a fine turn of foot in the closing stages over a mile of the Kempton Polytrack.

One of two events serving as minor Classic trials, the Watch Us Live On Betfred TV Fillies' Conditions Stakes offered most obvious interest as Richard Hannon's representative has some choice engagements, and she has clearly maintained progress during the winter on this evidence.

Sent off at even-money and ridden with typical patience by Richard Hughes, she settled proceedings when eased to the front inside the final furlong and came away by a length and three-quarters.

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O'Brien: Kingsbarns fighting time.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...g+time&day=Sun

Aidan O'Brien concedes he is "fighting time" in his bid to get Kingsbarns to the Investec Derby.

Already ruled out of the Qipco 2000 Guineas, it is hoped the winter favourite for the premier Classic could still make a Derby trial, but the Ballydoyle trainer revealed any prep race would be left as close to the June 1 Epsom showpiece as possible.

"We dreamed he could have been a Triple Crown horse this year, but that wasn't to be," said O'Brien.

"He was always the horse we were dreaming about, but things haven't gone well with him. We hoped to have him at the Curragh (to gallop) a couple of weeks ago but he didn't make it, and we are just struggling a little bit to get him 100 per cent.

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O'Brien has one to go to War with.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...r+with&day=Sun

Declaration Of War could be set for a big season after making a winning return to action with a stylish display in the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown.

Sent off at 6-4 for his first appearance since winning the Group Three Diamond Stakes at Dundalk in early October, the Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old moved sweetly on the heels of his pacemaker Windsor Palace for much of the one-mile contest.

He took over the running still going strongly for Joseph O'Brien halfway up the straight and found plenty in the final furlong to beat the admirable Bold Thady Quill by two and a half lengths

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Marengo wins Ballysax battle.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Mon

Battle Of Marengo laid down an early marker for the Investec Derby with a determined triumph in the PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.

A winner of three of his four starts as a juvenile including the Beresford Stakes, the Aidan O'Brien-trained 8-13 favourite moved well for the first half of the 10-furlong journey, but was being pushed along from the home turn by the handler's son Joseph.

For a moment it appeared Sugar Boy would make a real race of it, but once O'Brien picked up his whip, Battle Of Marengo went about his business in fine style, soon asserting to score decisively by a length and three-quarters.

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Moyglare winner Lantern in Gwyn mix.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Mon

Sky Lantern will kick off her season in Wednesday's Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket after a late change of plan.

Trainer Richard Hannon had intended to run his Moyglare Stakes winner in Saturday's Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury, with stablemate Maureen heading to Newmarket instead. However, the Hannon team believe the ground will be in Sky Lantern's favour, and have opted to shoulder a 3lb penalty rather than run her on unsuitable ground at Newbury.

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Fabre focus on Feilden prize.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Mon

Andre Fabre sends Intello over from France to tackle the Listed ebm-papst Feilden Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday.

The Galileo colt won each of his two starts in France last term and is a son of Classic-placed mare Impressionnante.

Six home-trained runners line up against him, headed by Charlie Hills' once-raced colt Kerbaaj and Andrew Balding's Race And Status.