April 18, 2010 - 8:56 pm
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Dunguib is set to take his chance in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.
His trainer, Philip Fenton, has decided to take on the big guns rather than go for the Champion Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday. Dunguib was one of the Cheltenham Festival bankers that wrecked a few accounts when he finished third to [...]
March 18, 2010 - 4:11 pm
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Fergus and Judith Wilson have become more known for their policy of running no-hopers in the biggest jumps races than winners.
There is a good reason for that; in the last five seasons they have seen the inside of the winner’s enclosure only twice. That was at Taunton and Cartmel, which is some way removed from [...]
March 16, 2010 - 10:55 am
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It may seem harsh to judge Dunguib in such stark terms. But such is his talent – or potential at least – that today’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is being viewed as part forensic examination of his ability and part coronation of the latest shooting star to blitz across the Cheltenham firmament.
His jumping has been questioned, [...]
March 8, 2010 - 3:48 pm
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Solwhit has produced a dirty scope, Punchestowns is intermittently lame and across Britain and Ireland dozens of trainers are fretting.
The Cheltenham Festival is just eight days away and yet horses are finding ever more inventive ways of putting themselves on the easy list. This week those trainers with hopes for the Cheltenham Festival will stand [...]
March 5, 2010 - 10:16 pm
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This is usually the time before a Cheltenham Festival that produces more hard-luck stories than the poor house, as fancied horses succumb to various injuries and ailments.
Now Binocular appears ready to buck the trend by making the line-up for the Champion Hurdle, having been ruled out by Nicky Henderson with a muscle problem. Shades of [...]
February 22, 2010 - 3:34 pm
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At a time when most trainers are trying to find anything to run at the Cheltenham Festival, Nick Williams takes a more analytical approach.
As befits a man who combines training with an accountancy business Williams likes the figures add up. That may be why Me Voici, who was bought as a chasing prospect, may miss [...]
February 1, 2010 - 10:44 am
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There cannot be many days when Paul Nicholls saddles two beaten favourites at Cheltenham and then admits to being “astounded” when he finds himself in the winner’s enclosure.
But it was that sort of day at Cheltenham on Saturday and Nicholls was not the only trainer left scratching his head.
Some winning trainers have been known to [...]
January 26, 2010 - 10:22 am
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The trainer has described the question as “crazy” and the jockey has said no-one has asked him, but the debate is as persistent as the one that keeps buzzing around Gordon Brown about when he will call a general election.
As denials go, they were both succinct enough. Ever since Denman stormed back to top form, [...]
January 25, 2010 - 10:33 am
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The more things change the more they stay the same. The market for the Champion Hurdle was given a mighty shake-up over the weekend but there were some mixed signals.
Given that the market leader, Zaynar, is not due to run until Kelso in the middle of next month, this weekend’s races were always likely to [...]
January 21, 2010 - 4:13 pm
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Defending champion Big Buck’s heads 35 entries for the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 18th.
Big Buck’s is undefeated in six starts over hurdles after his trainer, Paul Nicholls, made the decision to switch from chasing. That came after Big Buck’s had unseated his rider at the final fence when still in [...]