Chief Stipe

Dschingis Secret (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), owned by Hong Kong entrepreneur Horst Pudwill and trained by Markus Klug, was voted German Horse of the Year in a public vote, Galopponline.de reported on Monday. The 2017 G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin hero was well clear of stablemate and last year’s G1 Deutsches Derby victor Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) with 56.6% of the German public’s vote, to the latter’s 32.8%. Dschingis Secret was also in front of German MG1SW Guignol (Ger) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who came in third with 10.6% of the votes. The ceremony took place at Cologne on Easter Monday. By 2004 German honoree Soldier Hollow, the Gestut Park Wiedingen-bred won four of his seven starts in 2017, beginning with the G2 Gerling-Preis at Cologne in May, and added his second victory of the campaign two starts later in the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis on July 1. Stretching his winning skein to three, the €200,000 BBAGSEP yearling defeated G1 Sheema Classic scorer Hawkbill (Kitten’s Joy) in the Grosser Preis von Berlin that August, and also scooped Chantilly’s G2 Prix Foy on Sept. 10. Winless in his next two starts, Dschingis Secret was third to Guignol in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern on Nov. 1. View the full article

The news that rocked the GI Kentucky Derby Top 12 over the weekend involved No. 1-ranked McKinzie (Street Sense) having his training halted while conditioner Bob Baffert awaits further testing to determine the extent of a potential hind-leg injury. The colt was declared out of his expected start in Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Derby, and he has been removed from this list–at least temporarily–until a more definitive diagnosis reveals whether he is off the Derby trail for good. Subsequent reverberations have altered the makeup of the remaining ranked horses, several of which have had their prep-race plans changed in response to this news. The timing is crucial–this Saturday marks the most important weekend of nine-furlong preps on the Triple Crown calendar, with significant stakes at Santa Anita, Keeneland, and Aqueduct, so be prepared for additional shuffling within this list in one week’s time. 1) BOLT D’ORO (c, Medaglia d’Oro—Globe Trot, by A.P. Indy) O-Ruis Racing. B-WinStar Farm (KY). T-Mick Ruis. Sales History: $630,000 yrl FTSAUG ’16. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 5-4-0-1, $816,000. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 2 Last Start: 1st GII San Felipe S., SA, Mar. 10 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GI Del Mar Futurity, DMR, Sept. 4; 1st GI FrontRunner S., SA, Sept. 30. 3rd GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, SA, Nov. 4 Next Start: GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Bolt d’Oro. KY Derby Points: 64 For awhile over the past few days it looked like Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby would be a cakewalk for Bolt d’Oro. When arch-rival McKinzie defected from the race over the weekend, it initially seemed like we’d see the heaviest favorite of the year in a 3-year-old graded stakes. But Monday morning’s confirmation that the up-and-coming Justify (Scat Daddy) will now be re-routed from a projected start in the GI Arkansas Derby to face “Bolt” puts some spice back into Santa Anita’s showcase race for sophomores and tilts the playing field back to more of a challenge for the divisional kingpin. What makes this $630,000 FTSAUG Medaglia d’Oro colt’s second start off a prolonged layoff even more tantalizing are owner/trainer Mick Ruis’s repeated assertions that we still have not witnessed the fully cranked, 100% version of Bolt d’Oro. That’s a scary-good prospect to consider, and it’s an opinion shared by respected independent observers who have watched Bolt train this winter and spring. Ruis has also been on the record as saying that “we’re not babying him going into this race,” so get tied on for what could be a sublime performance that vaults this colt into the solid favorite’s role for the first Saturday in May–provided the horse lives up to the hype and can fend off a fresh, undefeated rival and what will likely turn out to be a slightly larger field of long-shot hopefuls. In his final Santa Anita workout for Saturday’s engagement, Bolt worked an in-company, no-pressure five furlongs Sunday in 1:10.20 (11/77). 2) MAGNUM MOON (c, Malibu Moon–Dazzling Song, by Unbridled’s Song) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-Robert E. & Lawana L. Low. B-Ramona S. Bass, LLC (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $380,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $577,800. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 4 Last Start: 1st, GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 17. Next Start: GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 14 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Magnum Moon. KY Debry Points: 50 Magnum Moon’s lofty placement within this week’s Top 12 represents a gamble on my part based on a belief that his unrealized potential will leapfrog him into contention as one of the Kentucky Derby favorites once we see what he delivers in the Apr. 14 GI Arkansas Derby. And yes, this is a highly speculative ranking, especially considering that trainer Todd Pletcher just saddled the winners of the GII Louisiana Derby and GI Florida Derby on back-to-back weekends, and those horses today occupy slightly lower spots on my 3-year-old totem pole. Certainly, you could cite statistical trends that suggest this May 9 foal who didn’t begin his racing career until Jan. 13 is up against the grain of tradition for winning the Kentucky Derby. But we’re embarking upon an era when training methods, the spacing of races, and a reliance on in-race experience are shifting dramatically in North American racing, and it’s becoming increasingly more important to depend on a different set of emerging benchmarks to get young horses to peak in Classic races. This $380,000 KEESEP Malibu Moon colt gave the impression of a far more seasoned racehorse when he broke running, commandeered prime early-race placement, responded willingly to emphatic handling, then swatted away the favorite in the Mar. 17 GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn. To top it off, this ‘TDN Rising Star’ looked like he had more left to give, and a stamina-strong pedigree suggests that Magnum Moon is likely to be able to handle nine (and subsequently 10) furlongs with similar, unruffled aplomb. He leveled a bullet :48.07 half-mile at Palm Beach Downs (1/13) Mar. 31 as part of his preparation for a return engagement at Hot Springs. 3) MENDELSSOHN (c, Scat Daddy—Leslie’s Lady, by Tricky Creek) O-Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier & Derrick Smith. B-Clarkland Farm (KY). T-Aiden O’Brien. Sales history: $3,000,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-4-1-0, $1,961,137. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12: N/A Last Start: 1st, G2 UAE Derby, MEY, Mar.31 Accomplishments: 1st, GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, DMR, Nov.3; 2nd, G1 Darley Dewhurst S., NEW, Oct. 14 Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 5 Equineline PPs. Kentucky Derby Points: 100. On the superlatives side, on Saturday we witnessed an 18 1/2- length blowout win in track-record time by a $3 million KEESEP Scat Daddy colt who is a half-brother to four-time champion Beholder (Henny Hughes). But the field for the G2 UAE Derby was not overly deep in terms of competition, and the Meydan races on Saturday generously rewarded forwardly placed runners, so it’s wise to temper Mendelssohn’s front-running blowout with those caveats so it doesn’t have such a too-good to-be-true aura. Yet even with that reality check under advisement, the performance resonates strongly, because this May 17 foal was attempting both his first start on dirt and his first go beyond a mile. He responded assertively to being asked to establish a prominent position straight from the starting stalls, was able to relax a bit in the middle stages of the race, then opened up at will in the home straight once the outcome had already been decided in his favor. “He is bred to handle the dirt, being by Scat Daddy,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “But that was an unbelievable performance. We weren’t sure how he would handle the distance, but you have to say he saw it out pretty well…. He is naturally quick and has a lot of tactical early speed. He did it the hard way, but he did it so easily. He is very well bred, he has a great physique, and you can see why he cost the lads a lot of money at the sales. We will look forward to going to Kentucky with him now.” 4) AUDIBLE (c, Into Mischief–Blue Devil Bel, by Gilded Time) O-WinStar, China Horse Club & SF Racing. B-Oak Bluff Stables LLC (NY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $175,000 FTNSAR yrl ’16; $500,000 FTFMAR 2yo ’17. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 5-4-0-1, $882,920. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 7 Last Start: 1st, GI Florida Derby, GP, Mar. 31 Accomplishments: 1st, GII Holy Bull S., GP, Feb. 3. Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 5. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 110 Audible stepped up in class, shouldered the burden of favoritism, and punched out another open-length victory in Saturday’s GI Florida Derby by doing what he does best–showing up and executing his task in straight-up, professional fashion. What this $500,000 FTFMAR New York-bred son of Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday) might lack in flash or panache, he more than makes up for with consistency, capability, and an adaptable demeanor. Audible broke alertly, put himself into stalk mode without any fuss, then seemed a little too relaxed about five-eighths out, losing position at one point while widest on the backstretch. But he had the benefit of a colossally helpful pace boil-over percolating on the front end, and by the time the field hit the far turn, Audible was targeting and reeling in the horses in front of him, all under his own power. When jockey John Velazquez finally cued him to quicken, the bay responded immediately, and he drew off as much the best while being kept busy down the lane. “I think the farther he goes, the better he gets,” Velazquez added post-race. If you want to take the contrarian position, it’s true that Audible will be headed to Louisville without having faced a stern, multi-horse stretch-drive test at the graded stakes level: In his GII Holy Bull S. win, the favorites simply never fired and he opened up unopposed through the lane. And in the Florida Derby, the third- and fourth-faves in the betting dueled themselves into defeat while the second favorite reportedly bled. But it’s hardly Audible’s fault those races turned out that way. If anything, it’s to his credit that he’s an opportunist who reliably puts himself in good position and has the athletic ability to take advantage of whatever circumstances arise. 5) JUSTIFY (c, Scat Daddy-Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Starlight Racing & WinStar Farm. B- John D. Gunther (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $500,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $66,000. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 9 Last Start: 1st Allowance Optional Claiming, SA, Mar. 11. Next Start: GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0 Justify will stay home to contest Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby instead of shipping to Oaklawn next week for the Arkansas Derby. That’s part of the fallout from the previous No. 1-ranked horse on this list, McKinzie, being declared out by trainer Baffert, who conditions both colts. Will fate now deliver us a better matchup than Bolt d’Oro vs. McKinzie? It’s unusual for a two-for-two allowance-level winner to be ranked so highly on a Derby list this deep into the season, but this $500,000 KEESEP Scat Daddy colt’s first two afternoon attempts were so freakishly good that he has drawn glowing accolades and now has dizzyingly high expectations tacked onto his slim (but stacked) resume. He needs to deliver a first- or second-place try on Saturday to garner enough qualifying points to earn a berth into the Kentucky Derby, and a powerful six-furlong workout in 1:13.20 Monday morning at Santa Anita has him primed to attempt the jump into Grade I company at nine furlongs. “We’ll run here,” said Baffert, who was holding off on a next-race commitment until he got back from Dubai and watched Justify work in person. “He went nice and it looked like he handled it pretty well. As long as he comes out of it well, he runs.” This long-striding athletic specimen hasn’t been bounced around in a tenacious in-race battle just yet, but through the first three weeks of his racing career he already handled the shift from sprinting to routing, responded positively to an equipment change (blinkers off), and has proven himself both on a fast, dry track and a sealed muddy surface. “The sky’s the limit,” jockey Mike Smith said after Justify’s Mar. 11 shredding of an allowance field. 6) GOOD MAGIC (c, Curlin—Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun) O-e Five Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY). T-C Brown. Sales History: $1 million yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo, GISW, 4-1-2-1, $1,255,000. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 5 Last Start: 3rd, GII Fountain of Youth S., GP, Mar. 3 Accomplishments Include: 1st GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, SA, Nov. 4.; 2nd GI Champagne S., BEL, Oct. 7. Next Start: GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 34 Big news elsewhere on the Derby trail has allowed the 2-year-old champ to prepare relatively quietly for Saturday’s GII Blue Grass S., and over the weekend Good Magic drilled a half-mile bullet at Palm Meadows Training Center in :48 (1/54). This million-dollar KEESEP Curlin colt will start favored at Keeneland, where he’ll be looking to regroup off a beaten-fave third in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Although his lone career win was a very smart score in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile over some imposing foes, the fact remains that Good Magic is still just one-for-four lifetime and direly needs a big win or an impressively close finish to be considered a top Triple Crown threat. Will he continue to employ a stalking style or will Good Magic attempt to force the issue a little more assertively in what is shaping up to be a sizable field for the Blue Grass? Trainer Chad Brown has predicted “a big forward move,” and depending on how Saturday’s other two important Derby preps shake out, a dominant performance could vault Good Magic forward several spots within the Top 12 heading into the final four weeks before the first Saturday in May. 7) INSTILLED REGARD (c, Arch--Enhancing, by Foresty) O-OXO Equine LLC. B-KatieRich Farms (KY). T-Jerry Hollendorfer. Sales history: $110,000 RNA yrl KEESEP ’16, $1,050,000 2yo OBSMAR ’17. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 6-2-2-1, $244,000. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 8 Last Start: 4th, GII Risen Star S., FG, Feb. 17 Accomplishments: 1st, GIII Lecomte S., FG, Jan. 13; 2nd, GI Los Alamitos Futurity, LRC, Dec. 9. Next Start: GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Instilled Regard. KY Derby Points: 19 The repercussions of McKinzie’s defection from the Santa Anita Derby trickle all the way down to spot No. 7 in this weeks’ rankings. In Instilled Regard’s instance, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer had indicated about a week ago that he’d prefer to race this $1.05 million OBSMAR son of Arch in a larger field as opposed to a shorter one. Although the floodgates weren’t exactly thrown wide open just because McKinzie was declared out of Saturday’s race, a couple more additional entries might emerge from the woodwork before Wednesday’s draw, and a slightly bigger bunch might afford a small pace-and-placement advantage to this talented colt’s attempted comeback off a puzzling, beaten-fave fourth in the GII Risen Star S. Draw a line through that one flawed effort in New Orleans, and Instilled Regard would still be ranked with the upper crust of the division at this stage of the season. A sharp-looking physical specimen with a deep pedigree, this multi-dimensional stalker was able to fuse tactical early prowess with a commanding late turn of foot to produce an eye-catching GIII Lecomte S. win back in January, but that breakthrough effort is now some 2 1/2 months in the rear-view mirror, and he needs to step up again on Saturday to prove he belongs in Louisville. Instilled Regard has now worked eight times since his last race, and a 1:01.60 (28/70) five-furlong maintenance move Mar. 31 served as his final timed tune-up prior to Saturday’s Grade I try. 8) NOBLE INDY (c, Take Charge Indy–Noble Maz, by Storm Boot) O-WinStar Farm LLC & Repole Stable. B-WinStar Farm LLC. T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $45,000 RNA yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-1, $691,600. Mar. 13 TDN Top 12 Rank: 10 Last Start: 1st, Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 24. Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 5 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Noble Indy. KY Derby Points: 110 Noble Indy might be the most under-the-radar of the three Todd Pletcher prospects ranked on this week’s Top 12, but he’s not yet over the top, talent-wise. Even looking beyond his past performance lines, progression was evident leading up to his GII Louisiana Derby win because this ‘TDN Rising Star’ keeps getting better at handling intrinsics like shipping, being saddled in front of large crowds, and responding positively to equipment changes like the addition of blinkers. More importantly, this $45,000 KEESEP Take Charge Indy colt showed at the Fair Grounds that he is capable of getting first run on a front-end target then being able to fend off multiple challengers through the stretch (even when they briefly wrested away the lead from him). He’ll have six weeks of spacing between the Louisiana and Kentucky Derbies, and it will be intriguing to see how Pletcher hones Noble Indy, especially knowing that through only four lifetime starts, the colt has already displayed a willingness to fight that some of the higher-ranked horses on this list haven’t proven they possess just yet. 9) ENTICED (c, Medaglia d’Oro—It’s Tricky, by Mineshaft) O-Godolphin Racing. B-Godolphin (KY). T-Kiaran McLaughlin. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 5-3-0-1, $410,680. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 11 Last Start: 1st GIII Gotham S., AQU, Mar. 10 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., CD, Nov. 25 3rd, GI Champagne S., BEL, Oct. 7. Next Start: GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 63 Enticed will attempt to get to Louisville via the New York route, which so far this season has proven to be a path of least resistance. But that level of difficulty could change if the shuffling at the top of this list causes some unexpected late action at the entry box for the GII Wood Memorial S. Judging by his last three races, it’s tough to know which Enticed will show up on Saturday. The version we saw storming down the Churchill stretch to fight out a photo in the Nov. 25 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. was this homebred Medaglia d’Oro colt’s most impressive performance to date. His Feb. 3 GII Holy Bull S. fourth as a flat, beaten favorite came without an obvious excuse. And Enticed’s last-out, one-turn mile score in the GIII Gotham S. doesn’t really tell us much because he coasted home under wraps after putting away a spent 35-1 pacemaker as his main stretch challenger. Enticed takes a while to wind up to hit his best cruising speed, and he does seem capable of torquing into higher gears when needed. But the in-race danger for this big-framed, robust colt is that he’ll get stopped or have to shift momentum so suddenly that he won’t be nimble enough to recover on the fly. “We had a perfect draw last time out and he was able to stay in the clear,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “Hopefully, we draw well and he runs well. He’s been training well and a mile and an eighth shouldn’t be a problem.” 10) SOLOMINI (c, Curlin-Surf Song, by Storm Cat) O-Zayat Stables LLC. B-Glenna R. Salyer (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $270,000 KEESEP ’16 yrl. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 4-1-2-1, $472,000 Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 12 Last Start: 2nd, GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 17 Accomplishments Include: 3rd GI Los Alamitos Futurity, LRC, Dec.9; 2nd GI Frontrunner S., SA, Sept. 30; 2nd GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, DMR, Nov. 4 Next Start: GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 14. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 34 The shock waves from McKinzie having his training put on hold with a potential injury filtered all the way down to stablemate Solomini’s ranking and next-race plans, as trainer Baffert confirmed to the Santa Anita press notes team on Monday that he will be detouring this $270,000 KEESEP Curlin colt from a projected start in the Wood Memorial to race in the Apr. 14 Arkansas Derby instead. Although the Wood is coming up on paper as a softer spot, both Baffert and Solomini’s owners, Zayat Stable, have had good luck at Oaklawn Park in the past, and Solomini himself handled that track when second despite trip trouble in the GII Rebel S. He’ll now get a rematch with Magnum Moon, who was 3 1/2 lengths clear of him last month, but expect a tighter, fitter Solomini in his second start back off a December layoff. This colt always seems on the verge of breaking through to a higher level, but at times he appears to be his own impediment to further progression, like when he lost focus in the stretch of the Breeders’ Cup, got DQ’d in the stretch run of the GI Los Alamitos Futurity, or got caught in tight and on the heels of a rival in his 2018 debut. 11) QUIP (c, Distorted Humor—Princess Ash, by Indian Charlie) O-Winstar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International & SF Racing LLC. B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY). T-Rodolphe Brisset. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-1-0, $282,800. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: N/A Last Start: 1st, GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, TAM, Mar. 10. Next Start: GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 50 Quip is a difficult read at this stage of the season. He’s lightly raced but owns a three-for-four record, and this ‘TDN Rising Star’ was a 19-1 upsetter of the GII Tampa Bay Derby after chasing a favored pacemaker through moderate splits all the way around the track coming off a 2 1/2-month winter layoff. The final clocking for the Tampa Derby came back as the slowest for that stake in 21 years, but the Beyer Speed Figure held up as a respectable 94, which represents a 17-point jump over his previous best number. How will he fire second back off the break, especially against a more talented bunch in Saturday’s Blue Grass? Note that this Distorted Humor colt has already posted an impressive wire job over the Keeneland strip going two turns (6 1/2-length allowance win back on Oct. 19), and looking farther down the road to a potential Derby berth in Louisville, it’s a plus that Quip broke his maiden over the Churchill surface. A Sunday in-company breeze in 1:00.40 (2/15) at Keeneland while ridden by jockey-turned-trainer Rodolphe Brisset featured Quip tracking a workmate from about two lengths back before finishing up on even terms. 12) FLAMEAWAY (c, Scat Daddy—Vulcan Rose, by Fusaichi Pegasus) O-John Oxley; B-Phoenix Rising Farms (ON). T- Mark Casse. Sales history: $150,000 yrl KEEJAN ’16; $400,000 yrl SARAUG ’16. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 8-5-1-0, $504,834. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: N/A Last Start: 2nd, GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, TAM, Mar. 10. Accomplishments: 1st, GIII Bourbon S., KEE, Oct. 8; 1st, GIII Sam F. Davis S., TAM, Feb. 10. Next Start: GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 30 Flameaway is currently parked at 18th on the Road to the Kentucky Derby points list that determines entry eligibility, so a solid, point-earning showing in Saturday’s Blue Grass at Keeneland is imperative to his chances at landing a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. He slid off the TDN Top 12 rankings after his second-place try in the Tampa Derby, but he endured an eventful enough go in that race (bumped at break, steadied, closed fast off the turn into a speed duel but was slightly erratic down the lane) to think that a cleaner trip this weekend could produce a more solid, representative showing of what he can do. I appreciate the fact that this $400,000 FTSAUG Scat Daddy colt is a fighter on the lead and seems to thrive under pace pressure (go watch his six-way photo turf score in Gulfstream’s Kitten’s Joy S. as the prime example), and his versatility regarding footing is evident in that he’s the only Top 12 contender to have won so far over fast dirt, firm turf, mud, slop, and a synthetic surface. On the Bubble (in alphabetical order) Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen): Blinkers-on, synth stakes winner at Turfway advances to Blue Gras S.; trainer O’Neill upset same Keeneland prep last year at 31-1. Bravazo (Awesome Again): Currently ranked sixth on points and will go straight to Derby per Lukas: “He’s assured himself a spot, so I’ve got the luxury of having [several extra] weeks to fine tune him. I’ll have a nice fresh horse for the Derby, it looks like.” Free Drop Billy (Union Rags): Currently ranked 20th on points; most recently third in GIII Gotham. Will try to be only third horse to sweep both GI Breeders’ Futurity S. and Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}): Qualifies for Derby via European points. Noseda: “He hasn’t got real gears but if he can get into a rhythm, he can keep in a rhythm a long time.” Hofburg (Tapit): Very nice try when widest off turn in Florida Derby; couldn’t run down Audible yet never looked discouraged giving chase. Much better-than-looks try considering relative inexperience. If/when Mott sends one to Derby, pay attention. Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford): Dueled into defeat in Florida Derby but has accrued enough qualifying points (ranked seventh) to start in Louisville. Romans: “You live by the sword, you die by the sword. We went wire to wire last time, but that doesn’t mean we don’t regroup and go back in the Derby.” Restoring Hope (Giant’s Causeway): Baffert trainee missed San Felipe with minor foot issue, then failed to make earnings cut to enter GIII Sunland Derby. As of Monday Baffert was still undecided about next-race start. Runaway Ghost (Ghostzapper): Qualifies on Sunland Derby victory points (ranked ninth). Will work once in New Mexico, followed by two works at Churchill. Sporting Chance (Tiznow): Rerouted to Blue Grass instead of Arkansas Derby. Would likely have to win or finish second to earn Derby points berth. View the full article

Trainer Brad Cox and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan added another Fair Grounds championship title to their respective resumes, while owners Maggi Moss and Brad Grady tied for winningest owner at the meet, which concluded Saturday. Cox earned his second consecutive training crown at the New Orleans oval with 54 winners, while Bridgmohan picked up his first Fair Grounds crown since the 2009-10 meet by booting home 66 winners. Moss and Grady each had 12 trips to the winner’s circle. This was Moss’s second Fair Grounds title and Grady’s first. View the full article

Keeneland will present a new race-day preview show called “Today at Keeneland” during its 2018 Spring Meet, which opens Friday. The show will be 30 minutes long and begin at 11:30 a.m. ET, previewing the day’s card and including handicapping discussions. It will be hosted by Keeneland handicappers Katie Gensler and Jesse Ullery. Elsewhere, Keeneland announced that its @BetKeeneland Twitter handle will benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance through its Handicapper of the Day series. Kicking off Friday with TDN‘s own racing editor Brian DiDonato, the series features a different notable handicapper each day playing with a $200 bankroll to raise money for TAA. “The TAA is proud to partner with Keeneland as the beneficiary of @BetKeeneland during the 2018 Spring Meet,” TAA President John Phillips said. “Handicappers are some of our biggest supporters and we’re grateful for the continued support from the Keeneland Association, one of our seed-money donors.” View the full article

The New York State Budget, which was released late Friday night, includes two provisions lobbied for by New York horsemen that offer both near and long-term relief for insurance-related costs. The budget provides the New York Jockey Injury Compensation Fund with the ability to use up to $2 million from the New York Racing Association purse cushion to offset the cost of the premium for the policy that covers jockeys and exercise riders. Under the second provision, NYRA will establish an account utilizing funds from the purse cushion that can be used by the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association as collateral for future workers’ compensation insurance programs. “We have to thank Governor [Andrew] Cuomo and his staff, as well Senator John Bonacic and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, for their efforts in getting these important provisions included in the budget,” NYTHA President Joe Appelbaum said. “This is an example of what NYTHA and NYRA can do when we work together, and we thank [NYRA CEO] Chris Kay for his support and collaboration on this initiative.” View the full article

It’s nearing noon, just about an hour before first post at Keeneland. The crowd is already substantial, with rows of cars and trucks interrupted by the odd camper van or re-purposed school bus. Footballs are launched into the air. Games of corn hole are in full swing. Cans of beer are in full swig. A band plays nearby. It is springtime in Kentucky, and the horses and the people are happy. Welcome to The Hill, the official tailgating lot at Keeneland. On a busy Saturday, as many as 5,000 people may gather here. The area is, yes, elevated, and sits above the track, a good mile away as the crow flies. Both are part of Keeneland’s sprawling 1,000-acre campus. The Hill celebrates its five-year anniversary in 2018, and if it’s too new to call iconic, it’s for sure become an integral part of what makes Keeneland, well, Keeneland. “For years, the hot spot for tailgating was the gate house parking lot,” says Christa Marrillia, Keeneland’s chief marketing officer. “But we were outgrowing the space, and while a big party at our front door was great, but there was a need to provide more amenities for our customers.” The Hill was envisioned, and if there were skeptics at first, Keeneland quelled them with its unique stamp on tailgating. A jumbotron with the live race feed was erected, as was a tent with betting windows staffed with “Betologists,” there to educate neophytes on the ins and outs of handicapping. Local food trucks were invited. A gift shop with souvenirs, attire and fashion accessories was established. Keeneland began a free shuttle service to and from the track. That, assuming that fans want to vacate the party on The Hill. Many, as it turns out, don’t. “It’s been wildly popular, a destination for people,” says Marrillia. “When we first sat around and talked about it, we assumed the average Hill customer would be the college kids, the sorority girls in dresses and frat boys in bow ties. But it’s also become an area for corporate events and meetings, for family reunions and wedding showings. It’s a mixed bag of wonderful people up there, kicking off and spending their day at the races.” On this particular day, all those demographics are represented. Armed with a video camera and a microphone, tools of immense magnetic attraction to many here, we set out to see what makes for a good day on The Hill. (The “we” is the author, hauling the camera, and Jim Mulvihill, the NTRA’s director of communications.) We are not disappointed with what and who we find. Under a tent, two musicians, a drummer and guitarist, jam out to ZZ Top’s “Cheap Sunglasses.” The guitarist has a long gray beard and, who knows, maybe have BEEN in ZZ Top. The drummer, once aware of the camera, sucks in his gut. We talk to Jessica, a young lady whose friends are throwing her a baby shower. Jessica is having a girl, and says her daughter will soon join the Keeneland fan base. “Absolutely,” she says. “My parents brought me–I’ve been coming my whole life–and I’ll bring her whenever we can take her out in the stroller.” We talk to a group of University of Kentucky coeds who don’t seem to have slowed down from the night before. “We’ve been coming here every weekend for the last four years,” said two female students. Presumably seniors, they nonetheless look a little a little confused when Jim says, “You mean, when you’re not studying.” We talk to Jimmy, proprietor of the Princess Party Bus, a bright pink contraption that Jimmy gives us a personal tour of. There are tiaras embroidered on the seats and a dancer pole and, at this point in time, “Devil Went Down to Georgia” is playing through the sound system. (In what turns out to be the most interesting interview of the day, Jimmy reveals, with very little prodding, that he’s a retired WWE wrestler formerly known as… Jimmy Wang Yang. He tussled with, among others, John Cena and Hacksaw Jim Duggan!) It’s hard to imagine that Keeneland’s founders didn’t imagine this sort of star power when the doors first opened here in 1936. Marrillia has her own stories to tell about The Hill, including the one time when a bank, having a function there, inflated a 20-foot dog so that invitees could find the party easily. “I was guilty of having to deflate the dog, but they were having a great time and didn’t mind,” she says with a laugh. If The Hill’s open spaces offer Keeneland’s fans more space to stretch out–inflatable dogs aside–it also provides opportunities for business partners. After all, the tight proximity inside the grandstand doesn’t allow for much in the way of sponsorship tents or displays. “The real estate here allows us to work with our partners and be creative,” says Marrillia. “This spring, for example, Maker’s Mark is going to be doing this cool experiential destination on The Hill, where people can learn more about the bourbon industry. It’s something we could have never fit inside the gates.” At 1:05 p.m., the day’s first race goes off. Some people begin to make their way down to the shuttles, but from what we can tell, many are content to sit back, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the races from their current vantage point. And that, really, is the point of The Hill. “The Hill is way for us to bring the sport to a group of customers looking to experience racing in a different way,” says Marrillia. “Maybe they don’t want to be right on the rail in the thick of the action. Maybe they want to be sitting on a blanket, having a picnic and eating a sandwich from a food truck. It adds variety, and people love it.” If you’re planning on a visit to The Hill this spring, here is a quick list of some Do’s and Dont’s. DON’T: Expect to pay an entrance fee. Access to The Hill is free. DO: Bring a dog. Bring eight or 10, even, if you have access to that many. But attach a leash to them. Otherwise they won’t be welcome. DON’T: Bring giant inflatables and/or helium balloons. We know, we know. These things are great fun. But due to Keeneland’s proximity to the Blue Grass Airport, and the killjoys over at the FAA, you can’t have them at The Hill. DO: Bring your own beer and/or cocktails. But be cool about it. Only if you’re of age, obviously, and no kegs or full bars. DON’T: Make a fire pit. Again, fun, but… DON’T: Bring your own DJ. We’re sympathetic that your friend has crafted a giant styrofoam helmet shaped like a chipmunk and is now calling himself DJ EvilAlvin, but any amplified sound is going to be shut down. And really, DJ EvilAlvin just is not that good anyway. DO: Come on Fridays and Saturdays–these are the only days that The Hill is open. View the full article

Undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy), originally scheduled to make his stakes debut in the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 14 at Oaklawn, will instead stay home to run in this Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Derby, trainer Bob Baffert said Monday. In his place, Baffert will send GII Rebel S. runner-up Solomini (Curlin) to Hot Springs. The shakeup comes after an injury to barn star McKinzie (Street Sense), who was slated to go in the Santa Anita Derby, was discovered Saturday. Baffert made his decision after Justify worked six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 (2/8) Monday morning at Santa Anita. The chestnut colt is two-for-two so far, having dominated his debut by 9 1/2 lengths Feb. 18 in Arcadia before cruising again going two turns Mar. 11. With zero GI Kentucky Derby qualifying points, he likely will have to win the Santa Anita Derby to ensure himself a spot in the Run for the Roses. “We’ll run here,” Baffert told the Santa Anita notes team. “He went nice and it looked like he handled it pretty well. As long as he comes out of it well, he runs.” Solomini, who crossed the wire first in the GI Los Alamitos Derby before being disqualified, ran a quality second in his seasonal debut at Oaklawn and punched his return ticket with a five-furlong work in :59 4/5 (2/82) Monday. Justin Zayat of Zayat Stables confirmed the decision on Twitter shortly thereafter. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday’s Insights features a daughter of G2 Sun Chariot S. bridesmaid Strawberrydaiquiri (GB) (Dansili {GB}). 2.20 Chantilly, Mdn, €30,000, 3yo, f, 10fT ZALZALAH (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a daughter of the G2 Windsor Forest S. winner and G1 Sun Chariot S. runner-up Strawberrydaiquiri (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who debuts for Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and Andre Fabre. He saddles three in total, including fellow newcomer C’est Ca (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a 750,000gns TAOCT daughter of the GI Frizette S. heroine A Z Warrior (Bernardini) who represents Mayfair Speculators and Michael Tabor. View the full article

It’s hard to find fault with Thunder Snow (Ire), who, despite being a Group 1 winner at two, three and now so early in his 4-year-old season, seems never to have captured the public imagination as some other horses have. It would be a travesty if he becomes remembered best for his buckaroo routine at the start of the GI Kentucky Derby. That high-profile blot on his copybook aside, he has done little wrong and managed to pick up two Meydan Classics last season before his eventful trip to Churchill Downs, which was later absolved when he finished second to Churchill (Ire) in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and won the G1 Prix Jean Prat. Thunder Snow is the stand-out performer for his sire Helmet (Aus), though an equal amount of his talent must be attributed to his Darley-bred dam Eastern Joy (GB). The daughter of Dubai Destination has turned out to be prophetically named as three of her first five foals have won Classics in Dubai, including this year’s UAE 1000 Guineas winner Winter Lightning (Ire) (Shamardal), and all five are stakes winners. What’s more, they are all by Darley stallions, with her first foal Ihtimal (Ire) also being by Shamardal, and Always Smile (Ire) and First Victory (Ire) by Cape Cross (Ire) and Teofilo (Ire), respectively. Eastern Joy has twice subsequently visited Dubawi (Ire), who by a wide margin was the most ubiquitous stallion at Meydan on Saturday, which is perhaps only fitting for the best son of the horse who presumably remains Sheikh Mohammed’s favourite World Cup winner, Dubai Millennium (GB) (Seeking the Gold). Dubawi’s sole winner of the night was Benbatl (GB) in the G1 Dubai Turf, but he provided the runner-up in the G2 Godolphin Mile, the second, third and fourth in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup, in which he was the sire of six of the 16 runners, and the third home in the World Cup, Mubtaahij (Ire), another former G2 UAE Derby winner. If World Cup night was a Godolphin rout, the same was true for the Darley stallions, with Helmet’s sire Exceed And Excel (Aus), Manduro (Ger), and Iffraaj (GB) also providing a major winner each. And with the very juicy cherry on top being a homebred Dubai World Cup hero from a homebred sire and dam, no wonder Sheikh Mohammed was dancing on the podium on Saturday night. Mendelssohn Calls The Tune… By far the most visually stunning performance of World Cup night–and perhaps the most arresting we’ll see all year–belonged to Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy). It’s unlikely that he’ll have the run of Churchill Downs the way he did Meydan for his UAE Derby tour de force, but he is now an intriguing contender for the Run for the Roses. The only downside for his connections will be the headache he will give Ryan Moore in trying to decide between whether he should side with Mendelssohn in America or Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Mendelssohn’s win is likely to have made for uncomfortable viewing for the team from Phoenix Thoroughbreds, whose Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) had staked his own Kentucky Derby claim a day earlier at Newcastle. The latter is unbeaten in his last four starts but remains untried on dirt. Though there will be 18 other horses in the field that he’ll also have to beat, the Phoenix hearts will have sunk lower with every lengthening stride Mendelssohn took along the Meydan home straight. Gronkowski came about as a result of the shuttling stints to Jonabell of former Australian Horse of the Year and champion sire Lonhro (Aus), whose sire Octagonal (NZ) was also Horse of the Year, father and son winning 10 and 11 Group 1 races, respectively. The family of Octagonal, a son of Zabeel (NZ) and the outstanding broodmare Eight Carat (GB), was to the fore in Group 1 company again on Saturday when Eight Carat’s great grand-daughter Hiyaam (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) won the Vinery Stud S., but more importantly for the sireline was the G2 Tulloch S. victory of Levendi (Aus), by Lonhro’s young son Pierro (Aus). The colt’s triumph sparked mid-morning celebrations at Meydan from trainers Peter and Manny Gelagotis, who later that day saddled their first overseas runner Illustrious Lad (Aus) to finish fifth in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint. Levendi is now one of the leading fancies for Saturday’s G1 AJC Australian Derby. Rathasker’s Rampant Start… Maurice and Madeline Burns of Rathasker Stud will be hoping that the Flat season can continue in the way it has begun. Their young stallion Bungle Inthejungle (GB) has already been represented by seven runners and the first winner by a freshman sire in Europe, Jungle Jane (Ire), who struck at Dundalk last Wednesday for Willie McCreery. Rathasker is also the breeder of the leading 2-year-old of the very young season to date in Izzer (Ire), who added to his Brocklesby victory by becoming one of four winners ridden by Franny Norton at Bath on Friday. With continuing wet conditions in Britain meaning that only Bath’s sprint track could be used, the Good Friday meeting was reduced to four races and Norton followed Gordon Richards, Alec Russell and Frankie Dettori on the short list of jockeys to have gone through the card. He landed a double each for Izzer’s trainer Mick Channon and Ron Harris. Izzer’s sire Clodovil (Ire) has stood at Rathasker since retiring to stud in 2004, and he has been joined there by his son Es Que Love (Ire), who also has first 2-year-old runners this season. Good Friday For French… French trainers had to suffer many of their country’s big prizes being plundered by their British counterparts last season, and Ralph Beckett has already landed the first turf group race of 2018 in Paris, the G3 Prix Exbury, with Air Pilot (GB) (Zamindar), while Ed Walker sent out Stormy Antarctic (Stormy Atlantic) to win yesterday’s G3 Prix Edmond Blanc. But a successful cross-Channel raiding party gained some revenge on Good Friday after being dispatched to Lingfield’s All-Weather Championships. Four French trainers had runners at the seasonal finale and three had winners, with Christophe Ferland’s Funny Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), Stephane Wattel’s City Light (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and the Joel Boisnard-trained Lucky Team (Fr) (Namid {GB}) collectively taking home just over €300,000. City Light and Lucky Team, the winners of the sprint and mile races on the card, had met in their last race prior to Lingfield, finishing first and third in the Prix Anabaa at Chantilly on Mar. 6. The horse who separated them that day was the Andre Fabre’s filly Rosa Imperial (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who was also in action at the weekend, finishing a decent fifth in the G2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan. Walking With God… As a Lent pilgrimage, the Bishops of Dunwich and St Edmundsbury conducted a walking tour of the diocese, within which Newmarket falls. Racing Welfare’s excellent chaplain Simon Bailey was on hand to guide them around the parish along with Newmarket trainer and former town mayor John Berry, who, the bishops would have been disappointed to hear, gave up his place to read theology at Oxford in order to pursue a somewhat less spiritual life in horseracing. During the tour, the group called in at Bedford House Stables where the first horse introduced to the men of the cloth by the quick-witted Luca Cumani was the Group 3 winner God Given (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). View the full article

Champion trainer John Size said the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup is the likely next target for Hong Kong Derby hero Ping Hai Star, provided he gives off all the right signs at Tuesday morning’s barrier trial session. Size’s first Derby winner, Fay Fay, pushed on to the QE II Cup but the trainer switched back to the Champions Mile with his subsequent Derby winner, Luger, in 2015. “Luger did always appeal as more of a miler. Ping Hai Star had a pedigree to run further and the way... View the full article

In Hong Kong racing heavy is the head that wears the crown and many observers have noted not only a change in Joao Moreira’s riding this season but in his once happy-go-lucky demeanour. And given the effervescence that was Moreira’s trademark through the first part of his tenure at Sha Tin, maybe performances and mood are inexorably linked. The general sense this season has been that Moreira has been “different”, perhaps subdued or distracted, and it has shown in a... View the full article

Trainer Richard Gibson was declaring the horse “a 10” while jockey Nash Rawiller was giving himself the same score after Harmony Hero justified some big wraps in the final race. “I can’t name a better horse, physically, in Hong Kong,” said Gibson after Harmony Hero was made to earn his first local victory. “Having a great physical specimen is 90 per cent of the game and this horse is a brilliant sort. It was no secret that everyone was trying to buy him after... View the full article

Douglas Whyte’s first winning double since May last year perhaps wasn’t even the best news he got all day at Sha Tin as John Moore confirmed the Durban Demon would be aboard Beauty Generation in the Group Two Chairman’s Trophy on Sunday. With Zac Purton committed to Time Warp in the race, Whyte takes over on the dual Group One winner. “That’s a lovely ride – I can tell you I’m very happy about that one,” Whyte beamed after delivering Star Shine... View the full article

Nigel Twiston-Davies is no stranger to Grand National success after having trained Bindaree (2002) and Earth Summit (1998) to victory at Aintree. The hat-trick of wins so nearly happened last year with Blaklion, who eventually finished fourth, although the 9-year-old will get a second chance in the 2018 race with his son, Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle. The popular combination were early favourites for the coveted race, however at 11/1 they are now second behind the 10/1 Total Recall, and if the pair can pull of victory, they will become the first father-son combination to win the race since 2000, when Papillon, trained by Ted Walsh stormed to victory with son Ruby Walsh. Ahead of the National Hunt season’s showpiece, RaceBets had the opportunity to catch with ambassadors Sam Twiston-Davies, Luke Harvey and the fantastic Blaklion, with this exclusive interview. New Customer Welcome Offer Grand National Bet Now Check out Luke Harvey and Sam Twiston-Davies go head to head in a Grand National Quiz here Check Out Our Boosted Acca Specials Here The post Grand National 2018 Favourites – Blaklion and Sam Twiston-Davies appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Now that Cheltenham has been and gone, it’s time to start focusing on this year’s Grand National Festival, at Aintree (12th-14th April). Read on, for previews of the big races we can look forward to at this famous Liverpool racecourse. Check Out Our Boosted Acca Specials Here Thursday Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle Grade 3 3m 110y 4yo + This was a Listed affair up until 2010, when it was given Grade 3 status. Fountains Windfall was last year’s winner. Jonjo O’Neill’s Albertas Run is probably the most famous champion (2007). The Trevor Hemmings-owned horse went on to win the Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (2008), the Royal and SunAlliance Chase (2008), the Amlin 1965 Chase (2009), the Ryanair Chase (2010, 2011), the Melling Chase (2010) and the Old Roan Chase (2011). Betway Bowl Chase Grade 1 3m 1f 5yo + First run in 1984, the race was created to cater for horses that were unable to take part in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, along with horses that did take part but failed to win. However, as it has been a Grade 1 event since 2010 it is no longer thought of as just a consolation event! Wayward Lad, Docklands Express, First Gold and Silviniaco Conti all won the race twice. The last of those was trained by Paul Nicholls and he remains the leading trainer, with 4 victories. No horse, under the age of 8, has won since What A Friend (2010). Desert Orchid (1988) is undoubtedly the best-known winner. It was the grey’s first success on a left-handed track. Might Bite, runner-up to Native River in the Gold Cup, is now being aimed at this race by Nicky Henderson, although connections will not be taking any chances. “Nicky will tell us a lot nearer the time if he’s ready for that. He’ll only go, I guess, if Nicky’s 100 percent happy with him. He’s had fewer races this season, but I think Friday (in the Gold Cup) was probably the first time he went into the red zone. You can’t tell what the recovery would be, but unless he was absolutely right I don’t think we’d consider sending him – he’s far too precious to take a chance on.” said co-owner Simon Philip, earlier this week. Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1 2m 1f 4yo only This contest has traditionally been viewed as the next natural step for juveniles that have won, or at least impressed, in the Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle. However, only Defi Du Seuil and Zarkandar have followed-up in the last ten years. It was made a Grade 1 encounter in 2005 and we’ve certainly seen stronger fields since the turn of the Millennium. The likes of Al Eile, Detroit City, Katchit and Binocular have all won in the last 15 years – along with Apple’s Jade who was the 2016 Champion. Alan King has an outstanding record, winning 4 of the last 11 renewals. Redicean was disappointing for him in the Triumph Hurdle, but perhaps King will look upon this race as a chance for him to make amends? Aintree Hurdle Grade 1 2m 4f 4yo + This is the feature contest, on the opening day at Aintree and the big guns will be out in force. The last 5 winners have been Zarkandar, The New One, Jezki, Annie Power and the 2017 Champion Buveur D’Air who will be seeking consecutive back-to-back Champion Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle doubles if Nicky Henderson’s brilliant inmate lines-up. The have been so many great Aintree Hurdle Champions, but Morley Street is the one that really stands out. Trained by Toby Balding, Morley Street’s dam was not even a thoroughbred, but that didn’t prevent him from winning the race 4 years straight – from 1990-1993. Morley Street also recorded back-to-back wins in the Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase and was named American Champion Steeplechase Horse twice (1990 and 1991). Our man Sam Twiston-Davies was the pilot, when The New One won in 2014. The race looked already in the bag at the 2nd-last, but Rock On Ruby proved very game and Sam had to muster all his riding skills to hold-off the challenge and win by a head. Red Rum Handicap Chase Grade 3 2m 5yo + Named after the horse who won the Grand National 3 times, this race has gone up and down in status having actually been a Grade 2 event between 1999 and 2001. 12 fences must be negotiated, over the 2 mile trip, with the contest being open to horses aged 5 and up. It used to be a limited handicap (with a restricted weight range), but was standardised in 2001. Since then, no trainer has won the race more than once. Horse that have tasted success, in the Red Rum Handicap Chase in recent years, include Parsnip Pete, Surf And Turf, Katachenko and last year’s winner Double W’s. Manifesto Novices’ Chase Grade 1 2m 4f 5yo + The final race on opening day was only introduced in 2009. It was initially a Grade 2 encounter, but was upgraded within 3 years. It’s named after Manifesto, a double Grand National winner who took part in the race on no less than 8 occasions. As of yet, none of the 9 winners have gone on to achieve what connections might have hoped. Tartak won in 2009 and he was followed by Mad Max, Wishfull Thinking, Menorah, Captain Conan, Uxizandre, Clarcam, Arzal and last year’s champion Flying Angel – a horse trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. 6-year-olds have won 4 of the last 5 renewals. It’s regarded as being on the soft side, compared to other Grade 1 encounters. Will the winner of this year’s Manifesto suffer the same fate as previous champions? Friday Top Novices’ Hurdle Grade 2 2m 110y 4yo + This race will be the next step for some of the horses that competed in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, at Cheltenham. Recent winners include Darlan, My Tent Or Yours, Buveur D’Air and Pingshou who landed the spoils for Colin Tizzard’s yard as a 7-year-old last term. With 5 winners since 2010, Nicky Henderson has utterly dominated this race. However, only Claimantakinforgan represented him in the Supreme and that horse finished 5th behind Summerville Boy, Kalashnikov, Mengli Khan and Paloma Blue. Tizzard fielded 3 runners, but only Lostintranslation made it home (7th). Shoal Bay pulled-up at the final flight, while Slate House fell at the same obstacle. Harry Whittington is expected to aim Simply The Betts at this race. The horse was disappointing in the Supreme, but Whittington felt the conditions did him no favours. “He hated the ground at Cheltenham but he stayed on all the way to finish mid-division. Sean (Bowen) said the ground was too soft. He is a very tough horse and we will keep him on the go. If the ground dries out, we might consider running him in the two-mile Grade One there (at Aintree). If he wins great, but if he gets beat he is still a novice for next season. He could well be one tailor-made for those valuable two-mile handicaps next season.” Topham Chase Grade 3 2m 5f 110y 5yo + The Topham is one of 3 races that are run over the Grand National fences, the other 2 being the Fox Hunters Chase and of course the National itself. It’s a contest that has been dominated by Peter Bowen and Nicky Henderson, since 2007, although other trainers have won it very-recently including Jonjo O’Neill with Eastlake (2016) and Colin Tizzard with Ultragold (last year). Older horses tend to do well. 4 of the last 9 winners have been aged 10, or over. The oldest horse to ever take the Topham was Sirrah Jay, who went first past the post at the ripe old age of 13 in 1993. Barry Geraghty was on-board 3 of the last 5 winners. 7 of the last 9 winners carried 10st 11lbs, or less. Sefton Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1 3m 110y 4yo + Barton Bank is almost-certainly the best-loved horses to win this race. Trained by David Nicholson, he triumphed in 1992 and went on to land the Worcester Novices’ Chase (1992), the Charlie Hall Chase (1993, 1995), the Martell Cup Chase (1997) and the King George VI Chase (1993). Thistlecrack, champion in 2015, was expected by many to have an even more successful career although Colin Tizzard’s inmate has yet to recover from the epic defeat handed to him by Many Clouds in last year’s Cotswold Chase. Nicholson won the race 3 times, in the 1990s (also with Corner Boy and Forest Ivory). Nigel Twiston-Davies is the only other trainer to have saddled a trio of champions (King’s Road, Pettifour and Ballyoptic). The Sefton is often the next destination for horses that ran in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, at Cheltenham, so perhaps we will see the likes of Santini, Chef Des Obeaux and Calett Mad line-up for the 2018 renewal? Mildmay Novices’ Chase Grade 1 3m 1f 5yo + Along wit the RSA Chase, this is where pundits will be looking for horses that look capable of going on to win the Gold Cup, at some point in their careers. Looking at recent winners, it’s easy to see why. Native River was the victor in 2016, while Nicky Henderson’s Might Bite won last year. That pair finished 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the 2018 Gold Cup. There can be little doubt that the best horse to have won the Mildmay was Jenny Pitman’s Burrough Hill Lad. By the end of his outstanding career he had scooped the Welsh National (1983), the Gainsborough Chase (1984, 1985, 1986), the Cheltenham Gold Cup (1984), the Charlie Hall Chase (1984), the Hennessy Gold Cup (1984) and the King George VI Chase (1984). He’s regarded as one of National Hunt’s greatest ever performers and rightly so. It’s possible that we could see a mare going very close, in the 2018 renewal. Anthony Honeyball’s Ms Parfois finished runner-up to Rathvinden in the Cheltenham National Hunt Chase. Her trainer was gutted to have lost the race and eager to put her back into the fray at the earliest opportunity. “She ran very well at Cheltenham and we were pleased with the run, but I was very disappointed not to win and I can’t hide that. She got there in tip-top shape after a great season. It was not necessarily the target but with the ground coming right, it looked like the right thing to do. It was an amazing race and the two pulled a long way clear. I thought she might do it halfway up the run-in, but she didn’t quite have that extra injection of speed. We will keep her ticking over and see what the weather does. There is the three-mile-one Grade 1 novices’ chase at Aintree or there is a Listed handicap over the same trip we could stick her in.” Melling Chase Grade 1 2m 4f 5yo + Introduced in 1991, this encounter is often the next port of call for Champion Chase runners. Sprinter Sacre was the 2013 winner. The conditions at this year’s Cheltenham Festival led to some notable absentees in just about all of the major chasing contests and it would be a surprise if several aren’t in-line for a return in this famous race. Waiting Patiently is among those who could figure. Ruth Jefferson’s charge held-off the challenge of Cue Card, in the Grade 1 Ascot Hurdle, a race in which Nicky Henderson’s Top Notch failed to shine. It would be a surprise if this terrific jumper began his 8-year-old career without having raced at either Cheltenham or Aintree and Jefferson will probably be in the process of deciding whether the Melling Chase represents a better option than the Betway Bowl. Some true greats have won the Melling Chase, over the years. They include Remittance Man, Viking Flagship, Martha;s Son, Moscow Flyer and Alan King’s Voy Pur Ustedes. Saturday Maghull Novices’ Chase Grade 1 2m 5yo + Saturday gets off too a real bang with a race that his been a fertile field for 6-year-olds to plough, since 2012. All but 5 of the winners have been that age, including last season’s champion Sam Benedeto – trained by Paul Nicholls. Under Nick Schofield, San Benedeto became Nicholls’ 6th winner since 1999 and he’s the top trainer in the race’s history. Arkle runners often take part, although Nicholls had no runners in this year’s renewal which was contested by just 5 horses. The race was easily won by Footpad, trained by Willie Mullins. Jonjo O’Neill’s Night Nurse must be ranked the greatest-ever winner of the Maghull. The Peter Easterby-trained gelding’s triumphs are too numerous to list fully, but include the Champion Hurdle in 1976 and 1977. His Timeform rating of 182 was the highest ever awarded to a hurdler and it remains the case to this day. Grand National Chase Grade 3 4m 2f 74y 7yo + The world’s most-famous jumps race shows no signs of losing popularity and once again people will be tuning-in from all around the planet to watch one of sport’s greatest spectacles. Horses expected to run in the 2018 Grand National include Total Recall, Blaklion, Tiger Roll, The Last Samurai and Willie Mullins’ Bellshill. Keep an eye on the blog, as we will be publishing a special in-depth preview of this race very soon! View Latest Grand National Odds Now! Liverpool Hurdle Grade 1 3m 110y 4yo + Most of us know the great Big Buck’s for winning a quartet of World Hurdles, at the Cheltenham Festival, but he also won this race 4 times as well (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). However, it isn’t Paul Nicholls (Big Buck’s trainer) who holds the record for victories. That honour goes to Martin Pipe Snr, whose 5 wins came via Pragada (1992), Sweet Glow (1994), Galant Moss (1999), Maid Equal (2001) and Deano’s Beeno (2003). Yanworth won the 2017 renewal and Barry Geraghty was on-board Alan King’s mercurial inmate. He was disappointing in the Stayers’ Hurdle though and King is still unsure if he’ll be returning to Merseyside to defend his crown. “I was very disappointed with Yanworth in the Stayers’ Hurdle. I wouldn’t have thought the ground or the slow pace would have been a problem but he finished distressed, which he’s never done before. His tests were clear afterwards but that wasn’t him. We’ll need to discuss whether to send him to Aintree.” The Liverpool Hurdle has favoured British trainers, in recent years and no horse over the age of 9 has won since Deano’s Beano. Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race Grade 2 2m 1f 4yo-6yo You can bet that the talk around the Twiston-Davies’ dinner-table will turn to this contest, soon enough – if it hasn’t already. The family has enjoyed huge success, in the Liverpool bumper. RaceBets’ brand ambassador, Sam, rode both The New One and Ballybolley to victory, both for his father Nigel who has 4 wins in total to his name. The New One won in 2012, the same year that Champagne Fever won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Subsequent winners of both encounters have not really enjoyed careers as impressive as that pair though. Lalor won this race in 2017, but has yet to win since then and looked out of sorts in the Betfair Hurdle, at Newbury in February. Let’s hope that this year’s renewal can produce a genuine star of the future. Mersey Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1 2m 4f 4yo + The final Grade 1 race of the Grand National Festival tends to feature horses that ran in the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (The Neptune). Few would disagree that the greatest ever champion was the Henrietta Knight-trained Best Mate, who was the victor in 2000. This incredible campaigner went on to secure the November Novices’ Chase (2000), the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (2001), the Haldon Gold Cup (2001), the Cheltenham Gold Cup (2002, 2003, 2004), the Peterborough Chase (2002) and the King George VI Chase (2002). Best Mate won 14 of the 22 contests he started and never fell at a fence or hurdle. Finian’s Oscar won in 2017, for Colin Tizzard. Betting With RaceBets Good luck, if you are having a bet at Aintree. Our Grand National ante-post market is already live, if you fancy an early flutter! Check Out Our Boosted Acca Specials Here The post 2018 Aintree Grand National Festival Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The Grand National is one of the world’s most iconic National Hunt horse races held at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. The handicap steeple chase, first run back in 1839, is over 4 miles and 514 yards with 30 fences for the jockey’s and horses to negotiate, Becher’s Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn being the most famous. For fans this is a race that stops the nation, and for the riders this is the ultimate test. In celebration of the historic event, RaceBets decided to test the knowledge of ambassadors Sam Twiston-Davies and Luke Harvey on the Grand National. Watch who came out on top and check out some interesting Grand National facts we have dug-out on the history of the race. New Customer Welcome Offer Grand National Bet Now Watch exclusive interview with Sam Twiston-Davies and Blaklion here Grand National Historical Facts And Stats The first race was run back in 1839 and was won by the 5/1 favourite Lottery In the same race, the winner Lottery, finished the course in 14:53, which is the slowest recorded time. The most starters in the Grand National came in the 1929 race which saw 66 begin under starters orders. Frisk stormed to victory in the 1990 edition in a time of 8:47, the fastest ever recorded. The most number of horses ever to finish the race was back in 1984 when 23 made it over the line In 1928 only 2 horses completed the race, 100/1 outsider Tipperary Tim crossing the line first. The tallest fence in the race is 5ft 2ins and is known as The Chair Aintree has also hosted the European Grand Prix and five British Grand Prix’s. Sir Stirling Moss in fact won his first F1 race there back in 1955. Red Rum is the most successful horse in the history of the race with three wins, 1973, 1974 and 1977. Abd-El-Kader was the first horse to win back-to-back races, in 1850 and 1851. The Colonel, (1869 & 1870), Reynoldstown (1935 & 1936) and Red Rum (1973 & 1974) have also retained the crown. Golden Miller (1934) is the only horse to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National in the same year. Manifesto (8) has run in more Nationals than any other horse. Between 1895 and 1905 he registered 2 wins, 3 third places and 1 DNF. The French have registered five Grand National winners, Alcibiade (1865), Reugny (1874), Lutteur III (1909), Mon Mome (2009) and Neptune Collonges (2012). Only thirteen mares have won the Grand National, the most recent being Nickel Coin back in 1951. George Stevens is the most successful jockey, winning the race on no less than 5 occasions. At the tender age of 17, Bruce Hobbs on Battleship, remains the youngest jockey to have won the race. Katie Walsh is the most successful female jockey when she achieved a third place finish on Seabass in 2012. Jenny Pitman, Venetia Williams and Sue Smith are the only women to have trained a Grand National winner. Grand National Bet Now The post Grand National Historic Facts And Quiz appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

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RaceBets is one of the only online bookmakers dedicated solely to horse racing, making us the destination for the racing purist. Not only do we provide our customers with the opportunity of backing your favourite horses 24/7 from meetings across 40 countries, we also provide you with plenty of value every day with our daily accumulator offers and specials, the odds enhanced by our traders! If you are a horse racing enthusiast, then what more do you need? Check back every day and take advantage of our offers and make RaceBets your destination for all things horse racing. New Customer Welcome Offer Horse Racing Acca Boosts And Specials – 3/4/2018 LINGFIELD Jungle Inthebungle, Ostilio & Widnes Enhanced Banker Treble All To Win 18/1 Sir Hector, Carvelas & Le Torrent Enhanced Place Treble All To Place 11/2 All SP Favourites to Place Accumulator All SP To Place 10/1 Lingfield Acca Specials Here The post Horse Racing Daily Accumulator Offers, Enhanced Odds and Specials appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Even for the non-racing purist it is clear to see that the Grand National is one seriously special event. First run in 1839, the race is steeped in history and tradition and one that all the riders, trainers, owners and horses aspire to win. RaceBets ambassadors Luke Harvey (2) and Sam Twiston-Davies (8) have both taken part in the Grand National and in the video below you can watch them reflect on their first times riding in the iconic race. New Customer Welcome Offer Grand National Bet Now Watch RaceBets exclusive interview with Luke Harvey, Sam Twiston-Davies and Blaklion here The post Grand National First Times – Sam Twiston-Davies and Luke Harvey appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

On Saturday the 14th of April one of the biggest fields will assemble at Aintree for the start for the 2018 Grand National, and with millions around the world watching, it is anyone’s guess which horse will negotiate the 30 fences and into the history books of the National Hunt season’s premier race. While racing fans around the world would have made studious decisions in who they back, the National also attracts many millions in bets from punters that would never normally bet on racing. The question is who do you put your money on? Some might close their eyes and take a stab in the dark, others might choose a horse based on their name, while most will listen to the experts and make an educated decision based on their thoughts. If this is you then watch RaceBets ambassador Luke Harvey, a former jockey and currently racing broadcast journalist of the year as he reveals his dark horses for the Grand National 2018. New Customer Welcome Offer Gold Present 22/1 Bet Now Find out who Luke Harvey thinks will win the 2018 Grand National here The post Grand National 2018 Dark Horse – Luke Harvey appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Over 4 miles, 30 fences and approximately 10 minutes is what stands in the way of a historic win in horse racing’s most famous race, The Grand National. In one of the largest fields ever to assemble, who to back is not an easy decision, so why not listen into the experts who will not only help you make an educated decision, but quite possibly a winning one. RaceBets ambassador Luke Harvey is here to do exactly that. As a former jockey and one of the leading racing broadcast journalists, Luke tips who he thinks will go all the way and into the history books at this year’s race. Find out below who he went for and back your winner for the Grand National with RaceBets. New Customer Welcome Offer Grand National Bet Now Watch our exclusive interview with Luke Harvey, Sam Twiston-Davies and Blaklion here Check Out Our Boosted Acca Specials Here The post Grand National 2018 Tips – Luke Harvey appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

It’s a huge day at Lingfield, with the All-Weather Finals taking place. Here is a brief preview of all 7 contests, along with our tips! AW Championships Apprentice Handicap – Handicap (Class 2) For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 7f1y The opener features Richard Hannon’s Wahash, Adrian McGuinness’ Master Speaker and Dean Ivory’s Eljaddaaf. War Story, another Richard Hannon horse, won this race last term and is back to try and repeat the feat. Tip: Master Speaker AW Marathon Championships – Conditions Race (Class 2) For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 1m7f169y James Doyle will be on-board Red Vernon and the Ed Dunlop-trained horse could well start as favourite. The French horse, Funny Kid, has to be respected here. Christophe Ferland’s charge won the valuable Pommiers Handicap, at Deauville in November. Tip: Funny Kid AW Fillies’ And Mares’ Championships – Conditions Race (Class 2) For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 7f1y This race looks very open and cases can be made for the chances of Zest, Summer Icon, Diagnostic and several others. Dean Ivory’s Lucymai has impressed at both Kempton and Chelmsford City. The 5-year-old offers plenty of appeal to each-way bettors. Tip: Lucymai AW Sprint Championships – Conditions Race (Class 2) For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 6f1y Hugo Palmer has a couple going for him in the Sprint, although Gulliver does look up against it based on what we have seen so far. Gifted Master, a versatile gelding, looks well in with a shout though. Under James Doyle, he made an impressive polytrack debut – winning the Listed Golden Rose Stakes handsomely. Tom Dascombe’s Kachy looks sure to run a big race, while David O’Meara’s Intisaab is another to consider. Tip: Gifted Master 3 Year Old AW Championships – Conditions Race (Class 2) For 3 year olds Distance: 6f1y Archie Watson’s Corinthia Knight will be one of the afternoon’s easier picks at Lingfield, for many punters. The Society Rock colt made it 3 wins in a row, when seeing-off the challenge made by Andre Fabre’s Drummore in the Listed Montenica Stakes at Chantilly. Chris Dwyer’s Rock On Baileys is unbeaten in 5 outings, but she’ll need to run the race of her life to prevent that run coming to an end. Tip: Corinthia Knight AW Mile Championships – Conditions Race (Class 2) For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 1m1y Second Thought, sired by Kodiac and trained by William Haggas, ran on well to win the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes under Ryan Moore and will go-off heavily-backed. Eve Johnson Houghton’s Goring is unbeaten in 4 and all of those encounters were at Lingfield, over a mile. Tip: Second Thought AW Middle Distance Championships – Conditions Race (Class 2) For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 1m2f Mr Owen represents David Simcock’s yard and has a decent chance of landing the spoils, with Oisin Murphy in the saddle. Not much went his way in the Winter Derby, but the 6-year-old still managed to secure the runner-up spot and he can go one better today with better luck. Victory Bond and Master The World look the principal threats. Tip: Mr Owen Good luck, if you are betting at Lingfield this afternoon! The post 2018 Lingfield All-Weather Championship Finals Day Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

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Dubai World Cup Night takes place on Saturday and RaceBets already has live betting markets for all 8 of the thoroughbred encounters. Read on for a preview of each race and our top tip! RaceBets Daily Acca Specials Here Godolphin Mile Group 2 For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 7f210y View Race-Card & Latest Odds Now! There are no British or Irish-based runners in this contest, which looks an open renewal. Chad Brown’s Economic Model could well start as the marginal favourite. The horse beat Irish War Cry by almost 2 lengths when winning the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope Stakes, at Gulfstream Park last month. “Everything is fine and he’s doing very well ever since we got here. I don’t see any change in him at all. It’s amazing how well he’s handled all of the travel and what we are asking from him. He’s digging into the feed tub every day. I think he’s sitting on a big race. Everybody expects that and I hope he runs well.” says assistant trainer Guezel Cruz. Doug Watson’s Kimbear has shown consistency at Meydan and has been busy, with 4 outings in 2018 already. He was the surprise winner of the Group 2 Burj Nahaar, a race that featured Heavy Metal who has also enjoyed plenty of market-support for the Godolphin Mile. This trio look a cut above the rest, although Rosa Imperial, Adirato, Musawaat and Special Fighter are not without a chance. Tip: Economic Model UAE Derby Group 2 For 3 year olds Distance: 1m1f98y View Race-Card & Latest Odds Now! If this contest runs to form, a terrific duel is on the cards between Charlie Appleby’s Gold Town and Aidan O’Brien’s Mendelssohn. Gold Town, already a gelding, is unbeaten in his last 3 starts. After winning a modest nursery race, at Headquarters in August, he was sent to Dubai and fully-justified his short price when comfortably defeating Roland Rocks in a UAE 2000 Guineas Trial. Gold Town went on to win the UAE 2000 Guineas itself, crushing the field by a full 10 lengths. He’s being talked-up for the Kentucky Derby. “We are all going to find out at the same time whether Gold Town will be going to Kentucky. This is his chance to book his ticket. He needs the points from the UAE Derby to get to Churchill Downs. He was a useful two-year-old, but gelding him has brought him forward more. He ticks all the boxes coming into the UAE Derby. I think the step up in trip is going to suit him, and I hope the ‘home’ advantage at Meydan will be something he can exploit. His draw (gate 5) is good, and I expect there to be pace early.” Appleby told reporters, on Tuesday. The Scat Daddy-sired Mendelssohn has flourished under Ryan Moore, winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and then a Listed encounter on the Dundalk polytrack, earlier this month. “We’re not guaranteed for sure that he will get a mile and a quarter, but we’re going to find out a lot more in Dubai. Ryan was very happy with him in Dundalk. He travelled well and went there, but he doesn’t do a lot when he gets to the front. He’s a brother to Beholder. Scat Daddy is obviously an influence for speed, but American racing is very different and the most important thing of all is speed. You just hope for stamina after that, but if you don’t have pace it’s a waste of time.” opined O’Brien, last week. Both Seahenge and Threeandfourpence could also start for the peerless Irish trainer, while Steve Asmussen will be represented by the handy Reride. Tip: Gold Town Golden Shaheen Group 1 For 3 to 10 year olds Distance: 5f212y View Race-Card & Latest Odds Now! We often hear of trainers who have recently endured a tough time, for one reason or another, but what Peter Miller has been through certainly puts matters into perspective. A horrific fire at his base in California led to the loss of 46 horses and serious injuries to 3 members of staff, back in December. Needless to say, there will be a huge ovation if Roy H can land the Golden Shaheen for Miller on Saturday. Kent Desormeaux will partner Roy H and he was bullish after they undertook some light work together, on Tuesday. “The horse is very aggressive, he gets in to the bridle and wants to do it all for me right now and it was my job to slow him down. It is my job in the race to slow Roy H down. I spend more time trying to slow Roy H down than pushing him forward. When we came around the turn it looked like we were going to go through the front door of Meydan but then we cornered for home and we were just skiing down the lane. It was a very impressive exercise, perfect rhythm and silky smooth.” X Y Jet finished runner-up to Muarrab, in the 2016 renewal of the Golden Shaheen. The grey gelding is unbeaten in his last 3 starts and looks sure to go close again. Fawzi Nass’ Jordan Sport and Chad Summers Mind Your Biscuits should also run big races. Tip: Rob H Al Quoz Sprint Group 1 For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 5f212y View Race-Card & Latest Odds Now! Charlie Appleby has a couple of aces up his sleeve, in a race that’s loaded with British and Irish runners. Jungle Cat‘s last 2 appearances were both at Meydan and a brace of victories were achieved. The 6-year-old narrowly beat the unfancied Janoobi, in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort, before the classy Ertijaal was put to the sword in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint earlier this month. Blue Point looks the one to beat, however. The Shamardal colt won a strong renewal of the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot, which featured the likes of Magical Memory, Danzeno and Projection. Blue Point was beaten by Ertijaal in the Group Two Meydan Sprint, but that loss came after 138 days off the track so a little rustiness was understandable. “We were very pleased with the performance of Blue Point. We felt beforehand that he would come on for his seasonal return and he has lost nothing in defeat. He has galloped out strongly tonight and 6 furlongs at Meydan is going to suit, so all roads will now lead to the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.” said Appleby, following the defeat. If you want to back a British/Irish raider at long odds you can take your pick from Conquest Tsunami, Washington DC, Baccarat, Stormy Liberal, Richard’s Boy and Hit The Bid. Tip: Blue Point Dubai Gold Cup Group 2 For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 1m7f200y View Race-Card & Latest Odds Now! As with the Sprint, the Gold Cup has plenty of British representatives but Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Vazirabad (the 2017 winner) will fly the flag for France and the Aga Khan-owned horse has been extremely consistent – finishing 1st or 2nd in his last 8 contests. Defeat to Ice Breeze in the Grade 1 Royal Oak, at Saint-Cloud, was a setback though and he also lost out to Rare Rhythm in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy earlier this month. The pair meet again in this race. “What happens in the race, the tactics of the race, will be very important for him. I think we have three big opponents: Big Orange, Torcedor—he looks very good—and Charlie Appleby’s horse [Rare Rhythm].” his trainer remarked, on Thursday. Big Orange beat Order Of St George by a short-head to win the Ascot Gold Cup, last June. He gave almost a stone to Stradivarius, in the Goodwood Cup Stakes, but this proved too much and John Gosden’s horse came out on top. Big Orange will be having his first race since looking out of sorts in the Long Distance Cup, at Ascot in October. There are several others with realistic chances, including Dal Harraild, Torcedor and David Simcock’s Sheikhzayedroad. Tip: Big Orange Dubai Turf Group 1 For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 1m209y View Race-Card & Latest Odds Now! Saeed bin Suroor’s Benbatl has enjoyed a terrific Winter in the Middle-East and 3 runs at Meydan have yielded 2 wins. He was too good for Emotionless, in the Group 3 Singspiel Stakes and Bay Of Poets was no match for the 4-year-old in the Group 2 Al Rashidiya. Benbatl was expected to complete a hat-trick, by winning the Group 1 Jebel Hatta, but he was thwarted by the underrated Blair House. Lancaster Bomber goes for Aidan O’Brien in this encounter and the War Front colt is long overdue a victory. He’s been expensive to back since winning a maiden at Leopardstown way back in August of 2016. Under a variety of top jockeys, Lancaster Bomber has finished runner-up on 5 occasions since then and though plenty of prize-money has been secured for connections it really is time we saw this frustrating individual inside the winners enclosure. “Lancaster Bomber has progressed well from 3 to 4. He ran at this meeting last year when a good fourth in the UAE Derby. 9 furlongs might be as far as wants to go but we will see how he goes at the weekend.” said O’Brien, on Tuesday. War Decree is his 2nd-string, in the Dubai Turf. John Gosden’s Monarchs Glen is another that cannot be ruled out. Tip: Blair House Dubai Sheema Classic Group 1 For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 1m3f216y View Race-Card & Latest Odds Now! Hawkbill, winner of the 2016 Eclipse, at Sandown, did go off the boil immediately after that race but Charlie Appleby’s charge is in good form once again and looks in with a shout. He beat Frontiersman when winning a Group 2 encounter at Newmarket last July and confirmed superiority over his stablemate by repeating the trick, here at Meydan 3 weeks ago. “They fought it out well and it was a good race. I had quite a tough trip and the horse did really well, having to cover a bit of ground. It was a really good performance and he’s an exciting horse, who seems to get better with age.” jockey William Buick told reporters, after the race. Sir Michael Stoute will have high-hopes for Poet’s Word, winner of the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood and runner-up to Cracksman in the Champion Stakes. He was somewhat disappointing in the Hong Kong Cup, but the booking of Frankie Dettori certainly won’t do his chances any harm in the Sheema. Andre Fabre’s Cloth Of Stars looks likely to go-off as favourite, although the 5-year-old has been beaten in his last 3 starts (all at Chantilly). Stablemate Talismanic became his latest bête noire, after causing a minor upset in the Darshaan Stakes. Idaho goes for Aidan O’Brien, but does look held in this company – as do Khaladi, Best Solution and Desert Encounter. Tip: Poet’s Word Dubai World Cup Group 1 For 4 year olds and upwards Distance: 1m1f207y View Race-Card & Latest Odds Now! While it is no longer the world’s richest horse race, its purse having been trumped by an upstart – the Pegasus World Cup, this remains one of the most-important contests on the global calendar. Bob Baffert won with California Chrome in 2016 and Arrogate last year. Can the brilliant US trainer make it 3 in a row with West Coast? “This race has the quality of the international field akin to that of a race in the Breeders’ Cup. You can’t come in here with a ‘B’ horse. I’m really excited and it’s a privilege to be here, but this race is a challenge. You can’t be afraid to get them beat.” says Baffert, who is clearly taking nothing for granted. Saeed bin Suroor’s Thunder Snow might be the one to cause an upset. His last win at Meydan accounted for both North America and Heavy Metal, although positions with North America were reversed last time out. The colt is a Prix Jean Prat winner, however, so he must be respected. As must Dallas Stewart’s mare, Forever Unbridled, who will be ridden by last year’s winning jockey Mike Smith. “What we’re real happy about is how she’s doing here. Her energy is great. Her appetite is good. The Post Position should be fine. She’s comfortable, so I’m comfortable. It’s going to be a great race. She’s going to need to bring her best race to win this,” said Stewart, on Wednesday. Antonio Sano’s Gunnevera looks to have at least a puncher’s chance, while Bob Baffert’s 2nd-string (Mubtaahij) should appeal to each-way backers. Tip: West Coast Betting With RaceBets Sign-up for an account and you can bet on all races taking place at Meydan, on Saturday. Claim your welcome bonus, now! 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Horse racing in the United Arab Emirates now enjoys a global following and the annual showpiece takes place at Meydan, on Saturday. Dubai World Cup Night features an astonishing card, with many of the best horses on the planet competing against each other. There are vast purses to be fought-over. The biggest contest of all is the Dubai World Cup itself, won by Bob Baffert’s Arrogate in 2017. The opening race is the Dubai Kahayla Classic, which is strictly for purebred Arabian horses. The other 8 races are for thoroughbreds and are as follows (click on any race, for the latest betting odds)… Al Quoz Sprint (Group 1) Godolphin Mile (Group 2) Dubai Gold Cup (Group 2) UAE Derby (Group 2) Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1) Dubai Turf (Group 1) Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) Dubai World Cup (Group 1) Many British and Irish-trained horses will be going into the stalls, on Dubai World Cup Night. Gold Town, Mendelssohn, Threeandfourpence and Seahenge should all go in the UAE Derby. Blue Point, Jungle Cat and Dean Ivory’s Librisa Breeze and several others have been entered into the Al Quoz Sprint, while both Rare Rhythm and Frontiersman will represent Charlie Appleby in the Dubai Gold Cup. Aidan O’Brien is a huge fan of this meeting and Lancaster Bomber will carry his hopes in the Dubai Turf. Sir Michael Stoute won the Dubai Sheema Classic with Fantastic Light in 2000 and Poet’s Word should have a big say, in the outcome of this year’s renewal. Saeed bin Suroor’s Thunder Snow will need to run the race of his life, if he is to win the Dubai World Cup itself. He’s up against Bob Baffert’s latest superstar – the incredible West Coast. Keep checking the blog, as we will be announcing an amazing and exclusive Dubai World Cup offer later in the week! Dubai World Cup Night is one of the highlights of the global racing calendar. Don’t miss the spectacular action at Meydan, on Saturday! The post Get Ready For Dubai World Cup Night, On Saturday! appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article