Author: Shanda Taylor-Boyd

HIS crown might be slipping . . . but Paul Nicholls has been off the canvas like a heavyweight slugger in recent weeks and he can land another knockout blow at Newbury. The master of Ditcheat, 14-time champion trainer, saddles his Grand National (currently about 25-1) hope KANDOO KID (3.45) in the competitive BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup live on… Continue reading Paul Nicholls can take first step to £500,000 Grand National glory after a tough, testing season

TWO Willie Mullins outsiders – including one Paul Townend labelled ‘exciting’ – have attracted a surge of market support. Kiss Will has raced just once for Mullins and hacked up by 13 lengths in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in January. Paul Townend said the son of Tunis was ‘exciting’ afterwards and displayed a turn of… Continue reading Prices plunge as two Willie Mullins outsiders including one Paul Townend called ‘exciting’ backed for Cheltenham race

JOCKEY Jack Kennedy has made yet another miraculous recovery from a SIXTH broken leg in time to race at Cheltenham Festival. Gordon Ellliott’s No1 rider was given the all-clear by his surgeon on Friday morning and is set to return to the saddle at Leopardstown on Monday. Gold Cup-winning jockey Kennedy, 25, has been out… Continue reading Jockey makes yet another miraculous recovery from a SIXTH broken leg in time for huge rides at Cheltenham

TEMPLEGATE tackles Friday’s action confident of landing some winners. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. THE FAMOUS FIVE (4.33 Newbury, nap) His last win came over this course and distance three starts ago and he was right on the premises again when second at Chepstow last time out. He likes soft ground and… Continue reading Horse racing tips: ‘The trainer-jockey combo can’t be beaten’ – Templegate’s NAP back at his favourite track

SUN Racing tackles Friday’s action hungry for winners. Back a horse by clicking their odds. LONGSHOT CALLIANASSA (2.25 Lingfield) She has been in fine form at Newcastle and has dropped in the weights ahead of this very winnable race. THIEF YES I’M MALI (3.00 Lingfield) He has been beaten less than two lengths on his… Continue reading Horse racing tips: She has been in fine form at Newcastle and has dropped in the weights

THE opening race of the Cheltenham Festival has been renamed in honour of tragic jockey Michael O’Sullivan. The much-loved rider died aged 24 earlier this month as a result of injuries suffered in a fall. O’Sullivan’s biggest win in the saddle was his 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle victory aboard Marine Nationale. And for this year… Continue reading Opening race of Cheltenham Festival renamed in honour of tragic jockey Michael O’Sullivan following death aged 24

CONNECTIONS of a huge Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival favourite are ‘not ruling out’ a dramatic late switch. JP McManus and racing manager Frank Berry will keep all options open for superstar chaser Fact To File. The awesome John Durkan winner is currently as short as 5-4 for the Grade 1 2m4f Ryanair Chase. It looked… Continue reading ‘I wouldn’t rule it out’ – Huge Willie Mullins Cheltenham favourite open to stunning Festival switch

LEGENDARY horse trainer Mike Moroney has died ‘in his sleep’ aged 66 – just days after watching his final race. Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Moroney was remembered as a ‘gentle giant’ and ‘true gentleman’ after his passing was confirmed. Moroney was trackside at Caulfield racecourse in Australia just last Saturday to watch his horse Coeur Volante… Continue reading Legendary horse trainer dies ‘in his sleep’ aged 66 just days after watching his final race

THE Gold Cup could be set for a monumental shake-up after it was claimed the Grand National favourite may be supplemented for the big Cheltenham race at a cost of £25,000. Former Gold Cup-winning jockey Robbie ‘Puppy’ Power claims he ‘heard a rumour’ Inothewayurthinkin might be a shock addition to the line-up. The Gavin Cromwell-trained,… Continue reading Huge Gold Cup shake-up with Grand National favourite rumoured to be supplemented for Cheltenham race, claims ex-jockey

TEMPLEGATE’S Thursday selections are below. Back a horse by clicking their odds. PAYMENT PLAN (2.10 Newcastle, nap) John Butler’s five-year-old should be hunting a hat-trick of wins but he lost his latest Wolverhampton win in the stewards’ room for nudging a rival. That was still an excellent effort and built nicely on two Southwell successes… Continue reading Horse racing tips: ‘A stayer in red-hot form’ – Templegate’s NAP to make it a fourth win in six races