Author: Shanda Taylor-Boyd

BOOKIES are already counting the cost of Willie Mullins ‘dominating’ at this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival – with a huge five-timer on the cards. The all-conquering handler is readying some of his biggest stars for the two-day feature at Leopardstown, which Nicky Henderson jokingly calls ‘the Willie Mullins Festival’. The DRF throws up huge clues… Continue reading ‘He completely dominates’ – Fantastic Willie Mullins five-timer set to smash bookies at Dublin Racing Festival

WILLIE MULLINS will aim to fire ten of his Galacticos at the Grand National – as the full entry field of 90 for the £1million contest was confirmed. The sport’s top trainer took the £500,000 first-place prize with ease last year as I Am Maximus stormed to victory for owner JP McManus. And he will… Continue reading Grand National entries revealed as Willie Mullins fires ten superstars at world’s most famous race

TOP horse trainers have said they will boycott ITV coverage this weekend unless they are paid for interviews. Racing is at war with a number of handlers – rumoured to include the likes of Nicky Henderson – believing they deserve a financial incentive to speak on camera. Trainers who are signed up with the Professional… Continue reading Racing at war as top trainers say they will boycott ITV coverage unless they are paid for interviews

TEMPLEGATE tackles Tuesday’s action confident of building the bank for a huge weekend at Leopardstown. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. LANESBOROUGH (2.15 Chepstow, nap) This six-year-old went close to getting off the mark on handicap debut at Hereford 13 days ago. He travelled nicely there but had a mile to make up… Continue reading Horse racing tips: ‘The handicapper may have underestimated him’ – Templegate’s 3-1 NAP

TUESDAY’S picks are below. Back a horse by clicking their odds. LONGSHOT TUCK YOUR SHIRT IN (4.24 Chepstow) Harry Cobden is an eyecatching booking on this five-year-old who is making his debut for Mark Loughnane. THIEF CASTELFORT (2.15 Chepstow) He was much improved when winning here last time and several of the placed horses have… Continue reading Horse racing tips: Bash the bookies on Tuesday with three value picks

HARRY REDKNAPP looked on in utter disbelief after his 1-100 in-running horse was beaten in ‘bizarre’ circumstances. Redknapp’s Risk It All looked a good thing after being sent off a very skinny 2-7 at Plumpton on Monday. Trained by Gary and Josh Moore and ridden by Niall Houlihan, Risk It All was going easy miles… Continue reading ‘What have I just seen?’ – Harry Redknapp in disbelief after 1-100 horse is beaten in ‘bizarre’ circumstances

A HUGE Cheltenham favourite is set to skip the Festival in favour of Aintree. Iroko is 10-1 for the Ultima but owner JP McManus is favouring a tilt at the Grand National. The horse’s most recent run at Cheltenham on Trials Day was the subject of a stewards’ enquiry. Jonjo O’Neill Jr was deemed to… Continue reading Huge Cheltenham favourite set to miss Festival in favour of Aintree

THERE is ‘genuine concern’ over a Guinness shortage at Cheltenham Festival – but the chances of actually running dry look a non-runner. More than 265,000 pints – enough to fill three Olympic swimming pools – were guzzled down by punters over four days last year. But amid reports of rationing in pubs and some running… Continue reading ‘Genuine concern’ over Guinness shortage at Cheltenham Festival – but chances of running dry a longshot

TOP trainer Paul Nicholls’ gallops have been left ‘literally underwater’ after ‘biblical’ rain caused chaos at his Ditcheat yard. His loop and flat gallops have suffered ‘huge damage’ just weeks before Cheltenham Festival. Nicholls – who recently told Sun Racing about his plans for a monster end to the season – has not been able… Continue reading Paul Nicholls’ gallops ‘literally underwater’ after ‘biblical’ rain causes chaos just weeks before Cheltenham Festival

CLASSIC-winning trainer Hugo Palmer has broken ranks and declared the concept of trainers being paid for TV interviews as a ‘terrible idea’. Respect, Hugo. Respect. For those of you that don’t know, a group of trainers – currently unknown but definitely including Dan Skelton – want to be paid for TV interviews during race meetings.… Continue reading Paying trainers for interviews is mad – as Hugo Palmer tells me – but here’s a cheeky look at who could charge what