Quito Misses RSA For National Hunt Chase

Quito De La Roque, as short as 14/1 with some firms for the Grade 1 RSA Chase at the forthcoming Cheltenham Festival, will instead tackle the four-mile National Hunt Chase, the opening event on day two of what promises to be a spectacular four days at Prestbury Park next week, writes Elliot Slater.

Trainer Colm Murphy has taken his time in reaching a decision as to which races offers the best chance for his up-and-coming novice, and after giving it much thought has decided to forego the opportunity to take on the cream of the three-mile novice chasers with the seven-year-old winner of his two most recent outings, both in Grade 2 company.

Murphy has few doubts that the Saint Des Saints gelding has the required stamina to see out the extended trip in a race restricted to amateur riders, and granted some cut in the ground looks sure to go into the race with seriously good prospects of at least making the frame. Bookmakers are clearly having difficulties assessing just how the seven-year-old’s form measures up to his rivals, with one firm making him 6/1 joint-favourite in the Cheltenham odds, with others go as big as 12/1 about his chances.

With the first five in the ante-post betting for the race all trained in Ireland it’s looking as though the home team (led potentially by Beshabar and possibly Wayward Prince), will have a serious fight on their hands stopping the Irish from winning the prize for the first time since Ian Duncan’s Another Rum scored in 2005.

Quito De La Roque’s only defeat in four starts this term came when narrowly beaten in the Grade 1 Fort Leney Novices Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas fixture, form that is arguably better than anything else entered for the prestigious staying contest.

Meanwhile, after the Cheltenham Festival is over, racing fans will have the Grand National 2011 to look forward to.

Currently, The Midnight Club is favourite, but with seven horses just behind him as co-favourites it looks set to be a tight contest.

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Zaarito Sidelined and Misses Ryanair Chase

The talented but somewhat clumsy Zaarito has met with a setback and will miss his intended engagement in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 17, writes Elliot Slater.

The Colm Murphy-trained nine-year-old is undoubtedly a talented performer but has had more than his fair share of tumbles in recent seasons as his record of five falls from his last 11 outings over both hurdles and fences bears testament. An old injury to a ligament in his near-fore leg has flared up again meaning that Murphy won’t be able to have the gelding fit enough to run at Cheltenham. Instead, the horse who was generally quoted at Cheltenham betting odds of 33/1 for the two-mile-five-furlong Ryanair Chase, will be given more time to recover and hopefully return later in the term, possibly at Punchestown in April.

A smart bumper horse in his youth, the gelded son of Tiraaz has only once in his career left the shores of Ireland and that was when bidding for the 2008 Cheltenham Festival Bumper, where he eventually finished a good third to Cousin Vinny, having been sent off the 3/1 favourite. Although he has never won any graded contest over obstacles there have been a number of occasions when Zaarito has looked as though he might be about to land a big pot, only for his jumping to let him down at a crucial stage. The most recent example was when coming to take up the running at the third last in the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse last April, only to take a nasty fall from which he thankfully recovered quickly.

Murphy’s charge has only had the one outing so far this term when running with credit at Fairyhouse in December to finish second to Golden Silver in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase.

Tags: cheltenham, festival, ireland, ladbrokes, ryanair chaseShare

Mikael On Target For RSA Chase

Despite failing to winning any of his three outings so far over fences, former top-class novice hurdler Mikael d’Haguenet has been confirmed an intended runner in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham on March 16, writes Elliot Slater.

After establishing himself as the best novice hurdler in Britain & Ireland during the 2008/9 season, remaining undefeated in six starts that included three Grade 1s, (most notably the Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival where he defeated Karabak by three lengths, then seven weeks later his four-length defeat of Cousin Vinny in the Land Rover Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival), the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was sidelined with injury for more than 18 months before returning to the fray this season as a budding novice chaser.

Thrown straight in at the deep end, the Lavirco gelding was sent off 6/4f to make a winning debut in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novices’ Chase at Fairyhouse in December and looked set to justify the hype until falling when leading narrowly at the final fence in the race eventually won by Jessies Dream.

In hindsight he was probably asked to race again too quickly when sent to Leopardstown a fortnight later for another Grade 1 chase and was beaten a long way from home, trailing in fifth of the eight runners behind Realt Dubh. The most up to date RSA chase betting suggests he’ll have to show a significant improvement if he win at Cheltenham.

Sent off favourite to break his duck over fences at the third time of asking at Leopardstown in mid-February, Mikael D’Haguenet appeared to still be going well enough when hampered at the second last by the fall of his stable companion Quel Esprit and eventually was beaten six-lengths into third behind Boston’s Angel, in the Dr PJ Moriarty Novices’ Chase.

It’s fair to say that so far the former leading young hurdler has been out of luck over the larger obstacles but he has shown he still retains plenty of ability. After working satisfactorily after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday he has been given the green light to take his chance in the three-mile novice chase championship and is currently on offer at odds up to 16/1.

Tags: cheltenham, Mikael d'Haguenet, RSA chase, rsa chase cheltenham, rsa chase runnersShare

Master Minded still the one to beat in Champion Chase

Master Minded can still win the Champion Chase

Master Minded fans may have had a shock on Saturday, when the Victor Chandler winner’s lead was diminished to a disintegrating short head by the line, but the Paul Nicholls-trained eight year old is still the one to beat in the Champion Chase come March. Or so I reckon.

Let’s consider the facts. Firstly,  Master Minded won the race. Okay, he looked like he’d win by as far as he liked after Petit Robin fell and severely hampered Kalahari King (more on those two in a moment). Granted, he was all out to prevail by the narrowest of margins as they smiled for the photo finish. And of course, Somersby would have won in another stride.

But the Ascot race is a furlong further than the Cheltenham race. And the ground on Saturday was on the soft side of good, which it is unlikely to be come March. Master Minded is probably losing a yard of that brilliant speed he possessed earlier in his career (indeed one idiot on here – me, I think it was – suggested he might be a throwaway bet for the Gold Cup. Suffice it to say, I’ve thrown away that throwaway voucher!). For all that, he retains plenty and, bar the second horse, the remainder were seen off by twenty lengths and more.

The runner-up Somersby is both consistent and frustrating. Consistently frustrating, one might say, if one keeps backing him. Clearly, he has huge talent, as podium positions in five consecutive Grade 1 and 2 contests testify. As a reliable punting proposition, he’s a swerve for me though. I mean, even his trainer doesn’t know what trip he wants and reckons he’s a monkey… sorry, I mean a difficult horse to ride and train.

She, Henrietta Knight – trainer of Best Mate and Edredon Bleu, no less – said, “I was really pleased with him as he is not the easiest horse. We were so sure that we wanted the Ryanair but after today’s performance he showed that he is still able to hold his own at two miles so we might go for the Ryanair next year now.”

In other words, we don’t know what trip he wants and he’s a bloody nightmare to train. That is of course excessively harsh, but where my equine investments are concerned, I’m generally looking for a combination of greater certainty about ideal conditions and a bigger price than the 10/1 which is the best of the bookies’ odds.

Mad Max was third, and well beaten, seemingly without excuses. 40/1 for the Champion Chase is about right, I’d say, though again it wouldn’t tempt me. I can’t see how he could possibly reverse this form, and a place is as good as it can get for this chap.

Mikael D'Haguenet faces nine on Irish chase debut

Mikael D'Haguenet: star staying novice hurdler of the 2008-2009 season

  PICTURE: Caroline Norris  Mikael D'Haguenet faces nine on Irish chasedebut By tony o'hehir 10:59AM 14 DEC 2010 MIKAEL D'HAGUENET, the star staying novice hurdler of the 2008-2009 season, when he was unbeaten in six starts for Willie Mullins, will face nine rivals on his Irish chasingdebut in the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse on Wednesday.

RELATED LINKS Drinmore card RSA Chase betting  Runner-up on his only previous start over fences at Auteuil in May 2008 before joining Mullins, Mikael D'Haguenet missed all of last season due to a setback but is second favourite behind Time For Rupert for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Head Of The Posse, who is two from two over fences, Berties Dream, winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and who has finished fourth on his two starts over fences, Realt Dubh, another dual chase winner, and Jessies Dream are among Mikael D'Haguenet's rivals in the 2m4f event.

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Moloney lands Nacarat ride in Betfair Chase

Who will win the Hennessy Gold Cup? Login Please login to cast your vote Denman 26% Weird Al 24% Pandorama 10% Burton Port 9% Diamond Harry 8% What A Friend 8% Madison Du Berlais 4% Big Fella Thanks 4% Taranis 2% Neptune Collonges 1% Dream Alliance 1% Carruthers 1% Silver By Nature 1% Hey Big Spender 1% Razor Royale 0% Barbers Shop 0% Saphir Des Bois 0% Far More Serious 0% Take The Breeze 0% Abbeybraney 0% Notre Pere 0% The Tother One 0% Horner Woods 0% The Package 0% China Rock 0% Martys Mission 0% Hills Of Aran 0% Wogan 0% Niche Market 0% Glencove Marina 0% Rare Bob 0% Killyglen 0% Tatenen 0% Dance Island 0% Show all 34 runnersHennessy Gold Cup Chase Handicap (Grade 3) Bloodstock news  TOP STORIES

Imperial Commander among ten in Betfair Chase

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Midnight Chase Impressive at Cheltenham

Posted by Leigh on November 13, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

Midnight Chase, trained by Neil Mulholland, made just about all for a very impressive victory in the Grade Three Morson Group Handicap Chase at Chelten

Nicholls to rely on What A Friend in Betfair Chase

Sir Alex Ferguson: part owner

  PICTURE: Getty Images  "After Haydock, his main objective of the season will be the Cheltenham Gold Cup. We didn't aim him at Cheltenham last season because we wanted to give him a bit of time to mature but it is definitely his long-term target this time around.

"Denman and Kauto Star will not be heading to Haydock but Noland is a slight possibility for the Betfair Chase. I have just had a little temporary hold-up with him and I would want him bang on when he runs.

"It's pointless if horses need a run after they have been off for a while and we might need another fortnight with him. I am trying to find a race for him and will have to discuss it with (owner) John Hales, so it's 99 per cent certain that What A Friend will be our only representative."

The Betfair Chase is the highlight of the two-day Northwest Masters, which concludes on Sunday, November 21 at Aintree.

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Chase Debut Victory for Noble Prince

Posted by Leigh on October 27, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

With an ideal start to his chase career, Noble Prince had a comfortable victory in the Dobbins Panoramic Restaurant Beginners Chase at Punchestown.

Albertas Run heads classy entry for Old Roan Chase

English campaign mooted for Laurels ace Enda Mac is back in Harold's Cross Grand NationalPinpoint rules in the All England Trial StakesBeaten Bodell has tonsillitisBaran Pimlico is fastest in Leger quarter-finalsRead Full News Service Search News Archive

Midnight Chase Impressive at Cheltenham

Posted by Leigh on October 15, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

The Neil Mulholland trained Midnight Chase made most of the running to give an impressive performance for a victory in the showcase event on the opening day the Cheltenham two day fixture in the Sportingbet.com Handicap Chase.

NASCAR – Clint Bowyer penalized after winning the Chase Opener

by Stephen Lars on Sep.24, 2010, under Motor Sports, Sports News

When it comes to car racing, be it the NASCAR Sprint Series, the Formula One series, the Moto GP, it has always been a matter of how far can you take the technical limitations that are set upon the car to the limit. It has always been a matter of how you can cut the corners inside the legal margins to, at the end, have the fastest car or the fastest bike out there. Let’s not forget that at the end of these 200, 300, 500 mile-long races, it all comes down to a matter of seconds and milliseconds between the winner and everybody else.

Don’t get me wrong here, I do realize this limitations set upon chief mechanics and team engineers are set to keep things fair and let the talent and driving skills of each driver be what makes the difference. Let’s not forget also that some of these limitations are also place to keep the safe being of the racers and spectators as the No. 1 priority.

So yes, if you do make changes that go too far, if you cheat (but that’s not the right word here) and break some regulations to make your car go faster, you and your team should be penalized. But I would go so far as to expect that if as a Driver and a team both Clint Bowyer and Richard Childress Racing should be penalized with such a harsh punishment, then NASCAR should have done so on Sunday, not wait for an extended review and give the punishment on a Wednesday afternoon.

Here is the thing, why did it take so long.  They have penalized Clint Bowyer with 150 points. Ok, Sunday night, after he won the race, Bowyer was 2nd in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Thursday Morining, that same guy now sits 12th over 180 points from the first place and basically without the slightest chance to win the Chase. For a single race infraction, 150 point must be up-to-date the highest penalization any NASCAR driver has received. The thing here is that, as of press time, Sprint Cup officials have yet to make an statement regarding the details of what was it that Richard Childress Racing had done wrong.

They, the evaluative commission who tested the car, have said that it was a matter of how the team mechanics and engineers had arranged the care body over the frame, giving it some sort of aerodynamic advantage. But here is the twist. If the infraction was really worth a 150-point sanction, why didn’t the guys who check the cars after the race noticed that anything was wrong?

Upon further review