Coronavirus: Ireland race meetings follow suit in coronavirus lockdown
Quote: 'Most important is health and safety' - trainer Aiden O'Brien
By Andrew Atkinson Chief sports editor
RACING in Ireland has followed suit of England and France on cancelling race meetings, due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced...
Doctor Syntax euthanised at Newmarket August 1838
Horse skeleton discovered at King Charles II Palace stables
Andrew Atkinson continues a look back to prolific horse Doctor Syntax in Part 2 of an illustrious career on the turf.
Doctor Syntax began his career as a stallion, age 13,...
Trainer John Berry on course with Hopels High
By Andrew Atkinson
Trainer John Berry has revealed that Hopels High is set to run at Great Yarmouth next month in the wake of racing returning to the fold in England on June 1.
"She has been enjoying herself on the...
Palace Pier back-to-back wins in Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois
Quote: 'I love the horse. He’s the best miler I’ve rode. He’s beautiful and got everything' - Frankie Dettori
By Andrew Atkinson
Frankie Dettori and Palace Pier landed back-to-back wins in the Group One Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville...
Altior returns in Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park
By Andrew Atkinson
Altior is set to return to action in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park on December 27.
"I have no worries about the ground. He will run, he has to. Soft ground at Sandown and...
Gaillard Du Mesnil fromthehorsesmouth.info tip wins opener at Dublin Festival Leopardstown meeting
By Andrew Atkinson
Gaillard Du Mesnil (13-8f) tipped by fromthehorsesmouth.info won the opening race at the Dublin Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, when landing the Grade 1 Cheltenham Novice Hurdle (C1) over 2m 6f.
Willie Mullins' trained five-year-old Gaillard Du Mesnil...
Trainers Aidan O’Brien and son Donnacha fined-ban for breaches of anti-Covid 19 protocols
By Andrew Atkinson
Trainers Aidan O’Brien and his son Donnacha have been fined and banned by the IRHB from attending racecourses - for breaches of anti-Covid 19 protocols amid the resumption of racing in June.
Both were fined €2,500 - £2,200...
CARTMEL STICKY TOFFEE FOR WINNING CONNECTIONS!
Quote: 'We know you all love a party - but please do not come. It may be tempting to say 'let's watch from the woods' - Cartmel General manager Geraldine McKay
Quote: 'With racing behind closed doors, Cartmel...
Cheltenham Festival – lucky to go ahead in wake of coronavirus
By Andrew Atkinson
Cheltenham Festival 2020 can look back on being lucky to escape cancellation - or taking place without the 251,000 spectators who attended the four days meeting last week - after the coronavirus outbreak.
Four days after the final...
Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud sells 39 horses as Elliott returns
By Andrew Atkinson
Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud has sold 39 horses for over €500,000 at the Goffs UK September Sale at Doncaster.
Ryanair chief O'Leary, who announced he was slashing his string of horses, sold three horses to trainer Gordon...
Racing Cheltenham. Kissair and Tiutchev in retirement
By Andrew Atkinson Exclusive
Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle 1995 winner Kissair and 2000 Arkle winner Tiutchev, bred by Mrs D M Rothschild, continue to spend happy lives in retirement with Nikki Atkinson.
"Rabbit (Kissair) was 30 on March 7, having been gifted...
Racing plans will allow owners to attend race meetings behind closed doors from July...
‘Test events’ scheduled this week to pilot new protocols
Attendance limited to two owners per horse
By Andrew Atkinson Breaking news
Racehorse owners will be able to start attending race meetings behind closed doors from Saturday July 4 in a...
Doncaster Saturday’s Racing Preview and tips
Fusil Raffles eyes Listed Sky Bet Handicap Chase glory
By Andrew Atkinson
Dan Skelton trained Third Time Lucki (1.35) ridden by Harry Skelton is tipped to win the Grade 2 Class 1 Novices Chase over 2 miles at Doncaster.
Arkle hopes Third...
Henry de Bromhead saddles Honeysuckle to 15th win in Champion Hurdle
Racing. Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Review
By Andrew Atkinson
Henry de Bromhead saddled Honeysuckle tipped by fromthehorsesmouth.info to extended her unbeaten record to 15, when winning the Champion Hurdle for the second time, ridden Rachael Blackmore.
"It's a joy to train...
DANGLING THE CARROT – TAKING THE MICK!
Quote: 'It was a different world back then. People grew their own vegetables and kept chickens. How things have changed. People go to the supermarket. The supermarkets ruined it'.
Andrew Atkinson looks at veteran racehorse trainer Mick Easterby who...
Willie Mullins Promises Battle-Hardened Al Boum Photo this Winter
When Al Boum Photo switched to fences back in 2017, Irish fans saw plenty of Willie Mullins’ novice chaser, who had a good, but not great, reputation. It’s not as if Al Boum Photo was out every week, but...
Saturday’s Racing’s round-up. Newbury
Newbury 16 -1 accumulator
By Andrew Atkinson
Clive Cox trained Aratus ridden by Adam Kirby completed a fromthehorsesmouth.info 16-1 four-horse accumulator at Newbury on Saturday when landing the C3 BetVictor Handicap over 7 furlongs.
Three-year-old Aratus made smooth headway two furlongs...
Resdev horses exit Kirby stables
Top Ville Ben well after undergoing vets procedure
By Andrew Atkinson
Philip Kirby has announced that a trio of Resdev horses has left the Green Oaks Farm stables in Richmond, North Yorkshire.
"It was a sad day saying goodbye to The...
Trainer Kirby’s largest team of runners in one day hit by snow!
By Andrew Atkinson EXCLUSIVE
Race entries at Newcastle were affected by the snowfall on roads with many horses scheduled to go to post declared non-runners on Friday.
"The horrendous conditions en route to Newcastle resulted in so many non-runners- including ours...
Stan Mellor MBE dies, aged 83
By Andrew Atkinson
Stan Mellor MBE, who became the first National Hunt jump jockey to ride 1,000 winners, died on August 1, aged 83.
Brough Scott led the tributes to Mellor having been a fellow rider as an amateur: “He was...
Derby winning Jockey Pat Smullen dies aged 43
By Andrew Atkinson
Derby winning Jockey Pat Smullen has died at the age of 43.
Horse Racing Ireland said that Smullen, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2018, died at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin on September 15.
Smullen, nine times Irish...
Gordon Elliott banned from entering races as Cheltenham Festival looms
By Andrew Atkinson
The British Horseracing Authority will use powers under its own rules to refuse to allow horses trained by Gordon Elliott to race in Britain, pending consideration of the outcome of the Irish investigation following a photo of...
Ice cool Phil Stargazing for season ahead
By Andrew Atkinson
Trainer Philip Kirby has an exciting small team of runners when racing resumes, and a second group being prepared for later in the summer/early Autumn.
"We have a strong hand in the staying division, not including our Autumn/early...
Presenting Percy win will do him world of good
Gordon Elliott trained nine-year-old Presenting Percy returned to winning ways at Thurles this month, when beating Kemboy under jockey Jack Kennedy, having last won in January 2019.
Presenting Percy fell when seventh two out in the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup...
RACING CONTINUES IN BRITAIN
'We have to be realistic that it is likely only small numbers of people will be present' - Ian Renton, Regional director of the Jockey Club and responsible for staging the Cheltenham Festival
Epsom, Leicester, Newcastle, Windsor and...
