Odds-on Dunguib well held in third in Festival opener

The 2010 Cheltenham Festival got underway on Tuesday with the Spinal Research Supreme Noices' Hurdle, which was won by Menorah (King's Theatre), who broke a three year spell without a Festival winner for trainer Philip Hobbs.

Likely fields for Dubai World Cup night on 27 March

Race 8: 9.45pm DUBAI WORLD CUP, sponsored by Emirates Airline
Group 1. 2,000m All Weather
For SHbred threeyearolds and older and NHbred fouryearolds

Oaklawn Park, 15 March 2010

$5 million clash is off after Rachel's weekend defeat

The Grade One Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on 9 April will not now feature the $5 million clash between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra after connections of the latter filly announced their decision to bypass the race in the wake of her defeat at Fair Grounds on Saturday.

Hong Kong, 14 March 2010

Son of Danehill Dancer gets up by a head

For champion trainer Caspar Fownes and nine times champion jockey Douglas Whyte the HK$16 million Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby of 2010 proved the dream come true, with both stars opening their accounts in the most prestigious race on the Hong Kong domestic racing calendar.

Hong Kong, 14 March 2010

Happy Zero holds on in Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup

The Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday produced a superb finish between Happy Zero and Fellowship in which the runner-up appeared sure to gun down the winner with 50m to go. Happy Zero and Darren Beadman weren't ready to accept it, however, and although Zac Purton got Fellowship almost level a few strides from the post, the pair just would not let him get past, and maintained their short head advantage to the line.

Santa Anita, 14 March 2010

Candy Ride colt adds Grade Two to tally

Sidney's Candy (Candy Ride) has led all the way in winning his first two races of the season when adding the Grade Two San Felipe Stakes by a half-length on Saturday, sending three-year-old rival Caracortado to his first loss in six races.

Santa Anita, 14 March 2010

Star racemare lands Santa Anita Grade One on return

Last season's Breeders' Cup Classic winner Zenyatta (Street Cry) won the Grade One Santa Margarita Handicap by 1¼ lengths, extending her career victory streak to 15-0.

Oaklawn park, 14 March 2010

Champion juvenile scrapes home in Rebel Stakes

Watson, Pegram & Weitman's 2009 Two-Year-Old Champion Lookin At Lucky (Smart Strike) made a successful sophomore debut on Saturday, getting up in the final strides to defeat Chasing Dreams Racing 2008's Noble’s Promise by a head in the Grade Two Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.

Fair Grounds, 14 March 2010

Zardana beats Horse of the Year in Ladies Stakes

Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra had to bow to Brazilian-bred Zardana by three-quarters of a length in Saturday’s $200,000 New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds Race Course.

Friday’s racing on the final day of The Festival gets underway at 1.30pm with the £100,000 Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle and the 29 acceptors include leading Irish-trained contenders Alaivan and Carlito Brigante as well as Advisor and Soldatino, who have both made impressive starts to their hurdling careers.

One of the most eagerly anticipated races in Jump racing history gets a step closer after 12 horses stood their ground at the six-day confirmation stage for the £475,000 Grade One totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, the highlight of The Festival on Friday, March 19.

New Zealand, 13 March 2010

Son of Electronic Zone wins New Zealand Stakes

Electronic Zone gelding Vosne Romanee landed the Group One SKYCITY New Zealand Stakes over 2000 metres at Ellerslie on Saturday, his third win at the highest level this season. Vosne Romanee showed a telling finishing kick to beat Harris Tweed by a length.

Australia, 13 March 2010

Good performance in Sydney from High Chaparral colt

The Group One Royal Randwick Guineas on saturday was won by Shoot Out, who put in an impressive performance in bursting through his rivals from midfield after a tardy start, galloping strongly to the line to beat Viking Legend by three quarters of a length. Captain Sonador was third.

Australia, 13 March 2010

Fastnet Rock colt takes Group One as favoured Denman fades to fourth

Bart Cummings was favoured to win his first Group One Crown Guineas (1600m) for many months, but Rock Classic wasn’t the horse punters expected to deliver the goods.

Australia, 13 March 2010

Son of Danehill takes Australian Cup on 15th Group One start

No one could deny Zipping (Danehill) his moment on the sun when the eight-year-old landed his first Group One title in the $1m Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Sharp climb in aggregate on larger catalogue than last year

The Goffs "Ready to Run" Breeze Up at Kempton on Friday saw turnover increase by 30% on last year, though with a larger catalogue this year the average declined to £15,991 from £18,728 last year.

Half the entry of 18 trained in Ireland

A total of 18 horses have stood their ground in next Thursday's Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, with half of those trained in Ireland. Among the Irish-trained contingent is Tranquil Sea, who registered a major victory at Cheltenham earlier this season when winning the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open in November.

2008 Arkle winner in good form after reverting to hurdles

Howard Johnson saddled the great Inglis Drever to a record three victories in the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle and the County Durham trainer hopes that the enigmatic Tidal Bay can emulate his illustrious former stable mate with victory in the three-mile hurdling championship at Cheltenham on Thursday.

War Of Attrition amongst entries for Thursday's feature

Day three of The Festival at Cheltenham next Thursday sees 16 confirmations going forward to the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle following today’s six-day confirmation stage.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Binocular will run in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday after pleasing in a gallop on Friday morning. The six-year-old, who was third in last year's Champion Hurdle, had been sent for tests after running several pounds below his best this season, but returned to training after no specific problems were identified.

1000 Guineas hope Electric Feel to run in trial

Newmarket trainer Marco Botti has given a positive bulletin about his Dubai World Cup hope Gitano Hernando, who warmed up for his Dubai mission with a stylish victory in the Listed Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield.

Australia, 12 March 2010

Talented Iglesia mare Millennium Express topped today’s Sydney Autumn Thoroughbred Sale when knocked down to Pedrille Thoroughbreds for $60,000.

Millennium Express, an impressive two-year-old winner at Randwick on debut, is from the stakes placed mare My Millennium, who also produced the stakes winner Emit Time.

Jockey suffers cracked vertebrae in gallops fall

Jockey Sam Thomas will miss the Cheltenham Festival next week - where he his rides would have included Tell Massini in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle and Tricky Trickster in the Gold Cup - after suffering cracked vertebrae in a fall on the gallops at Paul Nicholls' yard on Thursday morning. Thomas was airlifted to Royal United Hospital in Bath after the accident.

Australia, 12 March 2010

Big Brown's turf pedigree to appeal to Australian breeders

Vinery Stud in Australia has secured a significant shareholding in the Champion Racehorse Big Brown. Currently standing at Three Chimneys Stud in Kentucky, Big Brown will shuttle to Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley commencing this 2010 breeding season, pending shareholder approval.

Arkle hero fit and well after recovering from setback

Forpadydeplasterer will attempt to re-ignite the triumphal scenes that followed his breathtaking victory at last season’s Festival when he lines up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase next Wednesday.