Horrible day for me.

An poor festival with no wins apart from two seconds with Arctic Fire in the Champion Hurdle, Parlour Games in the Neptune Investment Novice's Hurdle and Actival third in the Coral Cup until that is:

 

Thanks to Coneygree. Got him at 12/1 and Road To Riches e/w at 11/1.

 

 

How did everyone else do at the Cheltenham Festival?

 

 

Jockey Danny Cook has been given a six-month drug ban after testing positive for a banned substance.

 

 

Grand National Betting (Coral)

 

 

Shutthefrontdoor 8-1f

Rocky Creek 10-1

Balthazar King 12-1

The Druids Nephew 14-1

Cause of Causes 20-1

Godsmejudge 20-1

Pineau De Re 20-1

Spring Heeled 20-1

Unionste 20-1

Alvardo 25-1

Gallant Oscar 25-1

Goonyella 25-1

Many Clouds 25-1

Merry King 25-1

Sam Winner 25-1

Soll 25-1

Teaforthree 25-1

Al Co 33-1

Ballycasey 33-1

Broadway Buffalo 33-1

First Lieutenant 33-1

Hadrian's Approach 33-1

Home Farm 33-1

Lord Windermere 33-1

Monbeg Dude 33=1

Royale Knight 33-1

Saint Are 33-1

The Package33-1

Wyck Hill 33-1

Benvolio 40-1

Chance Du Roy 40-1

Court By Surprise 40-1

Dolatlo 40-1

Mon Parrain 40-1

Night In Milan 40-1

Oscar Time 40-1

Rebel Rebellion 40-1

Carlito Brigante 50-1

Corrin Wood 50-1

Double Ross 50-1

Full list of the Grand National Runners:

 

http://www.grand-national-guide.co.uk/gran...nal-runners.php

 

 

Who will you be backing this year in the Grand National?

 

 

Did anyone see this dramatic fall from Lewis Ferguson yesterday at Wincanton:

 

 

 

He escaped with no serious injuries.

 

 

Jamie Moore becomes the latest top jockey to miss out on the Grand National as he suffered a broken leg in a fall at Towcester yesterday and joins Mark Walsh, Barry Geraghty, Jason Maguire, Davy Russell plus the banned Bryan Cooper.

 

 

The greatest jump jockey, AP McCoy has ridden for the last time of his career when he finished in third place with Box Office at Sandown.

 

We'll never see anyone like him again for a very long time. A 20-time champion jockey over the jumps.

 

What would you regard as his greatest ride?

 

I would say this:

Witchia Lineman 2009 William Hill Trophy Chase

 

This weekend sees the Oaks and Derby at Epsom both looking place on Friday:

 

Oaks:

 

Legatissimo 5-2f

Crystal Zveda 10-3

Jack Naylor 7-1

Diamondsandrubies 7-1

Together Forever 10-1

Jazzi Top 12-1

Lady of Dubai 12-1

Star Of Seville 12-1

Al Naamah 16-1

Bellajeu 33-1

Local Time 50-1

Wedding Vow 50-1

Qualify 66-1

 

Derby:

 

Golden Horn 7-4f

Jack Hobbs 5-1

Zawraq 5-1

Giovanni Canaletto 8-1

Elm Park 8-1

Hans Holbein 12-1

Success Days 16-1

Kilmanjaro 20-1

Epicuris 20-1

Storm The Stars 25-1

Moheet 33-1

Best Of Times 50-1

Rogue Runner 50-1

Rocky Rider 100-1

Carbon Dating 200-1

 

Who will you be backing?

 

 

Olympic cyclist, Victoria Pendleton is set to make her debut as a amateur jockey in July at Newbury with the ambition to complete in the 2016 Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

 

Also jockey coach Michael Tebbutt has had to say sorry for saying in an BBC interview that 'woman can't ride'.

 

 

Quite a remarkable story this from Irish jockey Brian Toomey for anyone interested:

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/33255079

Former jockey Matthew Hopkins has banned for three years after he placed 987 bets in a year while a licensed professional jockey.

 

 

RIP Kauto Star who has sadly been put down aged 15. One of the greatest jump horses I've seen in my life. The only horse ever to regain the Gold Cup and 5 times winner of the King George VI Chase. 4 times winner of the Betfair Chase. He really was a great horse. Those battles he had with Denman, Imperial Commander and coming back when we thought that he was going to be retired in 2011 to win the Betfair Chase and get that 5th King George VI Chase by beating Long Run. That's what my Boxing Day was for me throughout 2006-2011 to see him win with such ease. RIP to a brave, wonderful, great racehorse.

 

King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Coral)

 

Golden Horn 1-2f

Snow Sky 13-2

Eagle Top 7-1

Flintshire 12-1

Postponed 12-1

The Corsican 16-1

Clever Cookie 25-1

Dylan Mouth 33-1

Madame Chiang 33-1

Romsdal 50-1

 

 

Who will you be backing in Saturday's big race for the 65th King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes?

RIP Former BBC Racing Commentator Sir Peter O'Sullevan who dubbed "The Voice of Racing" aged 97.

 

He commentated on 50 Grand Nationals and 14,000 races in racing before retiring in 1997.

 

One of the great sport commentators for the BBC and horse racing.

 

Commentator for classic horse racing moments like this:

1973 Grand National

 

1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup:

 

 

 

2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles and Derby winner Golden Horn are set to race against each other in the Juddmonte International at the opening day of the Ebor meeting at York. Really looking forward to that clash.

 

 

Hayley Turner has announced that she will retire at the end of the season due to decliing opportunites to get decent rides.

 

Well known for becoming the first female jockey to win two UK Group 1's and for that extra-martial affair with Jamie Spencer.

 

 

 

 

Also.

 

23-time Grade 1 winner and two-time Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly has been retired. What a horse he was.

 

 

Did anyone see the St Leger where Simple Verse was disqualified for interference with Bondi Beach:

 

 

 

RIP Raymond Mould who owned top chasers such as Sprinter Sacre, Barton Bank, the 1988 Gold Cup winner Charter Party and the 2002 Grand National winner Bindaree. He was 74.

The appeal against Simple Verse's demotion from the St Leger will be held on Wednesday.