Qatar Racing have confirmed Oisin Murphy will remain on their team, with Cieren Fallon taking over while Murphy serves the remainder of his 14-month suspension

Trainer Hugo Palmer has confirmed he will swap Newmarket for Cheshire and take over at Michael Owen's Manor House Stables as reported by the Racing Post last month.

 

Palmer had been in advanced talks to succeed the departing Tom Dascombe at the yard for many weeks but terms have now been agreed.

@1496797264467177472

Three-times Grade One winner Frodon is among 82 entries for the Ultima Handicap Chase on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, March 15.

 

Paul Nicholls’ 10-year-old began his season by winning the Champion Chase at Down Royal but having disappointed in defence of his King George crown, his latest trip to Ireland was not as successful and he was beaten a long way in the Irish Gold Cup.

A disciplinary panel has rejected an appeal against the placings in a handicap chase at Fontwell last month, during which conditional jockey Harrison Beswick came under hostile questioning that led him to ask: “Am I in a riding lesson here?”

 

The appeal against the decision of the Fontwell stewards not to award Passing Secrets victory in a 2m2f handicap chase when he was beaten a short head by Master Malcolm on January 30 was brought by Tom Gretton, trainer of the beaten horse.

Riyadh was in raptures after Emblem Road gave Saudi Arabia a first success in the world's richest race, defeating US heavyweight Country Grammer to pull off a huge upset in the $20 million Saudi Cup.

 

Quite how it happened will take some untangling, but for a kingdom with an unquenchable ambition to become an established power in the racing world, the importance of Emblem Road's 80-1 success can not be measured and the people of Saudi Arabia celebrated accordingly.

The latest twist in the fast-moving story of owner Syd Hosie, who parted company with two salaried trainers last year before moving his string to Harriet Brown, has resulted in his going back to his roots by sending four horses to Colin Tizzard.

 

Hosie's flagship horse Lieutenant Rocco, now on the sidelines with a pelvis injury, was initially trained by Tizzard and his son and assistant Joe, but the businessman set up a private operation two years ago when he installed Nick Mitchell, who saddled The Listener to win Down Royal's Grade 1 Champion Chase in 2009.

 

That relationship came to an end last year and Mitchell was replaced by Ralph Smith, whose time at Sandhills Farm in Dorset lasted a matter of months due to a disagreement over training methods.

Buveur D’Air is set to make his long-awaited return in the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle (3.15) on Saturday as Nicky Henderson launches a two-pronged assault on Kelso’s £100,000 feature handicap.

 

The dual Champion Hurdle winner has been absent since finishing fourth in last year's Aintree Hurdle and will carry topweight on his seasonal reappearance.

 

Now an eleven-year-old, the JP-McManus owned veteran has not been a regular on the track in recent years, but his previous exploits could make him a tough horse to beat off a mark of 153 as he is pitched into handicap company for the first time.

Buveur D’Air is set to make his long-awaited return in the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle (3.15) on Saturday as Nicky Henderson launches a two-pronged assault on Kelso’s £100,000 feature handicap.

 

The dual Champion Hurdle winner has been absent since finishing fourth in last year's Aintree Hurdle and will carry topweight on his seasonal reappearance.

 

Now an eleven-year-old, the JP-McManus owned veteran has not been a regular on the track in recent years, but his previous exploits could make him a tough horse to beat off a mark of 153 as he is pitched into handicap company for the first time.

Tiger Roll has officially been ruled out of a historic Randox Grand National hat-trick bid, but Gordon Elliott believes the legendary veteran remains the one to beat in this month's Glenfarclas Cross Country if retaining most of his old ability.

 

Michael O'Leary reaffirmed his stance on Sunday that the dual Grand National hero would not be returning to Liverpool on April 9 due to a "ridiculous rating and unfair weight", but confirmation of the move came on Tuesday when Tiger Roll was officially scratched from the race.

 

A total of 14 horses were removed from the £1 million spectacular, including fellow Irish-trained entrants Eklat de Rire, Off You Go, The Big Dog, Assemble, Mister Fogpatches, Eurobot and Brace Yourself.

Cormier won a first prize of just over £51,000 and the chance to bid for a £100,000 bonus at Cheltenham by landing the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle.

 

The Shunter earned the payout by following up at the festival 12 months ago and trainer Brian Ellison has his sights on the County Hurdle with a horse who won at Cheltenham in January.

Conditions are currently soft at Cheltenham where the severity of a band of rain from Friday will determine the ground that the festival will start on.

 

A dry period is forecast before 8-10mm is predicted to fall between Friday and Sunday. Light rain is also forecast for the opening day of the festival on March 15.

 

The Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the meeting's traditional curtain-raiser, has been run on soft ground for the last three seasons, having been heavy in 2018 and good to soft the year before.

Latest Ante Post on the Big Races:

 

Champion Hurdle:

 

Honeysuckle 1/2f

Appreciate It 7/2

Epatante 8/1

Teahupoo 8/1

Zanahiyr 12/1

Adagio 16/1

Saint Roi 20/1

Quilixios 25/1

Tommys Oscar 25/1

Monmiral 33/1

 

 

Champion Chase:

 

Shishkin 4/7f

Energuemene 3/1

Chacun Pour Soi 7/2

Envoi Allen 10/1

Nube Negra 10/1

Greaneteen 14/1

Hitman 16/1

Politologue 16/1

Put The Kettle On 16/1

Funambule Sivola 20/1

Captain Guinness 25/1

 

Stayers Hurdle:

 

Flooring Porter 3/1f

Champ 4/1

Klassical Dream 9/2

Thyme Hill 9/2

Paisley Park 6/1

Asterion Forlonge 8/1

Royal Kahala 8/1

Sporting John 9/1

Melon 12/1

Sir Du Berlais 14/1

 

Gold Cup:

 

A Plus Tard 3/1f

Galvin 7/2

Minella Indo 5/1

Allaho 8/1

Protektorat 8/1

Al Boum Photo 10/1

Conflated 10/1

Tornado Flyer 12/1

Ahoy Senor 16/1

Chantry House 16/1

Albert Bartlett favourite Minella Crooner will miss the Cheltenham Festival after pulling a muscle during a workout.

@1501578243169792010

Rachael Blackmore rode unbeaten mare Honeysuckle to a thrilling second consecutive Champion Hurdle win on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

 

The Irish rider steered the 8-11 favourite to a 15th successive career victory for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

 

Honeysuckle and Blackmore were given a rousing reception after finishing ahead of 2020 champion Epatante and Zanahiyr.

Cheers Bob Olinger.

Third Wind edges out Alaphilippe to claim victory in Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

 

 

Four of the first five home were British trained & a first UK success since 2015 🇬🇧

Ryanair Chase 🐎

 

- Allaho 4/6

- Conflated 15/2

- Shan Blue 11/1

- Janidil 11/1

- Eldorado Allen 18/1

- Melon 16/1

- Fanion D'Estruval 28/1