Big three stand there Ground for Champion Chase Clash Andrew Nelis Racing

Altior, Chacun Pour Soi and Defi Du Seuil remain on course for a fascinating clash at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday, after the trio featured among 11 horses confirmed for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Altior is bidding to become only the second three-time winner of the two-mile showpiece, after Badsworth Boy racked up a hat-trick in the 1980s.

However, despite having suffered just one defeat in 21 starts over jumps, the 10-year-old is unlikely to have things all his own way on his return to the Cotswolds, with two formidable rivals taking him on.

Defi Du Seuil has been the star of the division in Britain so far this term, winning each of his three starts for trainer Philip Hobbs and owner JP McManus, including the Tingle Creek at Sandown and the Clarence House at Ascot.

The lightly-raced Chacun Pour Soi beat Defi Du Seuil at the Punchestown Festival – and while he suffered a surprise defeat on his return to action at Leopardstown at Christmas, he bounced back to winning ways at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The eight-year-old is out to provide Willie Mullins with his first Champion Chase success.

The Cullentra handler has also confirmed Min, but he is more likely to run in the Ryanair Chase the following afternoon, as is Henry de Bromhead’s A Plus Tard, who was too strong for Chacun Pour Soi over the festive period.

Paul Nicholls is set to saddle last year’s runner-up Politologue and Dynamite Dollars, while last year’s third Sceau Royal is in the mix for Alan King.

Bun Doran (Tom George), Hell’s Kitchen (Harry Fry) and the admirable mare Lady Buttons (Phil Kirby) are the other hopeful

Comments

Current option wins for Aldo Mcguiness Andrew Nelis Racing

Current Option capped an excellent Galway Festival for trainer Ado McGuinness and apprentice Gavin Ryan with victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF "Ahonoora" Handicap. McGuinness saddled Saltonstall to land Tuesday's BMW Mile, before Sirjack Thomas doubled his tally on Saturday. Ryan was aboard both horses and had also ridden winners for Dermot Weld and Donnacha O'Brien during the course of the week. Having disappointed behind his stablemate Saltonstall earlier in the week, Current Option was a 15-2 shot for the final day feature. Andrew Nelis Racing

Naas Nearing action Andrew Nelis racing News

Naas to host first Irish meeting on resumption with Classics soon to follow Mon 18 May 2020 Naas will host the first fixture when racing resumes behind closed doors in Ireland on June 8, with the Irish 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas also set for the opening week. Horse Racing Ireland officials on Friday expressed their delight at clearance from the Irish Government to restart the sport on that date, which at one stage looked like being June 29. As is planned in Britain, it will be a high-profile comeback, with Classic action at the Curragh on Friday, June 12 featuring the 2,000 Guineas while the 1,000 Guineas will be held 24 hours later. Watch what Brian Kavanagh, chief exeutive of the HRI, had to say on Luck On Sunday The Irish Derby retains its traditional date at the Curragh on Saturday, June 27, as does the Irish Oaks on Saturday, July 18. Irish Champions Weekend will take place on September 12 and 13. Jumps racing will begin again at Limerick on June

Epsom Derby Runners and riders 2020 Andrew Nelis

1 AMHRAN NA BHFIANN Sire : Galileo. Trainer : Aidan O’Brien. Official rating : --. Odds : 50-1 Who will add their name to the Derby roll of honour? Positives : His sister, Was, won the Oaks on her third start in 2012, while his brother, Douglas Macarthur, finished seventh in the 2017 Derby after being deployed as a pacemaker. He himself offered something to work on when fourth in a Leopardstown maiden last time, when finishing behind three stablemates who subsequently all made their presence felt in the Irish Derby. His best days are ahead of him. Negatives : Has mountain to climb on form and even his master trainer has not pulled off the trick of winning the Derby with a twice-raced maiden. Indeed, the last maiden to win the race was in 1887. Verdict : Folly to underestimate anything his trainer runs but easy enough to looks elsewhere. 2 EMISSARY Sire : Kingman. Trainer : Hugo Palmer. Official rating : 98. Odds : 33-1 Hugo Palmer revealed mor

Andrew Nelis racing

Search This Blog