Lets hope the weather relents and racing can take place on Boxing Day where the feature race will be the William Hill King George VI Chase worth £200,000 run over 3 miles. Kauto Star should win it for a fourth time but there will not be much between him and Imperial Commander judged on their Haydock Park form. Madison du Berlais was behind them that day but he has excellent form over course and distance and could well be in the shake up. It was a shame to lose the Ascot cards to the weather. The highlight on Saturday would undoubtedly have been the Long Walk Hurdle where the top rated hurdler Big Bucks would have been taken on by Diamond Harry amongst others. Like a lot of racing folk I cannot understand why the racing authorities have added the race to Newburys card on the 29th December. Why not add it to Cheltenhams card on January 1st when so many more people would be be able to watch and enjoy it. Horse racing is very much a minority sport and needs all the good publicity it can get. This was very evident with the time alloted to it on BBC's Sports Personality awards programme. Blink and you would have missed it. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

After last weekends exciting performances by Kauto Star, Imperial Commander, Diamond Harry and Zaynar we now have the Hennessy Gold Cup Chase to look forward to at Newbury on Saturday the 28th as well as the Wbx.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Denman (pictured) is a short priced favourite for the Hennessy.If he is in the same form of two years ago when he won this race he will take all the beating. He has to give weight to a lot of good horses namely Barbers Shop who will be wearing cheekpieces for the first time. They certainly worked for Madison du Berlais last season. Snowy Morning started favourite for this race two years ago only to fall early on. He had a disappointing season last season but you can never rule out one of Willie Mullins runners. War of Attrition also comes over from Ireland for the first time since his Cheltenham Gold Cup win of 2006. They all receive lots of weight from Denman. The one that interests me most though for an each way bet is Roll Along who finished sixth in last years Cheltenham Gold Cup when trained by Carl Llewellyn. Carl Llewellyn is now assistant to Nigel Twiston-Davies who now trains Roll Along. His horses are in tremendous form. Roll Along will be ridden by the in form jockey Noel Fehily. The Hennessy Gold Cup is worth £200,000 and is always one of the highlights of the jumping season. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Tomorrow (Saturday) sees the return of jump racing star, Kauto Star (pictured), in the £200,000 Betfair Chase (the Lancashire Chase) at Haydock over 3 miles. The going forecast is heavy which is ground Kauto Star has not won on before but he is a class act and great horses "go" on any ground. The mud loving Notre Pere and Halcon Genelardais, if he is the right frame of mind, might be the ones to make a race of it if it comes to a slog. Madison du Berlais had a terrific season last season but did not encounter heavy ground. He proved he stays beyond three miles by winning last years Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury over 3 miles 2 furlongs. If he acts on the ground he could be the each way value. It promises to be an interesting race. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

I always associate the Charlie Hall Chase Meeting at Wetherby as the start of the National Hunt season "proper". Last Saturday's race had a poor turn out for a £100,000 race, trainers no doubt concerned about the safety of the ground. As it happened the race provided a super finish between Deep Purple, Tamarinbleu and Ollie Magern, Deep Purple just getting up on the line. Fair Along (pictured) won the John Smith's West Yorkshire long distance hurdle rather easily. He goes very well for young jockey Rhys Flint, who, according to the essay in Timeforms' Chasers & Hurdlers has been associated with the horse since he was thirteen. Fair Along disappointed in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket so denying the blogger of a 1-2-3 ! The trainers wife, Sarah Hobbs, stated that he had lost ground at the start and consequently sulked. The Cheltenham 3 day Open Meeting on the 13th, 14th,and 15th November whets our appetites for the Festival next year. The main race will be the Paddy Power Gold Cup Steeplechase which takes place on the Saturday. A two and a half miles handicap, the race will be worth £150,000. The weights are yet to be published but I am hoping last years second, Barbers Shop, puts in an appearance. On the Sunday the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, worth £100,000 will be the feature race. For all the up to date news from the course click on Cheltenham. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The centre piece of the 5 day Punchestown Festival in Ireland is the Guinness Gold Cup which will be run over 3 miles 1 furlong this evening at 18.05 pm. It looks a fairly open race with Notre Pere (pictured) the likely favourite. He will definitely stay the distance in the rain softened going as will Snowy Morning who ran a really good race in the Aintree Grand National. His trainer, Willie Mullins, stated before the National that "Snowy Morning had been alloted too much weight, but the run should put him spot on for Punchestown". Snowy Morning ran second to Neptune Collonges in this race last year after finishing third in the 2008 Aintree Grand National. David Casey who seems to get on well with him takes the ride. Air Force One is the only course and distance winner in the field but he has been rather disappointing since his fine run against Madison Du Berlais in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury last November. Notre Pere should win but at the odds Snowy Morning makes more appeal as an each way bet. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The Punchestown 5 Day Festival gets underway at 15.45 pm this afternoon when the Irish racegoers will have the added attraction of seeing Master Minded (pictured) running in the Kerrygold Champion Chase at 18.05 pm this evening. He is a very warm order to win this race for owner Clive Smith, trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh. Ruby Walsh will be on two other well fancied horses for Willie Mullins in Cooldine and Hurricane Fly. Cooldine was impressive at Cheltenham and he runs over the 3 miles 1 furlong Boylesports.com Champion Novice Chase. This race was won last year by Air Force One who runs tomorrow in the Punchestown Guiness Gold Cup. Hurricane Fly never made the trip to Cheltenham due to injury but is expected to win the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle this afternoon. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

It is three weeks since all the drama and excitement of the Aintree Grand National Meeting and although we have had the Irish and Scottish Grand Nationals together with the Classic Trials for the Guineas since, the racing to me has been low key. However the two day Bet 365 Meeting gets underway on Friday the 24th at Sandown Park with the feature race on Saturday the 25th being the Bet 365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase worth £165,000 and run over 3 miles and 5 furlongs. To us old timers this is still referred to as the "Whitbread". There is nothing like the class of past winners Arkle, Mill House or Desert Orchid in the field. Mill House won the race in 1967 when brilliantly ridden by the late David Nicholson. The picture shows Mill House jumping the last at Sandown Park on his way to winning the Gainsborough Chase. He was ridden by his regular partner, Willie Robinson, on this occasion. This years race looks a very open affair. Lacdoudal won this race in 2006 from Eric's Charm and My Will. His trainer, Phillip Hobbs, also won the race last year with Monkerhostin. Lacdoudal looked as though he was coming back to form on his last run behind Wichita Lineman at Cheltenham. Oodachee has come in for plenty of support in the antepost market and is probably worth a saver. It promises to be a great afternoons racing at Sandown Park. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

There is a terrific eight race card at Leopardstown on Sunday with the feature race being the Irish Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup worth 206,000 euros. This race is run over 3 miles and last years winner The Listener goes again, this time to be ridden by Andrew J McNamara. The Listener fell on his last visit to Ireland as did Neptune Collonges (pictured). This race should be a stepping stone for Neptune Collonges on his way to the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice Steeplechase worth 103,000 euros run over 2 miles 5 furlongs brings together Forpadydeplasterer and Cooldine. Forpadydeplasterer won the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at this meeting last year before being sent to Cheltenham for the Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle where he ran a good race to finish fourth. This time around Willie Mullins runs Cousin Vinny and Hurricane Fly against each other in a small field for the Deloitte Novice Hurdle before they are sent to Cheltenham for their chosen races. For all the runners and riders with the jockeys' colours click on the sporting life. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

In four weeks time this will be Cheltenham Gold Cup Day. In the meantime there is some interesting racing tomorrow at Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton. The race carrying the most prize money is the Betfair Ascot Chase worth £150,000 run over 2 miles 5 furlongs. There is a disappointing turn out on account of the ground and only four runners will go to post. Voy Por Ustedes (pictured) should win this. His next race will probably be in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Earlier in the card the Reynoldstown Novices Chase will be run over 3 miles. Last year Albertas Run, Air Force One and Battlecry fought out the finish. There will be only four runners this year and Carruthers would be a very popular winner of this. Breedsbreeze will give him most to do. Both horses are probably en route to the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase at the Festival. Up at Haydock Park the feature race will be the Bluesquare Gold Cup Chase worth £115,000 run over 3 miles 4 furlongs. Miko De Beauchene won the equivalent race last year and goes again. Tony McCoy is an interesting booking for Character Building who is en route to the Grand National. Mon Mome represents Venetia Williams whose horses remain in tremendous form. Also on the card Kasbah Bliss comes over from France for a pipeopener in the Blue Square Hurdle run over 3 miles 1 furlong. His next stop will be to take on Punchestowns in the World Hurdle at the Festival. At Wincanton the Kingwell Hurdle worth £80,000 will be run over 2 miles and looks to be between Punjabi and Askkavar. For all the runners and riders with the jockeys' colours click on the sporting life. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The Coral Welsh National Handicap Chase will be run over 3 miles 5 furlongs at Chepstow on Saturday the 27th December. The race is worth £100,000 and top weight will be carried by Halcon Genelardais who won the race in 2006 and was runner up to Miko de Beauchene in 2007. They fought out a tremendous finish. This year Halcon Genelardais is better off at the weights with Miko de Beauchene but not with Mon Mome who was runner up to him in 2006. Mon Mome (pictured on the left) had a hard race when winning at Cheltenham recently. If he has recovered from that race then he must have a favourites chance of winning this off his low weight. Also down the bottom of the handicap is Nenuphar Collonges whom Robert Thornton has chosen to ride in preference to Halcon Genelardais. This could be a pointer in itself. However I hope Mon Mome and Halcon Genelardais will be in the first four, preference going to Mon Mome to actually win the race. For all the runners and riders with the jockeys colours click on the sportinglife. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

If Kauto Star is in top form then he should win the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. The race is worth £220,000 and is run over 3 miles. If Kauto Star wins he will join the elite band who have won the race three times. The main danger might come from Our Vic who beat Kauto Star in the totesport Bowl Chase at Aintree last April. It is when Kauto Star has to be chased along that he seems to make the odd mistake which on some occasions has proved to be costly, especially at Aintree. Voy Por Ustedes will be trying 3 miles for the first time and at 3/1 is not an each way bet. At 8/1 Our Vic (pictured leading Kauto Star) looks to be the each way value. He has a good record when fresh and ran well in this race on his reappearance last season when runner up to Kauto Star. It should be a cracking race. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours click on the sporting life. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

I thought the star of the show on Channel 4's Morning Line last Saturday was little Ellie Gliddon who had helped her Dad pick the "numbers" for the previous weeks Tote Scoop 6. What a lucky man to have been holding one of the eight winning tickets with a chance of a bonus if they could find the winner of the Hennessy. As the Morning Line was going off air it was announced that my main hope Character Building had gone lame so my attentions focused on my saver bet Madison Du Berlais. I thought he was a huge price and took 40/1 about him only to see him go out to 50/1 and even 66/1. We had intended to take up our seats at Ipswich for the game against Sheffield United but my Best Mate had a very painful back so we decided to stay at home and watch the racing coverage by Channel 4. What a good choice. There was certainly more to shout about then there is at Ipswich these days. Madison Du Berlais (pictured with cheek pieces) outstayed Air Force One and those two had pulled well clear of the third horse Snoopy Loopy. Big Bucks looked beaten to me before Sam Thomas came off. Air Force One is certainly one to follow on better ground. The rest of the day belonged to Nicky Henderson and Tony McCoy who had four winners. Nicky Henderson's horses continue to be in tremendous form. Stable jockey Barry Geraghty had gone to Newcastle to ride Punjabi in the Fighting Fifth which was called off and so missed all the excitement at Newbury. Inglis Drever was pulled up with a suspected tendon injury in the Long Distance Hurdle and it looks doubtful if we will see him on the racecouse again. This coming Saturday we will see the reappearance of Master Minded in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. Tony McCoy comes in for the ride. Lets hope they are successful. For all the runners and riders and jockey's colours click on the sporting life. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Handicap Chase worth £175,000 will be run over 3 miles 2 furlongs at Newbury this Saturday. It is one of my favourite races to watch and I reminisced and listed past winners of this race in my blog of a year ago. Last year we saw a quite exceptional performance by Denman who won by eleven lengths carrying top weight on heavy ground. This year Knowhere (pictured) carries joint top weight with Snoopy Loopy. Knowhere is one of four horses who ran in the race last year. He finished 5th, Character Building finished 3rd, Madison Du Berlais finished 4th and Always Waining was 8th. This years race looks very hard to solve. Air Force One has been well backed in the antepost market and is fancied by his trainer to do the business. Madison Du Berlais is wearing cheekpieces for the first time and might spring a surprise at a big price. Character Building does not carry a lot of weight, has already won this season and will carry the bloggers money to improve on his third of last year. For all the runners and riders with the jockeys colours click on the sporting life. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The last time we managed to get across to Ireland for the Punchestown Festival was in 2005. The meeting gets underway this year on Tuesday 22nd and runs through to Saturday 26th. In 2005 we were fortunate to see a splendid performance by Kicking King (pictured) who won the Punchestown Gold Cup and he goes for the race again on Wednesday. He will be a fresh horse and if he has retained a lot of his ability after recovering from injury he might well spring a surprise. Neptune Collonges won the race last year and will be a warm favourite to complete back to back wins. Another old favourite, Beef or Salmon, will be retired after running in the race. The Irish hospitality is brillant and the course entrance fees are much more reasonable than the fancy prices at the Cheltenham Festival. We will miss not being there again but we have a date with Constellation from Celebrity Cruise Lines. This means we will also miss the Sandown Park Gold Cup (the Whitbread to us old-timers) on Saturday 26th. Iris De Balme was a very easy winner of the Scottish Grand National last Saturday and could follow in the same footsteps of Hot Weld last year and complete the double. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The runners and riders for this years £200,000 Scottish Grand National still look a bit sketchy at the moment. The bookies are making Miko de Beauchene antepost favourite. He won the Welsh National and it was always the intention to go for the Scottish National. In the Welsh National he was receiving 21 pounds from Halcon Genelardais and only just beat him. Halcon Genelardais then ran a good race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, staying on well to be fourth. Provided he has recovered from that run he should take all the beating this Saturday at Ayr. The distance of four miles will be in his favour as will the soft ground which will make the race a thorough stamina test. Alan King, his trainer, also runs Old Benny who won over four miles at Cheltenham. Butlers Cabin could be another interesting runner. He was still travelling strongly when falling at Bechers second time around in the Aintree Grand National. However I am hoping Halcon Genelardais can turn the tables on Miko de Beauchene this Saturday. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

With the weights being announced for the 150 entries for this years Aintree Grand National the countdown begins over the next 8 weeks to the big day on the 5th April 2008. A lot of water will flow under the bridge before then as the field is whittled down to 40 runners who will all be competing for a total prize fund of £800,000. The question at the moment is more about who will make the race than who will win it. The BBC One Show which goes out at 7.00pm each weekday are making a case for McKelvey whose preparation will be followed upto the big day. Claire Balding is orchestrating this for the BBC. McKelvey was second last year and with a little more luck could easily have won the race. He sustained a tendon injury in the race but according to his trainer has made a full recovery and will be ready to run soon. The last National runner-up to go one better the next year was Red Rum when he gained his third win in 1977 after being second in 1975 and 1976. Prior to that, L'Escargot, the 1975 winner was runner-up in 1974. What good races there were in 1973, 1974 and 1975 between Red Rum and L'Escargot in the Aintree Grand National. Nigel Twiston-Davies is very bullish about Knowhere for the race. In winning the Letheby and Christopher Chase at Cheltenham he certainly looked as though he could have gone round again. Point Barrow was co-favourite for the race last year but fell at the first. Simon was another faller last year. He appeared to be still travelling strongly with six left to jump but came down at second Valentines. In the Letheby and Christopher Chase at Cheltenham he was travelling powerfully when he unseated Andy Thornton at the fourteeth. One to keep an eye on as is Mon Mome who has not run this season. He was runner-up to Halcon Genelardais in the Welsh National of December 2006. There are so many good horses entered for this years Aintree Grand National. There can only be one winner. Over the next eight weeks I will come up with a short list, whether I can find the winner is another matter. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

My Best Mate and I have just returned from a wonderful cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas. I kept in touch with the racing and football results from internet cafes in the different ports of call and once home could not wait to see my Sky+ Box recordings of Channel 4's coverage of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury and the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. What a performance by Denman and what a good starting price! Twist Magic was also impressive in the Tingle Creek and at this early stage looks a worthy ante-post favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase next March at Cheltenham as Well Chief is sidelined for the rest of the season. Denman was reportedly only 90% fit. If that is the case and the going at Cheltenham next March is heavy he will be my selection to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. However that is a long way off and this Friday and Saturday we have the Boylesports Meeting at Cheltenham. The feature race of the Meeting is the £150,000 Boylesports Gold Cup for which there has been a major gamble on New Little Bric. Can Paul Nicholls and Sam Thomas take the big race for the fourth weekend running? The money seems to think so. New Alco did not like the heavy ground in the Hennessy and was pulled up. The ground should suit this time and he might be the each-way value along with Idole First who was pulled up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. The Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity makes his reappearance in the £200,000 Boylesport Hurdle. I am sure he is not coming over from Ireland for the fresh air. The Boylesport Novices Hurdle looks destined to go to Franchoek who won so easily last time at Cheltenham's Paddy Power Meeting. For the runners and riders for this Friday and Saturday click on the link to the Sporting Life in the left hand column. Be lucky. Once again I will recording Channel 4's coverage of the racing on my Sky+ Box as I will be at Portman Road hoping Ipswich can keep their good home form going. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Well we were looking forward to spending three nights at Hillside Cottage at Hazelton and going racing at Cheltenham on the Friday and Saturday for the Open Meeting. Unfortunately my Best Mate went down with a cold virus on the Thursday and all our plans had to be cancelled. Thankfully Channel 4 covered four races each day and as usual their presentation was excellent. I must admit you do see far more on television, but there is nothing like soaking up the atmosphere by being there. The whole three days showed the highs and lows of the National Hunt game. Friday was great entertainment with old Spot the Difference winning yet again and then making as all hold our breath when he went down while pulling up. Puntal looked an unlucky loser here after his jockey took the wrong course. The reception Spot the Difference got when he entered the winners enclosure was not unlike that received by Dawn Run after she had beaten Wayward Lad in the Gold Cup back in 1986. All the talk on Saturday was of Granit Jack for the Paddy Power Gold Cup. As we saw he was always travelling well in the race and still looked full of running when he tragically came down at the second last fence. The fences are there to be jumped and that is exactly what the winner L'Antartique did. He was given a great ride by Graham Lee. In the juvenile hurdle race Franchoek was very impressive and looks as though he will follow the same route as Katchit took last season. The weather turned on Sunday and I was glad to be watching Channel 4's coverage from the comfort of my armchair. Richard Johnson stated he had never been so cold when race riding. The conditions were awful, the track became unsafe and the last race had to be abandoned. Attentions now turn to this Saturday with the £70,000 Totesport Peterborough Steeple Chase over 2miles 4 furlongs at Huntingdon. The trainer, Henriette Knight, has won seven of the previous nine runnings of this race with Edredon Bleu's four timer between 1998 and 2001, Best Mate in 2002, Impek in 2005 and Racing Demon in 2006. Racing Demon goes again on Saturday but Monet's Garden would be an interesting runner if he turns up. At Haydock we have the £200,000 Betfair (Lancashire) Steeple Chase over 3 miles. This is the first leg of the £1 million bonus put up by Betfair. The second leg being the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and the third leg being the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Kauto Star will be attempting to win these three races again. Channel 4 have coverage of these races on Saturday. No need to guess where I will be. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The runners and riders for this years Paddy Power Gold Cup to be run at Cheltenham on Saturday 17th are still a bit sketchy. This race was known as the Mackeson Gold Cup from 1960 until 1995. It was then sponsored by Murphys from 1996 for four years until Thomas Pink took over in 2000. They sponsored for three years until the present sponsors, Paddy Power, took over in 2003. The £120,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup is the centre piece of the three day Open Meeting. There are six races each day all with excellent prize money. There have been some great races for the Mackeson/Paddy Power Gold Cup over the years and I have once again gone down memory lane and collated the winners since the race begun in 1960. Here they are :- 1960 Fortria 1961 Scottish Memories 1962 Fortria 1963 Richard of Bordeaux 1964 Super Flash 1965 Dunkirk 1966 Pawnbroker 1967 Charlie Worcester 1968 Jupiter Boy 1969 Gay Trip 1970 Chatham 1971 Gay Trip 1972 Red Candle 1973 Skymas 1974 Bruslee 1975 Clear Cut 1976 Cancello 1977 Bachelor's Hall 1978 Bawnogues 1979 Man Alive 1980 Bright Highway 1981 Henry Kissinger 1982 Fifty Dollars More 1983 Pounentes 1984 Half Free 1985 Half Free 1986 Very Promising 1987 Beau Ranger 1988 Pegwell Bay 1989 Joint Sovereignty 1990 Multum In Parvo 1991 Another Coral 1992 Tipping Tim 1993 Bradbury Star 1994 Bradbury Star 1995 Dublin Flyer 1996 Challenger Du Luc 1997 Senor El Betrutti 1998 Cyfor Malta 1999 The Outback Way 2000 Lady Cricket 2001 Shooting Light 2002 Cyfor Malta 2003 Fondmort 2004 Celestrial Gold 2005 Our Vic 2006 Exotic Dancer As already mentioned this years runners are still a bit sketchy. Dont Push It from the Jonjo O'Neill stable is the bookies' favourite at the moment. Whatever runs from the David Pipe stable should be taken into account. The Pipe stable has won the race seven times since 1996 and last year had the runner-up with Vodka Bleu who goes again this year. L'Antartique from the Ferdie Murphy yard has already had an outing this season and has run well at Cheltenham before. Idole First runs well when fresh and has good form around Cheltenham. If he runs he will carry the blogger's money. Enjoy the race. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

For me the Charlie Hall Steeple Chase at Wetherby signifies the start of the new National Hunt Season. The race was first run in 1969 as the Wetherby Pattern Chase and won by Arcturus trained by Neville Crump and ridded by Pat Buckley. In 1978 it became known as the Charlie Hall Memorial Wetherby Pattern Chase and then in 1990 simply as the Charlie Hall Chase. Tetley Bitter sponsored the race in 1991,1992 and 1993 and then it reverted back to the Charlie Hall Chase until 1999 when the Peterhouse Group started sponsoring until 2002. In 2003 Bet365 took over sponsoring the race. There are eight runners for this years £90,000 race. Tony McCoy has been booked for State of Play and is likely to be on the favourite. State of Play won the Hennessy Gold Cup on his first start last year. Ollie Magern trained by Nigel Twiston -Davies won this race in 2005 when Kingscliff was second. Ollie Magern apparantly has had his problems but his trainer's horses are in tremendous form at the moment and he must be in with a good chance. Kingscliff has run well in this race in the last two years and seems to run well when fresh. He must also have a good chance. Aces Four from the Ferdie Murphy yard had a horrible fall in his last race back in April at Punchestown and I feel inclined to see how he runs on Saturday to see whether his confidence has suffered. The bloggers money will be going on Ollie Magern. If he is as well as his trainers other recent winners I am sure he will be an each way bet. The runners and riders with the jockey's colours can be found by clicking on the leftsided link to the sporting life. It has been interesting collating past winners of the race and reminising what top class Chasers have won it. Here is the list :- 1969 Arcturus 1970 Kildrummy 1971 No Race - snow and frost 1972 Coxswain 1973 Dunrobin 1974 Tamalin 1975 Davy Lad 1976 Set Point and Current Gold deadheat 1977 Goolagong 1978 Fighting Fit 1979 Sparkie's Choice 1980 Manton Castle 1981 Gay Return 1982 Righthand Man 1983 Wayward Lad 1984 Burrough Hill Lad 1985 Wayward Lad 1986 Forgive'N Forget 1987 Cybrandian 1988 High Edge Grey 1989 Durham Edition 1990 Celtic Shot 1991 Celtic Shot 1992 Tipping Tim 1993 Barton Bank 1994 Young Hustler 1995 Barton Bank 1996 One Man 1997 One Man 1998 Strath Royal 1999 See More Business 2000 See More Business 2001 Sackville 2002 Marlborough 2003 Ballybough Rashel 2004 Grey Abbey 2005 Ollie Magern 2006 Our Vic Lets hope we get an exciting race on Saturday. After that we have two weeks to wait for the Open Meeting at Cheltenham starting on Friday 16th November for three days. The new National Hunt season will be well and truly underway then. Of course all roads lead to Cheltenham for the four day festival starting on the 11th March 2008. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Ferdie Murphy gained compensation for Joes Edge poor display in the Aintree Grand National with a 1-2 in The Scottish Grand National. Hot Weld made virtually all the running to score a deserved victory. Nine De Sivola came second in his second Grand National. He was second in The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. A young horse he looks to have a bright future next season, possibly a Aintree prospect. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Silver Birch was a worthy winner of The Grand National. Connections of Mckelvey consider he was unlucky as he injured himself in the race. One to watch for next season. My fancy L'ami clearly did not stay. The money that was poured on Point Barrow was lost at the first fence. He did what so many have done in the past and over-jumped the fence. Remember Springbok and Aldaniti, just two that spring to mind. Hedgehunter and Longshanks, both very well backed, ran as though the interuppted preparations had taken the edge off them. The gamble on Monkerhostin just before the off went astray at the 7th fence. He refused and nobody had told him about the gamble ! Earlier at the meeting Mighty Man was an impressive winner of the Stayers Hurdle. Black Jack Ketchum clearly does not stay 3 miles or is he overrated ? Exotic Dancer was also very classy on the first day in winning the Betfair Bowl Chase. Detroit City and Asian Maze were both very disappointing in the Aintree Hurdle on Grand National Day. The Scottish Grand National today looks very open. My thoughts are already turning to Punchestown next week. More of that later but in the meantime all the runners and riders can be found at at the races. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Although Tony McCoy thinks that L'Ami has too much weight I beleive he is one of the class horses in The Aintree Grand National of 2007. The going will be no problem for him and I expect him to give us a good run for our money. You can read Tony McCoy's comments and download all the runners and riders for The Aintree meeting at the Sporting Life site. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

I was hoping the performances of Distant Thunder and Juveigner in The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday would give us some clue to Joes Edge in The Aintree Grand National. He has been well backed after beating them at Cheltenham but neither Distant Thunder nor Juveigneur appeared to stay the trip. The BobbyJo Chase run at Fairyhouse in February was an interesting affair where Homer Wells beat Jack High, Point Barrow and NumberSix Valverde. Point Barrow has been very well backed following a run over hurdles since. He is following a similar route to NumberSix Valverde last year. The ground is going to be the key. With no rain forecast the ground will be good. They are continuing to water at Aintree. The ground should favour the higher weighted horses or the classier horses. Hedgehunter has had a interrupped preparation but the trainer is confident of a good run. The one I like the look of is L'Ami to be ridden by Tony McCoy. Could this be his year for himself and J.P.MCManus? Longshanks who Tony Dobbin will ride after being injured following an accident on Cloudy Lane in The Irish Grand National could run into a place at long odds. Point Barrow should be thereabouts if we are to beleive the money. All four horses have one thing in common, they are sound jumpers and stay. So the short list is L'Ami, Hedgehunter, Point Barrow and Longshanks. Be lucky. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

There will be a lot of runners for The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday. The main contenders going across the Irish Sea from England are Cloudy Lane, Juveigneur and Distant Thunder. Distant Thunder very nearly did the business for me at Cheltenham. He jumped the last in front and was caught first of all by Juveigneur and then both were collared by Joes Edge. Two short heads separated them. Oulart was runner up in this race last year and Jack High was runner up two years ago to NumberSixValverde. They have both proved that they stay the trip. Perhaps Oulart can go one better this year and beat Distant Thunder and Juveigneur. For a guide to racing in Ireland go to their site. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

What a fabulous four days racing last week. Now that the dust has settled it is time to reflect on the results and performances of the feature race of each day. We now have a new kid on the block in Sublimity who won the The Cheltenham Champion Hurdle on the Tuesday. He appeared to have the race set up for him by Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca but was obviously the best horse on the day and given a confident ride by Philip Carberry. On the Wednesday Voy Por Ustedes was a worthy winner of The Cheltenham Champion Chase, but who knows what might have happened had Well Chief not fallen at the second fence. Lets hope he runs at Liverpool's Grand National meeting. Also on the Wednesday Denman was a impressive winner of the Cheltenham Royal and Sun Alliance Chase. On the Thursday Inglis Drever was a gutsy winner of The Cheltenham Ladbrokes World Hurdle, but who knows what might have happened had Black Jack Ketcham not fallen at the third flight. Lets hope he also runs at Liverpool's Grand National meeting. Blazing Bailey who finished third ran a terrific race for a five year old and is one to follow next season. Kauto Star was the star on the Friday when he won The Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was given a brillant ride by Ruby Walsh. Lets hope he keeps sound and not suffer injury problems like previous winners Kicking King and War of Attrition. The week was spoilt by the fatal injury to Nil Desperandum at Uttoxeter on Saturday. He was on my short list for this years Grand National. For racecards go to at the races For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The Cheltenham Gold Cup was previewed a couple of weeks ago and nothing has really altered apart from the going. Kauto Star is the best horse in the field and should win. However, as we have already seen this week the fences have to be jumped. I will be looking for a eachway bet. Beef or Salmon is a big price and so is Kingscliff. I will have a small interest in both of them and hope they can run into a place at long odds. Kingscliff is the only course and distance winner in the field. Beef or Salmon has been flown over this time rather than spend 20 hours travelling in a horse box by ferry and road. I guess this will be his last chance at trying to win The Gold Cup. It should be an interesting race. May the best horse win. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

If the real Our Vic turns up he should just about win The Cheltenham Ryanair Chase. The obvious dangers are Monets Garden, Taranis and Racing Demon as the betting suggests. Hi Cloy could spring a surprise for Ireland, but I am going to stay with Our Vic and hope it gives his owner David Johnson a change of Cheltenham fortune. Now that the ground has dried out The Cheltenham Ladbroke World Hurdle looks set up for Black Jack Ketchum. The dangers would appear to be Inglis Drever,Mighty Man and Blazing Bailey. The Alan King stable is having a wonderful meeting and perhaps it can continue with Blazing Bailey. He looks a good eachway bet. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The first three races on Wednesday each have a very hot favourite. The feature race,The Queen Mother Champion Chase, could go to Well Chief. He is too shorter price for me. With the ground drying out Newmill makes more appeal. He broke the track record when winning this race on similar ground last year. If Well Chief has not recaptured his form of two seasons ago I think Newmill could be the one to win. The Royal and Sun Alliance Chase has another warm favourite in Denman. He again is too short for me. Ungaro makes more appeal as an eachway bet. He will be ridden by Timmy Murphy for Sir Robert Ogden. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Kauto Star, if he stands up should win. However he fell at Cheltenham last year and has made jumping errors on his last two runs. If I have a bet I would rather be looking for an each-way bet and have a bit of value. With War of Attrition and In Compliance out of the race Ireland's hopes will rest with Beef or Salmon who has been a star again in Ireland this year. He went off favourite for the Gold Cup last year but ran a poor race. Could it be fifth time lucky for him? At 20/1 he is a huge price. Exotic Dancer has proved he loves the course and is having a wonderful season. The Listener was impressive in Ireland and goes best on the heavy ground. Will he get home? He appeared to be outstayed by Beef or Salmon on his last run in Ireland. State of Play has had just the one run this season and was impressive when he won the Hennessy at Newbury. How good is he? At one time last season Kingscliff was favourite for the Gold Cup. What a frustrating horse . Could he have his day and spring a major surprise? His trainer does not appear to have lost faith in him and like State of Play will be a fresh horse. Even if he runs into a place at 50/1 it is better value than taking the 5/4 about Kauto Star. As usual the going will be the major factor. For all the Runners and Riders go to at the races. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".