Tag Archives: horse racing

Competitions, Racing

Cheltenham Betting Tips You Cannot Afford to Overlook

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Considered one of the most looked forward to and popular horse racing festivals in the United Kingdom, the Cheltenham Festival offers a great number of betting opportunities to the interested punters.

Although you can avail Cheltenham free bets, offers and tips from several reputed online bookmakers, are you aware how to make them count? Let’s tell you about some very important Cheltenham betting tips you cannot afford to overlook.

Don’t get overly obsessed with the hyped up horses and trainers

All such festivals throw up various ‘so-called’ certain possibilities that people often latch onto quickly causing ridiculously short prices on fiercely competitive horse racing. The odds are often cramped up so badly as if it was some five-runner race in Thurles or Plumpton, in UK, on a Monday. All that talk about value-based betting is thrown right out of the window. These so-called superstars and super horses are touted as unbeaten, no matter where they may have competed in the past. The fact they belong to some well-known owners is good enough to send the market into a tizzy. You should avoid getting carried away by all such hype and bet purely based on your own due diligence.

Keep your bets at minimum, unless you have a solid edge

A large number of horse race bettors indulge in huge bets over the 4 days of the Cheltenham Festival, placing punts much bigger than they normally prefer to. There rush from one race to the other, trying to chase their losses. Please note, in case it’s a must for you to get involved in every race, ensure that you keep your bets small, unless you strongly feel that the odds are in your favour.

Follow the Cheltenham form

A task that every punter must accomplish before betting on any race is watching the last 3 years’ recordings of the Cheltenham Festivals, and taking detailed notes related to the festival form. The results of the previous years can tell you how the horses may perform in the present year. Particularly keeping the ultra-tough handicaps in mind, you’d be able to see things clearly and jot down any runners which performed exceedingly well compared to the bare result. Regardless of what their recent form may be like, these runners can be expected to perform well once again, if the circumstances haven’t changed greatly.

Punt in the morning instead of later in the day

As there would be plenty of punters in the fray, it might provide terrific value if you bet in the early morning hours on the race day. Any astute horserace bettor would set a 5 AM alarm every morning of the festival and place his/her bets well in time, not waiting until the dust has settled and everyone knows what’s going to happen.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/wYNazaU0om8

Open accounts with multiple bookmakers

It would be better if you have already-running accounts with multiple bookmakers and have already deposited ample money into each one of them. This way, you’d be able to quickly benefit from the competitive racing prices.

Racing, Revolution Sports

Racing Legends Hand the Reins to Their Mini-Mes for Shetland Pony Grand National at Olympia

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Organisers of Olympia, The London International Horse Show (12-18 December, 2017) are delighted to announce the Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National will be back in action at the iconic venue, with a fierce line-up of young jockeys following the footsteps of their famous parents.

Amongst the starting line-up will be 10-year-old Alice Crowley, daughter of Jim Crowley, the current Champion flat jockey who commenced his racing career in the Shetland Pony Grand National. Crowley will be competing against Rocco Dettori, son of racing legend and three-time Champion jockey, Frankie Dettori. Olympia Horse Show will be a family affair for Rocco, as Frankie Dettori is set to compete in the Markel Champions Challenge in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund, as part of Friday’s ‘Race Night’ at Olympia.

Frankie Dettori said: ‘Rocco has competed in many Shetland Pony races now; he’s got a taste for winning. This year is going to be really special as I will be there too, competing in the Markel Champions Challenge on the Friday. Hopefully we are both going to win!’

Rocco Dettori said: ‘I just can’t wait to race in front of the crowd. It’s a little bit nerve-wracking, but once the race starts I’ll forget about all that and hopefully I can win.’

Also striving to replicate the success of her father will be Lucy Aspell, daughter of renowned jump jockey Leighton Aspell, winner of two consecutive Aintree Grand Nationals. Aspell will be contending for the win against Zak Kent, who will be joining Crowley to race in the notorious blue and white racing silks of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Show Director, Simon Brooks-Ward, said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to stage the Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National once again. Not only is it entertaining, but it is a chance for young jockeys to compete on the big stage. It’s great for the grassroots of racing; this is where many top jockeys have begun their careers.’

Top national hunt jockeys Sam and Willy Twiston-Davies kick-started their racing careers in the Shetland Pony Grand National, as did Tom Garner, who made the step up to compete in the Grand National for the first-time last year.

The young jockeys and their Shetland Ponies will be put through their paces around a miniature version of the Grand National course. All riders are between the ages of nine to fourteen and less than 5ft tall; however, onlookers are not to be fooled by their size, as Olympia Horse Show is the climax of the Shetland Pony racing calendar, guaranteeing electrifying competition.

Spectators can also expect a week of top international action, including three FEI World Cup™ competitions in Dressage, Show Jumping and Carriage Driving and performances set to captivate, such as the Chilean Huasos, a display reflecting the historical skills of Chilean cowboys, or ‘Huasos’, and cattle horses. The Kennel Club Dog Agility and Christmas Finale, supported by Hilton, London Olympia, will also be adding to the arena action.

More information about Olympia, The London International Horse Show, and how to secure your place at one of the equestrian performances of the year can be found online here.

For more information, please contact:
Olympia, The London International Horse Show:
Gayle Telford, gayle@revolutionsports.co.uk 0203 176 0355

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

What Are the Main Betting Terms in Horse Racing You Need to Know?

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Horse racing is an exhilarating sport to watch, with powerful animals and talented jockeys either sprinting on the Flat or risking life and limb over obstacles.

It is even better when you have money on a horse and so it is essential to know the main betting terms involved in racing.

There are many ways to place a wager, with bets to win or ‘on the nose’ popular but it is also possible to back a horse ‘each way’.

You will need to outlay double your stake as you are backing it to either win or be placed (usually the first three or four home in a race).

If the horse wins then you will be paid out for the win and the place (a quarter or fifth of the winning amount) while a placed horse will see you receive just the latter.

The favourite, or ‘jolly’, is the horse the bookies expect to win and will have the shortest odds while the ‘outsider’ will have long odds but it much less likely to land the spoils.

Watch out for a horse that is ‘on the drift’ with its odds lengthening, as there is little money being placed on it and the bookmakers feel confident it will not win.

When a market has just opened up on an upcoming race, it is common to see a ‘bar’ price, which refers to the odds of those runners not quoted with a price during early betting shows.

An ‘accumulator’ is a multiple bet when you place money on the outcome of two or more races, with two selections termed a ‘two-fold’, etc.

The winnings from the first race roll over to the next, and so on, meaning a successful accumulator can be very profitable, although it is tough to pick just one winner, let alone two or more.

Prior to race meetings there will be tips from the racing experts and a NAP of the day is the selection that racing correspondents feel is their strongest of the day.

Check out this NAP of the day if you fancy a flutter, while a horse termed a ‘banker’ is one that is expected to win.

A horse that goes off at ‘even money’ means that you will get back the value of your stake plus of course the stake should your selection win, while one that is ‘odds-on’ is fancied to do well and the pay-out will be less that the initial outlay, plus your stake.

You might sometimes hear a favourite referred to as a ‘Bismarck’ and this is a horse that bookmakers expect to lose or be ‘sunk’ and they are happy to accept bets for.

It is important to check out the ‘form’ of a horse before deciding which one to bet on, while the ‘going’ – the condition of the racing surface – should also play a part in your selection as some horses favour quick, dry ground and others enjoy the mud.

Finally, if you are lucky enough to land a winner, you will be keen to learn the SP (starting price) as this is the one that will determine how big your return will be.

Racing

Wild Horses and Burros Need Your Voice TODAY

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Photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation.

We must relentlessly call Congress until they ask for mercy and remove the two offending sections legalizing wild horse killings and enabling horse slaughter in Appropriation Bills.

Focus on all the member of the House and Senate appropriations committees but also contact your own Congressman and two Senators. This is because, in all likelihood, the two pro-slaughter sections (one removing the USDA slaughter inspections ban and other adding language to allow BLM to kill and sell for slaughter wild horses in holding) will be passed by the appropriations committees since western pro-slaughter folks have the majority and they have already discussed the matter and have allegedly agreed to pushing this to the full Congress to bring horse slaughter back. In my humble opinion, it is a done deal.

When contacting both your own legislators and the members of the committees, you must ask:

1. Committee members:

– Ask them to vote no on any language allowing the killing of wild horses in holding and/or their sale without limitation, that is, for slaughter or “processing into commercial products” as they like to call it.

– Ask them to oppose any changes to refund horse slaughter inspections by USDA. Ask them to reintroduce the defunding language by means of a private amendment if necessary.

Cheltenham race,  April 2019. Even if you’re not entirely invested in betting on horse racing, the opportunity to bet on some of the bigger race meetings is something that a lot of people will take an interest in.  Enjoy race assistance at Cheltenam betting offers.

2. Rest of congressmen:

– Ask them to oppose any language allowing the killing of wild horses in holding and/or their sale without limitation and, if necessary, to introduce or support an amendment striking down any language in the appropriations bill allowing the killing and sale without limitation.

– Ask them to support any amendment reintroducing the ban on the use of tax money to fund USDA horse slaughter inspections.

Contact information for all members of Congress, including the ones from a specific committee, can be found together in this site:

https://www.contactingcongress.org/

Just select the committee you want contact info from the drop down menu and you are ready to go.

In the case of the agriculture appropriations one, whose text is already made but wasn’t formally introduced, they are aiming at removing Section 767 from the former appropriations bill, which contains the USDA defunding language that prevents horse slaughter plants to open up:

https://www.obpa.usda.gov/34gpexnotes2018.pdf

Go to Page 18 where it reads:

«Section 767: Prohibits inspection of horses for slaughter.

[Sec. 767. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this Act may be used to pay the salaries or expenses of personnel — (1) to inspect horses under section 3 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 603);

(2) to inspect horses under section 903 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 1901 note; Public Law 104–127); or (3) to implement or enforce section 352.19 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).]

This change deletes the entire section 767. This change is requested in order to permit the Executive Branch to carry out programs in the most efficient manner. » >>> They are deleting the ban entirely.

In the case of the Interior Appropriations Bill there is still no bill text (looks like these welfare ranching cowboys have problems putting two words together) but we have Trump’s budget request where HE VERY CLEARLY REQUESTS WILD HORSES IN HOLDING TO BE KILLED AND TO ALLOW SALES OF WILD HORSES FOR “ALL PURPOSES”, THAT IS, FOR SLAUGHTER:

https://www.doi.gov/…/u…/fy201 8_blm_budget_justification.pdf

Go to page 24 of the .pdf where it reads:

«Wild Horse & Burro Management Shift Management Strategies (-$10,000,000 / -29 FTE)

The WH/B budget is principally consumed by the cost to care for excess animals in off range facilities, […]. Animals for which there is no adoption demand are to be humanely euthanized while others that meet certain criteria are to be sold without limitation. Enacted appropriations bills from 1988 to 2004 and from 2010 to present have prohibited destruction of healthy animals and unlimited sale. […] The BLM must be able to use all of the tools included in the Act to manage this program in a more cost-effective manner, including the ability o conduct sales without limitation. The budget proposes to eliminate appropriations language restricting the BLM from using all of the management options authorized in the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. An estimated $4.0 million of the $10.0 reduction will be achieved through savings resulting from unrestricted sales. »

The markup session where both bills (agriculture and interior) text will be formally redacted and introduced is WEDNESDAY July 12th. Make sure you keep calling and writing until these two languages are killed for good.

https://rtfitchauthor.com/2017/06/30/speak-up-for-wild-horses-before-its-too-late/

https://www.contactingcongress.org/

Information supplied by Daniel Cordero Fernández.

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

Royal Ascot Horse Racing, 20-24 June

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The Royal carriages depart after The Queen’s arrival at the races.

Ascot Racecourse is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting nine of Britain’s 32 annual Group 1 horse races.

The course, owned by Ascot Racecourse Ltd, enjoys close associations with the British Royal Family, being approximately six miles from Windsor Castle.

Ascot today stages twenty-six days of racing over the course of the year, comprising eighteen flat meetings held between the months of May and October inclusive. It also stages important jump racing throughout the winter months. The Royal Meeting held each June remains a major draw, its highlight being The Gold Cup.

The Gold Cup stands proudly as the showpiece event of Royal Ascot week and is the world’s premier race for horses that are specialists over long distances. Modern tradition has scheduled the race for the middle day (Thursday) of the meeting, when fashion and glamour that is so synonymous with the Royal Meeting reaches its zenith.

The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 meters), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.

It is Britain’s most prestigious event for “stayers” – horses which specialize in racing over long distances. It is traditionally held on day three of the Royal Ascot meeting, which is known colloquially (but not officially) as Ladies’ Day. Contrary to popular belief the actual title of the race does not include the word “Ascot”. In 2016 it was run as “the Gold Cup in Honor of The Queen’s 90th Birthday.”

The Gold Cup is the first leg of Britain’s Stayers’ Triple Crown, followed by the Goodwood Cup and the Doncaster Cup. The last horse to win all three races in the same year was Double Trigger in 1995.

The Ascot Gold Cup 1834, James Pollard (1792-1867)

The Gold Cup is one of three perpetual trophies at the Royal Ascot meeting, along with the Royal Hunt Cup and the Queen’s Vase, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners. A number of horses have won it more than once, and the most successful is Yeats, who recorded his fourth victory in 2009. The winner of the 2016 Ascot Gold Cup was Order of St. George.

Top Owner Trophy to Be Awarded at Royal Ascot

Ascot Racecourse is delighted to announce that a Royal Ascot Leading Owner Trophy will be awarded next week.

The competition will run alongside the established equivalents for jockeys and trainers. Those two awards are both kindly sponsored by QIPCO.

Like the established jockeys and trainers’ awards, the champion owner over the week will be decided on straight wins, with seconds, thirds (etc.) only coming into play in the event of a tie for wins.

With the agreement of Coolmore, the operation will be regarded as one entity regardless of the precise ownership make up of any given horse or the colors they run in.

Charlie Liverton, Chief Executive of the ROA, welcomed the new initiative:

“Royal Ascot is one of the most eagerly anticipated meetings of the flat racing calendar and captures the imagination of horsemen both in the UK and overseas. The recognition of the part that owners play in the week long spectacle through the award of a leading owner trophy is very much welcome and it will be keenly contested.”

The eight Group One races at Royal Ascot are all QIPCO British Champions Series races and this year, the stable staff leading up the horses for those events will be provided with QIPCO British Champions Series gilets, all of which will carry the owners’ colors on the front.

“We’re very much looking forward to the Royal Meeting next week, with fields shaping well including a record turnout from the United States,” said Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Communications at Ascot.

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

Lady Aurelia Set for Royal Ascot Trip

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Ascot Racecourse via Twitter.

Leading American sprinter Lady Aurelia is set for a return to Royal Ascot this year 12 months on from her impressive victory in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes on what was only the second run of her career. Wesley Ward’s runner is the bookmakers’ favourite for the King’s Stand Stakes which is one of the leading races on the opening day of the meeting.

Frankie Dettori opted to ride his filly front of the field in the two-year-old-contest in 2016 and the pair made all, stretching away from their rivals inside the final 200m of the race. Ward’s filly returned to Europe last August for the Group One Darley Prix Morny at Deauville in France. She was made to work hard on that occasion as the margin of the victory was less than a length ahead of Alrahma, with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Peace Envoy a further head back in third.

Lady Aurelia made her seasonal reappearance back in April at Keeneland in the Giant’s Causeway Stakes which is a Listed contest over 1000m on turf. She proved too strong for her fellow American sprinters as she recorded her opening win as a three-year-old. That run was scheduled to ensure she had an outing under her belt before her return trip to Europe. She can be backed at +500 with the bookmakers to score in the King’s Stand Stakes, however, if you are having bet at Royal Ascot or any other sporting event this summer, take a look at the best sign-up offers before you do so. If you want to bet with bitcoins, visit sportsbet.io as you will able to transfer funds from a number of different currencies into your digital wallet.

Sporting Life via Twitter

One of the leading threats to Lady Aurelia’s chances of a repeat Royal Ascot victory later this month is Marsha from the Sir Mark Prescott yard in the UK. The four-year-old won the Group One Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp at Chantilly last season. That is the leading sprint race in Europe and is staged on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day. The British sprinter has also started this season strongly with success in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket where he got up by a neck ahead of Washington DC.

Lady Aurelia is also scheduled to take on her former stablemate Acapulco in the 1000m contest. The four-year-old switched to Ireland to join O’Brien’s Ballydoyle yard back in April.  The American-bred filly also won the Queen Mary Stakes when she was with Ward, while she also finished second in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York. She made her debut for her new trainer last month where she won at the Curragh in what was her first run in six months. She is expected to be partnered by Ryan Moore once again at Royal Ascot.

Ward is expected to return to the UK later this year with Lady Aurelia and a number of his leading sprinters for some of the other big meetings on the calendar including Glorious Goodwood and York’s Ebor Meeting in August.

Associations/Breeds, Racing

Horseracing Integrity Act

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American Quarter Horse Association, June 8, 2017 – On May 25, Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2017 to the House of Representatives. In summary, the bill requires “a uniform anti-doping and medication control program to be developed and enforced by an independent Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medication Control Authority.”

While the American Quarter Horse Association strongly supports uniformity in the horse racing industry, it is unable to support the latest version of the newly introduced legislation.

“Of particular concern regarding this proposal is the elimination of all race-day medications, including Lasix, the use of which has been endorsed by several equine groups and the American Association of Equine Practitioners to help mitigate the occurrence of exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage in racehorses,” said Craig Huffhines, AQHA executive vice president. “American Quarter Horse representation on the Authority and funding sources for the program are also among other areas of concern that we have regarding the legislation as currently proposed.”

AQHA is committed to the welfare of the racehorse and continues to work with international, national and state racing organizations and commissions to evaluate protocols to allow for uniform medication rules and deterrents of performance-enhancing drugs. In addition, the use of Lasix in AQHA shows is currently under review by the AQHA Animal Welfare Commission by request of the Executive Committee.

In recent months, AQHA worked with the Association of Racing Commissioners International to separate American Quarter Horse flat racing in its medication violation model rules to help eliminate the use of illegal performance-enhancing medications. The Association has also supported recent industry movements that include out-of-competition testing and hair testing.

For more information on American Quarter Horse Racing, visit www.aqha.com/racing.

American Quarter Horse Association
1600 Quarter Horse Drive
Amarillo, TX 79104

Associations/Breeds, Competitions, Racing

AQHA Statement on Hialeah Races

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American Quarter Horse Association, May 26, 2017 – The race meet at Hialeah Park near Miami, scheduled to begin May 31, will not be recognized by the American Quarter Horse Association.

According to Hialeah Park’s website, the track is scheduled to run races twice a day Wednesday through Sunday beginning on May 31 and closing on June 25.

AQHA has sanctioned previous meets at Hialeah, beginning in 2009 and running through 2016. These meets met AQHA’s guidelines, set forth in the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations, to approve official American Quarter Horse races.

“AQHA’s mission statement holds the welfare of the American Quarter Horse at the top of our priorities,” said AQHA Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber. “Consequently, the racing rules and regulations of our Association, and that of our affiliates, exist to protect the safety of the animals and the integrity of the sport. We have no evidence that these rules and regulations will be followed or promoted by Hialeah Park or by the South Florida Quarter Horse Association, a newly formed group that is not affiliated with AQHA. As such, we are concerned for those who are participating in the races and for the wagering public.”

Given these concerns, AQHA will not recognize these races unless the guidelines are clearly satisfied. AQHA will continue to work with officials, including AQHA affiliate the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association, to facilitate the return of official Quarter Horse racing in Florida.

For more information on American Quarter Horse Racing, visit www.aqha.com/racing.

American Quarter Horse Association
1600 Quarter Horse Drive
Amarillo, TX 79104

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

Aidan O’Brien Aiming for Epsom Double

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Racing Post via Twitter.

Leading Irish Trainer Aidan O’Brien has already made a fantastic start to the 2017 campaign as he has claimed the opening two Classics of the season with the 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas which were won by Churchill and Winter respectively.

O’Brien is now eying Epsom success as he bids to win the Oaks and Derby which take place 24 hours apart on the Downs in Surrey. The last time the Ballydoyle trainer claimed both races in the same year was in 2012 when Was came out on top in the fillies contest and then Camelot went on to claim the most prestigious Classic of the campaign.

In the latest Oaks betting, O’Brien has the +200 in the form of Rhododendron who was very unlucky in the 1000 Guineas where she had to settle for second place behind her stablemate Winter. Just as the three-year-old filly was starting to reach top speed, she found trouble in running and was forced to check her run. That cost the Ryan Moore’s mount a couple of lengths at the very least, while the winner had a clear passage on the outside of runners.

Rhododendron will have to reverse the form with Winter as the pair will meet at Epsom, giving their trainer a strong hand in the race. It is the Newmarket second which has been heavily tipped up to improve for the step up to 2400m.

In the Derby it is unclear at this stage whether connections will take their chance with Churchill. The vibes from the yard are that his optimum trip is over 1600m where he excelled in the 2000 Guineas. The other option O’Brien has is to hold the horse back for Royal Ascot and run him in the St James’s Palace Stake over the distance he has been so successful at so far in his career.

RTE Racing via Twitter

Churchill’s absence could therefore lead the way for Cliffs of Moher to be O’Brien’s leading chance in the Derby this year. The Irish horse was successful in the Dee Stakes at Chester earlier this month in one of the leading trials for Epsom. He was able to handle the undulations at the Cheshire-track which is a positive sign ahead of the Classic on the Downs.

If you enjoy backing horses in a double, as pointed out from odds at the Winners Enclosure, who provide a daily double tip and the accumulated odds, it is a great chance to turn a small stake into a big return. With Rhododendron and Cliffs of Moher, the double works out at +2100 and it would be no surprise to see both horses prevail for a trainer who has had so much success at the meeting.

In terms of the dangers to O’Brien’s dominance in the Oaks, the leading threat, according to the betting, is Enable who can be backed at +500. John Gosden’s filly scored In the Cheshire Oaks at Chester’s May Meeting where she quickened up nicely inside the final 400m. Frankie Dettori is expected to be on board again at Epsom where he is bidding for his fourth victory in the Classic.

In the colts’ race, Cracksman is currently vying for Derby favouritism with the O’Brien pair of Churchill and Cliffs of Moher. The Frankel colt has been prominent in the market for this race ever since his success in the Derby Trial at Epsom last month. He’s set to feature in the Dante Stakes before his shot at the 2400m contest.

This year’s Oaks takes place on Friday, June 2, with the Derby scheduled a day later on Saturday, June 3 along with the Coronation Stakes, which is one of the leading middle distance races of the season for the older horses.

Competitions, Racing

Early Season Form Crucial for Churchill in 2017

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Source: Yorkshire Post via Twitter.

Churchill and trainer Aidan O’Brien will be aiming for a strong start to their quest to dominate the flat season in 2017. The Bay Colt has boasted a formidable record in the early stages of his career, but now must deliver on his promise with victories in the biggest races on the calendar. Churchill will have to find his form around the track before the crucial meets of the campaign, having not raced since October last year.

He will have no shortage of challengers, who have used races across the country to build up a rhythm ahead of the hectic part of the season. The three-year-old will return to the track at the 2000 Guineas as one of the leading contenders to secure the win, being backed in the latest horse racing betting odds at 15/8 to claim victory at Newmarket.

He will be eager to begin his 2017 season on the highest of notes, with the Dante Stakes next on the agenda after the Guineas – where Churchill will be looking to join former greats by winning at York. Momentum will be key for the Bay Colt and O’Brien over the course of the season with bigger meets on the horizon in June at the Epsom Downs and Ascot. As a result, extending his winning streak will be imperative in pursuit of greater glory.

Churchill began his career at the European Breeders Fund Maiden, but just missed on a debut win as he was edged out on the final furlong by Van Der Decken and Magnification. To this day it’s the only race where the Bay Colt has failed to claim victory.

Source: Ascot Racecourse via Twitter

His first appearance at Ascot was a success, as although he entered the meet as the favourite, the Irish horse was able to stride to a comfortable win down the stretch ahead of Isomer. The Bay Colt delivered in his next out at Leopardstown with his second victory at the Tyros Stakes, producing a strong run to the finish to beat out Alexios Komnenos by a neck.

Churchill’s form was going from strength to strength signalled by his best outing at Curragh where he blew away the rest of the field with an excellent run to win the Futurity Stakes. The National Stakes was a statement win for the Bay Colt, highlighting his dominance at the top of the field. Jockeyed by Ryan Moore the Irish horse cruised to victory by 4¼ lengths ahead of Mehmas and Frankie Dettori.

He secured his fifth straight win at Newmarket in the Dewhurst Stakes in October, with another flawless performance, defeating Lancaster Bomber – who will be one of his challengers over the course of the season.

Churchill has the talent to enjoy an extremely successful season, with the possibility of matching Golden Horn’s achievements in 2015 of winning the Dante Stakes, Epsom Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. His early season form will be crucial to beginning on the right note and his performances must be of a high standard at the Guineas and the Dante Stakes.

Should Churchill continue his winning streak at both meets, then it would be no surprise to see the Bay Colt enjoying further success at the biggest races later in the campaign.