Latest Horse Racing News

Boylesports.com to Sponsor Champion Chase at Punchestown Festival

Master Minded & Big Zeb in action during
the Champion Chase last year
Healy Racing Photos- Master Minded and Twist Magic may bid for Nicholls hat trick

- Boylesports become title sponsors on opening day of Festival

Irish racing received a great boost today with the news that Boylesports.com is the new title sponsor of the opening day of the 2010 Punchestown Festival. The deal will see Boylesports take ownership of the centre piece, the Champion Chase, on Tuesday 20th April.

Carberry to ride Old McDonald

Noel Glynn has got Paul Carberry for Old
McDonald
Healy Racing PhotosCo. Clare trainer Noel Glynn has snapped up the services of Paul Carberry for his Weatherbys Champion Bumper hope, Old McDonald. The King's Theatre gelding is a general 20/1 chance for the St. Patrick's Day youngsters highlight.

Old McDonald, also owned by Glynn, secured his ticket to the Cotswolds with a comfortable Ludlow win back in December, scoring by six lengths from the subsequent winner, Inga Bird.

Cawley due back on Sunday

Alain Cawley - due back on Sunday
Healy Racing PhotosAlain Cawley has been given the all-clear to return to action on Sunday after breaking his left collarbone in a fall at Fairyhouse last month.

The Irish jockey sustained the injury when his mount, Dapper Dan, was brought down at the second flight in a maiden hurdle on February 20.

"I'm hoping to be back riding on Sunday," he said.

"I saw a specialist this morning and he told me I could return to action. I'll be riding out starting tomorrow morning."

Cheltenham take cautious approach with watering

Cheltenham
Healy Racing PhotosOfficials at Cheltenham are being cautious in their watering policy ahead of next week's four-day Festival.

Little rain is forecast for at least the next week but conditions will continue to be monitored.

Irrigation on both old and new courses began on Monday with the aim of providing ground on the easy side of good for when the meeting starts next Tuesday.

"We are into a watering regime. We started yesterday and we are only putting on between six and eight millimetres on both the old and new courses," clerk of the course Simon Claisse told At The Races on Tuesday.

Mullins speaks of his bumper hopes

Up Ou That - one of the Mullins bumper team
Healy Racing PhotosWillie Mullins feels he has an excellent chance of winning next week's Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham for the seventh time.

The champion trainer could saddle up to four runners in the Grade One contest with Day Of A Lifetime, Bishopsfurze and Up Ou That all on target and the returning Lios A Choill also a possible traveller.

"Day of A Lifetime did it very well and had been working very well at home," said Mullins.