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No doubt one of our very best....enjoy your retirement you have definitely earned it..... Murray Baker retires from training at the end of April. Photo: Trish Dunell Murray Baker had huge impact as a trainer Tim Barton for LOVERACING.NZ 28 April 2022 Murray Baker has been the king of the classics. The Cambridge horseman, who retires from training at the end of April, has won 26 Group I three-year-old races and his honour roll includes nine Derbies and five Oaks victories. There have also been four wins apiece in the NZ Two Thousand Guineas and Levin Classic and a NZ St Leger victory when the race had Group I status. Four of Baker’s fillies have topped the NZB Filly of the Year series and the stable has won almost 30 individual races in the fillies series but, oddly, never the One Thousand Guineas. Baker’s first win as a trainer attracted little attention – a non-tote maiden at Otaki with Vizier in October 1978 - but his first black-type win came in the same season, when three-year-old Vizier beat Uncle Remus in the Jackson Stakes at Whanganui. There have been another 269 stakes wins since, in a career which has earned Baker a place in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame and ensured he would be ranked among the top echelon of New Zealand trainers. He has been spectacularly successful in Australia, and - since the introduction of the Group system, in the late 1970s - has won more Group I races in Australia than any other New Zealand-based trainer. His standout achievement has been his five Australian Derby winners, an extraordinary feat for a New Zealand-based trainer, putting Baker in truly elite company. The blue riband Australian Derby has been run in Sydney since 1861 but only three trainers have won the race more than four times, the two others being the Australian training titans Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings. Smith - who dominated Sydney racing for more than three decades – is well ahead of the pack with nine wins, with Baker and Cummings on five. Baker has also had two seconds in the Australian Derby and his 22 Group I victories in Australia also include the Victoria Derby, Australian Oaks, and South Australian Oaks. Dundeel won four Group I races in Australia in his three-year-old campaign and the Group II Tulloch Stakes in Sydney has fallen to a Baker three-year-old five times. The elite wins across the Tasman by his older horses include the Caulfield, Sydney and Brisbane Cups and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney, along with four wins in the Group I Underwood Stakes at the Melbourne spring carnival. Baker has had nine Melbourne Cup runners, with six finishing in the top five but a win proved elusive. The Phantom was luckless when fourth in 1989 and was runner-up the following year, behind Kingston Rule, who still holds the race record time. In all, Baker has won 48 black-type races in Australia and around 60 overall. A key factor in Baker’s Australian record has been his ability to recognise horses with the potential to succeed across the Tasman and then back his judgement. He was happy to go to Australia when the horses were still on their way up, rather than waiting till they showed something like their best form, in order to justify the trip. Though Baker is best known for his success with three-year-olds and stayers, he has also made a mark with juveniles and his winning catalogue includes the Karaka Million at Ellerslie and multiple wins in the two Group I races for two-year-olds in New Zealand. His last Group I win came with the two-year-old filly Lickety Split, in the Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie in March. Baker, who turned 76 on April 21, spent his first 22 years as a trainer in the central districts, mostly at Woodville, which was then a thriving training centre. However, he joined the drift north, to Cambridge, in 2000 and the last 20 years of his career proved to be his best. He also took on two talented training partners, first son Bjorn, who is now a leading trainer in Sydney, and then Andrew Forsman, who will be in sole charge from May 1. The Baker-Forsman partnership began in the 2012-13 season and has been a spectacular force. There were four national premierships in the space of five seasons, with the stable setting new marks in terms of wins, stake earnings and feature wins The 10-year partnership produced more than 865 wins and 156 black-type victories. First winner: Vizier - October 4, 1978, at Otaki NZ winners: 1817 (as at April 27, 2022) Australian winners: approximately 60 NZ Trainer of the Year awards: 5 NZ training premierships: 4 NZ Horse of the Year: 5 in succession – Dundeel, Mongolian Khan (2), Bonneval (2) Stakes and Group wins: 270 (NZ 222, Australia 48) Group I wins: 57 (NZ 35, Australia 22) Group II wins: 58 (NZ 45, Australia 13) Group III wins: 70 (NZ 63, Australia 7) Listed wins: 85 (NZ 79, Australia 6) NEW ZEALAND GROUP I WINS 1985 Sir Vigilant NZ St Leger 1990 Miss Stanima Auckland Cup 1990 Eagle Eye Bayer (Levin) Classic 1991 Let’s Sgor NZ Oaks 1991 Let’s Sgor Great Northern Champion Stakes 1992 Staring NZ Oaks 1993 Staring Zabeel Classic 2002 Emerald Dream Waikato International (Herbie Dyke) 2002 Prized Gem Kelt (Livamol) Stakes 2004 Ambitious Owner Levin Classic 2008 Fully Fledged Diamond Stakes (Ellerslie Sires’ Produce) 2009 The Heckler Manawatu Sires’ Produce 2010 We Can Say It Now Levin Classic 2010 We Can Say It Now Captain Cook Stakes 2013 Atlante NZ 2000 Guineas 2014 Turn Me Loose NZ 2000 Guineas 2015 Mongolian Khan NZ Derby 2015 Dal Cielo Diamond Stakes (Ellerslie Sires’ Produce) 2015 Sakhee’s Soldier Bonecrusher NZ Stakes 2015 Diademe NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes 2016 Luna Rossa Manawatu Sires’ Produce 2017 Lizzie L’Amour Bonecrusher NZ Stakes 2017 Bonneval NZ Oaks 2017 Charmont NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes 2018 Stolen Dance Thorndon Mile 2018 Lizzie L’Amour Waikato International (Herbie Dyke) Stakes 2018 Vin De Dance NZ Derby 2018 Saint Emilion Bonecrusher NZ Stakes 2018 Madison County NZ 2000 Guineas 2019 Madison County Levin Classic 2019 Nicoletta NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes 2019 True Enough Zabeel Classic 2020 Aegon NZ 2000 Guineas 2022 The Chosen One Thorndon Mile 2022 Lickety Split Sistema (Ellerslie Sires’ Produce) Stakes AUSTRALIAN GROUP I WINS 1990 The Phantom Underwood Stakes 1992 Eagle Eye Ranvet Stakes 1992 Eagle Eye Sydney Cup 2002 Prized Gem ` Brisbane Cup 2004 Dowry South Australian Oaks 2008 Nom Du Jeu Australian (AJC) Derby 2010 Lion Tamer Victoria Derby 2011 Lion Tamer Underwood Stakes 2012 Dundeel Spring Champion Stakes 2013 Dundeel Randwick Guineas 2013 Dundeel Rosehill Guineas 2013 Dundeel Australian Derby 2013 Dundeel Underwood Stakes 2014 Dundeel Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2015 Mongolian Khan Australian Derby 2015 Mongolian Khan Caulfield Cup 2015 Turn Me Loose Emirates Stakes 2016 Turn Me Loose Futurity Stakes 2017 Bonneval AJC Oaks 2017 Bonneval Underwood Stakes 2017 Jon Snow Australian Derby 2020 Quick Thinker Australian Derby GROUP II IN AUSTRALIA 1987 Palliser Tulloch Stakes 1990 The Phantom Memsie Stakes 1993 The Bill Tulloch Stakes 2002 Prized Gem Prime Minister’s Cup 2009 Harris Tweed Tulloch Stakes 2015 Turn Me Loose Crystal Mile 2016 Saracino Danehill Stakes 2017 Jon Snow Tulloch Stakes 2017 Bonneval Feehan Stakes 2019 Quick Thinker Tulloch Stakes 2019 The Chosen One Herbert Power 2021 Quick Thinker Chairman’s Handicap 2021 Hobartville Stakes Aegon GROUP III IN AUSTRALIA 1991 Pontiac Lass Colin Stephen Handicap 2012 Dundeel Gloaming Stakes 2013 Usainity Packer Plate 2016 Eleonora Ethereal Stakes 2017 Jon Snow JRA Cup 2019 Quick Thinker Ming Dynasty Handicap 2019 The Chosen One Packer Plate LISTED IN AUSTRALIA 1991 Steineck Jupiter Casino Stakes (Caulfield) 2010 Lion Tamer Ming Dynasty Handicap 2010 Harris Tweed Bart Cummings 2015 Turn Me Loose Seymour Cup 2017 Weather With You Geelong Classic 2019 Long Jack Geelong Classic AUSTRALIAN GROUP I PLACINGS SECOND 1989 The Phantom South Australian Derby 1990 The Phantom Melbourne Cup 1991 Eagle Eye Australian Guineas 1992 Eagle Eye Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sydney) 2008 Nom Du Jeu Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2008 Nom Du Jeu Caulfield Cup 2009 Harris Tweed Australian Derby 2010 Harris Tweed Caulfield Cup 2017 Turn Me Loose Orr Stakes 2019 Madison County Australian Derby 2020 The Chosen One Sydney Cup THIRD 1989 The Phantom Caulfield Cup 1989 The Phantom Underwood Stakes 2010 Harris Tweed Sydney Cup 2018 Eleonora Australian Oaks MELBOURNE CUP RUNNERS 1989 The Phantom 4th 1990 The Phantom 2nd 1991 Pontiac Lass 21st 2008 Nom Du Jeu 8th 2009 Harris Tweed 5th 2010 Harris Tweed 5th 2019 The Chosen One 17th 2020 The Chosen One 4th 2021 The Chosen One 5th GROUP RACE WINNING HORSES 7 wins: Dundeel (six Grp 1). 6 wins: Bonneval (3 Grp 1), Staring (2 Grp 1). 5 wins: Mongolian Khan (3 Grp I), Turn Me Loose (3 Grp 1). FAVOURITE GROUP RACES 5 wins: Grp I Australian Derby, Group II Tulloch Stakes (Sydney), Grp II Cal Isuzu Stakes (Te Rapa), Grp III Gold Trail Stakes. 4 wins: Grp I Underwood Stakes (Melbourne), Grp I NZ Two Thousand Guineas, Grp I Levin Classic, Grp II Wellington Guineas, Sir Tristram Classic, Eulogy Stakes.

Pure maaattttee the Cruiser bruised us, when I saw him come out the ruck I found myself jumpin up and down cheerin for your Ozzie??? who me? what never! guys you'll have to excuse me, I was in a state of disconsolation after me SouthCoast was withdrawn from the race, SelfAssured he went down whackin, but all kudos to your Cruiser he deserved that....cheerseys too much alright LOL Cheers Iraklis

Com'on Aussie com'on com'on ... lalala Com'on Aussie com'on ....singin along Rakman. Well The Janitor had a good pick just a week ago, so hope he stuck with it. I stuck with Allstars and ended up 2nd and 4th . Bit unusual , but these Aussies are classy buggers lol...... as is Sundee's Son !!!! how Awesome was he ?

Yes, I got a bit off the Cruiser. I think the horse is a cracker bu I didn't hit it too hard because I though Self Assured looked the winner. He went huge but the Cruiser that was impressive. Sundee's Son huge...

The Cruiser won the war mate. What a race. Wow there were some tough runs and the Cruiser was the toughest of them all. Good drive from young Cameron Hart. You don't see many come from behind to win at Alexander park, huge. Sundee's Son... wow

I'm going today with :- Hawkesbury : R2 : # 3 I'm Not Slew : Sandown : R8 : # 5 : Regardsmaree Many thanks, John, for your outstanding organisation and presentation of these comps.

The timing of this move, is interesting.... whether it was the Christ Jesus effect and making his public acknowledgement known and following through in the battle of Freeing up the truth...OR ... is it simply anticipating something downstream which cannot be avoided...shrugs* diffucult to know what his motivation was, but if it helps in the ongoing support of Free-speech no longer being censored...its small victory toward exposing the lies many have fallen for!! God bless Elon Musk

Te Rapa R2 6 - 8 bit of a guess the NZ races but the number 6 here 'Thunder' won the 1956 NZ trotting Cup so must be a good one lol. Te Rapa R3 5 - 9 Te Rapa R5 1 - 7 Te Rapa R7 1 - 2 Eagle Farm R5 2 - 3 Eagle Farm R7 2 - 3 BB Eagle Farm R8 7 - 8 Hawkesbury R6 6 - 8 Hawkesbury R7 1 - 5 BB Hawkesbury R8 3 - 16 Hawkesbury R9 8 - 11 Sandown Hillside R8 3 - 9 thanks to "Say No More" , and good luck all !

Wai Eyre Farm have produced a miracle filly which cant really be described by Sky Major. It is on the Harness Enthusiasts facebook page but incredible heart warming view. Its markings will make it a brilliant advert for harness Racing. take a peak.

Sadly the Cruiser may not wait around for the Auckland Cup because of the fact it is a standing start ! Self Assured will be hot again , he was very brave , got savaged by an over racing Cranbourne who looks a very tough steed. Great to see two such competitive races and when the Cruiser launched 4 wide at the 400 m it sure was game on. Similarly in the trot great to see the last 400 m , the best three trotters all outstanding talents , with handle bars down. Great racing !

Can I please sub my scr R8 - #8 @ Sandown with #5 BB to remain thanks Say no more

Oops - Best bets in Te Rapa R5 and Eagle Farm R5 cheers

Scratching Replacements, please. Hi, John. Sandown R8 : I had 3 & 7 Both are now scratched Please can you put me down for 2 & 6 instead. Many thanks, John.

Scratching replacement Sandown Race 8: 1/5 Thanks

The Auckland Cup sitting in NSW when Winter comes ?

Te Rapa R2 1/7 Te Rapa R3 1/9 Te Rapa R5 6/9 Te Rapa R7 1/3 Eagle Farm R5 3/6 bb Eagle Farm R7 2/13 Eagle Farm R8 6/11 Hawkesbury R6 2/8 Hawkesbury R7 5/6 Hawkesbury R8 3/10bb Hawkesbury R9 7/8 Sandown Hillside R8 1/4 this should be a fun comp so thanks sponsor and scorer

Te Rapa R1- 3 Poster Boy Te Rapa R7- 2 Sinarahma Good luck all.

Yes saw that JL, guys check this out....she's by Sky Major out of black mare Myex Cheers Iraklis

Now 7/1 for the Oaks. She's by Sea the Stars out of a Barathea mare - the dam actually ran in the equivalent maiden in 2009 finishing second but ended up a handicapper with a rating in the 90s. EMILY UPJOHN clearly has a lot of talent as she demolished these but that's still a long way from Group 1 and I wonder if she'll take in either the Lingfield Oaks Trial or the Musidora. To be fair, there's no real star among the 3-y-o fillies as yet though that may change after the 1000 Guineas.

Sunday's final declarations are through. At Newmarket, 14 go in the 1000 Guineas and unlike the colts classic tomorrow, the fillies classic looks wide open. TENEBRISM starts as favourite having shown a fine turn of foot to win the Cheveley Park on her second outing. She's by a sprinter out of a Group 1 winning miler so you'd think 1600m would work but you have to question whether that speed marks her more like her sire, Caravaggio, and she'll come up short over this trip. The Irish dominate the race - DISCOVERIES won the Moyglare and the trip isn't an issue. She beat TUESDAY a short head on her second outing (the latter's debut) and there won't be much between them. TUESDAY is bred in the purple - she's a full to the champion Minding and to last year's Irish 1000 Guineas winner EMPRESS JOSEPHINE and both did their best on slower ground. I just have my doubts about TUESDAY on the quick Newmarket turf. I'm very keen on MALAVATH who went very well on firm turf when runner up in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She won the Imprudence in good style and she wouldn't be the first French filly to relish the quick ground and I think she's the winner and I've backed her each way at 7s. ZELLIE was second to MALAVATH at Deauville and while she could go well, I can't see her reversing the places. You'll note I've not mentioned an English runner - MISE EN SCENE is the shortest price - she was fourth to INSPIRAL but tenth and well behind MALAVATH at Del Mar. Of the others, trial winners WILD BEAUTY (Fred Darling) and CACHET (Nell Gwyn) have outside claims and the maiden winner AMEYNAH could be anything. This is a Group 1 and you usually need form in that grade - I don't think TENEBRISM will see it out and I think MALAVATH will just beat DISCOVERIES. 7 go in the Group 2 Dahlia over 1800m. EBAIYRA is a wonderful filly and it'll be great to see her in the flesh but 1800m is plenty short enough for her and she may be done for speed by th likes of VILLE DE ROSE who was probably too immature early in her 3-y-o campaign but flourished in the autumn winning her last three races. Both however might struggle with DREAMLOPER who has raced in Group 1 races with credit and has plenty of form with last week's Sandown winner LIGHTS ON. At Longchamp, just six go in the Ganay. SKALLETI may be seven but he's a class act at 2000m winning the Ispahan last year and the Harcourt both this year and last. He's entitled to be favourite but SEALIWAY is a serious rival. He won the Lagardere as a juvenile and was runner up to St Mark's Basilica in the Jockey Club. He was fifth in the Arc and then won the Champion Stakes at Ascot. I can excuse him a narrow defeat to SKALLETI in the Harcourt and I think the places could be reversed this time. Into the mix we have MARE AUSTRALIS who won the Ganay last year but wasn't seen until running third to SKALLETI and SEALIWAY in the Harcourt. He'll go close and is lightly raced but SEALIWAY's form is very solid. STATE OF REST won the Saratoga Derby and then went to Moonee Valley and won the Cox Plate - I imagine he'll be heading back in the autumn and I expect him to need the run.

heres the video mentioned in the above post Twitter took it down 5 minutes after it launched on Jan 6..mp4

Yes Timaru R9 and R10 were 2 of my 3 bets at Timaru yesterday - I backed R2 Sophistical - No where, R9 Vague and R10 Tappys Lad were clear standouts and won accordingly so a Good day for me

Top bloke who deserves all the accolades he recieved

I used to back the "old firm" Baker & Harris. My best collect was Sir Vigilant when he won The St Ledger and paid over $80 to win.

Interesting thread. Today's ANZ Bloodstock newsletter has an article on what happened to fees in the early 1990's. https://editions.app.anzbloodstocknews.com/2022-04/29/web/assets/downloads/ANZ_220429-online.pdf Look at Tim Rowe's article starting on page 18.

The studs in Aust are not slow at increasing fees if their sires leave a good one.Is he worth more than Snitzel or Fastnet Rock who are proven over all classes of mares.I doubt it but only time will tell.

There's a lot of six-shooters in here , but Only one '44 Magnum' power piece. There's A NZ Cup Winner in a distance race like this ? It's All over Rover. (SA also with a NZ Cup 2nd placing as well as the win. will be just too good)

All the good comps are here...and the best scorers in the business too.....we are the home of good comps LOL.

It's a busy old time and Saturday is approaching which means Guineas day at Newmarket. 15 stand for the first classic of the season over the straight 1600m on decent ground. NATIVE TRAIL is unbeaten and won both the National and Dewhurst as a juvenile before winning the Craven a fortnight ago. He ticks a lot of the boxes - my only reservation would be if he has the tactical speed for this or whether his optimum is 2000m or further. That said, it's the old adage of find one to beat him and he's just odds-on with most books over here though you can get levels in a few places. Stable mate CORROEBUS is officially 7 lbs inferior and just failed controversially in the Royal Lodge before winning a Group 3 over course and distance. You can argue CORROEBUS is all potential while NATIVE TRAIL and others have proved their worth on the track - I think CORROEBUS is very short at 4s on the evidence of his form. LUXEMBOURG won the Beresford and the Futurity (as did Saxon Warrior among others) and Aidan O'Brien's record of bringing colts here first time up to win the Guineas stands up to close inspection (Camelot, Saxon Warrior and Churchill to name but three). We know he's good and he must be respected. PERFECT POWER was a speedy juvenile ending up winning the Middle Park and there was a time when that was the significant Guineas trial (Mill Reef won it for example). He did it well in the Greenham a fortnight ago but this is an extra 200m with more ups and downs than Newbury. I don't think reading between the lines trainer Richard Fahey believes the horse will stay - if he does, he has serious claims but that's a big question. POINT LONSDALE won the Chesham at Royal Ascot last summer but was comprehensively outpointed by NATIVE TRAIL in the National and the balance of his form suggests softer ground might be better. Beyond those five, it's 20s and upwards the others. EYDON was impressive in the Feilden and he won't be stopping at the end of 1600m but I suspect it will all happen too quickly. ROYAL PATRONAGE won the Acomb and the Royal Lodge but flopped in the Vertem behind LUXEMBOURG. The one I like among the outsiders is LUSAIL who is 40/1 and while second to PERFECT POWER in the Greenham, I think there's less of a stamina query and he could nick a place especially with a bookie paying down to fourth. So, who wins what is often the best race of the whole season? NATIVE TRAIL is obvious but the value for me is with LUXEMBOURG at 5s with LUSAIL at 40s as the each way saver. At Punchestown, the Triumph Hurdle first and second, VAUBAN and FIL D'OR, re-oppose in the Champion 4-y-o Hurdle. VAUBAN was dominant at Cheltenham and I expect him to follow up. On Sunday, we have the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket but France stages their first Group 1, the Ganay, at Longchamp. SKALLETI beat SEALAWAY in the Harcourt but the most interesting entry is Cox Plate winner STATE OF REST.

Day Two at Punchestown yesterday and despite overcast and cool conditions, watering was required to keep the ground just on the slow side of Good. Three more Grade 1 races starting with the championship race for the staying novice hurdlers which saw the first two from the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham re-oppose with THE NICE GUY favoured to confirm places with MINELLA COCOONER. Irish Mirror Novices Hurdle: It's always nice as a form student to see the championship form franked and the front two are clearly very good types and look to have huge potential as staying chasers next season if that's the route connections choose to follow. MINELLA COCOONER went from the front and came back when headed by the winner after the second last and never stopped battling and these are all excellent traits but THE NICE GUY is relentless and just kept going all the way to the line. As I say, the front two are classy stayers and certainly both will be worth following next year. The day's feature and one of the highlights of the week was the Punchestown Gold Cup, the championship staying chase of the meeting. Ryanair winner ALLAHO was made favourite over a strong field including the 2021 winner CLAN DES OBEAUX who had returned to form in style at Aintree. Punchestown Gold Cup: Given Cheveley Park also own the Gold Cup winner A PLUS TARD, they could certainly be accused of having an embarrassment of riches in the staying chase division. This was a hugely impressive performance by ALLAHO whose stamina had been questioned in the past but who saw out this trip on this ground really well. You'd think Kempton on King George Day would be ideal on decent ground and his quality jumping stands him in good stead. Whether he'd see out the full 5000m of the Gold Cup is a question still to be answered but he put some decent rivals to the sword. CLAN DES OBEAUX tried to go with the leader but was cooked approaching two out while former Gold Cup winner AL BOUM PHOTO was made to look slow. I thought KEMBOY might have finished second had it not been for a sprawling error at the second last. Also well beaten were past Gold Cup winner MINELLA INDO, King George winner TORNADO FLYER and the well fancied GALVIN while FAKIR D'OUDARIES didn't get home but his connections may feel the Ryanair in 2023 will be theirs for the taking is ALLAHO heads for the Gold Cup. The current 2023 Gold Cup betting has GALOPIN DES CHAMPS at 7/2 favourite, A PLUS TARD at 4s, ALLAHO at 7s and AHOY SENOR at 8s. The Bumper over 3200m also saw the first two from Cheltenham re-match. FACILE VEGA had ploughed through the near waterlogged ground to beat AMERICAN MIKE but would places be confirmed on this much sounder surface? Champion Irish National Hunt Flat Race: They say you should never chase your losses and I did my cajones at Cheltenham on REDEMPTION DAY for whom the rain was a complete disaster. I thought he would be an entirely different proposition on better ground and so it proved - he gave FACILE VEGA a real race and although coming off second best, I was able to recover some of my Cheltenham losses each way at 14s. The winner did the Cheltenham-Punchestown double and is clearly very good - how will the Mullins team shuffle the pack next season? If I were the trainer, I'd aim FACILE VEGA for the Ballymore - these Bumper horses often want a bit further with time. I'd keep REDEMPTION DAY for the Supreme and avoid running him on soft or heavy ground so Leopardstown would be a good idea at Christmas. The front two were 14 lengths clear of the third and I rate both very highly.

Janitor mate, think the Iceman (SelfAssured) is doin the drivin for MarkP, and well, we all know he (TH) aint no mug I just hope me 2 favs can get into the race and and give it a shake.....the mighty AllStars got a bloody great hand in this, and my head says that's where it'll probably go; but as we all know there's no certainties in racin, if Mango can just get the Coast handy he won't shirk it, am feelin more nervous for the Treacherous, and MachDan well, we all know how he can begin, Spankem he's no slouch either, when that gate pulls away it's fingers and toes crossed.....geez with this many big guns in one race we're almost gettin spoilt for choice LOL lovin it..... Cheers Iraklis

Punchestown started on Tuesday with three Grade 1 races, only one of which went to plan. The Champion Novice Hurdle over 3200m sponsored by Bective Stud saw Ballymore winner SIR GERHARD go off at 4/7 to follow up. Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle: I couldn't understand why they ran SIR GERHARD at this trip rather than the 4000m. He doesn't have the tactical speed at the business end over 3200m and he looked flat footed from two out. The winner had pulled up in the Supreme at Cheltenham which perhaps shows how dominant Nicky Henderson's CONSTITUTION HILL and JONBON were - the Irish had nothing with which to compete at the speed level but were dominant over the longer distances among the novices. One of the highlights of the whole week was the Champion Chase over 3200m which saw Champion Chase winner ENERGUMENE take on CHACUN POUR SOI. William Hill Champion Chase: The expected duel ended as you might have expected but at the second last supporters of CHACUN POUR SOI must have thought they were going t upset the favourite but ENERGUMENE is a class act and had too many guns for the former champion and in the end won decisively. No doubt SHISHKIN will be back for another try next year along with Tingle Creek winner GREANETEEN and this year's Arkle winner EDWARDSTONE will be in the mix but they'll all have to be at the top of their time to trouble ENERGUMENE who maintains the very high quality of the speed chasing division. On to the staying novice chasers over 4800m and the fortunate Turners winner BOB OLINGER went off favourite to maintain his unbeaten record over fences. Dooley Insurance Champion Novices Chase: Another race which didn't go to plan for the punters. A dismal effort by BOB OLINGER who had looked flat and was well held by GALOPIN DES CHAMPS when the latter fell at the last at Cheltenham had no such good fortune today and he's clearly got a problem. CAPODANNO isn't perhaps the most natural of jumpers and was fourth to L'HOMME PRESSE in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham but did this very well and the one thing he does is gallop. FURY ROAD looked as though he was feeling the effects of Aintree so perhaps this was a soft race - I'd love to see CAPODANNO in the National - he'll either jump like a stag or fall or perhaps both.

A long overdue look back at last weekend's action in the UK. Friday saw the best card of the turf flat season so far at Sandown and the ground was just on the fast side of Good. The feature Group 2 Mile saw last year's Coronation and Sussex winner ALCOHOL FREE favourite but she drifted alarmingly from 4/6 to 7/4 and while she looked good enough in the paddock, the consensus among paddock watchers was she's need the run and so it proved. She moved up to challenge but her run flattened 300m out and she ended up well held in third behind LIGHTS ON who benefited from a typically strong Ryan Moore ride. The winner is a daughter of Siyouni out of an Inchinor mare so she coped well enough with the ground. She's only rated 107 so that makes this a weak Group 2 in all honesty. The second, MUTASAABEQ, was arguably unlucky as the gap didn't come at the right moment and he's the one who I think might be the one to take from the race. The Group 3 Gordon Richards had just three runners and while I fancied JUAN ELCANO as the outsider, he went too free too early and the odds-on favourite MOSTAHDAF and he's 5/1 for the Prince of Wales at Ascot for which his trainer, the Gosdens, have any number of options including LORD NORTH and MISHRIFF. MOSTAHDAF has yet to prove he's Group 1 grade but he's clearly decent. Last year's Classic Trial saw ALENQUER beat YIBIR and ADAYAR and all three went on to bigger and better things as we know. This year's renewal has a hard act to follow but the first two hone. WESTOVER and CASH, could be above average. CASH in particular was only having his second run and was as green as the proverbial grass but ran home very strongly for all he looks as though 2400m will help I'm far from convinced Epsom will. He's only 16s ante post while WESTOVER, who looks a more straightforward type, is 25s but it's very early days. The Godolphin favourite, GOLDSPUR, was only third but not beaten far while Aidan O'Brien's runner RIVER THAMES got very upset in the stalls and I suspect knocked himself. Saturday saw the jumps finale at Sandown which was run on watered Good ground, The feature Grade 1 Celebration Chase over 3200m looked a re-match between Tingle Creek winner GREANETEEN and the useful NUBE NEGRA. Celebration Chase: A fantastic day for champion trainer Paul Nicholls who netted a five timer highlighted by a runaway win for GREANETEEN. The trip to Leopardstown in February had been a disaster - the horse suffered an eye injury which still hasn't been fully resolved - the operation had to wait until the end of the campaign. Nicholls has often thought the horse doesn't get the credit he deserves and he has a point but it's unfortunate he's a very good horse in an era of great horses in the speed chasing divisions. The likes of SHISHKIN and ENERGUMENE dominate and GREANETEEN has been well beaten by both speaks only to the strength in depth of the division. NUBE NEGRA was disappointing - he's a weak finisher and perhaps he really needs a flat track but old SCEAU ROYAL picked up more place money for his connections. A farcical start to the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase saw MISTER FISHER shy from the tape and SAINT CALVADOS gifted a 10-length start which he never looked like surrendering.

Eljay , do you believe the 'blame game' that ATC sends HRNZ way. The ATC claim they in a strong financial position so could have run an event for 4 year olds as well ! I am perplexed why the ATC have carded an Amateur Drivers race on a Group 1 night....in recent years the ATC often reluctant to run these races . That aside , the supporting races for the 2 x Group 1 races look very weak. Two non-winners races for minimum stakes as well as the Amateur race ! How things have changed .....and overall not for the better.....pathetic really ! Easy to keep pointing the finger at HRNZ ! I note the ATC rep on HRNZ board has walked out on the role......dedication [ sarcasm] !

Interesting discussions but IMHO Spankem leads, Self Assured trails and wins. Maybe sounds like a cracked record but given the draws I can't really see it any other way. It's just a bit sad that it's not the age race it was originally intended to be.

Hey Janitor mate, I had to laugh the 2 Oz horses got better draws, and me SthCoast got an even worse one thats what I'm afraid of, the Cruiser and his finishin burst.....reckon it's gunna be a ripper which ever way it goes please let it be a Kiwi LOL Cheers Iraklis

Don't forget the Cruiser... he'll be a better horse this week, distance will suit.

We've called her Itz Aspen Colorado. Hopefully trialling this Friday, 29 April.

The subject of TAB's tipsters been done to death on here and TB forum for years. Simple solution that anyone with an IQ of 20 plus understands- DONT BOTHER READING THEM OR PUNTING ON THEIR TIPS. Is that acceptable to you Palliser? As for Ivan - go look at all his previous posts and tell me he's not a negative poster on racing.

Surely the fake news didn't show the truth?

It's not an invasion. Putin is working together with Ukraine to clean out the deep state players in Ukraine. The same countries sanctioning Russia are the very same countries that pushed the Covid scamdemic and sold you fake vaccines that obviosuly never worked. Time you woke up.

Worse than that, I'm afraid - she strained a tendon during the week and is out for up to 12 months. We're absolutely gutted.