You only need to meet or communicate with Doug/CM/Trojan and all his other non de plumes to realize that my description of him is correct. But each to their own as they say. He also likes to make things up and clearly this thread shows it once again. You're not by chance Gammalite elsewhere, are you?

Trainer Tony Pike isn't worried about rain for Poetic Champion’s race.View the full article

Seven new members have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, led by Smarty Jones. Others to be inducted include Decathlon, Hermis, George Conway, Edward Bowen, Arthur Hancock III, and Richard Ten Broeck.View the full article

We have the final declarations for the two day Sandown Finale Meeting tomorrow and Saturday. It used to be a Mixed card of flat and jump races but now Friday is Flat racing and Saturday the official finale of the jumps season. The ground on the Flat course is Good, Good to Soft in places and the feature Group 2 Sandown Mile has drawn eight runners. Five are rated between 114 and 117 and it looks to concern them - the other three look to have a lot to do on the ratings. LEAD ARTIST is top rated but he's never run in a Group 1. He was second in the Park at Doncaster over 1400m to KINROSS but last time was second in Bahrain over 2000m so what his optimum trip is I'm not sure. Overnight favourite is DANCING GEMINI who I thought would win the Derby last year (which explains my usual skill at tipping racehorses). He didn't see out the 2400m at Epsom but back this season after a break he looked very good at Doncaster on the first day of the season. If he wins this, he'll be a serious player for races like the Lockinge and the Queen Anne but he has it to prove at this level. ALCANTOR comes over from France having won the Group 3 Edmond Blanc at Saint Cloud. He's been here before and was well held behind HAATEM in the Craven last year but Andre Fabre knows his onions (both French and English) and presumably thinks with another year on his back, ALCANTOR will relish the quicker ground. TAMFANA represents French-born but Englsish-based handler David Menuisier. She was third in the Diane and fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris, both over further. Brought back to a mile after a summer break, she won the Group 3 Atalanta over the course and distance and then won the Group 1 Sun Chariot beating the useful INSPIRAL. Her final reason was a decent third to CHARYN in the Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot on Champions Day and the balance of her form puts her right in this. HAATEM is with Richard Hannon and after a convincing win in the Craven went to the 2000 Guineas and finished third to NOTABLE SPEECH and his stable companion ROSALLION (also kept in training and a very exciting prospect). He was a head behind ROSALLION when they were first and second in the Irish 2000 Guineas and then won the Jersey at Ascot over 1400m. He wasn't seen after that but Hannon has asserted he is more than ready to do himself justice. It's not an easy one to call - DANCING GEMINI might be the improver but on the balance of form I'm with TAMFANA - the Menuisier horses are starting to hit form with three winners this week. I'm really worried about HAATEM who for me is the one with the potential to blow the race apart. The Group 3 Gordon Richards over 2000m has seven runners - the question is whether ALMAQAM will be forward enough on this ground. He mixed it with the likes of ECONOMICS last season. However, SEE THE FIRE also ran at a high level last year and the Balding horses are looking good so far. The Group 3 Classic Trial over 2000m looks fascinating with the form of WINDLORD and SWAGMAN against the potential of the once raced winners DAMYSUS and I AM I SAID. If he handles the quicker ground, I AM I SAID may be the one. Saturday sees the climax to the jumping season with the battle for the Trainers' Championship supposedly going to the last race - I suspect it won't. Seven go in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase over 3150m. JONBON is 8/13 and his record tells you all you need to know. He's run 22 times and won 18 - his four defeats have all been at Cheltenham including in the Arkle and two renewals of the Champion Chase. Elsewhere, he is undefeated including at Sandown where he won this race in 2023 and 2024 as well as the Henry VIII in 2022 and the Tingle Creek in 2023 and 2024. It's hard to argue against that level of form and while both IL ETAIT TEMPS and ENERGUMENE will be worthy opponents, he's beaten them before and this isn't Cheltenham. The Grade 2 Oaksey Chase over 4460m may be where the Trainers' Championship starts to slip away from Skelton. Mullins has four while Skelton's representative, BOOMBAWN, has place chances at best. GAELIC WARRIOR, winner of the Golden Miller at Liverpool, is favourite at 7/4 and will take plenty of beating. PIC D'ORHY doesn't have a great record at Sandown unlike Ascot where he's very good. To be fair, he's had a much lighter season than usual and looked at this best when winning the Ascot Chase in mid February. GENTLEMEN DU MEE was once second in a Champion Chase but his form in Graded races this year has been poor - he did win the Topham over the Aintree fences last time but that's a handicap. I think Paul Nicholls might help his former Assistant by having the winner in PIC D'ORHY. Skelton has two and Mullins one in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle over 4240m. KITZBUHEL was well fancied for Mullins at Aintree but didn't quite see out an end to end gallop in the Liverpool Hurdle. In what is a poor renewal, the first time hood might help him settle a little better and he might account for the Henderson trained LUCKY STRIKE who was beaten a long way in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. Mullins has entered ten in the 5600m handicap chase which carries a first prize of just under £100k - that might be where Skelton has to give way. We'll have the final declarations for Sunday's Ganay tomorrow.  

One week before the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) on April 26, Churchill Downs opens with a nighttime card to kick off its 43-day spring meet.View the full article

A quick look back at the Easter Monday racing. At Fairyhouse, HAITI COULEURS followed up his Cheltenham win with an all-the-way success in the Irish National and is already being strongly touted for the English National next spring. ANY SECOND NOW was a gallant second and this wonderful horse was promptly retired by trainer Ted Walsh. ANY SECOND NOW was third in the 2021 English National, second in the 2022 English National and second in both the 2024 and 2025 Irish Nationals. He won seven out of forty one and while only amassing £144k in win prize money, that was significantly boosted by over £500k in place money. BLUE LEMONS atoned for a poor run in the Triumph at Cheltenham with a strong win in the Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle and he looks a decent prospect for next season. That was one for Willie Mullins but Gordon Elliott took the other Group 2 with FOUND A FIFTY for whom the step up in trip to 4000m was a big help. He'd won the Maghull at Aintree last year and many saw him as a Champion Chase possible but he's never quite had the speed to mix it with the very best and was well held behind MARINE NATIONALE at Cheltenham. If he can raise his game next season at 4000m, he could be a big player in that division. The British Jump Trainers' Championship battle between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton continued and Skelton pushed the lead out further with four winners, two at Chepstow and two at Plumpton whereas Mullins had just the one success at Plumpton. Tuesday saw Epsom's first Flat meeting of the year and the Classic Trial over the last 2000m of the Derby course saw 40/1 outsider SEA SCOUT get a 33/1 quote fir the Derby after a narrow success over the Ballydoyle raider TRINITY COLLEGE who, you;d think, wouldn't be in the front row of the pecking order at Aidan O'Brien's yard. The Mullins-Skelton battle has continued and as of this morning (Thursday), Skelton's lead is £24,500 with Mullins having two winners at Perth yesterday compared with a winner at Perth and one at Ludlow for Skelton. The interest in this struggle has seen Sandown change its timings on Saturday to allow ITV to show the last six races on its free to air broadcast just in case the battle goes down to the very last race of the season.

J CAMPBELL - Unctuos git

The owners room that looks out into the birdcage is the best i've had the pleasure of

I really hope he proves me wrong, but I just can't see him in the first 4 😬

FFS is that all you have , why? do you want to hold my hand . Read my 3rd paragraph , that's your answer . But be sure next time I'm at the races I'll make a point of tapping you on the shoulder , if I remember , but don't hold your breathe , you don't live in my head like I do in yours . And just so your up to date , I don't participate in CD racing anymore , my interests are with my horses in the north and Aus so hardly go to any race meetings in the CD , last one was nearly a year ago . But yes I do think it is a big day for CD racing and more should have to be done for the day , you obviously don't seeing as how your biggest concern is my attendance . You'll be there so that should ensure it's a big day for Race . Now get a life .

Agree 100%. The facilities are definitely better, after all they have a new stand that cost the better part of 10 million not that many years ago and now a new 5.5 million dollar track.  Go figure Sunlineboy. 

I thought the point was also that many horses fly to Australia after the first race in the Triple Crown, and that it's easier to do so from Auckland than Palmerston North. Maybe l read it wrong?

So thats a no then,you wont be there I take it?

FEW GOOD CHANCES AT WANGANUI SUNDAY.... DO THE HOMEWORK

unbeaten Dogs in tonight against a broncos side who looked  to have money on the opposition last week with some players i would of demoted.....Dogs are shit so with the favourable odds im going 13 plus BRONCS TONIGHT IN A TURNAROUND MANY WOULD BE SURPRISED BY....BUT IN THIS COMP THERE ARE NONE ...CIRCUS.... KNIGHTS WIN TOMORROW WITHOUT REF ASSISTANCE TO THE HOMEBOYS

Trump has been humiliated by China. He has tried crawling back to do a deal, and China is making him sweat like a pig. The phone has not been ringing off the hook as his press secretary falsely claims The clown is so thick that he did not realise that China holds most of the cards.

Sorry but Canterbury Man will not reply to the question PS you do not need to be involved...he wont be back added zero other than to try and drag topics to his fav hobby horses so to speak. He hates Trentham hates Ellerslie, and just for your info there is NOT a dozen horses in the last two years that cost over 800K and were decent...nowhere near. That is not TA bashing that is facts, they TA have done a great job at what they target, Karaka Millions and good luck to them.... I have not had or have any agenda against them...so let that be the end of the CM/Doug AKA Chief Stipe story...let's all get back on track and move on. Good luck Royden with Wolverines next run.

I think Baker has Overpass,  Belclare and possibly  one other for raids in different  events over in WA.

In the deep end here but I will be cheering him home , honest horse and you can't ask more than that .