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News last Updated at: 18:11 on 11/04/2012
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'So far so good' for Synchronised
Synchronised will complete his John Smith's Grand National preparations with a pipeopener on Thursday ahead of the Aintree spectacular on Saturday. Providing he comes through the exercise at Jonjo O'Neill's stables with no hiccups, the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero will head a team of at least four for owner JP McManus. "He'll do his final bit of work in the morning and we'll see how he is, but it's so far so good," said his racing manager Frank Berry...read more
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Alfa in good order for Aintree
Alfa Beat will attempt to add Saturday's John Smith's Grand National to his two wins in the Kerry National for trainer John Hanlon, and become the first grey to score since Nicolaus Silver in 1961. He will be ridden by Davy Russell, who is expecting a big show. "He's been laid out for the race. I won on him round Galway in a handicap chase when Charles Byrnes had him and he's won two Kerry Nationals, so I'm looking forward to riding him," Russell...read more
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Stewart - Buck's as well as ever
Owner Andy Stewart believes Big Buck's is as enthusiastic as ever as he goes for an amazing 17th win on the spin in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old has won the extended three-mile event, which opens the three-day John Smith's Grand National meeting, for the last three years and made Cheltenham history when lifting the Ladbrokes World Hurdle for a fourth time last month. "Obviously he is feelin...read more
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Geraghty sides with Theatre
Ryanair Chase victor Riverside Theatre heads a three-strong team from the Nicky Henderson stable in Aintree's Betfred Bowl. The eight-year-old got up in the dying strides at Cheltenham and his jockey Barry Geraghty is confident he will be even better over this longer distance. "I'd be more than happ...read more
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Ball in the hunt for Bowl glory
Keiran Burke is excited about the prospect of Hunt Ball stepping up from handicaps to the highest level in the Betfred Bowl Chase at Aintree. Burke, who changed his role from jockey to trainer this season, put the seven-year-old through his paces himself on Wednesday morning ahead of his big date on...read more
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King hopeful of Aintree revenge
Different tactics will be tried on Grumeti when he bids to reverse Cheltenham form in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree. The Alan King-trained gelding led before the final flight, where he made a mistake and was collared soon afterwards before having to settle for third place ...read more
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Rainbow goes for more gold
Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Finian's Rainbow heads a field of eight for the John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday. The nine-year-old tackles two and a half miles for the first time over fences, although he did win over the trip as a novice hurdler. Nicky Henderson's charge won the two...read more
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Electro takes Flight at Nottingham
It was very appropriate to see the grey Electrolyser stretching out his rivals in Nottingham's Betfred Barry Hills "Further Flight" Stakes given the two racing greats honoured by the race. Hills trained the popular grey stayer Further Flight, who won the Jockey Club Cup five consecutive times in the...read more
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Date set for Hughes ban appeal
The British Horseracing Authority appeal board are to consider Richard Hughes' plea not to uphold his 50-day ban while riding in India on Friday week. The jockey was suspended in February having been found guilty of by the stewards in India of "not following the trainer's specific instructions and t...read more
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Milczarek pencils in return
Kirsty Milczarek is set to return to action next week after winning her appeal against a two-year ban for passing information for reward and for committing a corrupt or fraudulent practice. She has already taken steps to regain her licence and will resume work-riding at the weekend. "I've spoken to ...read more
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