BLAZING BAILEY SET FOR LADBROKES.COM WORLD SERIES HURDLE - RICHARDS HOPING FOR GOOD RUN FROM FAASEL
Alan King confirmed today that he is aiming his star hurdler Blazing Bailey at the Grade 1 Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown on Thursday, April 24.
The six-year-old - who is 5/2 favourite for the Punchestown contest with Ladbrokes - finished a staying-on fourth in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, before going on to a Grade 2 success in the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree on April 3.
King was worried immediately after Blazing Bailey’s Aintree triumph about a gash on the horse’s hind leg sustained during the race, but reports the injury to have cleared up ahead of the trip across the Irish Sea.
“Blazing Bailey is likely to go to Punchestown for the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle. He’s come out of Aintree well and the gash on his leg was nothing really. He’s fine and is in good form,” said King.
“I see he’s been made favourite by Ladbrokes and I think he will have a strong chance in the race.”
Blazing Bailey finished six lengths ahead of Faasel at Aintree, but trainer Nicky Richards is hoping that his consistent seven-year-old will run a big race in the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle, for which he is 8/1 with the sponsor.
Richards commented: “All being well, Faasel will take his chance in the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown. He’s come out of his race at Aintree well and everything seems fine with him.
“We missed the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on purpose and it nearly paid dividends for us at Aintree. He ran a tremendous race and it’s never easy to win against the top hurdlers.
“He’s always been a spring horse and this is his time of year. Hopefully, he’ll go to Punchestown and run another good race.”
Latest Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle betting with Ladbrokes
Blazing Bailey 5/2
Kazal 4/1
Cooldine 5/1
Venalmar 7/1
Refinement 8/1
Faasel 8/1
Nicanor 8/1
Gone to Lunch 10/1
Kicks for Free 12/1
Shakervilz 12/1
Quevega 14/1
Sher Beau 14/1
Catch Me 20/1
Earth Magic 20/1
My Turn Now 20/1
Souffleur 20/1
Uncle Junior 20/1
Aitmatov 25/1
Kerryhead Windfarm 25/1
Chief Dan George 33/1
Ebaziyan 33/1
Euro Leader 33/1
Homer Wells 33/1
Sonnyanjoe 33/1
Flight Leader 40/1
Footy Facts 50/1
Kawagino 50/1
TV3 PREVIEW AIRS ON FRIDAY
The five-day Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown features record prize money of over 3 million euros and runs from Tuesday, April 22, to Saturday, April 26.
TV3, Ireland’s commercial television broadcaster, will air an hour-long preview of the Punchestown Festival on Friday at 11.30pm and it will be repeated at 10.30am on Saturday.
The programme includes visits to the stables of top trainers Noel Meade, Willie Mullins, Arthur Moore and banks specialist Enda Bolger, while Irish National Hunt Handicapper Noel O’Brien, Donn McClean and Paddy Power will preview the action from the studio.
SIXTIES ICON TO GALLOP AHEAD OF RACING ON WEDNESDAY
Trainer Jeremy Noseda will give Sixties Icon a gallop on The NatWest Rowley Mile track at Newmarket ahead of racing on Wednesday.
Twelve months ago the 2006 St Leger winner enjoyed a racecourse blow-out at the Craven meeting before returning to HQ to land the stanjamesuk.com Jockey Club Stakes the following month.
Noseda is hoping history can repeat itself in 2008 with the five-year-old son of Galileo set to have a pipe-opener at 1pm.
He said: “We are aiming to go down the same route with Sixties Icon as we did last year.
“He will do a nice sensible piece of work that will hopefully put him spot-on for the stanjamesuk.com Jockey Club Stakes on May 4.”
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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