James Stevens
@JamesStevens180
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@RacingPost Journalist and West Country correspondent 🏇
Cheltenham, England
Joined July 2014
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Last Seen Profiles
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Gone through all of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival races.
Here’s my thoughts on the Grade 1 races and my thinking for the rest of this season and beyond!
A short race-by-race thread🧵🏇
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Without doubt…
What viral video makes you laugh no matter how many times you watch it? Mine is ‘bye driver’
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11K
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A final
#CheltenhamFestival
tweet and a quote from Colin Tizzard on the brilliant Native River:
“I'm very proud, he's been in four Gold Cups and finished in the top four every time.
“You won't find many who have done what he's done, he's a magical horse.”
Horse of a lifetime!
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The Tiger Woods story is simply extraordinary - but doesn't come close to my best 'greatest comeback' story. 👏🏼
Sprinter Sacre's 2016 Champion Chase victory - a wonderful horse, and a magical day. That roar when he jumps the last... 🏇🏆
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RIP Sir Erec.
Already a proven star but he had so much potential and it’s gutting that we will never see what he may have fulfilled on the racecourse.
Devastating. A horrid reminder of how tough this sport can be after yesterday’s elation with Frodon and Paisley Park.
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Finally had some time to completely unpick all of the races at the Cheltenham Festival.
Here’s my thoughts on the Grade 1 races and how I’m now thinking for the rest of this season and next.
A short race-by-race thread🧵🏇
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What a sad day for the horseracing world - we’ve lost two fantastic racehorses today. 🏇🏼🏇🏼
Roaring Lion - the incredibly brave four-time Group 1 winner in 2018.
Espoir d’Allen - the outstanding 2019 Champion Hurdle winner.
RIP to these two wonderful animals!
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Oh my word, have a look at this! What a race at Haydock, extraordinary! 👀🏇🏼🏇🏼
Jockey Jack Tudor was told by his trainer before the race “don’t get to the front too soon” - he certainly didn’t! Unbelievable. 😂
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🏘️ A Cheltenham Festival fan village is coming in 2023.
It is made up of temporary units and will sleep around 300 racegoers from as cheap as £95 per person per night. There's ambitions to take it to Aintree and Epsom too.
Read more
@RacingPost
👉
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I think this is my favourite picture of the day. 😂😂😂
Incredible picture
@sportsphotoAOSP
! Sorry
@GaryLineker
... the Amber Army are a happy bunch tonight. 🔸️◾🔸️◾
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🏇🏼| To those unfairly slating Ruby Walsh:
1) Why want to lose a Grade 1 at Cheltenham?
2) And for his regular trainer/owner?
3) If he wanted to lose it, why wait till the last hurdle?
It’s frustrating, but remember it is most important that the horse/jockey are unscathed. 👍🏼
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A must watch! 📽📽
🏆 This is what it feels to saddle your first classic winner. 👏👏
Take a look at
@Godolphin
trainer Charlie Appleby cheering on Masar to
#EpsomDerby
glory! So much passion!
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🏆Oaks (2017)
🏆Irish Oaks (2017)
🏆King George (2017)
🏆Yorkshire Oaks (2017)
🏆Arc (2017)
🏆Arc (2018)
🏆Breeders' Cup Turf (2018)
🏆Eclipse (2019)
🏆King George (2019)
🏆Yorkshire Oaks (2019)
🏇 Enable, you owe us nothing. Once a legend, always a legend!
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📹| This is a must watch for horseracing fans. 😂😂😂
Absolutely fantastic impressions of racing’s famous names by
@ConorSketches
. Cracking content by
@pphorseracing
once again.
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🏇 What A Race! You have to watch this - it is simply unbelievable. 📽
This is the sort of stuff that makes horseracing so brilliant. An extraordinary win for Skipthescales at Newcastle. Well done
@PhilKirbyRacing
. 👏🏼👏🏼
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Cheltenham on Saturday should be pretty sensational:
🥊 12.40: Delta Work vs Minella Times
🥊 1.20: Energumene vs Edwardstone
🥊 2.25: Noble Yeats vs Protektorat
👑 3.00: Paisley Park goes for a 4th Cleeve Hurdle
That's just the start - many more big names and top races too.
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Unbelievable result in the
#KentuckyDerby
as Maximum Security loses the race in the stewards room.
The reason being he caused interference in the turn, Country House the winner.
My opinion, absolutely ridiculous decision from the stewards!
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Frankel's final win is the best moment I have, and may ever, see on a racecourse. Nothing made me pursue a career in racing more. 🏇
Six years ago I made it a goal to be reporting from
#ChampionsDay
- and delighted to make that happen on Saturday. 🏆👍🏼
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Incredibly sad news - Thyme Hill died on the gallops this morning.
He was an outstanding horse, a three-time Grade 1 winner and Philip Hobbs has called him "one of the best".
@RacingPost
|
@PJHobbs1
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This is sporting history! 🏇🏼
One of the all-time greats! Tiger Roll wins back-to-back
#GrandNationals
.
This is one of the greatest moments in racing. Enjoy it, this is a very very magical day. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
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Finishes his career in the finest way possible!
Farewell Ruby Walsh, a legend of our sport and we will miss seeing your heroics on the racecourse.
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Next week’s racing is going to be incredible:
🇮🇪Punchestown Champion Chase (Tue)
🇮🇪P’town Gold Cup (Wed)
🇮🇪Champion Stayers Hurdle (Thu)
🇮🇪P’town Champion Hurdle (Fri)
🇬🇧2000 Guineas (Sat)
🇺🇸Kentucky Derby (Sat)
🇬🇧1000 Guineas (Sun)
14 British & Irish Group 1s - Bring it on! 🏇🏼
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Some personal news!
As of today, I am the
@RacingPost
’s West Country correspondent. Thrilled by this and it’s real privilege to report on the region’s incredible horses, courses, people and more.
Wishing everyone the best for 2023. 👍
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The incredible story of Tiger Roll:
💰Sold by Godolphin for 10k
🇮🇪 Called a ‘little rat’ by trainer Gordon Elliott after purchase by Gigginstown.
🏆 Wins 4 times at the Cheltenham Festival.
🏇🏼 Now a history-making dual
#GrandNational
winner.
A horseracing legend. 🏇🏼👏🏼👏🏼
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It is official: Paul Nicholls did in fact break the prize-money record for a single season in GB.
He finishes the season with a total of £3,646,585 - just £74 more than the record set in the 2007-08 season.
An extraordinary achievement
@PFNicholls
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The biggest cheer goes to the newly-weds the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Meghan and Harry as they arrive for
#RoyalAscot
.
Royal precession ✅ Now onto then first race of the day, the Queen Anne! 🎩🏆
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Happy retirement to the incredible Crystal Ocean - such a shame we won’t see him on the racecourse again. 🏇🏼🏇🏼
What a superb warrior he was - he gave Enable some battle in this unforgettable King George thriller. What a legend!
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Have a look at this - one of the most unbelievable races you will see! 👀
Kermouster slowest away from stall 6, as high as 999-1 in running but he wins! 🏇🏼💨💨💨
I spoke to the winning jockey and trainer, see their thoughts 👉🏼
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2019 will always be remembered as the year of the TIGER! 🐯🐯🐯
Tiger Roll makes history to land back-to-back Grand Nationals and now Tiger Woods has completed a miraculous comeback to land the Masters.
Two incredible stories, sport at its finest!
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Absolutely devastating to say R.I.P to Justin Edinburgh aged just 49. My condolences go to all his family and friends.
Justin masterminded our promotion winning season, capped off with a win at Wembley.
Justin you will always be a Newport County legend! 🔶◾️🔶◾️
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I don’t know what to say about this! 😂😂😂
@tommoracing
has a race at Cheltenham named in honour of his classic phrase. Incredible! 🏇🏼
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💬 “After Sceptical I thought I’d struggle to ever find a Group horse again.”
Worth a watch this - a delighted
@joeysheridan8
reacts after a fairytale first Group 1 winner on Princess Zoe in the Cadran at Longchamp. 🏇🏇🏇
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It’s been sad to see so much negativity about horseracing, so here is something to show how special our sport is.
Byrony Frost, a role model in jumps racing, after winning at Cheltenham on her adored companion Frodon.
Heartwarming and inspirational. 🏇🏼
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University ✅
🏇 The Racing Post comment would say: "Slowly away, blundered first fence, held-up in rear, effort just over 4 out, stayed on, just prevailed." 😂😂
3 great years, made some cracking mates and every bit excited about a racing media career as when I started! 👍🏼👍🏼
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There is absolutely absolutely no doubt the star of this season is Oisin Murphy.
An outstanding ride on Roaring Lion. Simply incredible pair arent they. 🦁🦁🦁
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Paul Nicholls has trained plenty of fantastic horses but Black Corton has to be one of his most legendary! 🏇🏼
A nine-time winner over fences - including a Grade 1 and 2x G2s - and today he has run a storming second off top-weight in the Galway Plate! What a horse! 👏🏼
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As we go into Christmas it is important we remember all our stable staff who must work over the Festive period.
Looking after horses is a 24/7 job and credit to every single person. Without our stable staff, racing wouldn't be as brilliant as it is. Cheers to you! 🍾
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Richard Johnson OBE - sounds good doesn't it!🏆
The Queen must have loved this Gold Cup ride as much as I did - Dickie is handed an OBE in this her New Year's honours list. 👑
Go on, watch Native River again, it is still such a breathtaking race !🏇🏇🏇
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An extraordinary send-off for an extraordinary man.
The village of Ditcheat turned Bristol Rovers blue to commemorate Keagan Kirkby - a popular, dedicated and much-loved rider and member of the Paul Nicholls team.
@RacingPost
|
@PFNicholls
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Absolutely incredible! The superstar Faugheen wins at age 11 on his chasing debut. 🏇🏼🏇🏼
What a star, nothing beats seeing the older horses continue to shine - that’s why we love the jumps! 👏👏
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Faugheen up and well - no matter what happens today, seeing this legend walk back is the best result of the day! 🏇🏇🏇
#FaugheenTheMachine
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A true champion 🏆
Buveur D’Air falls at Cheltenham, beaten at Aintree but back to his best in Ireland.
An extraordinary training effort from the Nicky Henderson team. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
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Absolutely extraordinary footage this! 👀🏇🏿
The view of jockey
@AidanColeman
on
@JockeyCam
, riding on the Grand National course.
He’s unseated from his horse then waits in the fence until it is safe to climb back out! Luckily horse and rider were ok.
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For all those who criticised James Doyle as a jockey for his ride on Sea Of Class, just watch his win in the Balmoral yesterday.
Patient, powerful and perfect. Quality stuff.👏🏼👏🏼
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An incredible moment!!! 🏇🏼🏇🏼
The legendary Faugheen is still winning at the top level at the grand age of 12. How brilliant was that to watch.👏👏
Listen to the roar of the crowd, you know that was special.🏇🏼🇮🇪
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Delighted to share some news:
I've been selected for the BHA's Graduate Scheme, meaning I will be working at the
@RacingPost
this summer. Writing for the RP has always been an ambition, and I'm excited to start.
I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me in my career! 👍
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To go and win six races in a row in 111 days is mightily impressive.
Then for four of those to be at G1 level, and three to make a Triple Crown victory is simply staggering!
Justify, what an incredible horse with a phenomenal story! 👑👑👑
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💬 "Buveur D'Air won poor Champion Hurdles."
💬 "He hasn't beaten much!"
He has silenced his critics today! 🏇⭐
Buveur D'Air is a top-class hurdler and he deserves all the credit he gets today. Well done everyone involved! 👏🏼👏🏼
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Regal Encore has been retired at the age of 15.
He was an absolute yard legend, particularly at Ascot where he ran 18 times & either won or placed on 10 visits.
Regal Encore will spend his retirement at Honeyball's stable.
He raced at a high level for 11 years - incredible!
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It is worth watching this over and over again - it will go down as one of the greatest races in history! 🏇🏼🏇🏼
Two outstanding horses battling it out but the champion Enable wins it. Simply phenomenal! 👏🏼👏🏼
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❌ The Cheltenham Festival Fan Village idea has been scrapped due to a “lack of interest.”
▪️Accommodation was priced at £350 per night (for 2024).
▪️It offered temporary units on a rugby pitch
▪️Just 16 bookings (from 300) were made last year
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Almost 135,000 people usually come through Cheltenham Spa train station across the four days of the
#CheltenhamFestival
.
It is completely empty this morning...
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Forget the critics just enjoy a moment of pure sporting brilliance. 👏🏼
A record-breaking fourth Cox Plate, a 29th successive win - today belongs to a true Champion. Congratulations Winx! 🏆🏆🏆🏆
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13/611111/111111/111-11111
19 consecutive wins, unbeaten over obstacles and a true champion. Altior, one of the very best horses in history. 🏇🏼
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Totally devastating news coming through this morning that
@PFNicholls
star Denman has sadly passed away.
A legend of a horse, we will never forget his incredible top-weight Hennessy win among many great memories!
What a day in the 2008 Gold Cup! 🏆
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💬 "The superb, the spectacular Frankel!"
🗓 Six years to the day since Frankel's phenomenal 11 length Queen Anne victory at
#RoyalAscot
. It's still every bit as breathtaking, even now! 🏇💨💨
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📽| R.I.P Richard Woollacott
This is a fine example of what a terrific trainer you were, and how you will be missed!
You bought the very best out of Beer Goggles, and we won't forget you or this stunning training performance.
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What was racing’s best moment of 2023?
For me - Honeysuckle’s Cheltenham Festival win. It had everything: the story, a huge roar and an incredible post-race reception. Special moment.
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Ryan Moore gets heaps of criticism when he's beaten but you cannot fault his work ethic.
Races in America at 10.50pm (UK time) and wins the first race of the day in Ireland- simply incredible! 👏🏼
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🕐 2:10 🇬🇧 - Ryan Moore wins the G1 July Cup on US Navy Flag.
🕖 7:00 🇫🇷 - Ryan Moore wins the G1 Grand Prix de Paris on Kew Gardens as seen below.
Unbelievably talented jockey! 👏👏
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Oh my word! Take a look at this. An absolutely unbelievable race. 👀🏇🏼🏇🏼
Luckily I was on Dutch Decoy! A phenomenal effort and an excellent ride from Paul Hanagan! Brilliant! 😂
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So I'm 21 today. 🍻 So as I'm now 'officially' an adult, I thought I'd pass on four bits of wisdom:
🔴 Take every opportunity in life you can
🔴 Work hard but know how to switch off
🔴 Bet what you can afford to lose, don't chase your losses
🔴 Back Sea Of Class to win the Arc
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Happy retirement Richard Johnson! One of the finest jockeys in history.
His ride on Native River in the 2018 Gold Cup was Johnson at his very, very best.
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Champion trainer Nicky Henderson on the Grand National after Saturday's protest:
"You can't say my horse [Mister Coffey] didn't like it, he loved every stride of it. It's sad because it's the people's race & it's Liverpool's race.
"Racing has held its head high, so it should."
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THE QUEEN! 👑👑
Enable makes history - first horse to win an Arc and at the
#BreedersCup
! 🏇🏆
A truly special special horse - a tough but classy win. One for the memories. Outstanding! Well done all involved. 👏🏼👏🏼
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Happy 10th birthday to one of the best racehorses of all time - the phenomenal Frankel.
Even to this day, watching his demolition job of the Queen Anne Stakes is simply unbelievable!
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It wasn’t to be for Kitty’s Light but what an absolutely brilliant run in fifth.
First of the British-trained home and the pride of 🏴 and
@CWilliamsRacing
.
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Bizarre thing to see on a racecourse - a white flare has been let off after Constitution Hill’s win in the Champion Hurdle.
Exceptional performance and feels like a very special moment in Cheltenham Festival history.
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Interesting difference - the price of a pint of Guinness at Cheltenham Racecourse’s sporting events:
🔴 £6.00 - World Grand Prix Snooker (this week)
🏇 £7.50 - All racedays this season
No racecourse in 🇬🇧 or 🇮🇪 charge more for a pint than Cheltenham - cheapest beer costs £7.40.
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One of the most outstanding performances you may ever see! 👏
Enjoy this all over again, Denman carrying a huge 11st 12lb to win the Hennessy Gold Cup at
@NewburyRacing
- becoming the first dual winner since Arkle in 1965. 🏆🏆
Watch and enjoy! 🏇💨💨💨
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Shishkin’s death is such devastating news.
His story had everything: the brilliance, the comeback, the unexpected and that absolute epic in the Clarence House.
A modern jumps favourite and will be massively missed.
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Winx, a record-breaker and one of the most special horses in history. 🌟
This morning she's won her 26th consecutive Group 1 win - what a brilliant horse she is and great to see all of Australia behind her and her story. 🏆🇦🇺
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What an absolute legend Un De Sceaux is! 👏🏼👏🏼
Wins the Punchestown Champion Chase again. Aged 11 but still a top-class performer, these are the stories we love to see! 🏇🏼
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🏆 28 races
🔎 10 big field handicaps
🥇 14 Grade 1 races
💷 Just 2 odds-on favourites 😍
🏇🏼 4 days of fantastic racing
The
#CheltenhamFestival
- the ultimate punting heaven, and looking one of the best line-ups in years!
Just 5 days to go now... Bring It On! 🏇🏼
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Cheltenham,
Thanks for giving us all four days complete escapism from racing’s problems and all the other issues in the world. 🏇🏼
We’ve had incredible moments and some sad ones too. Four great days of racing, and a few of the best moments pictured below. 🏆
Until next year. 👍🏼
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Brilliant news to start the week! Byrony Frost has recovered from her injury and is back riding at
@NewtonAbbotRace
. 🏇
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What a day for horseracing. The phenomenal mare Winx has finished her career with another vintage performance. 🇦🇺🏇🏼
33 consecutive wins, 1,463 days without a defeat. Staggering statistics, without question one of the greatest racehorses of all time.
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📰 Absolutely delighted to have a first front page story in the
@RacingPost
. 😁
🗞️Take a look at tommorow's/Friday's edition for an update on Britain's Melbourne Cup hope Magic Circle, who'll now be ridden by talented Aussie rider
@Coreyjockey
. 🇦🇺🏆
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It’d be a huge shame if the
#CheltenhamFestival
moved to 5 days.
Cheltenham’s greatest asset is the incredible races between the very best horses- an additional 6 races means those horses might avoid each other.
Cheltenham’s the best 4 days of the year, let’s keep it that way.
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Exciting news! 𝐓𝐡𝐲𝐦𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥 will go novice chasing this season.
He has schooled pretty well over fences so could in for a big season and expect him to be out soon as Hobbs has named some potential early targets in October.
Read more
@RacingPost
👉
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Order Of St George has been retired, and what a career he had.👏🏼👏🏼
A three-time Group 1 winner, and twice a dazzling Irish St Leger champion. 🏆🏆
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✅ Flooring Porter vs Iroko
Two Festival winners could clash at Cheltenham on Saturday, with both entered for the 3m½f novice chase.
Aintree Grade 1 winner Apple Away also in there.
3m½f novice chase - full entries
4.10 Cheltenham Saturday
Apple Away
Broadway Boy
Flooring…
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A good concept at Cheltenham's music race night.
It's £15 for a ticket and then another optional £15 to buy a wristband to watch the live DJ set.
Usually, prices are higher to cover both but not all racegoers will be interested in the music. I'm a fan of giving them the option
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It is madness to hear criticism of James Doyle's ride on Sea Of Class. It wasa brilliant weaving effort and so so close. 🏇
For all those doubting him as a world-class jockey - then enjoy this surreal King George win on Poet's Word. Outstanding! 👏🏼
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Wow! What an absolutely unbelievable race at Leopardstown. Just how did Roaring Bull do that! 👀
Watch this, and make sure you enjoy that animated commentary! Cracking stuff. 🏇🏼🏇🏼👏👏👏
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An absolute masterclass from both horse and jockey.
Richard Johnson and La Bague Au Roi what a performance! 👏🏼👏🏼
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Happy retirement to the great
@Franmberry
!
This is my ‘Fran favourite’ on board Thundering Blue in last season’s York Stakes. The pair just never gave up, kept battling and got the reward! 🏆
Racing will miss great Fran Berry rides like this!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
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How things can change in a year!😂
April 2018 - Al Boum Photo causes carnage when crashing through the rails at Punchestown.
March 2019 - Al Boum Photo wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup!
Outstanding performance - the wait is over for Mullins. Well done if you backed him too. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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Cheltenham looking fantastic this morning ahead of day one of the November meeting!
Dry overnight and sunny now, no rain forecast until early Saturday morning.
Outstanding racing today. Easysland vs Tiger Roll at 3.00 looks a cracker. Good luck if you’re punting. 🏇🏇🏇
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📺| You must watch this! It is simply incredible.
Remarkable stuff in the point-to-point scene over in Ireland 😱. Outstanding! 🏇🏇
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Watch this and tell me this isn't thrilling! A fantastic race. 🏇
An outstanding comeback story for Enable to win the
#Arc
again following an injury-plagued season - utterly utterly brilliant. Sport at its very best! 🏆
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Also heading to the Betfair Chase on Saturday is Thistlecrack. 🔸️◾
Joe Tizzard is very happy with him and excited to see him back in action.
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Breaking: Paul Nicholls has announced the retirement of Cyrname.
A top-class horse on his day, most famously ending Altior's unbeaten run at Ascot. He's going to a good home where he'll be retrained.
Read more
@RacingPost
👉
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Tonight at Wolverhampton racecourse you will see these silks - being worn to show solidarity with Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
Look out for Turn Of Phrase in the 7.30, trained by John Berry and the man behind the colour change.
Read more 👉
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If ever people say horse racing is boring, dull, predictable or it lacks excitement - then show them this!
What an absolute thrilling end to the Gold Cup! A gruelling battle, and a fantastic winner. Well done
@FrankieDettori
and Stradvarius. 👏
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Happy retirement to Aidan Coleman.
What a moment this was with Paisley Park at the Cheltenham Festival
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