Betfair Official Blog

8 October 2008

1.15pm Lorna Bradburne is at the helm today with Timeform's David Cleary providing in-depth analysis on the day's racing.

5.30pm Alan Dudman and Simon Rowlands take you through the evening's racing at Kempton Park.

Exeter

Type: Jump

First Race Time: 2.20pm

Notable Jockeys: Sam Thomas - 2008 Gold Cup winning rider with Denman
A.P McCoy - Champion jockey Richard Johnson rode over 100 winners last season & 2nd in championship race. Joe Tizzard returns to race riding after an accident on the family farm involving a bailing machine from which he was reported to be lucky to escape with his life. He'll be hoping for an easier harvest riding Wasntme for his father Colin in the 3.20pm race.

Notable Horses: Cobreces has won three races when ridden by Jamie Snowdon who now attempts to train him to win in the 3.50pm. Gone To Lunch (3.20pm) was third in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle and second in a Grade 1 at Aintree last season - he is an exciting chase prospect and makes his debut over the larger obstacles today.

Winged d'Argent (5.20pm) was a smart handicapper on the Flat, and even ran against the great stayer Yeats in the Group 1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. He runs in the colours of Terry Warner who has had Cheltenham Festival winners with Detroit City and Rooster Booster.

Feature Race: South West Racing Club Handicap Chase 3.50pm

Admission: Haldon Premier Badge: £18, Grandstand & Paddock Badge: £13, Children under 16 (must be accompanied by an adult): Free, Parking: Free

Other Information: Racing returns to Exeter for the start of its jumps season.


Nottingham

Type: Flat

First Race Time: 1.40pm

Notable Jockeys: Hayley Turner returns to ride at one of her local tracks - she was brought up near Southwell, another racecourse, in Nottinghamshire. Leading riders Ryan Moore, Michael Hills, Philip Robinson.

Notable Horses: Alanbrooke in the 2.40pm comes from a fantastic family. He is a half brother to Alborada, which won the Group 1 Champion Stakes twice and Albanova, which won 3 Group 1 races in Germany. Albinus is another half brother, not so illustrious on the Flat, but he did win over fences at Huntingdon on Sunday! Although Alanbrooke does not run in the colours of Albanova or Alborada, the owner has sportingly kept up the family tradition of having Al- at the front of the name.

Sir Michael Stoute won both renewals of the 3.10pm race last year with top class horses Patkai (Royal Ascot winner) and Tajaaweed (Derby contender) - it might be worth noting his Dubai Echo in tomorrow's renewal.

King Olav represents the red-hot team of Michael Jarvis and Philip Robinson in the 3.40pm.

Top Jaro in the 5.10pm race attempts a hat-trick of wins

Feature Race: Best Racecourses On TurfTV Handicap 3.40pm

Admission: Premier Enclosure: £16, Grandstand: £10, Under 16s: Free, Discounted admission is available on the day for all NUS cardholders


Towcester

Type: Jump

First Race Time: 2.30pm

Notable Jockeys: Barry Geraghty takes his first ride for Nicky Henderson since being appointed stable jockey, following the retirement of Mick Fitzgerald. It is the start of a new era for the stable. Tom Scudamore rides for his brother Michael. Robert 'Choc' Thornton is one of only 4 jockeys to win over 100 races last season including the Champion hurdle Tom O'Brien - 7th in the jockeys championship and nephew of the all-conquering Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Notable Horses: Mucho Loco which translates from Spanish to Much Crazy cannot be too crazy as he goes for a hat-trick in the 4pm. Theatrical Moment was one of the best bumper horses of 2007, winning all four starts - he looks to break his duck over hurdles in the 3.00pm race.

Berkeley Castle in the 3pm race is an interesting runner. It carries the colours of Paul Makin, a big owner in Australia and better known over here for Flat horses, including Starcraft which won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes trained by Luca Cumani. This is his first jumps runner over here.

Feature Race: Jewson Novices' Hurdle (Series Qualifier) 3.00pm

Admission: Free


Kempton Park

Type: All Weather Flat

First Race Time: 5.50pm

Notable Jockeys: Liam Jones - the rider from Liverpool is having his best season in the saddle. The increasingly popular young apprentice of the moment, David Probert. Top 10 rider, Neil Callan. Leading lady rider, Hayley Turner makes the trip down from Nottingham.

Leading Riders: Darryll Holland, Neil Callan, Richard Hughes and Martin Dwyer.

Notable Horses: Desert Falls in 8.20pm goes for a hat-trick of wins on the all-weather

Feature Race: TFM Networks Handicap 8.50pm

Admission: £16, Children: Free.

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