Home Blog Page 209

Sky Super Rugby Aupiki update

• Round Robin games to be delayed starting on 10 March, competition moving to straight round robin format
• Covid-19 cases/isolation in Blues camp force withdrawal from this weekend’s match
• Chiefs Manawa, Hurricanes Poua and Matatū to play game of three halves on Saturday 5 March
New Zealand Rugby has made the decision to delay the start of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki to ensure squads are not compromised by COVID-19 withdrawals.

All squads are currently impacted with players in isolation, this prevents the Blues from taking the field this weekend, while Chiefs Manawa, Hurricanes Poua and Matatū will now play a game of three halves this Saturday.

The revised format will see the round robin fixtures played across the three match-days currently scheduled, Thursday 10 March, Tuesday 15 March and Sunday 20 March, with a winner crowned based on competition points.

NZR General Manager Professional Rugby & Performance Chris Lendrum said with the evolving COVID-19 landscape this move is best for the competition.

“Clubs are currently managing and mitigating the exposure to COVID-19 in their teams and will relocate to their Taupō bubbles this week as planned.

“Our hope is that by delaying the start of the competition for an extra few days we’ll see players able to return into the environment after recovering from COVID-19, and Sky Super Rugby Aupiki will play out in the bubble.

“This delay and tweak to format gives us the best opportunity to see our teams and players compete in what is a crucial competition for women’s rugby in New Zealand,” said Lendrum.

A Blues spokesperson said they are thankful for the delay to the start of the competition.

“This should allow most of our players to be available for next week’s first round of games, the nib Blues players and staff who are unaffected will travel to Taupo and go into their bubble to await the arrival of other players after they are cleared.”

Sky Super Rugby Aupiki match days
Saturday 5 March – Owen Delany Park, Taupō
Game of three halves – Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua v Matatū
Thursday 10 March – FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Tuesday 15 March – FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Sunday 20 March – FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

Draw and kick off times will be announced in due course.

Grand National ranks as favourite UK horse racing festival

Research undertaken by 888Sport, has been asking the UK public to vote for their most loved horse racing event, identifying The Grand National as the Nation’s Favourite Festival. With 32.7% of the vote, it is the iconic Grand National that pips the others to the post.

Second in the list was the next big horse racing festival in the calendar for fans to get excited about, Cheltenham Festival. Voted the nation’s second favourite festival, with 17.2% of the vote, and the favourite festival for those aged between 18-24 (25%), Cheltenham 2022 runs from 15th – 18th March.

888Sport’s survey also asked the public for their favourite racehorse of all time, with champion Thoroughbred steeplechaser, and 3-time winner of the Grand National, Red Rum winning at a canter, with a whopping 42.5% of the vote. Red Rum beat Arkle (10%), Frankle (8.2%), and Kauto Star (7.6%) to the crown.

Frankie Dettori topped the list for the nation’s favourite jockey (32.1%), with Sir Tony McCoy (16.6%) and Lester Pigott (16.2%) making up the top three.

An 888Sport spokesperson commented: “It is interesting to see the stats come through, with The Grand National topping the list as the Nation’s Favourite Festival. However, Cheltenham Festival’s popularity among younger adults is interesting to see and could potentially lead to a swing in these results in years to come.”

The survey was completed by 888 Sport as part of the Nation’s Favourite Festival campaign. To discover the findings for yourself, visit the 888 Sport website.

Why The Irish Have Dominated the Last Decade of the Cheltenham Festival

There is little doubt about the fact that the Cheltenham Festival is dominated by Irish racehorse trainers and jockeys these days. In fact, it has been almost a decade since the last time an English trainer managed to win the title of Lead Trainer at Cheltenham. To provide a better idea about why the Cheltenham Festival has become the domain of the Irish for the last decade, an introduction to some key facts is necessary.

The Most Successful Cheltenham Jockey of All Time is Irish: Ruby Walsh (59 Wins)

Ruby Walsh’s multiple records at the Cheltenham Festival are so good that they are borderline ridiculous in comparison to everyone else. For example, Walsh won the title of Top Jockey 11 times in a row at the Cheltenham Festival, while English jockey Peter Scudamore (3x winner) is the only other jockey ever to win 3 or more Top Jockey awards during the festival.

Other than that, Ruby Walsh is also the only Cheltenham Jockey to win 7 races in a single edition (2009). Later, Walsh proved the point that he is his own competition by winning Top Jockey at the Cheltenham once again with 7 wins in 2016. In fact, the authorities have actually renamed the Top Jockey award in his name, as it is now called the Ruby Walsh Trophy.

The Only Female Jockey to Ever Win Top Jockey at the Cheltenham Festival is Irish: Rachael Blackmore

Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore won the title of Top jockey in 2021 by winning 6 races at the Cheltenham Festival. She immediately became:

  • The first female jockey in the history of Cheltenham Festival to win Top Jockey.
  • The only jockey other than Ruby Walsh to ever win 6 races in one year.
  • The first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle.

It should be noted that she went on to win the Grand National last year as well. She is a solid contender for winning this year as well, but fellow Irish jockey Paul Townsend is favourite for all bookmakers at the Cheltenham this year to win the highest number of races.

The Most Successful Cheltenham Trainer in the Last Decade is Irish: Willie Mullins

Between 2011 and 2021, Irish trainer Willie Mullins has managed to win the title of Lead Trainer at the Cheltenham Festival 8 out of 11 times. Mullins was given a break by British trainer Nicky Henderson in 2012, and Gordon Elliott dominated the Cheltenham races for two consecutive years in 2017 & 2018.

Since Gordon Elliott is Irish as well, it will be a complete decade of Irish domination at Cheltenham if Mullins or any other Irish trainer manages to take the lead in 2022 as well. Indeed, it is almost an assured fact, given that a majority of favourite racehorses at the Cheltenham Festival 2022 are Irish-trained.

Will the Irish Win this Year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup?

With a prize purse of £625,000 in 2022, the Cheltenham Gold Cup will kick off at 3:30 pm (GMT) on 18th March, Friday, and is it a big surprise that there is a high chance that the Irish might win this year as well? Don’t go with hearsay and past stats if you are staking your money on the race though. Go through these Gold Cup betting tips to know which horse is in what form, as well as some neat tricks to break even.

Nevertheless, the odds of the Irish jockeys, horses, and trainers winning this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup are pretty good. The most likely horses to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup are A Plus Tard (3/1), Galvin (7/2), and Minella Indo (5/1). Check the breakdown below to know why the Irish are likely to dominate this year as well.

  • Minella Indo is an Irish racehorse, trained by Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead, who will be ridden by Irish jockey Jack Kennedy.
  • A Plus Tard is a French racehorse, trained by Irish trainer Bromhead, ridden by Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore.
  • Galvin is an Irish thoroughbred, trained by Irish trainer Elliott, ridden by Irish jockey Davy Russell.

The main reason why there is a strong presence of Irish trainers, jockeys, and racehorses throughout the National Hunt is that they have been part of the British jump racing sport for almost as long as the sport has been in existence. More importantly, though, there is a greater interest in flat races these days in England, while Ireland’s focus is still on jump races.

Hockey Ireland senior women’s panel ahead of July’s World Cup

Hockey Ireland

Hockey Ireland senior women’s coach Sean Dancer has named a training panel of 25 players ahead of a busy 2022 which includes July’s World Cup in the Netherlands and August’s EuroHockey Championship qualifiers in Dublin.

This latest squad announcement was confirmed in the week the World Cup schedule and ticket details went on sale. Ireland will open their campaign against the world number one Dutch side in Amsterdam’s Wagener Stadium on Saturday, July 2nd before facing Chile on Tuesday, July 5th and Germany on Wednesday, July 6th. Irish fans are encouraged to buy their tickets in the South Stand (High – Section F) to form a strong supporter’s block.

As for the Irish panel, it will feature 13 Olympians and 17 players who helped Ireland qualify for the World Cup last October in Pisa with Katie Mullan continuing her role as captain of the Green Army.

At the other end of the spectrum, uncapped players Holly Micklem, Caoimhe Perdue, Charlotte Beggs, Síofra O’Brien, Ellie McLoughlin, Katherine Egan and Katie-Jane Marshall all have their chance to shine in the coming months.

This selection follows a highly productive training camp in Antibes where Ireland won 3-0 and 4-0 against the French hosts in uncapped fixtures which gave coach Dancer plenty of food for thought.

“Our recent trip to France provided an excellent opportunity to see how our wider squad performed,” he said of this latest selection. “Some stand-out performances from Charlotte, Caoimhe, Holly and Síofra has allowed them to gain inclusion into the national group for our next period of training and competition.

“This is a really exciting year ahead with lots of different challenges. The talent coming through is really strong and the program we have in place with the support of Sport Ireland and Sport NI, along with our sponsors SoftCo, Park Developments and Saba, puts us in a great place to flourish.”

The squad also includes Barr twins Bethany and Serena who are both on the recovery trail having both sustained ACL knee injuries in 2021. Their return to full involvement will be monitored over the coming months.

This selection round, unfortunately, has come too soon for Zoe Wilson who continues to work her way back from a knee injury. Chloe Watkins and Anna O’Flanagan are also unavailable for the summer’s activities.

From this panel of 25, a squad will next be selected for a series at Lilleshall against Great Britain which runs from Sunday, March 13 to Friday, March 18. A further camp will be held in the Netherlands from Sunday, March 27 to Friday, April 1.

Ireland’s World Cup opposition were confirmed last Thursday with the Green Army set to face the world number one side the Netherlands, Germany and Chile in Amsterdam.

Reflecting on that line-up, Dancer added: “Holland and Germany are two of the strongest teams in world hockey, what a great chance to test ourselves at a major event! Chile performed well at the recent Pan Am’s and deserved their place. They will have nothing to lose, and we will certainly not be taking them lightly.”

Ireland senior women’s panel for spring/summer 2022 (club/caps)
Ayeisha McFerran (GK, SV Kampong, 113)
Róisín Upton (Catholic Institute, 89)
Lena Tice (Old Alex, 122)
Katie Mullan (Captain, Ballymoney, 206)
Sarah Hawkshaw (Railway Union, 46)
Deirdre Duke (Old Alex, 154)
Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute, 121)
Elizabeth Murphy (GK, Loreto, 13)
Hannah McLoughlin (UCD, 26)
Sarah McAuley (UCD, 9)
Michelle Carey (UCD, 10)
Sarah Torrans (Loreto, 33)
Zara Malseed (Ards, 7)
Holly Micklem (GK, Old Alex, 0)
Caoimhe Perdue (UCC, 0)
Charlotte Beggs (Ulster Elks, 0)
Síofra O’Brien (Loreto, 0)
Ellie McLoughlin (GK, UCD, 0)
Erin Getty (Queen’s, 11)
Jane Kilpatrick (Belfast Harlequins, 1)
Katherine Egan (UCD, 0)
Beth Barr (Belfast Harlequins, 20)
Serena Barr (Belfast Harlequins, 10)
Katie-Jane Marshall (UCD, 0)
Niamh Carey (UCD, 3)

Women’s World Cup schedule (July 1-17, Amsterdam, Netherlands & Terrassa, Spain – all times Irish)
Saturday, July 2: Ireland v Netherlands, Wagener Stadium, 6.30pm
Tuesday, July 5: Ireland v Chile, Wagener Stadium, 1pm
Wednesday, July 6: Ireland v Germany, Wagener Stadium, 3.30pm
Saturday, July 9-17: playoffs/classification matches – to be confirmed

Your Guide to the Cheltenham Festival 2022

Winter could still have a further sting in its tail, but nothing signals spring quite like the Cheltenham festival.

A combination of late wintry conditions and broader global events have caused disruption to a greater or lesser degree in recent years, so there’s a sense of quiet optimism that we are due a classic festival without interruptions in 2022 – indeed, tickets for the Gold Cup sold out before the end of January! 

Four days and 28 races

The Festival gets underway at 1:30PM on Tuesday 15 March with the traditional opener, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race. It’s often chaotic due to the large number of runners and the “Cheltenham roar” from the spectators, which will probably hit record volume this year. That’s the first of 28 races, and the festival closes on Friday with the Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, which gets underway at 5:30PM.

Of course, the major focus will be on each day’s showcase race: The Champion Hurdle on Monday, The Queen Mother Chase on Tuesday, The Stayers Hurdle on Thursday and of course the Gold Cup on Friday. All the bookmakers are limbering up for the big event and OnTheBallBets have a list of betting offers that are well worth a look.  

Putting the controversy behind it

Back in 2020, the Cheltenham Festival was one of the last major sporting events to take place before the world shut down. It was a controversial decision at the time, and it was followed up last year by a highly muted festival with barely anyone in attendance.

This year, the track will be open at full capacity, with up to 65,000 spectators expected each day. As we mentioned, tickets for the Gold Cup have already sold out, and other tickets are selling fast. Precautions will be unobtrusively in place. Spectators will be asked to demonstrate they are fully vaccinated, exempt or have submitted a negative test in the last 48 hours. Masks will be available at the gate and recommended in enclosed or crowded areas, but will not be mandatory.  

Cheltenham traditions

The Cheltenham Roar will be a welcome sound this year. It’s not the only Cheltenham festival that was conspicuous by its absence in 2021. Tuesday will be Ladies Day and on Thursday, the St Patrick’s Day celebrations will quite possibly drown out the racing. After the past couple of years, we all deserve it.

 

What makes the Six Nations so special?

This year sees the 22nd Six Nations taking place. It was back in 2000 that Italy joined the tournament and saw the Five Nations coming to an end. We now see England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy battling it out to take the title and to lift the trophy.

 

There is no denying that the Six Nations brings some huge crowds and a sense of excitement that can’t be matched by any other sporting event. What is it that makes this tournament so popular and special? What is it about the Six Nations that leads to a love affair for fans and players alike? Let’s take look.

 

Anyone can win

 

Something that makes the Six Nations so exciting is the fact that no one knows who is going to win. With the likes of the football World Cup, there are always clear favourites. If the clear favourites don’t win then it is seen as a huge upset. The Rugby Six Nations is wide open with each team having a real chance of victory.

 

Welsh legend, Shane Williams, spoke with Betway Insider and gave his take on how it really is anyone’s game: “It’s a fast and furious tournament and you know any team could win it. There’s never an out-and-out favourite.”. Given the success of Williams in the Six Nations, he is more than qualified to comment.

 

Fierce rivalry 

 

The fact that anyone can win means that everyone wants to. This competition brings together some of the very best players in the world and it also brings together countries that have a history of rivalry. Rivalry can be found in any sporting event, but nothing really compares with what is seen here.

 

With the likes of England going head to head with Scotland, Wales, and France there are always old scores to be settled. There are few sporting events where the teams are so determined to see this done and to emerge victorious. 

 

Some of the best sporting moments 

 

Of course, what else makes the Six Nations so special is the level of entertainment that it brings. Over the last 22 years, it has brought more memorable moments than we could possibly list here. That being said, some of the highlights include:

 

  • Italy trouncing Scotland during their Six Nations debut. Many thought that Italy didn’t deserve a place in the tournament. Italy soon proved them wrong

 

  • England demolishing Ireland in 2003. With the team set to achieve the Grand Slam, many thought Ireland would scupper England’s plans. England gave a sterling performance and brushed the Irish aside

 

  • The boot of Henson. England and Wales have long been fierce rivals. It was the penalty kick by Henson that saw Wales come away as victors

 

The tournament that just keeps getting bigger

 

Year on year, the Six Nations continues to attract bigger and bigger crowds. Its popularity has reached the stage where it now exceeds that of the NFL. Given what we have looked at, there is little wonder that this is the case.

 

As new generations are being introduced to all that the Six Nations has to offer, there is no sign of its popularity abating anytime soon. 

Unpacking Ireland’s Chances For the Champion Hurdle

Ireland always brings a great selection of horses to the Cheltenham Festival and this year’s Champion Hurdle is absolutely filled with Irish talent.

Currently, all of the first six favourites bar one are Irish, with Nicky Henderson being the only trainer who poses the threat of a non-Irish win with Epatante. If you want to do your own research then tuning into the Cheltenham Preview Panel might be a good idea, but if not then don’t worry.  

We’ve done some digging through the form of the best Irish chances for the race, to see if there’s anyone in with a chance of defeating Honeysuckle. 

 

Honeysuckle 

We’re starting the rundown with the hotly tipped Honeysuckle and the favourite of the whole group to win the race. She shared that title with Sharjah until very recently, when it was announced that Sharjah would be scratched from the race, leaving Honeysuckle the obvious winner.

From fourteen starts over jumps she is unbeaten, a record that a tiny percentage of horses can boast. Not only that, but she won the Champion Hurdle in 2021, beating Sharjah by 6 and a half lengths. 

She won carrying 11-5 last time out and will be carrying less in the hurdle, so the bet here seems pretty safe. 

Of course, whether your money is on the heavily favoured Honeysuckle or the big shot My Mate Mozzie, you’ll want to find the best value possible. This list of free horse racing bets has been compiled, with star ratings showing which sites provide the best service. 

There are different types of free bets available, including no deposit bets that require no initial outlay and risk-free bets, where if your pick loses, your account gets credited with your initial stake. A free bet, sadly, won’t be able to speed your horse to the finish line, but it can boost your bottom line. 

 

Appreciate It 

Appreciate It is now the favourite of Willie Mullins’ horses to win the Champion Hurdle, following the news that he’s been scratched from the Arkle and will remain a hurdler. 

The big bay horse has won four races out of four over hurdles, including the SkyBet Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2021. 

The Champion Hurdle is a natural progression from this race and the fact that Mullins has made the conscious choice to keep this horse hurdling shows that he recognises his talent in this area. The big danger for this horse is that he hasn’t run since Cheltenham last year, which is a long break. With that said, Mullins knows exactly how to get horses fit, so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see this horse taking home the prize money.  

 

Zanahiyr 

In any other company, Zanahiyr would be incontestable. He’s delivered solid performances in all of his previous appearances over hurdles. 

Unfortunately, this isn’t any ordinary company – Zanahiyr has come up against Honeysuckle before and lost by 6 and a half lengths. Although he gave a strong performance for second place, the Champion is over the same distance and trainer Gordon Elliot has a good strike rate at the Leopardstown course. 

At just five years old, it could be that Zanahiyr still has a little to find and may improve when he makes his appearance at Cheltenham this time around. 

The weight won’t favour Zanahiyr for the Champion Hurdle, so it remains to be seen whether there’ll be a win for the Gordon Elliot Stable.  

 

Teahupoo 

Teahupoo is another horse in the Elliot stable and everyone there will be praying for soft ground. 

From his six starts, Teahupoo has won five and placed second in the other. In his only place, he was beaten by 3 lengths by Jeff Kidder, who would then go on to beat Zanahiyr during their next meeting, suggesting that he’s a worthy opponent. 

Teahupoo carries the same 164 pounds as his stablemate and is slightly more fancied in the betting. If Teahupoo gets on well with the extra weight then it’s likely he’ll be beating Zanahiyr to the finish line.

 

 

 

 

How to Find the Most Ideal Gambling Site in Ireland

Since the early 1900s, gambling has been popular in Ireland, we are all also familiar with the slogan “Luck of the Irish.” Consequently, when the Internet became widely accessible in the 1990s, it was no surprise that Irishmen opted to transfer their love for the game on the internet. Online gambling in Ireland is a popular activity, with the majority of participants being between the ages of 25 and 34 (5.7 percent) and between the ages of 18 and 24 (5.2 percent) (4.8 percent ). However, for those who are new to online gaming and would want to participate, there are a few things to understand and consider first, since not all online gambling establishments are made equal.

 

Security and Licensing

 

As previously said, not every casino or sportsbook is made equal. In addition to those that are well-known and those that are not, there are others that are only designed to deceive people. A license and evidence of security on the site should help you avoid being defrauded or disclosing personal information.

 

Not all gambling establishments in Ireland are legal, and the number is growing by the year. This means that before signing up with a particular online gambling site, you should make sure that it is authorized and regulated by a recognized gaming authority, such as the UK Gambling Commission. Safe and legal gambling sites must conform to the rules set by this gaming commission, which safeguards you as a customer.

 

Selection of Sports for Sportsbooks

 

The quality and variety of sports offered by a sportsbook is the number one thing that entices bettors to place bets. Identifying matches you would like to bet on is the first step in the process of finding the right sportsbook. You may search the internet to find whether or not sportsbooks offer sports you are familiar with. On top of that, you may look for the list of the top 10 online betting sites in Ireland to ensure an overall positive experience. Most sportsbooks also include a wide selection of bonuses. Go with your preferences and see what they have to offer.

 

Bonuses and Promotions

 

One of the best things about playing at an online casino is how generously they reward their customers. Make sure to read the small print and terms and conditions of the bonuses casinos give before deciding whether or not they are valuable and advantageous to you as a player.

 

Sign-up bonuses are a terrific way to get started and learn the ropes before putting any money into your account, and most casinos provide them. In addition, casinos reward their most loyal customers with generous incentives since they want to keep their customers around for a long time and play more games.

 

To be clear, more bonuses do not always equate to better ones. Because of the high wagering requirements and near-impossibility of cashing out your gains, large bonuses might be counterproductive. As a result, shop about and be sure to read the tiny print.

 

Deposits and Withdrawal Options

 

If you’re going to play online casino games, you’ll want to be sure that the sites you’re considering allow for both deposits and withdrawals. Make sure to verify all of the deposit methods, including e-wallets, debit/credit cards, prepaid vouchers, and so on.

 

In addition, the ease with which you may pay out your winnings and how soon you can do so are critical considerations. If you want to withdraw your winnings using a debit or credit card, an e-wallet, or even a cryptocurrency like bitcoin, be sure to verify the casino’s withdrawal options.

 

Customer Reviews

 

There is no better way to learn about a gambling establishment than by reading customer reviews. Because the Irish are so enthusiastic about gaming, they’ll be sure to share their thoughts and opinions in the reviews. Make sure to search the internet for blogs and review sites if you cannot discover any testimonials or comments on the casino’s official website. You’ll be able to filter down your options for casinos, see how quickly winnings may be withdrawn, and more. These casino evaluations are written by genuine individuals who have really played at the casinos in question, so you can be certain that you’ll be finding a reputable, fast-paying casino as a result.

Is There a Mobile Version?

 

It’s practically a given that any reputable gambling establishment will provide a mobile version of their site with the same features as their desktop counterpart. In part, this is due to the fact that they are well aware of how often people use their smartphones to gamble.

 

It’s a good idea to check out the mobile app and read the terms and conditions while visiting a website. Make sure your phone is compatible with the app in order to get the most out of it.

 

As a whole, online gambling is a big deal in Ireland. Check to see whether it is a legal and reliable site that will provide nice bonuses as well as games you like playing. All the best!

Record ticket sales and sell out for Cheltenham Gold Cup Day

Record ticket sales have resulted in all general admission enclosures for Gold Cup Day at the Cheltenham Festival selling out before the end of January for the first time ever, organisers The Jockey Club announced today.

 

There has also been a surge in private individuals buying hospitality packages, with some remaining on sale for the most prestigious raceday in the Jump racing calendar – taking place this year on Friday 18th March.

 

Tickets for the other three days of The Festival are still available but also selling quickly, with the number of general admission tickets already sold for the four days up 37% compared to the same period in 2019.

 

There has also been unprecedented demand for tickets for Randox Grand National Day at Aintree, with only tickets for The Embankment – the area beyond the Melling Road – and hospitality packages now available for the world’s greatest steeplechase on Saturday 9th April. General admission, including grandstand badges, and hospitality packages are also still available for the first two days of the Randox Grand National Festival (April 7th and 8th).

 

Overall general admission ticket sales for the three days of the Randox Grand National Festival are up 19% on those sold by the end of January in 2019, the last time the event was staged with a crowd.

 

The sales figures are a further boost to The Jockey Club, which has also announced that general admission ticket sales at its fixtures between August 1st and December 31st in 2021 increased by 7% when compared with like-for-like figures in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

 

The Cheltenham Festival took place behind closed doors last year due to COVID-19 protocols put in place at the time, while only slightly relaxed measures for the 2021 Randox Grand National Festival less than a month later resulted in a restricted number of racehorse owners being allowed to attend but racegoers missing out.

 

With the 2020 Randox Grand National Festival being cancelled completely due to the pandemic, this April will be the first time the three day Aintree spectacular has been staged in front of a crowd since 2019.

 

Nevin Truesdale, Chief Executive of The Jockey Club – the largest commercial organisation in British horseracing – said the latest ticket sales figures demonstrate both the sport’s popularity and the public’s eagerness to attend live events again.

 

He explained: “The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Randox Grand National are two of the biggest sporting events in the calendar, so we’re delighted that they will once again take place in front of proper crowds.

 

“As an organisation which reinvests all its profits back into the sport under our Royal Charter commitment, this news is not only a huge boost to The Jockey Club – it’s massive for horseracing as an industry.

 

“We know that the past two years have been a time of real uncertainty for everyone, so it’s fantastic to see people’s eagerness to get back to our racecourses and their confidence to book tickets for our events months in advance returning.

 

“We do still have tickets available for the first three days of the Cheltenham Festival and for all three days of the Randox Grand National Festival, but I can’t stress enough how popular they are proving.”

 

Due to the pandemic all sport in the UK was suspended from March 17th 2020 but horseracing became one of the first to return behind closed doors two and a half months later, on June 1st. It was not until December 2020 and after successful pilot events had taken place that spectators were allowed back on British racecourses and even then only in limited numbers.

 

However, a surge in COVID-19 cases quickly resulted in racing, like all other sports, being forced to go ahead behind closed doors and only in May 2021 were racegoers allowed to attend, again in restricted numbers.

 

These limits were only lifted completely on July 19th last year and Truesdale added: “The British public have shown incredible patience and resilience over the past two years, especially while ever-changing restrictions have impacted our daily lives and determined what we can and can’t do.

 

“As restrictions have continued to ease and people look to spend their leisure time doing things they were prevented from doing during lockdown, we’ve seen a really positive increase in attendances on our racedays. This isn’t just at one or two of our bigger fixtures towards the end of 2021 but at so many of our racedays, with general admission ticket sales up 7% in the last five months of last year compared with the same period in 2019.

 

“As the second most attended sport in the UK we provide millions of people with fantastic, thrilling and unique days out and my own personal hope is that we can now encourage even more people to join us to see for themselves how much our sport has to offer.”

 

As well as the Cheltenham Festival in March and the Randox Grand National Festival in April, The Jockey Club is scheduled to stage more than 330 fixtures in 2022 at its 15 racecourses, including a three-day QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket between April 29th and May 1st and the Cazoo Derby Festival on June 3rd and 4th, which is part of Her Majesty The Queen’s official Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

 

In December last year it was announced that prize money at The Jockey Club’s 15 racecourses is set to exceed £58 million for the first time ever in 2022, representing an increase of more than £12 million on forecast levels for 2021 and nearly £5 million more than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Naas ready for Meet And Greet in the BetVictor Novice Hurdle

Oliver McKiernan looks to have another progressive novice hurdler on his hands and Meet And Greet will take the next step on the ladder in the Grade 2 BetVictor Novice Hurdle this Sunday.

A domestic campaign awaits the course and distance winner who will make the short journey from McKiernan’s Rathcoole base to take on five rivals in the feature race of the day.

Among Meet And Greet’s rivals are the Cheltenham entries Ha D’or and Hiaou, while the Pat Doyle-trained Flame Bearer adds plenty of intrigue to the race which was won in the past by Newmill, Go Native and Annie Power.

McKiernan feels that although his six-year-old son of Mustameet is a course and distance winner, he probably is a horse that will want a longer trip in due course but the testing conditions this weekend may help bring out his stamina.

“He won at Naas the last day and we were delighted with that,” McKiernan said. “He’s just so well and fresh after it, we felt we’d enter him anyway, notwithstanding that the ground will be very heavy which won’t be in his favour. He’s in such good form – he’s very fresh at home – we decided to let him take his chance.

“He ran well when third in his first maiden hurdle run at the Naas and he was more forward the next time when he won but he’s probably more of a two-and-a-half-mile horse. So two miles in heavy ground might bring that into play. He’d have loved to have had the two hurdles in the straight to jump that were taken out because of the low sun – so would the other horses of course – but he’s a good jumper, neat and tidy at them so it would have helped him.

“He got a little bit lost without the rail coming up but once he got the rail again and maybe a little bit better ground he took off again.”
A domestic campaign is on the cards for Meet And Greet who is a horse who looks to be still progressing and may have a smart future ahead of him.

 

“He had good bumper form before he went hurdling and beat Top Bandit at Leopardstown last year. He’s a horse we always liked. He’s a good mentality. He’s a good, clean-winded horse. He’s most things going for him and he grew a bit as well. He’d be 16-3 now. He’s not a small horse.

“I know it’s a cliché but I’m looking forward to him jumping fences but he has to get there first. But he’d remind you of a lad that might do that. He’s a grand horse but there’s so many horses at that level and so many horses above that level. The best of them are going to Cheltenham and he wouldn’t be good enough to go there but this is a good opportunity. We’re happy enough and it’s close to home too which is nice, so we’ll see how we go.”
Speaking earlier in the week, trainer Pat Doyle revealed that Sunday’s Grade 2 has been the plan for Flame Bearer since he opened his account over hurdles.
“This has been the plan for Flame Bearer since he won at Fairyhouse. He worked very well this morning so things couldn’t be better,” Doyle revealed.

“He’s learned how to settle now. He’d no gallop done before his hurdling debut in Cork last December, as the ground had been too quick so he ran too fresh, pulled too hard and blew up.
“He was a bit unlucky in Naas at the start of January. If Jack had done what he wanted to do, he’d probably have won but I wanted him to cover him up.

“He couldn’t do anymore than he did in Fairyhouse then so this was in my mind from that day. I wouldn’t say he’ll be any better fitness-wise from then but I’d say he will be in terms of experience.”
The Grade 3 BetVictor Chase has attracted four classy candidates, all rated between 150 and 160. Captain Guinness heads the field for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore and he’ll take on the Willie Mullins-trained duo of Blackbow and Cashback, while Darasso reappears after finishing second over hurdles at Gowran Park last week.

Paul Fahey’s Ballyshannon Rose aims to continue her rise through the ranks in the €45,000 Grade B BetVictor Novice Handicap Chase. Other notable inclusions in that event include King Alex for the in-form Barry Connell stable and Street Value who was an impressive victor at Cork last time for John Flavin.

Racing begins at 2pm on Sunday with live coverage of both Kildare v Dublin in the crunch National Football League game and Ireland’s clash with Italy in the Six Nations both being aired throughout the racecourse.

1...208209210...599Page 209 of 599

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

SportsNewsIreland is an Irish website launched in 2009 to offer sports fans in Ireland an alternative and independent source to keep them up to date with all the news from around the country. Every week we bring you live score updates from all levels of GAA, rugby, soccer, racing and athletics. Contact

Contact us: Email: info@sportsnewsireland.com

FOLLOW US

Design by SportsMediaIreland.ie