Noseda launches Awesome Kentucky plan

Jeremy Noseda is eyeing a crack at the Kentucky Derby with his exciting prospect Awesome Act.The three-year-old finished a close-up fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita in November as he is now set to head back to America with a view to a tilt at the 'Run For The Roses'."I am happy with Awesome Act and we are now moving forward with our plan to send him to the Grade Three Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 6," the trainer told his website www.jeremynoseda.com."We have yet to finalise on a jockey but have been in contact with a couple already. We would have to sort out bringing them up from Florida where they ride at present but I am confident of securing the services of a top-flight American jockey."Awesome Act's performance in the Gotham is the key to how we move forward. If he puts up a bold show there, the plan is to ship him to Keeneland and train him prior to his next race in America, the Grade One Wood Memorial on April 3. "And if everything went well to that stage, we would then hope to be at Kentucky Downs on the first Saturday in May. But at this point, what is most important - from two points of view - is the Gotham.""If he doesn't perform on the dirt, the bigger picture plan is no longer relevant. Secondly, due to the conditions of the Kentucky Derby where entry is decided by prize money from stakes races, it is imperative we start picking some up, otherwise we won't make the cut." ...

Rachel out of Zenyatta showdown

Connections of Rachel Alexandra have turned down a $5million purse offer from Oaklawn Park to face fellow wonder filly Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom Stakes.Eleven-time winner Rachel Alexandra pipped Breeders' Cup Classic heroine Zenyatta to the Horse of the Year title last month and the dream clash looked to be on in the Apple Blossom on April 3.However, Rachel Alexandra's trainer Steve Asmussen told www.thoroughbredtimes.com: "Getting to this level of fitness after a six-month lay-off takes time. If all goes according to schedule, the earliest we could have a prep race would be the middle of March."He added: "It is then not fair to Rachel to ask her to race again three weeks later."Rachel Alexandra's majority owner Jess Jackson is meeting with American officials to work on arranging a three-race series with Zenyatta. ...

Bajan heads Trophy weights

Blue Bajan heads a final field of 24 runners for the totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.Andy Turnell's stable star finished last of seven on his most recent appearance over obstacles in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, but was beaten just a neck on the level at Wolverhampton last month.Ante-post favourite Spirit River is one of four runners for Nicky Henderson along with First Point, Stravinsky Dance and Fairyland.Gary Moore's Harry Tricker chased home Khyber Kim on his latest appearance in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham and is joined by stablemate Numide, while David Pipe runs Mutual Friend, Mamlook and Ronaldo Des Mottes.The Noel Meade-trained Arch Rebel is the sole challenger from Ireland, with other interesting contenders including the unbeaten Get Me Out Of Here, the well-supported Takeroc and Manyriverstocross.Nick Gifford will be pleased just to get Pascha Bere back in action after being thwarted by the prolonged cold snap."The ground should be fine for him. It's a very competitive race, but he's got formlines with Harry Tricker through Zabeel Palace so he deserves to take his chance," said the Findon trainer."We've been waiting to run him. His last two engagements have been frosted off. This is the next obvious race for him to have a spin at." ...

Robbie chasing National berth

Nick Gifford is hoping Wee Robbie can catch the handicapper's eye with a prominent display in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.The Findon trainer accepts his runner should have no chance against Denman, but a bold show might persuade the assessor to raise his rating, giving him a chance of making the cut for the John Smith's Grand National."He'll probably run in the Aon. Things haven't gone right for him yet since he came back, but the owner is very keen to try to get him in the National," said Gifford."He's only on 120 and that is nowhere near getting him in the National. He's got to go up an awful lot in the weights and I'm just hoping if he runs a big race it will help."We can't expect him to beat Denman in a million years, but if he can be there or thereabouts on the premises jumping the last, the handicapper might shove him back up otherwise he'd have to win a handicap by 20 lengths."This is really the last throw of the dice to try to get him in with a squeak of getting into the National, but he needs to go up at least a stone."There won't be many runners which will suit and it's fingers crossed." ...

Moore shows the right Spirit

Gary Moore is ready to let Fix The Rib lock horns with Master Minded in the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday.The seven-year-old has won five of his seven starts over fences but came to grief on his latest appearance at Kempton over Christmas, though he did bounce back with a fine second on Kempton's all-weather track last month.Moore said: "It looks as though we're going to run and he seems in good form. I was really pleased with his run on the Flat the other day as it was a decent maiden for the time of year and we were unlucky to bump into a decent looking horse."He added: "Our fellow still ran really well so we want to get a run into him over fences and just see how he gets on going left-handed."It's obviously going to be tough with Master Minded in there, but hopefully we'll find out whether we're going to go to Cheltenham." ...

Race News

  • Super Canford lands Lockinge Richard Hannon welcomed potential clashes with Goldikova and Frankel later this season after Canford Cliffs made a successful reappearance ...

  • O'Brien urges Derby caution Aidan O'Brien insists his contenders for next month's Investec Derby have yet to be finalised and has warned punters to take care.The Bally...

  • Coronation looms for Theory Brian Meehan has confirmed that his impressive York winner Theyskens' Theory will head straight for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.Th...

  • Hawkeye set for Ascot return Jim Goldie is targeting a return trip to Ascot for the Wokingham Stakes following Hawkeyethenoo's convincing victory in the Victoria Cup at...

  • Graduate team eye Classics Connections of Notable Graduate believe the Galileo colt could develop into a contender for the Irish Derby and English St Leger.The two Cl...

Racing Features

The Cheltenham Festival 2010..

Cheltenham Festival

Course Reviews:
Get around the courses..

Horse Racing Courses

Racing legends:
The people that made racing..

Jockey Profiles
Today's Meetings
Meetings
Lingfield Park
Wolverhampton
Aintree
Carlisle
Next Race
1:15 Lingfield Park Sporting Membership Selling Handicap Cl6 2m Card
1:45 Bet Premier League Football - Betdaq Maiden Stakes Cl5 1m2f Card
2:20 Bet Six Nations Rugby - Betdaq Handicap Cl6 1m2f Card
Latest Results
10:45 Lingfield Park Result
10:15 Aintree Result
10:20 Wolverhampton Result
racing.co.uk on Facebook