Category: Horse Racing

On the fourth day of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, a.k.a. ‘St. Patrick’s Day’, Paul Dean made headlines when it was revealed that he had partially cashed out a £5 five-fold accumulator, potentially worth £511,225, for £250,000. Dean, 40, stood to collect the larger amount if Envoi Allen – whom he had backed, ante-post, at 9/2 – won the opening race on the fifth and final day, the Marsh Novices’ Chase. Having won all eleven previous races, including a point-to-point and all three starts over regulation fences, Envoi Allen was sent off at odds-on, but fell at the fourth fence.

However, Dean, who hails from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, wasn’t quite finished. On that fifth and final day, Cheltenham Gold Cup Day, he reportedly took his Cheltenham betting to the next level and placed a tricast bet on the feature race, correctly predicted the first, second and third horses home, in the right order, and won a further £140,000. What wasn’t reported, though, was the exact nature of the bet that he placed. The tricast dividend for Minella Indo to beat A Plus Tard and Al Boum Photo paid £91.54 to a £1 stake, according to the Racing Post; to win £140,000, Dean must have staked a little over £1,529 on his winning line, either as a straight tricast, or as one of a series of stakes in a combination tricast.

Either way, the front three oulled well clear in the closing stages, leaving a yawning, 24-length gap to the fourth horse home, Native River. Dean appeared well satisfied with his week’s work. He said, ‘I’m buzzing, the whole family is. I am going to have a few beers and let this sink in. I cannot wait for my local pub to reopen. It is going to be quite some party.’

 

If you hadn’t heard of Cody Gakpo before this year’s FIFA World Cup – you almost certainly would have now. The 23-year-old superstar, who currently plies his trade at PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie, has been exceptional for the Netherlands at the sport’s preeminent tournament taking place in Qatar.

Scoring first for his country in every one of his group games, the six-foot-three-inch-tall winger has been a nightmare for every defence he has faced. His athleticism, strength on the ball, vision and finishing ability from anywhere in and around the 22-yard box is beyond impressive.

As a result of his form, he has been linked with various clubs in the Premier League and La Liga such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid. And while all of the four aforementioned clubs are tempting destinations in their own right, it is Manchester United who, at the time of writing, many believe are the favourites to secure the signing of Gakpo.

There were already reports of Gakpo’s and Manchester United’s mutual interest prior to the World Cup – however – provided the form he has displayed in the Middle East – you would think the powers that be at Old Trafford will have to stump up at least a further £20 million than they were initially expecting if they’re to secure the services of the Dutch forward.

If we were to see Gakpo in a Red Devils shirt in 2023, how much of an impact would he have on Manchester United moving forward? In addition to the obvious, which is that he’d provide the Erik ten Hag-managed side an added world-class attacking threat – Gakpo would signal a new era for the famed club.

With the controversy surrounding United and its relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo dominating headlines for the past month – the club’s administrators need to instill confidence in their fans that they are heading in a positive direction – and the signing of Gakpo would provide that. With he, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro all shining for their national teams in the Middle East, their combination for United could prove to be one of the scariest prospects in the Premier League.

Currently sitting as sixth favourites at 66/1 in the Premier League odds to win it all in 2022/23, expect that price to shorten considerably for next season if we are to see Gakpo in the Manchester United red and white.

While fans of the club can at this point in time dream of having Gakpo as part of their squad, he wouldn’t give anything away when pressed about his future, choosing to focus on his exploits with the Netherlands rather than where he will play next.

“I’m not thinking about that now (his future),” he said. “I’m just really focused on the tournament, trying to keep performing well and helping the team and hopefully when we become world champion then I can think about that (the future).

“I’m just trying to keep focused and the other players don’t really talk about those things which also helps me in this situation.”

There have been some remarkable Grand National success stories in the history of thoroughbred horse racing, but the story of Rubio is one of the most important for the American industry. The winner of Aintree’s iconic Grand National steeplechase in 1908, Rubio set the bar high for US-bred steeplechasers. The story behind the success of Rubio is an equally fascinating one.

Rubio’s development

It all began for Rubio stateside under breeder J.B. Haggin. Mr Haggin had a string of promising horses in his Californian stud farm and opted to send Rubio to Newmarket’s selling auctions, given that it was – and still is – the spiritual home of horse racing. The feeling within the Haggin’s stud was that Rubio had strong potential to run well during the British flat racing season.

 

Rubio’s breeding meant that he certainly came from good stock, with Star Ruby being his sire who was a former racehorse owned by the Duke of Westminster with nine career wins to its name. Eventually, Rubio was snapped up for the princely sum of 15 guineas by a Northamptonshire-based horse dealer called Septimus Clarke. As a successful trader of thoroughbreds, Mr Clarke had no intention of developing Rubio and instead promptly sold him on to Major Frank Douglas-Pennant for 95 guineas, making a handsome 80 guineas profit in the process.

Aged four, Rubio was typically used for hunts, but it was quickly acknowledged that he had plenty of pace left in the tank and had a placid personality ripe for horse racing. Mr Douglas-Pennant tried to sell Rubio as a prospective thoroughbred but his reserve price was never met, so he pursued with him instead. High-end trainer Brian Bletsoe was employed to train Rubio. However, it got to the point that Rubio had weakened so much that he was deployed to pull trolley buses to try and rebuild the strength in his legs. Fortunately, the training regime helped Rubio regain his physical attributes to the point that he was entered into races in 1907.

With one win in three races around Towcester, it was hardly a ringing endorsement of Rubio’s potential. That’s why, in 1908, Rubio was priced as a huge 66/1 outside for the Grand National. Stable mate Mattie Macgregor was deemed to be a much more durable and reliable thoroughbred. Trainer Bernard Bletsoe even allowed his son Bryan to take the ride of Rubio around Aintree. Sure enough, Bletsoe and Rubio would shock the nation by storming to an unprecedented victory by ten clear lengths.

Sergeant Murphy was the next US-bred horse to become a Grand National winner in 1923. In doing so, Sergeant Murphy became the joint-second oldest thoroughbred to win the race aged 13 and this is still the case today.

Why the Grand National remains such an important event worldwide

The Grand National is still the most iconic and valuable steeplechase event in European horse racing. Not only does it carry a hefty prize purse it’s also ingrained in British culture. For many, it’s the one time of the year they place bets with bookmakers.

Although the Grand National is one of the most popular UK horse races to bet on, it’s also one of the hardest to pick a winner. There is so much to consider, given the number of runners and riders, the going of the turf and the age of the horses too. In general, betting on horse racing requires a strategic mindset, so if you know how to play games like poker, you probably already have some of the skills required to make intelligent bets.

With an estimated viewer base of 500-600 million from more than 140 nations, it’s clear it captures the imagination worldwide. Had Rubio managed to upset all the odds in the 21^st century, it would have been a tale that hit all the back pages across the globe. Instead, Rubio will be consigned to the record books forever as the first US-born Grand National winner – the first to pass the “ultimate test of horse and rider”.

 

If you are one of those horse racing enthusiasts prepping for next year, you probably don’t want to miss out on a single amazing event. Thankfully, 2023 is expected to be another exciting year for horse racing fans, which means you will have the chance to fill up your calendar with plenty of incredible festivals to look forward to. Today we will take a look at some of the most popular horse racing events you should keep an eye out for in 2023. From Cheltenham Festival to Dante Festival in York, there is something to suit everyone’s tastes.

Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival is due to return in March, and it is one of the most important events on next year’s horse racing calendar. It is also one of the most popular sporting events in Britain, so it’s guaranteed to be full of action and excitement. You will get to see some of horse racing’s greatest stars, as they test their agility and strength in various ways. Moreover, rising stars are often discovered on this day, which means that you may be there to see legends being made. To ensure you have the best time at Cheltenham Festival, it’s advisable to book a VIP hospitality package, which will bring you as close as possible to the action and electric atmosphere of the event.

Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is an iconic horse-racing event which is set to take place in June next year. It offers guests an opportunity to dress up in formal attire and have an amazing experience during the summer season. If you are one of the biggest horse-racing fans out there, you may also consider betting on the day. To hone your gambling skills, it can be a good idea to try different online casinos, such as Jackpot, a South-African casino where you can find plenty of great bonuses and promotions. They can help you get better at online gambling and ensure you are ready for the five-day Royal Ascot meeting.

Dante Festival

Another great place horse-racing fans wouldn’t want to miss out on is York, where you can check out the Dante Festival. Many stars have found success at the York Racecourse, so you can expect to see some world-class horse-racing action there. This festival spans over three days in the middle of May and offers a fun atmosphere, helping you kick off your summer. There are some amazing package options to consider, which are designed to suit all tastes and budgets. As a result, you will have the opportunity to combine horse racing with fine dining, complimentary drinks, and much more.

Coral Scottish Grand National

If you have never attended the Coral Scottish Grand National meeting, next year may be the perfect time to do it. You can expect to see some of the best performers tackling a number of obstacles in front of huge crowds. This makes for one of the best days of the year, as you will also get some amazing entertainment before and after the event. The event takes place in April every year, lasting two days at Ayr Racecourse. However, be sure to get your tickets as early as possible to avoid disappointment.