Latest news with #OllyMurphy
The Guardian
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Havana Hurricane can blow rivals away in Newbury Super Sprint
Eve Johnson Houghton has drawn a blank with 14 previous runners in the Super Sprint at Newbury and recently described it as her 'unluckiest race', but she may never have a better chance to break her duck than in the latest renewal of the £250,000 contest on Saturday, when Havana Hurricane, her Windsor Castle Stakes winner at Royal Ascot, will go to post as the short-priced favourite. Johnson Houghton's Chipotle, also a Windsor Castle winner, was the beaten favourite in the Super Sprint in 2021, but Havana Hurricane (3.30) arguably has even stronger credentials and has progressed with every outing so far. A repeat of his Ascot form might well be enough off 8st 11lb in a race where the weights depend on a horse's purchase price at auction, but further improvement is also more than likely. Havana Hurricane cost just 9k gns (£9,450) as a yearling and can take his career earnings past £200k with a third career victory on Saturday. Newbury 1.50 Okeechobee was returning from a year off the track when finishing fourth at Kempton in April, having raced much too freely in the first half mile. He remains lightly raced for a five-year-old and his win in last year's Gordon Richards Stakes offers hope that he can still reach a higher level than this Listed contest. Market Rasen 2.05 Olly Murphy has picked up in the 2025/26 season over jumps where he left off in 2024/25 with a 26% strike rate since early May. This is much more competitive than the three-runner affair that Deploy To Spy took at Worcester last time, but he won with something to spare there and is just 3lb higher in the weights with cheek-pieces on for the first time. Newbury 2.25 An interesting assortment of runners for this two-mile handicap, including several that raced at the Royal meeting last time out. Wonder Legend was out of his depth in the Gold Cup and dropped away rapidly before being pulled up, but if he is over whatever was troubling him there, his all-weather form gives him a definite chance in what could be a falsely-run race. Market Rasen 2.40 This could be another decent prize for the Olly Murphy stable as Sir Galahad arrives unbeaten after four starts over hurdles and is up just 5lb in the weights for his latest success at Worcester, form that was franked when the runner-up was an easy winner next time out. Newbury 2.57 Several of the leading contenders have a question to answer over either the trip or their recent form but the safest option is probably Regional, who has been running at a higher level for much of the last two seasons. Five furlongs is probably ideal for Ed Bethell's gelding but he was a Group One winner at six on quick ground in 2023 and was not beaten far in this race last year. Market Rasen 1.35 Laravie 2.05 Deploy To Spy 2.40 Sir Galahad 3.12 Ballysax Hank (nb) 3.50 Rocks Up Late 4.25 Scintillante 5.00 Nickelforce. Cartmel 1.40 Caughtinyourtrance 2.15 Hope Hill 2.50 Winds Of Winter 3.22 Go Go Chicago 4.00 River Of Joy 4.35 Bumpy Evans 5.10 Rory's Story. Newbury 1.50 Okeechobee 2.25 Wonder Legend 2.57 Regional 3.30 Havana Hurricane 4.10 Sea The Wonder 4.45 Song Of The Clyde 5.20 Maybe Not. Ripon 2.10 Stargazed 2.45 Goyard 3.17 Tele Red 3.55 Woodstock City 4.30 Paladin 5.05 Groundhog 5.38 Ideal Guest. Newmarket 4.20 Della Pace 4.55 Understudy 5.30 Leadman 6.00 Zouligan 6.35 Kaaranah 7.05 Another Abbot 7.38 Billyb (nap). Doncaster 5.15 King's Crown 5.45 Galileo Island 6.15 Highfield Viking 6.45 Thanks Dad 7.15 Mdawi 7.45 Operation Gimcrack 8.15 Grand Traverse 8.45 Kentucky River. Haydock 6.25 Always A Star 6.55 Canvas 7.30 You Sexy Thing 8.00 Tactical Plan 8.30 Bright Times Ahead 9.00 A Girl Named Ivy. Market Rasen 3.12 Gavin Cromwell's strike-rate with runners in Britain dipped below its usual high level last season but the Cheltenham Gold Cup was among his half-dozen winners and Ballysax Hank looks to have been primed for this valuable midsummer prize. An opening mark of 128 after three chase starts gets the six-year-old in towards the bottom of the weights and the booking of Harry Cobden is another big plus. The Curragh 3.40 This promises to be a very straightforward task for Minnie Hauk, the Oaks winner at Epsom last month, as she attempts to complete the double in the Irish equivalent. Aidan O'Brien's filly has at least a stone in hand of most of her rivals on ratings and was five lengths in front of Wemightakedlongway, her closest rival in the betting, at Epsom.
The Sun
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘His class makes him very hard to beat' – Templegate's NAP loves this trip
TEMPLEGATE'S Sunday tips are below. Back a horse by clicking their odds. HAMISH (4.45 Goodwood, nap) Is still going strong for William Haggas. This nine-year-old was as good as ever last season with a Coronation Cup second at Epsom before finishing the campaign with a big-field Listed win at The Curragh. We know he loves this trip with a little cut in the field and his class makes him very hard to beat. SCHMILSSON (3.22 Perth, nb) Looked a natural when winning on his chasing debut over course and distance last month. He made mincemeat of his rivals and a 7lb rise in the weights should hold no fears. Trainer Olly Murphy is in flying form and he can add to his winning tally with Sean Bowen up. MISS TONNERRE (3.35 Goodwood, treble) Was behind Oaks second Whirl in the Musidora last time when very much needing the run. The form of her Fred Darling fourth has been franked and she can show more here. Looks good for the Lucky 15 after a close second at Uttoxeter last time. He sees out three miles well. Templegate's tips Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Hate to be in his position' – Nicky Henderson waves goodbye to £650,000 of horses as top owner scales down operation
NICKY HENDERSON waved goodbye to £650,000 worth of horses at the sales - as a top owner scaled down his operation significantly. A total of six Olly Harris-owned horses went under the hammer under the banner of Henderson's Seven Barrows yard at the Goffs Doncaster auction. 2 Chief among them was three-time winner and hugely promising sort Kingston Pride. Bought for around £160,000 in April 2023, Henderson fought tooth and nail to keep the six-year-old at his yard. But in an almighty sales ring tussle with rival trainer Olly Murphy, he had to give up the fight when the figure hit £285,000. Kingston Pride - who will now be owned by Grahame and Diana Whateley of Thomas Darby fame - was one of two Harris horses that went for six figures. The other was Haddex Des Obeaux, who never actually ran under Henderson but was still listed as being in his care after eight runs for Gary Moore. The eight-year-old gelding, who was last seen finishing third to Jonbon in the Tingle Creek, was bought for £105,000 by prominent Scottish owner Jimmy Fyffe and will now be trained by Donald McCain. But Kingston Pride - who Hendo called a 'really proper type' after his latest win at Kempton in March - was the one the legendary boss really wanted. He had to bid farewell, though, when Murphy struck the crucial blow. The bet365 Gold Cup-winning trainer said: "It's unfortunate for Nicky, I'd hate to be in the position he's in when you train a horse like that and don't get to keep him. "But he's the horse we wanted for the last three days. "He was a lot of money but hopefully he's the sort of horse who can run in graded chases at the middle distance and staying chases down the line." The setback came after Henderson was also outbid in the battle for £300,000 Poetisa by Willie Mullins. And he also had to say goodbye to Timetoshine - a serial-winning mare who is off to the US - for £145,000. Among the other Harris horses consigned by Henderson was Willmount, whose value plummeted by £320,000 since he was last sold. Having won a Newbury novice hurdle by 13 lengths on his first run for Henderson, Willmount was sent off 9-4 for the Grade 1 2023 Challow. But he was pulled up and then fell on chase debut almost a year later before flopping when 6-4 fav for a Kempton handicap hurdle on his most recent run in December last year. Purchased for £340,000 in February 2022 he was sold to Irish Grand National and National Hunt Chase-winning trainer Rebecca Curtis for just £22,000. Chris Gordon bought two-time winner Bo Zenith for £55,000, while Inneston and Diyaken were sold for £15,000 and £20,000 respectively. Harris - who won huge at the 2024 Grand National - sold some of his other horses including the likes of £240,000 purchase Peaky Boy and £70,000 Break My Soul earlier this year. While he also gave up ownership of In The Air, Kansas Du Berlais, Montys Soldier and Perseus Way this year too. Minella Premier, a £400,000 purchase by Henderson at the same sale last year, has never run for the Seven Barrows boss and was originally listed for sale before being withdrawn. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
