One Stop Racing News
The Christmas period seems a long time ago now and this week has been a bit hit and miss on the racing front – ice and snow leading to lots of abandoned meetings. As a result there has been a lot of odds on and short odds winners with the odd more exciting one inbetween! We’ve had some decent winners under the circumstances including the 11/2 Okami today.
Sad News on the Passing of Langer Dan
Langer Dan– a favourite of many, and one of those horses that if you loved him you’d be backing him even when you knew there wasn’t really a chance of a win. The dual Cheltenham Festival winner was retired last year following diagnosis of a heart problem. Sadly Langer Dan passed away yesterday as a result of that heart condition. Looked after in retirement by his groom he is sure to be sadly missed – a true competitor.
WHAT TO DO WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD AND THE RACING IS LIMITED!
January can be a long hard month, the fun of Christmas is long gone but the good news is that in around 12 weeks time it will be light still at 8pm! In the meantime here are some ideas to while away those long winter evenings:
*Have a read of Oisin Murphy’s excellent book “Sacrifice”. An absolute talent of a horseman but with his own demons to fight. This is a part diary/part autobiography book detailing Oisin’s day to day life and making clear the pressures jockeys are under day in, day out. No doubt it is a tough sport and life, makes you think about the grief jockeys often (unnecessarily) get and the reality behind it all.
*Look out for Michael Owen’s 6 part docuseries on Amazon Prime later in the year (around August so I know you can’t enjoy it right now sadly). A look at his day to day life at his stables in Cheshire. This well known football legend turned racehorse owner/breeder will give a good insight into the racing world. Manor House stables has plenty of history having been a horse training centre for well over 100 years and it will be interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes.
In the meantime you could try Horsepower on Amazon Prime ( following trainer Andrew Balding) or Champions Full Gallop Series 2 (ITV) which goes behind the scenes of NH racing and gives some insight into the rivalry between trainers and jockeys . There is a really nice episode about Lorcan Williams win on Golden Ace in the Champion Hurdle that I thoroughly enjoyed watching.
*Have a look at the 2026 fixtures here 2026_Fixture_List.pdf and get yourself some advance tickets for any race days you fancy (often bargains to be had for booking in advance). Alternatively start thinking about any ante-post bets you might fancy for the future.
RACING/ITV this weekend
The scheduled 6 meetings on Saturday are already reduced to 5- Wetherby is off due to a frozen course. Might be worth holding off on any bets at Kempton and Warwick as both courses have inspections at 8am to check if racing can go ahead.
Lingfield, Newcastle and Fairyhouse are all expected to go ahead as normal.
Proposed Schedule of televised racing on ITV tomorrow is as follows:
Saturday 10th January
WARWICK
1.15 – 2m 4f Warwick Castle Handicap Chase
1.52 – 3m Hampton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
2.25 – 2m William Hill Handicap Hurdle
2.55 – 3m 5f William Hill Half A Million Classic Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
3.32 – 3m 1f Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle
KEMPTON
1.30 – 2m Coral Juvenile Hurdle
2.05 – 3m Coral Handicap Chase
2.40 – 2m 4 1/2f Silviniaco Conti Chase (Grade 2)
3.17 – 2m 5f Coral Lanzarote Hurdle (Handicap Hurdle)
FAIRYHOUSE
1.40 – 2m 1f Tote Dan & Joan Moore Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
We have made the unprecedented decision not to tip this Saturday on the ITV Racing as it is a lot of work for something which may not go ahead Other tips are here they include the Saturday Lucky 15.