Clan Des Obeaux claims another Bowl at Aintree
Clan Des Obeaux clung on grimly to claim a second victory in the Betway Bowl Chase at Aintree and give Paul Nicholls an important winner.
Willie Mullins Sport News
Grand National 2022 runners and riders - full list of horses racing this year
The country's largest horse racing event will soon be underway as thousands of racegoers attend Aintree for the first time since lockdown restrictions have been lifted. The Grand National will be broadcasted live on ITV1 at 5.15pm on Saturday, April 9 and will be watched by more than 500 million people across the globe.
Clan Des Obeaux, Kemboy declare for Aintree meet
Previous winners Clan Des Obeaux and Kemboy are among nine runners declared for the Betway Bowl at Aintree on Thursday. Kemboy was a brilliant winner of the Grade One contest in 2019 for Willie Mullins, beating the Paul Nicholls-trained Clan Des Obeaux into second. The application of cheekpieces appeared to have the desired effect for Clan Des Obeaux in last year's renewal as he struck gold by a whopping 26 lengths, before going on to win the Punchestown Gold Cup. The 10-year-old has been beaten twice since and is interestingly fitted with blinkers for the first time for the defence his crown on Merseyside. Kemboy has not managed to get his head in front since claiming a fourth Grade One success in last year's Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, most recently finishing fifth when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Dublin Racing Festival feature in February. The one to beat on recent form is Dan Skelton's Protektorat, who was best of the British when third behind Henry de Bromhead's pair of A Plus Tard and Minella Indo in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup. Conflated, trained by Gordon Elliott, was a surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup and looked set to be placed in the Ryanair at Cheltenham before falling two from home. Colin Tizzard's Eldorado Allen finished third in the Ryanair and is another leading contender, as is Royale Pagaille after finishing fifth in the Gold Cup for Venetia Williams. Nigel Twiston-Davies will be praying for rain to give Bristol De Mai the best possible chance of claiming victory, while Ann Hamilton steps Nuts Well up in class after a Listed triumph at Kelso.
Shiskin has rare bone condition, Nicky Henderson reveals
Nicky Henderson has revealed Shishkin has been found to be suffering from a "pretty rare bone condition" following his disappointing performance in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
Impulsive Dancer has all right moves to cool down Mercurey
Willie Mullins' Mercurey was beaten by stablemate Impulsive Dancer after starting at 1-4 in the Listed Kevin McManus Bookmaker Champion Flat Race at Limerick.
McLoughlin hopes Freewheelin Dylan gets another Irish Grand National day in sun
Dermot McLoughlin is praying the sun keeps shining to give Freewheelin Dylan every chance of being the first back-to-back winner of the Irish Grand National since Brown Lad in 1975 and 1976.
Mullins crowned top trainer again – and pays tribute to all his team
Willie Mullins was crowned leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival for the ninth time after a magnificent five winners on the final day.
Cheltenham latest: Mullins takes three from three as The Nice Guy wins Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
On the final day of the 2022 festival, all eyes will be on the Gold Cup, with Rachael Blackmore hoping to take the plaudits aboard A Plus Tard.