Emma Lavelle isn't one to let the grass grow under her feet, judged from the well-being of her string if today's results from Newton Abbot are anything to go by. The Marlborough trainer maintained her 50% strike record with a treble, punctuated by a second from her other runner at the West Country's first fixture of the belated new season.  Names you might not normally associate with Summer ...

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Who Dares Wins victory in the closing race of this year’s Royal Ascot has only confirmed what many shrewd racewatchers have clocked already; Alan King’s Barbury stable is a force to be reckoned with at Flat racing’s top table. When was the last time a so-called Jumps trainer enjoyed 3 winners at Britain’s most prestigious fixture? Truly, to label Alan solely as a Jumps trai...

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Ilona Barnett, Fixture Secretary to the prestigious International fixture at Barbury, has been elected to the post of Chair of the Point-to-Point Secretaries Association, which also offers a seat on the sport's governing body, the Point-to-Point Authority, to represent the interests of the various 170 or so fixtures across the UK. The International fixture, a brainchild of David Minton and leadin...

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The giant continent that is Australia is mad keen on its racing. There are 400 racecourses across every state and Tasmania too, supporting over 30,000 horses in training. And recent British and Irish success in the world-famous Melbourne Cup has cemented focus in Northern Hemisphere owners and trainers on the riches available in Oz. Sadly though, Jump racing represents less than 2% of the racing ...

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During lockdown, most businesses have focused on trying to keep afloat, whilst applauding the efforts of the medical professionals keeping us healthy. But one racing business has used its expertise to support the collective national effort.  The leading racing silks maker in Europe, Allertons, has changed course during the coronavirus crisis to support local hospitals and provide hundreds of...

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New Zealand, a country better known among sports fans for its rugby and cricket, has a thriving racing sector too. The “land of the long white cloud” – a translation of the Maori title for Aotearoa, reflects the country’s temperate climate, where the greenery is very conducive to breeding top-flight race and sport horses. Jump racing is growing in popularity in New Zealand...

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A report after last weekend's racing drew attention to a territory where it would surprise most to learn that the richest Jumps race in the world is not the Grand National, nor even one of the prestigious steeplechases in France, whose racing is funded by a state-run tote. Actually, the most valuable Jumps event in the world is in a country barely known for Jump racing - Japan. Japan, a country w...

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France Galop tentatively set horse racing return for May 11 Horse racing fans can rejoice, at least in France, as the country could resume events in May. It was announced yesterday that  France Galop could reinstate horse racing from May 11, ending an almost two-month suspension of races in Europe. Horse racing punters, starved to a diet of All-Weather US racing, are growing with excitement ...

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America is the land of opportunity, yet despite that, Jump racing has only ever caught on in the United States, and even then, only in states bordering the eastern seaboard. Venture west or into the central states, and Jumping will be seen as “some quirky British thing”. Yet, among the 26 courses staging steeplechasing and timber races in the US, there is a strong following and a youn...

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Barbury and the surrounding area is something of a hotspot for the training of National Hunt racehorses. The premier event in the season last month, the Cheltenham Festival, is where everyone involved in the sport wants to have a winner. Lambourn Downs trainers were well represented, with 46 runners and 5 winners, whilst Wiltshire drew a blank from 19 runners. Let's take a look at how they got on...

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Due to retirement an opportunity has arisen at The Barbury Castle Estate near Marlborough, Wiltshire. The Estate extends to c.2,200 acres and its operations comprises: Livestock and arable (mainly contracted out) farming, maintaining gallops and other responsibilities for a large horse racing business, a highly regarded shoot, forestry, conservation, property letting and preservation.   Barb...

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With the news that Ireland’s attempt at closed doors racing has become a short-lived attempt to outwit the virus, western Europe is a wasteland for sporting endeavour, with no nation permitting organised sport at any level. Even the Olympics has capitulated in the path of the all-conquering Coronavirus. The shutdown serves as a reminder that enjoying racing need not be limited to the Britis...

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With the news that all racing in the UK been cancelled due to Coronavirus, Peter Watton from OddsMonkey explains what this could mean for the sport — and the people that rely on it to earn their living. Looking out over the Marlborough Downs on these past few wonderful Spring days, it seems unreal to hear of the further spread of COVID-19. The virus is set to cause huge damage to the world'...

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The Point-to-Point Authority has cencelled the rest of the season, cincluding all fixtures henceforth, as a result of the government's advice last evening on avoiding social contact. We look forward to welcoming visitors back to Barbury when racing reconvenes in the autumn.

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The final Barbury fixture on Sunday April 5 remains on course, despite many sports halting or postponing over the past few days.  The race meeting is under the overall jurisdiction of the British Horseracing Authority, whose COVID-19 steering group met on Friday to issue the following statement, "British racing continues to be in close contact with the UK government and has been followinhg t...

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Wiltshire-based trainer Neil Mulholland has three horses entered for the 2020 Randox Health Grand National this year. However, all three runners are ranked as outsiders with the bookmakers for the race. The betting reflects the fact that all three will need help from above them in the weights if they are to make the cut. Their odds would almost certainly be slashed if they were given the opp...

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Marlborough trainers have long grown used to playing second fiddle to the weight of steeplechasing talent that is housed throughout the Lambourn Valley, not 30 minutes drive hence. But that is all changing. Alan King, Emma Lavelle and Neil King, who all train within 3 miles of each other and within hailing distance of Barbury Racecourse, the best regarded Point-to-Point course in the South West, ...

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THE rearranged Vine & Craven Hunt point-to-point meeting at Barbury on Saturday has been called off. The fixture, which fell victim to high winds from Storm Ciara on Sunday, has been postponed this time after heavy rain overnight left the course inaccessible to emergency vehicles. Organisers are considering their options, and any further updates will follow in due course.

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Next month's Cheltenham Gold Cup is the premier horse race at the Cheltenham Festival and indeed the National Hunt season at large. The legendary race caps off the four-day event at Prestbury Park and hands out the richest prize in British and Irish horse racing outside the Aintree Grand National. The Cheltenham Festival launches a feast of great spring horse racing along with the Grand National. ...

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SAM Jukes has reported his Cheltenham Festival hope Marcle Ridge remains on course for the rearranged Vine & Craven Hunt meeting at Barbury on Saturday, writes Russell Smith. The fixture, which was postponed last weekend due to high winds from Storm Ciara, has been rescheduled subject to the necessary officials being found. And Jukes, who is based at Dymock, near Ledbury, is keen to run the ...

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