Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Annie Power is a 4-7 shot with most firms for the Aintree Hurdle

Champion Hurdle heroine Annie Power off to Aintree

Annie Power is expected to prove a tough nut to crack over what connections believe is her ideal trip as she bids to back up her Champion Hurdle success with victory in the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

Racing • 06 Apr 16

Cue Card's form figures at Aintree read 1222

Colin Tizzard bullish on Cue Card's prospects

Colin Tizzard feels Cue Card is still in tip-top form ahead of his bid to put behind him his costly Cheltenham Gold Cup fall in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree on Thursday.

Racing • 06 Apr 16

Vautour is no bigger than 1-3 to add the Melling Chase to his big-race haul

Vautour scares off all but five rivals at Aintree

Vautour will face just five rivals as he bids to supplement his Ryanair Chase success in the JLT Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday.

Racing • 06 Apr 16

Saphir Du Rheu is a top-price 20-1 for next season's Gold Cup

Saphir Du Rheu magnificent in Mildmay victory

Saphir Du Rheu got his career over fences back on track with a brilliant display in the Betfred Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree.

Racing • 10 Apr 15

Thistlecrack finished fifth in the Imperial Cup at Sandown last month

Thistlecrack records shock victory in Sefton

Thistlecrack claimed Grade One honours for Colin Tizzard and Tom Scudamore in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

Racing • 10 Apr 15

Don Cossack has been well backed for next season's Ryanair Chase following his Melling Chase success, but could be pointed at next season's Gold Cup

Don Cossack drubs Melling rivals on Merseyside

Tony McCoy steered Don Cossack to his fifth victory of a memorable campaign in the Betfred Melling Chase at Aintree.

Racing • 10 Apr 15

Rajdhani Express safely negotiates the 11th fence in the Topham Chase

Rajdhani Express takes Topham for Waley-Cohen

Amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen claimed a sixth victory over the Grand National fences at Aintree as Rajdhani Express galloped clear in the Crabbie's Topham Chase.

Racing • 10 Apr 15

Silviniaco Conti ridden by Noel Fehily clears a fence on the way to victory in the Betfred Bowl Steeple Chase

Silviniaco Conti takes Bowl Chase at Aintree

Silviniaco Conti dug deep when it mattered most to register back-to-back victories in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree.

Racing • 09 Apr 15

Clarcam jumped superbly throughout the One Magnificent City Manifesto Novices' Chase

Clarcam returns to form in Novices' Chase

Clarcam left his below-par performance in the Arkle at Cheltenham behind when running out an impressive winner of the One Magnificent City Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree.

Racing • 09 Apr 15

Shutthefrontdoor (L) is Tony McCoy's mount in his final Aintree Grand National

No defections from National field at Aintree

There were no withdrawals at the 48-hour declaration stage for the Crabbie's Grand National, with Lord Windermere at the head of the weights at Aintree on Saturday while Tony McCoy partners Jonjo O'Neill's Shutthefrontdoor.

Racing • 09 Apr 15

Hurricane Fly will go to Punchestown instead of Aintree

Hurricane Fly to give Aintree challenge a miss

Willie Mullins will rely upon Arctic Fire in the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle on Thursday after deciding against running Hurricane Fly.

Racing • 07 Apr 15

The New One will not run at the Aintree Festival this year

The New One is ruled out of Aintree

The New One will not run at Aintree next month after being ruled out for the rest of the season.

Racing • 25 Mar 15

Annie Power suffered a last-flight fall in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival

Walsh: Annie Power may run at Aintree, Punchestown

Ruby Walsh has raised the possibility of Annie Power running at Aintree and at Punchestown this spring.

Racing • 21 Mar 15

Tony McCoy has yet to nominate a final day for racing

McCoy: I’ll probably stop if I win Grand National

Tony McCoy said he "will probably stop there and then" if the soon-to-retire jockey wins the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree.

Racing • 21 Mar 15

On The Fringe looks likely to go in the Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree

On The Fringe looks set for Aintree run

Enda Bolger has given On The Fringe the go-ahead to run in the Crabbie's Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree in three weeks' time.

Racing • 20 Mar 15

Shutthefrontdoor (green and gold silks) is the 8-1 favourite

No major withdrawals from Grand National

All of the major fancies stood their ground at the latest forfeit stage for the Crabbie's Grand National, with 87 horses remaining in the Aintree spectacular on 11 April.

Racing • 04 Mar 15

Ruby Walsh is ready to ride out this weekend as he continues his recovery from a big fall at Aintree

Ruby to return to the saddle this weekend

Ruby Walsh plans to be back riding out this weekend as he prepares to return to competitive action in time for the Punchestown Festival.

Racing • 16 Apr 14

Balder Succes jumped the final fence in excellent fashion to win the Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase

Balder dashes to Maghull victory

Alan King will consider a trip to the Punchestown Festival for Balder Succes after the talented youngster came of age with a maiden Grade One victory in the Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree.

Racing • 05 Apr 14

Ma Filleule gave Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty a second consecutive Topham Chase, following Triolo D'Alene's victory last season

Henderson and Geraghty combine for Aintree treble

The victory of Josses Hill initiated a superb treble for the formidable team of Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty at the Aintree Festival, with Ma Filleule securing the second leg of the hat-trick with a spring-heeled display in the Crabbie's Supporting Everton In The Community Topham Chase.

Racing • 04 Apr 14

Josses Hill saw off the challenge of Sgt Reckless at Aintree

Aintree triumph for Josses Hill

Cheltenham Festival runner-up Josses Hill went one better with an authoritative display under Barry Geraghty in the International Festival For Business 2014 Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

Racing • 04 Apr 14

Peter Maher expects big things from Big Shu at Aintree

Maher ready to see Shu shine at Aintree

County Kildare trainer Peter Maher feels he has Big Shu in the shape of his life ahead of Saturday's Crabbies' Grand National - which is already a sell-out.

Racing • 03 Apr 14

Tony McCoy is expected to choose between riding Colbert Station (above) and Double Seven for the big race

McCoy delays National call

Tony McCoy is unlikely to make a decision on his ride in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree until the final declarations are made on Thursday.

Racing • 01 Apr 14

Sgt Reckless (left) may be sent to Punchestown instead of Aintree

Channon casts his eye over Punchestown

Somersby and Sgt Reckless could miss the Aintree meeting in favour of other opportunities, including Punchestown.

Racing • 27 Mar 14

Tony McCoy is closing in on 4000 career wins

McCoy closing in on 4000 after Aintree win

Tony McCoy is just 11 winners away from the magical 4,000 over jumps after a double on Eastlake and Deadly Sting at Aintree.

Racing • 27 Oct 13

Tartan Snow clears one of the open ditches at Aintree

Tartan Snow stages Aintree upset

Tartan Snow, a 100-1 chance, edged out Cool Friend in a thrilling finish to the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase on the opening afternoon of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.

Racing • 04 Apr 13