Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy have enjoyed 10 Cheltenham Festival winners together

Elliott eager to have Kennedy back for Cheltenham

Gordon Elliott is keeping his fingers crossed Jack Kennedy will win his race against time to be fit for the Cheltenham Festival, with the jockey now back riding work at Cullentra after his leg break.

Racing • 26 Feb

Gordon Elliott was the leading trainer at the Festival in 2017 and 2018

Cheltenham Festival: Elliott stable tour

Teahupoo is once more set to play a major part in Gordon's Elliott's strong team at the Cheltenham Festival when he defends his Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle crown, while a final decision on whether his star mare Brighterdaysahead will run in the Unibet Champion Hurdle will be made early next week.

Racing • 26 Feb

Willie Mullins' Kawaboomga had been a leading contender for the Turners' Novices' Hurdle

Kawaboomga added to list of Cheltenham absentees

Leading Cheltenham Festival contender Kawaboomga has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a setback.

Racing • 24 Feb

The Gordon Elliott-trained Jacob's Ladder recorded a third career success in testing conditions at Naas

Jacob's climbs Ladder with Grade Three win at Naas

Jacob's Ladder may have earned himself a late call up to Gordon Elliott's Cheltenham Festival squad with victory in the Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Naas.

Racing • 23 Feb

Willie Mullins enjoyed a treble on the day

Gameofinches lays down Champion Bumper gauntlet

Gameofinches became the new favourite for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival when bringing up a treble for Willie Mullins at Punchestown on Thursday.

Racing • 20 Feb

Telepathique has proven hugely progressive this season

Cheltenham target for Wadham's Telepathique

Lucy Wadham believes Telepathique has found another gear chasing as she goes from strength to strength over fences.

Racing • 13 Feb

Impervious has proven a difficult horse to train since her win at the 2023 Punchestown Festival

No Cheltenham Festival comeback for Impervious

Colm Murphy's star mare Impervious has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival following a further setback.

Racing • 12 Feb

Sir Gino had been due to run in Newbury last Saturday

Sir Gino ruled out for rest of season

Sir Gino has been ruled out for the rest of the season, trainer Nicky Henderson has announced.

Racing • 10 Feb

Impervious winning at Cheltenham last year

Impervious not out of Cheltenham reckoning just yet

Colm Murphy has not given up hope of getting Impervious to the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Racing • 05 Feb

Galopin Des Champs came back to a hero's welcome after his win in Saturday's Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown

Gold Cup field down to 15 runners after latest entries

Dual winner Galopin Des Champs leads the way as 15 horses remain in contention for next month's Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Racing • 04 Feb

Unbeaten Anzadam sidelined by injury

Willie Mullins has been forced to rule his exciting prospect Anzadam out for the rest of the season.

Racing • 30 Jan

Granted a clear round, Constitution Hill should outclass his rivals at Prestbury Park

Constitution Hill preps at Cheltenham on Saturday

Some may have doubted Nicky Henderson in the Kempton winner's enclosure at Christmas when he suggested Constitution Hill might well be seen again before the Cheltenham Festival, but the Champion Hurdle favourite is back in action at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Racing • 24 Jan

Constitution Hill easily accounted for Lossiemouth last time out

Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth entered on Trials Day

Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth could clash again after both appeared among six entries for the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Racing • 20 Jan

Nico de Boinville rides Jonbon to victory at Ascot

Jonbon dominates Energumene to win at Ascot

Jonbon ground Energumene into submission to land another fantastic triumph in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

Racing • 18 Jan

Constitution Hill routed his rivals in the race in 2023

Constitution Hill heads 16 entries in Champion Hurdle

Ante-post favourite and 2023 winner Constitution Hill heads a list of 16 contenders entered in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, while the race could feature a Japanese raider in the form of All The World.

Racing • 14 Jan

Il Est Francais found only Banbridge too good in the King George at Kempton

Il Est Francais to head straight to Cheltenham

Noel George is planning to send Il Est Francais straight to the Cheltenham Festival, with the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Gold Cup currently considered more likely targets than the Ryanair Chase.

Racing • 14 Jan

Trainer Nicky Henderson has won the Triumph Hurdle a record seven times

Triumph Hurdle springer Lulamba set for Kempton contest

Nicky Henderson has attempted to dampen the hype surrounding new Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba ahead of his planned British debut at Kempton Park on Saturday.

Racing • 09 Jan

Spillane's Tower will be aimed at the Ryanair Chase over an intermediate trip at Cheltenham

Spillane's Tower set to take flight in Ryanair Chase

The Ryanair Chase is the sole Cheltenham Festival option for Spillane's Tower after connections decided against giving him an entry in the Boodles Gold Cup.

Racing • 07 Jan

Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs is a top-price of 11-10 to bring up a hat-trick in the race

Cheltenham Gold Cup entries reflect Irish hegemony

Hat-trick-chasing Galopin Des Champs heads 19 entries for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, with a record-low five British contenders for March's blue riband chase.

Racing • 07 Jan

Fastorslow was one of the favourites for the King George on Stephen's Day

Star chaser Fastorslow ruled out for rest of season

Martin Brassil has suffered a blow with news his star chaser Fastorslow has been ruled out for the season.

Racing • 05 Dec 24

Henderson 'couldn't be happier' with Constitution Hill

Nicky Henderson expressed his delight after putting Constitution Hill through his paces in a racecourse gallop at Newbury on Monday.

Racing • 28 Oct 24

Ruby Walsh is the festival's most successful ever jockey

Walsh: Cheltenham changes will improve entire season

Ruby Walsh expects the changes to the Cheltenham Festival programme to bolster competitiveness and field sizes beyond just the four days in the Cotswolds.

Racing • 26 Sep 24

Adrian Heskin after winning aboard Chain Gang at the 2015 Leopardstown Christmas Festival

Grade 1-winning rider Heskin announces his retirement

Adrian Heskin has announced his retirement from race-riding at the age of 32.

Racing • 07 May 24

Flooring Porter will be back over the smaller obstacles at Aintree on 13 April

Porter will go again in pursuit of Liverpool Hurdle

Flooring Porter will attempt to finally get his hands on the Jrl Group Liverpool Hurdle following his brave second in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Racing • 22 Mar 24

Irish winners outscored the British 18-9 at this year's Festival

BHA chief: Irish Cheltenham dominance 'damaging' sport

British Horseracing Authority chief executive Julie Harrington has warned the dominance of Irish trainers at the Cheltenham Festival is "damaging" for the sport.

Racing • 16 Mar 24