(Photo: Dan Abraham / focusonracing.com)
Michael Dods will target Qipco British Champions Day with his star filly
Azure Blue after ruling her out of a potential outing this weekend.
The four-year-old made a flying start to her campaign, with a comeback victory in Listed company at Newmarket followed by a narrow defeat of Highfield Princess in the Duke of York Stakes.
She was sixth when stepped up to Group One level for the July Cup and subsequently missed an intended tilt at the Nunthorpe at York after suffering a minor foot problem.
Azure Blue could have returned this weekend in either Saturday’s Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock or the Flying Five at the Curragh on Sunday, but Dods has again had to put plans on hold.
Champions Day or nothing for this season
Azure Blue and regular rider and Racing TV ambassador Paul Mulrennan (Photo: Mark Cranham / focusonracing.com)
“We’ve had a bit of an issue. She seems all right now, but we just didn’t think she’d be ready,” said the Darlington-based trainer.
“She had the foot problem before York and then she had a bit of an ulcer problem and we just had to deal with it.
“We’re happy enough with her, she just wouldn’t have been ready to run this weekend.”
Azure Blue will now either contest the British Champions Sprint on October 21 or be roughed off until next season.
Dods added: “If we didn’t have her for
Ascot we probably wouldn’t be bothering, I’d probably leave her and have her ready for the start of next season. That would be the plan.
“It’s disappointing, but there’s always another day and we’ll just have to wait until we see her at 100 per cent.”
Galopin Des Champs' brilliant display in the 2025 Irish Gold Cup! Can he record a fourth straight win in the race tomorrow?
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Ruby Walsh analyses the Champion Hurdle hopeful after his win in the Unibet Hurdle - better known as the International - on Festival Trials Day on the latest episode of Road To Cheltenham, sponsored by Paddy Power.
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Welcome to the official YouTube channel of Racing TV, the UK's leading horse racing channel showing live racing from the best racecourses in Great Britain and Ireland.
Subscribe to Racing TV's free YouTube channel and get closer to the sport we all love. If you want to watch unmissable moments from the world of racing and exclusive interviews and highlights from our specialist shows then this is the place for you! https://bit.ly/2RHbyMa
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Galopin Des Champs' first Irish Gold Cup win back in 2023!
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Welcome to the official YouTube channel of Racing TV, the UK's leading horse racing channel showing live racing from the best racecourses in Great Britain and Ireland.
Subscribe to Racing TV's free YouTube channel and get closer to the sport we all love. If you want to watch unmissable moments from the world of racing and exclusive interviews and highlights from our specialist shows then this is the place for you! https://bit.ly/2RHbyMa
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Gavin Lynch, Mark Boylan and Dan Overall join Andrew Blair-White for the latest On The Wire previewing two days of mouthwatering action at Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival.
Our panel give you the best insights into the racing this weekend, with in-depth analysis and tips throughout!
We also hear from On The Wire regular Donn McClean, who provides you with his top three selections for the DRF, as well as hearing from BOYLEsports ambassador Robbie Power who tells us the tales of DRF past, including his win on Sizing John in 2017!
This is a jam-packed show - get the kettle on, grab your popcorn and enjoy.
Our thanks to BOYLE sports for their ongoing support of On The Wire.
*All runners and prices correct at the time of recording*
On The Wire Price Boosts (T&C’s apply): https://www.boylesports.com/sports/horse-racing/future-horses/uk/ire/onthewire-price-boosts New Irish Customers: Bet €10 Get €60 in Free Bets + €10 Casino Bonus https://ads.boylesports.com/redirect.... (18+ only, terms and conditions apply, please bet responsibly) New UK Customers (excluding NI): Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus https://ads.boylesports.com/redirect.... (18+ only, terms and conditions apply, please bet responsibly)
#horseracing #racing #Onthewire
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Welcome to the official YouTube channel of Racing TV, the UK's leading horse racing channel showing live racing from the best racecourses in Great Britain and Ireland.
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Harry Cobden rode a winner on his first ride after a near two-week absence aboard Pourquoi Pas Papa for trainer Paul Nicholls at Wincanton. Cobden is known for his sense of perspective, level-headedness and wider interests outside of tbe weighing room and reveals that in his post-race chat with Racing TV’s Rachel Casey.
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Wendigo puts in a nice round at Ayr under Gavin Sheehan for Jamie Snowden on his final run before the Cheltenham Festival, where a clash with Final Demand awaits in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
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Charme De Faust, a four-year-old filly by Goliath Du Berlais, shows impressive late speed in testing conditions at Thurles and looks a bright prospect for champion trainer Willie Mullins and long-times allies Rich and Susannah Ricci.
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Jamie Snowden’s Wendigo came through his Cheltenham Festival preparations at Ayr with flying colours, with his trainer describing the race as “perfect”.
Last seen finishing strongly into third in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas, he was taking a big drop in class for the Join Coral ‘Bet £10 Get £50’ ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase.
Only two were declared to take him on, Donald McCain’s Maximilian, a Grade Two winner over hurdles in January 2023, and Nick Alexander’s Donny Boy.
Maximilian set out in front under Brian Hughes and while Donny Boy briefly led, Gavin Sheehan did not waste time in sending Wendigo on.
Jumping with aplomb, the seven-year-old was soon a long way clear and the 1-5 favourite came home 22 lengths to the good.
Wendigo is a general 10-1 chance for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
“You always hope it is straightforward when they are so short in the betting and thankfully it was,” said Snowden.
“It’s a good sign when after the last he picked up immediately, suggesting there was plenty left, it was a perfect race really.
“It’s a long gap between Kempton and Cheltenham so it was nice to get a run into him.
“We went right-handed at Christmas, but we always had a sneaky suspicion he was better left-handed and he did jump out to his left at Kempton. All the graded races between now and then like the Scilly Isles, the Reynoldstown and Pendil are right-handed so we had to go up to Ayr.
“He jumped beautifully today and I think he’s the best of the British in the Brown Advisory, but he’s not had four runs over fences which qualifies him for the handicaps. Our main aim is the Brown Advisory, but we do have options.
“We can watch the Irish this weekend now.”
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Racing Greats ➡️ http://y2u.be/74MKoH7TLIE
All the best Group One and Grade One action ➡️ http://y2u.be/mOq9ZgMn_ME
Welcome to the official YouTube channel of Racing TV, the UK's leading horse racing channel showing live racing from the best racecourses in Great Britain and Ireland.
Subscribe to Racing TV's free YouTube channel and get closer to the sport we all love. If you want to watch unmissable moments from the world of racing and exclusive interviews and highlights from our specialist shows then this is the place for you! https://bit.ly/2RHbyMa
You can also find us on Sky 424 or Virgin Media 536 (411 in Ireland): https://t.co/xkJ0xBrDcm
Also watch Racing TV at racingtv.com and via our iPhone, iPad and Android apps: https://t.co/CwcklwUMHs
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