Person: Don Poli

Robbie Power confident Sizing will stay Gold Cup trip

Robbie Power is confident the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup trip is within Sizing John’s compass.

Wed, 08 Mar, 2017

Des Iles in good order ahead of Bobbyjo

Trainer Ross O’Sullivan expects his star mare Baie Des Iles to give another good account of herself in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse today.

Sat, 25 Feb, 2017

Grand National favourite Don Poli a 'doubtful' runner

Don Poli, favourite for the Randox Health Grand National with most bookmakers, is a doubtful runner according to Eddie O'Leary.

Thu, 16 Feb, 2017

BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle Day - Lepoardstown Races

Don’t expect any Cheltenham festival clues from Irish Gold Cup

For a number of years now the Irish Gold Cup has become increasingly irrelevant as a Cheltenham trial and this renewal is more notable for those that are missing, rather than those who are running, writes Pat Keane.

Sat, 11 Feb, 2017

Gordon Elliott set to be double-handed in Irish Gold Cup

Don Poli and Empire Of Dirt are set to represent Gordon Elliott in the Stan James Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

Wed, 01 Feb, 2017

Is Thistlecrack value at evens for the Gold Cup?

Our writers debate the value of the Gold Cup favourite...

Wed, 25 Jan, 2017

Valseur Lido stays three miles - he just needs testing ground

When Gigginstown’s Valseur Lido faded, rather dramatically, from the final fence in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown the general reaction was that he simply didn’t stay the three miles.

Sat, 07 Jan, 2017

Outlander’s tenacity carries the day in Lexus Chase

Roll back the clock 12 months and the result of yesterday’s Lexus Chase – Outlander first, Don Poli second and Djakadam third – would have been a clean sweep for trainer Willie Mullins, but the dynamic nature of the sport is such it was Gordon Elliott who was celebrating having the first two home, with Mullins responsible for the third.

Sun, 01 Jan, 2017

Many Clouds set to swerve Lexus Chase assignment

Oliver Sherwood is to swerve an outing in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown next week with 2015 Grand National winner Many Clouds.

Thu, 22 Dec, 2016

Outlander to put in Titanic effort in Belfast Chase

Just two rides today, but they’re good ones, and I start off with Valseur Lido in the JNWine Chase at Down Royal. 

Sat, 05 Nov, 2016

Shock split between Willie Mullins and Gigginstown ‘basically over fees, I imagine’

The world of National Hunt racing was rocked yesterday morning when it was announced by Willie Mullins that he would no longer be training for Gigginstown House Stud.

Thu, 29 Sep, 2016

Time to give Carlingford Lough the respect he deserves

We really ought to have known better. History has shown that underestimating Carlingford Lough and John Kiely is a foolish move but some lessons are harder absorbed than others.

Thu, 28 Apr, 2016

Bellshill to go one better

Not the return I had hoped for, yesterday at Punchestown, but we can look forward to this afternoon and hope for better luck. 

Wed, 27 Apr, 2016

Today's Tips: Cue Card can round off campaign with a win at Punchestown

Due to enforced absences and otherwise, this afternoon’s featured Bibby Financial Services Punchestown Gold Cup may not be the end-of-season clash we craved, but the presence of King George winner Cue Card and Gold Cup second and third Djakadam and Don Poli ensures it is a race to savour.

Wed, 27 Apr, 2016

Willie Mullins preping strong team for Punchestown

Willie Mullins is looking forward to launching another strong assault on next week’s Punchestown Festival after entries for the first three days of the showpiece meeting were confirmed.

Fri, 22 Apr, 2016

Aintree and BHA can take a bow over Grand National

The Grand National was a great race and a credit to everyone involved, says Ruby Walsh.

Mon, 18 Apr, 2016

2016 Cheltenham Festival - Champion Day - Cheltenham Racecourse

Could Willie Mullins pay price for Aintree offensive?

Next Tuesday week will see the start of the Punchestown festival and there is going to be a somewhat unusual feel to it.

Sat, 16 Apr, 2016

Annie Power surges to easy success

Willie Mullins’ long wait to land the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle came to an end in emphatic fashion as Annie Power once again evoked memories of the magnificent mare Dawn Run with another display nothing short of sublime.

Fri, 08 Apr, 2016

Annie can power home over best trip

There is a tremendous card to open Aintree’s Grand National meeting, one which resembles a Cheltenham Festival fixture, and bookmakers hoping for better results than they got in the Cotswolds, may be in for a tough start to proceedings.

Thu, 07 Apr, 2016

Willie Mullins aims big guns at Aintree

The Crabbie’s Grand National meeting could start with a bang as the imperious Douvan is among 18 entries in the Merseryrail Manifesto Novices’ Chase next Thursday.

Sat, 02 Apr, 2016

Willie Mullins to unleash big guns at Aintree in bid to catch Nicholls

Willie Mullins’ assault on a first British trainers’ championship has gathered pace after the powerhouse Irish trainer earmarked a number of his Cheltenham superstars for the Crabbie’s Grand National meeting at Aintree next week.

Wed, 30 Mar, 2016

Two to keep in mind going forward post-Cheltenham

There are two horses that got beaten at Cheltenham who are worthy of the closest inspection going forward, namely Alpha Des Obeaux and Valseur Lido.

Sat, 26 Mar, 2016

Aintree next on Annie Power’s agenda

Willie Mullins has confirmed Annie Power to be on course for next month’s Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle.

Wed, 23 Mar, 2016

Davy Russell explains Don Poli paling

Davy Russell does not blame the ground for Don Poli’s Gold Cup eclipse last week, but rather that he finished third in a well above-average renewal of the race.

Tue, 22 Mar, 2016

It can only be onwards and upwards now for Bryan Cooper

Good days and bad days at Cheltenham. 

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

It has simply been the most unbelievable week for me

It has been the most unbelievable week for Willie Mullins and I. It’s not very often so little goes wrong and so much goes right, so we have to make the most of it when it happens like this. If you had offered me this before the Festival had started, I would have taken your hand off.

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

Enda McEvoy: A winning week — but only just

Busy morning. One of the Marys from yesterday is in touch to insist she does not ‘importune’ dinner invitations and demands a retraction.

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

Don Cossack reaches summit in style

National Hunt trainers’ handbook 1.01, how not to put pressure on yourself: When you have a promising young bumper horse do not tell the owner or the racing public that it could be a Gold Cup horse.

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

Bryan Cooper: We’ve put the doubters in their place

Bryan Cooper turned his head to face the masses in Cheltenham’s grandstand as he crossed the line on Don Cossack in yesterday’s Gold Cup and, as he did, he released a roar that will have surely silenced his many doubters.

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

Catch-up with what you've missed so far today with our lunchtime briefing

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Fri, 18 Mar, 2016

Dan Cossack can collect in Gold Cup

Don Cossack has to be the choice to land the Timico Gold Cup at Cheltenham this afternoon.

Fri, 18 Mar, 2016

Today’s Irish raiders at the Festival — race by race

Ivanovick Gorbatov likely to appreciate better ground

Fri, 18 Mar, 2016

What a way it would be to sign off, were Djakadam to win the race

I would really love to win the race, not just for me, but for Willie Mullins, writes Ruby Walsh

Fri, 18 Mar, 2016

Colin Tizzard: Cue Card a ‘horse of a lifetime’

Cue Card will carry the hopes of Britain in today’s Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup as the 10-year-old seeks to crown a stunning season by landing a £1m (€1.3m) bonus.

Fri, 18 Mar, 2016

Don Cossack set for Golden moment

The absence of Vautour takes some of the intrigue from the Gold Cup, but it remains a very competitive race, in which Don Cossack can regain his place as the highest rated chaser in these islands by landing the week’s feature for Gordon Elliott, Bryan Cooper and Gigginstown House Stud.

Fri, 18 Mar, 2016