Horse racing news: Romantic Warrior ready for first leg of Triple Crown clash with Voyage Bubble
Romantic Warrior worked smoothly through his final piece of serious trackwork on Tuesday morning (20 January) under the cover of darkness at Sha Tin in preparation for Sunday afternoon’s (25 January) HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Stewards’ Cup (1 mile/1600m).
Gearing up for the Triple Crown’s first leg at Sha Tin, Romantic Warrior clocked an untested 1m 16.6s (27, 25.7, 23.9) under Hugh Bowman on the turf course alongside stablemate Romantic Thor, and it was much to the satisfaction of trainer Danny Shum.
Racing punter turns £40 into over £30k
One William Hill punter welcomed the weekend in with a huge horse racing win, as they landed separate winning treble and patent bets to the tune of over £30,000.
Horse racing news: William Hill reveal their worst Cheltenham Festival liabilities 50 days out
With 50 days to go until the Cheltenham Festival, William Hill have revealed their worst liabilities for the greatest four days in racing.
Featuring a mix of household names and returning champions, the leading bookmaker is starting to get a real sense of the horses who will make or break their Festival.
Horse racing news: Dylan Browne McMonagle lands first Hong Kong winner with Flow Water Flow
Dylan Browne McMonagle slotted his first winner in Hong Kong when he piloted John Size–trained Flow Water Flow to victory in the Class 4 Triathlon Handicap (1 mile/1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday 18 January.
The 22-year-old Irishman struck on what was only his 24th ride in Hong Kong, finishing strongly to get the better of the James Orman–ridden The Golden Knight by a short-head at the line.
Which 10 horses could steal the show at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival?
At the end of January, National Hunt fanatics will descend on Leopardstown Racecourse, for the Dublin Racing Festival.
One of the highlights of the National Hunt calendar, the DRF always attracts some of the best horses, trainers and jockeys in the business.
The Dublin Racing Festival is held annually at Leopardstown, with the showpiece races namely the Irish Gold Cup and the Irish Champion Hurdle.
Sports News Blitz’s racing expert, Kieran McHugh, has picked out 10 horses which he believes you should be keeping an eye on before the Leopardstown extravaganza begins on January 31.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Ascot and Haydock on Saturday, January 17
We thought it would be best to let you know that Sport News Blitz’s horse racing tipster Jeff Mexico is one of those strange people who has no sauce on his bacon sandwiches. No red, brown, yellow, white or black (Worcestershire sauce, if you were unaware). Just bacon and bread. What a crazy world we live in.
Hopefully, this doesn’t put you off wanting to find out Jeff’s tips for this weekend’s action from the seven races ITV are showing at Ascot and Haydock.
The telly schedule includes the juicy Grade 1 Clarence House Chase from the Berkshire track as well as the Grade 2 Warfield Mares’ Hurdle, while up in the North West there’s a Grade 2 and 3.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Windsor, Market Rasen and Newcastle on Friday, January 16
After picking out a couple of winners on his debut, Sport News Blitz horse racing pundit Kieran McHugh returns.
ITV have offered up seven races this Friday afternoon, which is our pundit’s lucky number, and he is thus hoping for a magnificent seven.
The greatest horses owned by JP McManus in British & Irish National Hunt racing
Billionaire owner JP McManus started 2026 by appointing former champion jockey Harry Cobden as his retained rider from May.
It’s certainly a bold statement from McManus, filling a role that hasn’t been taken since Barry Geraghty retired in 2020. And before that, AP McCoy held the position, so Cobden has huge boots to fill. There is also a slew of top-class horses for him to mount.
Here, Sports News Blitz reveals the greatest JP McManus horses to shine at the Cheltenham Festival, Aintree, Punchestown and beyond.
Horse racing news: Who will replace Harry Cobden as Paul Nicholls’ retained rider?
Former champion jockey Harry Cobden will become JP McManus’ number one jockey in Britain and Ireland from May.
Sports News Blitz’s racing expert, Kieran McHugh, explores the question on many people’s minds - who will replace him at Ditcheat?
Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble go head-to-head as Ka Ying Rising returns
Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble have both been entered for the HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Stewards' Cup (1 mile/1600m), while superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising is set to return in the G1 HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (6f/1200m) on 25 January at Sha Tin.
Horse racing news: Harry Cobden announced as retained rider for leading owner JP McManus
Former champion jockey Harry Cobden has been announced as the new retained rider for JP McManus from May onwards.
Cobden will hold the position of number one jockey to McManus in both Britain and Ireland, writes Sports News Blitz racing expert Kieran McHugh.
Horse racing tips and best bets for the King’s Plate Festival in South Africa
Oisin Murphy features as South Africa’s finest descend on Kenilworth racecourse this weekend - with a place at Breeders’ Cup at stake.
Sports News Blitz’s Kieran McHugh offers his suggested tips for the three Grade One races featured at the King’s Plate Festival, including the 165th running of the main event.
The three Grade One races are all part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, giving the victors a guaranteed starting spot, in their respective races, at Keenland in the USA.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Warwick, Kempton and Fairyhouse on Saturday, January 10
A new betting year is upon us and Sport News Blitz’s horse racing tipster Jeff Mexico has emerged from his self-imposed festive exile in the bins behind the BetFred in Penzance.
ITV have served up a whopping 10 races for Jeff to get his grubby mitts on this Saturday afternoon, so forgive us if he starts to lose interest after about seven tips. He’s easily distracted.
There’s five from Warwick, including a Grade 2 and 3, four from Kempton, which also has a Grade 2, and finally a Grade 2 from over the water in Fairyhouse.
New World Pool fixtures from Australia, South Africa, UK and Ireland for 2026
World Pool’s 2026 fixture list will feature a host of new big race days from Australia, UK, Ireland and South Africa.
World Pool’s new spate of fixtures will kick-off in South Africa little over a week into the new year, when 10 races on King’s Plate Day from Kenilworth on 10 January will be commingled for the first time.
A further new South African addition to the fixture list will see races on H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes Day (7 March) from Turffontein part of World Pool in Q1.
Horse racing news: After making history yet again, where next for Japanese star Forever Young in 2026?
It’s fair to say that Forever Young is Japan’s new idol horse.
But what lies ahead for Yoshito Yahagi’s history-making five-year-old in 2026? Sports News Blitz’s Kieran McHugh explores.
Horse racing tips for Kempton’s evening card on Wednesday, January 7
Making his debut for Sport News Blitz, horse racing pundit Kieran McHugh finishes the first week of the new year with his first set of tips.
With a new year’s resolution of trying to end the season in profit, he’s hoping it doesn’t go the way of many people’s gym memberships – down the pan.
Horse racing news: Rivals renew feud as Galopin bids for history again
Galopin Des Champs and Inothewayurthinkin are the headline acts of the 33 entries for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13, a rematch of last year’s big clash.
A further 21 Irish trained horses are entered, with the ‘Emerald Isle’ bidding to make it a tenth victory in 11 years in the race, writes Sports News Blitz horse racing expert Kieran McHugh.
However, there is optimism that Great Britain can reclaim the coveted trophy, despite being outnumbered.
Horse racing news: World Pool posts strong growth in 2025
World Pool turnover on overseas races, that is those meetings internationally commingled from outside Hong Kong, grew by 20% in 2025.
The total amount bet into the Hong Kong Jockey Club-powered pools across 57 overseas racedays in 2025 totalled HK$9.3bn, up from HK$7.8bn in 2024.
2025 also saw a new record set for the highest single race turnover for World Pool bet types. Ka Ying Rising’s appearance in The Everest saw betting surge to a total of HK$83m, smashing the previous high of HK$66.2m wagered on the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in 2023 when Hong Kong sprinter Wellington lined up.
Myretown heads William Hill Half A Mill Classic Chase betting
Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore’s Myretown heads the betting for Saturday’s William Hill Half A Mill Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick. Last seen when falling at Newbury on his seasonal bow, the Ultima winner will be looking to get his campaign back on track in the latest William Hill Half A Mill bonus race.
Horse racing news: Constitution Hill 3/1 to win on the Flat in 2026
Constitution Hill can be backed at 3/1 with William Hill to make a successful switch to the Flat in 2026, having fallen on his last three starts over hurdles.
The former Champion Hurdle winner is 3/1 to win a Group or Graded race on the level at any point in the new year.
The leading bookmaker’s popular ‘Horses To Remain Unbeaten’ market is back as well, with Hong Kong’s star sprinter Ka Ying Rising heading the betting at 2/1.