Over 92,000 at Sha Tin to witness former Joseph O’Brien-trained Stunning Peach land Year of the Horse Cup
A Chinese New Year Raceday crowd of 92,612 were in attendance at Sha Tin to welcome in the New Year and see Stunning Peach, formerly trained by Joseph O’Brien, win the feature HK$3.12 million (approx. £300,000) Class 2 Year of the Horse Cup.
In total nearly 100,000 fans were watching in Hong Kong, with another 5,000 people watching the action on screens at Happy Valley Racecourse, and turnover on the day hit HK$1840 million (approx. £175m).
Ante-post market leaders with Cheltenham Festival just around the corner
Sports News Blitz’s Charlie Fawcett takes an admittedly premature look at some of the form fancies and runners of interest at the upcoming 2026 Cheltenham Festival as the countdown to the huge week continues.
With “The Greatest Show on Turf” now just T-minus 20 days away, all eyes are on which runners will be confirmed to feature at this year’s festival, and crucially, who will pick up the spoils in some of the most prestigious contests in all of racing.
With 28 races being crammed into one of the most iconic and highly anticipated events in the British sporting calendar, we focus on those with the most eyes upon them.
Horse racing news: Forever Young eyes immortality in Dubai World Cup as ‘dirt Triple Crown’ awaits
Forever Young is the world’s best dirt horse and Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh believes that he can climb into the pantheon of greats by winning the Dubai World Cup.
He is a six-time Grade One winner and the first back-to-back winner of the Saudi Cup. He is also the reigning Breeders’ Cup Classic champion, the first Japanese horse to achieve such a feat.
So, what stands between him and racing immortality? The one race that has evaded him thus far: the Dubai World Cup.
Horse racing news: Iroko has bookies sweating as Grand National weights announced by William Hill
The official betting partner of the Randox Grand National Festival, William Hill, have revealed that Iroko is still their biggest loser in their Grand National ante-post book.
With the weights for the world’s greatest race announced today in Liverpool’s St George’s Hall, the leading bookmakers have their biggest liability riding on the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero–trained runner.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton on Saturday, February 14
Sport News Blitz’s horse racing tipster Jeff Mexico is an old romantic at heart, having been married eight times, with his last to a young lady he met in a Philippine bar just after the Covid pandemic.
Talking of romance, ITV has nine races on offer this Valentine’s Day afternoon, so you can boost your coffers before blowing it on a below-par meal at a shonky high-street Italian restaurant in the evening.
Riyadh horse racing tips: Forever Young vs Nysos for Saudi Cup crown on Saturday, February 14
After receiving no Valentine’s Day cards for the sixth year in a row, Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh is hoping for a bit more luck as he heads to Riyadh.
The capital of Saudi Arabia hosts Saudi Cup night, headlined by the seventh running of the Saudi Cup itself.
Our racing pundit is hoping that he can invoke the spirit of Al-Hilal and go unbeaten.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Newbury and Warwick on Saturday, February 7
Sport News Blitz’s horse racing tipster Jeff Mexico can’t remember much of the 2000s, so he was relieved when his name didn’t appear in Jeffrey Epstein’s unsealed court documents that were released this week.
He also can’t remember a six-month fling with actress Cameron Diaz in 2007, which he understandably regrets on a daily basis.
Fortunately for us, his racing betting knowledge is still tip top and this Saturday he plunges into the murky depths of ITV’s eight-race offering from Newbury and Warwick.
Horse racing news: Dan Skelton’s Let It Rain set to cost bookies big in William Hill Hurdle at Newbury
William Hill have revealed that Let It Rain, the very popular 11/4 favourite for the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury, is set to be a big loser should she oblige on Saturday.
The Skeltons’ mare has been an extremely popular pick for punters since betting was opened on the feature contest from William Hill Super Saturday.
The 8/1 that was available in January was quickly hoovered up and her price has continued to plummet, with her now sitting as the hot 11/4 favourite.
What Cheltenham Festival clues have been uncovered from 2026’s Dublin Racing Festival?
After a pulsating renewal of the Dublin Racing Festival, full of twists, turns and shocks, Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh examines the impact the two-day event will have on the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.
Horse racing news: William Hill go Non-Runner Money Back on Cheltenham Festival
William Hill have announced that they have gone Non-Runner Money Back on all 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival.
On the back of two brilliant days at the Dublin Racing Festival, the leading bookmaker have now opened up a concession which will be welcomed by punters up and down the land.
Horse racing news: Majborough is Timeform’s highest-rated horse in training after Dublin Chase rout
Majborough produced the best performance of the jumps season so far when slamming Marine Nationale by 19 lengths in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday, earning a lofty Timeform rating of 179.
Il Etait Temps, who looked beaten when suffering a tired fall in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot last month, had previously topped the two-mile division on a rating of 172 courtesy of his emphatic victory in the Tingle Creek Chase.
Galopin des Champs, who will contest a strong Irish Gold Cup on Monday, was Timeform’s highest-rated jumps horse in training on 175 but has now been surpassed at the top of the ratings by his younger stablemate.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Leopardstown on Sunday, February 1
Sunday, February 1 hosts the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival.
After jetting around the globe, Sports News Blitz’s Kieran McHugh landed in Ireland.
And our pundit is keen to unearth some clues for the Cheltenham Festival.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Sandown, Musselbrough and Leopardstown on Saturday, January 31
Sometimes we struggle to keep up with the personal life of Sport News Blitz’s horse racing tipster Jeff Mexico. This week he carried out an ‘important scientific experiment’ during Storm Chandra, which hit the UK this week.
Standing naked behind the Betfred in St Austell, he wanted to see if a 75 mph wind would move his genitals independently. Without going into too much detail, he concluded the experiment a success and was promptly arrested for indecent exposure.
While you have that unpleasant image in your mind, why not take a gander at Jeff’s 11 tips for ITV’s big weekend of equine action at Sandown, Musselburgh and day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
Harry Skelton: We’re very proud to be the winning-most trainer-jockey partnership
Star Sports ambassador Harry Skelton looks back on a record-breaking weekend for the team, and ahead to Festival plans for some of their Trials Day runners.
Horse racing news: Ka Ying Rising equals Silent Witness with historic G1 Centenary Sprint Cup win
Moments after Ka Ying Rising forged into Hong Kong racing history with a record-equalling win in the HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (6f/1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday 25 January, David Hayes predicted the world’s best sprinter could potentially break Sha Tin’s 1400m course record next month.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Cheltenham and Doncaster on Saturday, January 24
After causing controversy last week by revealing he doesn’t have any sauce on his bacon sandwich, Sport News Blitz’s horse racing tipster Jeff Mexico has now gone and stuck his neck on the culinary block once more.
This week he was spotted tending a huge bonfire, fuelled entirely by Jaffa Cakes. “The most overrated sweet treat ever to go near a cup of tea,” he barked. And yes, he is prepared to fight you in any Lidl car park to defend this statement.
While we recover from this blasphemy, why not have a look at Jeff’s tips for the eight races ITV are serving up this Saturday afternoon – including two Grade Twos from Doncaster and three G2s from Cheltenham.
Gulfstream Park horse racing tips: Disco Time in the Pegasus World Cup on Saturday, January 24
After scoring a healthy profit last week, Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh is planning on raiding the ‘land of opportunity’.
The Pegasus World Cup headlines a great card at Gulfstream Park with seven graded races on offer, and our pundit is hoping his selections will grow wings and fly to victory.
Horse racing news: Pegasus World Cup preview – Will White Abarrio go back-to-back?
With the 10th running of the Pegasus World Cup taking place at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Sports News Blitz’s Kieran McHugh takes a look at the field.
The Pegasus World Cup is run over 1 1/8-mile (nine furlongs), with two turns in the race. It is the first major event of the American racing season.
The $3 million contest will see 12 horses go to post, with two in reserve for any scratches. Brad Cox–trained Disco Time is currently heading the market. Last year’s winner, White Abarrio, also takes his place in the line-up as he bids to become the first horse to win the race back-to-back.
Meydan horse racing tips: Opera Ballo set for Jebel Hatta glory on Friday, January 23
After tipping a 33/1 each-way selection last week, Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh is back for more.
Meydan duly offers up a bumper meeting on Friday, headed by the Jebel Hatta, and our pundit hopes to scale another mountain peak.
Three World Pool fixtures in three days from UAE, New Zealand and Hong Kong
World Pool will return to action with three fixtures in the space of three days on Al Maktoum Challenge Day (January 23) from the UAE and Railway Stakes Day (January 24) from New Zealand, before the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup and Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup in Hong Kong are commingled on January 25.