Andrea Atzeni stars at Sha Tin to land first four-timer in Hong Kong
Andrea Atzeni’s surge up the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship gained further impetus at Sha Tin on Sunday (8 March) when the Italian produced a career-best quartet in Hong Kong, taking his tally of wins to 35 for the season.
Breakout Jockeys and Horses to Follow in the Upcoming Calendar
Horse racing is a sport that is constantly evolving, with new names joining the sport every year.
Every star coming into the sport will aim to make their impression, whether that is by winning a notable Grade One or scoring victory in one of the Classics.
Breakout jockeys will be looking to upset the status quo, and their mounts will likely be overlooked due to the inexperience of the rider when making online horse racing betting selections.
But, who are potentially some of the breakout jockeys and horses worth following in 2026?
Horse racing news: Harry Bentley lands £1.2 million Hong Kong Classic Cup aboard Stormy Grove
Harry Bentley secured his biggest success yet in Hong Kong when delivering Stormy Grove with a sensational late run to score an upset and claim the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic series, the HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) Hong Kong Classic Cup (1m1f/1800m), at Sha Tin on Sunday 1 March.
The son of Toronado made it two wins in a row and landed the Hong Kong Classic Cup with a performance reminiscent of his explosive 1600m showing at Sha Tin two weeks ago, when, after being drawn 14, he surged from last to first to claim his first Hong Kong win.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Kelso, Newbury and Doncaster on Saturday, February 28
After a week off recovering from trapping one of his testicles in the hatchway of a canal boat, Sports News Blitz’s racing tipster Jeff Mexico is back for Saturday’s ITV racing action.
We’ve decided that it’s sometimes best not to ask why Jeff was dangling his meat ‘n’ two veg into a narrowboat on the Leeds and Liverpool waterway – we just know he has been up to no good again, so let’s stick to the horses.
ITV have served up 10 races for Saturday afternoon: five from Kelso, two from Newbury, and three from Doncaster. Let’s get cracking.
Horse racing news: Zac Purton confident Voyage Bubble can rebound in G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup
Champion jockey Zac Purton says Voyage Bubble’s disappointing performance last start should be excused as he prepares to take on Romantic Warrior in the HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (1m2f/2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday 1 March.
Ricky Yiu’s seven-year-old finished a distant third to Romantic Warrior in the HK$13m (approx. £1.2m) G1 Stewards’ Cup (1 mile/1600m) last month, relinquishing the Triple Crown he claimed so spectacularly last season.
Barry Geraghty: A case of what might’ve been for Constitution Hill
William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty reflects on Connections’ decision not to go to Cheltenham with Constitution Hill and to stick to the Flat from now on.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Southwell on Friday, February 20
After taking a profit in five races last week, Sports News Blitz’s horse racing pundit Kieran McHugh is hoping to continue his good run of form.
Friday Night Live returns at Southwell on ITV, and amidst the excitement of Constitution Hill’s flat debut, our pundit is hoping to provide some guidance through the card.
Horse racing news: Five horses of interest at huge odds for the 2026 Grand National
The Grand National picture has become much clearer following the reveal of the weights for the 2026 edition.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh picks out five horses to keep an eye on.
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.