Five Richard Johnson crowd-pleasers at the Cheltenham Festival
Four-time champion jockey Richard Johnson is still a regular on the Cheltenham Festival circuit, so Sports News Blitz decided to pick out a handful of his best short-priced winners at Prestbury Park.
Johnson hung up his silks in 2021, but he collected over 3,500 winners in his career, including two Gold Cups, a Queen Mother Champion Chase and a Champion Hurdle among his 22 Cheltenham Festival winners.
Everyone loves leaving Cheltenham after picking a winner or two, and the tough-as-old-boots Johnson has provided a regular supply of winnings to favourite backers.
Sports News Blitz looks back at some of his most memorable successes priced at 5/1 and under at the Cheltenham Festival, to help you get all misty-eyed before we go again in 2027.
Horse racing: Why do the Irish rule the Cheltenham Festival?
The Prestbury Cup is awarded to the country with the most winning trainers/horses across the 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival, and the winners’ list is currently grim reading for the British.
Apart from a tie in 2019, the Brits have won the trophy just five times in its 13-year history, and not lifted it once this decade. Simply put, the Irish have dominated.
Horse racing: Benvenuto Cellini headlines UK, Ireland entries for 2026 Hong Kong International Races
Benvenuto Cellini, Almaqam, and Giavellotto are among the high-class UK and Irish entries for the 2026 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on 13 December.
In total, the ‘Turf World Championships’ has received a world-class list of entries, comprising 142 horses and 36 individual Group 1 winners.
Horse racing: Breeders’ Cup betting preview - tips for Friday and Saturday races
The Breeders’ Cup is upon us, and while the world's best horses descend on Keeneland in search of racing immortality, Sports News Blitz is heading into the weekend with one thing on its mind - finding winners!
We've got sprinting sensations, European raiders, American dirt specialists and a couple of favourites we'd rather take on than back.
There's even a 25/1 outsider who could give the big guns something to think about.
So, get the bets on, keep the drinks chilled and let's see if we can make this Breeders' Cup weekend one to remember for all the right reasons!
Kieren Fallon: I introduced the starting bell at Ballydoyle
Six-time Champion Jockey, former Ballydoyle number one and current Godolphin work rider Kieren Fallon has told Bets And Horses about the part he played in helping Coolmore conquer the Breeders’ Cup.
Speaking to Bets And Horses ahead of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup from Keeneland, Fallon said: “When I went to Aidan’s [O’Brien], he didn’t have that many Breeders’ Cup horses, he was just really starting to send more over.
The tall jockeys who beat the scales in British racing
Most people picture a jockey as small and light, and with good reason. Weight is the one thing a rider cannot hide, and every pound counts when a horse is carrying a set burden.
Yet some of the most successful names in the sport's racing results have been unusually tall for the job.
Their careers show how much discipline it takes to keep riding when your body is working against you.
Top five British Champions Day tips for ITV racing at Ascot on Saturday, October 17
It’s Champions Day at Ascot as we herald the finale of the British Flat racing season.
We have picked out five top tips, from the five biggest races of the day, which all happen to be Group 1s.
Let’s dig in, good luck all.
Horse racing news: Harry Skelton’s 10 horses to follow for the 2026/27 Jumps season
Star Sports ambassador Harry Skelton gives his 10 horses to follow for the 2026/27 Jumps season, discussing their plans and likely long-term targets.
Timeform 10 To Follow: Willie Mullins reveals who’s “top of the pile” in novice division
Ratings experts Timeform have announced their 10 horses to follow for the 2026/27 jumps season, with interesting prospects featuring from the yards of Willie Mullins, Dan Skelton, Nicky Henderson and Jamie Snowden among others.
The list includes Mullins’ unbeaten Even Tho who was so impressive when winning two bumpers last season, including a Grade 3 at Punchestown by 16 lengths, which saw her record a Timeform rating of 112p.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Doncaster, Chester and Leopardstown on Saturday, September 12
Sports News Blitz’s racing expert Jeff Mexico has escaped from a Siberian gulag and is back to fork out some more great tips for this Saturday afternoon’s action.
It’s St Leger Day at Doncaster and we have a packed ITV card to get through which includes five contests from Town Moor, two from Chester, and a sneaky Group 1 over in Leopardstown.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Ascot, Haydock and Newmarket on Saturday, August 8
There was finally a bit of wet weather about this week, proving that Sports News Blitz racing tipster Jeff Mexico’s naked high street rain dances are finally working.
It started in May, and Jeff has gradually removed his clothing with every little jig.
This week he reached his undergarments, a red one-piece union suit with a drop seat, beloved by 19th century gold prospectors.
After a rather clumsy version of the running man at the Green Lanes Shopping Centre in Barnstaple, his arse popped out of the drop seat, the heavens opened and rain finally fell.
Frankel’s dominance over Bow Echo in mile ratings “worth reiterating”
Ratings experts Timeform have stressed Frankel’s dominance on ratings among milers this century, with comparisons between the Sir Henry Cecil-trained colt and Bow Echo being drawn.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Newmarket, Goodwood and Thirsk on Saturday, August 1
It’s the final day of the Goodwood Festival and Sports News Blitz’s racing expert Jeff Mexico has completed his gallon-a-day Pimms challenge and is ready to vomit up some more cracking tips.
ITV have five races from the West Sussex course, including the feature cavalry charge that’s the Stewards’ Cup. They’ve also snuck in the Summer Handicap from Goodwood and Summer Cup from Thirsk, so the northerners don’t miss out.
Horse racing news: Which ‘Glorious’ Goodwood races are ITV showing this week?
The Goodwood Festival, or Glorious Goodwood to those in the know, is one of the highlights of the UK’s Flat-racing calendar. It begins on Tuesday, July 28 and ends on Saturday, August 1.
The ITV Racing team are at Goodwood in force during the week and on air between 13:30 and 16:30. Here, Sports News Blitz looks at the races ITV are showing.
Run Fast Racing is modernizing the thoroughbred ownership experience
Run Fast Racing, the celebrity-backed thoroughbred ownership group founded by entrepreneur and entertainment executive Adam Kluger alongside partners Lil Wayne, Rauw Alejandro and Lil Yachty, has launched Direct Pay.
Direct Pay is a feature designed to simplify and modernize the horse-ownership experience by allowing owners to receive cash payouts directly to their bank account when any horse in the stable wins.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Newbury, Market Rasen and Ripon on Saturday, July 18
Sports News Blitz racing tipster Jeff Mexico has graciously stepped aside to let Andy Burnham become the next Prime Minister. However, he is still planning on standing at the Clacton by-election in August if he can scoop up enough winnings from the next few weeks of his ITV betting tips.
His quest begins at Newbury, Market Rasen, and Ripon this Saturday afternoon.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Sandown and Newmarket on Saturday, July 4
Sports News Blitz’s racing tipster Jeff Mexico has turned down his invitation to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s ‘royal wedding’ to focus on this Saturday’s racing.
Four races from Sandown, including the Coral Eclipse, and three from Newmarket are on offer on ITV this weekend, which is much more fun than watching two pretend they like each other.
Royal Ascot ITV horse racing tips and best bets on Saturday, June 20
As is the current fashion, Sports News Blitz tipster Jeff Mexico has taken to his kitchen to write out his racing tips on a chalk board. He has also donned a blonde wig, sparkling top, some high-waisted trousers, and put on a grating London accent to complete the look.
Jeff is convinced this new approach will help him trawl the final day of Royal Ascot for some big winners. Failing that, he has also got his eye on managing the USA women’s national team.
How Fast Can a Racing Horse Run and What Affects Its Speed?
If you’ve ever stood trackside when the gates open, you know the sound hits you before the speed does. Hooves pounding, dirt flying, and suddenly a pack of thoroughbreds explodes past like living rockets.
It always leaves people asking the same thing: how fast can a racing horse run? And maybe more importantly, what actually makes them that fast?
Royal Ascot 2026 guide: When is it, times, big races, trainers, jockeys and more
Royal Ascot is the biggest Flat race meeting in the world, attracting the best horses, runners, and of course royalty.
A huge five-day festival of racing starting on Tuesday, June 16 and ending on Saturday June 20, it crams in eight Group 1 races across the week, and there's hardly time to take a breath.
Here, Sports News Blitz has all you need to know about the famous event.