Horse racing news: Gaelic Warrior named Horse of the Year in Timeform’s Jumps Awards
Gaelic Warrior has been named both Timeform’s Horse of the Year and Top Chaser following a sensational campaign in 2025/26, headlined by dominant victories in both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Punchestown Gold Cup.
Willie Mullins’ star performer achieved a Timeform rating of 180 for his 26-length rout of Fact To File in the Punchestown Gold Cup, cementing his position at the top of the chasing division and putting him just 1lb short of the peak rating of two-time Gold Cup winner Galopin des Champs.
Gaelic Warrior proved himself equally effective around Cheltenham, producing one of the most commanding victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup seen in recent years.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Newmarket, Goodwood and Thirsk on Saturday, May 2
Every year, at the start of May, Sports News Blitz tipster Jeff Mexico breaks into his mother’s house and steals a pair of her shoes.
He then wears them for a few days before chucking them in the sea, as he doesn’t feel there’s enough plastic in the ocean.
His mother still hasn’t realised she is missing all these shoes, granted she has been dead since 2009.
Anyway to the horses.
Kentucky Derby Odds Breakdown: Leading Horses to Watch on Race Day
Churchill Downs feels different this time of year. The noise builds slowly, then all at once. Twenty horses, one mile and a quarter, charging beneath the twin spires together, and a few minutes that tend to linger far longer than expected.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby arrives with a full field and a familiar mix of certainty and doubt.
Renegade leads the board, though that rarely tells the whole story. Beneath the surface, subtle shifts and late whispers hint at contenders gaining ground at the right moment.
Horse racing news: Gstaad the lowest top-rated horse in 2000 Guineas in over 30 years
This year’s renewal of the 2000 Guineas looks substandard according to Timeform, with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Gstaad topping the ratings on 117, which is the lowest pre-race rating for a Timeform top-rated horse in the 2000 Guineas in over 30 years.
Gaelic Warrior enhances Timeform rating to 180 following Punchestown Gold Cup rout
Gaelic Warrior has been awarded an outstanding Timeform rating of 180 for his impressive victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday and is now the organisation's highest-rated jumps horse in training.
Gaelic Warrior was rated 174 after his dominant success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but produced an even better performance at Punchestown where he slammed old rival Fact To File by 26 lengths.
Ka Ying Rising extends winning streak to 20 and breaks track record again in G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize
Ka Ying Rising confirmed his status as the world’s best horse with a record-breaking victory in the HK$24 million (approx. £2.3m) G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (6f/1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 April) to crown a flawless season, sealing the Hong Kong Speed Series and extending his winning streak to 20.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Sandown, Leicester and Haydock on Saturday, April 25
Sports News Blitz’s racing tipster Jeff Mexico fell over when he was running in the playground this week and scraped his knee.
We gave him a hug, offered some soothing words and patched him up with a Spiderman plaster, which he showed off to all his friends. Now he’s fully ready to deliver this Saturday’s racing tips for the six races on ITV.
Philip Rothwell set to land €50,000 in William Hill Each Way Extra Series finale
The inaugural William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series comes to a close at Kilbeggan racecourse in Friday evening, with Philip Rothwell in line to land the €50,000 top trainers’ prize.
Philip Rothwell has maintained a strong lead in the trainers’ standing from the off, amassing a 55-point lead over second-placed Paul Nolan heading into the final five races. Nolan is in pole position to land the €25,000 prize for second, but Oliver McKiernan, Ross O’Sullivan and Patrick Foley are all within an attainable 25 points.
Horse Racing news: Lucinda Russell: Apple Away en route to French Champion Hurdle
Lucinda Russell has told Old Gold Racing that their star mare, Apple Away, is set to be the leading syndicate’s first French runner in the French Champion Hurdle in May.
The Grade 1-winning mare runs in Wednesday’s Listed Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase, which she won two years ago, and Russell is planning on using the race as a stepping stone to the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil on Saturday 16th May at Auteuil.
Romantic Warrior will have to be at his best to defeat Royal Champion, says Karl Burke
Karl Burke believes Romantic Warrior will need to be at his best to defeat an on-song Royal Champion in the HK$30 million (approx. £2.8m) G1 FWD QEII Cup (1m2f/2000m) on 26 April.
The North Yorkshire trainer is under no illusions about the task his stable star faces but thinks a reproduction of his dominant performance in the G1 Neom Turf Cup (1m2f/2100m) at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February will see him threaten the local superstar as he bids for a fourth win in the race following successes in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Grand National 2026: I Am Maximus is Barry Geraghty’s choice for Aintree spectacle
William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty is siding with I Am Maximus for the 2026 Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, April 11 - Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh reports.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Aintree on Friday, April 10
Day Two of the 2026 Grand National Festival arrives on Friday, and Sports News Blitz’s horse racing pundit Kieran McHugh is back for more after scoring a profit on the first day at Aintree Racecourse.
ITV are again showing six races from Aintree, and our horse racing expert is hoping for more success in Liverpool.
Timeform predict JP McManus to make history by having first three home in Grand National
The ratings experts at Timeform believe that owner JP McManus could dominate the 2026 Grand National.
McManus, who has won the race three times, is likely to have six runners. Among McManus's powerful squad is 2024 Grand National winner I Am Maximus who was also runner-up to Nick Rockett in last year's race which was dominated by horses trained by Willie Mullins.
Grand National 2026: Willie Mullins star supported for Aintree Hurdle success in William Hill market movers
William Hill have seen some significant market movers ahead of the first day of the 2026 Grand National festival at Aintree Racecourse, Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh reports.
Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo is the main market mover in the Aintree Hurdle, as punters seem keen to side with the nine-year-old.
But Mullins’ charge is not the only major market mover before action gets underway, with Lulamba and Protektorat also being supported.
Cash bet on Grand National would stretch distance of Liverpool to Berlin
Leading bookmaker William Hill estimate that over £150 million will be bet on this Saturday’s Randox Grand National, which if laid end-to-end in £20 notes would cover approximately 650 miles.
The race meeting’s official betting partner is expecting more than six times the amount bet on last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup to be wagered on the National, with their worst result as things stand being Panic Attack.
How to bet on the 2026 Grand National: Essential tipping guide to the Aintree showpiece
Ahead of the 2026 Grand National at Aintree, Sports News Blitz’s racing expert Kieran McHugh explains how you can bet on the world’s most famous steeplechase.
One of the most famous horse races in the world, the Grand National has always been a longstanding fixture in British culture.
One of few races on the calendar that generates intrigue across the planet, from seasoned gambler to those just having a little each-way dabble.
‘Top-class’ prospect He’s On Fire draws comparisons to Gaelic Warrior
He's On Fire's impressive victory at Fairyhouse on Sunday has prompted the experts at Timeform to suggest that Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Gaelic Warrior's owners could have another top-class prospect on their hands.
World’s best Ka Ying Rising goes for 19th consecutive win in Monday’s G2 Sprint Cup
After setting a new record for consecutive wins by a Hong Kong-trained horse, Zac Purton remains supremely confident Ka Ying Rising can extend his unbeaten streak in Easter Monday’s (6 April) HK$5.35 million (approx. £515,000) G2 Sprint Cup (6f/1200m) at Sha Tin.
Having surpassed Silent Witness’ previous record of 17 successive victories by landing a second HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, Ka Ying Rising returns bidding for a 19th successive win against six rivals at the public holiday Group 2 double-header, which also features the HK$5.35 million (approx. £515,000) G2 Chairman’s Trophy.
Grand National 2026: Willie Mullins’ ten horses that could land him his third-straight Aintree victory
Willie Mullins has won the last two renewals of the Aintree Grand National and Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh examines the ten horses that could see him win a third straight Grand National.
Willie Mullins is already a three-time Grand National winner and he bids to become the first trainer since Vincent O’Brien in the 1950s to win three-in-a-row.
He currently holds a ten-fold hand in the 2026 edition and the Closutton supremo’s runners will surely be of intrigue.
The last five winners of the Grand National
The Grand National has an extraordinary ability to generate stories that transcend sport. Whether it is an amateur jockey fulfilling a lifelong dream, a female rider making history, or a 50/1 outsider defying every expectation, Aintree has a way of producing moments that linger.
If you are looking for Grand National betting inspiration ahead of the next renewal, studying recent winners is always a sensible starting point. Here is a look back at the five horses who have claimed jump racing's greatest prize since 2021.