The Ayr Gold Cup is scheduled for Saturday 18th September 2010 as the highlight of the Ayr Gold Cup Festival at Ayr Racecourse. The Ayr Gold Cup is one of the most anticipated sprint events on the Scottish thoroughbred racing calendar. It is a long established event for thoroughbreds aged three and over; and it attracts only a very high level of race horse. To get you prepared for the Ayr Gold Cup we will introduce you to the current favourites and show you where to find the best odds for this great fixture.

Poet’s Place is the current favourite of the Ayr Gold Cup, priced at 7-1 by race sponsor William Hill, one of our favourite online bookmakers. The five-year-old gelding is trained by David Barron and is assumed to be taking to the track with jockey Philip Makin, although no jockeys have been confirmed as yet. Poet’s Place is going into the Ayr Gold Cup with two consecutive wins under his belt. The gelding won the Halliwell Jones BMW Handicap at Haydock in August and followed this triumph with another victory in the Ladbrokes Portland Handicap at Doncaster Racecourse on 11th September. Poet’s Place connections are feeling hopeful about their charge’s chances for the upcoming Scottish championship event.

The second favourite runner in the Ayr Gold Cup is currently Hawkeyethenoo. The four-year-old gelding is training with Jim Goldie and is one of the most experienced runners to hit the track at Ayr on Saturday. With 22 professional races under his belt, Hawkeyethenoo is definitely a well-practised contender and his win in his most recent race, the Sky Bet Dash at York on 24th July, has put him on William Hill’s potential champion radar. Hawkeyethenoo is currently priced at 8-1 by William Hill. It is rumoured that Hawkeyethenoo will be ridden by Kieren Fallon, who also rode the gelding in his winning race at York, but thus far no jockey has been confirmed for this great contender.

As the Ayr Gold Cup is still five days away, the list of potential runners is still extensive and will be narrowed down severely before the actual race day. The maximum number of runners admitted to the Ayr Gold Cup is 27, so the line-up is due to change a lot before the race rolls around. Make sure to check the odds and runners at race sponsor William Hill or another of our favourite online bookmakers closer to the race date, to make sure your selection is still participating in the Ayr Gold Cup. Alternatively you can visit Horse Racing UK for frequent updates on the upcoming Ayr Gold Cup.
The above mentioned odds are current as of Monday 13th September 2010 and are liable to change.

The Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes is less than two weeks away and betting on the final Classic of the season is going into overdrive. Online bookmakers and land-based bookies alike are publishing competitive odds on the champion three-year-olds signed up to go into battle on 11th September 2010.
At Horse Racing UK we know how confusing the hunt for the best odds can be, so we thought we should make your life a little easier. To help you get into the groove of the St Leger Stakes, we have compiled some odds from our favourite online bookmakers to compare at your leisure. Getting the best odds for your selection has never been this easy.

Mahmood Al Zarooni’s colt Rewilding is generally considered the favourite for the upcoming St Leger Stakes. The three-year-old has performed consistently well throughout the season, never once finishing outside the money. Rewilding has started in five professional races thus far, recording two wins, two runner-ups and one third place, showing fantastic potential and great staying power time and time again. Rewilding is expected to compete in the St Leger under jockey Frankie Dettori, who rode the colt in his last three appearances.

Another strong contender to keep an eye on is Snow Fairy from the stables of Ed Dunlop. This three-year-old filly has extensive race experience for a thoroughbred this young and has been holding her own with the boys throughout 2010. Snow Fairy has until now started in ten career races, winning four of them (three consecutive wins occurred in 2010), and coming second and third twice respectively. Her most recent win took place at the Curragh in the Irish Oaks in July; followed by Snow Fairy’s second place in her most recent race, the Yorkshire Oaks.

If you would like to back one of the favourites or take a chance with one of the outsiders in the St Leger Stakes, visit one of our selected online bookmakers – there’s odds for everyone!

September 2010 is going to be an excellent month for horse racing fans. There is not a single day in September that does not include an exciting horse racing fixture taking place on one of the many UK racecourses. To top it off, there are no less than five major meetings in the month of September for you to check out.

Betfred Sprint Cup Day at Haydock Park Racecourse
Haydock Park Racecourse hosts a massive race day on Saturday 4th September 2010, centred around the feature race of the Betfred Sprint Cup. The races scheduled for this day are the Betfred ‘Goals Galore’ Superior Mile, the Betfred ‘The Bonus King’ Be Friendly Handicap Stakes, the Betfred Kingspin Old Borough Cup, the Betfred Sprint Cup, the Betfred ’10 Best Odds Races Daily’ Nursery Handicap Stakes, the Betfred.com Stakes, and the Fred’s Lucky Numbers Handicap Stakes. With such an action packed race card it is no surprise that Haydock is set to welcome a huge crowd for Sprint Cup Day, one of the liveliest race days hosted at this charming venue.
Antepost odds for the Betfred Sprint Cup are available from Paddy Power and Bet365.

St. Leger Festival at Doncaster Racecourse
Held over four days at scenic Doncaster Racecourse, the St. Leger Festival revolves around highlight-littered flat race cards with the legendary St. Leger Stakes as the festival’s feature event. The St. Leger Festival offers glamour and excitement, the main ingredients for any successful race meeting. The St. Leger Stakes is the final leg of the British Triple Crown series and consequently attracts the finest three-year-old runners of the season for a blazing showdown. Another great fixture staged during this outrageous extravaganza is the Doncaster Cup, held on the third day of the festival. The St. Leger Festival runs from Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th September 2010. The 11th of September is also the day of the Irish St. Leger Stakes, which is held at the Curragh.
Antepost odds for the St. Leger Stakes are available from William Hill, Betfair and Bet 365.

Ayr Gold Cup Festival at Ayr Racecourse
From 16th to 18th of September 2010 Ayr Racecourse is holding the Ayr Gold Cup Festival, celebrating the running of the iconic Gold Cup. This outstanding fixture has been held at the venue for over 200 years and is to this day one of the most exciting races to be hosted at Ayr. The Gold Cup Festival at Ayr is the perfect opportunity to indulge in grass roots flat racing of the highest order, as well as showing off your racing chic in delightful surroundings. For fans of rugged, traditional thoroughbred racing, the festival at Ayr is definitely the best weekend of the month.

Queen Elizabeth II Weekend at Ascot Racecourse
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes are one of the nine Group 1 races hosted at Ascot Racecourse and has become so popular is justifies its own weekend meeting easily. From Friday 24th to Sunday 26th September 2010. Every race day offers an action-packed race card with one special feature every day. Day one climaxes with the Listed Princess Royal EBF Transformers & Rectifiers Stakes; the highlight of day two are the glorious Queen Elizabeth II Stakes; and the third day finds its feature in the John Guest Diadem Stakes. Nothing can brighten an autumn weekend more than some serious thoroughbred action at a racecourse that has truly preserved the idea of racing as the sport of kings.

Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket Racecourse
Three days of pure thoroughbred racing bliss are due to be hosted at Newmarket Racecourse from Thursday 30th September to Saturday 2nd October 2010. The three day meeting features some three Group 1 fixtures: the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes, the Electrolux Cheveley Park Stakes and the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes; the first two will be held on the Friday, the final race will stand as the highlight on Saturday afternoon. Newmarket Racecourse has plenty to offer when it comes to facilities and history. As the home of the 1,000 Guineas and the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, Newmarket hold traditional horse racing values in high esteem and prides itself in hosting some of the most extravagant race meetings of the UK.

With so much to look forward to this September, it will be child’s play to fight of the autumn blues and get out to the track for some thrills. Check out our selected bookmakers for antepost odds and starting prizes for the September fixtures and visit Horse Racing UK for daily odds updates and race previews. Horse Racing UK wishes you a wonderful September!

The British flat racing season is almost over and the competition for the title of British Champion Flat Trainer is becoming increasingly heated. This sought after title is awarded annually and brings with it serious credit amongst horse racing professionals. It is also the ultimate recognition of a trainers outstanding professional ability, making it one of the most prestigious titles of the racing world.
Bookmaker William Hill offers antepost odds on the three front runners in the Champion Trainer contest:

Richard Hannon, based at the East Everleigh Stables in Marlborough, Wiltshire, is no stranger to the honour of Champion Trainer. In 1992 he was awarded the coveted title after a great season including wins in the July Cup, with Mr Brooks, the Nunthorpe Stakes, with Lyric Fantasy, and the Cork and Orrery Stakes, with Shalford. Hannon is a true veteran of the sport, starting to train thoroughbreds independently in 1970 and seemingly training winner after winner ever since. The 2009/10 UK Flat Season has been a particularly triumphant ride for Hannon, who has thus far collected 161 victories, 131 runners-up and 96 third placing horses. Some of his greatest successes this year include Zebedee, Martyr and Canford Cliffs, all of whom have impresses spectators and punters throughout the season.

Sir Michael Stoute – knighted in 1998 for services to tourism in his native Barbados – has little but a pitying grin for rival Richard Hannon’s previous Champion Trainer title. Sir Michael has held the prestigious title ten times, in 1981, 1986, 1989, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2009. This year, Sir Michael has his sight set on title number eleven, his second consecutive collection of the honour. He is the most successful trainer at the Yorkshire Oaks, having trained nine winners of the event between 1978 and 2004. He holds the same status in the Nassau Stakes and the Lockinge Stakes, at seven winners each. The 2009/10 season has been a comparatively slow one for this prodigious horse racing professional; out of 315 starts, Sir Michael collected 49 wins, 58 second and 45 third places.

Aidan O’Brien, head of the legendary Ballydoyle stables, is also still in the running for the title, despite a slightly disappointing season. Competing in only 66 races this season with various spectacular contenders, like Fame And Glory or Steinbeck, O’Brien’s banked seven wins, nine runner-ups and three third places. O’Brien has proved his ability as a trainer for years, training the most winners in history (8) at the Irish Derby, the Irish 2,000 Guineas Stakes (6), the Irish Champion Stakes (5) and the Moyglare Stud Stakes (4).

If you would like to back one of these outstanding horse racing professionals before the season is out, visit William Hill for great odds and convenient online betting on this event and many more. Horse Racing UK wishes you great success for the rest of the flat season!

There’s only weeks to go until Doncaster Racecourse hosts the legendary St Leger Festival and the tipping is already in full swing. As the last event of the English Triple Crown Series – as well as the English Fillies’ Triple Crown – the St Leger Stakes is one of the most anticipated flat racing events of the season and thoroughbreds who do well in this race will be remembered long after they have left professional racing. To get you into the groove for the big days at Doncaster (8th – 11th September 2010, St Leger Stakes are held on the last day) we would like to introduce the three thoroughbred runners currently leading the bookies’ boards.

Rewilding

Rewilding, trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, is currently the clear favourite with all our selected bookmakers. The three-year-old has started in five professional races since bursting onto the scene in October 2009 and has not once finishes outside the money. Rewilding won the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood in May 2010 and the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in August; his second places were recorded in the Prix De Belleville Maiden Stakes and the Prix Noailles, his first two appearances; and Rewilding came third in the Epsom Derby. Since switching to Zarooni – Rewilding was previously training with Andre Fabre in France – the colt has been competing under Frankie Dettori in all competitions, so we can assume that Zarooni will be hiring Dettori for the big September job. Rewilding is a fit contender who loves the distance and is unafraid to go for broke in a field packed with talent, so watch out for a memorable performance from this little legend.

Midas Touch

Midas Touch is considered a dangerous contender, despite the fact that the colt won his last race in May this year, when he triumphed in the Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. Since then Midas Touch, who trains at Ballydoyle with Aidan O’Brien, has struggled to a fifth place in the Epsom Derby, and come second in the Irish Derby at the Curragh and the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. However, O’Brien – and our favourite bookmakers, apparently – is convinced that Midas Touch’s form is steadily improving in training and the St Leger Stakes might be the race that sees the three-year-old unleashing his true ability. Showing great potential in his runner-up races, Midas Touch might just take this opportunity to stage an incredible comeback.

Snow Fairy

Snow Fairy, Eddie Dunlop’s favourite filly, is not afraid to take on the big boys in the unisex Triple Crown battle. This three-year-old has been on a real roll this year, collecting three wins and one second place in the four races she ran this year. While she did come second in her last appearance, in the Yorkshire Oaks at York’s Ebor Festival, Snow Fairy has proven herself as a serious contender beyond any doubt. The filly is also very flexible when it comes to her choice of jockey, competing under Richard Hughes, Ryan Moore, Eddie Ahern and Pat Smullen (just to name a few) with great success.

If you would like to back one of these excellent contenders in the upcoming St Leger Stakes, visit one of our favourite bookmakers for great odds and convenient online betting. Please be aware that odds and starters are liable to change as the race date draws closer, so make sure to check with your bookmaker or visit Horse Racing UK for regular updates on the St Leger action.

The Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe may still be weeks away, it’s held on 3rd October 2010, but already an international selection of champions is competing for their spot in the event. Hosted at Paris’s Longchamp Racecourse, the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe is one of the most prestigious horse racing fixtures in the world. It attracts only runners of the highest profile, as well as huge crowds of spectators and a myriad of bettors. In fact, betting on the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe is so popular, most of our selected bookmakers are offering special deals for the event.

The following bookmakers are offering free bets on the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe as a sign-up bonus for new members:
+ Paddy Power £100
+ William Hill £25
+ Ladbrokes £25
+ Bet 365 £200
+ Victor Chandler £100
All you need to do to claim your free bet in perhaps the most exciting equine sports event of the year, is to create an account with your bookmaker of choice, deposit £10 in this account and picke your favourite from the line-up of legends (the following odds are offered by Paddy Power):

This all-star cast is headed by the outstanding Fame And Glory. The four-year-old colt has been literally on fire in 2010; winning his last four consecutive races, including the Coronation Cup at Epsom and the Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh. Trained by Aidan O’Brien and usually ridden by Johnny Murtagh, this runner is truly one of the most promising thoroughbreds looking to compete in the Prix.

The top French contender getting ready to compete is Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Behkabad. The three-year-old showed his true potential when he won the Grand Prix De Paris on 14th July; beating a field of nine, including Planteur, who is also gunning for a spot in the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe.

If you decide to take up the free bet offer from one of our selected bookmaker to back one of the fantastic runners in this world-class event, visit Paddy Power or another of our favourite online bookies. Please keep in mind that the odds and runners are liable to change as the race date draws closer, so make sure to check with your bookmaker of choice or visit Horse Racing UK for regular updates on the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe.