Racing week

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80-1 odds mark Queen’s Birthday

To mark the Queen’s 80th Birthday, William Hill are quoting odds of 80-1 that one of her horses will win next year’s Grand National.

Meanwhile Her Majesty has three chances of celebrating her Birthday with a winner at Newbury this afternoon (Friday). A trio of three-year-old fillies will be carrying her colours – Fondness, Good Turn and Regent’s Park. All three are home bred and will be running for the first time this afternoon.

Online betting adverts banned

An online betting site has had its adverts banned after the Advertising Standards Authority deemed they were targeting 16 and 17-year-olds.

Thepool.com’s leaflets used images of scantily clad girls and the phrase “Why wait ‘til 18? Bet at 16.”

Advertising Standards has told thepool.com to pull its leaflets, magazine and press adverts which have already appeared in Metro newspaper.

Nakheel racing against time

The race is on to get Nakheel to the Stan James 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on 7 May. The colt failed to be ready for a racecourse gallop at Newmarket yesterday after suffering from stiffness. Nakheel is a 12-1 shot with Coral for the Classic.

Murphy to ride for Knight

Henrietta Knight will have second call on the services of Timmy Murphy next season, when the jockey is now needed by his boss, David Johnson.

The decision comes as no surprise – at one stage Knight stated that stable star Racing Demon would only run in races if Murphy was available to ride. Since Jim Culloty retired, Knight has chosen not to employ a stable jockey and has instead called on the likes of Murphy, Paul Moloney and Sam Thomas for much of this season.

Haydock fences replaced by portables

Haydock is moving with the times and swapping its famous drop fences with portable obstacles. A trial of three portable fences received a positive reaction from jockeys and trainers this week, convincing Haydock officials to make the change.

Nine new fences will be required, costing an estimated £8,000. The water jump will not be replaced.

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