International  

The Japanese took a near clean sweep in the HK$20m, Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday with the appropriately named Glory Vase (JPN) demolishing the field under Joao Moreira for trainer Tomohito Ozeki

The first big sporting rematch of the day was over before it started at Aintree on Saturday In scenes millions worldwide hoped would not be repeated hours later in Joshua v Ruiz part two, Might Bite was on the canvas early to leave Native River to claim his first winner's belt since the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Sandown's ageing concrete grandstand may lack the grandeur of Ascot or Meydan but when it comes to building a frenzied big-race atmosphere, few tracks come close to its spine-tingling acoustics and the decibels were off the scale as Defi Du Seuil repelled Un De Sceaux and Waiting Patiently in an epic running of the Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday.

A brisk wind kept the mind alert at Sha Tin on Friday as runners went through last minute pieces of work including the Kris Lee’s trained In Her Time (AUS) under Cameron Swan as the mare prepares for the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on Sunday.

Fresh from setting a new record for British victories in a calendar year by a female jockey at Southwell on Thursday, Hollie Doyle made it win number 108 for 2019 when partnering the Archie Watson-trained Maystar to victory in the £14,000 Ladbrokes "Play 1-2-Free" On Football Conditions Stakes at Wolverhampton on Saturday, December 7.

Horses trained in Ireland and France account for 15 of the 24 entries for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, one of the highlights on day one of The International at Cheltenham, Friday, 13 December.

Extraordinary events at Sandown on Saturday in the closing London National left jockeys confused, punters bemused, the sport scratching its head as another major occasion was overshadowed by a fiasco and one of the trainers involved slamming the procedures.

Fast becoming one of the most popular and prolific performers in jump racing, Defi Du Seuil took his record to 12 wins from 18 starts – a magnificent 67 per cent strike-rate – when making a successful reappearance in Cheltenham’s Grade 2 Shloer Chase last month.

Frankie Dettori was celebrated as the 2019 Longines World’s Best Jockey on Friday night at the Longines Hong Kong International Races Gala dinner.

This race has been talked up as a match between Native River and Might Bite, but on their previous meetings the head-to-head is a little one-sided.

Impressive Hexham winner Kiltealy Briggs looks set to tackle a rise in class and trip in the £32,000 G2 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday, 14 December, day two of The International.

The Longines Hong Kong International Races headline weekend horse racing, winding down the 2019 season while 2-year-olds from New York to Japan provide a preview of the year to come.

Four Group Ones deserve plenty of respect, and we have the almost prefect mix of a (possibly) over the top superstar, an up and coming would-be champion, International challengers, and to the best of my knowledge, the first Epsom Derby winner to compete in Hong Kong, certainly in my time

Racing at Meydan on Thursday was highlighted by The Entisar (Listed) and Garhoud Sprint (Listed), with the former over the same 2000m as the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) - both races were won by the 2014-15 champion trainer Mussabeh Al Mheiri in dominant fashion

Two previous winners and a Randox Health Grand National victor feature among a tremendous field of 18 for the £150,000 G3 Randox Health Becher Handicap Chase (1.30pm), highlight of Becher Chase Day at Aintree on Saturday.

A field of eight goes to post in the £150,000 G1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park on Saturday, day two of the Betfair Tingle Creek Festival.