Grand National Focus - Geraldine Rees

In recent years, Geraldine Rees has been better known as racehorse trainer and, since she relinquished her licence in 2010, as the head of GSR Thoroughbreds, a breeding operation based at Moor Farm, near Preston, Lancashire. However, in her younger days, Geraldine was a highly accomplished amateur rider and has the distinction of being the first woman to complete the Grand National course.

In 1982, at the age of 26, Geraldine rode Cheers into a weary eighth, and last, place behind Grittar, ridden by 48-year-old Dick Saunders. Her original intended mount, Gordon’s Lad, went lame shortly before the race and, when her attempt to buy Cheers – who’d finished twelfth behind Aldaniti in 1981 and was entered for the Grand National again in 1982 – at auction failed, the winning bidder booked her for the ride in any case.

Geraldine wasn’t the first woman to ride in the Grand National. That distinction is held by Charlotte Brew, who in 1977, at the age of 21, rode her own horse, Barony Fort. The 12-year-old had qualified for the race by finishing fourth in the Fox Hunters’ Chase, over one circuit of the National fences, at Aintree the previous year, but was hopelessly tailed off when refusing at the fourth last. Of course, 1977 was the year in which Red Rum won his unprecedented third Grand National, so Charlotte was destined to play second fiddle to the legendary steeplechaser.

AI and Racing Festivals – When Tradition Meets Technology!

For as long as I can remember I've been watching both the Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival. It was second nature to me really, alongside watching say the World Cup and Olympics. Huge sporting events that all demand our attention. I'm certainly not alone either. Of course there are those massively into racing, but even for joe public who isn't usually bothered either way, the draw of the big race has them watching the Grand National, or taking part in the office sweepstakes year on year. It's become something of a national institution really, which shouldn't be that much of a surprise considering its beginnings reach back into the 1800s.

The same with the Cheltenham Festival, which of course has the Gold Cup centre stage, but also royal connections (Queen Mother champion chase) and day after day of top class racing action. The Royal Ascot too, Epsom Derby, these are all the mainstays, the marquee events of the UK racing scene. Another thing they are, is financial opportunities for those looking to place a bet.

Many people having a punt on the big races do so for a bit of fun, but when you look at the Grand National results over the years, there are certainly occasions where the favourite has been very decent odds (an outsider essentially - even the 2025 Grand National winner Nick Rockett was 33-1), yet pmore 'nailed on' as a real contender than many saw at the time. Conversely there have also been years where a favourite has romped home, with again some knowing its simply a class above before the off . Some people's racing predictions are simply more a tuned to reality than others and that's where in the modern age, AI can be a useful tool to have at your disposable to take your edge to the next level.

Where racing is the focus, AI can be used to do the behind the scenes analysis using all available data, in a very time efficient manner. It can save time in this endeavour and also offer insights that you may be missed out on without it. Win rate, value (whether it's worth a bet at current odds), confidence level, these are all factors that AI can push to the fore for you. You may then want to opt for a win bet, or an acca where returns may well be sky high. All decisions will hold a rationale to them though. The same exact principles apply to football tips too. AI is a powerful tool to have as part of your betting arsenal! (excuse the pun!).

So the next time one of the big racing festivals comes around, be sure to not only enjoy the race, but to match the tradition of the race with a future thinking ai attitude! It may well result in you having a healthier bank balance before long!

Cheltenham Fesival - Festival Trophy

The Festival Trophy – otherwise known as the Ryanair Chase- is another Grade 1 race to be witnessed on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival. It has some pretty generous offerings as horses aged five years and over compete to clear seventeen obstacles and cover a distance of two miles and five full furlongs (4225m). It was introduced as a lower grade race as more events were required to increase the action when the festival was expanded to four day in 2005.

By 2010, it had become a highly competitive and popular race and it was then handed a first-grade ranking.

To this end, Albertas Run remains the leading horse in this event after sweeping first honours in 2010 and 2011. Five trainers hold a joint record of two wins each, among them Jonjo O’ Neill who rode Albertas run in both wins. Ruby Walsh has crossed the finish line atop the winning horse a record four times- twice before 2010 and twice after.

Ahead of the 2018, joint record trainer Nicky Henderson announced that he was withdrawing his horse Top Notch from the Festival Trophy. It was a disappointment to race fans who had tipped the
trainer to win the race, but he explained that recent performances and signs from the horse to his rider indicated he was not ready for the event.

Dubai World Cup

Formerly known as the Dubai International Racing Carnival, the Dubai World Cup Carnival consists of a series of nine meetings staged at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates between January and March each year. The Dubai World Cup Carnival is staged in preparation for Dubai World Cup Night, in the late March, the highlight of which is the Dubai World Cup, a Group 1 race run over 2,000 metres, or approximately a mile and a quarter, on dirt and worth $12 million in prize money (with prize money for the whole event at over $30 million as of 2025). With Dubai comes big money.

Inaugurated Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, in 1996, the Dubai World Cup was originally run at Nad Al Sheba before being transferred to Meydan in 2010. In its recent history, the Dubai World Cup has vied with the Pegasus World Cup, staged at Gulfstream Park, Florida in January, as the most valuable horse race in the world. However, since the inauguration of the Saudi Cup, at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is worth $20 million, the Dubai World Cup has been only the second most valuable race in the world.

Nevertheless, the Dubai World Cup Carnival builds to a major milestone in the form of so-called 'Super Saturday', typically staged on the first Saturday in March. Super Saturday is the official 'dress rehearsal' for Dubai World Cup Night, intended to allow trainers from home and abroad with their eyes on the major prizes on the single most valuable raceday anywhere in the world to fine tune their chages.

Sydney Carnival

The Sydney Carnival, or Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, consists of a series of major horses staged at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse and Royal Randwick Racecourse, situated in the suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, over a six-week period in March and April each year. The Sydney Carnival includes 45 Group races and, at the last count, was worth $33 million in prize money. It's a favourite with the Australian public, much like jokacasino real money online casinos.

At Rosehill Gardens, the highlight of the Sydney Carnival is Golden Slipper Day, which features the Golden Slipper, a Group 1 contest run over 1,200 metres or approximately 6 furlongs and open to two-year-old colts, fillies and geldings, plus four other Group 1 races. The Golden Slipper, alone, is worth $3.5 million in prize money, making it the most valuable race for juveniles run anywhere in the world.

At Royal Randwick, The Championships, billed as 'The Grand Finals of Australian Racing', are staged on the first and second Saturday in April. As the name suggests, The Championships feature twelve races over a variety of distances, open to different age groups and collectively worth over $21 million in prize money. Highlights of The Championships Day One incude the $3 million Doncaster Mile and the $2 million Australian Derby, while highlights of Day Two include the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the $2 million Sydney Cup. In 2019, the incomparable racemare Winx was retired from racing after winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for the third year running.