onlyhorsesandfootball

As in the weeks before, a preview of the race of the week in England should appear here. But after the events of last weekend I don't feel like it. Because it was a sad race weekend. Nevertheless, there is a small outlook on the top events of the coming weekend. So let's start with Houblon Des Obeaux : The twelve-year-old gelding collapsed when he reached the twelfth obstacle of the London Handicap, the last race of the Tingle Creek Meeting in Sandown. The veterinarians diagnosed heart failure. What makes the loss so painful is that he was a horse which has accompanied the columnist for years. Like many other chasers and hurdlers.   "He had been with us for nine years and was a big favourite in the stable," said a visibly agitated coach Venetia Williams after the race. In November Houblon Des Obeaux won in Sandown, where he often ran very well - until this fatal accident. If he had his favourite soft ground, "he was a great warrior who would never g...

One is missing on Saturday in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown: Altior, winner of the previous year and the outstanding two-mile caser of recent years. But with Un De Sceaux (winner 2016) and Politologue (winner 2017) are old rivals at the start. It could be a thrilling duel old against young or routine against talent: Defi Du Seul, Sceau Royal and Janika are interesting newcomers waiting for the established ones.    The favourites Defi Du Seuil ( Trainer Philipp Hobbs ) is currently the bookmaker's favourite. A horse, who showed his class over hurdles and also over the big obstacles. Last season he convinced in the Novice Division, winning among others the Scilly Isles Chase in Sandown and the JLT Novices' Chase in Cheltenham. The gelding defeated the current Betfair Chase winner Lostintranslation several times. These forms are over longer distances, but Defi Du Seuil recently has beaten Politologue over two miles in the Shloer Chase. Again he showe...

I'm a minority in Germany. Why? I am interested in English horse racing. I especially like jump racing - festivals like Cheltenham and Aintree are among my fixed dates of the year. This blog is about passions — horses and football. Betting tips, analyses or just everything I notice in international racing. Of course there are also some texts about German racing.  And then there's football, I'm a season ticket holder for Borussia Dortmund for many years. I stood on the Südtribüne , the famous yellow wall. Tradition: I run a blog called nurpferdeundfussball in German, it started in 2009. After long considerations I have decided to become global now. And please: English is not my mother tongue. Therefore, please tolerate some linguistic imprecision. Later they will disappear. My promise.

The Cashel Man, Epatante and on Sunday - these were my horses of the weekend. Or emotional companions, because betting horses can create an interactive connection. That's what I learned during the weekend. Of course, we all watch racing because of the noble and brave horses. Or the great sporting achievements of riders and horses. Or the exciting competition in which the best horse wins But - the most beautiful thing about horse racing is still when your 10:1 shot dominates from start to finish and wins. No matter how high the stakes are. The Cashel Man was such a shot on Saturday that made the Columnist happy for a moment. A good horse at long distances in flat races, but over hurdles it was a difficult thing in the race with the beautiful name Get Your Ladbrokes 1 Free Bet Today Handicap-Hurdle. Competition was high for the gelding, trained by Nicky Henderson: his stablemate Getaway Trump , for example, a promising young horse last year. Or the other stablemate Soul Emotion ,...