Paul Lally:
R1: 3-9-1-4
R2: 12-5-9-1
R3: 4-2-3-12
R4: 10-7-2-11
R5: 2-1-10-4
R6: 5-1-6-2
R7: 1-9-8-2
R8: 9-2-1-4
R9: 4-3-1-10
Best Bet: R7 N1 Silvery Breeze
Longshot: R4 N10 Winning Data
Play: R9 QQP 1-3-4
Tom Wood:
R1: 3-10-11-1
R2: 9-12-1-3
R3: 3-8-1-4
R4: 8-7-2-1
R5: 2-9-6-3
R6: 5-1-2-12
R7: 2-1-12-9
R8: 9-4-7-10
R9: 4-1-3-10
The four Grade 1 jump races at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on Thursday are second-chance opportunities at significant prizes for a prominent group of chasers and hurdlers beaten in similar races at the prestigious four-day Cheltenham Festival last month.
The Cheltenham Festival compares well in quality to the Breeders’ Cup in the United States, and the three-day Grand National meeting that begins Thursday at Aintree is another objective for top-class runners from Britain and Ireland in early spring.
By Leo Schlink
Zac Purton and David Hayes were left to scramble for adequate superlatives after Ka Ying Rising continued an imperious reign with a phenomenal display of speed and power to win the HK$5.35 million G2 Sprint Cup (1200m), notching a fourth Sha Tin track record with a record-extending 19th successive victory on Monday (6 April).
Croix du Nord, winner of the 2025 Japanese Derby, overcame an outside draw in a field of 15 to win the third Grade 1 race of his career in Sunday’s $3.6 million Osaka Hai at 1 1/4 miles at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan.
Ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, Croix du Nord raced wide throughout. Croix du Nord, who paid $4.40 as the favorite in American pools, moved into second in early stretch in pursuit of pacesetter Meisho Tabaru, who led by about two lengths.
A low weight assignment was not the primary reason the Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old filly Sheza Alibi won her first start against older males in Saturday’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia.
Carrying 108 pounds, 21 less than topweight Gringotts, Sheza Alibi swept into contention with a wide rally and won the $3.85 million Doncaster Mile by a remarkable 4 1/4 lengths under jockey Jamie Melham.
Paul Lally:
R1 1-4-14-5
R2 3-1-5-11
R3 4-3-7-1
R4 2-1-3-8
R5 1-7-8-12
R6 1-8-12-4
R7 1-2-5-3
R8 2-4-6-8
R9 5-1-8-10
R10 4-8-5-10
R11 7-3-11-4
Best Bet R5 N1 Mr Incredible
Longshot R3 N4 Lucky Year
Play Race11 3-7-11
Tom Wood:
R1: 9-1-4-2
R2: 1-5-3-8
R3: 3-2-1-8
R4: 2-1-3-8
R5: 7-1-8-6
R6: 4-1-12-8
R7: 1-2-3-4
R8: 2-8-6-4
R9: 8-5-1-3
R10: 4-8-10-9
R11: 7-6-4-3
Danon Decile and Croix du Nord, winners of the 2024 and 2025 Japanese Derby, will deservedly draw ample attention for their first starts of 2026 in Sunday’s Grade 1 Osaka Hai for older horses at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan.
They could have a tough time, however, catching the speedy Meisho Tabaru, who is unbeaten in three career starts at Hanshin.
The Osaka Hai is the first Grade 1 turf race of the season for middle-distance runners in Japan. The race drew a field of 15 and has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday.
By Declan Schuster
After setting a new record for consecutive wins by a Hong Kong-trained horse, Zac Purton remains supremely confident Ka Ying Rising (128lb) can extend his unbeaten streak in Easter Monday’s (6 April) HK$5.35 million G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin.
Paul Lally:
R1 3-8-6-9
R2 8-10-3-4
R3 4-1-13-10
R4 2-1-12-11
R5 2-6-3-8
R6 1-3-8-10
R7 6-11-3-4
R8 10-7-6-5
R9 8-2-7-9
Best Bet R3 N4 Never Peter Out
Longshot R8 N10 Young Arrow
Play R4 QQP 1-2-12
Mark McNamara:
R1 - 3.6.12.8
R2 - 8.10.13.2
R3 - 13.10.4.14
R4 - 2.3.12.1
R5 - 7.2.13.5
R6 - 8.3.4.6
R7 - 6.11.10.3
R8 - 6.4.5.1
R9 - 2.7.10.8
