Jon Lees

Dorking

Multimedia Journalist at The Daily Mirror

Articles

New owner tattoos face of racehorse on his leg then sees it romp to victory

1 week ago | mirror.co.uk | Jon Lees

University assistant Ian Prestidge, from Northamptonshire, got an image of Akimos inked onto his leg after buying a share from Old Gold RacingA dedicated racing fan liked the horse he’d bought so much he inked his face on his leg. Ian Prestidge, a 59-year-old University assistant from Northants, purchases a share in Akimos, a five-year-old grey gelding trained by Nicky Henderson for Old Gold Racing .
Kia Joorabchian smashes sales record to land exciting addition for racing team

1 week ago | mirror.co.uk | Jon Lees

The football agent who heads Amo Racing spent big again to secure the top lot at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale in NewmarketFootball agent Kia Joorabchian set a record on Wednesday when paying more than £1.8million to secure an exciting new signing for his ambitious racing team. Joorabchian heads Amo Racing which has enjoyed significant success on the track in recent years, notably with Champion Stakes winner King Of Steel.
Silvestre De Sousa lands new role with powerful Newmarket stable for 2025

1 week ago | mirror.co.uk | Jon Lees

The Brazilian rider, fresh from being crowned champion in the United Arab Emirates, will ride a majority of the horses trained by Roger Varian this yearSilvestre De Sousa has landed a new role with a powerful Newmarket stable. The Brazilian, champion jockey in Britain three times, spent the winter in the Middle East where he was crowned UAE champion jockey for the first time last weekend.
Punter scoops stunning £25k jackpot after ambitious bet on Rory McIlroy triumph

1 week ago | mirror.co.uk | Jon Lees

A William Hill customer, who correctly forecast the winners of the Grand National and Lincoln, pulled off an inspired gamble when the golfer secured the final leg of the bet by winning at AugustaAn inspired punter has revived and bettered an old horse racing tradition, netting more than £25,000 in the process. Historically the ‘Spring Double’ challenged punters to forecast the winners of two of the Spring’s feature races, the Grand National over jumps and the Lincoln Handicap on the Flat.
Antoine Griezmann targeting big final with star racehorse in Newcastle

1 week ago | mirror.co.uk | Jon Lees

World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann is trying to win another big Final. The international football star, who plays for Atletico Madrid, was the player of the match when France defeated Croatia 4-2 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Off the pitch he is a keen horse racing fan off the pitch and has established a racing and breeding operation in recent years. He recorded his biggest win when Txope captured the German 1,000 Guineas in 2022.
Valgrand's trainer releases heartbreaking statement after up-and-coming racehorse dies

1 week ago | mirror.co.uk | Jon Lees

Top trainer Dan Skelton has described the loss of one of his up-and-coming jumpers at the Scottish Grand National meeting. Valgrand had announced himself as a rising talent when he won a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham in October by 17 lengths, completing a hat-trick of wins. He was a leading contender for the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival where he finished 15th and then lined up in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr on Saturday.
Aidan O’Brien names his top candidates for 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas plus Derby

1 week ago | mirror.co.uk | Jon Lees

Aidan O’Brien has named his top candidates for this season’s Betfred British Classics. The Ballydoyle trainer has an abundance of talent within his stable from which to select the horses to target at the 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas, Derby, Oaks and St Leger. He has a record 45 wins in the five races and is lining up four horses to tackle the first two races in the schedule at Newmarket.
Legendary Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Looks Like Trouble dies aged 33

1 week ago | mirror.co.uk | Jon Lees

Looks Like Trouble, who recorded his greatest triumph at the 2000 Cheltenham Festival, had spent a long retirement with former champion jockey Richard JohnsonJumps racing was mourning legendary Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Looks Like Trouble who has passed away at the age of 33. Trained in Lambourn by Noel Chance, and ridden to his biggest triumphs by Paul Carberry, Norman Williamson and Richard Johnson, he took on a beat some of the biggest names of the time.
Grand National horse Celebre D'Allen's cause of death revealed after post-mortem

2 weeks ago | msn.com | Jon Lees |Cameron Winstanley

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Celebre D'Allen's cause of death made public after tragic Grand National incident

2 weeks ago | walesonline.co.uk | Tom Sunderland |Jon Lees

The post-mortem results for Celebre D'Allen - the horse who died three days after collapsing after the Grand National - have been made public. The 13-year-old entered the festival's main event as a 125/1 long shot and was one of two horses who required immediate veterinary care. Trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, Celebre D'Allen had been leading near the end of the race but began to lose position before the penultimate fence.