Sports Betting News: Sierra Leone to Remain in Training in 2025

Connections have confirmed that 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone will continue his racing career next year as a four-year-old.

The Coolmore-owned colt was a popular each-way pick on horse racing betting sites and duly got the job done under jockey Flavien Prat at Del Mar.

The son of Gun Runner cost $2.3 million as a yearling and was expected to be sent to stud, but will be back on the racetrack again next year.

Sierra Leone was well-backed in the Classic, with punters wading into the ante-post odds of 11/1 on several betting apps in the run-up to the race.

He went off as a 69/10 shot and rewarded punters with a power-packed display to claim victory by a-length-and-half from race favourite Fierceness.

Trainer Chad Brown will likely aim Sierra Leone at the 2025 Classic and early odds of 8/1 could tempt punters who believe he can become the second back-to-back winner of the race.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell has confirmed that Grand National hope Flooring Porter has been ruled out for the 2024/25 season through injury.

The talented stayer was a hugely impressive winner of the Kerry National at Listowel in September, sparking talk that he could run in the big race at Aintree.

However, Cromwell says the nine-year-old is unlikely to recover from his setback this season and he will give him all the time he needs to recover.

Banbridge is being prepared for a return to action at either Navan or Cork ahead of a planned run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The eight-year-old has won five times over fences for trainer Joseph O’Brien, and is set to test his mettle against the best three-mile chasers this season.

Banbridge is rated as a 12/1 shot on several new betting sites for the big festive steeplechase, but those odds will disappear if he impresses on his seasonal reappearance.