Latest News and Features Derek Thompson signs off at Wolverhampton The Vagaries of Early Speed: Soft Leads and Pace Collapses Charles ‘working on’ producing a contender for the Derby Estrange on course for Yorkshire Oaks, with Paris on the horizon Ross O’Sullivan eyeing more Galway Festival gains Eustace’s Ascot heroes hunting more glory at Goodwood […]
Even though there was a clear winner, a trademark shout of “photo!” from Derek Thompson was an appropriate way of bringing the curtain down on his 60-year commentary career at Wolverhampton. Thompson announced late last year he would retire from commentating in 2025 and subsequently identified Tuesday night’s six-race fixture at Dunstall Park as his […]
The King has said he is working on producing a runner for one of the greatest spectacles in the racing calendar – the Derby. Charles’s comment came when he and the Queen visited the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket, after touring the nearby National Stud. There they met the stallion Stradivarius, the champion stayer who […]
Estrange is poised to step up to Group One level at York next month. The David O’Meara-trained four-year-old has been beaten only once in her five-race career to date and created a huge impression when winning the Group Three Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes at Haydock in a canter in May. In fact so impressive was […]
Ross O’Sullivan is readying a strong squad for this season’s Galway Summer Festival after enjoying a fruitful meeting last year. The stable sent out three winners for the showpiece fixture 12 months ago, all of whom return to the track this time around alongside further hopes both on the Flat and under the National Hunt […]
Harry Eustace could be in line for another week to remember as stable stars Docklands and Time For Sandals prepare for their respective targets at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Both horses shone at Group One level at Royal Ascot in June, with Docklands kicking off the meeting with a surprise 16-1 success in the Queen […]
Vespertilio is pencilled in for sprint targets in both Ireland and England after skipping the Minstrel Stakes at the weekend. The filly was an intended runner in the Group Two at the Curragh on Sunday, but when the going description was changed to good to yielding trainer Willie McCreery opted to save her for more […]
Royal Ascot hero Noble Champion is set to lead Ed Walker’s squad into battle at next week’s Qatar Goodwood Festival. The Lambourn handler is enjoying an excellent season, highlighted by multiple Group-race victories thanks to the exploits of not only Noble Champion but also the likes of Almaqam – who is bound of this weekend’s […]
Ed Walker is preparing to take the wraps off Almaqam in Saturday’s Sky Bet York Stakes. The four-year-old has been limited to just two starts so far this year, finishing third in the Gordon Richards Stakes on his initial outing before securing a first Group Three success when beating Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes […]
Latest News and Features Field Of Gold ‘in great order’ for Sussex Stakes test Almeraq powers to hugely impressive victory at Ayr Goodwood and Deauville under consideration for My Cloud Tommo – ‘Are you well? I thought you were!’, and so much more Derek Thompson bringing the curtain down on his commentary career Jan Brueghel […]
John Gosden is looking forward to seeing how Field Of Gold fares when faced with the unique demands of Goodwood in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes next week. The brilliant Juddmonte-owned grey has had a superb campaign so far this year, winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. […]
William Haggas looks to have a very useful three-year-old in his armoury after Almeraq blitzed the field in the Fergie & Myra Happel Ayr Gold Cup Trial Handicap at Ayr. The Shadwell-owned Dark Angel colt was making his handicap debut off a mark of 90 as the 2-1 favourite in Scotland and looked at ease […]
Roger Varian’s Royal Ascot winner My Cloud has further Group-race targets after being ruled out of the Summer Mile. The four-year-old was the winner of the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot in June, prevailing by three-quarters of a length in a field of 30 to remain unbeaten this season. He was due to return to […]
Derek Thompson will commentate on a race for the final time on Tuesday evening at Wolverhampton. Here, we look at ‘Tommo’s’ take on his near 60-year career in broadcasting. On where it all started Derek Thompson first commentated as a 15-year-old (George Selwyn/PA) My dad, the late Stanley Thompson, he started commentaries in point-to-points and […]
Derek Thompson felt the time was right to end his commentary career, as he prepares to pick up the microphone for the final time at Wolverhampton on Tuesday night. Thompson is one of the most recognisable figures in the racing industry having spent time commentating on-course and for BBC radio, while also presenting for ITV, […]
