Latest horse racing news from UK, Ireland, and around the world.

Publish rises in class for Ascendant assignment

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The Juddmonte team expect to have a clearer idea of what Publish’s end-of-season target should be after he contests the Betting.Betfair Ascendant Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

A huge eyecatcher when second on his Sandown debut in early July, John and Thady Gosden’s juvenile comfortably went one better on his return three weeks later and was due to step up to Group Three level over the same course and seven-furlong distance in last weekend’s Solario Stakes.

However, heavy rain at the Esher venue last Friday led to the Kingman colt’s withdrawal and he has been rerouted to Merseyside, where he will step up to a mile for the first time at Listed level.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said: “Hopefully the ground is going to be OK. I haven’t looked too deeply into it, but it looked nice ground there on Thursday, so I’d imagine unless there’s a lot of rain coming in tonight the ground should be OK for him.

“John and Thady seem happy and haven’t mentioned any reservations. I suppose in an ideal world you’d have loved to have gone seven (furlongs) again, but that wasn’t to be and I’m sure he’s a horse that will get a mile no problem in time and hopefully he’s strong enough to be able to do it now.

“I’d say he’s a horse that will have one more run after Saturday and Saturday will determine what race that will be in.”

Publish’s rivals include George Boughey’s impressive Newbury scorer Bow Echo, Karl Burke’s course winner Shayem and Hugo Palmer’s Glacius, who won on his racecourse debut at Newmarket.

A bumper eight-race card gets under way with the Group Three Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile, which features the likes of Make Me King (Hamad Al Jehani), Ice Max (Burke), course-and-distance winner Suite Francaise (Charlie Johnston) and Dylan Cunha’s stable star Prague.

Tom Dascombe saddles Snow Master, who has impressed in winning each of his two starts at Yarmouth but faces a significant rise in class.

“Snow Master is a good horse, he’s done all he can,” said Dascombe.

“He’s won two starts out of two, he’s won them both really easily and it is a bit of a jump from a novice to a Group Three, but he deserves a chance.”

Rebel’s Romance sidesteps Baden-Baden outing

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Rebel’s Romance will miss his intended outing in the 155th Grosser Preis von Baden on Sunday due to unsuitable ground at Baden-Baden.

Charlie Appleby’s stable favourite is a regular visitor to Germany, having won four Group Ones there already.

He was due to clash with William Haggas’ globetrotter Dubai Honour, last year’s King George winner Goliath and the German Derby winner Hochkonig, who is also a non-runner.

He could still have his next outing in Germany, however, with a trip to Cologne for the Preis von Europa a possibility.

“All is well with him, it’s just the ground, it’s going to be on the slower side of good,” said Appleby.

“It will be very tacky so we’ve decided to wait.

“We’ll look towards Cologne next or he could go to the Joe Hirsch (Turf Classic at Aqueduct).”

Wayne Lordan unsuccessful in appeal

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Wayne Lordan was unsuccessful in his appeal against a 10-day suspension for using his whip in the incorrect place aboard Precise at Goodwood last month.

The rider was banned from September 9 to September 18 inclusive and fined £1,250 after being found in breach of the rules by the whip review committee following his winning effort on the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly in the Group Three Prestige Stakes.

While Lordan admitted he had used his whip in the wrong place once aboard Precise, he contested the committee’s conclusion that he had done so three times in total.

Lordan argued that his riding action had changed from his fifth strike of the whip to his sixth, which he agreed was in the wrong place, and he also said Precise’s tack had slipped slightly.

Lordan was represented by Graeme McPherson, who read out extracts from a letter O’Brien wrote in support, stating the filly was “on the small side”, “is short-coupled” and “her style of movement means she gets her hind legs in underneath her ribs” so “she looks even more short-coupled” – statements Lordan concurred with.

While those assertions were taken into account by the panel, along with a “minimal tack shift”, chair James O’Mahony said they judged the original decision of the whip review committee to have been the correct one. The rider’s deposit will be returned.

Lordan will now miss both the St Leger meeting at Doncaster and the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown and the Curragh next weekend.

He is O’Brien’s second-choice rider and his availability has become key over the last week, with stable number one Ryan Moore sidelined for an indefinite period by a leg injury.

O’Brien confirmed earlier in the week that Christophe Soumillon is set to take a role in covering Moore’s absence, but Lordan’s possible mounts could have included St Leger favourite Scandinavia and the Irish Champion Stakes market leader Delacroix.

Both riders will be in action for the Ballydoyle handler at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, with Soumillon teaming up with Whirl in the Prix Vermeille and Henri Matisse in the Prix du Moulin, while Lordan will ride Bedtime Story and The Lion In Winter in those Group One races respectively.

A Dream To Share team successfully appeal handicap decision

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A Dream To Share will be given a handicap mark by the Irish handicapper after connections were successful in their appeal against the decision to not to allot a rating.

The seven-year-old, owned by JP McManus and trained by John and Thomas Kiely, won the Champion Bumper at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival but has had his attentions switched to the Flat of late.

He won one of three outings but Irish handicapper Gary O’Gorman declined to give him a mark, a decision that was reciprocated by his British Horseracing Authority counterpart.

Following an appeal hearing on Thursday, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has confirmed A Dream To Share will now be given an official rating.

A statement said: “Having considered the submissions and observations made by the appellants and the handicapper in this appeal, the Appeals Body has decided to allow the appeal of the appellants and remit the matter to the handicapper with a direction that he should allocate a handicap mark to the horse.

“The Appeals Body will provide its reasons for this decision in writing not later than Friday 12 September 2025.”

A Dream To Share had been prominent in the ante-post betting for next month’s Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap, but the BHA confirmed last week that the gelding was ineligible as the conditions of the Newmarket race meant he needed a handicap mark before August 19, with the weights published on August 27.

Kalpana takes September Stakes step to ultimate Arc aim

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Connections of Kalpana admit their Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe favourite faces a far from straightforward task in her bid for back-to-back victories Saturday’s Unibet September Stakes at Kempton.

Andrew Balding’s filly landed this Group Three prize en-route to success on Qipco Champions Day last season and while she has failed to get her head in front since, she has performed admirably to secure podium finishes in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, the Pretty Polly Stakes and the King George this term.

With the four-year-old being targeted at Europe’s premier middle-distance contest at ParisLongchamp in just over four weeks’ time, owners Juddmonte have warned she is not at concert pitch for Saturday’s assignment in Sunbury and in Hong Kong Vase winner Giavellotto she faces a serious rival.

“Hopefully she’s in good form and Andrew is happy with her, but it is a prep for the Arc and I think Andrew stated the other day that while she’s fit and well, she’s not been trained for this race,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“It’s a stepping-stone towards the Arc and she had a hard race in the King George. She’s in good form and we’re hopeful that she’ll run a good race, but we have an eye on October and that’s the big day.

“In some years you can turn up for this race and it could be a 115-rated horse against plenty of 90-rated horses, but this year it’s definitely not that. Giavellotto is a top-class horse, he’s showed that season in, season out for the last few and he’ll be a tough nut (to crack).

“As long as our filly can run a good race and she shows she’s in good form, we’ll be happy and we’ll kick on to Longchamp.”

Trainer Andrew Balding is hoping to saddle Kalpana in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Trainer Andrew Balding is hoping to saddle Kalpana in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Mike Egerton/PA)

Balding is keeping his fingers crossed Kalpana can secure a confidence-boosting victory.

“They have been three really good runs this year, but she is yet to win a race and it would be nice to get the ball rolling and get back on track with a win to tee us nicely up for Paris in October,” said the Kingsclere handler.

“The Arc is one of the most important races in the calendar. Juddmonte were lucky enough to win it last year (with Bluestocking), and they have won it twice with Enable, along with plenty of other good horses, so they are no stranger to success in it, but I’ve never had a runner in the race.

“It is a privilege to train for them, and you have always got a chance of getting a good one as they breed such good horses.

“However, we still have plenty of water to go under the bridge between now and then, but the first step is Kempton Park at the weekend.”

Giavellotto has not been seen in competitive action since finishing third behind Jan Brueghel and Calandagan in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in early June.

His trainer Marco Botti said: “He’s been in good order and when we looked at the time of year and the ground is probably going to be on the easy side, which is not what he wants, we thought we’d take our chance in the September Stakes.

“He actually ran once at Kempton and won as a two-year-old and he’s also won at Newcastle, so he’s two from two on the all-weather.

“We obviously missed the Princess of Wales’s Stakes (at Newmarket in July) because he had a bad scope, so we just gave him a little bit more time as our main target is still Hong Kong and it’s a long season.

“I would say he should be pretty for fit for the race on Saturday and he’s shown his best form when he runs fresh anyway, so that’s definitely not a concern.”

Giavellotto has been an excellent servant to Marco Botti
Giavellotto has been an excellent servant to Marco Botti (Joe Giddens/PA)

On the prospect of facing Kalpana, the Newmarket-based Italian added: “She’s a very good filly and in the past this has been a good prep race for the Arc, so I can see why they’re taking that route.

“But we’re looking forward to seeing our horse back in action and we can make a plan then where we run next. He might or might not run again before Hong Kong. We have entered him in the Arc, but I never really felt he would get his ground in France at that time of the year.

“We’ll take it a step at a time, but it wouldn’t be worry me if after this race we keep him fresh and well for Hong Kong. All those things will be considered after the race.”

The Unibet Sirenia Stakes is the other Group Three on the card with a 10-strong field headed by the Charlie Appleby-trained Beckford’s Folly, who has won two of his three starts so far.

Harry Eustace relishing Sprint Cup test for Time For Sandals

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Harry Eustace is keen to find out where his Royal Ascot winner Time For Sandals ranks against the best six-furlong sprinters in Europe when she contests the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Winner of the Commonwealth Cup against her own age, she then dropped down to five furlongs at Goodwood against her elders, finishing a three-quarter-length third.

Back up to her favoured trip this weekend, she is second favourite in most lists behind Lazzat.

“It’s a positive for us they didn’t get much rain and while it’s a tough race, we’re looking forward to seeing where we fit in,” said Eustace.

“It was nice to see her back up at Goodwood against the older ones over what isn’t really her trip having done it at Ascot against her own age.

“We’ll find out now where we really fit in against the best over six furlongs.

“The draw (two) is fair, I’d rather be drawn closer to a few more fancied runners but we can’t do much about that, so we’ll see how we go. We are at least next to Sayidah Dariyan and we might have to look after ourselves.”

Lazzat was also a winner at Royal Ascot and went close to following up in the Prix Maurice de Gheest for trainer Jerome Reynier.

“Lazzat has been staying in Deauville for the last month. We are very happy with him and he did his last piece of work on the straight course on the racecourse last Saturday. That was very nice – he moved well and behaved well. We were very happy, and he looks amazing physically. We can only hope for the best,” said Reynier.

Lazzat impressed at Royal Ascot
Lazzat impressed at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“He was racing after 50 days (since Ascot) and we brought him to Deauville five days prior to the race and I think he became a bit fresh between his travelling and the race. When he won the Maurice de Gheest last year, we came the day before.

“On Saturday, he is running after 27 days off and will be travelling the day before. I think he has done enough work to make sure he won’t be too fresh and keen.

“He is a horse that’s happy in any kind of routine. He’s travelled the world and been in quarantine, so is very versatile and can adapt himself to any kind of conditions, so he’s very easy to deal with. He gets on well with his morning rider, Franck Blondel, a former champion jockey. As long as he has Franck with him, he is happy to visit the world.”

Richard Hughes’ No Half Measures is bidding for a Group One double following her surprise win in the July Cup.

“It was a brilliant day in the July Cup. We were hoping she would run well, but on that (quick) ground we didn’t think it would be possible to win,” said Hughes.

“I thought she would need it softer to be able to overcome that level of horse, but she went and proved she can do it on any ground.

“Ryan (Moore) kept saying she is really good over five furlongs but I thought she might be able to excel if she could travel over a bit further, and she hasn’t let me down.

“She is improving, and although she was beaten on her first start over six furlongs, she hasn’t been beaten over it since.”

Hughes also runs Sayidah Dariyan.

The William Haggas-trained Sky Majesty was supplemented for the race after winning in Ireland the last twice, having landed Group races at Ayr and Chantilly on contrasting conditions last term.

Sky Majesty (right) winning at Ayr last season
Sky Majesty (right) winning at Ayr last season (Steve Welsh/PA)

Sean Graham, racing manager to her co-owner Tony Bloom, said: “William has been very happy with her since Naas and her best run last year was at Chantilly when she won on heavy ground.

“She just hadn’t come to herself when she ran first time out at Chelmsford and although she improved significantly for that run, she probably still wasn’t where William would have wanted her at Royal Ascot (in the Commonwealth Cup).

“The ground was very quick that day and maybe she just didn’t let herself down on it either and she has won twice at Naas since and looks a million dollars, so we’re looking forward to taking our chance.”

One Look snapped up by Wathnan Racing

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One Look, who returned to winning ways last time out for Paddy Twomey, is the latest acquisition to the ever-expanding Wathnan Racing team.

Having won the Goffs Million on her only outing at two, connections harboured Classic dreams in 2024 but she came up short in her trial in May.

She ended the last campaign in good form and began this season with a win in Group Three company at the Curragh – and while she found quick ground against her in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot, the step up in trip suited her in the Group Three Meadow Court Stakes most recently.

With a variety of options coming up such as the Matron and Blandford Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival, Wathnan are looking forward to the future, and her second career as a broodmare.

Richard Brown, Wathnan’s Racing adviser, said: “One Look is a fine racemare, with plenty of options from a mile to 10 furlongs before she retires to stud.

“She’s been very well campaigned and is enjoying a tremendous season. We’re thrilled to have her.”

Racing Bulletin for 05/09/2025

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Latest News and Features

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Today's Racing

Click on course names to view our course guides. Click on race times to access that racecard. Times highlighted in yellow are free races of the day.

Haydock Park

Good

 13:32 14:07 14:42 15:15 15:50 16:20 16:55 17:27
Ascot

Soft

 13:45 14:20 14:55 15:30 16:05 16:40 17:15
Bangor-on-Dee

Good

 13:55 14:30 15:05 15:40 16:10 16:45
Kilbeggan

Good to Yielding

 15:57 16:32 17:07 17:37 18:07 18:37 19:07
Down Royal

Good

 16:15 16:50 17:22 17:54 18:24 18:54 19:24
Worcester

Good to Soft

 16:25 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30
Kempton Park

Standard / Slow

 17:47 18:17 18:47 19:17 19:47 20:17 20:47

Today's Featured Article

In-running trading diary, part 2

Today's Feature of the Day is...

Horses for Courses report

Good luck!


Lohengrin delights Alan Delany with Laytown glory

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Alan Delany realised a long-held ambition as Lohengrin landed the Pride Of Place Maiden in his colours at Laytown.

The fixture occupies a unique place in the calendar as the only official race event to take place on a beach in Britain and Ireland, with racing having featured on the strand since the 1860s and Delany, who is assistant trainer to his father Eamon, has been keen to add to previous success for his family at the meeting.

Lohengrin finished third for previous connections last year and was sent off a 6-1 shot this time, coming home a two-length winner under Jordan Gainford.

Delany, who is also a committee member at Laytown, said: “It is absolutely brilliant. Our family are long associated with here.

“I honestly thought we would run very, very well. The last winner for the family here was in 1965, trained by my grandfather Eamon Delany and ridden by Francis Flood, which was obviously 60 years ago today.

“It was one I wanted to get on the CV.

“Dad is at home and he is not in the best of health, and this is better than any medication. You can’t get this medication.

“I’m very lucky with the staff we have and the owners we have that support us. There’s a huge crowd here all backing us.”

Amanirenas edged a narrow verdict in the Gilna’s Cottage Inn Handicap.

Trained by Michael Grassick, Amanirenas was a 13-2 shot in the hands of Dylan Browne McMonagle and after hitting the front a furlong out, she stuck to her guns to see off Cu Chulainn by a neck.

“She just lost her way, for whatever reason, I don’t know,” said Grassick.

“If you watch her run in Leopardstown the last day, she looked like she was going to win a furlong down. It was her first time with a pair of blinkers and Gavin (Ryan) just said she was too gassy.

“I’d say it was just the beach (that helped) and she is well handicapped on last year’s form.”

Colin Keane steered the Patrick Magee-trained Lismacbryan Hill (6-1) to a comprehensive five-length victory in the Tote.ie Claiming Race.

Magee said: “There were just bits and pieces of excuses, she had some good runs.

“I always find that it is very hard with a low-grade sprinter in this country as there are 22 runners in most fields – Navan, Cork and Naas, and all those (tracks).

“She was actually impressive today. We do a lot of work on the beach actually, so she knew where she was going!”

Lismacbryan Hill was subsequently claimed by James McAuley to be trained by Denis Hogan.

Hogan was on the mark himself in the Download The New Tote App (Q.R.) Handicap, with 15-2 shot Dontspoilasale leading from start to finish under a well-judged ride from Adam Ryan.

The winner was making his stable debut, having been claimed out of Ado McGuinness’ yard after finishing third at Dundalk last month.

Hogan said: “The boys (James McAuley and James Gough) are very good at it (claiming horses). They are so sharp, they are sharks on form and upcoming races!

“They are placing them and they are a joy to train for – they do a lot of the work for me. I just have them healthy and fit on the day.

“Adam gave him a lovely ride and the 5lb (claim) was a big help.”

McGuinness enjoyed a quickfire double in the final two races via Distillate (6-1) in the O’Neills.com Handicap and Exquisite Acclaim (9-2) in the Tote, Never Beaten By SP (Q.R.) Handicap.

Swift Delivery seeking Mint Millions for Travis Kelce

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NFL star Travis Kelce may have made headlines with his recent engagement to Taylor Swift, but it is his love story with racing which could be front-page news at Kentucky Downs on Saturday.

No stranger to the spotlight, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end is part-owner of the appropriately named Swift Delivery, who after suffering a cruel summer at the beginning of his career, has gone on to win his last two outings in style.

The Mark Casse-trained four-year-old finally shook off regular rival Dresden Row to claim the Grade Three Seagram Cup Stakes at Woodbine last month and will now line up in the $2.5million FanDuel TV Mint Millions Invitational Stakes, where Alice Haynes’ Cairo and Frankie Dettori aboard Ed Bethell’s Point Lynas will be hoping to fill the role of anti-hero.

“He’s kind of a slow learner but his last two races have been really improved, so we’re stepping him up in class and hoping to get a part of it,” said Barry Irwin, CEO of part-owners Team Valor International.

“I think it’s possible he becomes a really good horse and Patrick Husbands, who is a Hall of Fame rider and one of the leading riders in Canada, he rides him and says this is one of his favourite horses of all time.

“He’s got a ton of pace but it’s just taken him some time to learn his craft, so this will be a big test for him.”

Kelce will not be in attendance at the Nashville track to watch his equine star in action, but Irwin admits the attention Swift Delivery has received since the three-time Super Bowl winner filled a blank space on the gelding’s ownership has been beyond his wildest dreams.

Irwin added: “He is so popular in our culture now because of Taylor Swift that he is very guarded and we don’t have huge communication with him.

“One of our partners is a good friend of his but during football season, it is almost impossible to get his attention as he is totally focused on that.

“He won’t be at Kentucky Downs, but he will be watching the race and follows the horse and likes horse racing and I hope the horse continues to do well so it maintains his enthusiasm for the game.”

Trainer and rider charged over Hillsin run more than two years ago

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Jockey Dylan Kitts and trainer Chris Honour have been charged with preventing Hillsin from running on his merits in a race at Worcester over two years ago.

Hillsin finished a close third in the Wacky Weekender Festival Pitchcroft 21st-23rd July Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle in July 2023, with the Worcester stewards subsequently suspending the horse from running for 40 days and referring the matter to the British Horseracing Authority.

Kitts, Honour and John Higgins will now face a disciplinary panel hearing that begins on Monday, with four additional dates reserved on September 9, 10, 15 and 16 if required.

All three have been charged with breaches of rule (J) 25 – committing a corrupt or fraudulent practice by stopping Hillsin from achieving his best possible position.

Kitts is also charged with breaking rule (F) 37, concerning failure to make a sufficient effort to achieve the best possible placing, while Honour has been charged with “encouraging Dylan Kitts to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to racing by encouraging him to give a stopping ride to Hillsin” and also not ensuring Kitts had sufficient instruction to achieve the best possible placing.

Honour is also charged with misleading the stewards after the race.

Jerome Reynier confident Lazzat is ‘spot on’ for Haydock test

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Jerome Reynier is backing Lazzat to regain his spot at the top of the speed division in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.

The Wathnan Racing-owned gelding made a successful trip across the Channel in June to land the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, after which he lost his title in the Prix Maurice de Gheest back on home turf.

Reynier has kept the horse in good form at Deauville in recent weeks, and has him poised to get his head back in front when he returns to British soil this weekend.

James Doyle salutes the crowd aboard Lazzat at Ascot
James Doyle salutes the crowd aboard Lazzat at Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“We have kept him in Deauville and given him a workout on the racecourse, on the turf, he’s got a long journey to Haydock but I think he’ll be spot on for the race on Saturday,” the Frenchman said.

“It’s a very different feeling when you bring a horse over for a Group One and he is the favourite, we are all hoping he doesn’t fail.

“When he got beaten by Sajir in the Prix Maurice de Gheest it was tough, but we were very happy with the horse and he ran a good race.

“It’s a lot of pressure, because if he wins another Group One sprint in Europe, he could be the champion of the year and that’s very important to all the team.

“They have invested a lot, it was great to be able to win a Group One for them at Royal Ascot.

“I’m hoping to bring many more for the team and every race is important, he was beaten the other day so he needs to fire back and prove he is the best.”

Kind Of Blue (right) finished second at Haydock last year
Kind Of Blue (right) finished second at Haydock last year (Nigel French/PA)

Lazzat leads the way as a maximum field of 17 assembles for the six-furlong contest, with Wathnan also represented by Kind Of Blue, trained by James Fanshawe to finish second in the contest last year, and Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda.

Time For Sandals, Harry Eustace’s Commonwealth Cup winner, is declared alongside Richard Hughes’ July Cup heroine No Half Measures and her stablemate Sayidah Dariyan.

Big Mojo was second in the July Cup and turns his attention now to Haydock, with Annaf also set to line up from the same Mick Appleby yard.

Last season’s winning trainer William Haggas will be represented solely by Sky Majesty as Almeraq has not made the cut having been declared, whereas Kevin Ryan has two runners in Inisherin and Ain’t Nobody, who was second in the Nunthorpe at 100-1.

Diligent Harry (left) is popular runner for Clive Cox
Diligent Harry (left) is popular runner for Clive Cox (Scott Heppell/PA)

Clive Cox is another trainer with two runners as he has put forward Diligent Harry and James’s Delight, with Henry Candy’s Run To Freedom and Eve Johnson Houghton’s Rage Of Bamby both on the list also.

There are two further horses travelling from overseas, a second French raider in Yann Barberot’s Beauvatier and an Irish challenger in Ger Lyons’ My Mate Alfie.

Nighteyes and Celandine are the two reserves for the race.

James Owen hoping Wimbledon Hawkeye can be Breeders’ Cup ace

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Wimbledon Hawkeye will head straight for the Breeders’ Cup following his lucrative success in America last weekend.

Although James Owen’s charge had previously failed to get his head in front since winning the Royal Lodge as a two-year-old, he has been placed in a number of high-profile races this season including the Craven Stakes, the Dante, the Princess of Wales’s Stakes and the Gordon Stakes.

The Kameko colt travelled to Kentucky Downs as a leading contender for the $2million Nashville Derby and claimed a thrilling victory in the hands of Frankie Dettori, who Owen hopes will be on board again at Del Mar on November 1.

“It was perfect, a great result. I’m proud of the horse and proud of the team that took him over. It was great prize-money and we had a great time,” said the Newmarket handler.

“He’s won prize-money every time he’s ran, so he’s a great horse for us to have. The international scene was what we wanted to get on and that was a great start for us.

“He’s come out of the race really well and we’re looking forward to going back to America for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He’ll go straight there, he’s been busy, so he’s got a nice break now until that.

“An extra furlong is going to help him and quick ground obviously suits. It’s going to be a strong race against older horses, but he deserves his chance in it now. He travelled well, Frankie really liked him and hopefully he’ll be keen to ride him again.

“We’re nine weeks away, so it’s hard to say for sure, but I’m sure he’ll be available.”

Dubai Honour goes for Baden-Baden gold

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Dubai Honour could set up an exciting tilt at the Japan Cup when he makes his first European start of the year at Baden-Baden on Sunday.

William Haggas’ globetrotting star finished second to Fantastic Moon when making the trip to Germany 12 months ago and will try to go one better in the Grosser Preis von Baden, as he faces off against the likes of fellow British raider Rebel’s Romance.

“He’s absolutely fine and this was always going to be his comeback race,” said Haggas.

“It looks a strong race with Rebel’s Romance and Goliath but it’s a Group One, so it should be a strong race

“He’s not getting any younger but he’s still all there. He’s retained all his enthusiasm and I think he’s in good form and bound to run a good race on Sunday, even though he has those two rated higher than him to contend with.”

Dubai Honour has famously thrived in Australia and took his Group One haul to four when claiming the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill in April, before also running with credit when second to Australian ace Via Sistina later that month.

The seven-year-old, who was last seen at Sha Tin in May, has Japan as his likely destination this autumn, with the Somerville Lodge handler eyeing a tilt at the Japan Cup.

“He won’t be going to Australia this autumn for their spring and we’re going to consider the Japan Cup this year because he won a ‘win-and-you’re-in’ race in Australia,” continued Haggas.

“He could go and do his stuff in Hong Kong, but we might try something different.”

Lazzat leads maximum field hunting Sprint Cup honours

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Lazzat leads the way as a maximum field of 17 look set to assemble for the Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

Jerome Reynier’s gelding made a successful trip across the Channel in June to land the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, after which he was second in the Prix Maurice de Gheest back on home turf.

He now heads back to British shores again for owners Wathnan Racing, and will be ridden by their retained jockey James Doyle at Haydock as he bids to add another Group One to his CV.

The same owners are also due to be represented by Kind Of Blue, trained by James Fanshawe who finished second in the contest last year, with Flora Of Bermuda the third Wathnan runner for trainer Andrew Balding.

Time For Sandals, Harry Eustace’s Commonwealth Cup winner, is declared alongside Richard Hughes’ July Cup heroine No Half Measures and her stablemate Sayidah Dariyan.

Big Mojo was second in the July Cup and turns his attention now to Haydock, with Annaf also set to line up from the same Mick Appleby yard.

Last season’s winning trainer William Haggas will be represented solely by Sky Majesty as Almeraq has not made the cut having been declared, whereas Kevin Ryan has two runners in Inisherin and Ain’t Nobody, who was second in the Nunthorpe at 100-1.

Clive Cox is another trainer with two runners as he has put forward Diligent Harry and James’s Delight, with Henry Candy’s Run To Freedom and Eve Johnson Houghton’s Rage Of Bamby both on the list also.

There are two further horses travelling from overseas, a second French raider in Yann Barberot’s Beauvatier and an Irish challenger in Ger Lyons’ My Mate Alfie.

The last two to make it in where Nighteyes and Celandine.

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