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

Clive Cox planning attack on big juvenile prizes with star pair

/in /by

Clive Cox is keen to see if star juveniles A Bit Of Spirit and Coppull can bag more big-race success in the two-year-old division in the final third of the season.

A Bit Of Spirit returned to winning ways with a battling display at Sandown to come out on top in a four-way finish to the Solario Stakes and with the Lambourn handler still very much on a high from that Group Three triumph, the next step of the youngster’s career could involve a move up to Group One company.

“He’s come out of the race really well and we were delighted with the determination and courage he showed, it was a really pleasing success,” said Cox.

“We’ve got to decide where we’re going next now, but he’s shown he doesn’t mind a bit of ease in the ground.

A Bit Of Spirit (second left) winning at Sandown
A Bit Of Spirit (second left) winning at Sandown (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in France and in the Dewhurst, but we’ll allow him this week and then move forward accordingly.

“We’ve got choices and they’re all available. We’ve had such a dry summer and with the weather just beginning to take a turn, we might just watch and feel how everything pans out.

“We’re all still very much on a high from the success at the weekend.”

While A Bit Of Spirit’s next target is still to be determined, it appears Richmond Stakes scorer Coppull will bid to get back on track in Newmarket’s Middle Park Stakes later this month after finishing fifth in a red-hot Prix Morny when last seen.

“The idea would be to head to the Middle Park,” continued Cox. “He’s less proven on an easier surface and since coming home from France we’ve been a bit gentler with him but I’m sure we can resume a positive approach with him soon and look forward to the Middle Park as our next intended target.”

Coppull (right) winning the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood
Coppull (right) winning the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

He went on: “It was very very quick ground over there in Deauville. We were drawn on a wing with the American horse (Outfielder) on the other side. We were thinking he would go and make the running and we were caught a little bit wide and he was a bit too keen and to be fair, the ground was quick enough for him.”

Cox will also go in search of further two-year-old riches with Song Of The Clyde who will now take a well-known path to Doncaster’s Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes on September 11 after already picking up one huge bounty with victory at York last month.

The Middleham Park Racing-owned son of Sergei Prokofiev cashed in over £300,000 in prize-money when giving the Beechdown Stables handler a third-straight win in the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs sales race.

“I think he’s well enough qualified for the Weatherbys race at Doncaster and it’s six and a half, which I think will be within his compass,” said Cox.

“That will be our intended route and would mirror the same step we took with Dragon Leader who won the same race at York in 2023 before running very well (to finish second) in the Doncaster race.”

Gstaad going up in distance in bid to be National hero

/in /by

Gstaad is expected to thrive over seven furlongs when he tries the trip for the first time in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh next weekend.

A hugely impressive winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, he met with defeat on his next start in what looked a red-hot Prix Morny at Deauville.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien was encouraged by the way he finished that race off though, and expects him to improve for the step up in trip.

Gstaad was a brilliant winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot
Gstaad was a brilliant winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“Gstaad will love seven furlongs,” said O’Brien. “He went to France but it was a little bit early, he came back heavier than he went so he’s going to be very comfortable at seven, he always was.

“The original plan was that he was going to go to the Curragh for a stiff six (Phoenix Stakes) but we didn’t get to go obviously. The filly (True Love) was to go to Deauville but they had to swap around.

“That was the way it worked but it didn’t suit either, the filly would probably be better over a quick six and he would have been better over a stiff six but that’s the way it was.

“He’s a fair horse, he stays, he’s quick, he’s a big hardy horse and you could see him going through the line at Deauville.”

He may be joined in the National Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival by Italy, second to Gewan in the Acomb Stakes at York.

“It’s possible Italy could join him, he ran well at York. He got back a little bit, he’s still a little immature mentally but we’re happy with him since so it’s a strong possibility he will,” said O’Brien.

Another potentially smart juvenile from the yard is Montreal, who is heading towards the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown a day earlier.

The son of Sea The Stars could be joined by a plethora of stablemates.

“Montreal was very impressive at Leopardstown when he won the last day,” added O’Brien.

“The Frankel horse who won in Killarney is a possible (Benvenuto Cellini) and the Frankel horse that won at the Curragh is a possible (New Zealand), as is the Frankel that won at Galway, Action. We’ve the horse that won at Goodwood by Camelot, Isaac Newton, he’s possible. They’re all possibles.”

Composing is building a fine reputation
Composing is building a fine reputation (Damien Eagers/PA)

Composing looks a very nice type among the fillies and is set to head the Moyglare Stud Stakes team.

He said: “Composing won very well the last day. She’s a very straightforward, honest to God filly.

“She doesn’t mind making the running and you have to follow her because she stays. She’s a good filly so that will be the plan with her.

“Beautify could run, she won a Group Two at the Curragh a while ago but she couldn’t run any more because she had penalties wherever she went. She’d be very happy going up to seven.

“There’s the filly who won at Goodwood as well (Precise) she might go or she might wait.”

Illinois and Jan Brueghel set for Irish St Leger clash

/in /by

Two Ballydoyle heavyweights in Illinois and Jan Brueghel are on a collision course in the Comer Group Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Sunday week.

Illinois finished second to Trawlerman in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June and was then beaten by younger stablemate Scandinavia in the Goodwood Cup.

Jan Brueghel beat Illinois by a neck in last year’s St Leger at Doncaster and was too good for Calandagan in this summer’s Coronation Cup, but trainer Aidan O’Brien has admitted to getting his tactics all wrong when he attempted to make all in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Speaking at a press morning at his Ballydoyle Stables ahead of the Irish Champions Festival, O’Brien said: “I think Illinois and Jan Brueghel will take each other on, the lads are very happy for that to happen. They are two older horses.

“We might not have seen the best of Illinois yet because the Gold Cup was a bit hard on him and his preparation up to it might not have been brilliant. He might have felt that a little bit in Goodwood, but we think he’s in a good place again. It might take until next year to get him right back.

“Jan Brueghel, we absolutely made a hash of it in the King George but he’s very well. Obviously he’s very idle in front, he needs something to be running at but he stays very well and he’s in good shape.

“You get plenty of days like Ascot but it’s sport and you have to take the good with the bad, you often learn more from the bad. At least we know what not to do with him any more, we won’t ask him to make his own running. He loves following a horse, stays very well but he is lazy.”

When asked if Jan Brueghel could be a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe contender, O’Brien added: “He could be anything if the pace is on. We did the perfect thing with him at Epsom and then the completely wrong thing at Ascot.”

John Velazquez booked for first Melbourne Cup mount

/in /by

John Velazquez will add plenty of spice to this year’s Melbourne Cup after it was revealed the Hall of Fame rider will partner Parchment Party, the first American-trained runner to compete in the Flemington showpiece.

There is a strong international challenge amongst the 120 nominations for the ‘race that stops the nation’ but it is Bill Mott’s wide-margin Belmont Gold Cup winner that really shows the global reach of the prestigious contest, with the four-year-old earning his ticket when scoring at Saratoga in June.

Leigh Jordon, the executive general manager of racing for the Victoria Racing Club, spoke of both Velazquez and the international contenders at the release of Melbourne Cup nominations on Tuesday.

He said: “In terms of international horses, we’ve got a really wide representation and probably the widest representation we’ve had for the Cup. We’ve horses from England, Ireland, France, America, Germany and Japan.

“The highlight from the USA is Parchment Party and could he be our first-ever US-trained horse to run in the Melbourne Cup. He won the Grade Two Belmont Gold Cup, which is one of the ‘golden tickets’ into the race.

“He’s trained by Bill Mott who is a Hall of Fame trainer and I’m quite excited to announce that Parchment Party will be ridden by John Velazquez.

“Some of his stats are unbelievable. He’s ridden over 6,700 winners in his career, he is a Hall of Fame jockey and his career earnings are over half a billion US dollars.

“He’s won Kentucky Derbies, he’s won all the Triple Crown races and he’s won over 20 Breeders’ Cup races. He truly is a legend of the sport and it’s great to have him here riding in the Cup on the first Tuesday of November.”

Scandinavia could represent Aidan O'Brien in the Melbourne Cup
Scandinavia could represent Aidan O’Brien in the Melbourne Cup (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Aidan O’Brien missed out on the chance to saddle Jan Brueghel in last year’s Melbourne Cup, but has made three nominations including the mouthwatering prospect of St Leger favourite Scandinavia making the trip to the southern hemisphere later in the autumn.

Mount Kilimanjaro and Aftermath are the other Ballydoyle possibles, while Aidan’s son Joseph O’Brien appears to have leading claims of securing his third victory in the race with stable star Al Riffa, who was subject of a recent big-money transfer to new owners Australian Bloodstock.

Willie Mullins has become a regular visitor to the Spring Carnival and his quest for a first Melbourne Cup success continues with Absurde and Ebor sixth Hipop De Loire.

Meanwhile, former Closutton inmate Vauban is on course to take part in the race once again and is one of three for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, with stablemates Sir Delius and Alalcance both also respected from the home challenge.

Last year’s shock winner Knight’s Choice has the chance to become the first back-to-back winner since Makybe Diva, who famously completed a hat-trick between 2003 and 2005.

Of the other big names searching more success in their country’s most famous race, Ciaron Maher has 13 nominees, including last year’s third Okita Soushi, while multiple Group One scorer Via Sistina is an intriguing name amongst 27 for Chris Waller.

Racing Bulletin for 02/09/2025

/in /by

Latest News and Features

Your first 30 days for just £1

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.

Gowran Park

Good

 13:35 14:10 14:45 15:20 15:55 16:30 17:02 17:37
Goodwood

Soft

 13:48 14:23 14:58 15:33 16:08 16:43 17:18
Chepstow

Good to Soft

 14:00 14:35 15:10 15:45 16:20 16:55 17:25
Wolverhampton

Standard

 17:10 17:45 18:15 18:45 19:15 19:45 20:15 20:45
Southwell

Standard

 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00

Today's Feature of the Day is...

The Shortlist report

Good luck!


Lambourn given St Leger focus

/in /by

Dual Derby winner Lambourn has been cut in the betting for the Betfred St Leger following confirmation from Aidan O’Brien that he is being aimed at the final Classic of the season.

While he was not the choice of Ryan Moore at Epsom, Moore did take over in the saddle from Wayne Lordan at the Curragh.

He was surprisingly beaten in the Great Voltigeur last time out when conceding a penalty, but in the immediate aftermath O’Brien was not despondent and said he was still in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe picture.

While he could still head to France with that race not until the first Sunday in October, he was cut to 7-2 from 5-1 by Coral for the Leger with Stay True, fourth at York one place in front of Lambourn, trimmed to 8-1 from 12s.

Surprisingly the favourite, another stablemate in Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia, was eased to 5-4 from evens.

O’Brien said of his Doncaster team: “At the moment we’re thinking of three. We’re thinking of the horse that won the Derby, the horse that won in Goodwood and we’re thinking of Stay True.”

Kalpana out for repeat success in September Stakes

/in /by

Kalpana will bid to strengthen her position as ante-post favourite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a first victory of the season in the Unibet September Stakes at Kempton on Saturday.

Although winless in three starts this season for trainer Andrew Balding, the Juddmonte-owned filly has performed admirably in defeat, finishing third on her Tattersalls Gold Cup reappearance before filling the runner-up spot in both the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland the King George at Ascot.

Connections considered a pre-Arc trip to Paris for this weekend’s Prix Vermeille, but ultimately decided to stay at home for a Group Three contest Kalpana won 12 months ago en-route to a first Group One success on Champions Day at Ascot.

Balding said: “Kalpana is very much on course for the September Stakes. She won the race last year, so we know that the track and trip suits her well.

“She put in a stellar performance during her last run and hopefully this will be a stepping-stone towards ParisLongchamp in October.

“We just thought she hasn’t won a race this year, and as we have taken her to Ireland twice this year, we thought finding something closer to home would be a better prep rather than running in another Group One before the Arc.

“We felt at the time that the King George took a bit more out of her than her other races and that is why we took away any temptation to run at York straight away and decided to wait for this.

“She has had a nice break since Ascot and this is very much a prep race so she will come on for the run, but she seems in great form.”

Kalpana is one of 13 entries for the September Stakes and may not have things entirely her own way, with several talent horses among the potential opposition.

Marco Botti could saddle his Hong Kong Vase-winning stable star Giavellotto, who was last seen finishing third in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in early June, while Charlie Appleby’s Arabian Crown got his career back on track with a Listed win at Windsor recently and could step back up in class.

Other potential runners include John and Thady Gosden’s pair of Military Academy and Palladium and the Willie Mullins-trained Absurde.

American Affair ruled out of Champions Day outing

/in /by

Champions Day will come too soon for Royal Ascot winner American Affair, who will have to wait until next season to attempt to add to his Group One tally.

The five-year-old was one of the most popular winners of the week in June, completing his rise from handicapper to Group One performer.

Trainer Jim Goldie had hoped to run American Affair in the Nunthorpe but a problem emerged after Ascot that forced that plan to be abandoned and while Goldie had hoped to get his charge back in time for October, the gelding has now been taken out of the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes.

“He’s not had a further setback as such, it’s probably just an ongoing thing,” said Goldie.

“We bone scanned him after Ascot and we’ve taken our time.

“Basically he had an MRI and the bone changes are still not improving, so realistically Ascot is going to come too quick.

“America (for the Breeders’ Cup) will need to be next year now. He’s been back cantering but we’re just being guided by the vets.

“It’s all just coming a little quick, bone takes time to mature and it’s a bit of bone bruising.”

Lazzat leads 22 contenders for Sprint Cup gold

/in /by

French star Lazzat, July Cup hero No Half Measures and the supplemented Sky Majesty are among 22 potential runners in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.

Jerome Reynier’s Lazzat got the better of Japanese ace Satono Reve when striking Royal Ascot gold in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on his penultimate start.

He suffered a surprise defeat when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time, but is a 2-1 favourite with Paddy Power to get back on the winning trail in this weekend’s Group One feature on Merseyside.

No Half Measures reduced Richard Hughes to tears when providing the former leading jockey with his first top-level success as a trainer in Newmarket’s July Cup and she will get the opportunity to prove that shock 66-1 victory was no fluke.

Hughes could also saddle Sayidah Dariyan, who was beaten four lengths into seventh place in the Nunthorpe at York a fortnight ago.

Hughes said: “She (No Half Measures) looks really good at the moment and we are really pleased with her. She has had a nice gap, but we always thought this was going to be her Derby.

“When we got started with her in the spring, we said the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park was her race as it is normally slow ground but either way now it doesn’t matter what the ground is really.

“If it is slower ground up there, she will step forward again.”

Of Sayidah Dariyan, the trainer added: “She missed the kick in the Nunthorpe trying her over five furlongs. We were hoping she would be quick enough, but when you miss the kick like that in a sprint you have no chance, however she ran on strongly to the line. I was impressed with her.

“Her only dent is the Nunthorpe, but she has plenty of valid excuses for that effort.

“No Half Measures has been there and done it, but I have high regard for both fillies and I dare not say which is better as they are two good fillies that are going the right way.

“If it is slow ground at Haydock it would hamper her performance a little bit, whereas we know it is fine for No Half Measures, but she is a very good filly.”

William Haggas has supplemented fast-improving filly Sky Majesty to join similarly progressive stablemate Almeraq at a cost of £20,000.

Sky Majesty is one of two supplementary entries along with Eve Johnson Houghton’s Rage Of Bamby.

Other leading contenders include Harry Eustace’s Commonwealth Cup heroine Time For Sandals and the James Fanshawe-trained Kind Of Blue, who won last season’s Qipco British Champions Sprint and bounced back from an underwhelming start to his campaign when third in the Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien has left in Whistlejacket, who has not been seen since finishing down the field in the July Cup, but he appears far from certain to make the trip to Haydock.

“Whistlejacket is in at Haydock but he could miss that and wait for the Flying Five at the Curragh the following Saturday,” O’Brien said on Monday.

“He was a very quick two-year-old so we might get him back for that. He could be on his way back.

“He’s quick, it’s just taken a while to get him back, the last day was a bit of a mess as well but he could be back for that.”

Minnie Hauk charting direct path towards Arc

/in /by

Minnie Hauk looks set to chart a direct route to ParisLongchamp next month, with trainer Aidan O’Brien saying the multiple Oaks-winning filly is “on the Arc programme”.

The three-year-old is unbeaten in four starts this term, winning the Listed Cheshire Oaks on her seasonal bow before adding Classic glory at both Epsom and the Curragh, before securing a third Group One success in the Yorkshire Oaks last time out.

Minnie Hauk is as short as 5-1 with Unibet for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and while the filly will have to be supplemented for the October 5 contest, O’Brien has the French contest in his sights.

He said: “We haven’t seen the best of Minnie Hauk at all and you’re not going to see the best of her until the tempo is very strong all the way. Physically she’s getting bigger and stronger.

“We weren’t sure what she was and I thought we’d know this time but we still don’t know, she’s relentless. She’s on the Arc programme.

“The last day was lovely but we didn’t really find out because the second horse (Qilin Queen) pulled back off Wayne  (Lordan, on Garden Of Eden) a little so for half a furlong or a furlong she was in limbo land where we would have preferred if she was behind the pacemaker. But it might have been the best thing in the world because she had a very easy race.

“We think when she goes there she doesn’t do much, that’s the way she is at home. The Arc hopefully will be a strong run race and we’re going to find out. She looks very exiting and is still in the ‘could be anything’ category.”

O’Brien also raised the possibility of the filly’s owners Derrick Smith, John Magnier and Michael Tabor, opting to race on next term if this season finishes on a good note.

He added: “It’s possible she could be kept in training, the lads love racing them if everything is well.”

Lord Allen has far-reaching aims as he takes up BHA chair role

/in /by

Lord Allen has outlined his vision of turning British racing into “a modern commercial and cultural powerhouse” as he assumed his position as the new chair of the British Horseracing Authority.

Allen, who also offered his backing for the cancellation of next Wednesday’s racing in protest of proposed betting tax changes, believes that with the “right governance and ambition” the sport can realise its full potential.

In a statement, he said: “I am delighted the industry is coming together on September 10 to say ‘Axe the Racing Tax’. It is an historic step to cancel all racing on this date, but this will help us to explain just how concerned we are for the sport on many levels.

“Horseracing is a sport for everyone, not just for the few. There are 85,000 people dependent directly and indirectly on racing. The proposed changes would not only negatively impact many communities both rural and urban but would reduce our ability to be a world leader and the opportunity to have inward investment in the sector.

“Ensuring sustainable finances is essential if we are to support our participants, our workforce, our horses and our racecourses, and continue to engage our fans, owners, customers and the betting public.

“British racing is admired worldwide for its heritage, its quality, and the standards of integrity and welfare it upholds. My vision is not simply that we work to preserve this, but to develop British racing into a modern commercial and cultural powerhouse: a sport that commands attention on the global stage, attracts new audiences, inspires fans at home, supports its people, and continues to set the gold standard for the care of the horse.

“With the right governance and ambition, I believe this is possible and I look forward to working across the sector to achieve this vision.”

Allen was initially due to take up his role on June 1 but his tenure was delayed as he negotiated changes to make the BHA’s board independent of racecourses and the sport’s participants.

He added: “It is nine months since I was nominated for the role. In that time, I have had over 100 meetings with racing people. As well as industry leaders I met many frontliners for whom the sport is both a matter of professional pride and also a labour of love. I immersed myself in the industry so that I could truly understand the opportunity.

“There was a consistent agreement during my meetings that things needed to change if racing was to prosper, but often those I spoke to held the view that change needs to come from elsewhere in the sport rather than from their own segment of the industry.

“However, I hold the view that there are opportunities and requirements for change across the whole sport, and I believe that overall there is agreement and appetite for this.

“I am sincerely grateful to the Board of the BHA and its stakeholders that they agreed that change should start at the top and that we should have an independent board where everyone is focused on putting horseracing first rather than representing a vested interest.”

Sprint success story Luna A Inbhir Nis searching for seventh strike

/in /by

Luna A Inbhir Nis may have come up agonisingly short at York’s Ebor Festival, but trainer Katie Scott is riding the waves of a phenomenal journey with her bargain buy who has defied all expectations.

The 1,000 guineas purchase has quickly become the pride of Scott’s Galashiels base with her sharp rise through the ranks and although there was some disappointment at not making it win number seven for the campaign on the Knavesmire, the three-year-old left Yorkshire with her growing reputation firmly intact.

“Obviously it was frustrating to see her come so close yet still so far away, but we’ve got to be proud of the run,” said Scott of her third place, beaten just a head, in the IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Fillies’ Handicap.

“The winner (Star Of Mehmas) is a very good horse and she was giving away a lot of weight to the second (Eternal Sunshine). From where she started off at the beginning of the season to where she is now has been a bit of an unbelievable journey really.

“I think we need to race on as sharp a track as we can find as she’s just so fast. They just nabbed her late on and that was her first run against older horses so she’s learning every time, so you have to think it was really good.”

Luna A Inbhir Nis began her season by winning a two-runner affair at Newcastle in March and has risen from an initial mark of 57 in April to her current perch of 89.

“She garners a lot of public interest as she won that two-runner race and got a low mark and then has built her way up and people have followed her along the way, which is fantastic,” continued Scott.

“I think a lot of people have taken note that she only cost 1,000 guineas, which I think keeps the dream alive for a few people who worry you need to spend a fortune for a good horse.

“Every time she has won you think ‘ah great, she’s done well but that will be that’ and she’s kept coming out and doing it again and again which has been amazing.

“We’ve had Gweedore in the yard as well and for us to have two proper Saturday horses is fantastic. We’re always trying to improve the quality and obviously you need a mixture in the yard but it’s always nice to have a couple of good ones in the yard and try to get plenty of winners.”

The quest for Luna A Inbhir Nis’ seventh win of the season now begins and although options may be limited, she could test the waters at Listed level in Ayr’s Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes on September 19.

“We don’t have a firm plan yet,” explained Scott.

“The Listed fillies race at Ayr is over five and a half furlongs which probably isn’t ideal but we might have to give her an entry and see what is in it.

“Ideally we would have run her in a three-year-old only fillies’ Listed race over five furlongs or a fillies-only Listed but there just isn’t one. So it could be another handicap and a holiday or the Ayr race if it was to cut up – but I do think she is better over the bare five furlongs.”

Dancing Gemini set for Prix du Moulin jaunt

/in /by

Dancing Gemini is being readied for a second successive trip across the Channel and another tilt at Group One glory in Sunday’s Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp.

Roger Teal’s stable star made an excellent start to the season with victories in the Doncaster Mile and the bet365 Mile at Sandown, and he was only narrowly denied a top-level breakthrough when beaten a neck by Lead Artist in the Lockinge at Newbury.

Dancing Gemini failed to fire in a slowly-run Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, but having bounced back to form when finishing a close-up third in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in mid-August, the four-year-old will return to France with a degree of confidence behind him this weekend.

Teal said: “He seems in good order, so the plan at the moment is to run in the Moulin.

“Deauville was a bit frustrating and a case of so close but yet so far, but it was a good performance and hopefully he can run another big race on Sunday.

“The ground was rock hard at Deauville, I couldn’t believe how quick it was. Looking at the forecast it looks like it’s been wet over there this week and it’s due to dry up later in the week, but hopefully the ground will be a bit easier than what he’s been running on.

“Rossa Ryan will ride him again and we’re looking forward to it.”

Aidan O’Brien eager for Ombudsman rematch with Delacroix

/in /by

Aidan O’Brien will leave no stone unturned in his attempt to give Delacroix the best possible chance of winning next week’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Delacroix overcame trouble in running to catch Ombudsman and win a thrilling Eclipse at Sandown but that rival came out on top in the Juddmonte International at York when Ombudsman’s pacemaker Birr Castle shot clear.

O’Brien intends to run his own pacemaker this time and is keen for John and Thady Gosden to bring Ombudsman to Ireland, where home advantage will be with the Ballydoyle runner.

“I’m very happy, everything has gone well since York. York was a bit of a non-event (for him) really but everything has been good since, so I’m very happy,” said O’Brien.

Delacroix parades before the press at Ballydoyle
Delacroix parades before the press at Ballydoyle (PA)

“He’s very fresh so we’re looking forward to Leopardstown.

“He’s a good horse. We had it in our head that what did happen at York could happen and we were going to follow the pacemaker, but when the Japanese horse (Danon Decile) got in front it kind of changed the whole race.

“We’ve always thought he was a good horse and the ground doesn’t matter to him. He’s very happy on quick ground and he seems very happy with an ease in the ground as well, so I don’t think it matters.

“Hopefully (Ombudsman) will come. Sheikh Mohammed (owner) is probably the greatest sportsman we’ve ever seen, so I know our men will be delighted. We’d love him to come and then it will be a proper race.

“We’ll try to run a pacemaker if John doesn’t run a pacemaker and we’ll make it very straightforward. The pacemaker will go on and Delacroix can follow him and Ombudsman can follow Delacroix if he wants!

“We’ll let them turn into the straight and see what happens, it’s very simple really. For the race and for everybody we want it to happen – win, lose or draw we’ll be delighted.”

Whirl was very impressive at Goodwood in the Nassau Stakes
Whirl was very impressive at Goodwood in the Nassau Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Top-class filly Whirl also holds an entry in the Irish Champion but will only run if something untoward happens to Delacroix, with the Prix Vermeille her chosen race.

“She’s well, she’s a possible. She’s there as kind of a protective in case Delacroix didn’t run,” said O’Brien.

“It’s very possible that she will go to France for the Vermeille and then she’s had her run if she wants to go for the Arc, so we have our eye on the Vermeille first unless something happened to Delacroix.”

Christophe Soumillon in line for Ballydoyle rides with Ryan Moore injured

/in /by

Aidan O’Brien will turn to Christophe Soumillon to help fill some of the Ballydoyle riding plans as stable jockey Ryan Moore continues his recovery from a leg injury.

The trainer announced on Saturday that Moore will be sidelined for an indefinite period of time after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his femur.

Wayne Lordan is the yard’s second rider, but he is currently due to be suspended for 10 days after the Goodwood stewards found him to have used his whip in the incorrect place aboard Prestige Stakes winner Precise.

Lordan has lodged an appeal against that ban, which runs from September 9-18, but with the St Leger meeting at Doncaster and the Irish Champions Festival both taking place next week, O’Brien would still be in need of multiple big-race riders as Delacroix is due to run in the Irish Champion Stakes while Scandinavia is a short-priced Leger favourite.

Asked how plans will change given the news of Moore’s injury, O’Brien said: “Wayne is having his appeal this week and obviously Christophe has ridden a lot for us through the year, all those things are changing at the moment.

“I don’t know how long Ryan is going to be but we will tell him to take as much time as he wants.”

O’Brien has often turned to Soumillon, who was previously retained by the late Aga Khan, for his French runners, with the rider partnering Diego Velazquez to win last month’s Prix Jacques le Marois while he also rode two Group One winners for the team on Arc weekend last year.

The trainer added: “Christophe has always been (part of the plans). He’s not tied down to anybody now.

“He’s a world-class jockey everywhere, he’s been riding for us a lot since he’s been released.”

Your first 30 days for just £1