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

Kalpana not a certain Arc contender after Kempton defeat

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Kalpana is not certain to run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after suffering a surprise defeat at the hands of Giavellotto in the Unibet September Stakes at Kempton.

Andrew Balding’s charge had been vying for favouritism in next month’s ParisLongchamp feature after a campaign that had seen her place in three Group One contests, including when beaten just a length by Calandagan in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on her latest start.

Kalpana was dropped to Group Three company on the Kempton all-weather in search of a confidence-boosting victory and while the 1-2 favourite appeared to be travelling well coming into the final couple of furlongs, Giavellotto ultimately found plenty for pressure and came home a length-and-a-half winner.

Paddy Power pushed Kalpana out to 12-1 from 6-1 favourite for the Arc and while Balding expects the Juddmonte-owned filly to improve for the outing, a return to Ascot for Champions Day has now entered the equation.

Balding said: “It is disappointing not to win, but I think the horse that beat us is very good. As you can, hear she is having a proper blow and hopefully that will put her spot on for whatever we are doing.

“She had a couple of weeks easy, and she will come on for that. I felt like we had done enough work, but the trouble is we are not using grass gallops at the moment. The all-weather is much easier and it is harder to get work into horses like her.

“We didn’t want it to be a falsely-run race, and it wasn’t. They went a nice even pace, and she had every chance, but a good horse has beaten her, and she will come on for the run.

“She is in the Arc and the Fillies & Mares at Ascot, but it is really where the powers that be want to go.

“This was a prep, and that (Arc) was always the plan, but we will have to see how the field develops.”

Giavellotto (9-4) was having his first start since finishing third in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June and just his second run of the year having contest the Sheema Classic at Meydan back in April.

His trainer Marco Botti said: “We didn’t run in the Princess of Wales’s at Newmarket as sadly his scope wasn’t right a few days beforehand. With these kind of horses, you don’t want to risk anything.

“He is still lightly-raced for an older horse and there is definitely still more mileage on the clock.

“Watching it I thought it was a bit different to how it was going to happen. I thought Kalpana would have raced in front of us.

“The plan was to follow her and see if we were good enough to beat her. Oisin thought the pace was even and not very strong, so he sat second.

“He idled a little bit in front. He just does enough. He is not a horse that would just quicken away.

“Oisin said when they turned into the straight and he was winding him up and going through the gears that he responded really well.

“He said every time the filly got to him, he found an extra gear. It was a great performance. We always knew he was a good horse. He just needs things to go right for him. I’m delighted with that.”

Giavellotto was a surprise victor over Kalpana at Kempton
Giavellotto was a surprise victor over Kalpana at Kempton (Mike Egerton/PA)

Giavellotto was cut to 33-1 from 66s for the Arc by Paddy Power but Botti fears the French ground will not suit and has a defence of his Hong Kong Vase title at Sha Tin in December as his top priority.

He added: “Sadly in Europe there wouldn’t be many options for him now. We have said soft ground is not for him.

“I don’t see much for him in those couple of months before Hong Kong and we don’t really want to jeopardise our chances for that. Wasting a run on soft ground wouldn’t be ideal.

“He has an entry in the Arc. I’m sure the owners will say we have beaten the favourite so why don’t we take our chance, but personally I think the ground will be too soft for him.

“I would only run him in it on good ground, but that is very unlikely to happen as Longchamp has often been soft ground in October. At that level he needs good ground.

“We will leave it closer to the time and see what the weather does.”

Haydock victor Bow Echo has Classic engagement on his radar

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Next year’s 2000 Guineas is the ultimate target for Bow Echo after George Boughey’s exciting juvenile lived up to his tall reputation with victory in the Betting.Betfair Ascendant Stakes at Haydock.

Having been rerouted from last weekend’s Solario Stakes at Sandown, John and Thady Gosden’s Publish was the early favourite for this one-mile Listed contest, but sustained support for Bow Echo – a dominant winner on his Newbury debut three weeks ago – saw him go off the 5-6 market leader.

Odds-on backers will have been smiling when the Night Of Thunder colt cruised to the lead in the hands of Billy Loughnane heading inside the final two furlongs and while Publish looked set to pick him up late in the day, Bow Echo found more once challenged and was a length in front at the line.

Boughey did not make the trip to Merseyside, but was delighted with what he saw.

“He’s a lovely horse who has shown plenty of ability at home, but he’s possibly still quite raw,” said the Newmarket handler.

“He probably didn’t learn too much on his debut at Newbury and he’s only had once piece of work since.

“Billy was of the opinion that he really wanted something to give him a lead for longer at Newbury and it was similar today. It looked like Publish was coming to win the race, but our horse was waiting for him and outbattled him in the end.

“I’m delighted to make him a Stakes winner for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid (owner) as he’s a homebred from a good family.”

While Publish holds big-race entries in the Royal Lodge and Dewhurst at Newmarket, Bow Echo does not, with Boughey keen to take a patient approach with a horse he views as a legitimate Classic contender.

He added: “I think we’ll just see how he comes out of the race. The reason we didn’t enter him in those races (Royal Lodge and Dewhurst) is because we see him as very much a horse for next year.

“Maybe we could step him up in class again this year, but I’d be quite happy to wait and run him in a Guineas trial next spring.

“He has plenty of pace, he’s a Guineas horse and that’s what we’ll be training him for.”

Giavellotto surprises hot favourite Kalpana in September Stakes

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Kalpana’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hopes sustained a blow as Giavellotto inflicted a surprise defeat on the odds-on favourite in the Unibet September Stakes at Kempton.

Marco Botti’s globetrotting chestnut has not been seen since finishing third in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June, and looked to have stiff task on his hands when facing Andrew Balding’s ante-post favourite for the Arc.

Kalpana landed the Group Three by nearly five lengths last term and was the 1-2 market leader to retain her title, but Giavellotto was always travelling strongly under Oisin Murphy as the 9-4 second favourite.

At the business end of the contest Kalpana did threaten to challenge for a stride or two, but Giavellotto found plenty under pressure and she could not prevent him from crossing the line a length and a half ahead.

“Credit to Oisin, he went from plan A to B as we thought we were going to sit behind Kalpana,” Botti told Racing TV.

“I thought that was what was going to happen, they had a pacemaker and we were going to follow her through and see if we were good enough to challenge her in the last furlong.

“Oisin had to go to plan B, he sat second and the pace wasn’t very strong. He picked up well in the straight and every time Kalpana got to his girths, he just found a little bit more.

“I think it’s a good performance and I’m really pleased to see him back at this level.

“He is a fighter. He’s a horse that’s probably never really got the credit for what he’s done.”

Giavellotto was cut to 33-1 from 66s for the Arc by Paddy Power, who also pushed out Kalpana to 12-1 from 6-1 favourite for next month’s ParisLongchamp highlight.

Botti added: “We just have to consider now where we go next, we’ve always said Hong Kong is the main target because the ground is going to be against us for the next couple of months.

“I wouldn’t be worried if I had to just keep him well and fresh for Hong Kong.

“He is entered in the Arc but I must admit I have never thought the race would suit him because most of the time it is run on easy ground.

“I think that will be the case and therefore it is too risky, we know he doesn’t want anything softer than good.

“Champions Day is definitely a no, I wouldn’t compromise our chances on Hong Kong for a race on soft ground.”

Zeus Olympios proves Superior to Haydock rivals

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Karl Burke is in no rush to throw Zeus Olympios in at the deep end despite an impressive victory in the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile at Haydock.

A winner on his Kempton debut in early January before following up with a dominant display at Thirsk last month, the Night Of Thunder colt faced a significant rise in class as he looked to complete his hat-trick in the Group Three curtain-raiser on Merseyside.

Always travelling strongly under William Buick, Zeus Olympios picked up well once asked to extend and was he was well on top as he passed the post with two lengths in hand over Excellent Believe.

Burke, who saddled Holloway Boy to claim this prize 12 months ago, said of his latest victor: “He’s always worked nicely and William said after a furlong he knew he was on a very nice horse.

“He’s a lovely horse with a great mind, but I was a bit worried whether I was doing the right thing dropping him in this grade on his third run. He ran quite green at Thirsk last time.

“He had an enforced break soon after he came to us and all he did last winter was improve physically, he’s done the same this summer once we’ve got him going and I think he’ll improve again from three to four with another winter on his back.”

Considering future plans, the Spigot Lodge handler added: “He’s won a Group Three now so he can’t go backwards from that, but I don’t really want to throw him in too deep yet.

“I’ll have a look and see what’s available, but I know there’s not a lot available over a mile.

“I certainly wouldn’t think we’ll travel him (abroad) this winter, but I’ll have to have a chat with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid (owner) and see where we go.”

Racing Bulletin for 06/09/2025

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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

 13:15 13:50 14:25 15:00 15:35 16:07 16:40 17:15
Kempton Park

Standard / Slow

 13:35 14:05 14:35 15:10 15:45 16:20 16:50
Ascot

Soft

 13:40 14:10 14:40 15:15 15:50 16:25 16:55
Navan

Good

 13:45 14:15 14:45 15:20 15:55 16:30 17:00 17:30
Thirsk

Good

 14:20 14:50 15:25 16:00 16:35 17:05 17:35
Stratford

Good

 16:12 16:45 17:22 17:55 18:25 18:55
Wolverhampton

Standard

 17:10 17:40 18:12 18:42 19:12 19:42 20:12 20:42

Today's Feature of the Day is...

Trainer/Jockey Combo report

Good luck!


Raaheeb sparkles with comfortable victory on Ascot debut

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Raaheeb, a full-brother to the top-class pair of Baaeed and Hukum, made the perfect start to his career with a very smooth debut victory at Ascot.

Trained like Hukum by Owen Burrows, he was beginning life over seven furlongs in the Charbonnel et Walker British EBF Maiden Stakes and drawn in stall one, Jim Crowley was out on a wing slightly before being able to angle in as part of a small group of three.

As they began to join up, Crowley moved his mount up on the outside stylishly and it just became a question of what he would find off the bridle.

The answer was plenty as Raaheeb (7-4 favourite) just had to be kept up to his work to beat Pompette, who had the benefit of a run, by a length and a quarter.

Paddy Power cut him to 16-1 from 25s for the Royal Lodge at Newmarket later this month but whether he runs there remains to be seen.

Burrows said: “It was a very pleasing debut. He’d done everything nicely at home but he was only just ready for a run and we managed to get him on the grass on Wednesday.

“I’ll be honest, I thought whatever he did today he’d take a massive step forward from as he’s still quite switched off at the moment, which is obviously a nice way to have them.

“I thought he did it very nicely and it was a professional performance as the draw wasn’t ideal, but he handled the soft ground well and Jim was very pleased.

“There’s mixed messages as to what trip he wants, given his brothers were very different. Jim think he’ll be a mile-and-a-quarter horse next year, maybe further but Richard Hills (Shadwell’s assistant racing manager) tells me Baaeed started off over a mile.

“We’ll see how he comes out of it and make a plan then. We’ll see if he switches on at home, if he does then we might step up (in class) but Jim emphasised whatever he did this year is a bonus, we won’t go overboard this year.

“He reminds me a lot of Hukum in his action yet Michael Hills (who works for William Haggas) was there with Richard today and said he looks a bit like Baaeed, but he’s a bigger horse than Baaeed now, he’s bigger than Hukum at this stage as well.”

In the closing Sodexo Live! Handicap, the Oisin Murphy-ridden favourite Excellent Echo appeared to clip heels and fell, bringing down Nordic Norm and Sam James.

A statement posted on X by Ascot read: “Unfortunately, following an incident during the seventh race today, Excellent Echo suffered a fatal injury. His jockey, Oisin Murphy, walked in and was fine.

“Nordic Norm was taken to the stables for further assessment with cuts and scratches. His jockey, Sam James, was conscious and treated by medical teams on the track and has been transferred to the hospital for further assessment.”

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

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.

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

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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.

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