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

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.

Anmaat team eager to take Irish Champion Stakes chance

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Anmaat is being readied for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week, with trainer Owen Burrows “desperate” to run his stable star for the first time since Royal Ascot.

A shock 40-1 winner of last season’s Qipco Champion Stakes, the seven-year-old has made it to the track only twice this term, filling the runner-up spot in both the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes the following month.

Having since sidestepped the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International due to unsuitable ground, connections are hoping for some ease underfoot in Ireland to allow Anmaat to return to the fray.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “Owen is desperate to run him, touch wood he’s been pleased with the horse and we need to get him out really.

“You just can’t take a chance – he’s our best horse and we can’t afford to do the wrong thing by him with the autumn to come.

“They’ve had plenty of rain in Ireland recently, so I’m expecting he will be there, all being well.

“He’s shown already this year that he retains all his enthusiasm and ability, so hopefully we get him to Leopardstown in one piece.”

Anmaat is a general 7-1 shot for the Irish Champion Stakes, with Delacroix a 4-5 favourite with some firms following the news on Wednesday that Ombudsman will not run next week.

Racing Bulletin for 04/09/2025

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Facteur Cheval on course for third Champions Day appearance

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Jerome Reynier’s immediate focus may be on Lazzat’s Sprint Cup quest at Haydock on Saturday, but another of his stable stars, Facteur Cheval, is being prepared to make it third time lucky at British Champions Day next month.

The consistent six-year-old has been a regular visitor to Britain throughout his career and has twice fallen short in Ascot’s showpiece Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, finishing second to compatriot Big Rock in 2023 before chasing home Roger Varian’s Charyn 12 months ago.

Last seen in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, he will now try to get his head in front for the first time on British soil, with connections seeing his freshness as a positive ahead of the October 18 contest.

Trainer Jerome Reynier (left) with Facteur Cheval
Trainer Jerome Reynier (left) with Facteur Cheval (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“We’re going to wait for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes again and he’s placed in it a few times and always runs well in it, so we’re looking forward to it,” said Barry Irwin, CEO of Team Valor International, who own the horse in partnership with Gary Barber.

“Jerome had to send him off for a month R and R after his run at Royal Ascot as he lost some weight and didn’t look as well as he should. He’s got him back and he looks fine but he’s been unable to do enough with him to race in the Prix du Moulin this weekend, so Ascot is the plan.

“I hope he can run well again at Ascot, he likes the course and it will all depend how the ground comes up. He does want some cut in the ground and if it’s a bog he can handle that too and as long as it’s not really firm I think he can do it.

“He does run well fresh and has shown that before.”

Facteur Cheval at Meydan
Facteur Cheval at Meydan (PA)

Connections are targeting a second win the Dubai Turf next year, willing to forego other valuable events in the Middle East early in 2026 to focus solely on peaking at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night, as they did in 2024.

“Next year we’re going to pinpoint the Dubai Turf again and I think we’ll take him over and run him in that race cold turkey,” continued Irwin.

“We’ll have Jerome do what he did when we went there and won the first time and give him a little afternoon trial at the local racecourse and then show up for the race. That’s a tried and tested plan which a lot of Europeans take and has worked well for this horse before.

“All things considered, he’s still fairly lightly raced and we haven’t hammered him. The biggest campaign he had was earlier this year in the Middle East where we got a little ambitious and ran him on the dirt a few times and I don’t think we’ll be doing that next year.”

No rush to commit to autumn target for Estrange

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Connections of Estrange remain undecided as to whether to shoot for Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe glory or target Qipco Champions Day at Ascot next month.

With a pre-Arc trip to Paris for this weekend’s Prix Vermeille ruled out, trainer David O’Meara and owners Cheveley Park Stud now face a straight choice between aiming for Europe’s premier middle-distance contest on October 5, or taking the perceived easier option of the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes a fortnight later.

After seeing Estrange chase home Aidan O’Brien’s Minnie Hauk in the Yorkshire Oaks two weeks ago, Cheveley Park director Richard Thompson admitted the Arc was a “dream” target, but the team are understandably in no rush to make concrete plans.

Cheveley Park’s managing director, Chris Richardson, said: “Obviously we’ll keep both options open and see what happens – we wouldn’t be ruling out either option at this point.

“I think Mrs Thompson is probably favouring Ascot, I believe, and her son Richard is favouring Longchamp perhaps.

“Obviously Minnie Hauk if is going for the Arc and some of Aidan O’Brien other big ones, we’ll just have to assess what’s going where.

“We’ve got plenty of time and there’ll be plenty of discussion before we make our mind up. We’ll see what the ground is looking like and what the competition is.

“In the 50th year of their ownership of the stud, it would be a bit of a dream to expect to win the Arc, but it would be fun to have a runner.”

Lazy Griff team waiting on St Leger jockey plans

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Owners Middleham Park Racing will have to play the waiting game before firming up jockey plans for Betfred St Leger chance Lazy Griff, with hopes William Buick might be available to ride at Doncaster.

Christophe Soumillon rode Charlie Johnston’s star three-year-old to win a French Group Three last year and was also aboard when he finished second in the Derby at Epsom, but with Ryan Moore sidelined by a leg injury, the Belgian jockey has been called up by Aidan O’Brien for the Irish Champions Festival on the same weekend.

Two-time champion jockey Buick partnered Lazy Griff when he finished third in the Irish Derby last time out, but on what will be a hectic weekend on the racing calendar in Ireland, Canada and the UK, Middleham Park’s Mike Prince admitted jockey plans will not be firmly in place until at least six days before the final Classic of the season.

“Obviously Christophe was going to ride, but he’s now going over to Ireland to ride for Aidan,” Prince said.

“We are just waiting really because it’s Irish Champions Weekend, there’s racing in Canada as well with Woodbine, so we are just waiting on some clarity on which jockeys are where.

“William, who rode him in the Irish Derby, obviously will have to see where Charlie Appleby is going and what he wants him to ride, so we aren’t going to know until Monday or Tuesday of next week.

“So we have to sit on our hands a little bit and see who is where, really. It’s a shame because there is top-quality racing all around the world on the same weekend. It’s a bit tricky. Come Monday or Tuesday, we will have a plan in place.”

Lazy Griff has placed in all of his three starts this season, with O’Brien’s Lambourn winning each Group contest.

The first of those came in the Chester Vase in May, a performance which led to Johnston setting out a plan for Doncaster and a possible fourth contest of the campaign between the classy three-year-olds.

“He’s had a nice rest since the Irish Derby and Charlie has been building him up nicely, he’s due to do his last piece of work on Saturday and then it’s all systems go for Doncaster,” Prince added.

“We thought we had a nice horse going into the season and then he obviously showed up well at Chester, but he’s run in the Derby and the Irish Derby – they were just both excellent performances.

“He had an excellent season so far and it is by no means over as yet.

“He’s by Protectionist – a Melbourne Cup winner – and the way he finished off in the Irish Derby, he was in his best work in those last couple of furlongs.

“This is the race that Charlie has had in mind for him since Chester really, so I think a step up in trip will suit him nicely and this spell of wet weather as well. Charlie’s gone on record saying that he doesn’t really want to run him on fast ground, but I don’t think he will encounter that at Doncaster now.

“The more rain the merrier, not that he wants it heavy, but the soft side of good and he’s got a good turn of foot and a bit of juice in the ground will suit him to a tee.”

Ombudsman has Ascot in his sights after bypassing Irish Champion date

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Godolphin are putting their faith in “master trainer” John Gosden to pull off an exciting autumn schedule with Ombudsman after the handler ruled this year’s star performer out of a third clash with Delacroix in the Irish Champion Stakes.

The son of Night Of Thunder, who Gosden trains in partnership with son Thady, reversed an agonising defeat in the Coral-Eclipse to level the score with Aidan O’Brien’s leading colt in tremendous fashion in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

That was the Clarehaven inmate’s second big victory of the season after success in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, but he will miss another rematch at Leopardstown after his training team elected to freshen up their star performer ahead of important dates later in the season.

“I spoke to John this (Wednesday) morning and he’s a master trainer and I think the plan he has set out is very much similar to what he had in mind after the win in the Juddmonte International,” Godolphin’s managing director Hugh Anderson told the PA news agency.

“There is no man better able at setting out a challenging campaign for a fabulous racehorse than John and we look forward to hopefully some good results in the autumn.

“He’s been a star this year and Ombudsman and (Kentucky Derby winner) Sovereignty are out of the real top-drawer. Godolphin have had some good horses down the years but to have these two in the same year is really excellent.”

With a trip to Ireland off the table and a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe already ruled out, a return to the scene of his summer high for Ascot’s Qipco Champion Stakes on October 18 now looks the obvious next port of call.

That could bring tantalising trips abroad for both the Breeders’ Cup and Japan Cup into play, with Anderson full of praise for the Gosdens’ excellent management of Ombudsman’s career to date which has yielded six victories from eight starts and those all important Group One triumphs at 10 furlongs.

Hugh Anderson (right) after Ombudsman's win at York
Hugh Anderson (right) after Ombudsman’s win at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’m not sure if we will be able to get all three of those races in, but those races are certainly what John has in mind,” continued Anderson.

“It’s a classic example of where a trainer will need to watch the weather, watch his horse and work out the best options.

“But what I will say about Ombudsman is the way he has been trained over his career is very much to John and Thady’s credit, with the watchword being patience and that has delivered fantastic results.

“He didn’t race at two and then was very lightly raced at three and he’s hit these huge highs at four. So whatever John thinks is best for him is going to prove to be good for Godolphin.”

Sky Majesty the Haydock hope for William Haggas in Saturday’s Sprint Cup

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Sky Majesty will bid to give William Haggas back-to-back victories in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday, with the trainer opting against running Almeraq in the Group One contest.

The three-year-old Almeraq was a five-length winner of the Ayr Gold Cup Trial last time and with that big handicap later this month already ruled out, Haggas and owners Shadwell were deliberating making a swift leap to Group One level.

However, a smaller step to Listed company is now the plan, with Almeraq to contest the Starman Garrowby Stakes at York the day after Sky Majesty lines up on Merseyside.

Haggas said: “We’re just going to run Sky Majesty at Haydock and Almeraq will head to York on Sunday.

“Any rain is going to suit Sky Majesty well and she’s heading there bang in form.

“Whether that form is good enough we will see, but she goes there fully entitled to take a shot.”

Owned by Brighton and Hove Albion supremo Tony Bloom alongside Ian McAleavy, Sky Majesty has really hit her stride of late with two impressive victories in Ireland which convinced connections to stump up the supplementary fee of £20,000.

The owners’ racing manager Sean Graham added: “Her best run last year was at Chantilly when she won on heavy ground.

“We’re very hopeful she will prove up to Group One level and if there’s going to be plenty of runners you can often need a little luck in running and sometimes the draw can play a part, but we’d be very happy she is heading there in good form and she’s entitled to take her chance.”

With the ground currently described as good, good to soft in places on Merseyside, it could prove the ideal opportunity for the filly to step back up to the highest level while in peak condition.

Sky Majesty also holds a Group One entry for the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot on October 18, with Saturday’s outing set to provide a guide for future targets.

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

“You don’t get too many chances to have a crack at a Group One when conditions are in your favour and also she holds an entry in the Group One at Ascot on British Champions Day,” continued Graham.

“So Saturday will tell us if she has a right to run in that or if we’re flying a bit high and it will give us an idea where we’re going to go for the rest of the season as well.”

Sky Majesty is currently a 10-1 chance with the sponsors for the Sprint Cup.

William Haggas ‘gutted’ as setback scuppers Merchant’s Arc hopes

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Merchant will not run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after suffering a setback which will rule him out for the remainder of the season.

The Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-owned colt was a Royal Ascot hero earlier in the summer before following up in the gloom of a rainy Goodwood afternoon in the Gordon Stakes, a battling success that inspired dreams of ParisLongchamp glory this autumn.

The son of Teofilo was due to put his Arc aspirations to the test in the ‘win-and-you’re-in’ Prix Niel this Sunday, but trainer William Haggas has been left “gutted”, as his name was missing from the list of confirmations on Wednesday.

Haggas told the PA news agency: “He’s just met with a little setback so unfortunately he will be out for the rest of the year.

“It was always the plan to go to ParisLongchamp for the Prix Niel but unfortunately we’re not going.

“We feel a bit gutted but sadly that’s just the way it goes.”

Merchant ends his season having won three of his four starts and advanced his career record to four wins from seven.

He has risen to an official rating of 115 thanks to his winning heroics, firstly at York during the Dante meeting and then subsequently in the King George V Stakes and at Goodwood.

Salisbury lose Dick Poole card for second successive season

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Salisbury has felt the full force of the weather and has been forced to abandon their early-September Dick Poole card for the second year in a row due to waterlogging.

The Wiltshire track lost the seven-race fixture, which has the Group Three juvenile event as its feature, on the day of racing 12 months ago, but this time around the action has been curtailed over 24 hours before it was due to take place with the course failing a 9am inspection on Wednesday following significant rainfall.

Salisbury clerk of the course Jeremy Martin said: “The abandonment is a great disappointment to everyone here and it is actually the second year in a row we have lost our main meeting of the season.

“It is of a consequence of around 60mm of rain in the last six days and of course we raced on Friday August 29 on ground that was practically soft.

“Although we railed a lot of it off, there is still plenty of the course that we can’t avoid like either side of the fibresand crossing, the dips and the lower areas of the dips between the four furlong marker and the two and a half.

“The ground there is very wet and they are areas which are unstable, and likewise in the last furlong, it can’t be avoided.

“The weather has changed quickly in the last week, we’ve had a lot of rain and there is more forecast throughout today and during the night, with potential for another 10-15mm.

“With that in mind there was no way the areas that were giving me concern were going to get better, they were only going to get worse, so it was in everybody’s interest we made an early decision and people could make other plans.

“We’re very disappointed as it’s a great card. I’ve been here 25 years and prior to last year we had never lost this fixture and now we’ve lost it two years in a row. It’s very disappointing and the rains have definitely arrived with a vengeance after five months of lovely sunny weather.”

Last year’s Dick Poole was rearranged for Salisbury’s Friday evening fixture just over a week later and officials are hopeful a similar arrangement could be made this time around.

Martin continued: “In terms of rescheduling the Dick Poole, I need to have a conversation with the BHA, there is the option of moving it to next Friday if everybody is willing to pull together.

“That will be something I will be working on today and it worked last year so let’s hope we can make it work this year.

“Last year when we rearranged we had a nice winner in Tabiti and next Friday is a seven-race card so hopefully the Dick Poole can be added to it.”

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