Latest horse racing news from UK, Ireland, and around the world.
|
|
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.
| Brighton |
Good |
13:52 | 14:22 | 14:52 | 15:22 | 15:52 | 16:22 | 16:52 | |
| Worcester |
Good |
14:10 | 14:40 | 15:10 | 15:40 | 16:10 | 16:40 | 17:10 | 17:40 |
| Tipperary |
Good |
14:30 | 15:00 | 15:30 | 16:00 | 16:30 | 17:00 | 17:30 |
Ralph Beckett’s Skellet can surely be marked up after her third-place finish in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown.
The Kingman filly was having just her second run of the season, having disappointed at Epsom when favourite for a Group Three at the Derby meeting.
She clipped heels and almost came down in the early stages before staying on powerfully behind two highly progressive fillies and will be winning soon herself, possibly over further than the mile she faced here.
Joseph O’Brien has some lofty targets in mind for Queen Of Hawaii having watched her impress in the Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes at the Curragh.
Beaten on her debut, she looked good when winning her maiden at Leopardstown last month and was sent off at 100-30 against the favourite Sugar Island, from his father Aidan’s Ballydoyle stable.
The way the Kingman filly swept by Moments Of Joy, the Ballydoyle second string, suggests she is worthy of bigger targets.
Coral were impressed enough to give her a 25-1 quote for the 1000 Guineas and go 20-1 for the Oaks.
“She won her maiden well. She was very well bought by Philip Antonacci at Goffs,” said O’Brien.
“We thought she was a smart filly and you kind of come here to find out. She looks very smart and you’d have to be excited about her.
“She went through the line strong and Dylan (Browne McMonagle) said that she always feels like there is more in the locker.
“I’d imagine that she’ll either go for the Goffs Million or Fillies’ Mile in Newmarket. We could also look at the Moyglare.
“When she won her maiden at a mile we were looking at coming back to seven and having a look at the Goffs Million.
“We’ll see how she pulls up and discuss it with Philip and see. She’ll be heading for a Group One if it’s not the Million.”
Dermot Weld proved he is still a force to be reckoned with in major handicaps by producing Jagged Edge (22-1) to win the Paddy Power Supporting Cancer Trials Ireland Irish Cambridgeshire.
Having just the fourth run in his life and racing from 2lb out of the handicap, Weld employed apprentice Wayne Hassett to take a valuable 3lb off his back.
Handy throughout, Hassett managed to get his mount up right on the line to deny Genuine Article, who had also been up there all the way for Seamie Heffernan.
Weld said: “I’m delighted with this horse. He’s a big horse and he loves to be fresh. He won for us in Cork and looked like he was going to go on and he just lost his way a little bit. We left him alone and he’s come back nicely.”
There were several fundraising activities during the day in aid of cancer trials, the disease which took Weld’s former stable jockey Pat Smullen so cruelly.
He went on to say: “It’s great to see over a million being raised for pancreatic cancer. It’s such a wonderful achievement and I want to praise Frances Crowley (Smullen’s widow) for everything that she does, the whole team and everyone that contributes.
“It’s such an amazing achievement to be able to raise that kind of money and please God they keep raising more in years to come.”
Tom Clover ended his long wait for a Sandown winner when God Of War relished the soft ground to strike in the Download The BetMGM App Handicap.
Ridden the last twice by Rossa Ryan, it was his after-race advice that paid dividends with David Egan the beneficiary in the saddle aboard the 11-1 shot as he registered a half-length success.
“It’s a monkey off our back to get the first Sandown winner, we’ve been stood over there in the placed spots a lot of times,” said the trainer’s wife, Jackie Clover.
“Rossa has ridden him the last twice and kept saying seven furlongs on easy ground and David has reaped the rewards.
“We’ve always thought quite a lot of this horse and things haven’t always gone to plan, but hopefully now he can get a bit of confidence and he can go on and do what we hoped he would do.”
The Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes was won by 1000 Guineas runner-up Flight last year and Alan King will be dreaming Deedaydiva has some big days ahead after obliging favourite-backers at 2-1.
Third behind Simon and Ed Crisford’s top-class prospect Zanthos at Newmarket on debut, the daughter of Churchill took the required step forward to confirm her handler’s lofty opinion with a bloodless two-length success in the hands of Hector Crouch.
“For mine to run so well first time at Newmarket, we were delighted, and she has been a very straightforward filly with a great mind on her,” said King.
“She came out of Newmarket lovely and has done it well today.
“I always thought she wanted a wee bit of dig, but she’s very straightforward and I’m very pleased with her.
“I’ve never had a two-year-old filly this good so I’ll have to go home and have a think about things. I do think she is pretty smart and we’ll enjoy today and have a look at the options. We think she is good.”
Red Letter relished the step up in trip to run out a cosy winner of the Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes at the Curragh.
Trained by Ger Lyons, the Juddmonte-owned three-year-old began her season in the 1000 Guineas having not been too far away in the Fillies’ Mile last year.
While she finished seventh in the Newmarket Classic, she was less than three lengths behind Desert Flower, although she was a beaten even-money favourite on her next start down in Listed company.
Lyons kept her to that level at Killarney last time out when she looked ready for further and so it proved in this nine-furlong Group Three contest.
The Frankel filly looked to have conceded first run to John and Thady Gosden’s Sand Gazelle, but when Gary Carroll pulled the 6-5 favourite out she powered home.
The winning margin was a length and a half and she looks ready to step back up in class.
“That was lovely. As I said to Barry (Mahon, Juddmonte racing manager) she’s crying out for that trip but is probably only ready for it now,” said Lyons.
“You can see it in her physically, she’s only filling her frame.
“We’ll have a look at the Blandford. The ground is very important, she needs ease in the ground.
“We have a lovely horse to look forward to next year. We’ve just had to be so patient with her. You can see the size of her there, she was angular, and she should only be starting now.
“Hopefully she’ll fulfil all of her potential in the next 12 months. She’s a filly to look forward to.
“We’re looking forward to the end of this year, which is Champions Weekend – which is very important to us.
“Obviously the family have their say on her, but we’ve been training her with all of this in mind, the back end and next year. It looks like she’s going to fulfil her potential and thank us for being patient.
“I think she can get a mile and a half no problem.”
A Bit Of Spirit continued Clive Cox’s good recent run when coming out on top in a tremendous four-way finish to the BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown.
The most experienced runner in the field having had four previous starts, Rossa Ryan set out to put that experience to good use by heading to the front in the Group Three affair.
He looked something of a sitting duck two furlongs out, as Royal Ascot winner Humidity, Brian Meehan’s Oceans Four and eventually Pacific Avenue, who was off the bridle a long way from home, made it a four-way go, each of them briefly looking the likely winner at some stage.
A Bit Of Spirit gets the nod in a thrilling finish to the @BetMGM Solario Stakes pic.twitter.com/jWad5bCeko
— Adam Morgan (@Adam_Morgs) August 30, 2025
Pacific Avenue was first to fold and finished a clear fourth, albeit beaten less than half a length, while Oceans Four was leaning into Humidity by now, but was marginally in front of him. A Bit Of Spirit battled back, however, and crucially had his head down where it mattered.
A photo was called, and it was Cox – who won a valuable prize at York last week with Song Of The Clyde – who heard his horse called the winner. Oceans Four crossed the line in second and the Andrew Balding-trained Humidity in third, but those placings were reversed by the stewards
Cox said: “He’s got remarkable courage and really digs deep. He’s so tough, I think he was beaten for a minute and has got back up and I’m so proud.
🤌 Brilliant finish to the Solario
It's A Bit Of Spirit captures the G3 @BetMGMUK Solario Stakes @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/ocsjRhKzsb
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 30, 2025
“We had no idea if he would cope with condition this easy and certainly we haven’t seen any ground like this all summer, but he’s all heart and so tough and I’m very pleased.
“He’s done nothing but improve with confidence and with that confidence he has displayed more ability, but the fighting quality has been there from the get go.
“Even on his first start he showed those qualities and even though he was quite green at that stage he’s got more battle-hardened now and is displaying more and more courage.
“Rossa was great there and he had all confidence he would handle the ground and it was proved rightly that was the case. I’m thrilled he’s taken this step today.”
A Bit Of Spirit holds a plethora of entries for top two-year-old contests in the latter stages of the season and Cox is now keen to continue aiming high.
He added: “I’m pleased to enjoy today and I think he’s a tough, hardy two-year-old so we can keep pushing with that in mind.
“Now we know he handles the ground we can plot accordingly and he’s got all the options wide open.
“He’s well entered and he’s in the Royal Lodge, but I’m not sure if we would prefer to stay at seven furlongs and he’s in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in France and all those races. I’m just thrilled we can discuss all the options and hopefully make the right decisions.
“From next year’s point of view, we probably stepped up to a mile early enough at Salisbury but the fact he can go on soft ground gives me confidence we can keep going this year and hopefully he may develop further next year.
“I’m delighted for the owners (Paul and Clare Rooney) who have been big supporters and it’s nice for them to have a horse like this for the big stage. It’s a joy to train nice horses for nice people and a privilege to make a living out of a passion really.”
Roger Varian saw his patience rewarded, as both Lady Of Spain and Saddadd set themselves up for big events in the autumn in giving the Carlburg Stables handler a big-race double at Sandown.
Lady Of Spain headed to the BetMGM Atalanta Stakes with an unbeaten record to protect, but had defy a lengthy absence in her first outing since claiming Listed glory at Deauville in December.
Sent off at 14-1 for what was also her first outing on turf, she made it five from five with a game display to continue climbing the ladder and bring Group One options into play.
The winner was halved in price to 10-1 for the Sun Chariot Stakes by Paddy Power, but Varian has also half an eye on a step up in trip for the Prix de l’Opera at ParisLongchamp on the same weekend.
Still unbeaten! 🥇
Lady Of Spain wins the BetMGM Atalanta Stakes 🇪🇸#ITVRacing | @Sandownpark | @varianstable | @Raydawson101 pic.twitter.com/9Ofi1UKJTc
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 30, 2025
Speaking from Deauville, Varian said: “The filly is very good, we’ve always thought that and she could be top class.
“It was a hell of a performance today having not run for nine months and also her first run on turf, so you couldn’t be more proud of the way she won the Atalanta.
“We entered her in the Sun Chariot and the Prix de l’Opera and they were not off the cuff entries, we made them because we have a lot of belief in this filly.
“Time will tell if she is a Group One filly, but she is an unbeaten Group Three winner with only five starts under her belt and we have every reason to believe she will be good.”
Quickly following on from Lady Of Spain, stablemate Saddadd confirmed the strong impression of his London Gold Cup victory to further advertise his potential in the Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap.
Another whom Varian has been careful to bide his time with, the son of Pinatubo made the most of his opportunity to run in optimum conditions, obliging favourite-backers at 3-1.
“Saddadd is a horse we love and always have done and we’ve had to very patient with him,” added Varian.
“I’d like to thank the owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum who has not put any pressure on us to run him over the summer and I think that race will set him up for a strong autumn.
“He’s won off 100 there today and will get another rise in the weights and deserves to take his chance in Listed company next.
Saddadd gives @varianstable & @Raydawson101 @Sandownpark doubles 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/RVDMh5ydTf
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 30, 2025
“We’ll probably look at something like the Doonside Cup at Ayr or the Fortune Stakes at Goodwood.”
The man in the saddle on both occasions was Ray Dawson, who enjoyed a welcome return to the spotlight by bagging his first two winners since returning from a fractured wrist.
Dawson said: “I’m in at Roger’s most days and everyone wants to get winners for him and Roger spreads the rides out very fairly. To get a winner on a Saturday and a big day like this means the world.”
Varian might have headed into the day possibly thinking his best chance of a big winner was his Royal Hunt Cup hero My Cloud, who was running in the Barriere Prix Quincey at Deauville looking for a fifth straight win.
However, having hit the front over a furlong out under Silvestre de Sousa he tired in the closing stages to finish fifth behind Dreamliner, on what was his first taste of action since his win at the Royal fixture. Charlie Hills’ Cicero’s Gift was second.
Mission Central blasted out of the stalls and never saw another rival to win the Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes in taking fashion at the Curragh.
The son of No Nay Never is a rarity in that he hails from Aidan O’Brien’s yard and has a blue-blood pedigree but is a gelding, having shown wayward tendencies when making his debut at Dundalk in April when only fifth of six.
Following a 120-day break he reappeared at the Curragh earlier this month and absolutely bolted up.
With Wayne Lordan replacing the injured Ryan Moore, by halfway Mission Central had everything bar Ipanema Queen off the bridle.
With a furlong to run Listed winner Ipanema Queen could not keep up, but Mission Central (11-8 favourite) clearly has a quirk or two still left as his head began to get a bit higher and he was beginning to pull himself up.
That allowed Joseph O’Brien’s newcomer The Publican’s Son to make rapid headway and close to within three-quarters of a length and while that was a very promising debut, the market leader held on.
“Wayne said, unusually, he was still green,” said O’Brien, who pointed towards an outing at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting.
“He said he was there at halfway and he was waiting. He said he has a lot of natural speed.
“He learned a bit today, he had to get down and knuckle down.
“I’d say he’s quick, five would be no problem to him, and that’s slow ground.
“Wayne said he felt he was only hacking and the lads in the race felt they were flying, that’s the sign of a speed horse.
“I suppose he could be a Flying Childers-type of horse, he’s very fast and I’d imagine that’s the type of horse he is.”
O’Brien’s Hawk Mountain looks a nice middle-distance type for next year having opened his account at the second time of asking in the John Ormonde Wexford Sand Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden.
Fifth on his debut, he made every yard of the running under Lordan to justify 10-11 favouritism.
He holds entries in the Beresford Stakes and the Dewhurst, but that would represent a drop in trip having won over a mile on this occasion.
“I’m delighted with him, he came forward lovely from the first day,” said O’Brien.
“He’s a lovely straightforward horse.”
Roger Varian’s Lady Of Spain overcame a lengthy absence to remain unbeaten in winning an eventful BetMGM Atalanta Stakes at Sandown.
Last seen landing a Listed race on the Deauville all-weather track in December, that was her fourth win from four outings.
This represented another step up in class to Group Three company, but she looked to face a tough ask when Colin Keane brought the progressive Blue Bolt down the centre of the track.
She began to idle close home, though, and the Sandown hill claimed another victim as Lady Of Spain (14-1) stayed on strongly under Ray Dawson to win by half a length.
Ralph Beckett’s Skellet ran a remarkable race in third, having clipped heels early and nearly being brought down before making impressive headway on just her second start of the season.
The winner was halved in price to 10-1 for the Sun Chariot Stakes by Paddy Power.
It was Dawson’s first winner since returning from a fractured wrist and he said: “I don’t have an awful lot to do with her at home, Roger spoke to me this morning and said they really like her.
“Obviously she’s not run for a while, had never been on turf and was encountering soft ground, so there were a lot of questions we asked of her and in fairness she answered all of them.
“She’s handled conditions and the time off the track has been no problem, so she seems a proper filly.”
On the importance of the winner, he added: “I’m in at Roger’s most days and everyone wants to get winners for him and Roger spreads the rides out very fairly. To get a winner on a Saturday and a big day like this means the world.”
Shagraan bounced back to form with a game success in the William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes.
The Mick Appleby-trained chestnut had not got his head in front for almost a year, and although collecting several placings term his progression had not always been constant.
Under Kevin Stott he stepped back down to five furlongs at Listed level on the Westwood, and enjoying forward-thinking tactics he showed plenty of speed to claim a two-and-a-quarter-length victory at 15-2 from Adrestia.
“He’s done it very well, we were a bit disappointed with him last time but he missed the break,” said Appleby of his fourth-placed Hopeful Stakes effort at Newmarket.
“I said to Kevin today to try to push him out of the stalls and go forward with him, he’s given him a great ride.
“The stiff five furlongs suits him, he’s been a little bit disappointing this season but he’s bounced back today.
“He’s very quick, we’ll have to have a look around and see what there is for him now, but he’ll run again this season.”
Ryan Moore may miss the rest of the Flat season with a stress fracture to his femur.
Moore was booked to ride at the Curragh on Saturday, but was taken off all his mounts by midday.
Moore is retained jockey for Aidan O’Brien’s powerful Ballydoyle yard, with the Coolmore operation now facing the prospect of being without one of the world’s best jockeys for the business end of the campaign, with countless big races on the horizon.
O’Brien said: “Ryan is good, he was having plenty of trouble with his right leg since Irish Derby weekend.
“They were doing everything to it to try to get it right, but they couldn’t get it right so he went for scans and an X-ray on it yesterday. He has a fracture in his femur.
“Since the Irish Derby weekend he’s been struggling with it, but he’s been doing his best with it.
“When they found a stress fracture in his femur that was the answer. There is only one thing that is going to fix it and that’s time.”
When asked if he expected him to ride again this season, O’Brien said: “He’d be very lucky, I’d say.
“We’ve plenty of jockeys and the lads are all there, Wayne (Lordan) is gone (suspended) for Irish Champions Festival at the moment, but all the usual people, yhey’re all there, so everyone will row in.”
He went on: “Ryan runs a lot and they think it could be running and that might have originally started it. Then in Germany, when he was going to the start on the filly (Garden Of Eden at Dusseldorf) she whipped around and he landed on his feet and it could have aggravated it and opened it up.
“They have been treating him for a lot of different stuff, the back of his knee and they thought he had burst something at the back of his heel, and they thought it might be ligaments and all this different stuff.
“It was only when he got whatever kind of a scan he had yesterday that they realised he had a fracture to his femur, so that was that.
“In all fairness to him, he’s been riding for probably two months with a fracture to his femur. Talk about concrete, that man is concrete. But with a little bit of time, he’ll be back.”
|
|
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.
| Beverley |
Good to Firm |
13:30 | 14:05 | 14:35 | 15:07 | 15:42 | 16:17 | 16:55 | |
| Curragh |
Good |
13:45 | 14:20 | 14:52 | 15:27 | 16:02 | 16:37 | 17:12 | 17:47 |
| Sandown Park |
Soft |
13:50 | 14:25 | 15:00 | 15:35 | 16:10 | 16:45 | 17:20 | |
| Chester |
Good |
14:10 | 14:40 | 15:15 | 15:50 | 16:25 | 17:00 | 17:35 | |
| Newton Abbot |
Good |
14:15 | 14:45 | 15:20 | 15:55 | 16:30 | 17:05 | ||
| Lingfield Park |
Standard |
16:50 | 17:25 | 17:55 | 18:25 | 18:55 | 19:25 | ||
| Chelmsford |
Standard |
17:40 | 18:10 | 18:40 | 19:10 | 19:40 | 20:10 | 20:40 |
Publish will not line up in Saturday’s BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown due to unsuitable ground.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt was due to be one of the headline acts in the Group Three contest after running an eyecatching race on debut at the Esher track, before returning to the same venue three weeks later to break his maiden.
However, with 16 millimetres of rain having fallen at Sandown on Friday morning, the going was changed to soft after the fifth race on the track’s afternoon card, prompting connections to withdraw the likely favourite.
His absence leaves Charlie Appleby’s Pacific Avenue as the new market leader after he inflicted a surprise defeat on stablemate Wild Desert when making a winning debut at Newmarket in June.
Appleby, who has trained three previous Solario winners, said: “This is a race we have done well in in recent seasons, Pacific Avenue worked nicely on Saturday and the form of his last run has worked out very well.
“The second horse (Wild Desert) came out and was third in the Superlative Stakes and the third, fourth and fifth have come out and won well, so we are going there with a horse that will hopefully be competitive.
“He hasn’t been out since winning his debut in June, but he is in good shape at home and we do feel that the seven furlongs at Sandown will suit him well.
“He is a horse we have always liked and if he could go and hopefully win on Saturday, we could look towards something like a Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere possibly, but that is pie in the sky stuff at the moment and the focus for now is on the Solario.”
Too Darn Hot colt He’s Waliim is an interesting contender for James Tate, turning out 17 days after blitzing his rivals by upwards of six lengths on his introduction at Beverley.
Tate said: “Obviously he was very impressive and he’s a horse we’re excited about, but we’re aware that we are throwing him in at the deep end somewhat, so fingers crossed he can swim.
“His home work had been very smart before Beverley so we were expecting him to win, but they don’t always run up to their homework, so it was nice that he did.
“It’s a field full of unknowns on Saturday and you don’t quite know whether you’re taking on next year’s Guineas winner or a horse that wins the Solario and doesn’t win another Group race, it can vary.
“But we’re happy with our horse, seven furlongs around a bend with a uphill finish and quick-ish ground should suit us down to the ground, so we’ll find out a lot.”
Other hopefuls include Andrew Balding’s Chesham winner Humidity, who bids to bounce back from a disappointing effort in Goodwood’s Vintage Stakes, and Clive Cox’s A Bit Of Spirit, who has won twice and finished second twice in four starts.
Richard Brown, adviser to Humidity’s owners Wathnan Racing, said: “Andrew seems very happy with him and he said he has worked particularly well since Goodwood.
“I don’t think the track suited him particularly well at Goodwood and I’m hoping Sandown and the stiff seven will be more to his liking as I think he will get further in time.
“This is obviously a very strong renewal, as you would expect, but I think the race will set up much better for him than at Goodwood and he will be hitting the line strong.”
Of A Bit Of Spirit, Cox said: “He’s in very good form. He stepped up to a mile last time at Salisbury in the Stonehenge and was beaten by a very nice horse (Morris Dancer).
“We’ll be very happy to step back to seven furlongs at Sandown, he’s in great nick and we’re really looking forward to it.”
After getting back to winning ways at Killarney, Red Letter creeps up in distance for the Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
Ger Lyons’ filly was a high-class juvenile who began her three-year-old campaign as a Classic hope and although unable to land a blow in the 1000 Guineas earlier in the season, her latest efforts have seen her get back on track.
Although narrowly beaten by Jessica Harrington’s reopposing hat-trick seeker Barnavara at Navan in June, Red Letter made a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure in Listed company last month, with connections now keen to test the daughter of Frankel over further in this nine-furlong Group Three.
Red Letter battles on impressively to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes for Colin Keane and Ger Lyons! 🏆@IrishEBF_ | @ctkjockey pic.twitter.com/bRktGykHkE
— KillarneyRaces (@KillarneyRaces) July 16, 2025
“She’s in good form, Ger is happy with her and we’ve had rain in Ireland, which will help,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.
“We’ve been gung-ho all year to go up in trip and this is our first step on that route, so hopefully it will suit. We were heading for a mile and a quarter and this race appeared, so we said we’d go that way and we’re firmly on route to going a mile and a quarter with her.
“I thought she was game and gutsy to win the last day in Killarney, where she needed every yard of the mile, so we’re hopeful we’ll have a good run from her on Saturday.”
John and Thady Gosden’s York Listed winner Sand Gazelle is an interesting contender, with Daniel Tudhope making the trip to Ireland for just ride, while Dermot Weld won the race with Tarawa 12 months ago and attempts to repeat the dose with Meadow Court Stakes runner-up Azada.
Pat Downes, general manager for owner the Aga Khan’s Irish studs, said: “Any rain would certainly help as she enjoys a bit of ease in the ground and she’s in great form, so we’re looking forward to letting her take her chance.
“It was a good run behind One Look last time and the ground that day was probably a shade quicker than ideal for her. If the forecast rain has arrived, it should make the ground lovely for her.”
There is also Group Three action in the Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes where Aidan O’Brien looks for a sixth victory in 10 years with course-and-distance winner Mission Control.
In opposition is Adrian Murray’s speedy Ipanema Queen, who showed toughness from the front when a Listed course winner recently and now heads back up in distance with her trainer expecting another bold show.
Murray said: “She’s progressing nicely and going forward the whole time and I’m sure she will run a big race.
“I’m more than happy to go back up to six furlongs with her. She’s one that we’re kind of looking at the Breeders’ Cup at the backend of the year with. She’s got a lot of likeable qualities and she’s a nice filly going forward.”
Ballydoyle appear to hold all the aces in the Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes, with Sugar Island and Moments Of Joy the standout names in a field of seven.
In the Paddy Power Supporting Cancer Trials Ireland Irish Cambridgeshire, Ryan Moore teams up with William Haggas’ Lincoln winner Godwinson as they seek another valuable prize.
Kevin Philippart de Foy is excited to see Cathedral run for the first time in his name when she heads to Sandown for the BetMGM Atalanta Stakes on Saturday.
Despite not adding to her impressive debut success from last autumn, the high-class three-year-old has caught the eye many times in defeat for previous handler Ralph Beckett – including when fourth in the Coronation Stakes – and reverts to a mile on her first outing for Amo Racing’s principal trainer.
“She’s a smart filly and I think she got a bit stuck in the ground in France with the trip a little bit far, so conditions on Saturday should suit her better, providing we don’t get too much rain,” said Philippart de Foy.
“The filly arrived in very good shape from Ralph and we have just kept her ticking along.
“She has some good form and ran a great race at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes. She is definitely an exciting filly for the future.”
The likely favourite is Andrew Balding’s Blue Bolt, who brought up a hat-trick when landing the Listed Coral Distaff over course and distance in July, and will be partnered once again by Colin Keane from a wide draw in stall 11 as she now steps up to Group level.
“She’s been very progressive all year and has had a little break since her win the last day,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.
“She appears in good form, Andrew’s happy with her. It’s probably not the greatest of draws out in 11, so she’ll have to overcome that, but she’s in a good space and the team at Kingsclere are happy, so we’re hopeful she’ll progress from here.”
Blue Bolt is joined in the line-up by another Juddmonte-owned contender, with the Beckett-trained Skellett also bringing course-and-distance form to the table having won the Fortune Stakes last autumn.
Mahon added: “She’s had a bit of a frustrating season with a few niggly little hold-ups. It’s obviously two and half months since we saw her last when she was disappointing at Epsom and Ralph is happier with her now, she’s in good form and any rain they get at Sandown would probably be beneficial to her.
“She is a filly that is capable of turning up in a race like this, but she might just need a bit of rain to show her best.”
Meanwhile, Roger Varian is intrigued to see how the unbeaten Lady In Spain gets on in her belated seasonal return, as she makes her first appearance at both Group level and on turf in Esher.
Varian said: “There’s a lot to look forward to with Lady In Spain, she’s really talented.
“We met a setback with her after she won at Deauville in December, so we’ve had to be patient, but she’s training really well now and she’s a lovely filly.
“Although she’s a four-year-old, she’s only had the four lifetime starts and I think she’s training and looking better than ever.
“We’re really excited about her heading into the autumn and who knows, maybe next year as well.”
Of the remainder, Ollie Sangster’s 1000 Guineas runner-up Flight drops in grade after three runs at the highest level this term, while John and Thady’s Gosden’s impressive Epsom scorer Spiritual was also seen at the top-table in her most recent outing and is now reverting to slightly calmer waters.
