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

Haydock not the track for Lazzat after beaten Sprint Cup effort

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Jerome Reynier felt the six-furlong course at Haydock could have proved too sharp for Lazzat after he was a beaten favourite in the Betfair Sprint Cup.

The four-year-old blazed a trail in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot on his penultimate start, setting a new course record as he fended off the Japanese raider Satono Reve at the Royal meeting.

He subsequently met with defeat in the six-and-a-half-furlong Prix Maurice de Gheest and while punters still had plenty of confidence in his chance on Merseyside, sending him off the evens market leader, Lazzat fell short at the finish, coming home a two-and-a-half-length fifth behind Big Mojo.

Reynier and owners Wathnan Racing now face the choice of returning to Ascot on Qipco Champions Day for the Sprint, or moving back up to seven furlongs for the Prix de la Foret on Arc weekend, with the trainer sure a stiffer test will suit.

He said: “It’s a six-furlong proper sprint and he had horses all around him and it was maybe a bit too sharp for him, so maybe next month there will be a bit more cut in the ground over six furlongs in the Champions Sprint or in the Foret over seven furlongs.

“We have to chat about the next race with connections, but it was my fear that he likes to be on top of the game, in front and leading and today at the three-furlong marker he (jockey James Doyle) was already asking him to keep up and he stayed on well.

“He was happy with the way he fought and he wasn’t beaten far. That’s just a bit too sharp for him I think today.”

Following a second successive defeat, Reynier also raised the possibility his record-setting run at Ascot had left more of a mark than anticipated.

He added: “The six furlongs at Ascot is much stiffer and that is probably more his game. I think the Maurice de Gheest was under his best and once again it’s a little bit lower than I would have expected.

“When you beat course records, like at Ascot, it’s not an easy task and obviously some horses take a long while to recover, so we will have to see if he’s all good.”

Wathnan Racing were well represented in the race and last year’s runner up Kind Of Blue continued his recent renaissance by taking second place again, a nose ahead of Flora Of Bermuda for the same owner.

Having started the year by entirely fluffing the start in France before a disappointing Newcastle run, his trainer James Fanshawe has taken heart from his third place in the Phoenix Sprint last time and this run ahead of the defence of his British Champions Sprint title next month.

The trainer said: “Really pleased, delighted with him. After a very sticky start, he’s coming back to himself.

“He ran well in Ireland and he’s run a blinder today and we’re looking forward to Ascot.”

The Andrew Balding-trained Flora Of Bermuda could also be on her way to Ascot, with the trainer’s wife Anna Lisa saying: “I am absolutely delighted. She is such a superstar.

“We just hope one day she’ll get one of these but to be third in another Group One is magnificent.

“We are so thrilled to be training for Wathnan and I am thrilled for Mick Appleby too.

“I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t look at Ascot now. She was third in it last year I think and today was the third time she has come third in a Group One race.”

Whirl aiming to underline Arc claims with Vermeille victory

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Whirl is among a plethora of horses looking to cement their place in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on a jam-packed card at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

Touched off by stablemate Minnie Hauk in the Oaks, she has since beaten Kalpana in the Pretty Polly in Ireland and ran out an easy winner of the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

She is as low as 6-1 joint-favourite for the Arc in some lists in a market that is sure to have a big shake-up after this weekend.

O’Brien also runs Bedtime Story, who was second to Gezora in the Prix de Diane and that pair meet again.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “It looks a lovely race for her. Obviously, there are some very good fillies in it. It is a very good race, it is a Group One and it will be nice to get this out of the way and see where she fits in for the back end of the season – is she a filly that ends up in the Arc mix?

“She has loads of options and she has been a filly that has just gone from strength to strength this year, physically and mentally. She came through Goodwood very well and her work has been lovely since. Aidan and all the team at home have been delighted with her. Looking forward to tomorrow.”

Francis-Henri Graffard said of Gezora: “This race has been the target ever since she won the Prix de Diane. She worked on the racecourse on Tuesday and everything went smoothly.

“I don’t think the longer distance will be an issue – she’s very relaxed in her races. She’s also proven she can handle any ground.

“This race will help us decide on the rest of her campaign. The Arc is certainly an option, but the Prix de l’Opera is also on the table.”

Christophe Ferland’s Aventure was second to Bluestocking in both the Prix Vermeille and the Arc last season and returns for a second tilt at the former contest after finishing second to Calandagan in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last time out.

“Everything is looking good for Sunday. Maxime Guyon came to work her on Tuesday morning and all went well. Aventure is in great form,” said Ferland.

Los Angeles was a fine third in the Arc last season, having attempted the tough task of making all.

He added another Group One to his record in the Tattersalls Gold Cup earlier this campaign, but O’Brien admitted his King George tactics were wrong and felt he was some way from his best last time out. He runs in the Prix Foy.

“We’re very happy, he only started back at the Curragh (last time) so he was always going to have an easy time. He had an easy time because it was his first run back, then the plan was he would go to France for his next one and it will be a bit harder,” said O’Brien.

“He’s still not all out, there’s more to come, and hopefully he’ll arrive in time for the Arc. The season went downhill a bit at Ascot but the Arc has always been his aim.”

Sosie was one place behind Los Angeles in the Arc and has his first run since finishing sixth in the Eclipse for Andre Fabre.

The Japanese challenger, Byzantine Dream, was second in the Tenno Sho when last seen in May and connections are hoping this will be the perfect stepping stone to the Arc.

His trainer Tomoyasu Sakaguchi, said: “In the Foy, the key is for him to have a good, incident-free race that serves as a springboard to the main goal. His preparation has gone very well. He’s a bit unsettled by the change of environment – his stress levels are higher than they would be in Japan – but we hope he’ll settle quickly.”

Ed Walker’s Almaqam showed his class earlier in the season when beating Ombudsman, but has been frustrated by the dry summer and this will be his first try at 12 furlongs.

“I think the Prix Foy is the right race for him,” said Walker.

“The ground should suit. Several jockeys who’ve ridden him before believe he’ll stay. His pedigree doesn’t make it obvious, but the way he races suggests he should. He’s a dream of a horse for a jockey – you can place him anywhere.

“Sunday will tell us whether he’s an Arc horse or better suited to the Champion Stakes. He’s in phenomenal form.”

The Prix Niel should prove informative too, with Jean-Claude Rouget’s Grand Prix de Paris winner Leffard in a field of eight.

“His preparation went well. Leffard and Arrow Eagle (runs in the Prix Foy) worked together on Monday at Deauville and finished together,” said Rouget.

“I didn’t see the point in running Leffard at Deauville. I think moving the Arc trials up by a week was a great decision – it gives horses more recovery time.”

Aidan O’Brien runs Swagman, not seen since winning the Classic Trial at Sandown, and Aftermath, who is making his seasonal reappearance.

Joseph O’Brien sends over Tennessee Stud, third in the Derby and fourth in the Irish version, with George Scott’s Bay City Roller another who cannot be dismissed trying the trip for the first time.

Big targets on the horizon for Sprint Cup hero Mojo

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Qipco Champions Day at Ascot and a second trip to the Breeders’ Cup are among the options under consideration for Big Mojo after he provided trainer Mick Appleby with a first domestic Group One success in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

The Rutland handler has saddled only one previous top-level winner, with the similarly named Big Evs claiming a thrilling victory at the Breeders’ Cup two years ago.

Big Mojo emulated his former stablemate by winning the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last summer before performing creditably at the Breeders’ Cup himself, while this season he had won Ascot’s Pavilion Stakes and come within a neck of a Group One triumph in the July Cup at Newmarket.

Having subsequently finished only fifth in the King George Stakes at Goodwood, the Mohaather colt was a 16-1 shot for his latest big-race test on Merseyside – but with stands’ rail to help, he roared back to form under a power-packed drive from William Buick to record a one-and-a-quarter-length victory.

Appleby said: “That was absolutely great, he did it so well. Everything went to plan and it took William half the track to pull him up!

“I think it does mean more to win a Group One here (in Britain). He’s a very good horse, obviously we were disappointed at Goodwood but we put it down to the softer ground.

“There were a lot of question marks next to his name, but he was in great form at home and we were coming here quite optimistic, to be fair

“We always had faith in the horse and he’s definitely up there with Big Evs.”

Big Mojo was a decisive winner at Haydock
Big Mojo was a decisive winner at Haydock (Martin Rickett/PA)

Both Big Evs and Big Mojo are part-owned by Paul Teasdale, who is clearly keen on a return to California in early November.

He said: “We knew he would give us a big run. I said to William going out ‘we just need another July Cup performance’ as we were only inches away from winning that day. We knew he was capable and we knew this was a Group One horse and it was just a case of getting it right on the day.

“He came fourth at the Breeders’ Cup last year and we wouldn’t be scared to go back. We think he’s equally good at five or six furlongs and he handled Del Mar really well last year.

“We’ve got an entry at Ascot on Champions Day and we might even consider the Prix de l’Abbaye. Let’s enjoy today and we’ll think about it.”

Buick was riding for the first time and said: “It was a brilliant spare ride to get, it all came together and we got the job done.

“It’s beautiful ground and I think middle to stands’ side is where you want to be. The race panned out well, but he put in a big performance I thought. He was very smooth and really I had no moment of worry. Once I gave him the get-go, he just got on with it and saw it out well.

“I’m delighted for Mick and the owners. They’re great people and these are the days we all do it for.”

Rosallion ready to face Prix du Moulin challenge

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Rosallion has another opportunity to return to the Group One winner’s enclosure in the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on Sunday.

Richard Hannon’s stable star broke his top-level duck in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at this track two years ago and last season enjoyed success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

His pursuit of further Group One glory as a four-year-old has so far proved frustrating, however, with nose and neck defeats in the Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes respectively followed by a fourth-placed finish when dropped back to seven furlongs for the City of York Stakes two weeks ago.

Returning to a mile on a track where he has proven his worth in the past, Hannon is hoping his charge can finally prevail.

“He’s in good form, hopefully the ground will be drying out and hopefully the ground will be good by Sunday,” he said.

“He’s fit as a fiddle, he’s won there before and we’re keen to take the race on.

“He has no problem backing up quickly – he went from the Irish Guineas to the St James’s Palace and he takes his racing well and looks after himself. He’s got a solid constitution.

“We gave Henri Matisse 8lb at Goodwood and beat him, we have to give him 6lb on Sunday, so we’re 2lb better off.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Henri Matisse is another with winning form at the Parisian track, having struck Classic gold in the French 2000 Guineas in the spring, while he was just over two lengths behind Rosallion when third in a muddling Sussex Stakes won by 150-1 shot Qirat.

He is one of three runners for O’Brien along with The Lion In Winter, who is yet to strike in four starts this term, and a possible pacemaker in Serengeti.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “Henri Matisse ran on slow ground last year in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and it didn’t go to plan, but hopefully the ground should definitely be better than it was then. The quicker the better for him.

“He has come through Goodwood very well and it is another very tough Group One – you have obviously got Rosallion in it, Lead Artist, and plenty in it.”

Of The Lion In Winter, Armstrong added: “He dropped back down in trip in the Prix Jean Prat and ran an unbelievable race there (when third) and then went back to France (for the Jacques le Marois at Deauville) the last time and the way we rode him that day didn’t work out.

“This race should be different tactics and, hopefully, it will be a different result.

“The engine is still there, just a few things have got to fall right for him.”

A strong raiding party is completed by Roger Teal’s Dancing Gemini, Simon and Ed Crisford’s Quddwah and John and Thady Gosden’s Lead Artist.

Dancing Gemini finished a close-up third in the Prix Jacques le Marois three weeks ago, while Quddwah has returned victorious after his two previous trips across the Channel this season, scoring at ParisLongchamp in May and Chantilly in July.

Lead Artist beat Dancing Gemini and Rosallion when landing the Lockinge at Newbury in May and while he failed to fire in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, better is expected on his return this weekend.

Barry Mahon, racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “He’s had a nice break since Ascot. We initially planned to go to the Marois and his bloods were just a little bit off, so he had a quiet week before it and missed that race but he’s back in good form. Colin (Keane) had a sit on him on Wednesday and thought he felt great, so we’re looking forward to seeing him.

“They’ve had a lot of rain in France, but I think the forecast is good between now and Sunday, so we’re hopeful that the ground will dry out sufficiently and it will be close to good ground.

“It’s a top-class renewal, as it always is. You’ve got Rosallion, The Lion In Winter, Henri Matisse and Dancing Gemini – they’re all there.

“It’s a top-class Group One, but in fairness we know our horse is a top-class Group One horse, we’re entitled to be there and although after a long break he might need it a little bit, it will set us up for something like the Breeders’ Cup then after.”

The Reverend pips stablemate to lift Old Borough Cup

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The Reverend defied trainer William Haggas’ pre-race worries with a narrow victory over stablemate Dramatic Star in the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup at Haydock.

With stable jockey Tom Marquand on board, The Reverend was the 7-2 favourite for the prestigious handicap, despite the fact Haggas had voiced his concerns about the drying Merseyside turf.

Dramatic Star was the first of the Haggas pair to hit the front after being delivered with his challenge on the far side of the track by Jason Hart, but Marquand’s mount was doing his best work at the finish and got up to score by a neck.

Haggas said: “I thought he wanted softer ground, so what do I know? But he was in really good form today, he went to post beautifully – really full of zest .

“When he’s been not as good he’s quite keen, but today he raced beautifully. I’m sorry the other horse got beaten, but he ran a good race – he was in front a bit early and just had a look, but it wasn’t his fault, it was just the way the race worked out.

“The winner came off the bit two (furlongs) out and we haven’t really run him over a mile and six much before, but he ran right to the line and did well.

“I haven’t got any plans for him that I can think of. He’s won a £100,000 race today, which is what we kept him in training for.

“You’d have to ask Sean (Graham, racing manager to part-owner Tony Bloom), but I think it’s quite likely he’ll go to Willie Mullins at the end of the year – and then come back to (Royal) Ascot and beat us next year probably. That’s the usual thing!”

Haggas also landed the other £100,000 handicap on the card – the Betfair Plays In A Different League Handicap – with 4-1 shot Valiancy.

Fitted with cheek pieces for the first time having been placed twice since his first career victory at Hamilton in June, the three-year-old knuckled down for Saffie Osborne to beat Ride The Thunder by three-quarters of a length.

Haggas added: “He’s quite a lazy horse and he just kept going at the same speed, but fortunately it was quick enough.”

Democracy Dilemma led his rivals a merry dance in the Betfair Be Friendly Handicap.

Robert Cowell’s sprinter rocketed out of the stalls and after being steered across to the stands’ rail by Tom Eaves, the 12-1 shot did not see another rival on his way to an emphatic four-and-three-quarter-length success over 2-1 favourite Luna A Inbhir Nis, who was bidding for her seventh win of the season.

Big Mojo soars to Sprint Cup success

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Big Mojo sprang a minor surprise as he ran out a 16-1 winner of the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Trained by Mick Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Big Mojo had finished a narrow second in the July Cup on his penultimate run but he unleashed a telling effort in the final furlong to get his head in front on Merseyside.

Last year’s second Kind Of Blue filled the runner-up spot again, with fellow Wathnan Racing-owned runner Flora Of Bermuda third while favourite Lazzat finished unplaced in the same silks.

Rage Of Bamby set the early pace up the nearside rail, with all the first three home racing up the same strip, while Lazzat was more towards the middle of the track.

The stands’ side clearly held the advantage coming into the final furlong and the strong finish of Big Mojo saw him pull a length and a quarter clear at the line, with just a nose separating the Wathnan pair.

Big Mojo was so full of running, it took Buick a good distance to pull up after the line and he told ITV Racing: “The hardest job was getting him to the start and pulling him up!

“He’s just a real sprinter – he’s got two speeds. He was lovely and smooth throughout the race and I really didn’t have a moment of worry.

“We got a nice tow into the race until about halfway and then off he went and made his own way home.”

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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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

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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.

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