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

Andre Fabre delighted by Birr Castle’s pacemaking turn

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Andre Fabre felt the front-running performance of Birr Castle “added some spice” to proceedings in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday.

The master French trainer provided the five-year-old as a pacemaker for favourite and eventual winner Ombudsman, trained by John and Thady Gosden but in the same Godolphin ownership.

Ridden by Robert Havlin, Birr Castle had them all on the stretch and at one stage held a huge advantage.

Hot on the heels of 150-1 chance Qirat winning the Sussex Stakes, another huge shock briefly looked on the cards before he began to tire but to his credit he held on for third place, only beaten by the front two in the betting.

“He certainly added a bit of spice to the race! Nobody was expecting such a scenario,” said Fabre.

“He’s not a bad horse. He had a quiet season last year, but he was affected by a virus. He has a good rating, he’s Group-placed.

“It looked like he was 20 lengths clear and he was still a long way in front with two furlongs to run when Robert Havlin went into the middle of the track to let the others through, but they weren’t there.

“If he hadn’t done that he may have been second, but the winner was very impressive. He looks a very nice horse, he quickened so well from what was a slow pace for the rest.”

He went on: “It was just like what happened at Goodwood really, when the pacemaker won the Sussex Stakes. I was talking to John before the race and I said I wouldn’t mind the same result and we nearly got it.

“Everybody was happy in the end – John, myself and Godolphin. It’s just a shame for such a big race it did not attract more runners, that leads to pacemakers. With more runners you wouldn’t need them.

“A good pacemaker is one who if you let him go he is good enough to win it, it happened at Goodwood and nearly happened at York.”

Rosallion heads 11 contenders for City of York title

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Rosallion is set to face 10 rivals in the first renewal of the Sky Bet City of York Stakes since it achieved Group One status.

Richard Hannon’s star miler was bound for the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last weekend but a bruised foot scuppered that plan and he was redirected to York.

He faces Ralph Beckett’s Qirat, who defeated him by a neck in a surprising renewal of the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, with Audience entered for John and Thady Gosden after finishing fourth in the race last year.

Never So Brave, winner of the Buckingham Palace Stakes and the Summer Mile at Ascot, is due to run for Andrew Balding, with Christopher Head’s Maranoa Charlie the sole French runner.

William Haggas’ Lake Forest, Stuart Williams’ Quinault, Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven, Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony and Mick Appleby’s Annaf are all in the mix, as is Aidan O’Brien’s Exactly.

The Sky Bet Ebor has attracted two runners from Willie Mullins’ stable in Hipop De Loire and Ethical Diamond, with last year’s winning trainer Henry de Bromhead represented by Ascending as he looks to retain the trophy.

The Gosdens’ French Master, O’Brien’s London City and Roger Varian’s Shadow Dance are among the leading hopes from Flat stables.

In the Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes, it is Harry Charlton’s King’s Gambit who heads the market at present, with the Gosden-trained Bowmark and Ed Dunlop’s Skukuza also popular.

Racing Bulletin for 21/08/2025

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York Eyecatcher Air Force One can take flight

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Air Force One is surely capable of bagging a big sprint before the season is out after his good run in the York opener.

He was all dressed up with nowhere to go two furlongs from home, allowing the eventual winner Trefor to get first run.

However, when eventually he did get in the clear he flew home into third. The handicapper cannot put him up too much and there should be plenty of options before the season is out.

Minnie Hauk at concert pitch for Yorkshire Oaks date

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Minnie Hauk bids to win a fourth different Oaks in the Pertemps Network-sponsored Yorkshire version on Thursday.

Aidan O’Brien’s Frankel filly has been outstanding so far this season, collecting three successive Oaks titles starting with the Listed Cheshire contest, before adding Classic strikes in both the Epsom and Curragh editions.

Now she turns her attention to the Knavesmire, with only three rivals opting to take her on in the mile-and-a-half Group One – including Ribblesdale-winning stablemate Garden Of Eden.

“This was always the obvious place to bring Minnie Hauk after the Curragh and she seems in good form since then,” said O’Brien.

“The trip and ground are perfect for her and since the Irish Oaks everything has gone well with her.

“Garden Of Eden won the Ribblesdale and then we sent her for the German Oaks but that didn’t work out.

“She was drawn very badly and she just never really got into it, it never happened.”

Ed Walker’s Qilin Queen was eighth behind Minnie Hauk in the Oaks at Epsom, the only real blip in a consistent career thus far that includes a Group Two success in the Prix de Malleret at ParisLongchamp last time out.

“Qilin Queen is a lovely filly who has done nothing wrong in her career,” the trainer said.

“The Oaks was the only bad run in her career and I think you can put that down to the soft ground and she probably wasn’t that happy on the track.

“However, on top of the ground she’s really not put a foot wrong and we know she stays the trip well.

“She will have to step forward significantly to challenge this lot, but she’s entitled to.”

David O’Meara’s Estrange is the other British-trained entrant, a striking grey who has won both starts this season when taking the Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes and then the Lancashire Oaks.

She steps up to the top level, although connections are prepared to make a late call on her participation on the Knavesmire, eager to ensure an easier surface for the four-year-old.

“We’ll have a chat to connections tonight and see what they think,” said O’Meara at York on Wednesday.

“I walked it on Monday and I thought they had put plenty of water on and it felt good to soft. The (slow) times (today) could be a little bit of headwind affecting them as much as anything else but I thought they had watered very well.”

Leopardstown option for Delacroix following York eclipse

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Aidan O’Brien could target Irish Champion Stakes compensation with Delacroix after he came off second best in his rematch with Ombudsman in the Juddmonte International at York.

The Ballydoyle runner bounced back from Derby disappointment to win a pulsating renewal of the Eclipse in early July, coming from an unpromising position to somehow grab victory from the jaws of defeat at the chief expense of Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor Ombudsman in a Sandown thriller.

The latter was the 7-4 favourite to gain his revenge in what turned out to be an even more fascinating affair on the Knavesmire, with Ombudsman’s pacemaker Birr Castle slipping the field and building up a huge lead over the chasing pack.

The big two eventually wore him down, but it was John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman who was three and a half lengths clear at the line, with Delacroix only beating 150-1 shot Birr Castle to the runner-up spot by half a length.

O’Brien said: “It was just a mess really wasn’t it? We had discussed before the race that if the pacemaker went and nobody followed him we would follow him, so obviously when they jumped out Ryan (Moore) thought they were going to follow the pacemaker but made the decision to sit in.

“Obviously when he sat in they just kept going slower and slower and slower and he was in a pocket and that was it, it was finished. It was over really as all they have done is sprint down the straight and the rest is history.

“Our horses usually like high-tempo races, but this was the way this time and John’s horse won and it was what he wanted. He got the result and we didn’t today.”

Delacroix’s defeat rounded off a disappointing day for O’Brien, having seen his dual Derby hero Lambourn finish only fifth in the preceding Great Voltigeur Stakes.

He added: “It happens every day of the week and it will happen again. Remember, you learn more from losing than winning.

“We learnt if he’s well we will go back to Leopardstown with Delacroix and hopefully this won’t happen again.

“This horse doesn’t mind making the running and has won from the front, so he would be very happy doing that.”

Andrew Balding’s high-class mare See The Fire finished fourth, with Japanese raider Danon Decile – making his first appearance since beating last month’s King George hero Calandagan in the Dubai Sheema Classic in April – ultimately disappointing in fifth.

Trainer Shogo Yasuda said: “We couldn’t show his real ability, but this experience will be great for the future. I’m sorry we couldn’t show his true ability.

“We may have got it wrong, but we got great support and we want to thank them for that. Especially James Horton (who has had the horse stabled at his yard) and many other people who were really important for helping us while we were here.

“It was really unfortunate we couldn’t show himself at his best for everyone.”

Last of all in sixth was Francis-Henri Graffard’s previously unbeaten French challenger Daryz.

There was some confusion as to whether the three-year-old’s rider Mickael Barzalona had weighed in afterwards, prompting an objection from the clerk of the scales, but it was eventually confirmed he had and the result stood.

Graffard said: “He lacked experience during the race. He was racing strongly on the bridle and looking at everything. He picked up really nicely but then just got tired late on.

“We’ll see how he comes back and make a plan.”

Aidan O’Brien still positive despite Lambourn’s Voltigeur defeat

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Aidan O’Brien was not too despondent after watching his dual Derby winner Lambourn trail home in fifth place in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur at York.

A mildly surprising winner at Epsom, he then doubled up at the Curragh in the Irish equivalent and despite giving weight away all round to his rivals, he was sent off the 4-5 favourite to confirm his position as the best mile-and-a-half colt of his generation.

However, Ryan Moore was hard at work from some way out as first stablemate Stay True loomed up looking a threat, before the Ballydoyle duo were swamped by Ralph Beckett’s Pride Of Arras.

The winner had scored impressively in the Dante at the track in May but finished well behind Lambourn at both Epsom and the Curragh and had subsequently been gelded.

O’Brien fielded four in the Group Two and they filled the final four positions.

Lambourn is now 5-1 for the St Leger with Coral as his stable companion Scandinavia hardened to 4-5 favourite for the final Classic.

“He went grand, they went steady and he’s lazy, I think it was a steadily-run race,” said O’Brien of Lambourn.

“All of them ran grand. The reason we ran Lambourn here was so that he had the option of either the Leger or the Arc.

“I don’t think the Leger trip will be a problem, we know he stays a mile and a half well.

“Ryan (Moore) said he felt like he got a little but tired but we’ll see how he is.

“Stay True ran a lovely race, he’s always looked a lovely horse for the Leger so it looks like he’ll be happy doing that.”

One horse who enhanced his reputation despite losing his unbeaten record was the Paddy Twomey-trained Carmers, the Queen’s Vase winner from Royal Ascot who was dropping in trip.

He got caught flat-footed when the pace quickened before staying on for second, beaten a length.

“He maybe didn’t get the run of the race but I think it was a very good trial for the Leger,” said Twomey.

“I think he’s learned more today than he had in any race he won. It’s a big run and back up to the mile and six (furlongs) will suit him.

“I don’t think the ground makes any difference to him.”

Ombudsman takes International crown at York

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Ombudsman eventually came out on top in an exciting renewal of the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

The 7-4 favourite was ridden by William Buick for John and Thady Gosden, with the fellow Godolphin-owned runner Birr Castle sent out to make the running as a rank outsider in the field of six.

The latter horse was afforded an enormous lead and as he rounded the turn for home it looked quite possible that the chasing pack would not catch him, but as he tired, Ombudsman was gaining ground.

He eventually swept through to grab the lead and while Delacroix also made late gains, Ombudsman emerged a three-and-a-half-length winner.

William Buick will the trophy for the Juddmonte International
William Buick will the trophy for the Juddmonte International (Mike Egerton/PA)

Birr Castle was transferred to the Gosdens to make the running at York and John Gosden said: “(Trainer) Andre Fabre said the horse was in top form and ‘I hope he does a good job for you John, I would like you to have the same result as in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood (when the pacemaker won)’!

“I said ‘OK Andre, I will do my best to make sure he goes a nice, even pace’.

“I thought with two furlongs to run Andre had won the race! You don’t often see that, he’s run a huge race to be third.

“I did say to William that if he’d sat four lengths off the pacemaker he’d have won by 10 lengths but there we go.

“What happened was the Japanese jockey was with Rab (Havlin on Birr Castle) but then he kept taking back and let Rab slip the field. Past the two marker, he was still six lengths in front.

“William said when he let him (Ombudsman) go, he absolutely flew and went from second gear to fifth gear in the blink of an eye.”

Ombudsman (right) was a clear-cut winner over Delacroix (middle)
Ombudsman (right) was a clear-cut winner over Delacroix (middle) (Mike Egerton/PA)

Ombudsman had finished a neck behind Delacroix in the Eclipse last time out, but Gosden felt that race was perhaps not run to suit.

He said: “The Eclipse was a muddling race and we’ll leave it at that. Full marks to Delacroix, but in an evenly-run race we were the superior horse today.

“This is a great win but I did think for a moment Andre would be the lucky man.”

The two obvious races for him are the Irish Champion and Ascot for Champions Day

Ombudsman was claiming the second Group One victory of his eight-race career to date, with Gosden’s sights already set on more top-level success.

He added: “He had a little problem as a baby and we never raced him at two and he came along gradually. He’s getting better and better, has trained well and was unbeaten last year. His only defeat this year was in the muddling Eclipse and he’s a proper horse.

“The two obvious races for him are the Irish Champion and Ascot for Champions Day. It will be Sheikh Mohammed’s decision if he stays in training but he is a sportsman.

“William thinks he’ll stay a mile and a half but I think why change things? Were he to go for the Arc, we’d need one of the rare occasions with a fast-ground Arc – which do happen occasionally.”

Pride Of Arras returns to form with Voltigeur victory

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Pride Of Arras made a brilliant return to the scene of his finest hour to claim a Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in which dual Derby hero Lambourn misfired.

An impressive winner of the Dante on the Knavesmire earlier in the season, Ralph Beckett’s Pride Of Arras had proven no match for Aidan O’Brien’s Lambourn in both the Derby and Irish equivalent earlier in the season.

Sent off 12-1 in his first outing since being gelded, Rossa Ryan was in no rush as the 4-5 favourite Lambourn was immediately gunned to the front by Ryan Moore to keep close tabs on stablemate Thrice, who was undertaking pace-making duties.

However, unlike in his two Classic triumphs, Lambourn was unable to shrug off his rivals and with the pack swarming, it was Pride Of Arras who hit top gear up at the right time up the long home straight to return a length verdict over Paddy Twomey’s previously unbeaten Carmers.

Lambourn ended up a well-held fifth, with William Haggas’ Arabian Force another to stay on from the rear to take third ahead of Ballydoyle’s Stay True.

Beckett said of the winner: “He was back to his best, all good.

“I actually brought him here slightly underdone, having gelded him at the beginning of July, the week after the Irish Derby. It’s seven weeks on, but I’ve only really done maintenance stuff with him – I haven’t turned the screw with him – slightly because that seemed to suit him the last time we brought him here, and also because I wanted him to run well more than anything else.

“Really we came here with no expectation, but I think the track and the flat nature of York suits him really well. I wasn’t at all happy with the way he moved in the first half-mile at the Curragh, which isn’t exactly undulating anyway. He just wasn’t enjoying himself that day any more than he was at Epsom. After that it was a very easy decision to geld him.

“He’s never been difficult at home and it’s not just the gelding (that’s made the difference) as he suffers respiratory issues as well and that hasn’t helped. It certainly wasn’t helping in the spring and these things are never one specific thing, there’s always layers.”

With Pride Of Arras now not eligible to run in the St Leger or the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Beckett is ready to consider targets further afield, including a possible trip to the Breeders’ Cup.

“I think this place suits him, which sorts of gives us a steer and we’ll probably end up having to travel him, but I wouldn’t be averse to that as I think he’s a different horse now and you could see that today,” the Kimpton Downs handler added.

“I would be tempted to think about California (Breeders’ Cup) and Hong Kong for him. I think the nature of those races will suit him really well.”

Gewan secures Acomb honours for Andrew Balding

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Gewan was a game winner of the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes for Andrew Balding and PJ McDonald at York.

The grey was a 11-2 chance in the seven-furlong Group Three, and ran prominently from the off when racing in the slipstream of the leader May Angel in the early stages.

In the last two furlongs the colt began to progress, and in the final furlong he established a lead that he then fought hard to maintain as Aidan O’Brien’s Italy, the eventual runner-up, sought to gain ground before going down by a length and a half.

Charlie Appleby’s Distant Storm, the 11-10 favourite, pulled hard throughout the race and was eventually third.

Balding said: “He’s a horse we’ve always liked from the moment he came into the yard and he was very well bought by Billy Jackson-Stops for not big money really (€80,000).

“He’s a son of Night Of Thunder who has done everything right since the first day and we liked the way he won at Newbury and we were always keen to come here.

“I think PJ was quite taken by him and his attitude and maybe felt he had a little more left.

“I think he’ll stay a mile no problem next year but we’ll probably stick at seven this year.”

Paddy Power make Gewan an 8-1 shot for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October and Balding added: “It’s possible he could head to the Dewhurst next.

“There’s a lot of two-year-old races to be run between now and then, anything is possible at the moment. I don’t know if we’ve any better than him but other people probably have, so we’ll see how things play out.”

Italy could also be handed a Group One target in the future, with O’Brien satisfied with his performance.

He said: “He ran very well and he’s a lovely, big horse. Ryan (Moore) said he jumped a little bit slow and the horse that jumped in front of him took him an inch or two back further than he wanted to be.

“Ryan said he had to expose him very early, but he ran a very good race, he’s a lovely horse in the making and he will progress.

“There’s many options for him. We had the choice of running here or in the Futurity Stakes (at the Curragh) and obviously we picked to come here. From the Futurity you can go to the National Stakes, but it depends what happens with the others.”

Trefor enters Ayr Gold Cup reckoning after York success

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Charlie Hills is eyeing a possible tilt at the Ayr Gold Cup with Trefor following his narrow victory in the opening race of the Ebor Festival at York.

The four-year-old won at Doncaster and Ripon earlier this season and having been narrowly denied by Chief Mankato on his most recent appearance in a valuable event at Windsor nine days ago, he was a 7-1 shot for the curtain-raising Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap on the Knavesmire.

He was all dressed up with nowhere to go two furlongs out, but once Kieran Shoemark got him into the clear and set about chasing The Man, he always looked likely to reel him in.

Air Force One was not so lucky and had to wait longer for a gap, finishing fast for third, beaten a head and half a length.

Hills said: “I’m delighted to get his head in front, he deserved that. He was a bit unlucky not to win last week and he was well-in really.

“I liked the draw today (stall seven), I think low numbers are always quite handy earlier on in this week and he travelled away like a really nice horse.

“The Ayr Gold Cup is an obvious step from here, but the key to him is fast ground, so we just need to keep an eye on that.”

Santorini Star (100-30 favourite) returned to winning ways in the Sky Bet Stayers Handicap for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.

Wins at Brighton and Goodwood earlier in the season were followed by defeats at Pontefract and Fairyhouse, but the step up to two miles brought out plenty of improvement as she won by a length and a quarter from Artisan Dancer.

“She was on a really progressive route but just stalled for a couple of races,” said Marquand.

“Stepping her up to two miles maybe happened a bit more prematurely than we thought, but it suited.

“There are nice options over a mile and six (furlongs) for her but I don’t think you’ll see her back at a mile and a half again.”

The Richard Hughes-trained Star Of Mehmas (11-1) defied top-weight in the IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Fillies’ Handicap, narrowly denying Eternal Sunshine and Luna A Inbhir Nis in a three-way finish.

Hughes said: “I hadn’t a clue if she’d got there. Ryan (Moore) said they were going frantic up front and the pace finally collapsed.

“We don’t know what happened here last time (finished eighth), she was agitated and reared up which isn’t like her.

“She’s been carrying a 3lb penalty in Listed races and just getting beat. There wasn’t the perfect five-furlong race for her, so I said let’s take a chance in a handicap that’s worth loads of money and it’s paid off.”

The Sky Bet Nursery Handicap brought the seven-race card to a close as Hugo Palmer’s Ruby’s Angel (33-1) collared Kevin Ryan’s Mo Of Cairo in the dying strides to open her account at the fifth time of asking.

Palmer said: “I went through the card in a box beforehand and gave her no chance from that draw as the draw bias at York has got so tricky.

“I just said to Saffie (Osborne, jockey) that if she jumps, just keep trying to go left handed and she probably hit the line somewhere near stall four rather than 22, so she’s given her an absolutely beautiful ride.

“Saffie observed when I picked the saddle up that we must like this filly as she’s been favourite every time and I said we do like her. York’s Ebor meeting is not the traditional place to break your maiden at the fifth time of asking but she has done it.”

Ed Walker anticipating bold Lowther show from Royal Fixation

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Ed Walker is backing Royal Fixation to defy her relative inexperience in Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York on Thursday.

Owned by Opulence Thoroughbreds, Ed Walker’s youngster pushed Albany Stakes scorer Venetian Sun to within a neck in the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket and her team are confident they have a top-class prospect on their hands ahead of this next assignment.

“She’s done nothing but please us really and this has been the plan since Newmarket,” said Walker.

“There will be a couple in there with a bit more experience than her but that was a huge run at Newmarket on just her second start and we’re very excited about her.

“We’ve always liked her and she’s a short price in a Group Two, so she’s got to go and prove it now and there’s some very unexposed and equally very good fillies in there. So it’s far from a given, but we think she’s in good form and hopefully she can go well.”

One of those unexposed fillies Walker may have to worry about is Richard Hughes’ America Queen, who created a deep impression when romping to a 12-length Haydock success on debut.

Connections have reached for the services of Ryan Moore for the exciting €180,000 purchase who is an intriguing proposition on just her second start.

“She was very impressive at Haydock and we don’t really know what was behind her, but she was just in a different league to them that day,” said Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah.

“It’s going to be interesting and she could be absolutely anything. It can be a different thing though once stepping up to take on other quality horses and you will find out where you are.

“We’re very pleased to get Ryan Moore for a big occasion like this and we’re just keeping our fingers crossed and looking forward to it.”

Hughes and Abdullah will also be represented in the race by Mood Queen, while Charlie Johnston’s unbeaten Timeforshowcasing also sports the owner’s colours in the six-furlong event.

“Timeforshowcasing is another who is progressive and Charlie has always thought a lot of her,” continued Robinson.

“There’s even Mood Queen in there who has shown a nice level of form, but I think between America Queen and Timeforshowcasing we have a realistic chance of taking the race.

“With America Queen, I’m just hoping can prove she is something a little bit special – we’ll know exactly where we are this time next week.”

George Scott’s Princess Margaret Stakes runner-up Staya and Tim Easterby’s consistent Argentine Tango – last seen chasing home Lady Iman in the Molecomb at Goodwood – add further spice to an intriguing contest.

Brian Ellison fields Criterium du Bequet winner Wor Faayth, seven years after his The Mackem Bullet was agonisingly denied in the dying strides of this contest.

“She won very well last time and is a nice filly,” said Ellison.

“She’s been in great form since and I’m really happy with her. This has been the plan since La Teste De Buch and she’s a Listed winner.

“She’s a really fast filly and it’s great to have Tom (Marquand) on board, he’s top-class. I think she will run well and she’s done nothing wrong at home.

“Her work has been great, she’s a tough filly who eats well and she took her trip to France very well, so we’re very hopeful.”

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Dandana got the better of Karl Burke’s Pearl Fortune at Ripon recently to take her record to two from two and now both step up in grade, while similar applies to Dylan Cunha’s Windsor winner Come On Eibhlin.

Adrian Keatley’s Marygate scorer Secret Hideaway returns to the scene of her finest hour to complete the line-up.

Lady Iman leads 17-strong Nunthorpe field

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Lady Iman heads a field 17 when she bid to become the first two-year-old in 18 years to win the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.

Ger Lyon’s youngster has dazzled throughout the current campaign and was supplemented at a cost of £40,000 after advertising her claims in the Molecomb at Goodwood last time.

She is joined in a mouthwatering feature on day three of the Ebor Festival by a stellar cast of sprinting talent, with fellow Irish raiders including Adrian Murray’s Sapphire Stakes scorer Arizona Blaze and Jack Davison’s ultra-consistent stable star She’s Quality.

Australian ace Asfoora will continue her European odyssey and attempt to better last year’s fourth in this race for trainer Henry Dwyer, while Washington Heights was sixth 12 months ago and is one of two in the race for Kevin Ryan alongside Ain’t Nobody.

Ed Walker is another handler with two in the mix as he saddles both Mgheera and last year’s Lowther Stakes winner Celandine, with John and Sean Quinn putting their faith in King George Stakes winner Jm Jungle to continue his progress through the ranks at a track he knows well.

Fellow course winner Sayidah Dariyan returns to the Knavesmire looking to give Richard Hughes a first win as a trainer in a race he twice conquered as a jockey, while other notable names include Michael Bell’s two-year-old Spicy Marg and Jonathan Portman’s Rumstar, who like Lady Iman have been supplemented into the contest.

Trawlerman is the class act on the York undercard
Trawlerman is the class act on the York undercard (David Davies/PA)

In the supporting Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes, John and Thady Gosden’s emphatic Gold Cup winner Trawlerman is the standout name in a field of six that also includes stablemate and standing dish of the staying division Sweet William.

Karl Burke’s Al Qareem brings strong course form to the table, while Tom Clover’s Al Nayyir was beaten a short head in this last year and returns to correct the record after a similar narrow defeat at Sandown last time.

A field of eight will line-up for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes where Walker’s Do Or Do Not has the chance for a first victory at Group level.

More Oaks glory beckons for Minnie Hauk

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Minnie Hauk can be expected to swoop on yet more prey to claim York’s Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.

Aidan O’Brien’s daughter of Frankel has proved tough as teak this season and took her winning run to four when adding to her Oaks success at Epsom in the Irish equivalent last month.

Having worn down high-class stablemate Whirl – herself a dual Group one scorer since – late in the day at Epsom, Minnie Hauk again showed her staying prowess when doubling her Classic tally at the Curragh.

With O’Brien holding all the aces in this Group One he has won nine times, Minnie Hauk is his trump card and it is difficult to see any of her rivals having both the class and resolve to outlast this outstanding filly up the Knavesmire’s long home straight.

She can add a third Oaks of the year here and begin dreams of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe glory for her ever-dominant team.

The action begins with a red-hot renewal of the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes where the intertwining form lines of the six-furlong juvenile division will be put to the test.

Ed Walker’s Royal Fixation and Tim Easterby’s Argentine Tango both represent the high-class Venetian Sun form from Newmarket’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, with the latter – who would be a popular local winner – also chasing home Nunthorpe favourite Lady Iman at Goodwood.

However, it was hard not to be impresses with the way America Queen breezed her way to victory on debut at Haydock last month in the manner of an ultra-smart animal.

Holes can easily be picked in the form of that race, but judged on visuals, Richard Hughes’ youngster was one of the most impressive of the season to date and with Ryan Moore booked to take the ride a bold bid is predicted.

Clive Cox is the man to follow in the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs where Song Of The Clyde can follow in the footsteps of Dragon Leader and Diligently to land the huge bounty for a third year in a row.

Yet to be dipped into deep waters, the Middleham Park Racing-owned colt beat a subsequent winner when opening his account at Chester on his second start and was not asked any serious questions when chasing home Ralph Beckett’s Gimcrack hope Egoli at Newbury most recently.

The owners also run Rod Millman’s Anthelia who is sure to be shorter in the betting following her Super Sprint triumph at Newbury, but while she may have already enjoyed her moment in the sun, there is a chance Song Of The Clyde has his best days ahead of him.

Remmooz enjoyed stepping up to a mile when scoring over course and distance last month and looks good value for just a 4lb raise in the Clipper Handicap.

The only defeat of his career has come when a respectable fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and it would be no surprise to see Owen Burrows’ colt return to stakes company before the year is out.

Paddy Twomey’s Irish raider Bonus Time is another progressive performer to keep onside in the British EBF Fillies’ Handicap after scooping a valuable prize at Naas at the beginning of the month.

SELECTIONS:

CHELMSFORD: 5.30 Harswell Duke, 6.00 Isambard Kingdom, 6.30 Parole Officer, 7.00 Reliable Ricki, 7.30 Brother Dave, 8.00 Invincible Love, 8.30 Poetic Jack, 9.00 Pebble Island.

KILLARNEY: 4.32 Urgent Whisper, 5.07 Bowensonfire, 5.37 Emily Love, 6.07 What’s Up Darling, 6.37 Gaelic Des Chastys, 7.07 Pride Of Place, 7.37 Wonleg, 8.07 Max Goodwin.

LINGFIELD: 2.00 Merci Monsieur, 2.35 Mezcala, 3.10 So Sassy, 3.45 Fram Castle, 4.20 Harpsichord, 4.55 Sugar Kane.

LEOPARDSTOWN: 4.50 Josh’s Joy, 5.25 Saxon Grace, 5.55 Clever And Classy, 6.25 Defiantly, 6.55 Colpe Cross, 7.25 Take Me, 7.55 Tachos.

NEWCASTLE: 5.45 Road To Wembley, 6.15 Ribble Vibe, 6.45 Bragbor, 7.15 Streets Of Gold, 7.45 Pixie Diva, 8.15 Believe The Storm, 8.45 Arctic Voyage

NEWTON ABBOT: 2.10 Three Pikes, 2.45 Lady Henrietta, 3.20 Cave Article, 3.55 Hope Rising, 4.25 Fringill Dike, 5.00 Faded Fantasy, 5.35 Magic Seven.

YORK: 1.50 America Queen, 2.25 SONG OF THE CLYDE (NAP), 3.00 Remmooz, 3.35 Minnie Hauk, 4.10 Alice Monet, 4.45 Ballistic Missile, 5.20 Bonus Time.

DOUBLE: Song Of The Clyde and Bonus Time.

Racing Bulletin for 20/08/2025

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