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

Intervention lifts Great St Wilfrid honours at Ripon

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Intervention landed the William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon for Mick Appleby and The Horse Watchers syndicate.

The eight-year-old – having the 106th start of his career and had just one prior turf success to his name from 38 tries – burst clear under rising star apprentice jockey William Pyle two furlongs out for a clear-cut success.

The 16-1 chance finished a long way clear on his own on the far side, with Kodiac Thriller doing best of the rest a length and a quarter away on the near side. First Folio was third, with Alzahir fourth.

Appleby had entered the classy Annaf who was due to carry top-weight, but when the declarations came through on Thursday Intervention was his sole representative.

Brothers Chris and Martin Dixon formed The Horse Watchers with former Timeform colleague Matthew Taylor and the syndicate is going from strength to strength.

“It is very rare these days for us both to be racing at the same course, especially on a Saturday, but it was no big plan, the truth is we took the kids to Lightwater Valley (theme park) and have dropped in on the way home, we got here with 10 minutes to spare,” said Chris Dixon.

“To be fair Martin did say to me yesterday he thought we had a chance so we were planning a way we could get here and doing that was the best way to do it!

“It was one of those where you would have been thinking of the consolation race for him, but that isn’t there anymore it’s just a normal 0-80 handicap and he’s rated 83 so didn’t get in.

“We were looking at the entries and it looked like he’d get in so Martin said straight away ‘let’s book a top apprentice to take a few pounds off’ so we got William booked straight away and he moved a day of a ban so he could ride.”

He added: “If there was ever a grand plan for this horse it was to try to get him to win his 100th race and he was second at Brighton!”

Dancing Gemini all set to bounce back in Prix Jacques le Marois

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Dancing Gemini is continuing on the path that was laced with gold for Charyn last season when he attempts to recreate his early season heroics in the the Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois.

After laying down an early-season marker with impressive wins at Doncaster and Sandown, momentum has been checked slightly for Roger Teal’s stable star with a narrow defeat in the Lockinge followed by a disappointing showing at Royal Ascot.

However, given plenty of time to recover since the Queen Anne Stakes, Teal is confident of a revival at Deauville where he will recommence rivalries with what are becoming familiar faces.

Teal said: “He travelled over on Thursday and he had a little hack canter around the track on Friday morning. He was quite perky apparently, so all is good.

“It was just a farce of a pace at Ascot and if you take that run out of it he’s bang there, isn’t he?

“There’s a few coming in off disappointing runs, it’s not just him. Notable Speech has had a couple of disappointing runs and Docklands last time didn’t perform like he did at Ascot. It’s the nature of the beast in these big races I’m afraid – it sometimes comes down to how the dice rolls on the day.

“The Japanese horse (Ascoli Piceno) looks pretty strong, so it’s going to be a good race and we’re there to do our best and we’ll see what happens.

“We only know about our horse, we don’t know how the others are performing or training. Our horse seems to be in good form and what will be will be. Whoever wins it is going to have to put up a very good performance and hopefully it goes in our favour.”

The Group One event has been a happy hunting ground for British and Irish raiders down the years, with the last French-trained winner coming in 2017.

Another on the comeback trail is Notable Speech, with Charlie Appleby quickly abandoning the sprinting experiment that saw him contest the July Cup most recently to return to the distance over which he scooped the 2000 Guineas last season.

Speaking on the Godolphin website, Appleby said: “Notable Speech goes into this in good order and we feel that stepping back up to a straight mile is going to suit.

“He looks very competitive in this field and can hopefully get his head back in front at this level.”

Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien will rely on both one-time Derby hope and Prix Jean Prat third The Lion in Winter and Minstrel Stakes scorer Diego Velazquez in search of just his second-ever win in the race, with the latter sporting the famous silks of the Sangster family having transferred ownership mid-week.

“He’s incredibly exciting and a horse we had been keeping our eye on,” said Sam Sangster on the purchase, with sights set on Group One honours this term.

“There’s plenty of racing in him for the rest of the year starting on Sunday and I don’t think a Group One is out of his reach at all and it’s in Aidan we trust.

“He’s done enough for a place at stud already in my opinion and he has a fabulous pedigree as well, but if we can get that Group One it will boost him even more and that will be the aim for the rest of the year.”

Furthur returns to winning ways with Geoffrey Freer triumph

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Furthur put himself in the Betfred St Leger picture when making an impressive return to Newbury in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes.

A winner at the Berkshire track at the beginning of the season, Andrew Balding’s colt would go on to run with credit behind dual Derby hero Lambourn when fifth in the Chester Vase and then took the runner-up spot in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

He left a disappointing display at Newmarket’s July Festival behind here, with Oisin Murphy taking full advantage of the gap presented up the inside rail to send the 13-2 chance on to an impressive three-length win over David O’Meara’s 3-1 joint-favourite Epic Poet.

Coral cut the winner to 14-1 for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster on September 13, with Balding confirming that would be his intended next target.

He said: “That was much more like it and for whatever reason he was really disappointing in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last time.

“I think it’s because I probably ran him back too soon after Ascot, but that was pleasing to see him settle nicely and then quicken like he did.

“We’re hoping we’ll be heading towards the Leger now, that seems the logical next step and he’s proved he’s worthy of his place there. The nice thing is he seems to handle any ground and we’ll hopefully be in good shape at Doncaster.”

Lady Iman supplemented for Nunthorpe Stakes

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Lady Iman will bid to become the first two-year-old since Kingsgate Native in 2007 to win the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes after being added to the York showpiece at a cost of £40,000.

Ger Lyons stated his intention to send the high-ranking juvenile to the Knavesmire to take on her elders when announcing lightweight specialist Joe Fanning will take the ride and the supplementary entry was confirmed when the Molecomb Stakes winner appeared among the 19 names going forward to Friday’s contest.

Another two-year-old has been supplemented in the shape of Michael Bell’s Spicy Marg. Rumstar (Jonathan Portman) is another to be added. Australian ace Asfoora is one of the standout names remaining in the mix as Henry Dwyer’s popular international runner bids to better last year’s fourth in the race.

Richard Hughes won the Nunthorpe twice as a jockey and could taste success in the race again with Sayidah Dariyan who was a Group Three course winner over six furlongs last time, while John Quinn saddled home favourite Highland Princess to win this in 2022 and now alongside son Sean will attempt to repeat the dose with King George Stakes hero Jm Jungle.

Second to Jm Jungle at Goodwood was Jack Davison’s She’s Quality who has been knocking on the door all season long. Joining She’s Quality on the journey from Ireland will be Adrian Murray’s Sapphire Stakes winner Arizona Blaze.

“He’s going to York and it looks an open race,” said Murray.

“He’s got a similar profile to Power Blue actually and he always shows up on the day, he never runs a bad race.

“His form stands up well and win or lose he will be bang there, even in defeat he’s been a brilliant horse for us.”

There is a field of eight for the supporting Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes where John and Thady Gosden’s Gold Cup hero Trawlerman could face an Ascot rematch with Aidan O’Brien’s Illinois.

The Gosden team could also call on stable stalwart Sweet William, while Karl Burke’s Al Qareem has won twice at the Knavesmire this season and is another interesting name in the mix.

There are 11 remaining in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes where Charlie Appleby’s Norfolk Stakes runner-up and recent Rose Bowl Stakes winner Wise Approach sets the standard alongside Ed Walker’s consistent Do Or Do Not – last seen placing for the third time in succession at Group level in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Racing Bulletin for 16/08/2025

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Latest News and Features

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Today's Racing

Click on course names to view our course guides. Click on race times to access that racecard. Times highlighted in yellow are free races of the day.

Ripon

Good

 13:35 14:10 14:45 15:20 15:50 16:24 16:59
Curragh

Good

 13:42 14:17 14:52 15:27 16:02 16:37 17:10 17:45
Newbury

Good

 13:50 14:25 15:00 15:35 16:10 16:45 17:20
Doncaster

Good to Firm

 13:57 14:32 15:07 15:40 16:15 16:50 17:25
Newmarket

Good to Firm

 14:05 14:40 15:15 15:45 16:20 16:55
Perth

Good

 15:55 16:30 17:05 17:35 18:07 18:38 19:08
Tramore

Yielding

 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:32 19:02 19:37 20:10
Market Rasen

Good

 17:15 17:50 18:23 18:53 19:28 20:03
Bath

Firm

 17:40 18:15 18:46 19:16 19:46 20:16

Today's Feature of the Day is...

Trainer/Jockey Combo report

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Bruised foot scuppers Rosallion’s Jacques le Marois bid

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Rosallion will be rerouted to York after a bruised foot ruled him out of Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

The four-year-old was due to bid for Group One glory over a mile in France after being beaten just a nose and a neck in his last two starts at Royal Ascot and Goodwood.

Trainer Richard Hannon announced on Friday evening that his stable star will no longer make the trip though, having bruised his foot earlier in the week.

Rosallion will instead tackle the seven-furlong Sky Bet City of York Stakes next weekend, with the Knavesmire contest upgraded to Group One level this year.

In a post on X, Hannon said: “Unfortunately, we have decided to pull Rosallion out of the Prix Jaques le Marois on Sunday. He has a bruised foot that he picked up in training this week which has been treated but we aren’t completely happy and feel it only right to give him the extra days.

“This means we won’t make the trip over to France but will instead head to York. We are very happy with the way he is looking and working, and will head for the Group One City of York next weekend with the support of (owner) Sheikh Mohammed Obaid who wants the best for the horse.

“It’s disappointing for everyone involved but the horse’s welfare, as always, comes first.”

Hollywoood Treasure takes starring role at Newbury

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Kevin Philippart de Foy secured his biggest success since being installed as principle trainer for Amo Racing when Hollywood Treasure came out on top in a blockbuster finish to the Sequoia Hair & Spirit St Hugh’s Stakes at Newbury.

An impressive winner at Wolverhampton on debut for Amo’s previous Freemason Lodge incumbent Raphael Freire, the daughter of Gregorian was sent off 16-1 to double her tally in the Listed event, with fellow Amo-owned contender and Queen Mary runner-up Flowerhead the even-money favourite.

Rowan Scott was aboard the perceived Amo second string and while both runners in the silks of Kia Joorabchian’s racing organisation were involved at the finish, it was Hollywood Treasure who finished strongest to edge out Eve Johnson Houghton’s Palmeira by a neck, with Flowerhead a further head adrift in third.

Philippart de Foy was thrilled to see the filly continue her progress and said: “I’m delighted and Raphael did a brilliant job with the filly at the beginning of the season and then I’ve taken over and kept on doing the good work he started.

“She showed a lot of ability first time out and she showed the turn of foot once again there. I’m delighted for connections and obviously it’s great to win a good race like this for Amo Racing.

“It’s always easier when you have good ammunition and we inherited a great bunch of horses. This is the level we want to be targeting and the kind of races we want to be winning, so it’s a good start and hopefully we can keep building on this.”

Hollywood Treasure looks a smart prospect
Hollywood Treasure looks a smart prospect (Jonathan Brady/PA)

On future plans, Philippart de Foy added: “Hopefully she will have a bright future and we don’t have a huge amount of options between now and the end of the year.

“I want to keep her over five furlongs and she will need some decent ground. We will have to sit down and see what there is and it could all depend on ground conditions over the next couple of months.”

Adrian Keatley in confident mood ahead of Kihavah outing

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Last year’s runner-up Kihavah is “better than ever” as he aims to go one better in next week’s Sky Bet Ebor at York.

Adrian Keatley’s dual-purpose performer has been in great form recently, winning the Queen’s Cup on the Flat at Musselburgh before finishing second in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen.

Last year he beat all bar Henry de Bromhead’s Magical Zoe having had just two behind him with three furlongs to run and despite racing off 9lb higher, Keatley can see no reason why he should not run well again.

“He’s better than ever it seems. He lumped around top weight in the Summer Hurdle, 10lb more than he had the previous year and he was a little unfortunate to get beat as we probably just kicked 200 yards too soon,” said Keatley.

“I think he was giving the winner 17lb and it just told late on.

“He likes York which stands for a lot, it just depends what runs on the day but we’ll be hoping for a very good run.

“He was second last year in it, he was unfortunate not to win on his last run on the Flat as PJ (McDonald) got locked away on the winner and there was nothing he could have done.

“We’ll ride him for luck and hopefully he can win off the mark he’s on.”

Pinhole aiming to justify connections’ faith in Geoffrey Freer

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Having got his season back on track in some style at Ascot last month, Ralph Beckett’s Pinhole again dips his toe into Group-race waters in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes.

The Frankel colt looked an exciting prospect when winning at Southwell at the backend of his juvenile year, but any dreams of Epsom were put to bed after he finished a well-held fourth behind the subsequent dual Derby winner Lambourn on his return in the Chester Vase.

He disappointed as a joint-favourite for the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot on his next start, but made the most of having his sights lowered when bolting up in first-time cheek pieces on his handicap debut three weeks ago, earning him a return to Group Three level at Newbury on Saturday.

Barry Mahon, racing manager for owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: “He was obviously an easy winner the last day and the handicapper has forced our hand to head back into Group company, so we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do.

“He’s a horse we always felt was up to this sort of level, hopefully it’s not coming too soon for him.

“He’s a big horse and probably still a little on the weak side. We started out with Derby ambitions and the form of the Chester Vase has obviously worked out very well, but the Derby was coming too early in his life. Let’s hope we can get back on track at Group-race level.”

Pinhole’s five rivals include the William Haggas-trained Candleford, who was last seen finishing third behind high-class stablemate Al Aasy in the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood and Ambiente Friendly, who was one place and just under two lengths adrift of Candleford two weeks ago.

His trainer James Owen said: “He worked nicely on Tuesday morning and he’s taken a step forward from Goodwood, so I think gelding him is definitely helping.

“It’s small steps but I feel I’m getting him back into form. I think if you watch his races, even at Goodwood, in the last 15 yards he’s beginning to stay on again and I just think he needs to give himself chance to get these longer trips, then I do think he will stay well.

“He’s getting better at home and he’s improved the last twice on the track. Sean D Bowen did a great job with him the last day and rode him very well and I think that was the most settled he has been for a long time.”

The Haggas-trained More Thunder is the potential star attraction in other Group race on the card – the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes.

Tom Marquand on More Thunder after winning the bet365 Bunbury Cup at Newmarket
Tom Marquand on More Thunder after winning the bet365 Bunbury Cup at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)

The four-year-old has won three of his four starts since moving across Newmarket after Sir Michael Stoute’s retirement and he is perhaps unlucky not to be unbeaten, having just failed to reel in Get It in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He bounced back to winning ways in Newmarket’s Bunbury Cup last month and now gets the chance to showcase his talent at Group Two level.

Haggas told Sky Sports Racing “It was a bit messy at Newmarket, but he’s absolutely fine and it’s time he had a step up in grade.

“He’s a pretty smart horse, he’s done really well. He’s got about the lowest rating of any of the runners on Saturday and yet he’s favourite, I don’t quite understand that, but some people think that he has the potential to do a bit better, so we’ll see if they’re right.”

The highest-rated runner is Witness Stand, who bids for back-to-back Group Two wins for the training partnership of Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole following his surprise Lennox Stakes success.

Insole said: “We obviously have to carry a penalty now, but he’s come out of the race at Goodwood well. He did a nice breeze on Wednesday and we’re really happy with him.

“He’s already a Group Two winner now, so we just hope he turns up and puts in another brave run to do us all proud.”

Estrange camp hoping for rain ahead of Yorkshire Oaks

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Rain will have to fall at York if Estrange is to challenge Aidan O’Brien’s dominance in Thursday’s Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, with Minnie Hauk and Whirl among four contenders for the Ballydoyle handler.

Estrange is one of just two British-trained contenders alongside Ed Walker’s Qilin Queen, with the other quartet all trained by O’Brien.

Minnie Hauk appears O’Brien’s chief hope after completing the English-Irish Oaks double at Epsom and the Curragh. Whirl, a neck behind her stablemate at Epsom and a dual Group One winner since, is also in the potential line-up alongside Garden Of Eden and Bedtime Story.

Minnie Hauk (left) defeats stablemate Whirl in the Oaks at Epsom
Minnie Hauk (left) defeats stablemate Whirl in the Oaks at Epsom (David Davies/The Jockey Club)

Estrange, trained by David O’Meara for owner-breeders Cheveley Park Stud, progressed through the levels to take the Listed Gillies Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster last year before returning to action this term to win both the Lester Piggott Stakes and the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.

Her only defeat to date came on good to firm ground at Yarmouth last season and connections are hoping at least some rain falls over York as they look to chart a path to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in October.

“It depends which forecast you look at, and I am probably guilty of looking at the one I want to look at rather than the one I don’t!” said Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson on the chance of rain at York.

“But she’s very well, a bit of ease in the ground would be helpful. She’s working well but this just happens to be a year of fast ground.

“We’re working back from the autumn so we will see how we go and how we plan from here on out.

“If she can’t run then there are some entries abroad we can look at, she’s in the Fillies & Mares (on Champions Day at Ascot) and obviously the Arc later in the year.”

Royal Fixation goes to post before the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket
Royal Fixation goes to post before the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)

Day two of the Ebor Festival kicks off with the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, a Group Two event over six furlongs, for which 12 juvenile fillies have stood their ground.

Walker’s Royal Fixation, second by a neck to Venetian Sun in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, heads the market, while Ryan Moore is booked to ride Richard Hughes’ 12-length Haydock winner America Queen.

George Scott’s Princess Margaret runner-up Staya is in the mix, as are Tim Easterby’s ultra-consistent Argentine Tango and Brian Ellison’s Wor Faayth.

Royal Whip run could determine Zahraan plans

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Zahrann could set up an exciting autumn if regaining the winning thread in the Newbridge Silverware Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

Impressive when climbing the ladder earlier in the season, Johnny Murtagh’s talented colt lost little in defeat when narrowly failing to reel in Amiloc at Royal Ascot and with Group One entries having been made for later in the season, he faces another examination of his potential as he takes on star older horse Los Angeles in this red-hot Group Three event.

Murtagh said: “Everything has gone smoothly since Ascot. He ran great in the King Edward VII Stakes and he came out of it well. We gave him plenty of time to get over it and we’re looking forward now to going to the Curragh.

Zahrann (right) finished second to Amiloc at Ascot
Zahrann (right) finished second to Amiloc at Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“It’s a tough looking race but it will tell us where we’re going for the rest of the season. We hope it goes well at the weekend and we will get that out of the way first then make a plan.”

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Los Angeles heads the market for the 10-furlong contest, but he is on a retrieval mission after disappointing when a well-beaten favourite in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal meeting.

The proven quality in the line-up, last year’s Irish Derby winner is unbeaten at this venue and connections will be hoping the return to Kildare proves inspirational in this stopping point en-route to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Los Angeles (left) winning at the Curragh earlier this year
Los Angeles (left) winning at the Curragh earlier this year (Niall Carson/PA)

O’Brien also looks to hold a strong hand in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial, where Puppet Master has been tasked with enhancing the handler’s fine record in the race.

Willie Mullins will saddle the consistent Absurde in opposition, while Dallas Star will bid to continue Adrian Murray’s dream run at the Curragh after last weekend’s big-race double.

Murray said: “He will be going with a chance. He’s a good horse without being probably a top-draw horse, but a race like this should suit him.

“He got within a couple of lengths of Kyprios earlier in the season and it takes a good horse to do that and I do think he will run a big race.

“He’s probably a little bit short of being that top, top horse, but you’d like to think he can be competitive and I think this trip will be key to him and his forte down the road. I guess we’ll know more after the race on Saturday evening.”

Dallas Star has always been well-regarded
Dallas Star has always been well-regarded (Brian Lawless/PA)

Murray also has strong claims in the Listed Mitsubishi Electric Curragh Irish EBF Curragh Stakes with Ipanema Queen, who impressed over a furlong extra here on debut.

Although struggling to make an impression in what has proven a strong renewal of the Albany Stakes, the daughter of Sands Of Mali bumped into an above-average type when second to Havana Anna in the Marwell Stakes at Naas and is fancied to hit the frame in her second outing at five furlongs.

Murray added: “I expect her to run a nice race, the horses are all very well in themselves and I couldn’t be happier with how they are going.

“She’s a course winner and when you’ve won there it’s a plus. We’re happy to let her take her chance and she’s in great form.”

City Walk targeting Great St Wilfrid honours

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City Walk will try to give trainer Saeed bin Suroor a first success in the William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid at Ripon.

The £100,000 handicap has surprisingly not attracted a full field of 20 this season, with only 17 going to post.

As ever with big sprint handicaps, the draw could prove crucial and City Walk will be in stall three, which in the past would have been seen as a negative but two of the last three winners have come from a single-figure draw.

Saeed bin Suroor will saddle City Walk
Saeed bin Suroor will saddle City Walk (Joe Giddens/PA)

City Walk is relatively lightly for raced for an eight-year-old sprinter, but that is because prior to his run at Newcastle in June, he had the best part of two years off.

“He had been off a long time and he was too fresh, but he did show speed, which he always has,” said Bin Suroor.

“He worked nicely the other day and I hope he runs well. I know it’s a big field but if the track suits him, he’s in good form so I’m looking for a good result.

“He’s run at Ripon before but we are happy to forget it as he missed the break and got a bump.

“He’s a good horse, on some of his form he should have a very good chance.”

Rousing Encore is among the favourites
Rousing Encore is among the favourites (Danny Lawson/PA)

Richard Fahey’s Rock Opera and Ruth Carr’s Rousing Encore are amongst the favourites for the race, with long-standing Great St Wilfrid sponsors William Hill donating all profits from the contest to the MND Association, which will receive at least £30,000.

Both were narrowly denied by William Haggas’ progressive operator Elmonjed at York last time, with Rock Opera in third on the Knavesmire, just a short head in front of Rousing Encore in fourth.

Bryan Smart’s Secret Guest was third in the race last year and returns off just a 3lb higher mark after going close at Thirsk last month, with Jim Goldie’s Abduction also arriving in peak condition after a recent win at Chester.

“It’s been the plan for a bit. He won over seven and a bit last time out but he’s plenty of winning form at six,” said Goldie,

“The Great St Wilfrid can often be decided by the draw and we’re in the middle, you just need to get near the right horses. Who knows where you’ll need to be, look at the sprints at Goodwood, one day you wanted to be near side and the next far side. I think it’s to do with the pace.

“I’ve never really had much luck at Ripon, so it’s about time it changed.”

This will be the 31st year that William Hill have sponsored the Great St Wilfrid and their charitable link with the MND association which will be visible throughout the card.

Ben Wright, director of ESG and sustainability for William Hill, said: “We are excited to be teaming up with the MND Association this Saturday for a special raceday at Ripon.

“As one of the longest standing sponsorships in racing, Great St Wilfrid day at Ripon is always significant for William Hill, and this year holds an extra importance with all profits on the big race going to the MND Association.

“To further mark the occasion and highlight the legacy of Rob Burrow, we’ve created a bespoke saddlecloth for number seven in the field.”

Sajir team plot familiar route for Deauville winner

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Replicating his father in the Prix de la Foret and a tantalising Breeders’ Cup tilt are the likely targets for Sajir this autumn following his Prix Maurice de Gheest heroics.

Andre Fabre’s four-year-old excelled at Deauville when claiming the feature Group One sprint in the hands of Oisin Murphy, lowering the colours of both defending champion and Royal Ascot scorer Lazzat and Prix Jean Prat winner Woodshauna who filled the places.

It was a performance which delighted connections and vindicated their belief in the son of Make Believe as he flew home in blistering fashion, also providing compensation for being withdrawn before the start of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes that Lazzat subsequently won at Ascot back in June.

“He looked magnificent on Sunday and these victories don’t happen often so you try to enjoy them more knowing they are not a regular thing,” said Ted Voute, racing adviser to owner Prince Faisal.

“I rang Andre (on Monday) and the horse had just arrived back from Deauville to Chantilly and was sound. Obviously with the ground as rattling as it was, we were holding our breath a little, but he was sound as a pound.

“He beat the form horses in second and third who had both won Group Ones themselves, so it franks everything and was won in the second fastest time ever in that race and the fastest time from a colt in that race – it writes quite a nice stallion advertisement.”

Make Believe won the seven-furlong Prix de la Foret for Fabre in 2015 and Sajir will take a direct route to ParisLongchamp on Arc day in a bid to emulate that achievement.

Sajir winning at Newmarket earlier this season
Sajir winning at Newmarket earlier this season (Mike Egerton/PA)

That outing could well be followed by a trip to America for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, with the master trainer also tempted to test the colt’s stamina at Del Mar in November.

Voute added: “He’s in the Foret and Andre said directly after the race we will follow his father’s footsteps. He runs best fresh, so I could see us going straight there.

“Andre also said though that there is something about him that makes him feel the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar wouldn’t be a bad idea, so we might put him in the mix there and see how we get on.

“It’s Andre’s idea and he’s a master of these sort of things and he just felt the layout of the course might play to his strengths a little bit.

“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before we get there, but it’s not a bad target!”

Racing Bulletin for 15/08/2025

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Latest News and Features

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Today's Racing

Click on course names to view our course guides. Click on race times to access that racecard. Times highlighted in yellow are free races of the day.

Dundalk

Standard

 13:45 14:20 14:55 15:30 16:05 16:40 17:10 17:45
Epsom Downs

Good

 14:05 14:40 15:15 15:50 16:20 16:50
Yarmouth

Good to Firm

 14:15 14:50 15:25 16:00 16:35 17:05
Newbury

Good to Firm

 15:05 15:40 16:10 16:45 17:20 17:57
Tramore

Good

 17:00 17:35 18:10 18:45 19:19 19:49 20:19
Newmarket

Good to Firm

 17:15 17:52 18:25 19:00 19:30 20:00
Thirsk

Good to Firm

 17:25 18:02 18:35 19:10 19:40 20:10

Today's Feature of the Day is...

Horses for Courses report

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Prestige run a possibility for Newbury victor Touleen

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The Prestige Stakes at Goodwood is a potential next port of call for Touleen following her impressive debut at Newbury last week.

A daughter of Lope De Vega out of Group Three-winning mare Talaayeb, the Shadwell homebred was sent off favourite to make a successful start to her career for trainer Owen Burrows and obliged in some style.

Shadwell’s racing manager, Angus Gold, admitted the performance was beyond his expectations and is excited to see how she performs when upped in class.

He said: “We’ve made an entry for her in the Rockfel and the Fillies’ Mile. I spoke to Owen briefly and he said he’ll see how she is next week and he might think about putting her in the Prestige at Goodwood, or I believe there’s a fillies’ novice coming up at Newmarket possibly.

“Owen had only ever said she went all right. They took her for an away-day at Kempton and Jim (Crowley) liked the feel of her, but they didn’t press any buttons.

“I think that experience stood her in good stead, she was in the right spot in the race and I loved the way she put the race to bed and kept going all the way to the line.

“It wasn’t expected, but it was obviously very nice to see. We’ll give her two or three more runs and see how she takes it all. She’s not a big, robust filly so we’ll just feel our way, but Owen is quite keen to get on and run her in the next three weeks or so.”

Another horse held in high regard by the Shadwell team is Almeraq, who having bolted up in an Ayr handicap last month is set to have his sights raised, with Gold not ruling out the possibility of an immediate step up to Group One level in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

“He was in a Listed race in France the other day (Prix Moonlight Cloud) but we thought it was going to be too quick,” he added.

“I think there is a Listed race at Newmarket at the end of next week (Hopeful Stakes) so we could look at that, depending on the weather. Or if necessary, if things aren’t going to work and we want to take the bold route, we could go straight to Haydock for the Sprint Cup.

“We’ve missed a lot of the season with him, he’s always been a potentially nice horse and there is no point going down the handicapping route, so let’s just get on and see what the weather does and take it from there.”

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