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

Hollie Doyle shines as Witness Stand lifts Lennox Stakes

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Hollie Doyle was at her brilliant best to steer Witness Stand to HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes success and give Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole a marquee Group Two victory at Goodwood.

There was early drama as Ralph Beckett’s race regular and leading fancy Kinross was withdrawn at the start after receiving a kick, while Ed Walker’s Royal Ascot winner Noble Champion was eased down and pulled up early into the piece.

However, Doyle avoided any complications as she latched Witness Stand on to the small cluster to go forward from start, always in the slipstream of customary front-runner Quinault and defending champion Audience.

It looked momentarily like Audience would recreate last year’s heroics, but the 25-1 winner found plenty in reserve inside the final furlong to gallop home two-and-three-quarter-lengths clear of William Haggas’ Lake Forest, the only runner to emerge from the chasing pack late on.

Insole said: “As a trainer you wait your whole life for a good horse and to win the Lennox is pretty incredible.

“We bought him for a hundred grand and felt he’d gone under the radar as there were higher offers for him that came our way afterwards. I already had this race in mind for him.

“It was his Chester run (second in a Listed race) that gave us the confidence to come here, and when I saw the rain this morning and the slower ground I knew it would be to his advantage.

“He’s in the Hungerford (at Newbury), but would have to carry a penalty now. I also put him in the Foret this morning.”

For co-trainer Newland it was a red-letter day in his new venture alongside Insole training on the level alongside his Grand National heroics in the jumps sphere. He is also a part-owner of the winner.

Newland said: “It’s a great result and fair play to Jamie and all the team. It was a lovely ride from Hollie in a funny sort of race, but I’m not complaining.

“Jamie leads the Flat team day-to-day, but I am involved in the background and discussing the training and placing of horses.

“I’m also a part-owner of that horse so it’s a terrific result. He was bought to be a flag bearer due to his high rating and it was a superb bit of purchasing by Jamie and Matt Holdsworth at the sales and now we’ve had a payday to get some money back and give us a high-profile winner which is fabulous.”

He added: “It’s more than dipping our toe in and we’re more of a Flat yard now. There’s a number of reasons for that but I’m loving the new challenge of it and it’s quite a big thing to try and re-establish yourself as a Flat yard after being a jumps yard for so long.

“I’m thrilled with how it’s going and we’ve some lovely horses coming through. It’s great fun and I’ve been doing the job 20 years so it’s nice to have a new challenge.”

Zavateri defies penalty with Vintage performance

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Eve Johnson Houghton’s Zavateri gamely maintained his unbeaten record when defying a penalty in holding off Morris Dancer in the Coral Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

A surprise winner of the July Stakes at Newmarket, he was still a fairly generous 8-1 for this Group Two affair, mainly due to the fact he was carrying 3lb more than such promising types as Humidity and Dorset.

Charlie Bishop still had five in front of him with two furlongs to run, but when the gap came he shot through it and while immediately challenged by John and Thady Gosden’s Morris Dancer, he stuck his neck out and had his head in the right place on the line. The Ed Walker-trained Do Or Do Not placed yet again in third.

Zavateri was tough
Zavateri was tough (PA)

“After Newmarket I didn’t know where to go because when you have a 3lb penalty it’s damn hard,” said Johnson Houghton.

“It was either come here or wait until Doncaster, but so glad we did. He had to win his race twice after cutting through them like a knife through butter.

“I put him in the Mill Reef this morning, but that’s out of the question now as we will head for the Dewhurst with the Jean-Luc Lagardere as a back up.

“He’s never had to tough it out at home, but he did today. What a dude he is, just a lovely, lovely horse.

“Dad (Fulke Johnson Houghton) trained (2002 Dewhurst winner) Tout Seul when I was around, and he was brilliant, but this one would be better, I think. There’s nowhere to go now before the Dewhurst so we’ll have to wait for that.”

Zavateri looks the part
Zavateri looks the part (PA)

Bishop added: “It’s a massive performance with a penalty. We’re getting closer, step by step (to thinking about the 2000 Guineas), I don’t know how much more racing he’ll have this year but the Dewhurst will be where we work back from, after that then I think we can talk about the Guineas. He’s seen the seven out extremely well today, headed and rallied and was strong at the line.”

Westridge powers clear in Chesterfield Cup

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Westridge continued his progression with a wide-margin win in the Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap at Goodwood.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden and ridden by Billy Loughnane, the four-year-old has been faring well in handicaps recently and started a 6-1 chance in a field of 18.

From stall eight he hit his stride quickly and after a prominent passage through the race he took up the lead in the final furlong, then pulling clear of the chasing pack to score by an eventual three and a quarter lengths.

“He enjoyed the space around him today and Billy gave him a lovely ride. It is not easy in a big handicap field but he broke well and made use of him,” said John Gosden.

“He is owned by Glen Manchester, my wife and Nicholas Wrigley, so it’s a proper partnership.

“We did have him in the July sales but wisely we chose to take him out three days before the sale, thank God we did that.

“He’s a grand horse and he’s done well, the handicapper will get him now but to win the Chesterfield Cup is a dream come true because Glen is very much Goodwood orientated.

“It’ll have to be York now though I’m not sure which race, Mr Wrigley will demand it. Rachel is just the silent partner, she does whatever they want!”

Ruth Carr’s Brazen Bolt made the long journey from Yorkshire to Sussex worthwhile with success in the Coral Golden Rewards Shaker Handicap, where he prevailed by a nose at 28-1 under Warren Fentiman.

Peter Furr, Doncaster-based winning owner-breeder, said: “He has been an unbelievable horse. We have bred a few horses but nothing like him. He went to Bahrain and won last year and when he came back he was not very well.

“He had ulcers, a bad tummy, stress, everything. Me and my daughter got him back and had him on a nebuliser. We took him to Ruth this season and she has been fantastic.

“We didn’t expect to win at York last time and we came here today thinking it would be really firm ground and when it wasn’t we didn’t expect this again. It doesn’t happen to people like us.”

Stellar Sunrise got off the mark for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.

The Space Blues colt had been placed in both starts prior to his Goodwood run, and that experience served him well as he came to the fore at 6-1 to win by a length and a quarter from evens favourite Naval Light.

“He had the experience, and I think the draw helped as well,” said Balding.

“He was given an astute ride, as the stands rail was definitely an advantage in a big field with these younger horses.

“He’d shown a fair level of form in his previous races, but he’s getting more streetwise and he was very professional today.

“We’ll look at nurseries now and we’ll find out more next Tuesday (when he is given a rating).”

Roger Varian’s Protest built on recent Listed efforts to make a winning handicap debut in the Ridgeview Fillies’ Handicap over a mile.

The Cheveley Park Stud owned and bred chestnut struck at 11-2, steered by Silvestre de Sousa to a one-length win.

Collins confident Cobden is the right fit for Jazzy Matty

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Cian Collins believes Harry Cobden will suit dual Cheltenham Festival winner Jazzy Matty down to the ground in Wednesday’s Tote Galway Plate.

The versatile six-year-old won the Fred Winter for Gordon Elliott before changing hands for €50,000 in February 2024, winning minor races at Wexford and Sligo for new connections before landing the Grand Annual back at Cheltenham in March.

He arrives fresh having had a break since Punchestown and with regular riders Jordan Gainford and Danny Gilligan required by Elliott, Cobden steps in.

“We’ve given him a break since Punchestown, he’s in good form and we’re looking forward to running him,” said Collins.

“He’s versatile, he runs over hurdles and fences, he gets this trip (two miles and six furlongs) and it looks like he should get his favoured good ground, which is a help.

“When I knew that Danny and Jordan weren’t going to be available, his regular jockeys, I just thought Harry Cobden would suit him as he’s a good horseman with plenty of experience in those big handicaps.

“He’s a horse who thrives in big fields, they suit him. I do think he’s a better horse at Cheltenham than anywhere else, mind. Hopefully Galway is a little bit similar with it’s undulations and always on the turn with a stiff finish.

“We’re going there hopeful, he’s in good form so if he runs his race, I think he’ll be bang there.”

Gilligan rides Western Fold, with Gainford on Shecouldbeanything. Elliott’s other runners are Three Card Brag, Zanahiyr, Down Memory Lane, Chemical Energy and Duffle Coat.

Joseph O’Brien’s Nurburgring won the Galway Hurdle 12 months ago and will aim to emulate Dermot Weld’s Ansar by winning both feature races, while Noel Meade’s Jesse Evans, twice runner-up in the Hurdle, aims to go one better in the Plate.

Ryan team expect Goodwood to suit Molecomb runner Ameeq

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Ameeq’s natural speed should be a huge asset to him at Goodwood when he takes his chance in the HKJC World Pool Molecomb Stakes, according to assistant trainer Adam Ryan.

The Mehmas colt ran a stormer in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot to come home fourth as a 100-1 shot and should find conditions on the Sussex Downs more to his liking.

Previous to that, he broke his maiden at Nottingham in fine style when beating Chairmanfourtimes, who has since franked that form with a victory of his own at Pontefract.

Ryan, who is assistant to his father, Kevin, said: “It was a fantastic race at Ascot.

“Probably a little bit unlucky with being drawn slightly on the wrong side. Obviously the winner (Charles Darwin) was very good.

“He did himself very proud there. He’s got a lot of natural speed so Goodwood should suit him.

“We don’t run horses at Ascot thinking they haven’t got a chance. The horse doesn’t know his odds and we thought he’d do himself proud and he did just that.”

Ryan will be double-handed with Dickensian trying his luck at Group level for the first time.

The son of Pinatubo found only Havana Hurricane too good in the Windsor Castle at the Royal meeting and heading to Goodwood was always the plan.

Ryan added: “He’s come out of Ascot well. He was a good second there, just getting caught late on, so the Molecomb was tagged up straight away to head to and he goes down there with a big chance.”

Charlie Appleby’s Military Code won his first two starts before disappointing in the Coventry Stakes. He bounced back to form at Sandown recently when beaten just a head by Staya.

“Military Code put up a good performance at Sandown, with the winner going on to run well at Ascot over the weekend. We highlighted this race straight after his last run and he goes there in good order,” Appleby told www.godolphin.com.

Ger Lyons sends Group Three scorer Lady Iman from Ireland after she lost her unbeaten record last time out in the Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh when racing too keenly.

Tim Easterby is represented by three-time winner Argentine Tango, who has some fine form behind Karl Burke’s star filly Venetian Sun.

“The ground is good which suits her, but she’s drawn in stall one which is not ideal, but what can you do. She should run well,” said Easterby.

“She’s been training very well into the race and we were very happy with her Newmarket performance behind Venetian Sun. She’s got seven others to beat though, but she’s going into it as well as she could be.”

David O’Meara runs Rogue Supremacy with Andrew Balding’s Sands Of Spain and David Simcock’s Rydale Frosty completing the line-up.

Racing Bulletin for 29/07/2025

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Lord Allen to start work at the BHA on September 1

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The British Horseracing Authority has announced Lord Allen will start work in his post as chair of racing’s regulators from September 1.

The Labour peer was due to take up the role on June 2, but his tenure was delayed as the BHA said he wished to “continue meeting stakeholders to better inform his vision for the sport”.

The BHA board currently has an independent chair, four independent directors and four member-nominated directors – two from the racecourses and two nominated by the sport’s participants – but Allen wants to change that arrangement.

Following a meeting in London, where the BHA board met to discuss Allen’s response to the submissions of stakeholders regarding proposed governance changes, it was agreed that work should now start towards the establishment of a single independent board of directors, which will oversee a single BHA executive led by a CEO.

Lord Allen said: “I am delighted we have agreed to a process towards a new independent BHA board, and I look forward to formally starting in September.

“Horse racing has a strong future. There is work to do, but I am in no doubt as to the passion and commitment of the many thousands of people who make up our industry.”

‘It was meant to be’ – Filey Bay and Alan O’Sullivan star at Galway

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Filey Bay justified market support in recording an emotional victory in the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap at Galway.

The feature event on the first evening of the week-long festival at Ballybrit is restricted to amateur riders and it was Alan O’Sullivan – brother of the late Michael O’Sullivan, who tragically died in February following injuries suffered in a fall at Thurles – who shone in the saddle.

O’Sullivan had to weave a path to get a run on the JP McManus-owned gelding and when he did he fairly shot clear aboard Emmet Mullins’ 7-1 chance, with the winning jockey looking to the skies as he passed the line four and three-quarter lengths ahead of Mon Coeur.

“It’s unbelievable, my goal at the start of the year was to be good enough that someone might want me for this. He was looking down on me, I think,” said O’Sullivan.

“When I wanted the gaps, they came for me, I got a dream run. I probably went the brave man’s route, but I thought it’s what Mikey would have done. I had loads of horse, if I got any gap at all I had the horse to take it.

“I got a dream run and he galloped all the way to the line.”

Alan O’Sullivan celebrates with JP McManus (left) and trainer Emmet Mullins
Alan O’Sullivan celebrates with JP McManus (left) and trainer Emmet Mullins (Niall Carson/PA)

Mullins said: “It was meant to be and I’m a bit lost for words. It’s just magic.

“It was Michael’s saddle that Alan was using today. Michael rode a few times for me here and I think we hit the crossbar twice, so Alan steadied the ship.

“It’s been a long enough road with the horse. We had him last season and I sent him home twice as I just wasn’t happy. Thankfully with JP the patience has paid off.

“Alan was keen to ride him, and I was keen to claim off him as well. For 7lb claimers you don’t need to look any further than Alan.”

Davy Crockett collects on hurdling bow at Galway

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Davy Crockett lived up to his regal breeding with a comprehensive victory in the Galway Bay Hotel & The Galmont Hotel Novice Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old is a son of dual Derby hero Camelot out of Champion Hurdle-winning mare Annie Power, making him a half-brother to dual Grade One victor Mystical Power, who landed this Galway Festival curtain-raiser two years ago.

Easy winner of a Punchestown bumper on his debut in early June, the 1-2 favourite to make a successful transition to the jumping game raised brief concerns for his supporters two out, but knuckled down well for Mark Walsh in the straight to beat Mick Collins by two and a half lengths.

Mullins said: “I was very happy with how efficient his jumping was except, for the mistake at the second-last. For a horse having his first run over hurdles and just the second run of his career, I was very pleased with him.

“We’ll just keep going down the novice hurdle route and hopefully he might make into a Royal Bond horse. He could go to Listowel before then.”

Mullins also paid tribute to training great Edward O’Grady, who died on Sunday at the age of 75.

He added: “Edward was someone that back in the day we looked up to. He was the foremost trainer going to Cheltenham – when no one (from Ireland) was having runners or winners in Cheltenham, he was having one or two of them every year.

“People forget how difficult it was for Irish trainers to bring horses across and win and Edward had fantastic horses. He had a great Galway connection of course with Golden Cygnet, owned by Ray Rooney who was chairman here in Galway.

“He’ll be sorely missed in Irish racing.”

Davy Crockett is owned by JP McManus, who also paid tribute to O’Grady, with whom he had a long association.

McManus said: “No doubt he was an amazing trainer. I went to him in ’78.

“I remember Jack Of Trumps won in Punchestown as a five-year-old carrying 12st in the Jameson Gold Cup which was a handicap then.

“We went on to win the Galway Plate that year in ’78 (with Shining Flame).

“We had many great days with the likes of Bit Of A Skite, Mucklemeg and Time For A Run.

“Edward was always very good to his staff and very kind to everybody.

“When Edward fancied a horse you didn’t need to have money, all you needed to have was credit because they nearly always delivered. His record was second to none at that time.

“He was a great judge of a horse and he will be missed.”

Elsewhere, Constitution River confirmed the promise of his debut run to land the Eventus Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden with real authority.

Contrary To Law attempted to keep tabs on Aidan O’Brien’s runner up front, but he was shrugged off with some ease, as were the rest, as the imposing Wootton Bassett colt powered to a three-and-three-quarter-length triumph under Wayne Lordan, as odds of 1-5 suggested he would.

A €400,000 purchase as a yearling, the winner – who is out of a sister to the top-class racemare Wonderful Tonight – just missed out to the Charlie Appleby-trained Distant Storm at the Newmarket July meeting, when the pair were nicely clear of the third.

O’Brien’s representative Chris Armstrong said: “He had a very good run in a nice maiden in Newmarket and with normal improvement coming here you’d think he’d put up a good display.

“He was very green and Wayne said he was looking at the camera on his inside, but he went to the line with plenty still left in him. The experience around here will do him the world of good.

“He’s a colt with a touch of class and is one to look forward to going into the second half of the season. I suppose he puts himself into the Futurity mix with the rest of them and the lads will divide them up and see where they go.”

Illinois expected to thrive over Goodwood Cup trip

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Illinois and Scandinavia give Aidan O’Brien a strong hand in his bid for a fifth victory in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on Tuesday.

The Ballydoyle handler saddled the brilliant Yeats to land the Group One contest in both 2006 and 2008, a feat repeated by his latest superstar stayer Kyprios, who struck gold in 2022 before regaining his crown 12 months ago.

Following the latter’s retirement, Illinois was drafted into the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and performed admirably to finish best of the rest behind the front-running Trawlerman – and with the latter not in attendance, the four-year-old is favourite to go one better on the Sussex Downs.

O’Brien said: “He ran well in the Gold Cup and we’re looking forward to this, obviously it’s a shorter trip than Ascot.

“We thought this would be a nice third race back for him this year and we’ve been very happy with him since Ascot.”

Connections have a major second string to their bow in the form of Scandinavia, a dominant winner of the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket three weeks ago and as the sole three-year-old in the field, he is in receipt of a stone in weight from Illinois and the rest of his rivals.

“He was good in Newmarket and he seems in good form. Obviously he’s only a baby, but he liked the extra distance in Newmarket the last day and seems to have come out of the race well,” O’Brien added.

Sweet William won the Summer Handicap in 2023
Sweet William won the Summer Handicap at Goodwood in 2023 (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Despite deciding against running Trawlerman, John and Thady Gosden are well represented, with Gold Cup fourth Sweet William joined by French Master and Military Academy.

French Master claimed his fourth win from six career starts in the Copper Horse Stakes at the Royal meeting and now tests the water over two miles on a track where he has been successful before.

John Gosden said: “Sweet William has been in very good form. He broke well in the Gold Cup, it was a tough race and in the end the two and a half (miles) was a little too far for him – he’s a two-mile to two-and-a-quarter-mile horse, but he ran a brave race.

“He’s in very good form and he knows Goodwood well, so back we go again.”

French Master will dip his toe in Group company for the first time
French Master will dip his toe in Group company for the first time (John Walton/PA)

Of French Master, the trainer added: “I think he’s a horse who will rise to the occasion. He won in good style (at Royal Ascot), but he’s going from a handicap to a completely open Group One.

“We’re hopeful he’ll run a good race and we’re very much looking forward to running him and seeing the jump in class. If he doesn’t handle it, we can regroup.”

Saeed bin Suroor
Saeed bin Suroor (John Walton/PA)

Another who appears better suited to the drop in trip will be Saeed bin Suroor’s Dubai Future, who split Illinois and Sweet William when third in the Gold Cup.

Bin Suroor said: “Dubai Future worked well on Thursday and heads to Goodwood in good order.

“He ran a good race in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but two miles suits him better, as he showed in the Dubai Gold Cup.

“He has done very well this year and I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on.”

Kinross primed for another Lennox tussle at Goodwood

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It is hard to imagine the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes without Kinross and Ralph Beckett’s evergreen stalwart is back in search of a third victory at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

The popular eight-year-old has been a standing dish in this contest on the Sussex Downs, taking home the first prize in 2021 and 2023.

After showing no signs of decline when reappearing with a narrow defeat in Haydock’s John of Gaunt Stakes, he now makes his fifth appearance in Tuesday’s Group Two event, looking to better last year’s third.

“He’s been great since Haydock,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for owner Marc Chan.

“I would say it’s as competitive as any other Lennox he has run in, that’s for sure. It’s a very open race, but we go there in good shape.

“Every race is a bonus for him at this stage of his career, so fingers crossed he runs well.”

Andrew Balding struck with Sandrine in 2022 and attempts to repeat the dose with Jonquil, who returns to the distance over which he landed the Greenham Stakes after failing to figure down at six furlongs in the Commonwealth Cup.

Also bidding to bounce back to his best is John and Thady Gosden’s Audience, who took home the spoils impressively 12 months ago but has struggled to trouble the judge since.

Gosden said: “He hasn’t quite repeated last year’s run yet. We sent him down to Dubai, which might not have been the smartest move in the world, running him over six furlongs.

“He’s well in himself and happy. He enjoys the track and I think he’ll run a big race again.”

It was Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony who denied the aforementioned Kinross earlier in the season. He has been freshened up since that victory in Lancashire and his handler said: “Ten Bob Tony loves a bit of ease in the ground and goes well fresh.

“It was a huge performance to come back and beat Kinross at Haydock and he’s obviously a very talented horse.

“He’s a real yard favourite, he’s completely chilled, a real kind, straightforward horse to deal with.”

Walker in fact holds a strong hand in the seven-furlong event and will also saddle his Jersey Stakes scorer Noble Champion, who represents the same owners and will be ridden, like at Royal Ascot, by Kieran Shoemark.

“Ascot wasn’t a surprise at all, as he’s always been an exceptionally good work horse,” continued Walker.

“He’s exuberant and playful, and the set up was ideal, although I do worry about the nature of Goodwood compared to Ascot as it’s a completely different track.

“We’ve always had huge belief in this horse. On his day when everything’s right, he’s very, very good.

“It’s quite hard to get everything right with him, but I think when he gets it right, he’s an exceptional horse and he has been flying since Ascot.”

Humidity coming to the boil for hot-looking Vintage Stakes

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Royal Ascot scorer Humidity will attempt to turn up the heat on his rivals when he puts both his unbeaten record and growing reputation on the line in the Coral Vintage Stakes at Goodwood on Tuesday.

Andrew Balding’s son of Ulysses excelled from the front when winning the Chesham Stakes and although the form of that race has taken the odd knock since, connections are hopeful they have identified the perfect Group Two spot for the exciting youngster to cement his position near the top of the juvenile ranks.

“I loved the way he did it at Ascot and he was just lolloping along and James (Doyle) felt if someone had come to him he would have picked up and gone again,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“The form has taken a few whacks which would make you nervous, but he did it in great style at Ascot and it makes you excited to seeing him go again.

“He’s drawn 10 which might be a bit wider than ideal, but hopefully he can get out and get striding.

“I’m sure we’ll try to go forward with him, but it’s not like he has to make the running and he’s a really relaxed horse who has a very big stride and I think he will be fine.”

Also arriving with a 100 per cent record from two starts is Eve Johnson Houghton’s Zavateri, who renews July Stakes rivalry with Ed Walker’s Do Or Do Not having fought out the finish at Newmarket last month.

Both colts are stepping up in trip here, something Johnson Houghton believes will bring improvement from Zavateri.

Zavateri in the parade ring after winning the July Stakes
Zavateri in the parade ring after winning the July Stakes (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club)

“He’s been in very good form since Newmarket and won the July Stakes impressively,” said Johnson Houghton.

“I know he’s got a 3lb penalty now, but we think that won’t be a problem to him and we’ve always thought he wanted further so this was the obvious next step for him.”

Aidan O’Brien has won this three times in the past, with Highland Reel his most notable graduate, and this time he relies on Dorset, who has caught the eye both in defeat on debut and when returned to the Curragh to open his account next time.

O’Brien said: “We think he’s come forward from the last day and it will be interesting to see.”

Dorset is joined from Ireland in the line-up by Joseph O’Brien’s Coventry Stakes fourth Andab, who has not only had the misfortune of bumping into an on-song Gstaad but also Albert Einstein since a clear-cut winner on debut.

Dorset in winning action at the Curragh
Dorset in winning action at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)

David Menuisier’s Goodwood Galaxy, Richard Hannon’s Gharma Sutra and Hugo Palmer’s Laureate Crown have all raced once, won once and step up in grade, with the latter given the chance to emulate subsequent Classic hero Galileo Gold who won this for Palmer 10 year’s ago.

Charlie Johnston’s Vincenzo Peruggia showed marked improvement when off the mark at the second time of asking, while John and Thady Gosden’s Haydock winner Morris Dancer.

Calandagan not certain to take Juddmonte International chance

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King George hero Calandagan appears far from certain to line up in the Juddmonte International at York next month, with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard suggesting he could keep his powder dry for major targets on foreign soil later in the year.

Fresh from securing a belated first Group One victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the four-year-old comprehensively turned the tables on his Coronation Cup conqueror Jan Brueghel to provide his trainer with back-to-back wins in Saturday’s Ascot feature following Goliath’s triumph 12 months ago.

Calandagan found only City Of Troy too strong in the Juddmonte International last summer – but while Graffard is not ruling out a return to the Knavesmire, he feels his stable star will need a break at some stage if he is to head abroad in the latter part of 2025.

“He came back yesterday (Sunday) lunchtime and ate everything. He lost 13 kilos, which is normal, and he was at the track this morning and seems fine,” the trainer told Sky Sports Racing.

“It (Juddmonte International) is in the back of my head and he is entered. I think that would be great for the sport if he can go there, (but) he showed that a mile and a half on good ground is what he really likes and where he’s very efficient.

“I have to discuss it with the Princess (Zahra, who leads the management team of the Aga Khan Studs) and I haven’t been in touch with her since (Saturday). He has big targets in Japan, Hong Kong, the Breeders’ Cup and Dubai, so I can’t keep him going non-stop and will probably have to stop at one stage.

“I have to discuss it with the Princess, but at the moment I am probably going to go for a break with him.”

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Ascot
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Graffard has a second Aga Khan-owned Juddmonte International entry in the form of Daryz, who was last seen stretching his unbeaten record to four in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam.

When asked whether he was a possible contender for the York feature, Graffard added: “He is, again that would be a discussion I need to have with the Princess.

“He’s a very nice prospect, Daryz, I really like the horse, but is he ready to go into a race like the Juddmonte International against these very strong horses? It’s a big question mark.

“If he doesn’t go to York, he can go the classic French way of the Prix Niel and the Arc.”

Graffard also confirmed the Prix de la Foret as a likely target for French Guineas heroine and Coronation Stakes runner-up Zarigana, while Prix Jean Prat victor Woodshauna is being aimed at the Prix Maurice de Gheest ahead of a possible trip to Haydock for the Sprint Cup in September.

‘Way ahead of his time’ – tributes paid to Edward O’Grady

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Former jockey Norman Williamson led the tributes to Edward O’Grady, who died on Sunday at the age of 75, hailing him “a remarkable trainer and a remarkable man”.

Williamson rode a whole host of big-race winners for O’Grady, including his last Cheltenham Festival success in the saddle aboard Back In Front in the 2003 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

He also enjoyed notable success aboard the likes of Ned Kelly, winner of the 2002 Irish Champion Hurdle, and Nick Dundee, both of whom were owned by John Magnier.

Edward O'Grady speaks to the press at Leopardstown
Edward O’Grady speaks to the press at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Williamson said: “He was a remarkable trainer and a remarkable man and I think way ahead of his time, to be honest.

“What he did as a young man, I think he took over from his father in his early 20s, was amazing.

“Once you were on his team you knew you were going to be riding some good horses and we had a lot of success together.”

O’Grady saddled 18 Cheltenham Festival winners, putting him 17th on the all-time list.

“He never took a horse to Cheltenham with no chance, they all had reason to be there and he knew when he had one,” Williamson added.

“I actually rode my last Cheltenham winner for him on Back In Front. He was a short-priced favourite (for the Supreme) on the day, but it was like he was running him in a maiden hurdle. Edward knew what he had and he knew he was good enough.

“Ned Kelly won the Irish Champion Hurdle for us and Nick Dundee was a great horse, but we unfortunately didn’t get to see his full potential. He fell in the SunAlliance Chase in Cheltenham when he was cantering, he was the banker that year.

“We had some great times together, he was a great pal and he’ll be sadly missed.”

Sky’s the Limit and Barry Geraghty clear the final flight in the Coral Cup
Sky’s the Limit and Barry Geraghty clear the final flight in the Coral Cup (David Jones/PA)

Another jockey who teamed up with O’Grady for Cheltenham Festival success was Barry Geraghty, with Sky’s The Limit dominating his rivals in the 2006 Coral Cup.

Geraghty said: “It’s really sad news and a shock.

“Edward was a brilliant man and you would meet him regularly racing. He was always good company and he was a brilliant trainer who had great success. How he produced his horses… they were always so fit and so well and so well schooled.

“But above everything else he was a brilliant family man, a great father who loved his family and I’m sure everyone is devastated.

“Growing up and watching on, Edward O’Grady – he was the man at Cheltenham. I was fortunate to win on Sky’s The Limit for him and I rode Back In Front to win the Morgiana Hurdle in Punchestown, we had lots of really good days.”

Mouse Morris rode Edward O'Grady's first Cheltenham Festival winner
Mouse Morris rode Edward O’Grady’s first Cheltenham Festival winner (PA)

O’Grady’s first Festival winner was Mr Midland, who landed the National Hunt Chase in 1974 in the hands of future Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Mouse Morris.

“I was with Edward for 17 years, riding for him as an amateur and when I turned professional,” said Morris.

“He was a very good trainer and was having winners in Cheltenham at a time when the Irish had very few winners there.

“Golden Cygnet was probably the best horse he trained and I remember winning on a horse called I’m Happy. He won a bumper at Naas and was sold to England. I think he was the first horse to beat Bula, that’s going back a long time!”

Family announces death of Irish training great Edward O’Grady

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Edward O’Grady, one of the greats of Irish National Hunt racing, died on Sunday evening at the age of 75, his family has announced.

O’Grady trained a whole host of top-class horses over the course of his long and illustrious career and for a long time was the leading Irish trainer at the Cheltenham Festival where he saddled 18 winners, the first being Mr Midland in the 1974 National Hunt Chase.

A statement released by his family through Horse Racing Ireland read: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Edward O’Grady, who passed away peacefully yesterday evening at St James’s Hospital (in Dublin), surrounded by his family.

“Edward was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also one of the most respected and successful racehorse trainers of his generation.

“Over the course of an extraordinary career that spanned more than five decades, Edward trained just shy of 1,700 winners under rules. His name became synonymous with Irish National Hunt racing, and he was a formidable force at Cheltenham and across the racing world.

“Beyond the winners and the headlines, Edward was a man of deep intelligence, sharp wit, and remarkable warmth. He had friends on every continent, a story for every occasion, and a lifelong passion for the sport, the hunting field and everything equestrian.

“Funeral details will be announced in due course.”

Edward O’Grady gives interviews after Cash and Go won at Leopardstown
Edward O’Grady gives interviews after Cash and Go won at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Perhaps the most talented horse to pass through O’Grady’s hands was Golden Cygnet, a brilliant winner of the 1978 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but fatally injured in the Scottish Champion Hurdle the following month.

More recent Festival winners for O’Grady include Pizarro, who landed the 2002 Champion Bumper in the hands of top Flat jockey Jamie Spencer, and the 2003 Supreme scorer Back In Front.

Away from Cheltenham, O’Grady saddled Sound Man to win successive runnings of the Tingle Creek at Sandown in 1995 and 1996, while his final Grade One winner was Cash And Go in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival in 2011.

Other top-class horses he trained include 2002 Irish Champion Hurdle winner Ned Kelly and his half-brother Nick Dundee, who both carried the colours of Coolmore supremo John Magnier.

O’Grady trained for more than 50 years from his base in County Tipperary, taking over at Killeens after the death of his father, Willie – a former dual Irish champion jockey and later trainer – in January 1972.

His final winner came via Our Soldier in a Bellewstown handicap hurdle at the start of July, while his last runner, Sovereign Banter, finished unplaced in a Cork sprint on Friday night.

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