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

Rage Of Bamby is 33-1 winner of Hackwood Stakes

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Rage Of Bamby produced a 33-1 shock in the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.

The winner of a Listed affair at Newmarket in October, Eve Johnson Houghton’s charge was well adrift of her best in her first two starts of this season, but was back to something like when not beaten far when sixth in a Group Three at York last weekend.

Despite that she looked to have it to do in a strong renewal at the same level, but was in the firing line from the off as she raced slightly away from the others on the near side of the pack, and while Regional and the gambled-on King’s Gamble looked like they would battle it out, Charlie Bishop had lots of horse underneath him and swept past to score by a length and three-quarters over King’s Gamble.

Johnson Houghton said: “We always had faith she would win a Group race, but that faith has been tested somewhat this year.

“She ran really well at York last time when possibly I had left her a bit short. I know it was a bit quick to run her back and it looked a Group One in all but name – I wasn’t expecting her to win, (but) I did think she would run a big race. On her day she is really good.”

For the winning syndicate Hot To Trot Racing it was a 100th winner since their formation, with members now able to dream of bigger days later in the season before the five-year-old bows out at the conclusion of the campaign.

Racing manager Sam Hoskins added: “We’ve been going since 2012 and it’s our 100th winner so to do it in a Group Three is really, really special. We have 80 members in the syndicate and it is just brilliant.

“Eve has always thought so much of her and it was quite a big decision for us to enter her in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“But when she finished out the back of the television at York in the (1895) Duke of York (Stakes) it was really disappointing and she ran the same at Haydock the next time and she was almost borderline retirement. Because we lease the filly, it was a big decision for the breeder to keep her in training this year and we were feeling rather low.

“She has nothing to lose now as she will go off to stud at the end of the year, so she could maybe head to Haydock for the Sprint Cup or something, we’ve got to have a go.

“We’ll enjoy today first and we’re over the moon, it shows you have to always have a go, but I don’t think we saw this coming.”

Cavern Club makes all the noise in Summer Hurdle

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Cavern Club rolled in with a late run to land the Unibet Same Race Multi Summer Handicap Hurdle for James Owen and Gavin Sheehan.

The chestnut was last seen winning at Chester on the Flat in June, but has plenty of hurdling experience on his CV and was a good runner-up in a Cheltenham novice in November.

He started at 8-1 for his switch of codes at Market Rasen, and after a good round of jumping he reeled in Kihavah to prevail by a length and a quarter, as his stablemate Nibras Gold finished third.

“He won his last start on the Flat and that is something I quite like to do,” said Owen.

“I always thought he was well handicapped, he’s just getting it all together.

“He’s been second at Cheltenham and he’s been running in some decent handicaps.

“On the Flat he wants a fast pace to run at, so we knew the make-up of the race would suit him. He travelled well and Gavin gave him a lovely ride. That was his best jumping performance, he ran very well at Cheltenham, but probably just hit the front a bit too soon.

“He’s got a lot of wins in him, this horse, we’ll have a little break now and then he’ll go back to Chester.

“He likes Chester and he’s got owners up there, then we’ll probably have a go at one of the early Cheltenham meetings.”

Owen had earlier struck with Laravie, who made it four wins on the bounce when taking the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At Unibet Novices’ Hurdle under Sean Bowen.

The six-year-old arrived in Lincolnshire having taken her three prior starts by good margins, and duly added a fourth successive victory as the 4-9 favourite.

“That was good, she’s a smart mare and she’s obviously come here for a four-timer,” said Owen.

“The visor has made a real difference to her, we’ll try to get some black type with her now in Ireland.

“She’s only small but she’s done very well to keep winning under a penalty.”

And Owen claimed a third win on the Lincolnshire track’s flagship day, with Prince Quattro reeling in the font-running Gavin to claim the Unibet More Extra Places Everyday Handicap Hurdle as the 3-1 favourite under 5lb claimer Alex Chadwick.

Broughshane made a winning stable debut for Mickey Bowen in the Unibet Moneyback As Cash Races Handicap Hurdle in the hands of the trainer’s brother, James.

Previously trained by Jonjo and A J O’Neill, the seven-year-old struck at odds of 15-8 when holding off a challenge from Adrian Keatley’s Maghlaak.

“He’s a chaser really, we just thought we’d give him a go here to see where we are with him,” said the winning trainer.

“His work is very good at home and we did think he’d have a very good chance.

“We’ll see what we do next, we’ll just enjoy today but eventually he will go back chasing.”

Bowen then teamed up with his other brother, Sean, as both took second victories on the card via Lermoos Legend, who landed the Try Unibet’s Smartview Racecards Handicap Chase at 4-1.

True Love powers home for Railway Stakes demolition

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Royal Ascot heroine True Love showed her male counterparts the way home with a scintillating display in the GAIN Railway Stakes at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien had saddled 14 previous winners of the Group Two contest, with Rock Of Gibraltar (2001), George Washington (2005) and last year’s victor Henri Matisse (2024) among them, and it was significant his chief hope this time around was the sole filly in a field of four.

Having filled the runner-up spot on her first two starts, True Love (1-2 favourite) was an impressive winner of the Queen Mary Stakes and followed up in fine style, travelling strongly under Ryan Moore before quickening five lengths clear of stable Puerto Rico with the minimum of fuss.

O’Brien said: “Obviously she’s fast so we weren’t sure she’d get six (furlongs). I suppose we were finding out a little bit about her really.

“She was a Queen Mary winner so it was very hard for Ryan not to ride her. We couldn’t be happier with her really.

“Obviously the Phoenix Stakes would be there for her as well as the Prix Morny and the Cheveley Park. It was a Group Two today and she’d be ready for one of those Group Ones now.”

Coolmore supremo John Magnier was making a rare appearance on track and said: “She’s a good individual and she’s very well bred, it’s the Galileo family.

True Love after winning the Railway Stakes at the Curragh
True Love after winning the Railway Stakes at the Curragh (Gary Carson/PA)

“Somebody told me that this is the first time in 30 years that a filly has won this race.

“There is a real pedigree there and a pedigree like that is like a road map, anything can happen.”

When asked whether he felt True Love could be a contender for next year’s 1000 Guineas, for which she was cut to 16-1 from 25-1 by Paddy Power, Magnier added: “Fingers crossed. It’s no mean feat to win the Queen Mary, either.

“The old breeders used to really think a lot of that race, it started a lot of families.”

Royal Dubai relishes extra distance on first start for Owen Burrows

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A hunch from Owen Burrows to explore options at 10 furlongs paid dividends, as new recruit Royal Dubai thrived over the extra yardage in the BetVictor Steventon Stakes at Newbury.

Previously trained by Marco Botti, the five-year-old has been a consistent operator in good company at distances around a mile, but after a switch to Lambourn to join Burrows, he tried a mile and a quarter for the first time since his three-year-old days.

The 10-1 outsider of five in the hands of Callum Rodriguez, he relished conditions to see off Brian Meehan’s 5-2 chance Rashabar for Listed honours, teeing up further action at this trip.

Burrows said: “I’m very fortunate to get him, he’s been with us a month and came in great shape from Marco’s.

“The owner sportingly left it to me and I just felt at a mile he was looking exposed and with his pedigree it might be worth trying him over a little bit further again.

“He had a fair bit to find at the ratings and we were hoping for a drop more rain, but it was really pleasing and I’m still learning about him to be honest.

“He’s a Listed winner now and we’ll have to look at the programme book, but there’s the Rose of Lancaster (at Haydock) on August 9 which we could have a look at and this is just a great start.”

Ralph Beckett’s 6-4 favourite Egoli could have booked a return to York or a trip to the Qatar Goodwood Festival after confirming the promise of his previous Knavesmire victory in the Run For Your Money At BetVictor EBF Novice Stakes.

Beckett said: “I like him, he’s a nice horse. He’s in the Gimcrack Stakes at York for a reason and I would like to go back there. When he won there last time he was impressive.

“He might have an entry for the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood as well, although I’m not sure that would be his track. He’s quite a heavy shouldered horse and I’m not sure it will suit him and it might want a bit of juice in the ground there for him to go there.

“We’ve all had No Nay Nevers which are fidgety, but he’s not, he just eats and sleeps and is a lovely sort of horse.

“He was very professional today and he goes well. It takes a good horse to win a Newbury novice under a penalty. Hopefully there is more to come and he’s one to look forward to, I think. There’s a bit of size and scope to him, so he shouldn’t be just a two-year-old either.”

Sir Mark Prescott’s Consent (11-2) defied a near 300-day absence to land the Darley EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes in the hands of Luke Morris.

Prescott said of the Denford Stud-owned winner: “She’s always been rather flighty, she went back to Denford in the winter and they’ve done a great job. She’s been slow to come in her coat, she’s just come right the last month.

“She’s got ability and a proper pedigree. She’s in all those races, which when you make the entries you think you might look mad in a few weeks, but she’s in them all. She’s an interesting animal.”

O’Brien: Lake Victoria future not certain

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Aidan O’Brien has revealed his Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Lake Victoria may not run again.

The Frankel filly enjoyed a faultless juvenile campaign, winning each of her five starts including Group One strikes in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, the Cheveley Park and at the Breeders’ Cup.

Following an interrupted preparation she could finish only sixth on her return to action in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, and while she bounced back to her best with a brilliant display in the Irish equivalent, she was subsequently ruled out of Royal Ascot and has not yet returned to work.

O’Brien – who is weighing up whether to run Jan Brueghel and/or dual Derby winner Lambourn in the King George at Ascot next weekend – said of Lake Victoria in an interview with ITV Racing: “She is not back in exercise yet. She’s doing very well physically, but she’s not back in work yet.

“John (Halley, vet) will make the decision on whether she comes back into work for this year or is left alone until next year or is retired altogether. They’ll be decisions that will be made as weeks go by.”

The Ballydoyle handler also confirmed his Coral-Eclipse first and fourth Delacroix and Camille Pissarro are both being trained for next month’s Juddmonte International at York, despite bookmaker support prompting speculation the former could drop back to a mile for a clash with Field Of Gold in Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes.

Gstaad and Ryan Moore after winning at Royal Ascot
Gstaad and Ryan Moore after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

With the highly touted Albert Einstein “probably not” going to run going to run again this season, O’Brien’s juvenile team for the second half of the season is set to be led by Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad, who has several Group One options coming up.

O’Brien added: “Gstaad is very well, he’s come out of the Coventry very well. We’re thinking he could be a Heinz (Phoenix Stakes) horse, he could take in Deauville (Prix Morny) and he could take in the National Stakes and he could end up being a Dewhurst horse at the end.”

Racing Bulletin for 19/07/2025

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Today's Racing

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

Curragh

Good

 13:30 14:00 14:35 15:05 15:40 16:15 16:50 17:25
Market Rasen

Good

 13:35 14:05 14:40 15:12 15:50 16:25 17:00
Cartmel

Good to Soft

 13:40 14:15 14:50 15:22 16:00 16:35 17:10
Newbury

Good to Firm

 13:50 14:25 14:57 15:30 16:10 16:45 17:20
Ripon

Good to Soft

 14:10 14:45 15:17 15:55 16:30 17:05 17:38
Newmarket

Good to Firm

 16:20 16:55 17:30 18:00 18:35 19:05 19:38
Doncaster

Good to Firm

 17:15 17:45 18:15 18:45 19:15 19:45 20:15 20:45
Haydock Park

Good

 18:25 18:55 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00

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Trainer/Jockey Combo report

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Minnie Hauk has chance to join an illustrious roll of honour

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Epsom heroine Minnie Hauk is all the rage to provide Aidan O’Brien with an eighth victory in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks on Saturday.

Alexandrova (2006), Peeping Fawn (2007), Snowfall (2021) and Savethelastdance (2023) are among the Ballydoyle handler’s previous winners of the Curragh Classic and he is responsible for four of the six runners in this year’s renewal.

The undoubted star of the show is Minnie Hauk, who six weeks ago got the better of a thrilling Epsom Oaks duel with stablemate Whirl, a subsequent Group One winner in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

Speaking earlier this week, O’Brien said: “Minnie Hauk has been fine since Epsom, she had a little break and everything has been good since.”

The biggest threat to the odds-on favourite appears to be Joseph O’Brien’s s Wemightakedlongway, who was just over five lengths behind Minnie Hauk when fourth at Epsom and then looked a little outpaced when occupying the same finishing position in the Pretty Polly.

“We are looking forward to running Wemightakedlongway. There is some rain forecast and any rain that falls we think might help her chances,” said O’Brien junior.

Johnny Murtagh, who rode a record six Irish Oaks winners during his illustrious career in the saddle, is represented by Subsonic. The Lope De Vega filly remains a maiden after two starts, but was only half a length behind Minnie Hauk on her on her Leopardstown debut in October.

The field is completed by Fozzy Stack’s 85-rated outsider Bay Colony.

Wise Approach makes his mark in Newbury feature

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Wise Approach was much the best when sauntering to success in the Ire-Incentive – It Pays To Buy Irish Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury.

Charlie Appleby’s Mehmas colt – who cost a million guineas as a yearling – is a half-sibling to the Group-placed Golden Mind and multiple Group One winner Perfect Power, and was last seen finishing second to Charles Darwin in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

That was a Group Two event and he therefore stepped down in grade to Listed level but back up in trip to six furlongs at Newbury, starting as the 11-10 favourite and registering an easy four-length victory under William Buick.

“It was a nice performance, he ran a good race at Ascot when he was on a different side of the track to the winner,” the rider told Sky Sports Racing.

“He was more comfortable back at six. I like what he did there, it was a nice smooth performance and I think he’s a horse who will get better.

“He looked a good deal better than the opposition there and he certainly deserves to have a look at those targets (the Gimcrack and the Middle Park).

“I think he will develop, he’s a scopey horse and he was very natural from early on, but I do think he’ll keep getting better.”

Powerful chance for Slattery colt in smart renewal of Sapphire Stakes

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Andy Slattery thinks Powerful Nation will take a good deal of beating as his promising three-year-old steps up in class for the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.

The Sioux Nation colt has never finished outside of the first three in eight starts and landed a Listed race on his last outing.

“He looks ready for this, he’s very exciting and we like him, he’s a very fast horse,” said Slattery ahead of the Group Two contest.

“I’m as confident as I can be I suppose, I wouldn’t swap him for another horse in there anyway. His form stands up. He’s raced against Arizona Blaze twice and beaten him twice.

“Mgheera is a Group Two winner, but she’s got the penalty. We’ve been taking our time with him, but everything has been good with him. We won’t know if he’s ready for the next step until we do it.

“I think with a bit of luck in running we should take a good bit of beating.”

Arizona Blaze was second at Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup last time out and was also second at the Breeders’ Cup last autumn.

“We’re expecting a big run. He’s a lovely horse and he never seems to run a bad race,” said trainer Adrian Murray.

“He’s been second in two Group Ones, at the Breeders’ Cup and Royal Ascot, he was third at Ascot last year, he’s won two Group Threes, he’s been a great horse for us.

“Hopefully we get get his head in front in a Group One before the season is out.

“If the winner at Ascot (Time For Sandals) had been on his side I think he might have battled back because they were so far apart he probably thought he’d won, but that’s racing.

“All ground comes alike to him, it doesn’t seem to be an issue, so hopefully he’s got a great chance.”

Only four line up in the GAIN Railway Stakes, with Aidan O’Brien responsible for Queen Mary winner True Love and Puerto Rico, Ger Lyons runs Learntodiscover and Murray sends Power Blue, fifth in the Coventry Stakes.

“Power Blue hasn’t been running badly since his debut. He’s a fair horse, he’s never disappointed,” said Murray.

“He ran a fair race in Ascot and hopefully he’ll put it up to the favourite (True Love).

“We’ve all heard what Aidan says of Albert Einstein and he didn’t beat him far in the Marble Hill so that must give us a great chance.”

A field of nine has been declared for the Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup, with Joseph O’Brien saddling three.

Al Riffa sets the standard having been runner-up in the Hardwicke last time out, Uxmal won the Queen’s Vase last year but has not run since while Leinster has been fourth in the Chester Cup and Ascot Stakes the last twice.

“Al Riffa steps up in distance for the first time and we’re looking forward to seeing how that goes. Leinster ran well at Royal Ascot and Uxmal is having his first run off a lay off and it is nice to get him back on track,” said O’Brien.

Nico de Boinville healing ‘very well’, says Henderson

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Nico de Boinville is on the road to recovery following broken ribs a nasty neck injury that saw him required to wear a brace.

Nicky Henderson’s stable jockey was kicked in the back after a fall at Plumpton on Easter Monday that ruled him out of the end of the season.

Henderson was able to offer a positive update, with a September return on the cards.

“I’m pleased to report that Nico is recovering very well and has just started the process of rehabilitation, whereby he’s free of all neck braces and things like that, so is now able to fully begin his route to getting back in the saddle,” the Seven Barrows handler told Unibet.

“He can now go full-on fitness-wise, and if all goes well, which it should, he’ll be back on a horse in a few weeks.

“He hasn’t set a date for his return, because there is obviously no need to rush back for anything, but he’s hoping to be ready at some stage in September, which is all very good news.”

Bethell hoping Regional outlook is favourable in Hackwood Stakes

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Ed Bethell’s dependable stable star Regional will bid to be the toast of the yard in the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.

The seven-year-old has hardly run a bad race across the last three seasons, and has a Group One win in the Haydock Sprint Cup to his name alongside multiple placings in the upper echelons of the division.

This year he has appeared to be as good as ever, going down by less than a length when third in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in April and then coming home third again in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“He’s grand, he’s in really good nick,” said Bethell.

“We’re really looking forward to it, I just hope the rain doesn’t materialise.

“I’ve been very pleased with him since Ascot, he worked really well on Tuesday.

“Hopefully he goes there with a big chance, but it’s not an easy Group race at all and there are some good horses in there.

“He’s ultra consistent for a sprinter, he always turns up and he’s a legend for us.

“I’m very fortunate to be able to train a horse like him so early on in my career, it’s an absolute pleasure.”

Karl Burke’s Elite Status won the contest last term as Regional finished fourth, and the trainer is hoping cheekpieces can bring about a return to the same level of form.

He said: “We’re hoping for a big run, we put the sheepskins on him a couple of weeks ago and he worked very well in them – he seems in good form.

“He has been a little bit disappointing so we’ve lowered our sights a little bit to try to get him going again.

“The ground was a bit against him at York and he probably got tired, but Ascot was a little bit a non-event for him really.

“I wouldn’t want too much rain for him, as long as it’s good ground that’ll be fine.”

Saffie Osborne takes the ride on the Chipchase Stakes winner Diligent Harry, who carries a penalty for that Group Three triumph and is aiming for a first success on turf.

“It’s a really good race and he’s obviously got to carry the penalty,” Osborne told Sky Sports Racing.

“He’s been absolutely flying at home, he feels great and we’re slightly on weather watch – hopefully there’s not too much rain.

“He’s a seriously classy horse and he’s shown what he can do at Group One level with some really good runs in defeat. Hopefully he can go on to bigger and better things this year.”

As Diligent Harry won the Chipchase, James Fanshawe’s Kind Of Blue could only come home in ninth place, another below-par effort after his luckless run in the Prix du Gros-Chene.

On the latter occasion he had a run-in with the stalls, and connections are hoping he can get back on track after finishing third in this last year and going on to strike at Group One level on Champions Day at Ascot.

Richard Brown, racing manager to owner Wathnan Racing, said: “His first start this year was a non-event, he reared as the stalls opened and missed the break by six or eight lengths.

“We then took him to Newcastle on the all-weather and we were all very disappointed and left scratching our heads.

“His work has been good since and everyone seems happy with him, hopefully getting him back on turf will see him get back to somewhere near his best.”

Mickey Bowen eager to continue family love affair with big Market Rasen prize

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The Bowen family are synonymous with the Unibet Summer Plate Handicap Chase at Market Rasen and this time it is Mickey attempting to get his name on the roll of honour with Courtland and Statuario.

Peter Bowen, the now-retired patriarch of the famous Welsh family, won it eight times as a trainer from 1997-2022.

His two jockey sons are also on the list, with current champion Sean riding More Buck’s to glory in 2008 while his younger brother James was on Francky Du Berlais for back-to-back successes in 2021 and 2022.

Now training in his own right, Mickey runs both Courtland and Statuario to continue the family tradition. However, due to Sean’s job with Olly Murphy and James’ link with Nicky Henderson, Shane Fenelon and Adam Wedge ride his respectively.

“I was only two years old when dad first won the race with Stately Home back in 1997 and my first real memory of the race was when Ballycassidy won it in 2003 when I was about seven or eight,” Bowen said.

“To win the Perth Gold Cup with Statuario last month was great, but winning this would be an even better day. The preparation for both horses has gone well so we will give it a good go.

“Pressure is for tyres and we have not put any extra pressure on ourselves for the race, but we will be trying our very best to win it.”

Regarding Statuario he said: “He seems as good as ever. He was only beaten five lengths in the race last year off 135 and this year he is 5lb lower so the handicapper has been a bit more lenient on him.

“He is a very good horse and off a mark of 130 he would have a right chance with conditions looking right for him.

“Although he is coming back down in distance you have got to really stay the trip in the Summer Plate as they go some gallop from start to finish and that will suit him well.

“Courtland had a bit of a leg injury, but it was nothing too serious and we have been gearing him towards the Summer Plate.

“He is in brilliant form and he ran well at Cartmel the last day. He probably didn’t like the soft ground up there, however he stayed on well and he will come on for that.

“He finished second in the race two years ago and he has since been dropped a pound following his last run.

“Shane takes another 5lb off his back, which is a help, so I’d be very hopeful of him giving a good account of himself.”

Murphy and Sean Bowen team up with last year’s winner, Sure Touch.

“He loves a bit of summer ground, he’s back to Market Rasen and a big handicap. We’ll need a bit of luck in-running, but if he gets that, I can’t see why he wouldn’t run well,” Murphy said.

“I just thought I’d target a big race with him. He’s a horse that goes well fresh, we won a bumper first time out, obviously he won a Plate after a long break as well.

“So we’re just going there with the same kind of plan as last year.”

Harry Cobden has been booked by Gavin Cromwell for Ballysax Hank, while James Bowen is on Bhaloo for Henderson.

In-demand Philippart de Foy looking for notable jumps success

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Kevin Philippart de Foy has been in the news of late ahead of his move to the famous Freemason Lodge Stables in Newmarket, yet he is hoping to land one of the biggest prizes of the summer jumps season at Market Rasen.

The Belgian has an intercontinental background given his mum was a trainer in France and he worked for John Oxx in Ireland, Criquette Head-Maarek in France, Christophe Clement in America and James Fanshawe in Newmarket.

While his future is going to be largely Flat-based as the principal trainer for Amo Racing at Sir Michael Stoute’s former yard, he has shown his versatility by winning three in a row with D Day Arvalenreeva, who heads for the Unibet Same Race Multi Summer Handicap Hurdle.

“She’s in very good shape, delighted with the filly. She’s done very little wrong since switching to handicaps,” said De Foy.

“This race has been a target for a long time and the faster (the ground) the better for her.

“Obviously she’s a course and distance winner, it’s a big step up in grade, but I couldn’t be happier with the way she’s going into the race.”

Olly Murphy’s Sir Galahad has an even better record, winning four out of four since joining from James Ferguson.

“He’s been trained for the race, he needed the extra run to qualify, but he’s in good form, looks progressive and he’s got an unusual profile,” said Murphy.

“He’s on an upward curve and is full of confidence. He’s taken to hurdles really well, he’s got confidence since taking a hurdle and with a bit of luck, he’ll run very well.”

Fergal O’Brien’s Castel Gandolfo won the race last year and got back to winning ways over course and distance last month.

“We went more or less the same route. I think he’s run in it the last four years so it was always a plan to run it,” said O’Brien.

“We ran him at Bangor and Johnny (Burke, jockey) said ‘he’s just a totally different horse going right-handed’, especially right-handed with a rail, so he said he feels much better at Market Rasen than he does anywhere else. Right-handed around Rasen does suit him.”

O’Brien also runs Oslo off bottom weight, the mount of Liam Harrison.

“Oslo is fine. I’d like him to take a step forward, he’s been running very well for us on the Flat, he got brought down at Bangor last year and I’m not sure if he’s got over that yet when it comes to jumping hurdles,” he said.

“We’d like to see him to finish off his races a bit better, and if he does, he could be a player as well.

“They are both good, they will try their best and fingers crossed.”

Hurricane bidding to give Johnson Houghton change of fortune in Super Sprint

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Havana Hurricane will bid to put an end to Eve Johnson Houghton’s “incredibly unlucky” record in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury on Saturday.

The Havana Gold colt provided his trainer with a second victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, following in the hoofprints of her 2021 winner Chipotle.

The latter was beaten into ninth place as a 15-8 favourite for the Super Sprint, however, and Havana Hurricane could well be even shorter odds for this year’s renewal of the £250,000 contest.

“He is in great form, all he does is eat and sleep at home. We gave him a bit of work on Wednesday morning, he went very nicely and hopefully he is ripped and ready to go,” said Johnson Houghton

“I always thought he had an engine, but I wasn’t sure it was quite as good as the engine he has produced.”

The Didcot handler had the option of saving Havana Hurricane for Pattern events later in the summer, but she admits the lure of the huge prize-money on offer this weekend was too much to resist.

Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton has high hopes for Havana Hurricane
Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton has high hopes for Havana Hurricane (John Walton/PA)

She added: “It’s a lot of money. It’s a race I’ve already wanted to win but I’ve been incredibly unlucky in it. Chipotle got wiped out when I thought he should have won it.

“The unluckiness rather put me off, but I’ve always wanted to win it and I think we have a horse here that if he doesn’t get bad luck, he should be there or thereabouts.

“There are horses in there who are having to give him weight despite being rated inferior, so it’s good conditions for him.”

Rod Millman has saddled two previous Super Sprint winners in Lord Kintyre (1997) and Bettys Hope (2019) and has unearthed another major contender in Anthelia, who has already proved a shrewd purchase for owners Middleham Park Racing, having won her first three starts after being purchased for just £6,000 as a yearling last summer.

Anthelia (left) winning at Sandown
Anthelia (left) winning at Sandown (Adam Davy/PA)

She met with defeat for the first time when fifth in the Listed Empress Stakes at Newmarket three weeks ago, but looks to have every chance back in sales race company.

Millman said: “I thought she ran a sound race at Newmarket, giving them all 3lb.

“Five or six (furlongs) is fine, I think she’s pretty versatile really. She definitely stays six.

“She’s probably the classiest horse we’ve ever run in it and it’s been a very lucky race for us. We’ve won it a couple of times and been second a few times, so let’s hope luck’s on our side again.”

Ali Shuffle (right) on her way to victory at Chester
Ali Shuffle (right) on her way to victory at Chester (Nick Potts/PA)

The Karl Burke-trained Ali Shuffle also won her first three races and was only narrowly denied the four-timer in a Group Three at Chantilly last month.

She was disappointing on her latest visit to France, finishing fifth as a hot favourite for a Listed event at Deauville, but Burke feels she was not at her best that day, saying: “We think she was in season in France, so we’re putting that down as an excuse.

“She’s worked well this week and goes there with some sort of chance, but it’s a bit of a lottery race.

“She’s in good order and it’s worth a go for that sort of money.”

Other hopefuls include Richard Hughes’ Windsor winner Our Cody and Cotai Belle, who has won her last two starts for Richard Fahey.

Racing Bulletin for 18/07/2025

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Today's Racing

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

Killarney

Yielding to Soft

 13:25 13:55 14:30 15:05 15:40 16:15 16:50 17:25
Haydock Park

Good

 14:05 14:40 15:15 15:50 16:25 17:00 17:35
Nottingham

Good

 14:15 14:50 15:25 16:00 16:31 17:05
Newbury

Good to Firm

 14:25 15:00 15:35 16:10 16:45 17:20
Down Royal

Good

 17:10 17:42 18:17 18:52 19:27 20:00 20:30
Newmarket

Good to Firm

 17:15 17:50 18:25 19:00 19:35 20:10 20:40
Hamilton Park

Good

 17:30 18:00 18:35 19:10 19:45 20:20 20:50
Pontefract

Good

 18:10 18:45 19:20 19:55 20:25 21:00

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