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

More thought to be given to Thunder target

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Which race – or even which trip – More Thunder runs over next has still to be decided following his last-gasp win in the Bunbury Cup on Saturday.

The four-year-old, who  moved to William Haggas following the retirement of Sir Michael Stoute, has found a new niche for himself sprinting this season.

Narrowly denied in the Wokingham, Tom Marquand got there on the line on Saturday and he holds of host of entries throughout the summer.

“Tom got there just in time and I have to say I don’t think he’d have won if he hadn’t changed sides, it made a difference,” said owner Saeed Suhail’s racing manager Bruce Raymond.

More Thunder (left) just gets the better of Aalto
More Thunder (left) just gets the better of Aalto (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

“Of course we were very happy and now we need to decide what the best next step will be.

“We’re all guessing about what his best trip will be. His owner told me he felt he’d have won the July Cup! I’m not so sure as it doesn’t work out like that. I just feel seven furlongs might be his trip but that might be the easier route.

“I’ve had a word with Tom who feels six might be best for him. You can guarantee if we run over six next and he gets beat everyone will say ‘why didn’t you run him over seven?’.

“He’s in all the right races and handicaps are out now – I just don’t know where we’ll run him.”

On the same afternoon another former Stoute inmate, Andrew Balding’s Never So Brave, took the step up to Group company in his stride at Ascot in the Summer Mile but his next step is also undecided.

“Never So Brave has taken that next step already but when Jamie (Spencer on Point Lynas) looked like he’d slipped the field, it was an awful feeling,” said Raymond.

“I thought David (Probert) was absolutely brilliant on him not to panic though. It’s about 100 years since I was riding and I remember that feeling but when I spoke to him, he said turning in he felt he had everything covered so he was confident.

“He’s another who’s versatile trip-wise and who is to say he wouldn’t get further in time, although there’s no need to try it yet. I think he’ll get a mile and a quarter but thee’s no need to rush it.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do. He’s not in the Sussex but he is in the Lennox back over seven, so we’ll see.

“It was a good weekend, they’ve both come out of it well and now we need to start thinking about where they are going to go. The owner is a very patient man, he’s been well educated by Sir Michael.”

Pontefract repeat could be next on Point Lynas’ agenda

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Ed Bethell is considering several big-race options with Point Lynas following his gallant front-running performance in Saturday’s Summer Mile at Ascot.

The six-year-old was a 22-1 shot for what looked a strong renewal of the Berkshire circuit’s Group Two highlight, but very nearly pulled off a surprise victory under an enterprising ride by Jamie Spencer.

Point Lynas was eventually run down by Never So Brave, but stuck to his task to pick up the silver medal in second, beaten just three-quarters of a length.

Bethell said: “I was really, really happy. It was an inspired Jamie Spencer ride and the horse ran his heart out, showing he’s still full of life as he’s getting older.

“He split two Royal Ascot winners and two proper racehorses (Never So Brave and Haatem). I appreciate we slipped the field, but you don’t do what he does and only be beaten three-quarters of a length if you’re not in good form, so it was a brilliant run.”

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “We’ll have a look at the Listed race he won at Pontefract last year (Pomfret Stakes) in a couple of weeks’ time I would imagine and then we’ll probably look towards the Celebration Mile at Goodwood or maybe the Strensall Stakes at York.”

Appleby eyeing Goodwood goal for Big Mojo

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Big Mojo will “more than likely” head to Goodwood next for the King George Qatar Stakes following his near miss in the July Cup.

Mick Appleby’s stable star bounced right back to his best at the weekend when he was just run out of it close home by 66-1 outsider No Half Measures.

Big Mojo is now likely to revert to five furlongs at a track he won the Molecomb Stakes at last year before he heads to York for the Nunthorpe.

“He’s come out of the race well. We were gutted but chuffed with how he ran, he ran an absolute blinder,” said Appleby.

“Tom (Marquand) thought he had everything covered, he just wasn’t expecting that one to come from out there!

“He’s shown he’s back to his best and I think he saw the trip out, he just didn’t see that one coming, when he did he tried to fight back and given a few more strides I think he’d have probably got back up.

“She wasn’t pulling away from him and I just think he was caught a bit by surprise.

“I think it will more than likely be Goodwood next. There is a possibility of the Maurice de Gheest (at Deauville) but I think it’s more likely we’ll go to Goodwood and then on to York.

“You’d like to think he’d be hard to beat at Goodwood, he’s won there before.”

The Lion In Winter heading back to France for Prix Jacques le Marois

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The Lion In Winter will return to France for his next outing when he will step back up in trip for the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

Winter favourite for the Guineas and Derby, a setback in the spring held up his preparations for the Classics and he missed Newmarket, making his comeback in the Dante at York when he could only finish sixth before trailing home well beaten in the Derby.

Dropped markedly in trip to seven furlongs for the Prix Jean Prat, Aidan O’Brien’s charge showed plenty of his old sparkle, beaten just a short neck and a short head into third by Woodshauna.

Speaking at Navan on Sunday, stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “It was lovely to get him back on track after all the promise he showed last year.

“He has come out of the race (at Deauville) very well, and everyone is happy with him at home.

“He is going to go to the Jacques le Marois next in Deauville. Obviously, it is going to be a fascinating race during the summer.

“In fairness, the horse adapted coming right back from a mile and a half to seven (furlongs) last week pretty quickly.

“Back up to a mile in the Jacques le Marois should suit him.”

Facteur Cheval to swerve Sussex Stakes at Goodwood

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There will be no visit to the Qatar Goodwood Festival for Facteur Cheval this year, with immediate plans on hold as he recovers from his Royal Ascot exertions.

Jerome Reynier’s six-year-old has contested the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood for the past two years, taking the runner-up spot behind Paddington in 2023 before finishing third to Notable Speech 12 months ago.

Facteur Cheval’s name is among the entries for this year’s race once again, but a third visit to the Sussex Downs has been ruled out by connections, who are prepared to bide their time after learning little from their Prince of Wales’s Stakes experiment up in distance at the Royal meeting.

Barry Irwin, CEO of Team Valor International, who own the horse in partnership with Gary Barber, said: “We had planned to run him in Germany, but the race and trip at Ascot took too much out of him and we’re going to have wait a while and figure out what we do next with him.

“I don’t think he will be coming back in the next month or so, and I think it could take a couple of months to find the right race.

“Also where he is trained near Marseille, they have had a real heatwave there so it’s been really hard for Jerome to train those horses and we’ve got three horses there who are kind of in limbo right now.”

Irwin added: “We’ll have to just wait for something in the fall, we haven’t given up the idea of running 10 furlongs but that last race just didn’t work out well for him at all, we didn’t learn much.

“We’ll take it race by race and then head back to the Middle East again over the winter as he does enjoy it there.”

Billy Lee’s Irish champion jockey hopes hit by broken collarbone

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Billy Lee’s hopes of being crowned Ireland’s champion jockey for the first time have been dealt a blow after he broke his collarbone when brought down at Limerick on Saturday.

Lee was riding Heishybrid for Noel Meade in the Private Suites At Limerick Racecourse Handicap when Woodhsaw Whisper fell, bringing him down. Woodshaw Whisper’s rider, apprentice Nicola Burns, suffered a broken nose.

Lee is currently just three behind Colin Keane in the race for the title and with Keane now required in England and France in his role as Juddmonte’s retained rider, an opportunity had opened up.

Now, however, he faces up to four weeks on the sidelines and a race to be fit to get back to race Paddy Twomey’s St Leger hope Carmers in the Great Voltigeur at York on August 20. Carmers was one of two Royal Ascot winners for Lee last month, having also scored on Henry de Bromhead’s Ascending.

“Billy has broken his collarbone, but it is a clean break and hopefully he could be back in about four weeks,” said his agent Kevin O’Ryan.

“He’s in good spirits and is looking on the bright side. Typical of Billy he said ‘it could be a lot worse’.”

Racing Bulletin for 14/07/2025

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Jean-Claude Rouget back in the big time courtesy of Leffard

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Jean-Claude Rouget returned to the Group One winner’s enclosure as Leffard got up to deny Trinity College in a pulsating finish to the Cygagames Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp.

The dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe-winning trainer – who has had health battles and seen his string much reduced over the last year – was clearly emotional after Cristian Demuro put Leffard’s head down right on the line to edge out Aidan O’Brien’s Trinity College.

Ryan Moore and Trinity College had tracked Frankly Good Cen before switching out and showing a smart turn of foot, one that looked like it would seal matters. That was not counting for Leffard, however, and he too picked up in great style when asked to leave the pair battling out.

After the shortest of waits, Leffard – who holds an Arc entry – was announced the winner, putting a below-par effort in the Prix du Jockey Club – in which Trinity College had been fourth before winning at Royal Ascot – behind him and fully justifying the decision to supplement for the Paris showpiece.

Rouget told Sky Sports Racing: “It was fantastic when I saw the horse coming. I was very confident there was not a big difference between the two (Leffard and Trinity College).

“I knew he was very good, but I had to find a new confidence in him (after the Prix du Jockey-Club). He was so well this week and the field was not tremendous I decided to supplement him. When I saw six runners, it was possible to be third and we did better.

“I think yes (he is an Arc horse), because when I bought him I was sure I bought a good horse.

“It’s a big fairytale, life continues and we do other things.”

Rouget said the Prix Niel would be the Arc prep race for his winner, and added: “This is a great moment for my team in Pau. It’s hard to sum it all up in a few words. Their support is what kept me going. Without them, I would have quit.

Leffard powers up alongside Trinity College to win the Grand Prix de Paris
Leffard powers up alongside Trinity College to win the Grand Prix de Paris (Scoopdyga)

“My assistant, Jean-Rene Dubosc, did a remarkable job. He took two weeks off and will be returning from vacation a happy man!”

Demuro said: “It’s incredible for Jean-Claude Rouget. He made the trip here and I’m so happy for him.

“It’s amazing that he’s back and winning a Group race. He’s a father figure to me. Leffard is a superb horse, and I had a great trip – he’s really top class.”

Of Trinity College, who was trying 12 furlongs for the first time, O’Brien said: “He ran a very good race. I don’t think there’s much more to say. The distance wasn’t an issue.”

In third was New Ground, who was fourth in the Derby at Epsom but did not help his chance here in pulling far too hard for Colin Keane.

His trainer Henri-François Devin said: “He was very sharp throughout the race. He’s a somewhat tricky horse. The pace was too slow for him — below what he needs. Even so, he finished very well, which is impressive for a horse that pulled so much.

“For now, we’ll shorten him up. Once he settles down more, we might revisit longer distances.”

Rock Of Cashel gets his head in front for Navan victory

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Rock Of Cashel relished the drop in grade to get back to winning ways in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race at Navan.

Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old had been highly tried since winning a Galway maiden last season, running in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst last autumn.

This term he has been campaigned in Group and Listed company before trying his hand in a handicap to no avail at Royal Ascot.

Against just three runners in this conditions race, however, he took command early in the straight under Wayne Lordan to down Johnny Murtagh’s 1-4 favourite Nautical Force by two lengths at 3-1.

O’Brien’s stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “The way the race worked out, it was a lovely race for him.

“In fairness to him, he has been dropped in the deep end from word go this year. He ran with credit behind Henri Matisse and Delacroix and was beaten five to six lengths behind proper Group One horses.

“Obviously, Johnny’s horse brought a high level of form here. Wayne gave him a lovely ride and the race worked out for him beautifully.

“He’s a horse we thought of as a stakes horse after Galway last year as a two-year-old, so hopefully this will do his confidence good and we will bring him back up to a stakes race over a mile and a-quarter and see how he goes.”

Murtagh had already been on the mark with newcomer Zuheila (5-2) in the Ardboyne Hotel Maiden.

Ben Coen nursed the Aga Khan Studs-owned three-year-old into the closing stages before getting down to business to beat Ger Lyons’ Washington Street by half a length.

Coen said: “She’s a nice, big filly and bred to have a bit of speed. She has been doing things nice at home.

“You can see why she hasn’t got to the track until now, she’s a big girl but she did that nicely. She had a good look when she hit the front, but hopefully she can stay improving.

“She was (doing all her best work late) – she was green running down the hill and, when I hit the rising ground, she came good.”

Inisherin fine after Newmarket frustration

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Kevin Ryan has given Inisherin a clean bill of health after his star performer was a late absentee in Saturday’s Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, the four-year-old was 17-2 to register a second Group One success in the Newmarket feature before being withdrawn at the start on veterinary advice, with the Yorkshire-based handler appearing frustrated in the aftermath.

However, Ryan reported last year’s Commonwealth Cup hero to be 100 per cent and is now looking ahead to the future – which could include a trip to Deauville for the Prix Maurice de Gheest or a move up to seven furlongs for York’s newly upgraded Group One City of York Stakes on August 23.

“Inisherin is fine, he’s perfect,” said Ryan.

“He spread a plate and they withdrew him, but it’s past tense and gone now.

“He’s in the Group One at York and he’s also got the option of the Prix Maurice de Gheest, but I’ll discuss what we do with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid nearer the time.”

A trip to France on August 10 would represent Inisherin’s first outing on foreign soil, while he is as short as 8-1 with Paddy Power for success closer to his handler’s Hambleton home and at a track he made a winning reappearance over a shorter distance earlier in the season.

Another try at the Nunthorpe on the cards for Washington Heights

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A second crack at the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes could be in store for Washington Heights after returning to winning ways at York in the City Walls Stakes.

Kevin Ryan’s five-year-old may have been winning for the first time on the Knavesmire when scooping Listed honours, but has rarely performed badly at the venue.

After a solid display in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, Washington Heights registered a first win since April 2024 when obliging favourite-backers on Saturday to book a return to York and the chance to better last year’s sixth-placed finish in the Ebor Festival’s feature Group One sprint.

“I think he’s very likely to head straight to the Nunthorpe, kept fresh and get him there in one piece,” said Cosmo Charlton, racing manager for owners Hambleton Racing

“He goes well at York, and as well as winning there he was second in the big sales race as a two-year-old and also ran well in the Nunthorpe from the wrong side of the track last year behind some good horses.

“I think he’s definitely capable of winning a big one if things drop right for him, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.

“He’s been a great servant to us and won some good races and also run brilliantly in defeat many times as well. He’s a horse who leaves everything on the track and tried really hard which is what you want and he’s been a great horse for the syndicate .

“He had been running well all season and it was great to see him win, we’re delighted with him really.”

Palmer can consider nice options for promising Laureate Crown

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Hugo Palmer’s Laureate Crown could be set for bigger things after a regal performance on debut at Ascot.

The Fitri Hay-owned son of Victor Ludorum made smooth progress under a typically patient Jamie Spencer ride to register a taking opening victory in what looked a useful novice event.

Connections are now eyeing a step into stakes company, with Goodwood’s Coral Vintage Stakes (July 29) that Palmer won with his Classic hero Galileo Gold in 2015 a possible option alongside a move up to a mile for Salisbury’s Stonehenge Stakes on August 13.

Palmer said: “He was only just ready to start so overcame greenness and I particularly thought Jamie Spencer’s default position suits a horse like that so nicely because the horse was allowed time to find his feet and relax into the race.

“He wasn’t put under any pressure and if it happened it happened and if it didn’t there would be another day, so I was delighted to see it all come together. The Vintage has to now come into consideration, (but) he’s quite a big horse, so I don’t know if Goodwood is necessarily the perfect spot for him and he might also be ready for a mile relatively soon.

“The Stonehenge at Salisbury might be more suitable, but we’ll just have to see.

“You would hope he is up to running in stakes company and being such a big horse I hope there’s much more to come from him.”

Seagulls Eleven has regained his consistency
Seagulls Eleven has regained his consistency (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)

Although Laureate Crown’s Qatar Goodwood Festival participation is still to be decided, one who will be in action on the Sussex Downs is his stablemate Seagulls Eleven.

Owned by the Two Plus Three Two Plus Four syndicate which includes Premier League footballers James Milner and Danny Welbeck, the three-year-old chased home Charlie Appleby’s Opera Bello in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket last week.

That second-place effort follows a respectable run in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the Manor House handler now pointing his charge towards the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood (August 1).

“He seems to be back on track and he just met a good one on Thursday, I think, but I was delighted with the way he ran,” continued Palmer.

“I would have thought the Thoroughbred Stakes would be an obvious spot for him.”

Goodwood assignment pencilled in for Scenic

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Scenic will head to the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood after pushing Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe contender Estrange all the way at Haydock.

Ed Walker’s five-year-old was beaten only a neck by David O’Meara’s stable star when having her first outing for new owners Wathnan Racing in the Group Two Lancashire Oaks, with her handler hailing her consistency.

The duo could clash again in the Yorkshire equivalent on the Knavesmire next month, but first Scenic will head to the Sussex Downs on August 2, as she embarks on what could be the final stages of her career.

“I was thrilled with her and very proud of her, it was a huge run in new ownership,” said Walker.

“She heads to the Lillie Langtry now. I was devastated she was beaten, but Richard Brown (Wathnan’s racing adviser) was delighted as it means she won’t have a penalty at Goodwood.

“She’s a real star and a yard favourite. She’s helped fly the flag for us for a few years and has been seriously consistent since winning the Galtres Stakes at York, it was almost like that was a turning point in her career. I don’t know why, but since then has barely put a foot wrong and if anything is improving.

“I’m excited about her and the three races for her really are the Lillie Langtry, Yorkshire Oaks and Prix de Royallieu. I imagine they will be the last three runs of her career, she’s a star.”

Hughes eyeing York return for thriving Sayidah Dariyan

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Fresh from training his first Group One winner with No Half Measures in the July Cup, Richard Hughes feels he has another contender for top honours in Sayidah Dariyan.

A Group Three winner at York on Friday on the back of a creditable run at Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup, the filly could return to the Knavesmire for a crack at the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes next month.

“I thought her run at Ascot was huge and to be honest I’d have been really disappointed had she got beat at York,” Hughes told Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday programme.

“I had a good chat with Billy (Loughnane) about how to get the best out of the filly, which was to ride her the way he did, and it was a very brave ride, I was very proud of him.

“I told him about riding in these big races, don’t worry if you get beat and I’d rather you come too late than too soon, but she really showed how good she was and she’s a very high-class filly.

“She could win the July Cup next year. We’ll have a chat with Jaber (Abdullah, owner) and see what he wants to do as he’s a big breeder as well.

“We might think about the Nunthorpe as the way she travelled the other day I don’t think five furlongs will make much difference to her.

“If I have to wait until September and the ground goes on me there isn’t much left because Ascot will be soft. If I need a shot at a Group One I probably need fast ground.”

Bin Suroor is Alert to German chance for Tornado

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Tornado Alert has an eye on a German foray as he is pencilled in for the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt finished fourth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before coming home a creditable sixth in the Derby.

He then headed to Ascot to contest the Group Three Hampton Court Stakes, where he dropped back to 10 furlongs to finish runner-up behind Aidan O’Brien’s Trinity College.

His next port of call is the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis, known also as the Bayerisches Zuchtrennen, a Group One event run over a mile and a quarter and a race Bin Suroor has enjoyed success in before as Kutub won it in 2001 and Benbatl prevailed in 2018.

“He is doing very well, he worked on Tuesday,” the trainer said of Tornado Alert.

“The plan is to run him in Germany at the end of the month.

“The race is on the 27th at Munich, the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis.

“It’s over a mile and a quarter, which is his trip. He’s been in really good form.”

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