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

A Boy Named Susie impresses in winning start at Killarney

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Donnacha O’Brien and his sister Ana were all smiles after A Boy Named Susie recorded an emphatic success in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race at Killarney.

The one-mile contest has a rich recent history, being won 12 months ago by dual Derby hero Lambourn while future multiple Group One winner Luxembourg took top honours in 2021.

Dial Me In was sent off the 4-5 favourite for Joseph O’Brien, but it was his brother Donnacha who was celebrating, as his Starspangledbanner newcomer showed a real turn of foot over a furlong out when asked by Gavin Ryan.

O’Brien said of his 100-30 scorer, who is owned by his sister and holds a Group One entry in the National Stakes at the Curragh: “We thought he was good as he did a really, really good piece of work up the Curragh a few weeks ago.

“This auction race looked a tough ask as he was giving away weight to winners and it is a tough track first time out, but he is obviously just smart.

“For an auction race at Killarney, it has thrown up Iridessa, Luxembourg and last year Lambourn and a few Group Two winners as well, so it’s a nice start for him.

“They hacked and then sprinted, but I think he could be a proper one. He has plenty gears for a big horse.”

Regarding a serious fall suffered by the successful owner at the track in July 2017, he said: “It is a better experience for Ana than the last time she was here and that’s her first winner as an owner as well.”

Ana O’Brien added: “In fairness Donnacha always liked this horse and I’m delighted he came out and did that. It’s my first time back here since my fall, so thankfully this is a much better day.”

The evening’s feature, the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes, went to Red Letter – but the Ger Lyons-trained filly (8-11 favourite) was given a fright by Fiery Lucy on the way to recording a half-length success.

Lyons was represented by his brother, Shane, who said of the Juddmonte-owned, Colin Keane-ridden winner: “She has done it the hard way, she was drawn and caught wide and the first two pulled well clear of the third horse.

“The runner-up is a hardened Listed horse and Colin was delighted with the way she handled the ground and said she will get further.

“She has got the job done today, but when she fills into her frame, she’ll be some horse next year.

“She has a championship cruising speed which you need for future races and Colin said if he had been beaten, it was because they didn’t go fast enough.

“We’ll get home, speak to Colin and the family and make a proper plan.”

Burrows looking forward to having Gethin back in the mix

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One-time Derby hope Gethin is on track to make a return to the racecourse towards the back end of next month.

The Owen Burrows-trained grey won well on debut in a Nottingham novice on heavy ground before being far too good for Roger Varian’s Saddadd at Newbury to put him on track for the premier Classic.

Saddadd subsequently franked that form in the London Gold Cup and Burrows was frustrated his son of Ghaiyyath suffered a setback that has sidelined him since April.

The Lambourn handler said: “He’ll be back towards the back end of August. He’s back doing plenty of cantering, but I’m not going to rush him so we’ll be looking for the second half of August, I would have thought.”

Burrows was impressed by Gethin’s Newbury victory and is confident he now has the three-year-old back on the right track after a three-month absence.

He added: “That was a pretty smart performance, I know Roger thinks a lot of his horse that won the race at Newbury (London Gold Cup), that sort of three-year-old handicap which notoriously throws up Group horses.

“It was a bit annoying that he had a little setback after that, but as I say he’s doing plenty of cantering now so touch wood we can keep kicking with him.”

All eyes on Purview in Leopardstown’s Meld Stakes

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Dermot Weld plans to take it “one day at a time” with the exciting Purview, who gets the chance to live up to his reputation in the BoyleSports Meld Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday evening.

The Juddmonte-owned son of Kingman won his only outing at two and briefly looked like giving subsequent Eclipse winner Delacroix a real race in the Leopardstown Derby Trial.

Weld resisted the temptation to run him in a Classic thereafter, giving the imposing colt time to fill his frame, and he is now ready to get back to action.

“It’s nice to have him for what is an excellent renewal of the race. You’ve got horses rated 115 and 113 in the race, so it’s running at probably Group Two level rather than Group Three,” said Weld.

“You’ve two horses rated above him and he’s a big horse that’s developing all the time, that’s why I waited with him, but I see him running a very nice race.

“He’s grown, he’s developing and he’s a big horse, so I’ve just given him time to fill into his big frame.”

On his big-race entries in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Arc, he added: “Let’s see how he gets on and take it one day at a time. Let’s see how we do on Thursday and go forward.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Expanded, unplaced in both the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Irish equivalent, looks to get back on track while Joseph O’Brien’s Galen, who beat Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel in April, sets the standard.

David Loughnane’s mare Sparks Fly is a doubtful runner.

Albert Einstein return still appears some way off

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Albert Einstein, who missed Royal Ascot with a sprained joint, is still on the sidelines.

His trainer Aidan O’Brien remains hopeful his exciting juvenile will make it back time to run in some of the major end-of-season races in the autumn, although a return to action still appears some way off.

He holds entries in September, including in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

O’Brien said: “He’s not near to running yet, he’s not back cantering yet. He’s just been on a break.

“We’re still hoping he’ll be back for something in the autumn, but it will depend on how he is really.”

Albert Einstein’s reputation has only risen in his absence with O’Brien winning the Queen Mary, Coventry Stakes and the Norfolk yet hailing the Wootton Bassett colt as perhaps the best of his crop.

Following Gstaad’s impressive Coventry win O’Brien said: “Albert Einstein was always something very different and a very quick horse, incredibly quick from the day we worked him.

“Gstaad is a big horse who travels well and with lots of speed. We always thought this was a top-tier horse alongside Albert, but your man was just so fast it was different.”

Blow for Fellowes and Basher Watts, as Shes Perfect meets with setback

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Charlie Fellowes’ French 1000 Guineas runner-up Shes Perfect has met with a setback, although an autumn return is not out of the question.

The chestnut’s success story for syndicate owners Basher Watts Racing has been one of the tales of the season so far, with her second in the Prix de la Grotte to Zarigana introducing her as a three-year-old to follow throughout her Classic year.

She then crossed the line first in the French Guineas, seemingly turning the tables on Zarigana, but was controversially demoted to second before being denied the reinstatement of the victory in a later appeal.

Her career has now been interrupted by a minor issue, with the Prix de la Foret a target in autumn but not one that she will be rushed towards if she is not ready.

“I’m afraid Shes Perfect has had a setback, it will be touch and go as to whether we see her again this year,” said Fellowes.

“She’s going to need a few weeks on the easy list and we are hopeful of having her back in time for the Foret.

“It’s nothing serious, but she will require a little bit of time off. We will work backwards from the Foret, but if it’s not the right thing to do then we will put her away and she will be back bigger and better next year.

“She’s a lovely filly and she’s only going to improve next year, the future is still very bright.”

Johnson Houghton retaining plenty of options for Zavateri

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All options are open for Eve Johnson Houghton’s Zavateri after his victory in the July Stakes at Newmarket.

The two-year-old colt, who is by Without Parole, won his debut at Salisbury in June before stepping markedly up in grade on the July course last week.

He was the overlooked horse in the field at 18-1 under Charles Bishop, but thoroughly undermined those odds when prevailing by a length to score at Group Two level on only his second start.

“I was absolutely thrilled with him, I knew he was a good horse but I just thought he might not know enough – I thought he might be a bit green, but it didn’t appear that way at all,” said Johnson Houghton.

“He’s come out of his race really well, I’m very happy with him.”

The chestnut has a range of possible next steps and is clearly held in high regard for both his ability and his genuine attitude.

“We’re just having discussions at the moment, nothing is concrete and all options are open,” Johnson Houghton added.

“We’ve not ruled out anything at all, we might go to the Curragh for the Phoenix, we might go to Goodwood for the Vintage, we might go to York, we might just wait a little bit longer.

“He’s got a great attitude and he always has done at home, he’s a pleasure to train.

“Every time he puts his head in the bridle, he just wants to please.”

O’Brien sets sights on Matron return for Porta Fortuna

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Porta Fortuna is back cantering as Donnacha O’Brien targets a defence of the Matron Stakes title she won last year.

A four-times Group One winner, she made the perfect start to this season when winning the Lanwades Stud Stakes.

She was subsequently ruled out of Royal Ascot due to injury and while she is on her way back to action, O’Brien fears he will not have time to get her run into her prior to the Irish Champions Festival on September 13 and 14.

“She is good and back cantering. She picked up a ligament injury which has taken her a while to get back from and the earliest she will be back is for the Matron Stakes,” said O’Brien.

“That’s what we are hoping for as it is in the time frame to get her back to the track.

“She won’t have time for a prep race so will have to go straight there but it is a Group One in Ireland, so makes sense for a lot of reasons.”

Racing Bulletin for 16/07/2025

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Latest News and Features

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Today's Racing

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

Bath

Firm

 14:20 14:50 15:20 15:50 16:20 16:53
Catterick

Good

 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00
Uttoxeter

Good

 14:38 15:08 15:38 16:08 16:38 17:10
Killarney

Yielding to Soft

 17:20 17:50 18:20 18:50 19:20 19:50 20:20
Yarmouth

Good to Firm

 18:10 18:40 19:10 19:40 20:10 20:40
Ffos Las

Good

 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00

Today's Feature of the Day is...

Trainer Statistics report

Good luck!


Closutton collects on Downpatrick debut

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The well-bred Closutton – who carries the same name as the all-conquering County Carlow yard – made a winning debut for Willie and Patrick Mullins in the bumper at Downpatrick.

Sent off the 6-4 favourite having been relatively weak in the market in the final few minutes before the race, the five-year-old Shantou mare was in the rear for most of the contest.

She began to make a move before the turn for home, but Walks The Talk appeared to have slipped the field on the front end.

In that familiar drive position, Patrick Mullins began to get a tune out of the sister to Grade One winner Airlie Beach and she eventually got up late on to win by half a length.

“Very green early on. She’s very small, probably the smallest in the yard, and we have been training her very softly,” said the winning rider, who named the mare and has leased her to the Whitegrass Racing Syndicate.

“Her dam (Screaming Witness) was my first ever ride on the racetrack and she’s the eighth bumper winner from eight runners – one of them (foals) never ran. We have one more – we have a Jukebox Jury four-year-old sister, she’s the last one. Hopefully, we can bring up the nine-timer!

“It is a great pedigree. They are natural racehorses, they want to win.

“I’d like to think there is improvement, she wasn’t trained like one of ours normally (is) and you can see that in how I rode her. You’d like to think there is improvement there fitness-wise and sharpness-wise.”

Weather might prove key to Diligent Harry’s bid for third time lucky

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Clive Cox is on weather watch as Diligent Harry eyes a first turf success in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.

The seven-year-old, who has twice been runner-up in the Group Three, was most recently seen winning the Chipchase Stakes at the same level on Newcastle’s all-weather track.

He is a eight-time winner on synthetic surfaces but despite placed runs at the highest level on turf, he is yet to get his head in front in 16 starts over both five and six furlongs.

Should the weather allow he will aim to put that right on Saturday, where success would be well deserved for a horse that is clearly a popular campaigner.

“Diligent Harry is entered at the weekend, we’re on a bit of a watching brief with the weather so we’ll have to see what the ground is like,” said Cox,

“I’m very pleased with him, his win at Newcastle was very special.

“He is yet to perform quite to the same level on turf, though he is Group One and Group Two-placed.

“He’s certainly as good as ever in his seventh year, he’s a real yard favourite and one of those horses you become really close to.”

He added: “I would say he’ll be on his travels later in the year, he just took a bit of time to come into himself this spring for whatever reason, but he’s really showing he’s in a good place at the moment and we’ve got unfinished business here first.”

Minnie Hauk and Whirl rematch unlikely to happen this weekend

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Aidan O’Brien said it is unlikely that both Minnie Hauk and Whirl will run in Saturday’s Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

The two were among six O’Brien-trained fillies left in the Classic on Tuesday, with only three other stables possibly being represented.

Minnie Hauk, who got the better of a thrilling tussle with Whirl to win the Oaks at Epsom, is odds-on favourite with the bookmakers to double up this weekend.

The Frankel filly, who had won a trial at Chester prior to gaining Classic success, has been waiting for this, while Whirl has already franked the form by beating the year-older Kalpana in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

Bedtime Story, Butterfly Wings, Island Hopping and Merrily complete the Ballydoyle entry.

“They probably won’t both run, I’d imagine,” said O’Brien.

“We were thinking that Whirl and Bedtime Story might go for the Nassua Stakes at Goodwood over 10 furlongs.

“Whirl came back to a mile and a quarter last time in the Pretty Polly and she was happy over that distance.

“Minnie Hauk has been fine since Epsom, she had a little break and everything has been good since.”

Fozzy Stack’s Bay Colony, Johnny Murtagh’s Subsonic and Joseph O’Brien’s Wemightakedlongway are the other confirmations.

O’Brien also has four of the eight in the GAIN Railway Stakes, including Queen Mary winner True Love.

True Love won the Queen Mary and could take on the boys this week
True Love won the Queen Mary and could take on the boys this week (John Walton/PA)

She would be taking on the colts should she run this weekend.

“It’s very possible that she could go to the Railway,” said O’Brien.

First Approach, Flushing Meadows and Puerto Rico are his others, while Joseph O’Brien could run Green Sense.

Adrian Murray’s Power Blue and the Ger Lyons-trained Learntodoscover are also possibles.

George Baker’s Desert Cop, Mick and David Easterby’s in-form Canon’s House and Mick Appleby’s Kodi Lion are among 19 left in the Kwiff Supercharged Betting Scurry Handicap, for which Big Gossey tops the weights.

Portman hoping to make Rum point at the Curragh

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Jonathan Portman said it was not too difficult a decision to supplement Rumstar into the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

The five-year-old has already enjoyed a successful season, winning the Palace House at the Newmarket Guineas meeting and the Coral Charge at Sandown.

With Portman keen to stick to five furlongs and not enamoured by taking him to Goodwood, he felt there was little to lose by adding him to the Group Two for €12,000.

“It wasn’t that difficult a decision in the end,” said Portman.

“We felt we’d been banging our head against the wall a bit in good company so we’d made a conscious decision not to spend Mr Ward’s (owner) money on entries – but then he goes and runs such a good race like he did at Sandown to give us a bit more faith.

“Whether it is the right thing is another matter entirely. Otherwise there’s just nowhere else to run him, as we’re very keen to keep him at five furlongs.

“He displayed a good turn of foot at Newmarket and again at Sandown. He didn’t disgrace himself at Haydock or Ascot, either.

“He’s come out of Sandown very well, I know it’s only a few weeks, but it’s all about what other options there were and they were very limited. Only the result itself will tell us if we’re being wise or not.”

There was 20 millimetres of overnight rain at the Curragh which will have been very welcome no doubt and that should not worry Rumstar.

“He won at Ascot on soft last October, but it wasn’t as soft as people say it was. He got away with it there. He’d be fine unless it got silly soft,” said Portman.

Super Sprint temptation for Johnson Houghton with Havana Hurricane

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Eve Johnson Houghton is “slightly leaning” towards the idea of running Windsor Castle winner Hurricane Havana in the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The Havana Gold colt was a smart winner at the Royal meeting, and although he earns himself a 5lb penalty for that Listed success he would still run under a relative feather weight at the weekend.

He was purchased for just 9,000 guineas and as the conditions of the Super Sprint reward cheaply purchased horses, the £250,000 feature looks a tempting option and may prove more so than the Molecomb Stakes alternative also under consideration.

“We’re slightly leaning towards the Super Sprint now, but it hasn’t been confirmed,” said Johnson Houghton.

“He’s doing very well, he came out of Ascot in very good form.

“We had been discussing the Molecomb, but the Super Sprint is tempting and the prize-money is very good.

“He’ll do a bit of work tomorrow and we’ll take it from there.”

Also entered is Rod Millman and Middleham Park Racing’s Anthelia, fifth when beaten two lengths in the Listed Empress Stakes at Newmarket last month and three times a winner prior to that.

Millman said: “I thought she ran quite well at Newmarket last time and all being well the plan is to run on Saturday.

“It’s a competitive race, it always is, and a lot depends on where you’re drawn and who you’re following.

“I wouldn’t want too much rain because she’s got a very low action. We’ve got other horses entered on Saturday that want cut, but she doesn’t.

“There’s 1lb between us and Eve Johnson Houghton’s horse on handicap ratings, because we’re 94 and we’re getting 5lb him, so we’re only 1lb wrong.

“She’s been a very good horse for us so far and hopefully she can continue to be.”

Other horses prominent in the market are Karl Burke’s Ali Shuffle, Richard Hughes’ Our Cody and Richard Fahey’s Cotai Belle.

Minnie Hauk leads the way in Irish Oaks confirmations

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Minnie Hauk, who got the better of a thrilling tussle with her stable companion Whirl to win the Oaks at Epsom, will face a maximum of eight rivals when she aims to double up in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.

The Frankel filly, who had won a trial at Chester prior to gaining Classic success, has been waiting for this weekend while Whirl has already franked the form by beating the year-older Kalpana in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

Her trainer Aidan O’Brien has not been as dominant in the Irish Oaks as the Irish Derby, but he still holds the record for the most wins with seven, with Savethelastdance two years ago his most recent.

As ever, the main danger to the ante-post odds-on favourite could come from within Ballydoyle. Whirl has been left in, but O’Brien did suggest after she won the Pretty Polly that the big two would be kept apart.

Bedtime Story, Butterfly Wings, Island Hopping and Merrily complete the six-strong entry for the yard.

Fozzy Stack’s Bay Colony, Johnny Murtagh’s Subsonic and Joseph O’Brien’s Wemightakedlongway are the only other confirmations.

O’Brien also has four of the eight in the GAIN Railway Stakes, including Queen Mary winner True Love.

First Approach, Flushing Meadows and Puerto Rico are his others, while Joseph O’Brien could run Green Sense.

Adrian Murray’s Power Blue and the Ger Lyons-trained Learntodoscover are also possibles.

George Baker’s Desert Cop, Mick and David Easterby’s in-form Canon’s House and Mick Appleby’s Kodi Lion are among 19 left in the Kwiff Supercharged Betting Scurry Handicap, for which Big Gossey tops the weights.

Candy still sweet on big sprint prizes for evergreen Run To Freedom

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Henry Candy will target the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock and the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot with Run To Freedom, after his veteran sprinter proved he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level at Newmarket on Saturday.

Although a dual winner in Listed company, the seven-year-old has run his best races in defeat, most notably filling the runner-up spot as a 150-1 shot on Champions Day in 2022 and in the the July Cup the following summer.

However, having only made it to the track once last season and failed to make a major impact on his first two starts this term, Run To Freedom was 40-1 for his second tilt at July Cup glory – but outran his odds to finish third, beaten two lengths by the surprise winner No Half Measures.

Candy said: “I thought it was a great run. He’s got it in him, he just wants thing to go right.

“He’s done that in the Champions Sprint and he’s done it in the July Cup before. You always hope he’s going to do it again, but then you look at the strength of the field he’s up against and see what price he is and think ‘oh dear, I’ve made a mistake!’.

“But he keeps delivering, hopefully he’ll grab one one day and all being well we’ll go to Haydock and then we’ll go to Ascot. We won’t go to the Prix Maurice de Gheest (at Deauville), I don’t think he’s a horse that wants running too often.

“A little bit softer ground would definitely help him.”

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