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

Maranoa Charlie on course for City of York test

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The Maranoa Charlie team are counting down to the Sky Bet City of York Stakes after an excellent first outing in the Bond Thoroughbred colours when agonisingly denied in the Prix Jean Prat.

Christopher Head’s son of Wootton Bassett was a headline purchase by the Yorkshire-based Bond Thoroughbred operation – the racing entity of the late Reg Bond now overseen by son Charlie – prior to the Deauville Group One and proved himself to be a quality acquisition with a fine run amongst a stellar cast.

“It’s exciting times and it was quite a pressure run having invested a lot of money but it worked out well and he backed everything up that we had seen previously,” said Charlie Bond.

“Christopher was very complimentary of him and told us after we had purchased him he thinks this is the best horse he has ever trained, so we knew we had bought into a serious horse and he went and proved it.”

Attempting to make all on the Normandy coast, Maranoa Charlie was able to repel the likes of Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter and Charlie Appleby’s Shadow Of Light before being thwarted by the narrowest of margins after the late thrust of the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Woodshauna.

Bond added: “He sort of ran four races and three horses took him on, he eyeballed them and got the better of them, just unfortunately the fourth one didn’t give him enough time to react, even though the jockey said he went after him and a stride after the line he was getting back on top of him again.

“The jockey said this horse just does not like to get beat and it’s incredible how three of them came there on the bridle, but once he eyeballed them he saw them off and they were proper Group One contenders, so you can definitely upgrade our run.”

Christopher Head won the Prix Djebel with Maranoa Charlie
Christopher Head trains Maranoa Charlie (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Although trained in France by Chantilly-based Head, Maranoa Charlie will be seen as a local hero if able set the record straight and register a first victory in the famous yellow and black colours of his ownership team on their home soil in York’s newly upgraded Group One on August 23.

“I think Christopher and the jockey may try some different tactics at York, but you’ll see what they decide on the day,” continued Bond.

“It’s a kink at York rather than a straight and a bit of a dogleg, which I think will benefit us and we hope he loves the Knavesmire as it’s the race Christopher has in mind for him.

“It’s exciting times for Bond Thoroughbreds, so we can look forward to York and go again.”

Bell banking on Spicy Marg proving too hot to handle

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Michael Bell believes Spicy Marg can put a below-par performance in the Queen Mary behind her when she takes her chance in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner won impressively on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile track on debut, galloping home by two and three-quarter length, and hopes were high ahead of her step up to Group Two level at Royal Ascot.

However, Bell believes her chances were hindered by being in season and is confident a different horse will be on show on the July Course.

Asked if she can bounce back, Bell said: “Very much so. She’s trained well since Ascot where there were a couple of mitigating circumstances, so hopefully she can show what she’s capable of on Friday.

“She came back in season. I don’t think it’s anything definitive or if there’s any records of if horses do or don’t under-perform in season, but I think most horses seem to in my experience.

“She carried her tail very high immediately after the race, so I’m hoping that is the reason because we still believe she’s a very nice filly.

“(Fifth-placed) Staya’s subsequent win is a positive. Our filly was stuck on the wing and hit the front too early. A lot of things went against us.

“We’re hoping for a kind draw in the middle of the field, get a lead and then it’s up to her to show what we think she’s capable of. She likes playing at home you could say.”

Racing Bulletin for 08/07/2025

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Pontefract

Good

 14:10 14:40 15:10 15:40 16:10 16:40 17:10
Lingfield Park

Good to Soft

 14:25 14:55 15:25 15:55 16:25 17:00
Tramore

Good

 17:20 17:50 18:20 18:50 19:20 19:50 20:20
Uttoxeter

Good

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

Good

 18:12 18:42 19:12 19:42 20:12 20:42

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Soprano aiming to hit Pipalong high notes

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Soprano bids to put Royal Ascot disappointment behind her in the Weatherbys Hamilton Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract on Tuesday.

Winner of the Sandringham Stakes at the Royal meeting last season, George Boughey’s filly returned to the Berkshire circuit on the back of a successful reappearance in Listed company at Kempton.

However, the four-year-old was too keen to do herself justice in the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes and weakened to finish last of seven behind Crimson Advocate, who she had beaten on her previous outing.

Harry Herbert, managing director for Soprano’s owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: “She’s in great form and looks absolutely fantastic, the best she’s looked this year I think.

“Sadly we had a disaster at Royal Ascot when she ran with the choke out for more than half the race and obviously didn’t get home, so she doesn’t need to do that again.

“She was just too fresh going into that race but she’s well, Billy (Loughnane) knows her very well and while it’s a tough race giving weight away at Pontefract, I think she’ll be very competitive.

“We had beaten the winner at Ascot the time before so it was frustrating what happened, she beat herself on the day. She thrives on racing and we probably should have given her another run, but it’s easy in hindsight.

“George and the team closest to her think she’s bang on for this to run a big race.”

Soprano heads a field of 11 fillies and mares declared for Pontefract’s Listed feature, with Dave Loughnane’s Sparks Fly and Royal Dress from James Tate’s yard among her rivals.

Ground crucial for Defiance’s John Smith’s Cup bid

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Leading John Smith’s Cup fancy Defiance will only run at York on Saturday if there is sufficient cut in the ground.

The Roger Varian-trained four-year-old missed the second half of last season after successive runs on fast ground at Lingfield and York and he will not be asked to race on quick surfaces in the future.

“He’s a lovely horse who had his problems last year, he got very jarred up in the Lingfield Derby Trial and we couldn’t really get him back,” said Harry Herbert of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, who own the gelding.

“We had to give him a lot of time and he’s come back this year in really good shape, had a run at Epsom where he could have been a bit closer but he was just caught too far back.

“I think he’s come on again for that run according to Roger, but we will take a look at the ground. If it’s rattling quick we won’t run and will wait until Goodwood. It looks like it is going to be hot up there but we’ll see where we are the day before.

“It will be Roger’s call but the horse is in great form, he looks fantastic and he’s well thought of. We’ve not seen anything like the best of this horse yet, so it will be disappointing if he can’t run as this has been his target for such a long time.”

Karl Burke’s course-and-distance winner Thunder Run has been left at the head of the weights following a host of withdrawals at the five-day stage, which included ante-post favourite Burrito.

William Haggas’ Archivist sits alongside Defiance in the new market with Arabian Force, See That Storm, Hand Of God and Naqeeb others in the mix

Goodwood and York beckon for She’s Quality

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Jack Davison is going in search of a flatter track with She’s Quality after she was once again beaten into second place in the Coral Charge at Sandown.

The four-year-old led for the majority of the Group Three contest but was just headed by her nemesis Rumstar at the top of hill to go down by three-quarters of a length.

It was the third time in succession that the daughter of Acclamation had to settle for silver after also hitting the crossbar in the Palace House at Newmarket and Temple Stakes at Haydock.

County Meath handler Davison said: “I think the stiffness of the track was probably the difference between her winning and losing really. I think’s she’s probably put in a lifetime-best so you have to take the positives out of it.

“The winner, it’s the second time he’s beaten us so take nothing away from him. He just finished the trip a bit stronger, didn’t he?

“It’s one of those things. We just need to get a quick five furlongs and we’ll have her day.”

Davison is determined to get his stable star her Group-race victory and has turned his attention to Goodwood and York.

He added: “She’s very fast so we’re going to try to stick to a fast five furlongs. Goodwood (King George Qatar Stakes) would be high on the agenda and the Nunthorpe. They’re the two obvious targets for the next couple of races.”

Flowerhead not certain to take Duchess of Cambridge chance

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Charlie Clover is weighing up his options on the next assignment for his smart filly Flowerhead.

The Amo Racing-owned two-year-old won a Chepstow maiden before stepping up to Group Two level for the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, where she defied 100-1 odds to come home second.

Clover wants to give her the best chance of winning at Group level as he decides between the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket on Friday or the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot later in the month.

Clover said: “She’s in great order. Whether she runs or not (in the Duchess of Cambridge) we’ll wait and see, there’s still the Princess Margaret to consider and there’s no guarantee we’ll run her.

“She’s in a good spot but we just want to try to put her in the weakest race possible to try to enhance her chances of winning. We’ll have a look at the declarations and if it’s the right spot we’ll go there and if not we’ll hold off and go back to Ascot.

“I think the step up to six will suit her and she’s in great nick.

“She deserves the chance to run but at the same time I’m conscious there might be a weaker spot coming up in the Princess Margaret.

“I don’t think it was a bad Queen Mary by any stretch of the imagination and Staya looked a nice horse winning that Listed race at Sandown. We’ll see some nice horses come out of the Queen Mary.

“The ground’s not an issue, she’s won on good to soft, second at Ascot on good to firm. Good ground is her preference but we’re not really scared of ground. She’s pretty versatile.”

Burke predicting ‘big future’ for German Derby second Convergent

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Karl Burke admitted to having mixed emotions following Covergent’s agonising German Derby defeat on Sunday.

The Fascinating Rock colt travelled to Hamburg with major claims, having finished third behind dual Derby winner Lambourn and Epsom runner-up Lazy Griff in the Chester Vase in May, and looked set to oblige after battling his way to the front inside the final furlong.

However, he was denied in the very last stride by Hochkonig, whose rider Nina Baltromei made history by becoming the first woman to win the mile-and-a-half Classic.

Burke said: “He ran a great race and he’s still a raw horse and a young horse that’s improving.

“I think he’s got a big future in front of him, we’ll look after him now and he could be a very good horse for later this year and into his four-year-old career.”

The Spigot Lodge handler plans to give Convergent a short break before bringing him back for a late summer and autumn campaign and feels he has not yet reached the ceiling of his ability.

“We’ll take our time, there’s no real plan – yesterday was the plan,” he added.

“He wants good ground, he doesn’t have to have it soft but he doesn’t want it firm, so there’ll be no rush with him.

“He won’t get home until tomorrow (Tuesday), so we’ll get him back and give him a couple of easy weeks and start to make a plan for probably late August and into September and October.”

Guineas hero Notable Speech to add spice to July Cup

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Charlie Appleby’s Notable Speech is to have his first race over six furlongs in the Al Basti Equiworld July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday.

Last year’s 2000 Guineas winner impressed connections enough in a gallop over the weekend to earn his place in the premier sprint.

A post on Godolphin’s X account read: “Update from Moulton Paddocks: Following a very pleasing piece of work over the weekend, the decision has been made to supplement Dubawi’s 2,000 Guineas hero Notable Speech for the G1 July Cup @NewmarketRace.”

Since he made his debut on the all-weather in January 2024, Notable Speech has been campaign exclusively over a mile, with his career highlight coming on the Rowley Mile last May.

At the time he was still unbeaten and while he has found things tougher since then, he did win the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

This season he has been fourth in both the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.

Notable Speech features among 16 contenders for the July Cup following the confirmation stage and is one of two supplementary entries for owners Godolphin, with Sheikh Mohammed’s operation also stumping up the required £36,000 to add John and Thady Gosden’s Jersey Stakes runner-up Spy Chief to the field.

Symbol Of Honour (centre) is a second leading contender for Charlie Appleby
Symbol Of Honour (centre) is another leading contender for Charlie Appleby (Steven Paston/PA)

The Godolphin blue could also be carried by Notable Speech’s stablemate Symbol Of Honour, who has won four of his five starts this year and was last seen edging out Arabian Dusk in the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in May.

Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda, who finished third in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, is one of three potential runners for Wathnan Racing along with the Tom Clover-trained Rogue Lightning and Night Raider from Karl Burke’s yard.

The latter faltered after making much of the running in the King Charles III Stakes at the Royal meeting and his trainer hopes he can fare better over a furlong further this weekend.

Burke said: “Night Raider is a very quick horse, there’s no doubt about it, but I think he’s a horse that likes to get into a rhythm and he’s more chance of getting into that rhythm over six furlongs than he does over five.

“I think over five at the top level they jump and go so hard early and he’s a horse that likes to jump and get into a nice rhythm, which I think he has more chance of doing over six and he obviously can stay seven as well.

“Six is the ideal trip, whether he’s up to a Group One at this stage of his career we’ll find out on Saturday.”

Other leading hopes include Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin, Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket and top-class mare Believing, who is in foal to Frankel and is set to make her final career start before retirement for trainer George Boughey.

York clash with Field Of Gold possible for Delacroix

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Aidan O’Brien has raised the possibility of his Eclipse winner Delacroix taking on Field Of Gold in what would be a mouthwatering prospect for the Juddmonte International at York.

Sent off favourite for the Derby where he finished down the field, Delacroix bounced back in sensational style at Sandown, running down Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Ombudsman with a fantastic turn of foot.

Field Of Gold is ante-post favourite for the York race and given he is owned by the sponsors, should he step up in trip that looks the logical place for it to happen.

O’Brien told Sky Sports Racing of Delacroix: “We were delighted with him, obviously in the Derby Ryan (Moore) felt he just got squeezed out at the top of the hill and his chance had gone then so he nursed him.

“Before the Derby he was working like a classy mile-and-a-quarter horse and Ryan had it in his head that he could even be a miler, he always felt he had a lot of pace.

“I don’t know what he did the last two furlongs but I can imagine the fractions were very quick.

“We’re not sure about what next, we’ll see how he is first and then the lads (owners) will chat to Ryan and chat amongst themselves and then tell us where they’d like to go.

“Obviously the two big ones would be York (August 20) or Leopardstown (Irish Champion Stakes, September 13), both or one so we’ll see how he is and they’ll decide what they want to do then.”

Racing Bulletin for 07/07/2025

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Good to Soft

 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:33 16:05 16:40 17:15
Worcester

Good

 14:12 14:42 15:15 15:45 16:20 16:55 17:30
Roscommon

Good

 16:30 17:05 17:40 18:13 18:43 19:13 19:43 20:13
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 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00

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King’s Gambit pointed at Goodwood after strong Wolferton run

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King’s Gambit will head to the Coral Glorious Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival after bouncing back to form when third in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A consistent Group-level performer for Harry Charlton, he won the London Gold Cup as a three-year-old before making the frame in races like the Hampton Court Stakes, York Stakes and Great Voltigeur.

Not disgraced on his first start in the Wathnan Racing silks in Qatar in February, he then underwhelmed in Newbury’s Aston Park Stakes on his return to British racing.

However, he showed his true colours at the Royal meeting when beaten only a length and a half by Haatem, with Charlton now looking forward to returning to a mile and a half on the Sussex Downs next month.

Charlton said: “I thought he ran a huge race at Royal Ascot as he was drawn wide and got caught further back than ideal so I thought he did well to make up so much ground on Haatem who A, is a good horse, but B, got the perfect trip round under James Doyle.

“When you watch it back it would have been remarkable if he had caught him up, so I thought it was a huge run and it was great to see him back to his consistent, usual self after a poor run really at Newbury.

“He’s a hugely consistent horse and the plan is to head for the Group Three 12-furlong race at Glorious Goodwood which has Qatari sponsorship.”

Bright Thunder oozes class in Deauville romp

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Bright Thunder enjoyed visiting France once again, as she blazed her way to victory in the Prix Goldikova.

Karl Burke’s four-year-old was a Listed winner at Chantilly last summer and after going close on home soil at Goodwood and Epsom earlier this season, gained some valuable compensation on the continent.

It was a victory that was a welcome tonic for the Spigot Lodge team after near misses both earlier on the Deauville card with Spycatcher and in the German Derby with Contingent and there could plenty more to look forward to with the daughter of Night Of Thunder after her commanding performance in the hands of Sam James.

James told Sky Sports Racing: “She jumped really well, if not too well and I wanted to get a bit of cover.

“However, once I got behind Christophe (Soumillon on  Rubies From Burma) on the lead horse she settled away grand and I thought we were going quite slow so I was quite happy to let her find herself and keep coming.

“She doesn’t find an awful lot off the bridle but to be fair to her today she’s really quickened up and put the race to bed.

“A Group Three wouldn’t be out of the question for her and the faster they go in these races the more it suits her. She seems to like coming over here so maybe she can come over again.

“You can sometimes get racing a long way out on a straight mile, but today it all went to plan and she obviously likes coming over and Karl does as well when he brings horses over here.”

Soumillon shines as Woodshauna strikes in Prix Jean Prat

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Francis-Henri Graffard’s fine season continued at Deauville, as Woodshauna claimed a thrilling Prix Jean Prat.

A winner at Group Three level at Chantilly on his most recent start, the colt was subsequently purchased by American businessman John Stewart for £625,000 at the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot and immediately saw the form boosted when Chantilly runner-up Time For Sandals won the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Christopher Head’s Maranoa Charlie, who was fourth at Chantilly, led the field along this time in his first outing in the colours of Yorkshire-based Bond Thoroughbreds, with Christophe Soumillon in no rush as he anchored Woodshauna in rear.

Maranoa Charlie refused to lie down as the race began to develop, with Charlie Appleby’s Shadow Of Light and Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter making their challenge on either side.

However, none were finishing as strongly as Woodshauna, who weaved his way to the front in time to lead home a French one-two, with Maranoa Charlie holding on for second, The Lion In Winter third and Shadow Of Light fourth, with half a length covering all of them. Cosmic Year dropped away tamely having looked a threat a furlong out.

Graffard said: “He’s a lovely horse and his form his strong. We decided to skip Ascot and I wanted the horse to be strong for this race and it worked out.

“He has a lot of speed and I think seven furlongs is the max for him. We’ll have to see what we do with him, whether we drop him back in distance or if we stick to seven, but it’s a big step up today. He’s a lovely horse with a great attitude and he’s improving physically.

“He was given a very good ride by Christophe and took the right lead all the time.”

He added: “Every time I have stepped him up in class he has responded well. I think if he was closer in the Djebel he would have been very dangerous and on that form and my belief I was not scared today.

“I’m so happy for John (Stewart) who is such a lovely, enthusiastic man for the industry and he has kept faith in me and let me do what I think is best for the horses and is rewarded today with a nice win.

“The Prix Maurice de Gheest could definitely be on the cards and I think he will be better dropped back in distance. I will see how he comes out of this but that could be a race we target.”

Meanwhile, the Bond Thoroughbreds team are relishing seeing Maranoa Charlie run on home soil at York after their recent purchase just failed to make all in the Group One feature.

Christopher Head won the Prix Djebel with Maranoa Charlie
Christopher Head trains Maranoa Charlie (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“It’s a great run to be second in a Group One, amazing. It was obviously a big purchase and it looks like we made the right choice,” Charlie Bond of Bond Thoroughbreds told Sky Sports Racing.

“It’s our first horse in France and the last time we were here Move In Time won the Prix de l’Abbaye (in 2014), so we like coming to France.

“Christopher trains him and we’ll follow his guidance. I think he comes home to York for the City of York Stakes and we always said that this was a good stepping stone to that race, but if Christopher decides something else, we will follow his guidance, it’s down to him, we don’t like to interfere.”

O’Brien was delighted to see The Lion In Winter bounce back to form.

He said: “The horse ran very well, we’re very happy. The Lion In Winter has a lot of speed. Now, we have two options, the Sussex Stakes or here in Deauville for the mile (Jaques le Marois).

Nina Baltromei creates history on Hochkonig in German Derby

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There were jubilant scenes in Hamburg as Nina Baltromei aboard Hochkonig thwarted Karl Burke’s Convergent in a photo finish, becoming the first woman to win the German Derby in the process.

Convergent, having his first run since finishing third to dual Derby winner Lambourn and Lazy Griff at Chester, went for home early under Clifford Lee and looked well placed to go on to claim glory in the 156th running of the race.

But Baltromei, who was champion German amateur in 2024, had other ideas and came out of the pack, timing her run to perfection to get up to win by a nose.

Connections then had an anxious wait before the Yasmin Almenrader-trained colt was declared the winner following a photo finish.

Burke was attempting to add the German Derby to the 1000 Guineas he won last year for the same owners, Newtown Anner Stud Farm, with Darnation.

Baltromei told www.galopponline.de: “I hadn’t even realised I’d won. It was just incredible how everyone supported me here.”

Almenrader said: “I’m at a loss for words. I’m overwhelmed by everything. By the horse and by the rider. She handled it so incredibly intelligently again. It takes something to win a race like that.”

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