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

No hurry for Burke to set Venetian Sun target

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Karl Burke is keeping his options open with Venetian Sun following her latest big-race success at Newmarket last week.

The Spigot Lodge handler has not made any secret of the regard in which he holds the Starman filly and she has so far lived up to the billing, with a debut success at Carlisle followed by victories in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on the July course.

She will now be readied for a step up to Group One company for the first time, but whether that will come at Deauville next month or the Curragh in September remains to be seen.

“Venetian Sun is 100 per cent, she’s had a nice easy week on the water treadmill and we’re very happy with her,” Burke said on Thursday.

“We’ll start preparing her and look at the Prix Morny and see whether we go. If we go there we’ll go on to the Moyglare, or we could go straight to the Moyglare.

“We’ll see how she is and make a decision closer to the time.”

Meehan seeking stamina answers with Steventon contender Rashabar

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Brian Meehan is on a “finding-out mission” with Rashabar in Saturday’s BetVictor Steventon Stakes at Newbury.

A shock 80-1 winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer, the Holy Roman Emperor colt went on to finish second in two French Group Ones before the end of his juvenile campaign and kicked off the new season by finishing second to Jonquil in Newbury’s Greenham Stakes in April.

He has since chased home the brilliant Field Of Gold twice, placing fourth in both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and in St James’s Palace Stakes ahead of a first attempt at a mile and a quarter at Listed level this weekend.

Meehan said: “He’s very well and we’re on a finding-out mission to see whether he’ll get the trip.

“There was never any question mark about whether he’d get the mile, if anyone had doubts about that they were obviously watching a different horse to me, but the mile and a quarter is unknown territory.

“I’ve always felt he would stay and we’re doing it try to open up more possibilities for him. He’s a Group One horse and he needs to have different bullets in his arsenal really, to give him options to try to get that Group One win.

“He ran very well in the Irish Guineas and I was happy with his run at Ascot. He was hampered twice by two different horses up the straight and I felt he ran a very solid race.”

With rain forecast, conditions could ease at Newbury, which Meehan admits may not be ideal given the question marks over his stable star’s stamina.

He added: “I don’t think cut in the ground bothers him, but I don’t know how I’d feel about soft ground on a fact-finding mission over this trip.”

Do Bronxs set for Rose Bowl bid

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David Loughnane is of the view he is not going to dodge a challenge with Do Bronxs, who runs in the Ire-Incentive – It Pays To Buy Irish Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury on Friday.

Owned by Amo Racing, the 80,000 guineas purchase is the first foal out of Lola Showgirl, a Royal Ascot and Group Three winner for Loughnane.

Do Bronxs made his debut up at Ayr but went off a weak 10-1 shot before staying on strongly inside the final furlong to win well.

He is up against Charlie Appleby’s Norfolk Stakes runner-up Wise Approach but Loughnane is never one to shy away from a good one.

“He’s a nice horse, he impressed on his debut and he seems to have come on leaps,” said Loughnane.

“I think a lot of him.

“Obviously the Godolphin horse who was second in the Norfolk sets the standard and could prove hard to beat but you can’t run away from one horse.

“If he’s going to be as good as I think he is he’ll have to be competitive in this company.”

Wise Approach won on his debut and was then fourth at York in a race won by the reopposing First Legion, but the Godolphin runner turned that form around at Ascot when beating all bar Charles Darwin.

Appleby told the Godolphin website: “Wise Approach came out of Ascot well and we feel that stepping back up to six furlongs will suit.

“If he runs to anything near the level of his Norfolk Stakes form, it should make him very competitive in this grade.”

Owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has two runners, George Boughey’s Windsor winner Amorim and the Kevin Ryan-trained Rock On Thunder, who was ninth of 20 in the Coventry.

Tom Dascombe’s Kolkata Knight is the only other runner with the planned Irish raider Nuevo Slovo now not taking part.

Rain required for next Anmaat adventure

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Owen Burrows is praying for rain before he firms up plans for the smart Anmaat.

The seven-year-old ended last season on a high when getting up late to beat Calandagan and win the Champion Stakes at Ascot, and this season has had to settle for silver twice in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Burrows felt the going in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown was not to his liking so swerved that engagement and wants some cut in the ground before sending the son of Awtaad back to the racecourse.

He said: “He’s all good, all very good. We’re just praying for a little drop of rain at some stage.

“I don’t feel he’s done anything wrong in either run. I thought it was a bit quick at Sandown and when it went good to firm, firm in places, I was quite pleased that I wasn’t tempted.

“We’re sort of working back from Ascot, he’s in really good form so it would be nice if we did get some rain and we could get him out again.

“We’ll have a look at the Juddmonte International, it would be ground dependent and there’s obviously Ireland (Irish Champion Stakes) as well, but that’s not until September so we’ll just have to see.

“There’s a bit of rain about this weekend I believe, but how long that will last – who knows? We’ll just have to play it by ear.”

Remmooz is likely to remain in handicap company after being raised 4lb for his York victory in the John Smith’s Racing Handicap.

The Blue Point colt is three from four, with his one defeat coming at Group level in the Jersey Stakes, and Burrows is keen to make the best of his rating for the time being.

Burrows said: “Obviously he’d run a tidy enough race at Ascot and up in grade we felt the mile at York would suit him, not so much get him back on track because I don’t feel he’d come off track, but it was nice to get another win under his name.

“He’s a progressive horse who was unraced as a two-year-old. He’s got a decent profile and they put him up 4lb, so he’s 102 now. Fingers crossed we can keep going the right way.

“I might give him one more shot in a handicap to be honest, I’ve not fully decided yet.

“I still feel off 102 we could be competitive in one of those nice handicaps, I’m not 100 per cent certain but it would be more than likely that we would give him one more shot in a handicap.”

Racing Bulletin for 17/07/2025

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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.

Hamilton Park

Good

 13:50 14:20 14:50 15:22 15:55 16:25 16:55
Leicester

Good to Firm

 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:33 16:05 16:38 17:10
Chepstow

Good

 14:10 14:40 15:10 15:45 16:20 16:50
Leopardstown

Good

 16:45 17:15 17:45 18:20 18:52 19:25 19:55 20:30
Killarney

Good

 17:01 17:32 18:02 18:37 19:10 19:42 20:15
Worcester

Good

 17:05 17:40 18:12 18:45 19:20 19:50 20:25 20:55
Epsom Downs

Good to Firm

 17:55 18:30 19:00 19:35 20:05 20:40

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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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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

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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.”

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