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

BHA: Oisin Murphy required to meet ‘incredibly strict conditions’ after drink-driving conviction

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The British Horseracing Authority says it is working to produce a set of “incredibly strict conditions” with Oisin Murphy following his conviction for drink-driving.

Murphy, 29, was fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months having pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.

Murphy was able to ride while awaiting his hearing and then subsequently, and Brant Dunshea, acting chief executive of the BHA, addressed the issue on ITV Racing.

He said: “Matters around licensing are personal in nature and every individual has different challenges. When it comes to licensing we maintain a private relationship with individuals.

“There will be times when we have to deal with certain issues in a different way and not only to address issues that have emerged like in Oisin’s situation, but also to support individuals who might be dealing with a whole range of challenges.

“What has occurred, which has been reported and Oisin has spoken about that, is below the standard we would expect in terms of British racing.

“But, importantly, we make every effort to protect and enhance the safety of our jockeys and our horses. As a consequence between heavy engagement between Oisin and our team, we’re going through a process at the moment of agreeing a set of incredibly strict conditions and this will include enhanced testing both on the racecourse and away from the racecourse.

“To be very clear, the BHA weren’t given access to the information in relation to the criminal proceedings up until the full details were given in court. These matters are not in our jurisdiction so the information we were dealing with was limited.

“We’ve had face-to-face sessions with Oisin and we are working to come up with a set of conditions that not only ensures we’re protecting the integrity of British racing and the safety of our people, but also in a way that ensures Oisin gets the support and help he might need to deal with his issues.”

Zavateri strikes the right note in July Stakes success

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Eve Johnson Houghton was brimming with delight after Zavateri maintained his unbeaten record in the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes at Newmarket.

Sent off the 18-1 outsider of six, Charlie Bishop was content to sit off the red-hot early gallop set by Comical Point before Ryan Moore joined in on Brussels.

Maximized (6-4 favourite) threatened to get involved only to drop back tamely, and as Zavateri began to pull away it was Coventry Stakes runner-up Do Or Do Not who stayed on strongly to claim second, a length away as he awaits his first win.

Johnson Houghton said: “I knew he was a good horse, I wasn’t sure if he was good enough to win after only one run because he’s obviously very inexperienced.

“In the paddock he was like, ‘oh, it’s party time!’. But in the race he’s so professional. I thought, ‘Oh god he’s going to win this’, and I never had a moment’s doubt really.”

Zavateri faced a significant rise in class after winning on his Salisbury debut, but his trainer was more than hopeful he would hold his own in the Group Two affair.

“The form of his first race hasn’t worked out at all, but he could only beat what he beat and he’s done it again,” she added.

“I wondered whether I was being a bit ballsy, but quite frankly you either come here and take on Group horses or you go to a novice where you might have to give weight to a Group horse and I thought we might as well come here and see what we’ve got.

“I love this horse – he’s got a great attitude and just wants to please. He’s a dream to train and I think he’s pretty nice to ride as well.”

Zavateri is a 33-1 shot for next year’s 2000 Guineas with Paddy Power. When asked whether he could stay the mile of next season’s first Classic, Johnson Houghton said: “He’s bred to, but as I always tell all my owners, you’ve never heard of Usain Bolt’s brother! What they’re bred to do and what they do aren’t always the same thing, but I think he definitely wants seven furlongs.

“We’ll probably run him once or twice more this year, maybe he’ll go to Goodwood at the Vintage and then we can look at the Dewhurst.”

Zavateri was a second major two-year-old winner of the year for Johnson Houghton after Havana Hurricane’s success in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Comparing the two, she added: “Havana Hurricane is a sprinter and this horse wants further, so they don’t work together – and I haven’t got enough horses to be breaking them against each other!”

Scandinavia in a different league to Bahrain Trophy rivals

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Scandinavia was an emphatic winner when coming home unchallenged in the the Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket.

Aidan O’Brien’s Justify colt was the 11-8 favourite under Ryan Moore in a small field of five, and horse and rider were happy to travel along in the slipstream of early leader Furthur.

As the race progressed he loomed up beside the front runner to take the lead three furlongs from home and from there on it was plain sailing as he prevailed by an easy eight and a half lengths.

Paddy Power were very impressed and cut the winner to 6-1 from 20s for the Betfred St Leger.

Paul Smith, son of co-owner Derrick Smith, said: “He seems to have progressed nicely from Ascot and Ryan was very happy with him – he said he’s uncomplicated, he got into a lovely rhythm and we could have some fun with him over those longer distances now.

“He was out wide for a long way at Ascot but he bounced out of the race very well and really enjoyed the ground today.

“The Irish Leger and the English Leger, all those sort of races are open to him and he could be a Cup horse next year, perhaps. We can plot our way towards all those nice staying races at the end of the year now.”

The current ante-post favourite for the St Leger is stablemate and dual Derby winner Lambourn and Smith added: “There’s lots of options open and I think we’ll see how these horses get on over the festivals as after here we’ve got Goodwood and York coming up.

“He’s in the mix for all those top races.”

Doyle looking forward to Crimson tide rolling into Newmarket

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James Doyle will get his first ride on Crimson Advocate in a race in Friday’s Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes having overlooked the filly at Royal Ascot.

John and Thady Gosden’s four-year-old showed a blistering turn of foot to win for the second time at the showpiece meeting, but this time over a mile having landed the Queen Mary when trained in America.

Doyle, though, preferred the claims of fellow Wathnan Racing-owned Fallen Angel who could only finish third.

“I rode Crimson Advocate just before I got injured. It’s a shame I have not had the chance to ride her on the track but I have sat on her at home and she is a beautiful filly who amazingly won the Queen Mary and is now up to a mile, which seems to be her trip,” said Doyle.

“I know she was getting a bit of weight off of Cinderella’s Dream at Royal Ascot, as the whole field was, but I thought she showed a really good turn of foot off the turn to put the race to bed with some style.

“She really seems to have taken a step forward this year. Interestingly, I was speaking to Richard Brown (racing manager to Wathnan Racing) earlier this year and he said he’d been speaking to John and Thady and they think we should try this filly over a mile. Everyone was scratching their heads a bit, but that shows why John and Thady are the top firm that they are.

“At Ascot, it definitely proved the right call and it would be lovely for her to get a Group One to her name as obviously the guys will be looking to breed from her at some stage further down the line.

“You would like to think she can step up and win a Group One.

“The slight possible question mark would be a mile in a straight line, as James (McDonald) did seem to think she enjoyed going round a turn at Ascot, which she was obviously used to from her time in the States. But she did win a Queen Mary, albeit only over five furlongs, in a straight line.”

Cinderella’s Dream was a good winner on the Rowley Mile earlier in the season
Cinderella’s Dream was a good winner on the Rowley Mile earlier in the season (Joe Giddens/PA)

The aforementioned Cinderella’s Dream, trained by Charlie Appleby, went off favourite at Ascot but does meet Crimson Advocate on 3lb better terms this time.

Her jockey William Buick said: “She had the penalty at Ascot and ran a very good race. She knuckled down and battled on well for second, I thought the winner won well and she’s probably an improving filly, but we gave her 3lb, which is never easy.

“I do think she might be suited coming back to a straight track – she was so impressive in the Dahlia over nine furlongs. I do think the Falmouth is going to suit her and she has more in her favour here than she did at Ascot.

“She’s been such a good filly, she never runs a bad race and she always runs in the good races, whether that’s here or in America. It would be lovely for her to win a Group One here, it’s not easy but we’ll do our best.”

Oisin Murphy rides the Gosdens’ other runner Running Lion, who finished fourth at Ascot.

He said: “Running Lion ran a brave race at Ascot. We’re really looking forward to running her in Friday’s race. It is obviously quite open, but we’re hopeful for a big run.”

Saeed bin Surror’s Elwateen finished fourth in the 1000 Guineas on what was just her second ever run before failing to stay the mile and a half of the Oaks.

“She’s doing very well. She worked a few days ago, her last piece of work, and she’s definitely in good form,” said Bin Suroor.

“She came back very well from her last run and we’re looking forward to running her on Friday.

“She has plenty of speed, she didn’t stay the trip over a mile and a half.

“A trip between a mile and a mile and a quarter suits her, we gave her a chance at a mile and a half but it didn’t work out.

“On the quick ground she will be happier, good ground will be perfect for her.”

Aidan O’Brien runs Coronation Stakes third January, while his son, Donnacha, is represented by Atsila.

Elmalka, winner of the 1000 Guineas last year, aims to get back to winning ways for Roger Varian and German trainer Andreas Wohler is represented by Lady Ilze from Germany.

Venetian Sun setting the standard in Duchess of Cambridge

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Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun seeks to add a third win to her flawless record in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.

The Starman filly has always been held in the highest regard since her purchase for 240,000 guineas as a yearling and has not disappointed so far, winning her debut at Carlisle in May and then claiming the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in good style.

She remains at the same six-furlong trip on the July course, but is raised marginally in grade as she takes on a Group Two task under regular rider Clifford Lee.

Burke said: “It wasn’t originally in the planning to run here, but it’s a Group Two and a step forward and to get that Group Two on the CV for her as a broodmare later on is very important.

“It looks a race that she can win and she worked very nicely last week. We obviously haven’t done a lot with her since Ascot, but she had her first little piece of work since last week and did it well.

“We don’t need to be pushing any buttons with her now, we know exactly where we are with her.”

Michael Bell’s Spicy Marg steps up to six furlongs, having last been seen finishing unplaced in the five-furlong Queen Mary at the Royal meeting.

Prior to that she was an impressive winner on debut, however, and the race will determine at which level she is campaigned in the future.

“This race decides if she’s geared towards something like the Cheveley Park or we lower our sights, but she looks classy at home and it’s up to her to show us,” said Bell.

“We’ve seen glimpses of it on debut in a very good time and she ran a perfectly respectable race at Ascot.

“Given we think there’s a couple of reasons for underperforming we’d be hopeful for an improved performance.”

Ed Walker’s Royal Fixation will be ridden by William Buick on her second start, with her debut a pleasing one-length victory at Thirsk last month.

“She’s got stacks of speed and we think she’s very nice,” the trainer said.

“It’s a very strong race, but she’s in good form and this has been the plan since she won.

“I’m sure she’ll improve for that run and I guess the only thing is she barely came off the bridle.

“She will have to come off it this time and she might be like lots of mine and still be very green off the bridle, but I expect whatever we see on Friday we will then see better again in the future.”

Elsewhere in the race is Tim Easterby’s Argentine Tango, winner of both the Hilary Needler and the Empress Stakes, and Archie Watson’s Shine On Me, who was sixth in the Queen Mary.

Richard Hughes’ Mood Queen (Ryan Moore) completes the field of six.

Celandine thriving ahead of Summer Stakes tilt

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After being considered for an audacious July Cup bid, Celandine will return to the scene of past glory as she makes her reappearance in York’s William Hill Summer Stakes on Friday.

Although not seen since fifth in the Cheveley Park Stakes as a two-year-old, trainer Ed Walker gave serious thought to supplementing the daughter of Kingman for Saturday’s Newmarket feature such is quality of her work at home.

However, she will instead be in Group Three action a day earlier on the Knavesmire, a place that proved a happy hunting ground when she claimed the Lowther Stakes last summer when getting the better of subsequent Commonwealth Cup scorer Time For Sandals.

Walker said: “It’s really exciting to have her back and she’s been working really well, so much so that I toyed with supplementing her for the July Cup what with the fast ground.

“We saw sense and have gone the sensible route and she seems in great nick.

“Hopefully she can prove she’s trained on, which is what she’s been showing us at home, she’s certainly grown and is a very exciting filly.”

The Richard Hughes-trained Sayidah Dariyan finished a close up fourth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and drops back in against her own sex.

“I was very confident going into Ascot, although her price was huge, and she didn’t let us down. She ran a blinder,” said Hughes.

“The flat six furlongs at York will really play into her strengths, I think. She’s quite a fast filly, so we’re hoping for a big run.

“She’s an angel to train. She only lost three kilos at Ascot, so that convinced me I’d be able to back her up at York. She’s easy, just ticking over and she’s fit.”

David O’Meara’s Nighteyes, fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at 100-1, James Tate’s Electric Storm and the William Haggas-trained First Instinct are among a field of 12.

Cinderella’s time for the spotlight

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Cinderella’s Dream can reverse Royal Ascot form and claim Group One glory in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

The Godolphin runner found the reopposing Crimson Advocate just under two lengths too good in last month’s Duke of Cambridge Stakes but there are valid reasons to think she can turn that verdict around.

Firstly, Charlie Appleby’s charge was conceding 3lb to the winner that day and they are off level weights this time, while jockey William Buick also felt a straight track is a better fit for this daughter of Shamardal.

Cinderella’s Dream had previously impressed over nine furlongs in the Dahlia Stakes on the Rowley Mile course and while she is at a weights disadvantage with the likes of January, it has been honours even between the older fillies and the three-year-olds over the last 20 years so perhaps that is not too much of an obstacle to overcome.

Appleby and Buick also have an eyecatching newcomer later on the card as €1.9million breeze-up buy Distant Storm makes his racecourse bow in the Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes.

Venetian Sun was very impressive in victory at Ascot and trainer Karl Burke follows a familiar route by now tackling the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.

Burke successfully took this route with Dandalla in 2020 and while Venetian Sun did not match that filly’s six-length verdict in the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting, her one-and-a-half-length win was more than good enough.

Having won on debut at Carlisle – beating Argentine Tango who tries her luck again – Burke headed to Ascot with plenty of confidence and Venetian Sun justified that faith with a comfortable verdict that hinted at much more to come.

Story Horse can gain compensation for the narrowest of defeats last time by landing the bet365 Trophy.

A short-head winner on the Rowley Mile at the Guineas meeting, he then clashed with French Master at Goodwood at the end of May, beaten just a neck.

The winner gave a huge boost to the form when landing the Copper Horse Stakes at Ascot and Story Horse should have every chance of adding his own flourish.

Nighteyes can emerge best in a really classy renewal of the William Hill Summer Stakes at York.

She outran her 100-1 odds to finish fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes last month, beaten just over four lengths by impressive winner Lazzat.

David O’Meara’s charge had plenty to find on the ratings that day and a similar effort should see her involved in the finish here.

Ghaiyya can bring up her hat-trick in the Investec Out Of The Ordinary EBF Fillies’ Handicap at Ascot.

Stepping up to a mile and a half has been the making of this Ghaiyyath filly, with victories at Thirsk and Chester in recent weeks, and a 4lb rise may not be enough to stop her.

SELECTIONS

ASCOT: 2.00 Lady Of Arabia, 2.35 Better And Better, 3.10 Sea Force, 3.45 Ghaiyya, 4.20 Ride The Thunder, 4.55 Fast Track Harry.

CHEPSTOW: 5.35 Happy Chandler, 6.10 Blooming Legend, 6.40 Miakoda, 7.10 Abundance, 7.40 Ajrad, 8.10 Darkened Edge, 8.40 Douglas Dc.

CHESTER: 5.55 Steel Drum, 6.25 Wicksey, 6.55 Annsar, 7.25 Brielle, 7.55 Love Beach, 8.25 Never Dark, 8.55 Petra Celera.

CORK: 5.12 Speakasyoufind, 5.45 Harry’s Legacy, 6.15 Prince Of Air, 6.45 Killinure Lass, 7.15 Empire Succes, 7.45 Tag Man, 8.15 Beir Bua.

KILBEGGAN: 4.25 Eye Of A Tiger, 5.00 Saint Peregrine, 5.30 Boston Rajj, 6.00 Freddie Robdal, 6.30 To The Wire, 7.00 County Champs, 7.30 Flash De Touzaine, 8.00 Luckinthecity.

NEWMARKET: 1.50 Marharba Ghaiyyath, 2.25 VENETIAN SUN (NAP), 3.00 Story Horse, 3.35 Cinderella’s Dream, 4.10 Distant Storm, 4.45 Leadman, 5.20 Nogo’s Dream.

YORK: 2.10 Sword, 2.45 Nighteyes, 3.20 Secret Echo, 3.55 Yokohama, 4.32 Perfidia, 5.07 Brazen Bolt, 5.40 Sir Edward Lear.

DOUBLE: Venetian Sun and Nighteyes.

Racing Bulletin for 10/07/2025

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Meld Stakes next for Purview, says Weld

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Purview, who caught the eye when second to subsequent Eclipse winner Delacroix in the Leopardstown Derby Trial, will be seen next in the BoyleSports Meld Stakes on July 17.

Dermot Weld has pinpointed a return to Leopardstown for the Juddmonte-owned colt, having resisted the urge to run in any of the Classics to date.

Winner of a Dundalk maiden on his debut, he briefly looked like giving Delacroix a race before the displayed his turn of foot, but Epsom third and Curragh fourth Tennessee Stud finished behind him to give further credence to the form.

“He’s a big, immature colt and we are delighted with the way he’s coming forward. I’ve always said that next year will be his year,” Weld told Racing TV.

“The plan is to look at the Meld, definitely.

“I was always confident about my fella, even though Delacroix went to the Derby and was very disappointing, he then came back and ran a brilliant race.

“My fella is what he is himself, if you know what I mean, he’s a likeable colt and I expect him to run a very nice race.”

Do Or Do Not aiming to build on Ascot effort at Newmarket

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Although he is the only maiden in the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes, Do Or Do Not is out to prove his Royal Ascot second was no fluke at Newmarket on Thursday.

Ed Walker’s son of Space Blues was sent off at odds of 80-1 when leading home the runners on his side of the track in the Coventry Stakes, but is sure to be much shorter in the betting this time, with his handler hoping the youngster can confirm the promise of that huge performance and break his duck.

“It’s a very different track to Ascot and he was doing some very good work late on there, but he’s not short of speed and showed plenty of speed at York before that and he’s a horse who has undoubtedly surprised us,” said Walker.

“He’s a very laid-back horse who is quite hard to assess at home, but he’s fit and well and he looks great, so I hope he can go and back up that Ascot performance.

“He’s got a wonderful temperament which is often half the battle and Ascot was only his third start so he could be able to improve on it and he came out of the Coventry really well, so we’ll see how we go.”

The top of the market for the Group Two is dominated by Charlie Appleby’s Maximized and Aidan O’Brien’s Brussels, who both sidestepped the Royal meeting but have hinted at being potential top notchers in their respective careers to date.

Both head to the July course unbeaten, with the Godolphin candidate seeing the form of his Woodcote win franked by Eve Johnson Houghton’s Epsom runner-up Havana Hurricane in the Windsor Castle at Ascot, while the Ballydoyle raider sprouted wings on his debut to down stablemate and subsequent winner Kansas.

Appleby said on the Godolphin website: “Maximized is two from two, stepping up from his novice to win nicely at Epsom. We gave him a break afterwards, as the plan was always to miss Royal Ascot, and he goes into this in great shape. He is on an upward curve and hopefully the one they all have to beat.”

Maximized in full flow at Epsom
Maximized in full flow at Epsom (Adam Davy/PA)

Johnson Houghton is represented on this occasion by Salisbury scorer Zavateri, who like Paul and Oliver Cole’s taking Goodwood victor Jel Pepper is one from one and now stepping up significantly in grade.

The select field is rounded off by Andrew Balding’s Comical Point, who steps up in trip having not been disgraced when fifth in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“He ran in the Norfolk and I think the step up to six furlongs will suit and he will improve a bit for that as he was definitely doing his best work late on,” said Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.

“Whether that will be good enough to win a race like this I don’t know, but I do think the six furlongs will help.”

Doyle banking on Bermuda to turn up the heat at Newmarket

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James Doyle is relishing the prospect of his reunion with Flora Of Bermuda as she seeks a change in fortunes in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes at Newmarket.

The Andrew Balding-trained filly was purchased by Wathnan Racing before Royal Ascot, where she finished third in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes under PJ McDonald as Doyle rode Lazzat, also owned by Wathnan, to success.

Her prior form includes plenty of near-misses, including a second-placed run in the Duke of York Clipper Stakes this season and three smart Group One efforts last term.

Doyle, who rode the four-year-old in her career debut as a juvenile and has partnered her just once since, is hopeful she will this time be favoured by fortune as she tries again to score at the highest grade.

He said: “When you look at her profile she’s only won a Group Three and then the Alice Keppel before, which is mad,” said Doyle.

“She ran a hell of a race in the Champions Sprint, just behind Kind Of Blue. She wasn’t beaten far at all.

“She ran a hell of a race at Haydock as well and she ran well in behind Lazzat in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last year.

“She’s run some incredible races in Group Ones, so you’d like to think she can get her head in front in one of them.

“It’s been a little bit frustrating for the guys, and I’m sure her previous owners – hopefully she can get that Group One on the board.”

Of Flora Of Bermuda’s CV, which has seen her win only twice from 15 runs but also only come home out of the money twice, Doyle added: “She doesn’t seem to get the most luck in running, she seems to find a few traffic problems.

“She’s due a nice draw in the middle somewhere, that would be lovely for her just to simplify things.

“I think she’s a filly who likes to just be ridden with a touch of restraint, just not too far off them.”

Doyle, who has yet to land the July Cup, feels Flora Of Bermuda has the credentials to lay claim to a Group One and is naturally hopeful that Saturday’s race will prove the ideal opportunity.

“I haven’t ridden her for a little while, but I think with the form she’s shown and the way she’s hit the crossbar in these Group Ones, I’m hoping she can win one,” he added.

“Whether it’s the July Cup or other targets further down the line, we’ll have to wait and see, but she thoroughly deserves her spot in the line-up.”

Conditions key to Rosallion’s Sussex Stakes run

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Richard Hannon will be led by ground conditions as he decides the next move of his star miler Rosallion.

The four-year-old was most recently seen finishing second by a nose in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, prior to which he was third in Lockinge when making his long-awaited return to action.

The Sussex Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival is under discussion as his next outing, but the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville is also on Hannon’s radar and the going will ultimately be a key factor in the decision.

The trainer said: “Rosallion is in great form. We aren’t 100 per cent sure where we are going to go.

“Probably the Sussex, but maybe the Prix Jacques Le Marois. It’s all ground dependent.

“He came out of his last race absolutely no problem at all. I think he thinks he won.”

Should Rosallion head to the Sussex he could cross paths with John and Thady Gosden’s Field Of Gold, winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien’s Henri Matisse, triumphant in the French 2000 Guineas, is also present in the line up, alongside stablemate The Lion In Winter.

Docklands, who prevailed in the Queen Anne, has stood his ground for Harry Eustace and Jerome Reynier’s Facteur Cheval, placed in the race for the past two seasons, is the sole French-trained horse on the entries list after the forfeit stage.

Ghostwriter going for Princess of Wales’s Stakes gold

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Trainer Clive Cox considers the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes as too good an opportunity to pass up with his stable star Ghostwriter.

Although without a victory since the autumn of his juvenile campaign, the four-year-old has run some excellent races in defeat at the highest level since, last season finishing third behind City Of Troy in both the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International.

Having kicked off this year by finishing fourth in Dubai and then sixth in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, Ghostwriter was sold for £2million on the eve of Royal Ascot and made a promising start in the colours of Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation by picking up the bronze medal in the Hardwicke.

Cox recently raised next month’s Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga as a likely target for the Invincible Spirit colt, but is more than happy to take in Thursday’s Group Two feature at Newmarket on the way.

“It was an early entry that wasn’t filling and it made perfect sense. It doesn’t interrupt any plans already made, so I’m very happy we’re in it,” said the Lambourn handler.

“He’s come out of Ascot very well, I’m very happy with him and it doesn’t impinge on plans to go to America at all.

“He’s shown a very good level of course form – he won his maiden on the July course and has also won on the Rowley Mile, so Newmarket is a place he handles well and I’m looking forward to it.”

Arabian Crown is one of two runners for Charlie Appleby
Arabian Crown is one of two runners for Charlie Appleby (Nigel French/PA)

Ghostwriter is set to renew rivalry with John and Thady Gosden’s Palladium, who was one place and little over a length behind him in the Hardwicke, while Charlie Appleby saddles both Arabian Crown and El Cordobes.

He told www.godolphin.com: “El Cordobes is coming back in distance from York, where we feel he did not stay the 14 furlongs. He has a bit to find on the book but, back at this trip, he should be competitive, and the quick ground will be no problem.

“Arabian Crown has been gelded since his last start and stepping back up to a mile and a half will suit. If he can recapture some of his earlier form, he is sure to be a player.”

The quintet is completed by James Owen’s Wimbledon Hawkeye, who was last seen finishing fourth in the King Edward VIII Stakes and lines up as the sole three-year-old in the field.

“He’s very well, he’s been training great. Everything has been very straightforward and we’re really looking forward to the race,” said Owen.

“He’s got a good amount of resolution, he’s coming out of his races well and he holds his form.

“He’s against the older horses but he gets a nice allowance for that, so it will be really interesting.

“Fingers crossed it’s a nice opportunity for him.”

Owen backing Hallelujah U for big Bahrain run

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Hallelujah U will bid to turn the tables on past rivals in the Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket.

The James Owen-trained three-year-old is owned by the Gredley family and was last seen finishing sixth in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

He was slow into his stride but was still close to the action when beaten two and a quarter lengths, with two of the horses ahead now set to line up against him again on the July course.

“He ran an absolute cracker in the Queen’s Vase and just looked a shade unlucky,” said Owen.

“Both the track and trip should suit him, if he could take even a tiny step forward then he’s going to have a big chance.

“He wasn’t far behind some of these horses at Ascot and he was still relatively unexposed there.

“Now he’s had that race he should come forward again, so we’re very much looking forward to running him.”

Opposing him will be Andrew Balding’s Furthur and Aidan O’Brien’s Scandinavia, second and fifth in the Queen’s Vase respectively.

Behind Hallelujah U in seventh place was Adrian Murray’s Titanium Emperor, who also runs at Newmarket, with Richard Hannon’s Nightime Dancer completing the field of five.

On the same card is the Listed Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, run over a mile for three-year-olds.

Godolphin have a trio of runners, with the Charlie Appleby-trained Heron Stakes winner Opera Ballo and stablemate Spectacular View joined by Saeed bin Suroor’s Arabian Story.

The latter horse has won both starts this season, taking an all-weather event at Chelmsford before landing the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“He’s come back in good form, he ran a huge race at Ascot,” said Bin Suroor of the Invincible Spirit colt.

“A mile is definitely his trip and he’s going from a handicap to a Listed race to try to get some black-type form for him.

“We’ll see how that goes, we’re really looking forward to running him on Thursday.”

Of his two runners, Appleby said via the Godolphin website: “We were delighted to get Opera Ballo back on track in the Heron Stakes.

“He has a penalty to carry, but he has done very well since Sandown and we are hoping to use this as a building block towards a nice campaign in the second half of the season.

“It suits Spectacular View to be ridden prominently and he won’t mind the ground or trip.”

Also involved is Charles Hills’ Elarak, unbeaten in two novices this term, with Stan Moore’s Brian, Balding’s Royal Playwright and Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven all in the line-up too.

Hannon is represented by King Of Cities, who was last seen going down by fourth lengths in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

Goldie focusing on Breeders’ Cup date with American Affair

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Jim Goldie is “reasonably confident” American Affair will still make the Breeders’ Cup after he was forced to rule his stable star out of the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

The five-year-old was one of the most popular winners at Royal Ascot when he powered through the field under Paul Mulrennan to win the King Charles III Stakes having triumphed in a handicap earlier in the season.

However, having had a routine flu vaccination, Goldie noticed his stable star was lame behind and a bone scan showed an issue that will prevent him from running next month.

“We’re hoping it’s not the end of his season,” said Goldie.

“We thought, just to clear the decks, if we took him out of the Nunthorpe now we wouldn’t try to rush him back. We don’t think it’s that serious, but if you get a warning, you heed it.

“It was after his routine vaccine for equine flu, sometimes it sets off an allergic reaction, that’s the whole idea of it. Basically he went lame behind on us, but he came sound quite quick.

“Obviously something was going on, so we decided to bone scan him and it highlighted some issues. If you scan most horses in training you’ll find something, but we’re just being careful.

“The Breeders’ Cup isn’t until November 1, I’ve taken advice from various vets that I work with and they think he can make that. I’m reasonably confident we’ll get him there.”

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