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

Windlord edges Gala glory in tight Sandown finish

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Having acted as a pacemaker for the brilliant Field Of Gold on his previous two starts, Windlord made the most of having his sights lowered with a hard-fought victory in the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes at Sandown.

A close second in the Sandown Classic Trial in the spring, the Dubawi colt subsequently gave his fellow Juddmonte-owned colt something to aim at in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, ultimately finishing well beaten on both occasions.

Andrew Balding’s charge was a 6-4 favourite dropping down to Listed class and while the front-running Caviar Heights proved a tough nut to crack on his first start since joining William Haggas, Windlord got the better of a final furlong tussle by a nose in the hands of Colin Keane.

Balding said: “I know Caviar Heights very well because I bought him as a yearling and trained him as a two-year-old and he’s very tough so I wasn’t convinced we were going to get past him.

“He showed real desire and he’s previously been asked to do something (pace-making) that wasn’t ideal for him so it’s nice for him to win a race in his own right.”

Balding, Keane and Juddmonte were completing a double on the card following Kassaya’s comeback victory in the preceding Battaash Handicap

Kassaya (centre) was an impressive winner on her return at Sandown
Kassaya (centre) was an impressive winner on her return at Sandown (Nigel French/PA)

A 5-2 market leader on her first appearance since finishing down the field as favourite for the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot last summer, the half-sister to 2000 Guineas hero Chaldean was good value for the winning margin of three-quarters of a length.

“We thought the world of her last year, she was favourite for the Queen Mary and got no run and then picked up an injury after that and it’s just taken an age to get her back to the sort of form where we were happy to run her,” Balding added.

“I think she’ll come on a bundle for that, it was really encouraging and exciting for the future.”

Balding then teamed up with William Buick to make it three winners on the day via Coltrane (5-2) in the Coral Marathon.

The eight-year-old won the Listed contest back in 2022 and had to dig deep for a repeat, fending off the late challenge of Al Nayyir by a short head, with just half a length back to Real Dream in third.

Sandown Park Races – Friday July 4th
Coltrane took the Coral Marathon (Nigel French/PA)

Balding said: “That was thoroughly well deserved. He’s been a bit of a star and that has taken his earnings over £1 million.

“He has been the horse of a lifetime really. He loves it here and has loved his racing this year. He was a little but inconsistent last season but has been in great form this year.

“He’s not in at Goodwood and I think we will probably wait and look at Doncaster with him now and then his swansong will either be at Ascot or in the Cadran.”

Ombudsman aiming to put Eclipse rivals in the shade

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Ombudsman will try to stamp himself the outstanding colt of the season by following up his emphatic Royal Ascot success in an exceptional edition of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday.

John Gosden has won the Esher track’s summer highlight four times, but now training in conjunction with son Thady, he has a horse who showed in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes he is ready to add his name to the list of greats to race out of the family’s historic Clarehaven base.

“We always thought he had the potential to be a horse of this class, but you can only find that out on the day,” said Thady Gosden reflecting on his brilliant performance at the Royal meeting.

“He would have been an unlucky loser, he had a few traffic problems but then he showed that great turn of foot that (sire) Night Of Thunder seems to give them and he picked up well when he asked him.

Ombudsman was an impressive Ascot scorer
Ombudsman was an impressive Ascot scorer (David Davies/PA)

“The idea before Ascot was that if he ran well enough there, then we would come for this. When it went the way it did and he came out of it well, it was very much the plan. We always thought we would start him later in the season, give him a run before Ascot and go from there.

“He’s developed quite gradually and hopefully he’s got a bright future.”

Vadeni secured a first win for a French-trained horse since 1960 when scoring three years ago and Andre Fabre saddles his ultra-smart three-time Group One winner Sosie as he looks to add his name to the roll of honour.

Two of those top-level victories have come in his last two starts and the Prix Ganay and Prix d’Ispahan winner – who currently heads the betting for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – adds a Gallic flavour to this stellar line-up.

Fabre said: “I don’t know if he has improved (this season), he has been running over a different distance and he’s a triple Group One winner.

“The horse hasn’t surprised me this year, he has just confirmed what I thought.

“He is meeting different opposition on Saturday and it is an interesting race, with two Classic winners and a good older horse of Godolphin’s – it’s a good race.

“The ground is not a concern, he doesn’t like the soft and enjoys that good ground.”

Andre Fabre is the master trainer
Andre Fabre is the master trainer (Adam Morgan/PA)

On what it would mean to add the Eclipse to his already glittering CV, the trainer added: “Any race I’m running in I’m happy to win it, whether it’s the Eclipse or a race in the country. It’s not a trainer’s race, it’s a horse race.”

It is no surprise to see Aidan O’Brien well-represented in this first major clash of the generations as the race’s most successful trainer bids for a record-extending ninth success with beaten Derby favourite Delacroix (Ryan Moore) and French Derby hero Camille Pissarro (Christophe Soumillon).

O’Brien said: “Both of them have been very good since their last runs and we felt in the Derby with Delacroix, he got knocked down at the top of the hill and ended up too far back and I’d say the trip was too far. That’s what we think.

“We didn’t know going for the French Derby if Camille Pissarro would get the trip, but he did get it. This is probably a little bit tougher track and a tougher race, but everything has gone well and he’s in good shape.”

Ruling Court after winning the 2000 Guineas
Ruling Court after winning the 2000 Guineas (Joe Giddens/PA)

Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell is another of the Classic generation to make the trip from Ireland, while Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas champion Ruling Court finally steps up in trip after defeat at Royal Ascot.

Charlie Appleby told wwww.godolphin.com: “The tempo of the St James’s Palace Stakes was completely different to what Ruling Court encountered in the 2000 Guineas. They went an end-to-end gallop and he never really looked comfortable throughout the race.

“We have always wanted to step him up in trip and a mile and a quarter is probably the ideal distance to aim for as a first try over middle distances. There is only one Derby, so we obviously had a look at the mile-and-a-half route before deciding not to run at Epsom due to the ground.

“Conditions at Sandown look there to suit. He has won around the course before and has a significant weight pull against the older horses, which can often come into play in an Eclipse. It’s a small but very strong field, and he’s a Classic-winning colt who doesn’t look out of place in the field.”

Davison backing She’s Quality to Charge to Sandown glory

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Jack Davison is in buoyant mood ahead of the Coral Charge, confident that She’s Quality can prove she is just that at Sandown on Saturday.

The four-year-old has finished second in both the Palace House and Temple Stakes this term but is backed to make it a third-time lucky on her latest raid from Ireland, with her handler confident he has a rising force in the sprint division on his hands.

Davison said: “She’s done nothing wrong this year and we’re hugely looking forward to Saturday.

“I can say with a fair degree of certainty she’s a different horse this year and is thriving through the summer months, so hopefully she can take another step forward on Saturday.

Trainer Jack Davison has plenty of confidence in She's Quality
Trainer Jack Davison has plenty of confidence in She’s Quality (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“I think she is the up-and-comer in this division and hopefully she can properly announce herself on Saturday.

“She’s very fast and can make quick horses look not so quick. She’s exciting and if it all comes together right, then hopefully she can get her head in front.”

Jonathan Portman’s Rumstar finished ahead of She’s Quality at Newmarket in May before seeing form reversed at Haydock in a race won by Ed Walker’s Mgheera.

Rumstar then finished down the field (14th) in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, a race in which George Scott’s West Acre (13th), Walker’s Balmoral Lady (9th) and John Ryan’s Manaccan (20th) all failed to figure and will be looking to bounce back here.

Walker, who won this race 12 months ago with Makarova and in 2021 with Came From The Dark, said of Balmoral Lady: “She has a shocking draw, again, which is not very helpful, but we’ll have a go. She’s an exciting sprinter.”

Kerdos will have the assistance of Christophe Soumillon
Kerdos will have the assistance of Christophe Soumillon (Nigel French/PA)

Faring best in that Group One event was Clive Cox’s Kerdos who after unshipping Christophe Soumillon on the way to post, finished strongly in fifth and is now reunited with the crack Belgian jockey for this Group Three contest.

“He showed up really well in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and came out of it really well, so I would hope a stiff five furlongs at Sandown would be suitable,” said Cox.

“There’s a very fine line with these sprinters right from Listed level through to Group One, but it’s good to have a horse that is strengthening and has that maturity now to mirror our thoughts about him being a top-class sprinter.”

A Royal Ascot winner in the line-up is Simon and Ed Crisford’s Adrestia, who steps up in grade after landing the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes with a degree of ease, while Jack Channon has always held course scorer Queen All Star in the highest regard and she is another to step out of the handicap ranks.

Queen All Star is a course winner
Queen All Star is a course winner (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“She won nicely there before, but it is a massive jump up in grade against older horses,” said Channon.

“We’ll get a good idea exactly where she lies and no matter what the result on Saturday, she’s still a very good filly going forward.”

Jessica Harrington’s Saratoga Special won the Listed Land O’Burns Fillies’ Stakes while all eyes were on Ascot and is another heading to Esher on the back of a victory, with Mick Appleby’s Shagraan and Eve Johnson Houghton’s Change Sings completing the field.

Staya swoops late for Dragon Stakes prize

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George Scott’s Staya built on the promise of her Royal Ascot performance by coming from last to first to land the 50 Years Together Coral Dragon Stakes at Sandown.

A winner on her Yarmouth debut, the Havana Grey filly was then beaten less than two lengths into fifth place in the Queen Mary Stakes and was a 5-4 favourite for this Listed event on the strength of that form.

Given plenty of time to find her feet by Callum Shepherd, she was delivered with her challenge widest of all inside the last of five furlongs and knuckled down when needed to get the better of a brief tussle with Military Code by a head.

Scott said: “I’m really pleased with her and I thought Callum negated the draw (stall two) well and kept her out of trouble.

“I think you can probably upgrade her performance as she had to take back and back and back and come with one staying run.

“She hit the line very well and booked herself a step back up in grade and will maybe go another furlong next time as well.”

Trainer George Scott has some major targets for Staya
Trainer George Scott has some major targets for Staya (David Davies/PA)

Having seen his exciting juvenile filly pick up some winning black type, the Newmarket handler has big-race plans for the rest of the campaign.

“To be honest I was never going to go five furlongs again after Ascot, but with her being a precocious, strong two-year-old filly I wanted to bank that stakes race with her,” he added.

“We’ll go for the Princess Margaret at Ascot next and in a dream world you’d be thinking Princess Margaret, the Lowther at York and then the Cheveley Park at Newmarket. That’s really what I’ve got in my mind for her, but obviously a lot can change along the line.

“She’ll be kept busy as she’s a very durable filly with a good mind, typical of the stallion, so she’ll have a busy campaign if she keeps giving us the right signs.”

Jack Kennedy records first win since injury break

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Jack Kennedy was delighted to be back in the winner’s enclosure for the first time since returning from injury after steering Kamikaz Du Plessis to success at Wexford on Friday.

The former Irish champion jockey broke his leg for a sixth time in November and despite making it back for the Cheltenham Festival in March, he has been on the sidelines again since, missing showpiece meetings at Aintree and Punchestown as well as the conclusion of the 2024-25 Irish season.

Kennedy was out of luck with his three rides on his long-awaited return at Tipperary on Tuesday and also failed to trouble the judge on his three mounts at the same track on Thursday, but struck gold in Wexford’s opening Shamrock Enterprises Maiden Hurdle.

He said: “That’s brilliant and I didn’t have to wait too long, so it’s great.”

The Gordon Elliott-trained Kamikaz Du Plessis was an 11-8 favourite having gone down narrowly on his debut under rules at Ballinrobe in late May and rewarded his supporters with a near four-length verdict.

Kennedy added: “He is a very slick jumper, he travelled well and was probably borderline keen early, but once we on a little bit he was perfect then. He is a nice horse and hopefully there will be plenty more to come with him.

“He stayed on well in Ballinrobe the last day, so we were hoping the two-and-a-half-mile trip today would suit him.

“He probably put the race to bed fairly easy and I was probably there a bit soon on him. He was green and just ran around a bit, but he is a nice horse, I got a nice feel off of him, so hopefully he can go forward.”

Unsatisfactory scope scuppers Giavellotto’s Newmarket defence

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Last year’s winner Giavellotto is a notable absentee after just six horses stood their ground at the confirmation stage for the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

Marco Botti’s stable star was a decisive winner of the Group Two feature on the opening day of the July Festival last season and rounded off his campaign with top-level success in the Hong Kong Vase.

Having finished a creditable third in last month’s Coronation Cup at Epsom, Giavellotto was being readied to defend his crown on the July Course before being scratched on Friday morning.

Marco Botti trains Giavellotto
Marco Botti trains Giavellotto (Mike Egerton/PA)

Explaining his absence, Botti said: “We scoped this morning, he had a few coughs and we weren’t happy with the scope. Tomorrow (Saturday) he was meant to be doing a piece of work and we felt he wasn’t going to be 100 per cent.

“It’s disappointing because this race has been in my mind for a long time and there’s not many left in the race, but on the other hand the horse’s welfare comes first and if we feel he’s not going to be 100 per cent, there is no point in going to the races.

“These things normally just take a few days and then they are OK and it’s just unfortunate that we’re so close to the race and were meant to gallop the horse tomorrow. We just felt it’s not the right thing for the horse to gallop with a little bit of infection, but I’m sure it will clear up soon.”

Botti is unsure where Giavellotto will make his next appearance, with a return to Sha Tin in early December top of his agenda.

The trainer added: “We have made an entry in a Group One in Germany in August and long-term we would obviously like to run him in Hong Kong, so we’ll work backwards from that.

“As the season goes on into the autumn another thing we have to bear in mind is the ground, because he doesn’t want it soft.

“He has an entry in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but we made that entry a long time ago and I would say at this stage it’s not a race we’ll probably go for. All the other options will be considered and Hong Kong would be the priority basically.”

A small field is guaranteed for the Princess of Wales’s Stakes, with Charlie Appleby leaving in Arabian Crown and El Cordobes and John and Thady Gosden confirming both Military Academy and Palladium.

The other contenders are James Owen’s Wimbledon Hawkeye and the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter, who was last seen finishing third behind Godolphin’s globetrotting star Rebel’s Romance in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Maximized winning the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom
Maximized winning the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom (Adam Davy/PA)

Six entries have been made for the Group Three Bahrain Trophy, including Aidan O’Brien’s pair of Galveston and Scandinavia, with the former of particular interest after finishing third in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Andrew Balding’s Furthur, who came even closer to Ascot success with a close-up second in the Queen’s Vase, also features.

Nine juveniles are in the mix for what looks a strong renewal of Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes.

Appleby could saddle Norfolk runner-up Wise Approach and the unbeaten Maximized, while Ed Walker’s Do Or Do Not also brings strong form the table having finished second in the Coventry Stakes.

O’Brien’s sole representative is Curragh maiden winner Brussels, with Eve Johnson Houghton’s Salisbury scorer Zavateri, Paul and Oliver Cole’s impressive Goodwood victor Jel Pepper and Hugo Palmer’s dual winner Tricky Tel others of interest.

Estrange takes next step with Lancashire Oaks challenge

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Five weeks on from her scintillating seasonal debut on Merseyside, Estrange returns to Haydock for the bet365 Lancashire Oaks on Saturday.

A brilliant winner on her Goodwood introduction last summer, David O’Meara’s filly failed to fire in a Listed event at Yarmouth next time but bounced back in some style at Doncaster in November.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned four-year-old was not even favourite for her reappearance in the Group Three Lester Piggott Stakes at the end of May, but breezed clear of her rivals in impressive fashion.

“We were heading to Haydock the last day with quite a bit of hope – we thought she was very good based on her homework,” said O’Meara.

“I thought she would see out a mile and a half and it made for pretty easy watching. She lobbed along and it was apparent in the straight, when a lot of the other fillies were coming under pressure, that when Danny (Tudhope) eased her out she looked like she was just doing a half-speed.

“It was a great sense of relief when she won as so much can go wrong in races and sometimes horses don’t live up to what we think of them, but she certainly lived up to expectations.

“The ease with which she won did take me a bit by surprise, but we did expect her to put up a good show.”

David O’Meara has high hopes for Estrange
David O’Meara has high hopes for Estrange (John Walton/PA)

Connections have made no secret of the regard in which Estrange is held, with targets as lofty as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe being mooted.

O’Meara added: “Amazing Maria was brilliant for us then we also had G Force, while Mondialiste gave me great satisfaction when we took him to Canada and he won the Woodbine Mile.

“Far more of those good horses end up in other yards, so we are very aware that we are very fortunate to have Estrange in the yard and Cheveley Park Stud have always been very supportive to us.”

Scenic impressed in the Bronte Cup at York
Scenic impressed in the Bronte Cup at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Chief among Estrange’s rivals in Saturday’s Group Two feature is Ed Walker’s Scenic, winner of the Group Three Bronte Cup at York on her most recent outing and subsequently recruited by the powerful Wathnan Racing team.

Walker said: “It’s a small field and fingers crossed it should be a good opportunity for her.

“Her plan since last year has been the Bronte, the Lancashire Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks. That was always the plan and we’re still well on track.”

O’Brien hoping Daytona can secure ‘special’ Naas success

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Aidan O’Brien could honour the memory of his late brother-in-law when Daytona heads to Naas for the inaugural running of the Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes.

A 500,000 guineas purchase as a yearling, the son of Wootton Bassett impressed on debut at Gowran Park last month, with the master of Ballydoyle always having this newly-created Listed event in mind for the smart prospect.

O’Brien said: “Daytona is a good horse. He won nicely in Gowran the first day when Jack (Cleary) rode him. Wayne (Lordan) rides him in Naas. We think he’s a nice horse and we think the trip should suit him.

“Obviously, the race is in memory of Pat and that makes it very special for us and we’re delighted to be running what we think is a nice horse in the race. We like him, we think he’s a classy horse.”

O’Brien’s son Joseph is also well represented, saddling both Fairyhouse winner Green Soul and North Coast, the latter creating a taking impression with an all-the-way five-and-a-half-length win at Down Royal recently.

Leblon Queen had accounted for the aforementioned Green Soul on debut before running down the field in last weekend’s Airlie Stud Stakes.

She is quickly returned to the track as part of a two-strong hand for Adrian Murray alongside Flanker Jet, who was not far behind quality Ballydoyle pair Amadeus Mozart and Dorset when fourth at the Curragh on debut.

Jessica Harrington’s Wyman, Ger Lyons’ Genchev and Johnny Murtagh’s Blue Blue Moon are all unraced and complete the line-up.

Racing Bulletin for 04/07/2025

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Jesse Evans digs deep for Grimes glory

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Jesse Evans made a successful return to the jumping game with a determined display in the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary.

Noel Meade’s talented dual-purpose performer was unable to get involved when contesting the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot a fortnight ago but having previously impressed over hurdles at Ballinrobe, the nine-year-old was among the market principals for this Grade Three contest at 7-2.

With 5-2 favourite Gaucher faltering on the run to the final flight, it was Barry Connell’s veteran Enniskerry who looked most likely to emerge victorious after taking over the lead, but Jesse Evans dug deep on the run-in for Donagh Meyler and passed the post a half-length to the good.

“He’s been great and has brought the owners all over the place and was in Ascot not so long ago. He’s a yard favourite,” said Meyler.

“He’s ground it out and is as tough as nails. He had a nice weight on the ratings and had match fitness on his side which definitely paid off there.

“He’s toughed it out the whole way up the straight. I’m not sure what plans are but he’s won a Graded race today and we’ll celebrate that.”

Meade was at Bellewstown, from where he told Racing TV: “I’m absolutely thrilled – he’s a little diamond. He’s not very big, but he wears his heart on his sleeve and he rarely runs a bad race.

“Jumping helps him as he’s a very slick jumper and he’s a marvellous horse. He’s won a lot of money – Flat, fences and hurdles.”

On future plans, he added: “I don’t think he’d get home in the Galway Plate. We’ll probably enter him in case the ground came up really good, but any time we’ve run him over further than two miles, it didn’t work.

“I’d say it’s unlikely we’ll run him in the Plate and I don’t think we’ll run him in the Galway Hurdle again either. He’s run well in it before, but he’s at the top of the handicap and it would be very hard for him.

“If he went to Galway there’s a chase there he might run in instead, but we’ll see.”

Oisin Murphy admits ‘no excuse’ after pleading guilty to drink-driving offence

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Multiple champion jockey Oisin Murphy has said there was “no excuse” for his actions, having been fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after admitting driving a car while drunk and crashing into a tree earlier this year.

The 29-year-old was sentenced at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.

In a statement, Murphy said: “I would like to sincerely apologise for my actions. I know that drink driving is unacceptable and there is no excuse for what I did.

“I have let a lot of people down. I particularly want to apologise to my passenger and her family.

“I have so far been able to share only minimal details of my offence with the British Horseracing Authority as a result of the police investigation. I will now be fully co-operative with their enquiries.

“It would not be appropriate for me to comment further until that process is concluded.”

The British Horseracing Authority has confirmed Murphy is free to continue riding, although the governing body expressed “disappointment” in his conduct and plans to place new conditions on his licence.

A spokesperson said: “Everyone at the BHA, like all involved in our sport, is disappointed today having learned the details of the offence to which Oisin Murphy has pleaded guilty.

Oisin Murphy arrives at Reading Magistrates’ Court
Oisin Murphy arrives at Reading Magistrates’ Court (Jonathan Brady/PA)

“This is a very serious offence that, in the course of being committed, saw Mr Murphy jeopardise not only his own safety but that of his passenger and all other people travelling on the roads at the same time as him that night.

“His conduct fell a long way short of the standard we expect of all licensed individuals, in whom we place trust that they will represent our sport to the best of their abilities, upholding our collective reputation and ensuring racing is a safe place for all.

“In light of Mr Murphy’s guilty plea and the information revealed in court today, we will be working on the addition of new conditions on his licence that may be referred to the Licensing Committee for their consideration. As has been the case in recent weeks, Mr Murphy remains free to take up his riding engagements.

“We will issue an update on this process in due course and will be making no further comment at this time.”

Jockey Oisin Murphy leaving court
Jockey Oisin Murphy leaving court (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Murphy was charged by postal requisition on June 19 after he drove his grey Mercedes A Class off the road and into a tree in Hermitage, Berkshire, at about 12.05am on April 27.

The court heard that he and his passenger, who was the owner of the car, were both taken to hospital after the crash and that Murphy was later discharged to take a breathalyser test at a police station at about 7am, which showed a reading of 66mg per 100 millilitres of breath.

This meant he was “just shy of twice above the drink-driving limit” at the time of driving, prosecutor Richard Atkins told the court.

Sporting a dark blue suit, white shirt and tie, Murphy only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth, and address, before entering his guilty plea.

Judge Sam Goozee, sentencing, told Murphy: “You are lucky that neither you, your passenger, or the public were injured by your actions.

“I do balance that with the remorse you have shown for your actions. You have also recognised that you have let the public down by virtue of your actions, and your colleagues in the racing world.”

Oisin Murphy seen celebrating a winner at Royal Ascot last month
Oisin Murphy seen celebrating a winner at Royal Ascot last month (David Davies/PA)

In addition to his £70,000 fine, Murphy must pay a £2,000 surcharge and £85 in costs. The figures were calculated based on his annual earnings, which the court heard are in the region of £250,000 a year, in addition to a weekly salary of £1,250.

Murphy will also have to complete a drink-driving awareness course by August 13 2026, and will be able to reapply for a driving licence by November next year.

The four-times champion jockey is due to be in action at Saratoga on Friday night, where he is booked to partner New Century in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes, before jetting back from America in time to team up with 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court in Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Al Nayyir out to make most of Marathon opportunity

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Having bumped into subsequent Gold Cup hero Trawlerman on his latest visit to Sandown, Al Nayyir bids to open his account for the season in the Coral Marathon at the Esher circuit on Friday.

Narrowly beaten by Vauban on his first start for trainer Tom Clover in last summer’s Lonsdale Cup at York, the seven-year-old spent the winter months abroad, finishing fifth in the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia and then eighth in Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan.

He was not disgraced when third behind Trawlerman and Coltrane on his return to British action in the Henry II Stakes in late May and takes the latter on again at Listed level on the eve of the Coral-Eclipse.

Clover said: “He seems to be in good shape, so I hope he’ll run a nice race. He’s training well and we’re looking forward to running him.

“Trawlerman was obviously impressive (at Royal Ascot) and I’d like to think we’ve come forward a touch from that run. If we’re there or thereabouts that would be great.

“I just felt he stalled a little bit last time out perhaps and we thought the cheekpieces might just sharpen him up a bit, we’ll see.”

Andrew Balding’s Coltrane is sent back into battle just over a fortnight after finishing fifth in the Gold Cup, while Alan King declared his stable star Trueshan, but he has since been declared a non-runner due to unsuitable ground.

Listed honours are also up for grabs in the preceding Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes, which sees William Knight’s stable stalwart Checkandchallenge test his powers against the Balding-trained Windlord and Cash from David Simcock’s yard, among others.

Windlord, owned by Juddmonte, has been deployed as a pacemaker for the brilliant Field Of Gold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes on his last two starts and now returns to a venue where he has smart form hoping to make the most of his sights being lowered.

Oisin Murphy fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after admitting drink-driving

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Multiple champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after admitting driving a car while drunk and crashing into a tree earlier this year.

The 29-year-old was sentenced at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.

He was charged by postal requisition on June 19 after he drove his grey Mercedes A Class off the road and into a tree in Hermitage, Berkshire, at about 12.05am on April 27.

He had a passenger with him at the time, who was the owner of the car, the court heard. They were both taken to hospital after the crash.

Murphy was later discharged to take a breathalyser test at a police station at about 7am, which showed a reading of 66mg per 100 millilitres of breath.

Oisin Murphy seen leaving court on Thursday
Oisin Murphy seen leaving court on Thursday (Jonathan Brady/PA)

This meant he was “just shy of twice above the drink-driving limit” at the time of driving, prosecutor Richard Atkins told the court.

Sporting a dark blue suit, white shirt and tie, Murphy only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth, and address, before entering his guilty plea.

Judge Sam Goozee, sentencing, told Murphy: “You are lucky that neither you, your passenger, or the public were injured by your actions.

“I do balance that with the remorse you have shown for your actions.

“You have also recognised that you have let the public down by virtue of your actions, and your colleagues in the racing world.”

Murphy’s defence barrister Alex Di Francesco offered the court an apology on behalf of his client.

Mr Di Francesco said: “He wants to apologise, first to his passenger, to the public and other road users… and he wants to apologise to those whom he works alongside.”

Oisin Murphy rode five winners at Royal Ascot last month
Oisin Murphy rode five winners at Royal Ascot last month (David Davies/PA)

The day he was officially charged was the Thursday of Royal Ascot week, when he rode a double courtesy of Arabian Story and Never So Brave. He ended the showpiece meeting with five winners in total.

Murphy is due to be in action at Saratoga on Friday night, where he is booked to partner New Century in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes, before jetting back from America in time to team up with 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court in Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

In addition to his fine, Murphy must pay a £2,000 surcharge and £85 in costs. The figures were calculated based on his annual earnings, which the court heard are in the region of £250,000 a year, in addition to a weekly salary of £1,250.

Murphy will also have to complete a drink-driving awareness course by August 13 2026, and will be able to reapply for a driving licence by November next year.

The British Horseracing Authority confirmed Murphy is free to continue riding, although the governing body expressed “disappointment” in his conduct and plans to place new conditions on his licence.

A spokesperson said: “Everyone at the BHA, like all involved in our sport, is disappointed today having learned the details of the offence to which Oisin Murphy has pleaded guilty.

“This is a very serious offence that, in the course of being committed, saw Mr Murphy jeopardise not only his own safety but that of his passenger and all other people travelling on the roads at the same time as him that night.

“His conduct fell a long way short of the standard we expect of all licensed individuals, in whom we place trust that they will represent our sport to the best of their abilities, upholding our collective reputation and ensuring racing is a safe place for all.

“In light of Mr Murphy’s guilty plea and the information revealed in court today, we will be working on the addition of new conditions on his licence that may be referred to the Licensing Committee for their consideration. As has been the case in recent weeks, Mr Murphy remains free to take up his riding engagements.

“We will issue an update on this process in due course and will be making no further comment at this time.”

Oisin Murphy pleads guilty to drink driving offence

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Multiple champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been fined £70,000 after admitting drink driving after he crashed his car into a tree earlier this year.

The 29-year-old appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon where he pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.

He was not asked to plead on another count of failing to cooperate with a preliminary test at the roadside.

The four-times champion was charged by postal requisition on June 19 after he drove his grey Mercedes A Class off the road and into a tree in Hermitage, Berkshire, at about 12.05am on April 27.

He was officially charged on the Thursday of Royal Ascot week, when he rode a double courtesy of Arabian Story and Never So Brave. He ended the showpiece meeting with five winners in total.

Almaqam plans on ice as quick ground scuppers Sandown run

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Almaqam could be rerouted to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes or given a midsummer break, after being ruled out of this weekend’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown due to unsuitable ground.

Connections were keen to have a crack at Saturday’s Group One feature, with the four-year-old having impressed over the course and distance when getting the better of the subsequent Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor and Eclipse favourite Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard in late May.

However, with the ground at the Esher circuit still on the quick side, trainer Ed Walker has elected to play it safe and with a line also put through next week’s Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, Almaqam will either head to Ascot on July 26 or be saved for an autumn campaign.

“It is (frustrating to miss the Eclipse), but it’s out of our hands,” said Walker.

“He won’t go to Newmarket next week. I guess he could possibly go for the King George, but I need to speak to the team and work out whether we go there or give him a break now and keep him fresh for the autumn.

“Everything is on hold at the moment.”

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