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Staya ready to fire in Dragon Stakes task

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Staya makes a quick return in Friday’s 50 Years Together Coral Dragon Stakes at Sandown after her promising run in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.

Beaten only one and three-quarter lengths in fifth place behind True Love, Staya had previously been a comfortable winner on her Yarmouth debut and George Scott’s talented two-year-old now drops back to Listed company for a race the Newmarket handler won with Rocket Rodney in 2022.

Scott said: “She ran great. We were really happy with her.

“She was a little bit green under pressure. I think she’s probably come on for the run.

“It was either come here to Sandown or go to the July meeting and I’d really like to make her a stakes winner, then I’d be thinking about working back from the Lowther (at York) or something.

“I think this is a more sensible option for her. I do think she’s going to be a fun two-year-old filly. I really like her.”

Charlie Appleby’s Military Code is back to the distance he won at in his first two starts after failing to make his mark when upped to six furlongs for the Coventry Stakes, while Karl Burke’s Love Olivia is seeking a revival having been well held at the Royal meeting.

Rogue Supremacy is one of two in the race for David O’Meara alongside Solana Rose and was another fancied to play a leading role at Ascot.

However, in contrast to Military Code and Love Olivia, the son of St Mark’s Basilica had valid excuses when finishing down the field in the Windsor Castle.

Tony Elliott, founder of owners The Rogues Gallery, said: “We were very disappointed at Ascot and Daniel Tudhope (jockey) came in and apologised for getting it wrong, which is allowed to happen from time to time.

“He said he followed the wrong horses who he thought would go forward and they didn’t, so it was jockey error to a point and hopefully we can get it right this time with less horses in the field. Unfortunately Daniel couldn’t ride, so we have Hector Crouch on who is riding really well for us lately.

“The horse is very well and we’re expecting him to go close. We feel he has improved again at home and it’s hard to know with these St Mark’s Basilicas as at the moment we’re the best one. It’s always an experiment with a horse by a first-season stallion, but we’re hoping for big things at Sandown.”

Richard Hannon’s Lebron Power impressed on debut at Windsor and is upped in class for just his second start, while Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole’s Blue Orbit is another heading to the race on the back of a victory. Rod Millman’s course runner-up Killavia completes the line-up.

The Lion In Winter joins battle in the Prix Jean Prat

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Aidan O’Brien has added The Lion In Winter to Sunday’s Prix Jean Prat at Thursday’s supplementary stage, meaning a maximum of 10 will line-up in Sunday’s Group One feature at Deauville.

It is interesting the son of Sea The Stars reverts to the distance he excelled over at York as a juvenile, winning an Acomb Stakes which had Wimbledon Hawkeye in second and subsequent 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court back in third.

That would be his final outing at two, with a late setback ruling him out of the Dewhurst Stakes, but he was one of the market leaders throughout the winter until somewhat underwhelming in his comeback run in the Dante back on the Knavesmire.

Unperturbed by that performance, connections continued to Epsom, but after again failing to sparkle when well beaten in the premier Classic, The Lion In Winter now drops back to seven furlongs on the Normandy Coast.

Juddmonte have added Andre Fabre’s filly Apollo Fountain to the field for a race the master trainer has won a joint-record five times.

She joins fellow Juddmonte-owned contender, Harry Charlton’s Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year, and Charlie Appleby’s high-class Shadow Of Light in what could be a red-hot cast, with the home defence led by Christopher Head’s Maranoa Charlie who brings British interest thanks to his owners, the Yorkshire-based Bond Thoroughbreds operation.

Ombudsman leads the way in Eclipse for the ages

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A top-class field of six horses will go to post for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday.

All eyes will be on Ombudsman after his brilliant Prince of Wales’s Stakes victory at Royal Ascot, although John and Thady Gosden’s four-year-old faces a serious test.

Leading the opposition is Sosie for French master Andre Fabre, while Aidan O’Brien runs beaten Derby favourite Delacroix, who is the choice of Ballydoyle number one Ryan Moore, and French Derby hero Cammille Pissaro, who will be reunited with Christophe Soumillon.

Hotazhell, winner of the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last year, takes his chance for Jessica Harrington and is a third Irish raider making the visit to Esher.

Charlie Appleby has opted to run his 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, who completes the sextet stepping up to 10 furlongs for the first time and will be partnered by Oisin Murphy, with Godolphin number one William Buick pledging his allegiance to Ombudsman.

York one of the options being explored for rising star Daryz

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The Juddmonte International Stakes is “definitely an option” for the exciting Daryz, as connections search for the ideal route to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The regally-bred son of Sea The Stars impressively enhanced his unbeaten record in Saint-Cloud’s Prix Eugene Adam, with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said to be “quite interested” on another York raid, having seen Calandagan chase home City Of Troy 12 months ago in a race since officially recognised as the best in the world.

“We’re slightly scratching our heads with Daryz and we would need to sit down with Princess Zahra as well as there are several options we can take with the horse,” said Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs in France.

“I know Francis is quite interested in the idea of bringing him to the Juddmonte International and he’s obviously done very well over that trip and we’ve only ever run him him over a mile and a quarter, so it is the right trip for him.

“It would be a big ask as Sunday was only his fourth start, but he’s an improving horse and we’re really excited by him, he’s bred in the purple and a proper horse.”

Daryz entered the Arc picture after claiming the scalp of George Scott’s Bay City Roller at Saint-Cloud, with some firms going as short as 12-1 for Europe’s richest middle-distance prize.

And that race is firmly in connections’ thoughts as they also consider a long-established stepping stone closer to home ahead of the ParisLongchamp feature on October 5.

Routh added: “We have an eye on the Arc at the end of the year, but he needs to run before that and there’s several different races he could run in. He could have a traditional prep for the Arc in the Prix Niel or he could take in something like York.

“We’ll have to weigh everything up with him as he is still a little immature, but he’s improved with every race and York is definitely an option. We will just have to see what is the right option as we haven’t quite figured that out.”

With King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes-bound Calandagan also entered, Routh continued: “We would be very happy to have a runner in the race, we’re just not quite sure at this stage if it will be Daryz.

“It will come down to what the trainer thinks and what the owner thinks, but we wanted to have both Calandagan and Daryz entered for York to give us the option. We had a great time with Calandagan there last year and it’s a great track and the Juddmonte International a great race.”

Racing Bulletin for 03/07/2025

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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.

Perth

Good

 14:20 14:50 15:20 15:50 16:20 16:55
Yarmouth

Good

 14:32 15:02 15:32 16:02 16:32 17:05
Haydock Park

Good

 14:40 15:10 15:40 16:10 16:42 17:17
Kempton Park

Standard / Slow

 16:37 17:11 17:48 18:23 18:58 19:33 20:08 20:43
Bellewstown

Good

 16:47 17:22 17:57 18:32 19:07 19:42 20:17
Tipperary

Good to Yielding

 17:00 17:35 18:10 18:45 19:20 19:55 20:30
Newbury

Good to Firm

 18:05 18:40 19:15 19:50 20:25 21:00

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O’Brien: Not out of the question Moore opts for Delacroix in the Eclipse

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Aidan O’Brien has kept the door open for Ryan Moore to ride Delacroix in the Coral-Eclipse, as he confirmed both the beaten Derby favourite and winner of the French equivalent, Camille Pissarro, would head to Sandown on Saturday.

Camille Pissarro is slightly shorter than his stablemate in the sponsor’s betting, with Coral going 13-2 about the Chantilly Classic winner and 8-1 Delacroix, who will bid to bounce back from Epsom disappointment.

Speaking at Tipperary on Wednesday evening, O’Brien suggested the Ballydoyle number one was yet to make the final call on who he will ride: “We are declaring in the morning, and it looks like Delacroix and Camille Pissarro are going to go. That’s what the lads are thinking.

Aidan O'Brien with Ryan Moore and Coolmore boss John Magnier
Aidan O’Brien with Ryan Moore and Coolmore boss John Magnier (Brian Lawless/PA)

“It is not written in stone, but there is a chance Ryan could ride Delacroix, we’ll see.”

O’Brien also provided updates on dual Derby hero Lambourn and Pretty Polly scorer Whirl after both excelled in the feature events at the Curragh last weekend.

Options remain fluid for Lambourn, who could set out on a path to add to his Classic haul at Doncaster in September, or take on his elders in Ascot’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Meanwhile, Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk could be left to replicate Lambourn by following up Epsom victory at the Curragh, meaning Whirl remains at 10 furlongs for the Nassau Stakes during the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Lambourn added the Irish Derby at the Curragh to his CV on Sunday
Lambourn added the Irish Derby at the Curragh to his CV on Sunday (Brian Lawless/PA)

“Lambourn hasn’t done anything since Sunday and probably won’t for seven to 10 days,” continued O’Brien.

“His options are to be trained for the King George or have a little rest and maybe go for a Voltigeur and a St Leger, but we’ll see what the lads want to do. He’s a hardy customer, a brave horse.

“We are thinking of the Nassau for Whirl and she’s a hardy lady too. She could go there, and Minnie Hauk will be trained for the Irish Oaks.

“(Ribblesdale Stakes winner) Garden Of Eden could also be trained for the Irish Oaks.”

Bond backing Maranoa Charlie to go the distance at Deauville

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It promises to be a big afternoon for all connected with Bond Thoroughbreds on Sunday, as the exciting Maranoa Charlie makes the first start for the Yorkshire-based operation in the Prix Jean Prat.

Monsieur Bond and Ladies Are Forever both famously flourished in the black and yellow spots of the late Reg Bond, who enjoyed Group One success in France as part-owner of 2014 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Move In Time.

Now with son Charlie now at the helm, the Bond Thoroughbreds operation has a growing broodmare band at Yapham Mill Stud near Pocklington and have added a touch of quality to the ranks by swooping for Christopher Head’s crack French-trained three-year-old Maranoa Charlie, who is blessed with both a glowing pedigree and impressive on-track CV.

Monsieur Bond is one of the most famous names to represent the Yorkshire-based team
Monsieur Bond is one of the most famous names to represent the Yorkshire-based team (John Giles/PA)

“The reason we bought him was his form, but to have a colt with the speed in the pedigree from Tiggy Wiggy and by Wootton Bassett was so exciting to add to the ranks with what Bond Thoroughbreds is trying to achieve in racing,” said Charlie Bond.

“Wootton Bassett is flying at the minute and he looks to have great stallion potential for a long way down the line. We have a big broodmare band now, so we do need to be looking towards the future as well.

“We saw his last win and the time of the race compared to the other racing that day and he won a bit cosily carrying a penalty. The previous owners were fantastic to deal with and will be joining us on Sunday at Deauville.”

Maranoa Charlie was subject to plenty of hype as a two-year-old when effortlessly winning his first three starts before seeing his momentum checked when upped to Group One level at Saint-Cloud in the final outing of his juvenile campaign.

However, he has left that minor blip in the past since returning this season, winning two Group Three contests to tee-up a return to the highest level at Deauville – which in turn could lead to a raiding mission to York for the upgraded Sky Bet City of York Stakes on August 23.

“The main race for him will probably be the City of York which Christopher identified and it is our home track, which I think will really suit him,” added Bond.

“Obviously we will see how he gets on stepping back into to Group One company on Sunday, Christopher is looking forward to running him and we’ll get to see what level he is at.

Cosmic Year is a possible opponent of Maranoa Charlie
Cosmic Year is a possible opponent of Maranoa Charlie (David Davies/PA)

“It’s the best of the best in the Jean Prat and we’re straight in there in a really hot race.

“But his stature, when you look at the videos we’ve been sent of him, has been impressive and we’re really looking forward to seeing him in person.

“I’m also really looking forward to seeing him as a four-year-old. He’s a great looking horse now, but the potential improvement at four looks to be there.”

Maranoa Charlie is one of eight standing their ground for the Deauville feature, with Harry Charlton’s Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year and Charlie Appleby’s dual Group One-winning two-year-old Shadow Of Light providing further British interest.

Sandown not in Chapple-Hyam’s plans for Kon Tiki

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Kon Tiki will miss this Saturday’s Coral Distaff, with Jane Chapple-Hyam preferring to wait for Ascot’s Longines Valiant Stakes later this month.

Chapple-Hyam would like to give her filly longer to recover from her exertions in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, meaning she will not be seen in Listed action at Sandown this weekend or in Newmarket’s Group One Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes next Friday.

Chapple-Hyam said: “I’m not going to run Kon Tiki at Sandown, it is a little bit too soon after Royal Ascot so we’re just going to sit and wait.

“I think we’ll be looking at a Group Three for her next and something like the Valiant Stakes back at Ascot (July 26).”

The daughter of Night Of Thunder won her first three outings in great style, winning twice on the all-weather before transferring that form to turf when scooping Listed honours at York in the spring.

She was then given a chance in elite company after being supplemented for a red-hot Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting, finishing a creditable seventh in a race won by Joseph Murphy’s Cercene.

Sosie carrying French hopes of total Eclipse at the weekend

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French ace Sosie is primed to continue his flying start to the season when he travels to Britain for the first time in a star-studded Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday.

The four-year-old has won six of his nine starts for Andre Fabre, breaking his Group One duck in the Grand Prix de Paris last season before signing off with a fourth-placed finish in the Arc.

The Sea The Stars colt appears to have taken his game to another level since returning to action this spring, successfully dropping back in trip to land both the Prix Ganay and the Prix d’Ispahan at ParisLongchamp, and connections expect a stiff mile and a quarter at Sandown to suit him ideally.

Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for owners the Wertheimer brothers, said: “I think he’s a very good horse, he’s won three Group Ones and we’re very excited to travel him to England for such a big race.

“The fact he has now won Group Ones over nine furlongs and 10 furlongs changed a lot of things, of course. I don’t know how the ground (at Sandown) is going to be at the moment, but he will be happy with good ground.”

Sosie is second-favourite for the Eclipse behind John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman, who is set to turn out less than three weeks after his brilliant display in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Aidan O’Brien’s French Derby winner Camille Pissarro and the Owen Burrows-trained Anmaat are other contenders for what looks a particularly strong renewal, but having seen Vadeni become the first French-trained winner of the race since 1960 three years ago, Sosie’s camp are relishing the challenge.

“I think it’s a very good test and it’s a very strong field,” Bureau added.

“It will be interesting to see the three-year-olds and it comes quite quickly for the horses after Royal Ascot, but our horse is doing very well and hopefully he can be competitive.”

It is 10 years since the famous Wertheimer silks were last carried into the Group One winner’s enclosure in Britain, with Solow winning the Queen Anne, the Sussex Stakes and the QEII during a fantastic 2015 campaign.

Bureau said: “We don’t come that often, but we like to come with horses that have strong chances.

“It’s going to be very exciting, hopefully Sosie can continue the very nice start he has made this year.”

Connections of White Birch elect to play it safe and swerve Eclipse

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White Birch will be a notable absentee from a stellar Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday on account of anticipated fast conditions.

John Joseph Murphy’s star performer was one of 11 confirmed for the Esher track’s summer highlight on Monday, but connections have now decided not to make the trip from Ireland while the weather refuses to break.

“White Birch is not going to run, it’s looking like they will have proper good to firm ground at Sandown,” said George Murphy, who is assistant to his father.

“We made the decision good ground would be the quickest we would run him on, so it’s not ideal for Saturday.”

White Birch made a pleasing start to the season by finishing second to Los Angeles in the Mooresbridge Stakes before an unlucky fourth to the same rival when defending his Tattersalls Gold Cup crown.

However, he also missed Royal Ascot for the second year running when quick conditions ruled him out of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, connections are now minded to hit the pause button ahead of a late-season campaign on more suitable going.

Murphy added: “We’ll chat to the owners but it is more than likely we will give him an easy time now and wait for the end of the summer/start of autumn when we’re more likely to get a little ease in the ground.

“It’s been pretty quick for a while now, but he’s in good shape and we just want to look after him.”

New Beverley race seen as a good fit for Al Qareem

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Al Qareem is on track to fly the flag for Yorkshire in the inaugural running of the Charlie Wood Stakes at Beverley on Saturday.

Trained by Middleham’s Karl Burke and owned by the locally-based Nick Bradley Racing, the six-year-old is a fitting competitor in the mile-and-a-half Listed event which was previously run as the Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket and now named after his Hull-born contemporary, the 1887 champion jockey Wood.

“I think he will run and I see a couple of them in the race have been declared elsewhere and I think it is a very winnable option for him,” said Nick Bradley.

“It’s a new race with £28,000 to the winner, it’s a Listed race and even with a penalty he’s clear of everything else in the race. Beverley is a front-runner’s track and will suit him so I don’t see too much wrong with the race.”

Al Qareem has been in top form this season, winning at Nottingham in the Further Flight Stakes in April before finishing an honourable second to Aidan O’Brien’s Gold Cup runner-up Illinois at Chester.

He followed that up with a destructive display at York when handing Willie Mullins’ Absurde a four-and-a-half length beating in the Listed Grand Cup, and a return to the Knavesmire for the John Smith’s Silver Cup is available as an option if connections make a late defection from Beverley.

“The alternative is York the following race and he’ll run in one of the two, but I think I’m favouring Beverley.” continued Bradley.

“He did well last time and Clifford (Lee, jockey) gave him a brilliant ride that day, he got the second horse (Absurde) keen and we got lucky that a few behind didn’t really show up.

“I thought it was a career best but I’m not sure the horse is particularly getting really better, we’re just managing him better and placing him better. We know him more now.”

Isle Of Jura targeting September Stakes reappearance

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Isle Of Jura is on course to make his long-awaited comeback in the September Stakes at Kempton.

The son of New Approach has been off the track for more than a year following his impressive win in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last season.

The five-year-old is back in work but Scott will not rush a racecourse return as he prepares Isle Of Jura for a campaign in the Middle East.

Scott said: “Isle Of Jura is great. I’m really, really happy with him. He’s had a few weeks cantering now.

“We’re tentatively aiming for the September Stakes at Kempton as a prep run for a Middle Eastern campaign which can start in Bahrain for the Bahrain International.

“It’s a little way away at the moment, but we’re pleased with the way he’s coming along and we’re thinking of Kempton for his return.”

Ghostwriter booked for Saratoga assignment

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Clive Cox is looking forward to crossing the Atlantic with Ghostwriter, who appears set for another taste of international competition in Saratoga’s Sword Dancer Stakes next month.

The son of Invincible Spirit ran with credit in the Middle East in the spring, finishing fourth in the Dubai Turf in his first race outside of Europe and having again performed admirably when stepped up in trip for the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, Cox is now keen to head Stateside on August 9.

Cox said: “Ascot was a solid run which opens up more possibilities now going a mile and a half. At the moment we intend to take him to America at the beginning of August – that race is very much on the agenda and we’re looking forward to making plans for that.

Ghostwriter is one Clive Cox's stable stars
Ghostwriter is one Clive Cox’s stable stars (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He relished the travelling when we took him to Dubai in the spring and I’m hoping we can travel with a little bit of confidence this time and it seems a very logical and sensible plan.”

Ghostwriter was subject of plenty of headlines prior to his run at Royal Ascot having been bought for £2million on the eve of the summer highlight by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation.

In the race itself, he found just Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting Rebel’s Romance and Joseph O’Brien’s dual Group One scorer Al Riffa too good, finishing third, a performance that proves he remains a reliable model of consistency in elite company.

Cox added: “I think the Hardwicke was a Group Two in name only and it was full of very creditable Group One performers really, but I was thrilled he hit the line well and proved the mile and a half trip is going to be suitable.

“I think he’s become very professional and is also supremely consistent, his race record is really admirable and I’m pleased to be a part of his training and very happy with how he’s come out of Ascot as well.”

Racing Bulletin for 02/07/2025

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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.

Thirsk

Good to Firm

 14:03 14:33 15:03 15:33 16:03 16:38 17:13 17:48
Worcester

Good

 14:15 14:45 15:15 15:45 16:15 16:50 17:25
Tipperary

Good

 17:05 17:40 18:10 18:40 19:10 19:45 20:20
Chepstow

Good to Firm

 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:35 20:10 20:45
Epsom Downs

Good

 18:20 18:50 19:23 19:58 20:30 21:00

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No joy for Jack Kennedy on riding return at Tipperary

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There was no joy for Jack Kennedy, as he made his return to the saddle with three rides at Tipperary on Tuesday.

The 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 back on the sidelines since, missing showpiece meetings at Aintree and Punchestown as well as the conclusion of the 2024-25 Irish season.

He linked up with long-time ally Gordon Elliott for all three mounts, with his first ride back aboard Royal Eagle who was sent off 5-2 for the Walter Hennessy Auctioneers Mares Beginners Chase and was prominent for a long way before weakening late in the day.

It was a similar story aboard Lakota Blue (12-1) who was well held in the Baileys Hotel Cashel Beginners Chase, while Kennedy was also out of luck as the 8-11 favourite St Cuthbert’s Cave could only finish third in the concluding Packie Downey Memorial Rated Novice Chase.

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