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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Philippart de Foy makes Amo switch to Freemason Lodge

Kevin Philippart de Foy has been chosen by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing to replace Raphael Freire as retained trainer at Freemason Lodge in Newmarket.

The Belgian, who already trains in the town, will move to one of the most historic stables in the country, which Joorabchian recently purchased upon the retirement of Sir Michael Stoute.

The news comes at the same time as the completion of an extensive refurbishment and will see Freire return to his previous role as Amo’s private trainer.

“First, I’d like to welcome Kevin Philippart de Foy as our new trainer at Freemason Lodge,” said Joorabchian in a statement posted on Amo’s X account.

“Kevin is a fantastic horseman who understands our goals and shares our ambition. Having known and worked with him for several years, it makes this transition even smoother. We know his character fits and our ideas align perfectly.

“We believe he’s the right person to take the operation to the next level, and we’re excited about what’s ahead with him leading the team at this historic yard.

“At the same time, I want to say a big thank you to Raphael for stepping up and doing such a brilliant job getting Freemason up and running. His work over the past few months has been crucial, and he’s laid a solid foundation for the future.”

He added: “Raphael has been a big part of Amo Racing’s journey so far, and he continues to be an integral part of our team moving forward.”

Philippart de Foy said: “I am deeply honoured to have been entrusted with the responsibility of taking over at Freemason Lodge and training such an exciting string of horses for Amo Racing.

“This is a major milestone in my career, and I’m incredibly grateful to Kia and the team for the opportunity.

“Amo Racing’s investment and ambition in the sport are truly inspiring, and I look forward to playing my part in what I hope will be a very successful journey together.”

‘Fantasy racing’ for York with Japanese superstar in Juddmonte International mix

Danon Decile, winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic for Japan, was the surprise name among 28 entries for the Juddmonte International at York on August 20 – and excitement is already building on the Knavesmire.

Last year’s Japanese Derby winner travelled to Dubai as something of an unknown quantity having subsequently finished only sixth in the Japanese St Leger, after which he was a close third in the Arima Kinen and won a Group Two.

Relatively unconsidered in the betting for the Sheema Classic, he beat Calandgan by a length and a quarter in the Meydan feature, with Rebel’s Romance adding substance to the form in fourth.

Should he make the journey he may be joined from Japan by Tenno Sho winner Redentor.

York’s chief executive William Derby said: “It’s hugely exciting and I’m thrilled that we’ve got two entries from Japan.

“Obviously I saw him in Dubai when he won the Sheema Classic, he was devastating that night and he’s among the top three (rated) turf horses in the world.”

The 10-furlong Group One was again officially the best race in the world last year, when City Of Troy beat Calandagan, and while the winner is now at stud the runner-up could be back for Francis-Henri Graffard who has also entered his hugely exciting three-year-old Daryz.

Field Of Gold for the sponsors, Ombudsman, Lead Artist, Detain and the unexposed Nahraan give John and Thady Gosden an enviable hand.

Camille Pissarro, Henri Matisse, Los Angeles, Lambourn, Minnie Hauk and Whirl are part of Aidan O’Brien’s squad.

City Of Troy beat Calandagan in last year's Juddmonte International
City Of Troy beat Calandagan in last year’s Juddmonte International (Mike Egerton/PA)

The 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, Almaqam and Anmaat, all entered for the Eclipse this weekend, are engaged.

Derby went on: “It’s so exciting for our flagship race, that was rated the Longines best race in the world last year, to have such a potential field.

“We hope success breeds success and with prize-money of £1.25million it’s put us on a global stage.

“With Field Of Gold and many others in there it looks like the best turf middle-distance horses in the world could be heading our way, at this early stage, admittedly.

“It was great to see Calandagan finally get his Group One at the weekend having run a blinder behind City Of Troy last year, he could be back again, but his stablemate has been mentioned for the race and he looks very exciting.”

All the major races at the Ebor meeting have closed for entries, including a new Group One in the Pattern, the Sky Bet City of York Stakes.

“I’m delighted to see such a strong entry for that,” said Derby.

“There’s Lazzat, Inisherin, Quinault, who won on Saturday, and one horse who did catch my eye was The Lion in Winter who would be dropping back in trip.

“The Nunthorpe looks as good as ever and it was so nice to see Jim Goldie and Paul Mulrennan win at Royal Ascot with American Affair. Having won a handicap at our Dante meeting just in May, it would be some story if he can win the Nunthorpe a few months later.

“The Yorkshire Oaks has all the fillies you would expect like Aidan’s Minnie Hauk and Whirl among the three-year-olds and then there’s David O’Meara’s Estrange who looked exciting at Haydock.

“It’s that time when you play fantasy racing. I know they won’t all turn up, but we’re excited about the prospect of some of them turning up.”

Merchant camp planning to stick to Goodwood route

Only a dramatic shake-up to the envisaged King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes line-up is likely to tempt connections of Merchant from the path already mapped out for the exciting colt.

William Haggas’ Royal Ascot winner saw the form of his King George V Stakes success enhanced when runner-up Serious Contender chased home Lambourn in the Irish Derby, but the Merchant team are at present resisting the temptation of a return to Ascot for their Group One feature on July 26.

“It’s really exciting and as we know it’s pretty stiff form,” said Harry Herbert of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

“I’m a great believer in you never say never and if you have the entry then you can consider all options, but I couldn’t envisage him running in the King George unless Calandagan suddenly couldn’t go and a couple more fell by the wayside.

“If you had Aidan O’Brien’s dual Derby winner leading the betting, then that’s something that might lead to another conversation but for right now the plan is to go to Goodwood.”

With King George thoughts on the back burner, Merchant’s route is likely to be as previously outlined, with the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on July 31 setting up a possible visit to York during the Ebor Festival.

Tom Marquand aboard Merchant after winning at Royal Ascot
Tom Marquand aboard Merchant after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Herbert added: “The plan is to go for the Gordon Stakes and play it one race at a time and if he happens to win there and depending on how he comes out of it, we’ll probably then head to the Great Voltigeur (August 20) and take it from there.

“He’s a high-class colt and like all these horses, it will all depend on how they develop on during the season and fingers crossed he’s going to be a pretty important beast.”

Buick expected to maintain Ombudsman partnership in the Eclipse

William Buick is poised to maintain his partnership with Ombudsman in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday, despite Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court holding an entry.

Speaking on a media Zoom call, joint-trainer Thady Gosden confirmed Buick is set to take the ride on the four-year-old, who was a brilliant winner of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

And confidence is high in the camp that he can follow up in the traditional first clash of the generations, albeit respectful of the fact the gap between the Royal meeting and the Eclipse is a relatively short one.

“We’ve had some nice horses from the yard run in it over the years. It’s a fantastic race and it’s a big thanks to Coral for 50 years of sponsorship, it’s pretty amazing,” said Gosden, who trains alongside his father, John, a four-time Eclipse winner.

“Obviously it is a very tight turnaround, we’d rather have given him longer, especially when they are running in solid Group One races. But he’s in very good order, he’d only had the one run before Ascot at Sandown in the Brigadier Gerard when he was second to Almaqam.

“He hasn’t had a hard season, he hasn’t had a hard career so far really, so we thought why not get him ready for this.

“The Prince of Wales’s was a very tough race against plenty of hard-knocking Group One horses and he was still relatively inexperienced, it was his first run in a Group One.”

The turn of foot on display at Ascot means Ombudsman has been all the rage for this, so much so that any thoughts to run his stablemate Field Of Gold in the race were immediately shelved after he was also successful at Ascot, in his case over a mile in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Ombudsman's win was John Gosden's 70th at Royal Ascot
Ombudsman’s win was John Gosden’s 70th at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“They both ran huge races at Ascot,” said Gosden.

“Field Of Gold was particularly impressive, just the natural speed he has, and the raw speed he showed there, why rush into a mile and a quarter when you know he’s got the class over a mile that he’s shown.

“It’s the first meeting of the generations. The three-year-olds look very good, you’ve got a French Derby winner in there (Camille Pissarro), some serious three-year-olds.

“We’ve got Field Of Gold among that generation, but obviously they’ve been running over different trips, his form does tie in with Ruling Court. They look a very solid bunch.

“Of course you’ve got Sosie who is probably the best 10/12-furlong horse in France coming over as well. We finished second to him in the Prix d’Ispahan with Sardinian Warrior and he won the Ganay the time before that.

“All these horses have a very good turn of foot, but he’s got plenty of speed, he’s always had it, he’s improved every start and he stays a mile and a quarter well.

“He’s meeting a few of the same rivals again, but now there’s the three-year-olds with a weight advantage and Sosie looks a serious horse, so he might have to improve again.”

Shes Perfect just that in workout, with Newmarket decision pending

Shes Perfect worked nicely on the July course on Tuesday morning, with Charlie Fellowes set to make a decision on her participation in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes in the coming days.

First past the post in the French 1000 Guineas before being demoted by the ParisLongchamp stewards, she failed failed to see out the 10-furlong trip in the Prix de Diane.

Fellowes would love a confidence-boosting win, with the Group Three Valiant Stakes at Ascot later in the month an alternative, but he also feels Newmarket will suit the daughter of Sioux Nation.

“The gallop went really well and I was very, very happy. She worked over seven furlongs, it was beautiful ground and I was very grateful to those at the July course for letting us do it,” said Fellowes.

“She looked great after it and we’ll see how she comes out of it. I’ll probably make a decision in the next few days or so.

“It’s a funny one, if it was the Valiant at Newmarket and the Group One at Ascot it would be a very easy decision because I like the idea of running at Newmarket – but I also like the idea of dropping down in grade and giving her a confidence boost. I just think Newmarket will suit her better than Ascot.

“We’ll look at potentially what is going to turn up and we’ll go from there.”

Dunlop ready to step up in class with Skukuza

Ed Dunlop is excited to see what the future holds for Skukuza following a second successful raid on the Curragh.

Having won a valuable handicap on Guineas weekend, he returned on Sunday to win a Listed race even more impressively on the Irish Derby undercard.

His victories have come over a mile, but Dunlop would have no qualms stepping him up in trip, with his liking for a bit of ease in the ground meaning he could be doing more travelling.

“We always thought he was a decent horse, he obviously ran very well in the Britannia last year (second) but then had a hiccup and didn’t run again,” said Dunlop.

“He’s a horse that we need to protect from fast ground after that, which is why he’s been to Ireland twice. He’s improving and he’s becoming exciting.

“It was quick ground again at Ascot so we missed the Hunt Cup. It didn’t do him any good the year before, so we thought it wouldn’t do him any good this year.

“Obviously the Bunbury Cup will come too quick and he will have penalties for the others (International at Ascot and Golden Mile at Goodwood), so I’d have though handicaps are out now. I hope we’ll be looking at Group races now.

“There are various options but it’s too early to decide where next, we wouldn’t be scared of going up in trip. Ryan (Moore) was keen to go forward from his draw and that is the first time he’s made the running which was encouraging. He will go further in time, whether we need to yet, we’ll see. He’ll have options in France and England but we’ll be dictated by ground.

“He’s still a colt, he’s a homebred for Mrs (Gaynor) Rupert so it’s very exciting for her. It was a fantastic day.”

Racing Bulletin for 01/07/2025

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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.

Tipperary

Good to Yielding

13:48 14:18 14:48 15:18 15:48 16:18 16:50 17:23
Musselburgh

Good

14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00
Brighton

Good to Firm

14:40 15:10 15:40 16:10 16:40 17:15
Roscommon

Good

17:08 17:38 18:08 18:38 19:08 19:38 20:08
Chelmsford

Standard / Slow

18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00
Stratford

Good to Firm

18:18 18:48 19:18 19:48 20:18 20:48

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Nassau now looks set to be next for Cercene

Joe Murphy is now favouring heading to Goodwood with his Coronation Stakes winner Cercene over the Irish Oaks.

In the immediate aftermath of the popular success at Royal Ascot, connections raised the possibility of supplementing the diminutive filly for the Curragh Classic.

However, Murphy’s enthusiasm to step up half a mile in trip appears to have cooled and the Visit Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood looks favourite, followed by the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes on Irish Champions Festival.

“She came out of Ascot very well and we are very happy with her,” said Murphy, whose filly was a 33-1 winner at the showpiece meeting.

“We were thinking of going to the Juddmonte Irish Oaks with her, but we might be leaning towards the Nassau now and then from there we would definitely be looking to go on to the Matron Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival.

“The reaction to her winning the Coronation was unbelievable. I got over a thousand texts. I think people got a great kick out of it. As I said before, it was liking winning an All-Ireland medal. I waited 50 years to get the first Group One but the thing is, when you’ve gotten one, you want two, isn’t that it?

“Cercene is continuing to improve it seems, which is what you like to see, so we’ll look forward to what is to come.”

Newmarket workout key to Falmouth plans for Shes Perfect

Shes Perfect faces a crucial gallop on the July course at Newmarket which will decide whether or not she lines up in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes.

The Charlie Fellowes-trained filly was first past the post in the French 1000 Guineas only to be demoted by the stewards in favour of runner-up Zarigana.

Since then she was a blatant non-stayer in the Prix de Diane over 10 furlongs and Fellowes is keen to see how she handles the undulations at HQ before committing her to next week’s Group One.

“She’s really good. She’s going to work on the July course on Tuesday and depending on how that goes and her well-bring will determine whether or not we are going to the Falmouth on Friday week,” said Fellowes.

“If she doesn’t we could sit tight and go for something like the Valiant at Ascot on King George day (July 26).

“If she works really well and handles the undulations then I think we might find it hard to resist Newmarket, but if we feel the track doesn’t suit her then we might wait for Ascot.

“Ascot should suit her, although it is quite a stiff mile it is a drop down in grade and she wouldn’t have a penalty. I’d say it’s between those two.

“At the end of the day she’s not a stakes winner so although she was first past the post in a French Guineas, which will be a big asset to her valuation if and when she is sold, it would be nice to make her a stakes winner.

“It would be good to get her head in front and give her a confidence booster, but if she works really well, Newmarket can be one of those tracks where if you get on a roll in front you can be hard to pin back so it’s a track that interests me.

“She does handle soft ground so we’ve got that up our sleeve for the autumn, we’ve lots of nice options.”

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