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

Racing Bulletin for 28/06/2025

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Latest News and Features

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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.

Curragh

Good

 13:15 13:45 14:20 14:55 15:30 16:05 16:40 17:15
Windsor

Good to Firm

 13:35 14:15 14:50 15:25 16:00 16:35 17:10
Newcastle

Standard

 13:40 14:10 14:40 15:15 15:45 16:25 17:00 17:30
York

Good

 13:55 14:25 15:00 15:40 16:15 16:50 17:25
Chester

Good

 14:00 14:30 15:05 15:35 16:10 16:45 17:20
Lingfield Park

Good to Firm

 17:35 18:10 18:45 19:15 19:45 20:15 20:45
Doncaster

Good to Firm

 17:50 18:25 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00

Today's Featured Article

Chester Draw & Pace Bias: Part 1

Today's Feature of the Day is...

Trainer/Jockey Combo report

Good luck!


Composing calls the tune in informative Curragh maiden

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Wayne Lordan managed to get a great tune out of Composing, as Aidan O’Brien got his Irish Derby weekend off to a flying start at the Curragh on Friday evening.

O’Brien will seek yet another Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby victory with Epsom hero Lambourn on Sunday, but first extended his fine record in the O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Irish EBF Fillies Maiden that has produced a plethora of Group One winners for Ballydoyle in recent years.

Lake Victoria (2024) and Ylang Ylang (2023) are the most recent winners of the seven furlong event and Composing – who was sent off at 3-1 – looks to be developing into a smart operator herself as she reversed the form of her debut fifth at this track with Donnacha O’Brien’s Cape Sounion who was second once again.

Ryan Moore was on Minerva who finished well beaten in ninth.

O’Brien said of the winner: “I’m delighted with her, she came forward lovely from her last run.

“The two fillies worked together the last day. Ryan’s filly (Minerva, ninth) followed her up and looked to be going better than her but, for whatever reason, Ryan’s filly is just not getting it together.

“Ryan said all she wanted to do was go right. She’s obviously just very green and babyish mentally so we’ll give her more time.

“Wayne’s filly is lovely and straightforward and he gave her a lovely ride. She’s a filly that will get further, she’s uncomplicated. Ryan was very impressed with her when he came in, watching Wayne’s filly, and Wayne was very happy with her too.

“Wayne said she went to the line with her ears pricked and she probably has the makings of a lovely filly. She’s out of an Australia mare so she’s going to stay as well.”

O’Brien hinted the Debutante Stakes could be her next port of call.

However, the Ballydoyle handler did not get it all his own way on the card and had to settle for second in the opening Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub Irish EBF Maiden, as Moore and Puerto Rico lost out to Ger Lyons’ Learntodiscover.

Sent off 7-2, Learntodiscover was given a forward-going ride by Colin Keane and had enough in reserve to hold off the 4-6 favourite by a neck.

“Boxed ticked for our horse and I’d say Ryan (Moore) was a little bit unlucky,” said Lyons.

“It wasn’t a wow performance. He’s a horse that we like but I was probably a tad disappointed with the performance.

“I didn’t like his head carriage in the last furlong, whether that’s conditions or whatever.

“I don’t think he hit the line as strong as you’d like him to hit it if he’s going to go forward into the next level, so let’s just see.

“We’ll go back to Glenburnie and dream about something and try and get him to the next stage, which I haven’t been doing greatly this year so I need to sort that out.”

Oisin Murphy to continue riding ahead of court appearance

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Oisin Murphy was among the winners at Doncaster on Friday, with the British Horseracing Authority confirming the multiple champion jockey can continue to ride ahead of his court date next week.

Thames Valley Police said in a statement on Thursday that the 29-year-old had been charged in connection with a road traffic accident in Berkshire in April. It is alleged he was over the prescribed alcohol limit and failed to cooperate when asked to give a preliminary test at the scene.

On Friday the BHA said there was nothing to prevent Murphy continuing to ride on an ongoing basis and he travelled to Doncaster for five mounts, winning the Doncaster Racecourse Supporting Racing Staff Week Handicap aboard the Andrew Balding-trained 8-13 favourite Displaying.

The four-time champion is due to be in action at York on Saturday where his six booked mounts include Formal in the Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes.

Murphy – who rode five winners at Royal Ascot last week – is due to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on July 3. He was charged last Thursday, when he rode at double at the showpiece meeting through Arabian Story and Never So Brave.

Kalpana out to return to winning ways in Pretty Polly

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Kalpana will bid follow in some illustrious hoofprints by providing owner-breeders Juddmonte with back-to-back victories in the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

The powerhouse operation landed the Group One feature with subsequent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking 12 months ago – and following an excellent start to her campaign when third behind Los Angeles and Anmaat in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Andrew Balding’s filly looks to add her name to the roll of honour.

“It looks a great renewal, but Kalpana is in good nick, we’re happy with her and she obviously ran well over the course and distance last time,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager, Barry Mahon.

Having rounded off last season with Group One success on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot, Kalpana was expected to pursue the “Bluestocking route” this term, with Europe’s premier middle-distance contest in Paris on the first Sunday in October a long-term goal.

A planned comeback in York’s Middleton Stakes had to be aborted due to a dirty scope, but she showed her worth behind two top-class colts in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and having since sidestepped the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot, she makes a second successive trip across the Irish Sea to take on Aidan O’Brien’s Whirl, who was second to stablemate Minnie Hauk in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom three weeks ago.

Mahon added: “I think the ground was probably a little on the quick side in Ascot. We’ve had a bit of rain here and I’m sure the ground will be good, whereas it was 30 or 32 degrees every day in Ascot and it was just starting to get a bit quick for her.

“We decided to wait and take on our own sex in a Group One instead of going in a Group Two against colts. It’s probably going to be tough to give 12lb to a filly of Whirl’s calibre, but she’s in good form and she’s ready to run a good race.”

Whirl winning the Musidora Stakes at York
Whirl winning the Musidora Stakes at York (Danny Lawson/PA)

Whirl dominated from the front in the Musidora Stakes at York before being beaten a neck by her stable companion at Epsom.

O’Brien said: “She’s a three-year-old, but we always thought this was a race that would suit her and she seems to have come out of Epsom well.

“She won the Musidora over a mile and a quarter and was very impressive that day. It was a big run out of her in Epsom as well and that was a step up to a mile and a half, but looking at her in York you’d say she’ll have no problem going back to a Group One over a mile and a quarter.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Oaks fourth Wemightakedlongway also features, as does French raider Survie, who was last seen finishing second to Arc runner-up Aventure in a Group Two at Saint-Cloud.

Pappano bidding to give Mullins another major prize

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Fresh from further success at Royal Ascot, Willie Mullins takes aim at another major Flat prize in Britain this weekend as Pappano lines up for the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

The master of Closutton claimed his 11th and 12th winners at the Royal meeting last week, with Ethical Diamond striking gold in the Duke of Edinburgh before Sober laughed at his rivals in the traditional finale, the Queen Alexandra Stakes.

Pappano, a talented Flat performer for John and Thady Gosden before changing hands for 200,000 guineas last October, was pulled up on his stable debut in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but must be considered a major contender for the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’ at Gosforth Park on Saturday.

Willie Mullins at Royal Ascot last week
Willie Mullins at Royal Ascot last week (John Walton/PA)

“Obviously he had his first run for us in the Triumph, but looking back at his Flat form in England it looks like most of his best form is on the all-weather,” said Mullins’ assistant, David Casey.

“He got balloted out of the Copper Horse in Ascot last week and this was the next step for him.

“I think the trip will suit and hopefully he’ll run a good race.”

While Pappano missed Royal Ascot, James Owen’s East India Dock was not disgraced when attempting to follow up his Chester Cup success in the Ascot Stakes.

The Triumph Hurdle third was beaten less than two lengths when sixth to Henry de Bromhead’s Ascending with his Newmarket handler happy to return to the well only 11 days later.

“He’s come out of Ascot really well and I thought he ran a cracker there, he wasn’t beaten far at all and we were really pleased with his run,” said Owen.

“As I say he’s come out of it well and he’ll be having a break soon before he goes back jumping, so it’s worth another roll of the dice.”

Brian Ellison’s defending champion Onesmoothoperator has been travelling the globe since landing his locally born handler the race he cherishes most of all 12 months ago.

A winner of the Geelong Cup in Australia during the winter before running respectably in the Melbourne Cup, he has most recently been campaigned in Dubai and will now carry the burden of top-weight for his Tyneside return.

“He’s in great form, obviously he’s 12lb higher and has top-weight, but I couldn’t be happier with him,” said Ellison.

“We gave him a good break after Dubai and the plan was just to come straight here.

“He gets dropped in, so it doesn’t matter where he’s drawn and he’s a superstar. He’s definitely improving and has definitely got better and his work has been brilliant.

“It would be fantastic if he could do it again, we’ll see.”

Also returning for another crack at the Newcastle feature is Thomas Faulkner’s Golden Rules who went agonisingly close in 2023 and after a spell on the sidelines since then, heads back to the north east following a Kempton tune-up which is the same route connections followed two years ago.

Faulkner said: “We are hoping for a good run. He is very fit and well and we couldn’t be happier with him. We are just hoping for a little more luck this year than we had in 2023.”

Formal mixing it against the boys in Criterion

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Andrew Balding’s exciting filly Formal takes on the boys in what looks a strong renewal of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes at York on Saturday.

The seven-furlong Group Three is being run on the Knavesmire for the first time following a switch from Newmarket and is being viewed by some as a stepping-stone to the City of York Stakes, which now carries Group One status and is run over the same course and distance at the Ebor Festival later in the summer.

Formal disappointed on her seasonal debut in the Fred Darling at Newbury, but showed her true colours when winning Epsom’s Surrey Stakes on Oaks day three weeks ago and that form received a significant boost after the runner-up Saqqara Sands landed a Listed prize at Carlisle on Wednesday.

“We were going to wait for the Oak Tree at Goodwood, but Andrew was quite keen to let her take her chance on Saturday and I don’t think he’s discounted Goodwood either,” said Chris Richardson, managing director for owners Cheveley Park Stud.

“She seems to have come out of Epsom really well and they’re very happy with her. Andrew is keen to have a go, he thinks it’s a good opportunity and seven furlongs should be her trip, so we’ll all learn a bit more about her.”

The likely favourite is the William Haggas-trained Lake Forest, who returns to action less than a fortnight after finishing fifth over a mile in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.

The four-year-old beat Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Lazzat in the Golden Eagle in Australia last year and jockey Tom Marquand is excited to ride him back over this shorter trip.

“It was a good run at Ascot, it was a funny race as we sprinted from a good way down and it was the second wave who went over the top in Docklands and Rosallion,” Marquand told Sky Sports Racing.

“They were the best of the division and I thought he ran a respectable race.

“It’s a quick enough back up but he’s a tough little horse, he loves fast ground and seven furlongs at York should be on the money trip-wise so I’m looking forward to getting back on him.”

Paborus has won four of his six starts with Ed Bethell and will carry the Wathnan Racing colours for the first time.

Wathnan’s racing adviser, Richard Brown, said: “He wouldn’t want rattling ground so with the dry spell we’ve had we’ve just had to be patient with him.

“We’ll see what Saturday brings, he was very impressive at Thirsk last time and he’s a big horse who we hope has a big future, but we will have to mind him ground-wise.

“Ed is a great guy and one of the most impressive young trainers in the country and Wathnan are delighted to have a horse with potential with him.”

The Dylan Cunha-trained Prague was a brilliant winner of Newmarket’s Joel Stakes last season but failed to fire in the QEII at Ascot on Champions Day and has not been seen in competitive action since.

“He’s in great form – as well as I’ve ever seen him. He’s training really well,” said Cunha.

“The drop to seven furlongs is just because he’s quite keen in his races – we just want to teach him to settle. We’ve been going a mile and a mile and a quarter with him, but his mother (Princess Noor) was actually a six-furlong Group Three winner.

“It’s an experiment but if he runs in the first two he’ll go to the City of York. If it’s too short, he’ll run in the Strensall. He’s definitely going to York twice in the next two months!”

Kind Of Blue on retrieval mission in Chipchase

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After missing Royal Ascot, Kind Of Blue attempts to regain the winning thread at Newcastle on Saturday in the JenningsBet Chipchase Stakes.

James Fanshawe’s star speedster claimed Group One honours at Ascot last October and was being teed-up for a return to the Berkshire track for the Royal meeting.

However, after his belated reappearance at Chantilly in the Prix du Gros-Chene went wrong leaving the stalls and with owners Wathnan Racing having a crack team for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, the decision was taken to take stock and divert to the slightly calmer waters of this Group Three event.

Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown said: “The plan was to obviously give him the prep race in France and it all just went wrong and he was left standing in the stalls for a very long time, then the horse next to him reared causing him to rear just as they were about to let them go and we missed the break by a very long way.

“We decided to miss Ascot because we wanted to get him back on track before building back up, so we dodged Ascot and obviously we had Lazzat and Flora Of Bermuda for that race (first and third).

“We left Ascot behind in favour of coming here to hopefully give him a chance to start his season properly and we’re looking forward to seeing him run.”

Kind Of Blue’s display at Gosforth Park could determine how the rest of his season maps out, with connections keen to see the same dash of quality that made the son of Blue Point a must have purchase for the Emir of Qatar’s team last autumn.

“I think the July Cup will come too soon, but we will see how this goes before making any firm plans,” continued Brown, when assessing future options.

“At the moment we want to see Kind Of Blue show us he’s as good as he was on Champions Day last year. All the signs are positive and he’s been working very well but he’s got to go and show it on the racecourse.

“We’ll watch him run and make a plan after that.”

However, Kind Of Blue will not get things all his own way with Jack Channon’s progressive Ferrous now stepping into Group company in the form of his life after racking up an early season hat-trick.

“He’s in great form, obviously after his last win we had the Chipchase on our minds so we’ve freshened him right up,” said Channon, whose five-year-old was a winner over course and distance in May.

“He’s had time out in the paddock and has been training really well the last few weeks. He went for a racecourse gallop last week, it went really well so we are all set for Saturday.”

Others with winning form at Newcastle in the race include Clive Cox’s Diligent Harry and Mick Appleby’s Annaf, while Owen Burrows’ Alyanaabi was second to City Of Troy as a juvenile and now scratches the itch of connections to try six furlongs sporting first-time blinkers.

“It’s a stiff six at Newcastle and Jim (Crowley) has always intimated he wouldn’t mind trying that” said Burrows.

“We’re going first-time blinkers as well, so we thought this might be the perfect time to give it a go.

“He was obviously disappointing at Haydock last time and Jim felt he perhaps wasn’t putting 100 per cent in hence the blinkers. But he’s been fine since and goes there in good shape.”

Lazy Griff all set for a third crack at Lambourn in Irish Derby

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Charlie Johnston is “more than happy” to let Lazy Griff take on Lambourn for a third time in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.

A Group Three winner in France at the end of his juvenile campaign, Lazy Griff made his return to action in last month’s Chester Vase and emerged with plenty of credit in finishing second to Lambourn, earning him a shot at the Betfred Derby at Epsom.

Johnston’s charge was a widely unconsidered 50-1 shot for the premier Classic, but belied those odds with an excellent effort to again finish best of the rest behind Aidan O’Brien’s front-running colt and round three will take place at the Curragh this weekend.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to come to, perhaps the Grand Prix de Paris might have been an easier challenge and we certainly wouldn’t have been taking on a horse that’s already beaten us twice, but the lure of the Irish Derby was too strong to turn down,” said Johnston.

“We’re under no illusions about the task in hand because it is two-nil to Lambourn, but having said that we weren’t afraid to have another go at him.

“It’ll be interesting to see how the race pans out. You can’t take anything away from Lambourn and what he did at Epsom at all, but at the same time he was given a very good front-running ride and we all maybe gave him a little bit too much rope on the front end.

“Sunday is going to be a different day on a different track with a different field and we’re more than happy to have another go and see what we can do to reverse the form.”

Christophe Soumillon was on board Lazy Griff at Epsom, but as the French-based Belgian is required to partner Goliath in Sunday’s Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Johnston has turned to William Buick to ride his stable star in his bid for Classic glory.

William Buick will ride Lazy Griff for the first time in the Irish Derby
William Buick will ride Lazy Griff for the first time in the Irish Derby (David Davies/PA)

He added: “Obviously it’s a shame as Goliath and Lazy Griff are probably Christophe’s two marquee horses for the season at the moment and it’s sod’s law that they’re both running on the same day.

“It’s a shame for him, but we’re able to bring William in who is obviously top-class but will also be very confident at the moment after a great Royal Ascot, it’s a great replacement to call upon.”

Lazy Griff and Lambourn feature in a 10-strong field following Friday’s declaration stage, with Aidan O’Brien also saddling Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master and Gallinule Stakes scorer Thrice, as well as Serious Contender and Shackleton, both of whom performed well in defeat at Royal Ascot.

His son Joseph runs Derby third Tennessee Stud, while Green Impact is a fascinating contender for Jessica Harrington on what will be his first attempt at a mile and a half.

Ralph Beckett’s Dante winner Pride Of Arras bids to bounce back from Epsom disappointment, with his stablemate Sir Dinadan completing the line-up.

Temperature rising for Humidity at Goodwood

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Humidity will bid to crank up the heat on his rivals once again on his next start, as the impressive Royal Ascot winner forms part of what will be a stellar Wathnan Racing team for the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

A winner in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud at Newbury on debut, Andrew Balding’s son of Ulysses dazzled on his first start for his new owners with his Chesham success and will now take the next step up the juvenile ladder for the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes on the Sussex Downs.

“He’s a lovely colt and I loved the way his ears were flicking about in front,” said Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

“I thought James Doyle gave him a brilliant ride as it’s hard to make all on a two-year-old and win from the front, but he got every fraction right and there was still plenty in the tank as he was flicking his ears all the way along and in particularly in the last furlong.

“We were delighted and he’s a colt with a good future. He’s come out of it well and with Goodwood being an important meeting for Wathnan as it’s supported by Qatar he will head to the Vintage Stakes.”

Joining Humidity for the owners at the meeting is fellow Ascot scorer French Master who is set for a step up in class for one of the meeting’s highlights, the Group One Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.

John and Thady Gosden’s Copper Horse Stakes winner thrived in first-time blinkers in Berkshire and will now return to a track he has already tasted success at this term – claiming a race that was once won by Wathnan original Courage Mon Ami – on his penultimate start.

French Master stormed home at Ascot
French Master stormed home at Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“I saw French Master at John and Thady’s a couple of days ago and he looked to have come out of Ascot in great nick,” continued Brown.

“He’d raced on and off the bridle on his previous start at Goodwood and it was actually Rab (Robert Havlin) who suggested to put some headgear on and I think it just helped him focus during the race. I don’t think he needs the help at the finish as he’s a very genuine horse, it’s just during the race he needed it.

“You had to be impressed with the performance and he’s going to have to step forward again to go from a handicap to a Group One but it was a top performance and we’re going to pitch him in the Goodwood Cup and see where we are at.”

Juddmonte juggling pack with leading milers

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Connections of Lead Artist are confident the Lockinge hero will put Royal Ascot disappointment behind him before the season is out.

The Juddmonte-owned four-year-old claimed Group One honours for the first time at Newbury last month and was consequently among the leading contenders for last week’s Queen Anne Stakes, but he was ultimately well beaten in seventh place.

“I think they just went far too slow, they crawled for four furlongs and then sprinted and Lead Artist is a horse we know stays beyond a mile,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager, Barry Mahon.

“It just didn’t pan out for us on the day, but he’s a better horse than that, we know that, and we’ll get him back on track and see the best of him again.”

Where and when Lead Artist will bid to redeem himself is uncertain, with Juddmonte possessing an enviable hand in the mile division, with the Irish Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes hero Field Of Gold the undoubted top dog.

Lead Artist holds an entry in Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes, but is unlikely to head that way if that is the chosen target for his illustrious stablemate, while Harry Charlton’s Irish Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year must also be thrown into the mix.

Mahon added: “I don’t know where we’ll go with Lead Artist yet. There’s going to be a bit of juggling there with him and Field Of Gold and Cosmic Year and Jonquil as well.

“We haven’t quite worked it out yet, but we will as we go.”

Andrew Balding’s Jonquil is another looking to bounce back from an underwhelming performance at Royal Ascot, having seemingly found the six furlongs of the Commonwealth Cup too sharp.

Jonquil will step back up in trip
Jonquil will step back up in trip (David Davies/PA)

He was one of two Juddmonte-owned runners who failed to run up to expectations in that Group One contest, with the Ger Lyons-trained Babouche also well held.

“Babouche was disappointing, she was just too keen and you don’t get away with being that keen in a Group One in Ascot,” said Mahon.

“It was her second time in England and her second time doing that, so we’ll have to go back to the drawing board. We’ll probably keep her in Ireland for the rest of the year and see if we can get her back on track.

“Jonquil was just a bit of a square peg in a round hole – six furlongs was too short for him. Christophe (Soumillon) felt he came home great in the last half-furlong, but he said he needs a mile and we’ll try and find an opportunity.”

Racing Bulletin for 27/06/2025

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Latest News and Features

Your first 30 days for just £1

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.

Doncaster

Good to Firm

 13:50 14:20 14:50 15:20 15:55 16:30 17:05
Yarmouth

Good to Firm

 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:33 16:08 16:40 17:15
Cartmel

Good to Soft

 14:38 15:08 15:43 16:18 16:55 17:30
Newcastle

Standard

 16:45 17:25 18:00 18:30 19:05 19:35 20:10 20:40
Curragh

Good

 16:50 17:20 17:50 18:20 18:50 19:25 20:00 20:30
Newmarket

Good to Firm

 17:40 18:10 18:40 19:15 19:45 20:20 20:55

Today's Feature of the Day is...

Horses for Courses report

Good luck!


Eclipse supplement ruled out for Haatem

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There will be no Coral-Eclipse bid for dual Royal Ascot hero Haatem, with connections formulating a plan which could involve a return to a mile on his next outing.

The son of Phoenix Of Spain was one of Wathnan Racing’s Ascot heroes when winning the Jersey Stakes in 2024 and repeated the dose at this year’s Royal meeting, successfully stepping up to 10 furlongs to claim the Wolferton Stakes.

Trainer Richard Hannon mooted a tilt at Sandown’s feature Group One on Saturday week, but the Wathnan team have ruled out that option, instead considering both a return to a mile and his happy Ascot hunting ground for the Summer Mile on July 12 or a trip to York for the Sky Bet York Stakes (July 26) if deciding to continue campaigning over a mile and a quarter.

“I wouldn’t rule out going back to a mile with him as he’s a big, gross horse who takes a couple of runs to get fit and I wouldn’t even rule out that run will bring him on again,” explained Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

“We won’t be supplementing for the Eclipse and we might look at the Summer Mile back at Ascot or the mile and a quarter Group Two at York, we just have to talk about it as a team.

“I would imagine it would be one of those two races, but don’t be surprised to see him back at a mile, as I think he’s very versatile.”

Haatem was one of five winners at Royal Ascot for the Emir of Qatar’s racing operation who left the summer showpiece buoyant after another stellar week.

New Wathnan recruit Flora Of Bermuda has bounced out of Ascot
New Wathnan recruit Flora Of Bermuda has bounced out of Ascot (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The Wathnan team are now waiting on the performance of Ascot defector Kind Of Blue at Newcastle on Saturday before finalising future options for their crack team of sprinters which includes Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes one-three Lazzat and Flora Of Bermuda.

“I would say we haven’t completely decided on plans for the sprinters and the only thing we have decided on is Flora Of Bermuda seems to have bounced out of Ascot,” said Brown.

“Andrew (Balding) says she is very fresh and as long as she keeps on showing us signs she is in good shape she will head to the July Cup.

“We’ll watch Kind Of Blue run on Saturday and then have a chat and see where is going to suit him best and where is going to suit Lazzat, we might decide to keep them apart.”

Argentine Tango waltzes to Newmarket success

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There was a win for Yorkshire in Newmarket’s Empress Fillies’ Stakes, as Tim Easterby’s Argentine Tango danced her rivals into submission.

Yet to finish outside the first two in her career to date, she headed south with some fine form to her name, including finishing second to Albany Stakes winner Venetian Sun on her penultimate start before winning Beverley’s Hilary Needler Trophy later the same week.

Sent off at 9-1 in the hands of David Allen, she put her experience to great use to battle her way to a narrow head victory over Ed Walker’s Midnight Tango, with Richard Hughes’ 6-4 favourite Bella Lyra a neck further back in third.

Easterby said: “She’s just super tough and super game and just like her sire Mattmu, she’s hard as nails.

“She’ll go on any ground, soft or firm it wouldn’t matter and she got the six furlongs well.

“If you look her form up she tried to give the Albany winner 6lb at Carlisle which was a hell of a run. She ran at Carlisle on the Monday and went to Beverley and won on Saturday, that’s the type of horse she is.

“You can’t believe how tough and hard she is and Mattmu was just the same, she has a massive heart and you can’t give her a day off as she’ll just buck them off, racing is like nothing for her.”

With Listed success secured and having proven her liking for six furlongs on her first try at the distance, Easterby will now consult with the owners to plot a route forward with their hardy youngster, who now has three wins from five starts.

“We were just going down there today as we had no other options really,” continued Easterby.

“We had planned to skip Ascot and other than going to another fillies race where she could pick up a bonus but have a massive penalty, this was the obvious race and it was a very competitive field.

“We’re open to ideas and will just decide as we go along, but you can’t give her days off as she’s so tough and hardy.

“We’ll figure out a route and she’s won a Listed race now which is great for a filly like her and great for the sire. She’s bred by a top stud in Bearstone and they always come out of there tough, so we’ll just keep going and see what there is and where we end up.”

Goodwood or Deauville options for Field Of Gold

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Goodwood’s Qatar Sussex Stakes and the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville are the two options under consideration for Field Of Gold following his sensational display at Royal Ascot.

John and Thady Gosden’s colt has followed an identical route to his brilliant sire Kingman so far this season by finishing second in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before going one better in the Irish equivalent and then bolting up in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

With Kingman going on to land the Sussex and then the Marois on what proved to be the final start of his career, the Juddmonte team are hopeful Field Of Gold can at least match if not surpass his father’s achievements.

“He’s come out of Ascot in great form, as far as I know they are all happy with him,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“It was a great result, he’s obviously an exceptional horse and it was nice to see it all come together on a big day.

“I suppose his dad’s three-year-old season got cut short a little bit and hopefully this lad will be able to continue that run for the rest of the year.

“I think that seems to be the train of thought, sort of Sussex or Jacques le Marois next. He’ll tell us closer to the time whether he’s ready for Goodwood or he needs another week or two.”

Colin Keane and Field Of Gold following his Royal Ascot triumph
Colin Keane and Field Of Gold following his Royal Ascot triumph (John Walton/PA)

With the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday week seemingly coming too soon, if Field Of Gold is to test his powers over a mile and a quarter at some stage that will have to wait until later in the summer, with the Juddmonte International at York considered an “obvious” potential target.

Mahon added: “At the start of the season we were more bullish about going a mile and a quarter, but the more they keep winning at a mile you start questioning it.

“I’m sure we’ll try it at some stage and that (Juddmonte International) would be an obvious place to do it if we wanted to go that way.”

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy charged in relation to road traffic accident

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Multiple champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been charged in connection with a road traffic accident in Berkshire in April and will appear in court next week.

It is alleged Murphy, 29, was over the prescribed alcohol limit and failed to cooperate when asked to give a preliminary test at the scene.

Murphy – who rode five winners at Royal Ascot last week – is due to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on July 3. He was charged last Thursday, when he rode at double at the showpiece meeting through Arabian Story and Never So Brave.

Oisin Murphy in winning action aboard Never So Brave at Royal Ascot last week
Oisin Murphy in winning action aboard Never So Brave at Royal Ascot last week (John Walton/PA)

A statement on the Thames Valley Police website read: “A man has been charged in connection with an ongoing investigation into a serious road traffic collision in Hermitage, West Berkshire.

“Last Thursday (19/6) Oisin Murphy, aged 29 of Beales Farm Road, Lambourn, Hungerford, was charged by postal requisition with one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol and one count of failing to cooperate with a preliminary test at the roadside.

“The charge is in connection with a single vehicle road traffic collision around 12.05am on Sunday 27 April this year when a grey Mercedes A Class left the road and crashed into a tree.”

It added: “It is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media as this is a live investigation.”

The British Horseracing Authority issued the following statement: “The BHA is aware of an update issued by Thames Valley Police this afternoon regarding Mr Oisin Murphy.

“We are now seeking to gather as much information as possible in order to consider what, if any, implications there are as a result of this development.”

Initial attempts to contact Murphy and his representatives for comment were unsuccessful.

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