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 (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 (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.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2.80075440-scaled.jpg12802560https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.png2025-07-02 17:08:582025-07-02 17:08:58O’Brien: Not out of the question Moore opts for Delacroix in the Eclipse
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 (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.
Maranoa Charlie leads them all the way in the Prix Paul de Moussac! 🇫🇷
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 (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.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/a8619236-6e82-4d31-ae2f-a46c096bb16a.jpg7721544https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.png2025-07-02 16:04:042025-07-02 16:30:17Bond backing Maranoa Charlie to go the distance at Deauville
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.
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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.
Sosie lands the Group One Prix Ganay on his seasonal reappearance!🇫🇷
The Sea The Stars colt was always doing enough to hold on from the fast-finishing Map Of Stars! pic.twitter.com/Z7Qy8fPc0X
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.”
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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.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2.76339264-scaled.jpg12802560https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.png2025-07-02 13:22:202025-07-02 14:10:13Connections of White Birch elect to play it safe and swerve Eclipse
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.”
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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.”
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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 (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.
CHARLIE APPLEBY'S WAIT FOR A #ROYALASCOT WINNER IS OVER!
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.”
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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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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.”
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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 (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.”
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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.
MERCHANT becomes our 12th Royal Ascot winner!
The son of Teofilo storms home to win the King George V Stakes with Tom Marquand in the saddle for trainer William Haggas 🏆
“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 (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.”
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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.
One week on…
Ombudsman scaled new heights with a jaw-dropping display in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal @Ascot!
“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 (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.”
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This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
