Tag Archive for: Kempton

Il Est Francais limbering up for seasonal return

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The King George VI Chase remains at the forefront of Noel George’s mind, as Il Est Francais prepares to make his return later this month.

The star chaser, who George trains in conjunction with Amanda Zetterholm, lit up Boxing Day at Kempton last year, producing a phenomenal round of jumping in the hands of James Reveley to claim the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.

A return to the Sunbury venue for their Christmas highlight was immediately highlighted as a goal for 2024, and despite being well-held in his only appearance since and missing the French Gold Cup, connections have not been deterred in their thinking.

The Richard Kelvin-Hughes and Haras De Saint-Voir-owned six-year-old is pleasing his Chantilly-based training team in advance of his seasonal reappearance, which could be at Auteuil on September 28 in the Prix Richard et Robert Hennessy – a race won 12 months ago by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s Geskille.

The outcome of that seasonal bow will determine if British racing fans will get an early sighter of Il Est Francais on UK soil, or if he remains on the continent to complete his King George preparations.

“He’s in great shape and he’s getting fitter every day,” said George.

“He’s not far off his comeback run and we have the option of running him on September 28.

Il Est Francais and James Reveley at Kempton
Il Est Francais and James Reveley at Kempton (Steven Paston/PA)

“Our main target is the King George and I think that run will tell us whether we stick to the French programme to get ready for Kempton or come over to England to get ready with a race before.

“The horse will tell us what to do, but he’s in great form and we’re looking forward to getting him back on track. It’s all very exciting and we will see how his comeback race goes then make a plan from there.”

He went on: “We’ve got a few other nice horses to potentially bring over to the UK throughout the winter as well, but obviously we are all looking forward to the King George with Il Est Francais.”

Il Est Francais is currently disputing King George favouritism with Willie Mullins’ exciting Cheltenham Festival-winning Fact To File.



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Impressive Kalpana cut for Champions Day mission

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Kalpana’s odds for her Champions Day engagement were chopped following an impressive victory in the Unibet September Stakes at Kempton.

Winner of a Listed event at Hamilton on her most recent start, the Juddmonte-owned Kalpana is as low as 7-2 favourite with William Hill for the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes following her win in the hands of PJ McDonald.

Lion’s Pride had gone for home in the Group Three feature, but McDonald merely had to give the signal and the Andrew Balding-trained filly shot clear to coast home a four-and-three-quarter-length winner.

McDonald, who has ridden Group One winners in Laurens and Pyledriver, has no doubt Kalpana (evens favourite) can make her mark in the highest company if she lines up at Ascot on October 19.

He told Racing TV: “One hundred per cent (I can see her being aimed at at Group One), I can’t see no reason (why not). Personally, I think she’s still a bit green and raw. I think she will continue to improve with time and age. I’d be very excited about her.

“It’s very hard to say (how she would rank against the best horses I have ridden), I don’t like to compare horses, but this filly has so much more improvement to give. I think the sky is the limit for her, to be honest.

“It was very smooth, I was always in control and I felt at every stage of the race I was doing things easily.

“She did it very easily at Hamilton, but today I properly sat into her, gave her a flick (of my whip) and let her stretch – you could see the further she was going, the better she was going. She galloped out to the line so well.”

Symbol Of Strength lived up to his name as he dug deep for Group Three glory in the Unibet Sirenia Stakes.

Adrian Keatley’s charge posted a career-best effort when defying his 80-1 odds to finish third in the Gimcrack at York last month and punters had plenty of confidence in victory this time around.

Sent off the 5-2 favourite, Symbol Of Strength raced in mid-division through the early stages of the six-furlong contest before Tom Marquand switched to the middle of the track to launch his run in the straight.

The Kodiac colt had to work to reel in Jouncy and as he headed that rival, Brian made a late lunge for glory, but Symbol Of Strength had enough in reserve at the line for a half-length call over Jouncy with Brian just a head away in third.

Symbol Of Strength’s odds for the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes were cut to 14-1 from 25s by Paddy Power following his victory, with Keatley also considering the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.

He said: “It will very much depend on the ground. We’ll be keeping an eye on both of those races and all the doors are open for him now. We will be looking closely at Newbury, but also with a view to looking at Newmarket.

“His form is right there, the horse is well up in the betting for the Middle Park and he was thereabouts in York as well last time as well.

“He has put that to bed today with probably everything against him as he was well back and got the job done.

“He’s not just a two-year-old, I think he could step back to five furlongs but also he races sensibly and he could get seven next year.

“We will be looking at all the big races now and I think we’re entitled to.”



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Kalpana can set up Champions Day outing with Kempton victory

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Kalpana will put her Qipco British Champions Day credentials to the test at Kempton when contests the Unibet September Stakes on Saturday.

Andrew Balding’s three-year-old filly has put together a smart CV since a debut victory at Wolverhampton in January, with impressive victories at Newmarket and in Listed company at Hamilton last time out featuring on her CV.

Holding an entry for the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on October 19, this is seen as the perfect place to prepare for a first taste of Group One action, taking on some experienced hands in this Group Three event.

“She’s in good shape and we just thought with half an eye on the fillies’ and mares’ race in Ascot on Champions Day, this might be a good prep run for that,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“She obviously looked good in Hamilton the last day and this is a stepping-stone. If we get on well, we’ll look towards Ascot.”

One popular runner standing in Kalpana’s way is William Haggas’ eight-year-old Hamish, who despite his advancing years has won five times in the last two years and also finished a narrow second in Epsom’s Coronation Cup.

Owned by Haggas’ father, Brian, he has won 11 of his 21 career starts including this very contest in 2021, and the Somerville Lodge handler sees this as a nice opportunity to bounce back from an underwhelming showing at Newmarket in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes.

Hamish has been a popular performer over the years
Hamish has been a popular performer over the years (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Haggas said: “I would prefer to be running him on the soft turf at Ascot, Salisbury or Newbury, but there wasn’t a race for him so we plumped for the all-weather with him and hopefully he will be all right on it. He could do with softer ground really, but hopefully he will be OK.

“It was a bit messy at Newmarket last time and they split into two groups and the two outsiders led him and then Tom (Marquand) realised about two furlongs up the straight he was in the wrong place. It just didn’t happen, it was a mistake.

“This is a good opportunity if he is at his best.”

However, it is the Gosden operation that has dominated this contest in recent years, with star performers Jack Hobbs (2015), Enable (2018 and 2020) and Mostahdaf (2022) all winning this prize for Clarehaven in the last 10 years.

John Gosden and his son Thady will saddle two runners in the race
John Gosden and his son Thady will saddle two runners in the race (David Davies/PA)

It is Lion’s Pride and God’s Window representing the John and Thady Gosden training combination this time, with the former possessing some smart track form.

Another Kempton specialist is George Baker’s Cemhaan who carried top-weight to victory in the Rosebery Handicap in the spring and has won three times at the Sunbury venue.

Third in the Aston Park Stakes on turf this summer, he now returns to his beloved all-weather surface where he will reunite with jockey Neil Callan.

Cemhaan (left) winning at Kempton in April
Cemhaan (left) winning at Kempton in April (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s heading back to the scene of his brilliant Rosebery win in the spring and we go there in good order,” said Baker.

“Neil Callan is back on board and he gave him a peach that day. He is taking on the likes of Hamish and some other good horses and it is obviously very, very competitive. But we know the horse thrives at Kempton and he worked there nicely last week.

“We head there full of hope and hopefully he can shake up one or two of the big guns.”

Brian Ellison’s Northumberland Plate winner Onesmoothoperator and Hugo Palmer’s Under The Sun complete the line-up.



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Symbol Of Strength bidding to show big-race intent in Sirenia Stakes

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Adrian Keatley is backing Symbol Of Strength to showcase his talent when the Gimcrack third lines up in the Unibet Sirenia Stakes at Kempton on Saturday.

Only fifth on debut at Beverley in May, he made huge strides to impress at Ayr when shedding his maiden status at the second attempt.

That promising performance was enough to book his ticket to York for the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes last month and although sent off an 80-1 outsider he surprised plenty but not his trainer when a length third to Cool Hoof Luke.

Entered in both the Mill Reef and Middle Park Stakes, Keatley sees this Group Three event – where he is rated over 10lb higher than the next best on official ratings – as the perfect opportunity to register a stakes success with his son of Kodiac before those lofty targets come on the radar.

“It looks a nice opportunity for him, definitely, if you go on ratings,” said Keatley.

“He’s in the Mill Reef and he’s also in the Middle Park and he’s raring to go at home. He’s only had three runs and he’s come out of York in such good fettle that I thought this could be a nice opportunity for him to get his head in front again, hopefully, and a good boost of confidence going into his next race.

“I think the only people surprised at York were the ones looking at what price he was, we were very confident of a big run. It takes a fair horse to break the track record over five and a half furlongs at Ayr and it has been proven in the past to be a great track for trials for big two-year-old races.

“It would be nice if we could get a Group Three under our belt now before looking ahead to later in the autumn.”

Sylvester Kirk has Brian to thank for his only two victories in 2024 and his star performer returns to Pattern company after trouncing the opposition in a valuable sales event at Newmarket last time.

Brian slammed his rivals at Newmarket
Brian slammed his rivals at Newmarket (Adam Morgan/PA)

Placed behind Bedtime Story in the Chesham earlier in the season, the son of Shaman has always been held in high regard and Kirk has elected to come here rather than wait for the Rockingham Stakes which takes place at York next month.

“It’s only a couple of weeks since he won at Newmarket, but it’s a race where there is one horse rated 107 and the rest are all around 95 and in the 90s,” said Kirk.

“We were looking at the Rockingham and I know no Group race is easy, but you go there and there could be five, six, even seven horses rated over 100 so it’s just an opportunity we will take and hopefully he handles Kempton.

“Hopefully he will run well, it would be lovely. We’ve already had lots of fun with him and it would be nice to see him perform well.”

Also kept busy this season is Hugo Palmer’s It Ain’t Two who counts former England international striker Michael Owen among her owners and has run a further eight times since her winning debut at Newmarket in April.

It Ain't Two with Michael Owen (right) after winning on debut
It Ain’t Two with Michael Owen (right) after winning on debut (Bradley Collyer/PA)

She registered her third career victory on the July course recently, and her handler is keen to snare some valuable black type with a filly who thrives on racing.

“She was second in the Dragon Stakes at Sandown earlier in the season, but I think six furlongs is very much her trip at the moment,” said Palmer.

“She was very good when winning at Chester last weekend and I was quite surprised actually that she only went up 2lb. Being a filly I think her days in nurseries are probably behind her.

“She seems to really enjoy her racing and is really tough and I doubt this will be her last two-year-old start either. She’s already got black type but we’ve got to keep trying to win one

“We’ll give it our best shot, we’ve not done a lot with her since Chester but she seems to be thriving and we will see how we go.”



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Callum Shepherd successful in appeal against 18-day ban

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Callum Shepherd has successfully appealed against an 18-day ban imposed by the Kempton stewards last month.

Riding the David Simcock-trained Thorntonledale Max in a seven-furlong handicap, Shepherd was judged to have failed “to take all reasonable and permissible measures on a horse which would have finished outright first” after Flavour Maker forced a dead-heat on the line.

Shepherd “completely refuted” the allegation at the time, and contested that decision before the British Horseracing Authority’s independent panel on Tuesday morning.

During a lengthy hearing, Shepherd argued he had not stopped riding in the finish, but had lost his balance when using his whip for the final time and came up in the saddle in order to recover his rhythm, insisting his mount had lost “no momentum whatsoever” in the process.

He described it as “embarrassing to watch” and said he “looked a mess” but had continued to ride as he tried to regain his usual style.

“I look all the over the place, it looks bad and I would be the first to say it but it is unusual and completely unintended,” he said.

The panel agreed with Shepherd’s defence and quashed the penalty.

Panel chairperson HH James O’Mahony said: “Whether or not there was an admitted or in fact a mistake is open to argument.

“We accept the reality of life in sport and particularly in racing that things happen very fast and if every time a jockey made an error of judgement there was to be hearing about it, then hearings would go on every day and forever. So it is open to us to consider as we judge it the question of an acceptable explanation.

“We find on the balance of probabilities there was a loss of rhythm and an imbalance that had some causal connection with the appearance and the fact of Mr Shepherd rising as he did above the saddle in the closing strides, and we were able to say that on the most infinitesimal and minute observation of the footage any number of times, from all relevant angles and with close noting of specific times.

“We add that there was no apparent loss of momentum as far as the horse was concerned and finally we emphasise that this case is decided on its own facts and is in no way a precedent or a ruling on any matter of principle that may arise in future cases of this kind.

“The sanction is, of course, quashed.

“We add that in the time available to the stewards when they made their decision, they had nothing like the opportunity that we have had to examine the evidence in such detail.”



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Shepherd ‘completely refutes’ ruling of stewards at Kempton

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Callum Shepherd has questioned the judge’s decision to call a dead- heat in the last race at Kempton on Wednesday night – a verdict which resulted in an 18-day suspension for the rider.

Riding the David Simcock-trained Thorntonledale Max in the seven-furlong handicap, Shepherd was found to have failed “to take all reasonable and permissible measures on a horse which would have finished outright first” after Flavour Maker grabbed a share of the first prize on the line.

However, Shepherd has expressed his doubt about the dead-heat call and consequently the decision to impose a lengthy ban for his ride.

He told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast: “To my eyes and the eyes of everyone who has looked at it in detail, I think it shows a clear gap between the Roger Varian-trained horse (Flavour Maker) and the line. We’re very much on and through the line.

“It was 8.30pm, the last race, it was dark but all you have to do is put your phone on full brightness and I think it’s pretty apparent to everyone who looks that it might be a small margin, but there is a distinct gap and a margin in our favour.

“It’s one they have got wrong I feel.

“A dead-heat in any other circumstance would seem pretty inoffensive but it must be said in this specific case it’s very, very important to me, regardless of the accusation that I’d stopped riding, which I completely refute.

“The most straightforward process of dealing with it is to address the photo and I think it’s pretty clear an error has been made and we were the outright winner.”

Shepherd is currently set to be out of action from September 4-21 inclusive, a period which encompasses the St Leger meeting at Doncaster and the Ayr Gold Cup fixture.

Confirming his attention to appeal the ban, Shepherd added: “I just refute the allegation that I gave the horse anything but the best chance to win the race. Regardless of the photo, I’m pretty upset by that. It’s just insulting to riders to be accused of that and I will be taking action.”



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Elwateen has Bin Suroor dreaming of more Guineas glory

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Saeed bin Suroor may have unearthed a real gem after Elwateen made a winning debut at Kempton on Wednesday.

Held in high regard by her handler, the daughter of Dubawi and Group One winner Tawkeel was sent off the 4-6 favourite in the hands of Kevin Stott, showcasing her ability to repel the threat of George Boughey’s Orchid at the finish.

She scored by a length, with Archie Watson’s Star Stakes disappointment Del Ray bouncing back to some kind of form in third to suggest the result has some real substance to it.

Elwateen holds an entry for the Group One bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on October 11 and although future plans are still to be determined, the youngster appears to have a bright future.

Bin Suroor told Racing TV: “She’s a nice filly, always I like her. For a two-year-old, she has always shown some class in the morning when she works.

“Tonight, I’d say she’s 80 per cent fit, so she’ll improve for the race and she looked like she needed it.

“She’s entered in a Group One, the Fillies’ Mile, but we’ll see how she comes back after the race and make a decision with Sheikha Hissa.

“Sometimes we have to give horses a chance to see how they improve from the race but I’m sure this filly will improve a lot, so we have to look after her for the future.

“If she does well here in the UK, maybe we can take her to Dubai, but otherwise she will stay here and could be one for the Guineas time, if she improves a lot.”

Although Bin Suroor is predominantly known for his handling of Godolphin stock, Elwateen was sporting the Shadwell silks of Sheikha Hissa, the colours carried to victory by the trainer’s 1999 Dubai World Cup winner Almutawakel.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor with Mawj
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor with Mawj (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

He returned to the big-race scene when Mawj landed the 1000 Guineas last year and when asked to compare his latest prospect to his Newmarket Classic heroine, Bin Suroor added: “Mawj showed plenty of speed, but this filly is for seven furlongs or a mile, maybe in the future she could go further, but she seems a nice filly.”

The man on board was also suitably impressed with the performance shown from Elwateen.

Stott added: “She’s done everything very professionally there, she’s obviously very well bred, she’s done her home work very well and when the penny dropped a furlong and a half out, she proper put her head down and galloped all the way to the line. There wasn’t anything there I could fault, really.

“The second probably got a length or two on me while I had to wait for the cut-out rail, but I was always comfortable. Saeed likes her a lot.”



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Zilfee team in no rush after winning start

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Connections of Zilfee are in no rush to map out the future after the half-sister to superstar mare Enable made a winning debut at Kempton.

Like her dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winning sibling, the daughter of Sea The Stars is owned by Juddmonte and trained by John and Thady Gosden at their Clarehaven base.

Unraced at two, she was sent off 7-1 in the hands of Kieran Shoemark for what looked a warm maiden event at the Sunbury trac, showing a great tenacity and will to win in the closing stages, fighting back and defying greenness once headed to strike bravely by a short head.

The Zilfee team were understandably delighted with the positive opening showing and despite wanting to let the dust settle some more before confirming the three-year-old’s next move, are hopeful there could be a bright future ahead.

“It was a lovely start and she has always been a good looking filly,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for the owners.

“She was just a little on the weak side last year and just took a while to come right this year. In fairness to John and Thady they were patient and waited until they were happy with her.

“She did it well at Kempton, I thought she showed greenness when she hit the front and she fought back tenaciously when headed inside the final furlong. When she got headed I thought at least she will be a nice second, but to rally back there was a good performance.”

He went on: “You would be very happy with that and you would like to think she will improve from that and could be a nice filly. The second is well regarded and it could have been a nice race so hopefully she will progress further.

“I haven’t really gone through plans yet with John and Thady and looking at the programme book there is nothing really jumping out straight away.

“Whether they will take in another novice or not I’m not 100 per cent sure and we will just wait till after Ascot to see how she has come out of this race and then make a plan once things settle down.

“You would like to get her out on grass and give her a bit more experience and it is always hard to jump into something too fancy on her second start, so hopefully we find something suitable and build up slowly.”



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Godolphin duo enhance Guineas prospects at Kempton

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Notable Speech and Devoted Queen both remained unbeaten with impressive displays at Kempton, as Charlie Appleby could have unearthed a couple of Classic contenders.

With the form of his previous course-and-distance victory over Cuban Tiger getting a timely boost at Newcastle recently, Dubawi colt Notable Speech was sent off the 4-7 favourite for his third career appearance in the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily British EBF Conditions Stakes.

Up against some smart rivals, including Ralph Beckett’s well-regarded Derby entrant Valvano, he was ridden with supreme confidence by William Buick and showed a blistering turn of foot as he sprinted past that challenger in the closing stages.

The Godolphin homebred was cut to as short as 14-1 with bet365 for the 2000 Guineas, with his rider feeling he has now justified a step up in grade.

Buick said: “He’s shown the last twice here he can do that and it was a really good performance and he deserves to go up in grade now.

“Today was a warm race with a few unexposed types and he gave away weight to all of them, so I’m delighted.

“I was very pleased with how he has done physically since the last time I rode him – he has really filled out and I feel like he has grown a bit as well, which is always nice to see from a horse who has had two runs.

Notable Speech and jockey William Buick after scoring at Kempton
Notable Speech and jockey William Buick after scoring at Kempton (Steven Paston/PA)

“I couldn’t be more happy with him and I tested him a little bit today and he quickened up in a stride.

“I just had to pick a path and he’s such a genuine, easy horse to deal with. He’s got a bright future ahead of him.

“It’s so wet, so it was a nice opportunity for him to come here and run again on this surface. I think he would handle a little bit of cut in the ground, but he’s a very fast horse with a low action, so I think he would want a bit of decent ground.

“He’s opened up a few options there but he’s a speedy miler.”

Buick was also in the plate aboard another hot Moulton Paddocks prospect as Devoted Queen overcame her inexperience to instigate a Godolphin double on the card in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places British EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes.

Devoted Queen could have a bright future
Devoted Queen could have a bright future (Steven Paston/PA)

Although far from the finished article, her jockey was encouraged by the promise shown and is hopeful the 1-2 odds-on scorer can become a smart performer as the season progresses

“It was very much a learning day for her and she has come through it,” added Buick, who also tasted Listed success on the card aboard Joseph O’Brien’s Adelaise.

“She’s very inexperienced and she needs to work on a few things. I’m sure she will get there and today was a new experience for her, she was a bit fresh early but got there in the end.

“When she hit the front, she probably had a bit of a look and showed her inexperience, so all in all I think everyone will be really pleased with that.

“It’s a bit early to say (about the 1000 Guineas) and I’m sure we will get her home and those options will be discussed. She has got the talent.

“She is the type of filly, with the way she is built, that will keep improving and progressing and I’m sure there is plenty to look forward to with her.”

A taking winner of a Newmarket maiden previously, Devoted Queen was trimmed to 20-1 from 25s by Coral for the Qipco 1000 Guineas on May 5.



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Duty Of Care powers clear for emphatic Queen’s Prize victory

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Duty Of Care booked his ticket to Royal Ascot when going one better than last year in the Virgin Bet Queen’s Prize Handicap at Kempton.

Second to Charlie Appleby’s Bandinelli in the valuable staying contest 12 months ago, Saffie Osborne left nothing to chance aboard her father Jamie’s six-year-old this time around as she tracked the strong pace set by James Owen’s Sweet Fantasy.

Entering the straight for the final time, the 6-1 chance had just Sweet Fantasy ahead and as that rival began to cry enough, Duty Of Care was relishing every yard as he bounded on to a comfortable two-and-three-quarter-length success over fellow race regular Sleeping Lion.

Owned by Pat Gallagher, Duty Of Care could next be seen at Ascot in the summer, with Osborne senior targeting the Ascot Stakes at the royal meeting for the son of Kingman.

The trainer said: “He just needs a true test and the last couple of runs we haven’t had that. We didn’t take any chances today and we stuck him on the front end, and if the pace was going to slacken, we were there, so it stayed true.

“Thankfully, we had a good lead and we didn’t need to do it ourselves and he’s a different horse once it becomes a two-mile race where you need two-mile stamina.

“Pat has been very patient and I have been telling him for a long time that this horse is alright and he keeps getting beaten.

“The Ascot Stakes over two-and-a-half (will be the plan). He will be fine on the turf and he probably won’t run again until then. That’s my plan and I will have to discuss it with the owner, but I think that would be a very obvious call for him now.”



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Cemhaan stays on strongly to spring Rosebery surprise

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The burden of top-weight proved no barrier to success for Cemhaan as George Baker’s charge secured a surprise victory in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Rosebery Handicap at Kempton.

The seven-year-old was already a dual winner at the Sunbury circuit, with his most recent triumph last May followed by a third-place finish behind Vauban in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot.

He was subsequently well beaten in the Ebor at York, though, and while his January comeback at Kempton was not devoid of promise, he was a 25-1 shot for this £100,000 contest in the hands of Neil Callan.

After jumping out of the stalls smartly, Cemhaan briefly threatened to make all the running before eventually sitting on the heels of both Killybegs Warrior and Old Peculier.

With the pace visibly slackening before the home turn, the front end turned out to be the place to be and both Killybegs Warrior and Cemhaan found another gear once asked to fight out the finish.

Killybegs Warrior did not go down easily, but Cemhaan wore him down late on and passed the post three-quarters of a length to the good, with the free-going Intinso best of the rest in third.

“It was a very good, tough performance – he loves the track, this horse,” Callan said of the winner.

“He’s been so consistent and had a good run at Ascot last year, which just shows you the sort of level he’s been mixing it at.

Cemhaan leads the way at Kempton
Cemhaan leads the way at Kempton (Steven Paston/PA)

“I won a small-field handicap on him last year when he dominated from the front and he jumped that well I was going to let him bowl along again today, but James (Doyle, on Killybegs Warrior) was intent on getting to the front.

“I kind of knew when he got there, he would slow it up, which I knew would suit me because my horse had a lot of weight on his back and you wouldn’t want to be stretching him from a long way out.

“I think the way the race panned out played into my hands and as long as I had the revs up going to the junction at the cut-off, I knew I’d pick them off. He’s very genuine and tough.”

Baker’s wife, Candida, added: “George is playing golf in Africa. I think he’d much rather be here today!

“I’m so pleased. Cemhaan went all the way to St Moritz and then the racing was called off, which was very annoying as all the owners were out there and it takes about three days to get him there.

“This was always the plan for him once we brought him back. With that top-weight, he was so tough, I got the saddle off Neil and I was carrying it thinking, ‘God, I’m not going to put this on him too early if I can help it’. He’s just so genuine, tries so much and I’m chuffed to bits, he owes us nothing.

“Neil is an excellent jockey – when he’s in a ride-off against another jockey, I’d back him every time, even when it’s against James Doyle.”



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Adelaise digs deep to secure Snowdrop success

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Adelaise pulled out all the stops in the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes to give Joseph O’Brien a raiding winner at Kempton on Saturday.

The five-year-old produced some consistent performances in several competitive heats last term, but finally secured a valuable black type victory in the hands of William Buick at the Sunbury track.

Sent off the 100-30 second favourite for the one-mile Listed event, Adelaise was ridden along by her pilot with two furlongs to run, but soon hit top gear as she began a ding-dong battle to the line with 5-2 market leader Choisya.

There was little to separate the two protagonists inside the final half furlong, but the Irish challenger got her head in front where it mattered most to make O’Brien’s first UK Flat runner of the year a winning one.

Buick said: “She was a bit in my hands early and a bit fresh, but she was always in a nice rhythm and I attacked early in the straight.

“We didn’t go overly quick and I knew she would stay all the way to the line. She definitely got headed, so she had to show true grit. I think a mile is her trip and she may get a little bit further, but we will see.

Adelaise showed plenty of heart at Kempton
Adelaise showed plenty of heart at Kempton (Steven Paston/PA)

“I’ve ridden a winner for Joseph before and it’s nice to get a call-up from him – he doesn’t come over here for nothing.

“I think this was very important for both her and connections to get that valuable black type against her name and hopefully there will be a bit of improvement to come for the rest of the season.”



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Intinso showing promise again ahead of Rosebery bid

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Intinso will bid to follow up his successful comeback when lining up in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Rosebery Handicap at Kempton.

Connections had high expectations for the John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old at the beginning of last season, starting his year off in the Feilden Stakes after a successful debut on the synthetics at Newcastle late on during his juvenile days.

Although he failed to add to his tally at three, he produced some encouraging displays and, having been gelded over the winter, the son of Siyouni impressed on his return at Wolverhampton last month.

Hopes are now raised that Intinso can continue on an upward curve and provide his Clarehaven training team with a first triumph in the £100,000 contest.

“He’s been in good form and he made a nice comfortable comeback win after being gelded,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner-breeder Imad Alsagar

“He has always actually been held in quite high regard by John and he’s been very straightforward moving into the race. This will be a major test, but he ran really well at York and in the Shergar Cup.

“We know he can handle the surface and we’re looking for a good run. Hopefully he will develop into a nice staying horse.”

Intinso is disputing matters at the top of the market with Andrew Balding’s Old Harrovian, who created a taking impression on the all-weather last spring before going on to run in Group Three company.

Chillingham is a consistent performer for Ed Bethell
Chillingham is a consistent performer for Ed Bethell (Tim Goode/PA)

He returns from almost a year off with Oisin Murphy in the saddle, while Ed Bethell is optimistic Chillingham can build on a consistent 2023 campaign.

He said: “Hopefully he will run well. Dropping back a furlong wouldn’t be the best thing, but we have our fingers crossed he can run a nice race.

“He’s been a decent horse and danced a few dances now. Hopefully he’s freshened up over the winter and we can have a good season with him.”

Cannon Rock looked a stayer on the rise when breaking his maiden in good style at Newmarket two years ago.

Purchased out of Charlie Appleby’s yard by James Owen since, he has been seen just the once in the following 535 days, returning from a long lay-off to win readily at Southwell last month.

The Fastnet Rock gelding now faces an acid test of his potential, as he attempts to back up that Rolleston victory and provide his handler with a notable feather in his cap early on in his bourgeoning training career.

“He was bought to go juvenile hurdling actually, but he is just not a soft ground horse basically, so we’ve been waiting and waiting,” said Owen.

“We ran him at Southwell and he did surprise us a little bit. He had won a Newmarket maiden and then met with a setback which allowed us to buy him. He is all over that now, which he proved at Southwell, and he’s trained great since and worked very well.

“This is probably throwing him in at the deep end a little bit but it’s very good prize-money and I think this will show us where we are.

“He’s been drawn really well and we’ve put the cheekpieces back on him basically to help him be a bit more streetwise. They were on him when he won his maiden and I just thought we’d put them on, as it’s a really good prize and we want to give it our best chance.

“He’s fit and ready to go and I think he could run a massive race – he shows a lot of ability at home.”

Meanwhile, George Baker is hoping the Swiss air of St. Moritz can help Cemhaan produce his best, with the highest-rated runner in the field twice a winner in the past at the Sunbury venue.

Cemhaan is a star performer for George Baker
Cemhaan is a star performer for George Baker (David Davies/PA)

A regular in these high-quality middle-distance events, his handler is now looking forward to what he can produce as he continues to fly the flag for his stable.

“He’s been a star for us and he actually had an aborted trip to St. Moritz recently, but he has come back off the mountain in good form and we are very happy with him,” said Baker.

“Sadly, the racing didn’t happen up the mountain, so he went all the way over there, had a bit of fresh air and came home. He’s going from the snow to the all-weather but he’s got plenty of decent form on the surface and we have our fingers firmly crossed he runs a big race for us.

“It’s obviously a hugely competitive race and he’s got a lot of weight as well, but he’s in good order and we’re looking forward to it.”



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Mystic Pearl looking to prove Kempton gem

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William Haggas’ Mystic Pearl has another Listed strike in her sights in the Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes at Kempton.

The four-year-old was a winner at this level in the Coral Distaff at Sandown last year and after a Group Three placing in the Prix de Lieurey at Deauville, she headed out to Dubai for the winter.

There she was sixth in the Cape Verdi and fourth in the Balanchine, both at Group Two level, and now she steps back down in grade to start her domestic campaign on the all-weather.

“She’s back in a Listed race, like the one she won at Sandown,” said Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager for owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum.

“The two races she ran in out in Meydan were both Group Twos, so we’re dropping back down in class. She worked very nicely last week, so we’re very hopeful.

The Coral Summer Festival 2023 – Coral Eclipse Day – Sandown Park Racecourse
Mystic Pearl and Tom Marquand after winning at Sandown (Bradley Collyer/PA).

“She will give a good account of herself I think, and they don’t always act when they go out there (Dubai), they either do or they don’t. I don’t think she was at her best out there, but she worked nicely the other morning anyway.”

James Ferguson’s Many Tears makes a first start for her new stable in the contest after leaving Ger Lyons on a high note.

For Lyons, she was a Listed winner at Dundalk in November when taking the Cooley Fillies Stakes, a victory that leaves her shouldering a penalty at Kempton.

Ferguson said: “She’s in great form and won a Listed race with Ger Lyons, so carries a penalty, but she seems to be training well and this is only the start of her year, so we’re hoping she runs big and we have then got the whole year ahead of us.

“She’s a nice filly and was bought by the Cunninghams to try and get some more black type in Europe, with the eventual plan to maybe be covered and then go down to Australia.”

Ferguson has another contender in the race in Mother Mary, whereas the only Irish challenger is the Joseph O’Brien-trained Adelaise.

Only beaten three-quarters of a length in the Prix Dahlia at Saint-Cloud and then two lengths in the Prix Casimir Delamarre at Longchamp, both Listed races, Adelaise is looking to gain some black type form in the Snowdrop.

O’Brien said: “She’s been a progressive filly for us last season and she has stayed in training with the hope of achieving some black type. This looks a logical starting point for her.”

Simon and Ed Crisford run Choisya in the race, a Night Of Thunder filly last seen winning over course and distance in a handicap ahead of Roger Varian’s Julia Augusta, who reopposes.

Philip McBride’s Zouky, David Menuisier’s Mysterious Love, Gemma Tutty’s in-form Enola Grey and Ed Walker’s Rose Prick complete the field of 10.



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Course regular Sleeping Lion could hand Charlton notable win

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Harry Charlton could land his first major success since taking over the Beckhampton licence when Sleeping Lion bids for his second victory in Kempton’s Virgin Bet Queen’s Prize Handicap.

The Sunbury regular got his hands on the staying handicap on his debut for the Charlton team in 2021 before returning to finish fifth last season and the nine-year-old’s last three appearances have all come on the all-weather at this venue.

Three of the experienced stayer’s five career victories have been at Kempton and his handler believes local knowledge can see him thereabouts once again in the £45,000 contest.

“He’s not really a horse for undulating tracks and he doesn’t like soft ground so we quite often come back to Kempton,” said Charlton, who has taken over solely after a spell alongside his father, Roger.

“He’s in good form and he always runs well there, it just looks quite competitive I thought.

“I think if he runs his usual kind of race, he will be thereabouts, whether he is improving, it’s hard to say at that age, but he’s very consistent and very enthusiastic. He’s a pleasure to have around.”

James Owen is another handler who could establish himself as a leading player on the Flat this season and his impressive Catterick hurdles winner Sweet Fantasy changes tack in search of this valuable prize.

“The plan was to go to Musselburgh for the big handicap last weekend and she was declared to run but unfortunately it was called off and we have come here with her,” said Owen.

“I would rather run her on the grass but she works very well on the all-weather and has some back-form on the all-weather.

“I think the step up in trip will massively help her and she looked a very solid stayer for me over hurdles.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do on the Flat for us and I think there is more to come from what she has shown at home. Hopefully she can do it on the track as well.

“It’s nice that Aidan (Keeley) can ride them both (also partners Cannon Rock in the Rosebery Handicap). I think he is riding really well and he claims a massive 3lb and is a very good rider. He’s helping me out massively at home, so it’s nice to be able to repay him.”

James Fanshawe’s Novel Legend was a regular in the top staying contests last season and finished the year competing in the Group One Prix Royal-Oak in France.

He will carry top weight, while Andrew Balding’s Spirit Mixer is 1lb lower than when chasing home star stayer Trueshan in the 2022 Northumberland Plate and is sure to be sharper for his Lingfield return from a long 328-day absence last month.

Ian Williams’ Aqwaam landed the victory he had been threatening at Lingfield on Good Friday and will go in search of his second win in the space of eight days off a 4lb higher rating.

“He ran very well at Lingfield last time and 4lb doesn’t look too extreme against what he has achieved, so we would be hopeful of another decent run,” said Williams.

“It’s always good to pick up a decent prize, so it would be good to see him run well again.”



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