Tag Archive for: Yarmouth

Angela sounds the right notes in Yarmouth feature

/in /by

Sound Angela struck at Yarmouth to take the EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies’ Stakes.

Roger Varian’s mare was a 17-2 chance in a field of 14 under Silvestre de Sousa, with the 10-furlong race a familiar contest for the bay as she was fourth in 2022.

She has held her own at Listed level since without winning, with placed performances on turf in France and also on the all-weather in England.

After breaking from stall seven the five-year-old always travelled well, and three furlongs from home began to pick off rivals before taking up the lead at the furlong marker and holding off a challenge from the fast-finishing runner-up Naomi Lapaglia.

“She responded to every effort, she showed a good, willing attitude today,” De Sousa told Sky Sports Racing of the half-length victory.

“Roger places his horses very well, as you see they have been running very consistently. We have had Group winners, Listed winners, every type of winner.

“She’s a nice filly going forward and I think there’s a bit more to come.

“I think this is the right trip and as long as she gets the pace, she shows a good turn of foot.”

Hold A Dream looks a filly with a future
Hold A Dream looks a filly with a future (Nigel French/PA)

The Clive Cox-trained Hold A Dream (5-2) had finished second on her two previous runs and made it third time lucky in the British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes .

She made all in the hands of Rossa Ryan, holding off Dash Of Azure by a length and a half.

“She did it well, she’s been pleasing and she’s got her head in front which she deserved and she did it with a bit of style,” said Ryan.

“I think she will get further in time but I don’t think she needs to go there just yet, a stiffer six would be fine. She has plenty of speed and when I turned it on she still hasn’t figured out how to drop down and go but that will come, she’s going the right way about it.”

James Webb is beginning to build up a nice profile
James Webb is beginning to build up a nice profile (Nigel French/PA)

Ryan Moore celebrated his 41st birthday with a double courtesy of smart Juddmonte two-year-old Nightwalker and James Webb (3-1) in the Goffs Orby Handicap, both trained by the retiring Sir Michael Stoute.

His assistant James Savage said of James Webb, who held off Cambridgeshire favourite Roi De France by three-quarters of a length: “He really appreciates fast ground and a level track, he’s always behind the bridle and waiting for company. He could have a nice future.

“There’s no reason he can’t continue to improve. We took a chance in going to Pontefract, but it rained and we now know undulating tracks don’t suit him. He’s not going to be the easiest to place, but he’s a horse with a future.

“Nightwalker is learning on the job too. He ran a nice race today and could be a very nice horse over a mile and a quarter.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Callum Shepherd shines as East set early pace in Racing League

/in /by

The in-form Callum Shepherd was the star on the opening night of the Racing League as the East made the most of home advantage at Yarmouth.

A region that encompasses racing’s heartland of Newmarket has struggled to make its mark in previous editions of the seven-team competition but galvanised by new manager and TV personality Chris Hughes, they fired in a treble on the east coast to lay down a marker and take an early 10-point lead in the competition.

It was Shepherd and the Ed Dunlop-trained Walter Hartright (11-2) who got the new Racing League campaign off with a bang, making all to take the £50,000 Guaranteed Tote Placepot Racing League Race 1 Handicap with a degree of ease.

Dunlop, who along with Charlie Fellowes is assisting Hughes with management of the East team, was thrilled to see the three-year-old notch up a four-timer, crediting Shepherd for his ride.

He told Sky Sports Racing: “Callum is riding fantastic, they went incredibly slowly and we were in the right place. He’s an improving horse and it was a great ride.

“He was frustrating to start with, hence we put the headgear on and it has transformed him. To be fair, the races before today were not the highest quality but he’s improving and I think we will step him up in class again.”

Shepherd was in the winner’s enclosure again after the Bet £5 Get £20 At tote.co.uk Racing League Race 3 Handicap as Royal Velvet (8-1) followed up her course-and-distance success earlier this month to bolster the East’s points tally.

Royal Velvet was a taking winner
Royal Velvet was a taking winner (Adam Davy/PA)

It was somewhat a stroke of good fortune that saw William Knight’s filly face the starter, with Hughes explaining his management team were struggling to decide on their representatives for the one-mile contest.

He said: “We had four we could have run in that race and genuinely between me, Charlie (Fellowes) and Ed (Dunlop), we couldn’t pick any of them, so we picked two out of a top hat.

“We thought that was the fairest way to do it, as they all had claims as to why they should run and thankfully we picked out the winner.”

Defending champions Ireland finished the evening in second position, with their sole victory on the card coming in the Follow @toteracing On X Racing League Race 5 Handicap, where George Boughey’s Thunder Moor (11-1) showed great tenacity to see off the challenge of treble-seeking Shepherd aboard Moulin Booj.

Thunder Moor (green) coming home to win for Ireland
Thunder Moor (green) coming home to win for Ireland (Adam Davy/PA)

A part of the Irish team’s title-winning treble on the final night at Southwell last year, it was fitting a Racing League regular secured Kevin Blake’s squad their first victory of the new competition.

“He’s a cool horse and he was a bit of a legend out in Bahrain during the winter,” said Boughey.

“It didn’t surprise me he ran a big race and he was so tough to get back up. He loves it here and a flat five furlongs is right up his street.

“Everyone complains about prize-money, me as much as anyone, but there’s great prize-money on offer and it’s a great incentive and long may it continue – we’ll keep supporting it as well as we can.”

It is not the Racing League without Saffie Osborne finding the scoresheet and the two-time competition leading jockey opened her account for 2024 aboard Clive Cox’s Pedro Valentino (9-4 favourite) in the Download The New tote App Racing League Race 4 Handicap.

Pedro Valentino and Saffie Osborne (left) getting on the scoreboard for Wales and The West
Pedro Valentino and Saffie Osborne (left) getting on the scoreboard for Wales and The West (Adam Davy/PA)

Osborne said: “It was a really nice performance and it wasn’t plan A to be making the running. On paper, there was lots of pace but from quickly out of the stalls it wasn’t going to be the case. He pricked his ears in front and made my life very easy.

“I would probably have liked to have something to aim at and Dave (Probert) was putting pressure on me from a long way out and I probably had to press the button a bit further out than I ideally would have liked, but the further he was going the better he was getting.”

The 22-year-old appeared set to record a double aboard her father Jamie Osborne’s Wahraan in the Stream All Racing Free At tote.co.uk Racing League Race 6 Handicap, but Hayley Turner struck late on Dylan Cunha’s Expressionless (12-1) to add to the East’s opening-night riches.

The evening’s feature Weekly Rewards With tote Stayers Club Racing League Race 7 Handicap went the way of London and The South, with Jack Channon’s Rathgar landing the spoils at 25-1.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Fascinating clash on the cards for Racing League curtain-raiser at Yarmouth

/in /by

There is a blockbuster clash to bring the curtain up on the new Racing League season, with the Juddmonte-owned Midair taking on Sir Michael Stoute’s Believe In Stars in the £75,000 finale at Yarmouth.

Now in its fourth year, there was a thrilling finish to the competition in 2023 with Kevin Blake’s Ireland proving victorious in a dramatic conclusion at Southwell, narrowly pipping Wales & The West by seven points.

And it could return with a bang as Yarmouth is all set to welcome back the seven regional teams for the opening night of action on Thursday.

The feature Weekly Rewards With tote Stayers Club Racing League Race 7 Handicap concludes the seven-race card, with Stoute’s Believe In Stars attempting to build on his near miss on his return at Windsor for Classic-winning owner Saeed Suhail and Chris Hughes’ East region.

Standing in his way is Harry Charlton’s Midair, who would usually sport the famous silks of Juddmonte but on this occasion will be wearing the red of Wales & The West.

Beaten a neck on his first run since being gelded, the son of Frankel steps up for another crack at 10 furlongs.

“He’s a beautiful horse, we thought we might be in a higher grade at this time of the year but he’s bumped into a couple of good horses, to be fair,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for Juddmonte.

“Going through the form lines he has bumped into plenty of 90-plus rated horses in maidens and he’s been a little bit quirky at times hence he’s been gelded.

“I think in a good handicap like this they will go a good pace, which will suit him better. He’s down at the bottom of the weights there, but I think he has a chance of running well and after being gelded he should keep improving after that.

“The Racing League has great prize-money on offer and in the modern era we always complain about prize-money so when you are putting on prize-money like that, you have to give it a go.”

It was Jamie Osborne’s Wales & The West team which lit up the Yarmouth curtain raiser 12 months ago, with daughter Saffie Osborne firing home a treble which went some way to helping her defend her leading jockey crown.

The Racing League was paying its first visit to the east coast on that occasion and the course’s general manager Tom Pennington is delighted to see the track host Racing League action once again, with 84 of a maximum 98 runners declared across the card.

He said: “It’s a very good card and there’s some strong fields, which I suppose there should be for more than £300,000 in prize-money up for grabs.

“It’s fantastic for Yarmouth and it’s our most lucrative race day of the year. We had a fantastic night of the year last year and we’re hoping for more of the same this time around.

“It’s a great initiative and we’re fully behind the Racing League. We had a great turnout last year and hopefully that will be replicated again.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Run Away upholds family honour with game debut win

/in /by

Big-ticket purchase Run Away made the dream start to her on-track career as the sister to Blackbeard showed plenty of heart to survive the late assault of Cat Ninja at Yarmouth.

The daughter of No Nay Never brought the hammer down for €2.6million as a yearling as part of bloodstock agent Richard Knight’s spending spree on behalf of Derby-winning owner Saleh Al Homaizi, that saw him sign for over £20million worth of stock.

However, payment was not forthcoming, meaning she was subsequently sold privately to a partnership of Qatar Racing, Ecurie des Monceaux and David Howden, entering training with Andrew Balding.

Unraced at two, she was sent off at 7-1 for her racecourse bow in the Download The QuinnBet App Maiden Fillies’ Stakes and was quickly prominent in the hands of her jockey Oisin Murphy.

She was travelling powerfully at the head of proceedings by the time the field had reached the three-furlong marker, but it was inside the final two furlongs of the seven-furlong event she met her first challenge, as the Sir Michael Stoute-trained 5-2 favourite Red Pixie moved up alongside with a threatening run.

Run Away showed her class to beat off that attack, but no sooner had Red Pixie’s momentum begun to falter, than the fast-finishing Cat Ninja appropriately arrived stealthily on the scene, with the John and Thady Gosden-trained half-sister to Cachet forcing the winner to pull out all the stops to register a neck verdict.

“We loved her as a yearling at the sales but just couldn’t afford to buy her and we were fortunate enough to put together a team to buy her at a bit of a discount later on in the year after the previous buyer failed to come up with the money,” explained Qatar Racing’s David Redvers.

“It was still a significant investment for a beautiful filly and as a result, it is always quite nerve-wracking when they go down to the start.

“She’s a really exciting filly going forwards and we’ll obviously have to discuss with Andrew where he wants to go and what he wants to do, but that is the first exam out of the way.

“The race had a tasty look to it when you looked at the betting and what was happening to the prices of a few of the others. It was one of those three-year-old maidens where horses have clearly come forward well over the winter and it is better than the bare form of those that have run.

“We were pleased to see her do it as well as she did. We have ambitions that she is a genuine stakes filly and that was a very good first step.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Testing ground guaranteed, but Doncaster hopeful for weekend

/in /by

Storm Babet continues to hit racing fixtures in Britain and Ireland but the forecast is less daunting for the major meetings scheduled to take place later this week.

The ground at Doncaster was described as heavy, waterlogged in places on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of the Futurity Trophy weekend cards on Friday and Saturday.

However, the recent rain is expected to ease off at the South Yorkshire track, which is set to stage the final Group One contest of the season with Saturday’s Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes.

Clerk of the course Paul Barker said: “We’ve had around 7mm today, which has taken us to heavy ground and it is just a bit waterlogged around the mile shoot, so we are seeing if we can do anything about that.

“But the forecast is for things to improve later on this evening and then stay relatively dry until Thursday morning, when it should just be a case of getting a few showers, rather than the heavy stuff we’ve had since the weekend.

“So, once we get through today, hopefully everything will get a bit more manageable right through the rest of the week and we can start to put a plan together for Friday and Saturday.

“At least Friday’s entries were made after Saturday’s deluge and the Futurity is historically run on testing ground, so everyone who is planning to have runners are aware of what to expect.

“Other than that, all we can do is take it one day at a time and try our best to keep on top of everything.”

Cheltenham have no issues prior to kicking off their new season with The Showcase meeting on Friday and Saturday, when Grand National hero Corach Rambler and dual Stayers’ Hurdle winner Flooring Porter could return to action.

“It’s really exciting to get going again and we’re in great shape,” clerk of the course Jon Pullin told Racing TV. “We’ve had a really beneficial summer from our point of view and the turf manager’s point of view.

“Whilst we’ve seen significant rain, which did cause some problems around areas of the site, fortunately the track took it really, really well. We’re in a good position.

“It’s currently good to soft in the main and the forecast is for little bits of rain between now and racing, so I’d envisage that staying the same.”

Newbury are also scheduled to race on Friday and Saturday, with a couple of Group Three events on the second of those cards – the Horris Hill Stakes and the St Simon Stakes.

The Berkshire track is described as heavy, soft in places, with the warning that it will not be able to take substantial rain.

The forecast is for another downpour tonight to be followed by a mixture of sunshine and showers.

Clerk of the course George Hill said: “The bulk of the rain should be tonight but then it’s a variable forecast. It could be anything from 5mm to 10 or 15, or even an inch of rain.

“If we’re talking those higher kind of quantities over a 24-hour period, we’d be very much up against it, but the track is in good shape for this time of year and we’ll just have to hope for the best and see what we get.”

Tuesday’s meeting at Yarmouth and the Wednesday card at the Curragh were the latest casualties of Storm Babet and a sustained spell of heavy rain.

That followed last Saturday’s scheduled meetings at Stratford and Market Rasen being lost to the weather, along with Wednesday’s Worcester card and four upcoming fixtures at Southwell.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Storm Babet continues to cause havoc

/in /by

Storm Babet continues to affect racing in Britain and Ireland, with this afternoon’s meeting at Yarmouth and tomorrow’s card at the Curragh the latest casualties.

There are also now inspections planned at Fontwell ahead of tomorrow’s fixture and at Clonmel for Thursday.

Yarmouth were forced to abandon their seven-race Flat card after an early-morning inspection, as “considerable rainfall overnight” left the track waterlogged.

Officials at the Curragh have cancelled Wednesday’s meeting following 21mm of rain last night, with the course currently unfit for racing and facing an unfavourable weather forecast.

Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan said: “The forecast is for a further 5mm of rain today with the possibility of more rain moving in tomorrow, so there was no prospect of the situation improving here prior to racing.

“We’ve had a total of 77mm in the last week and the ground has been heavy since entries closed last Thursday.”

Fontwell have called a precautionary inspection for tomorrow morning at 7.30am.

The going is currently described as soft, good to soft in places, but “further significant rain” is expected this evening and early on Wednesday.

At Clonmel, the ground is heavy but currently fit for action ahead of racing on Thursday.

However, clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer reported: “Having spoken with Met Eireann, there is the possibility of a further 5-10mm of rain and some spot flooding tomorrow afternoon which will be on top of the 54mm of rain the track has had in the last week.

“With that additional rain forecast for tomorrow, we felt it was prudent to let people know as early as possible that we will need to have a precautionary inspection at 7.30am on Thursday morning.”

Last Saturday’s scheduled meetings at Stratford and Market Rasen were lost to the weather, along with Wednesday’s Worcester card and four upcoming fixtures at Southwell.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Roving Reports: The 4.00 at Plymouth

/in /by

It's been a while since I last wrote an article for Geegeez, writes David Massey. I was very much hoping to do one post-Ebor but other work commitments got in the way and then, before you know it, I'm in Plymouth getting married.

Well, not strictly married as such: we had what's called a civil ceremony, Caroline and me; it takes the religious side of things out of it (neither of us are religious, so it made sense) but we had a great day with our friends, including one or two racing folk among the guests. A little honeymoon in Mevegissey followed, and then it was back home and straight over to the other side of the country (for me anyway) with the annual three-day trip to Yarmouth for their Eastern Festival. The car has done some miles over the past three weeks!

I'll come to Yarmouth later but I haven't told you how this year's Ebor Festival went. In a nutshell, very little big money flying around the ring, results decent, and the most remarkable thing was me driving home at 11.30pm on the Thursday from my digs back to Nottingham as a boiler that was next to my room started making a lot of noise and wouldn't stop. I decided that there was no way I was getting any sleep and so threw a pair of shorts and a t-shirt on and drove back home to get some kip. I arrived back at 12.45 to find the now Mrs Massey somewhat shocked to see me at such an ungodly hour. "I'll explain all in the morning," I muttered as I slumped into bed and straight off to sleep. She was delighted to see me, really.

So you see, it isn't all glam working on the tracks!

I actually had more fun working at York last Saturday. It was a new fixture and you're never quite sure what business will be like on those days. Indeed, after I'd taken the princely sum of £260 on the first I was thinking it was going to be a long afternoon but business did pick up and by the last I was taking £900 on the back line, which made it a lot more workable. We needed a result in the last to make the day worthwhile and got one with Two Brothers grimly hanging on. At that point we were covering expenses and no more, so at least we won on the day.

It was a young crowd, I noticed, and quite a lot of novices having their first time at the races. That included a dad and his three young daughters, none of whom had been racing before but were fully engaged with the whole process, going to the paddock each time, picking their horses and having their £2 bets with me. They backed plenty of winners between them and when I gave them a free £2 bet on the last, Two Brothers was the pick, which really made their day! I'd like to think they'll be back at some point in the future. You don't need fancy gimmicks and music most of the time - just make it reasonably priced, don't have people's trousers down the moment they walk in, and they will come. And hopefully come again.

The young crowd meant two things - a lot of asking for ID's (most have it ready, for young people today getting asked for ID is part of their everyday) and a LOT of debit card bets. Now, our firm has bought some new card machines that are integrated with the software we use to place the bets and my word, it has really sped the process up. Before, you had to punch the bet in, then go to a separate piece of kit, hope the wi-if signal held up as you waved the card machine around in the air, complete the transaction and then print a ticket once approved. That used to take anything between 25-40 seconds. Not now. The new kit spits the ticket out in around 10-15 seconds and makes card betting a breeze. The boss was amazed when I'd done over 70 card bets at the end of play. It's what the young ones call a "game-changer", I believe.

It's a way off but there will come a time when card bets are going to take almost as much business as cash, so you might as well get used to the technology now. A lot of books have adapted to it but many haven't - whilst you might not necessarily need it for somewhere like Fakenham, you almost certainly will at Sandown, so to me it makes sense to get on board with debit cards now. Whether we like it or not....

And so to Yarmouth last week. I normally work at least one of the three days but not this year, it was something of a well-needed break after, er, the break I'd had the week before in Cornwall. The weather was not kind, with a very stiff breeze on both the Tuesday and Wednesday that was right into their faces up the home straight. Plenty of plastic garden furniture went flying, including one old boy who got up to pour himself a tea out of his flask, only to watch his chair disappear from under him and head towards the furlong marker as he did. Thankfully it missed everyone but it could have been nasty. The results were stupendous on the Tuesday and I know of at least one firm that caught sight of a couple of Newmarket faces quietly backing the 25-1 newcomer Cross The Tracks in the ring and cottoned on pretty quickly it ought to be a runner; they won over £2k for themselves on the race. That pretty much makes your week, unless you absolutely do it wrong for the next two days. I'm pleased to say they didn't and won well across the Festival.

I thought the maidens/novices on the Tuesday weren't that great but the Wednesday was a different kettle of fish. The Goldolphin pair that won their respective races, Romantic Style and Edge Of Blue, were both very nice horses physically and should do well, but at the end of the piece today I'll point you in the direction of a couple that might not be stars but should win a race or two next year.

Punters definitely got a bit back on the last two days and a few books that were crowing after the Tuesday were a little quieter by the middle of the final afternoon. There was a double-figure winner on the Thursday but that aside, on an eight-race card the biggest winner was a 9-2 chance. I won a bit on the week, mainly down to the away meetings at Beverley and Uttoxeter rather than anything I backed at Yarmouth, but I couldn't help feel the whole meeting lacked the fun that previous years had. I think I might give it a miss next year and just take the new Mrs Massey away for a week somewhere nice. I hear Kelso is lovely around this time of the year...

Anyway, to finish off with, here's the two I've put in the tracker labelled "Future Handicaps".

Apeeling (Andrew Balding) is well-named, as she did indeed make plenty of appeal on looks and the dam, Satsuma, has produced a few useful sprint winners. However, she doesn't have the stamp of a sprinter - not yet, anyway, she's quite long-backed and has length rather than power and maybe 7f might be her thing. She's time to fill out but her second to the impressive Romantic Feeling was a big step in the right direction and was no fluke. She should be up to winning races.

Gamblers Kitty (Chris Dwyer) already has the size of a three-year-old: he's not only lengthy but tall with it and hasn't filled his frame out yet. He behaved well pre-race but was very green in the race itself, having little idea until the penny dropped very late and, once it did, he stayed on nicely under hands-and-heels to finish fifth to Cross The Tracks. There's plenty to come from him and he's definitely worth monitoring with next year in mind.

Good luck.

- DM



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Sapphire shines in sparkling four-timer for Appleby and Buick

/in /by

Sapphire Seas played a starring role in a Yarmouth four-timer for Charlie Appleby and William Buick, securing a dominant victory in the EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies’ Stakes.

The Moulton Paddocks team appears to be hitting form with a vengeance ahead of the crucial final weeks of the season, highlighted by Grade One success in Canada last weekend courtesy of Master Of The Seas.

Having already struck gold with a pair of promising juveniles on the undercard in Romantic Style (6-4) and Edge Of Blue (7-2), Sapphire Seas was a 9-2 shot to complete her four-timer in the Listed feature after following up successive all-weather wins with a successful turf debut at Haydock.

The daughter of Frankel took the step up in class in her stride, travelling strongly throughout under a confident Buick before extending two and a half lengths clear of Mukaddamah.

Infinite Cosmos emerged with credit in third on her first start since occupying the same position in the Musidora Stakes at York in May, but 10-11 favourite Al Asifah was disappointing in her bid to bounce back from a similarly underwhelming performance at Royal Ascot.

Of the winner, Buick told Sky Sports Racing: “It was a very smart performance. She won nicely last time at Haydock in a fillies’ handicap and she’s certainly stepped up on that.

“She’s going to keep improving hopefully. I would say the team will be delighted with what they saw there and hopefully she’ll be around for next year.

“This is a nice race, a lovely race for fillies. Let’s hope she can go on to better things.”

Appleby and Buick’s fourth winner of the day was provided by First Sight (11-2) in the nine-furlong handicap.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Well-regarded Al Asifah on redemption trail at Yarmouth

/in /by

Royal Ascot disappointment Al Asifah bids to get her season back on track in an intriguing renewal of the EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies’ Stakes at Yarmouth on Wednesday.

Following an emphatic victory on her racecourse debut at Haydock in May, the daughter of Frankel made a huge impression in a Listed event at Goodwood the following month, prompting connections to stump up the supplementary fee to add her to the Ribblesdale Stakes just 11 days later.

The gamble failed to pay off, though, with John and Thady Gosden’s youngster finishing a well beaten sixth behind subsequent Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille heroine Warm Heart and she has since been given an extended break to recover from her exertions.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owner-breeders Shadwell, said: “We gave her a nice break after Ascot and she seems in good form, so it will be very interesting to get her back on the track.

“Until she disappoints again, I would say it all just came a bit quick for her in the Ribblesdale. Lots of clever people said she didn’t stay the mile and a half, but for me that wasn’t what got her beaten as she wouldn’t have won at a mile and a quarter either.

“I just think she was very flat on the day. She’s a big, immature filly and while she’s not temperamentally unsound, I think everything just got on top of her a little bit (at Ascot).

“I’m sure she’ll be better in time and we hope she does well enough that we can keep her in training next year.”

Infinite Cosmos is among Al Asifah's rivals
Infinite Cosmos is among Al Asifah’s rivals (David Davies/PA)

Al Asifah faces a far from straightforward task, with Sir Michael Stoute’s Infinite Cosmos making her first competitive appearance since finishing third in the Musidora at York in the spring, while Sapphire Seas is stepped up in class by Charlie Appleby having won her last three starts.

Gold added: “It always is a good race this and a great race to have on the calendar. You have fillies coming back from little niggles and different things, so it will be a good test for her.”

The Shadwell colours will also be carried by Roger Varian’s Mukaddamah, who has been placed in Listed company before – but Gold acknowledges this is a tough assignment for the grade.

He said: “She’s a nice, solid filly and we’ve been trying to win a Listed race with her.

“With the other filly in here I wouldn’t expect her to win this, but we don’t have many options as she doesn’t really like soft ground, so I think they just felt this was the obvious race for her.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Opening night treble sees Saffie Osborne dominate Racing League once more

/in /by

Saffie Osborne’s love affair with the Racing League looks set to continue as she began this season’s competition with a fantastic opening night treble.

The 21-year-old was one of the stars of last year’s six-week event, scooping top honours thanks to an inspired three-timer at Newcastle on the final night of action and she picked up where she left off as the 2023 edition kicked off at Yarmouth.

Osborne’s efforts ensured that defending champions Wales and The West – managed by her father Jamie Osborne – ended the night in top spot holding a narrow 11-point advantage over Frankie Dettori’s team, The East.

Chinese Knot ridden by Saffie Osborne (left) wins Racing League opener at Yarmouth
Chinese Knot ridden by Saffie Osborne (left) wins Racing League opener at Yarmouth (Tim Goode/PA)

Osborne’s evening started with a bang as although slightly reluctant to enter the stalls, Rod Millman’s Chinese Knot (11-2) showed plenty of guts to hold off Michael Dods’ Midnight Lir at the business end of the opening nursery.

“We’ve started the way we finished last year,” Jamie Osborne told Sky Sports Racing.

“I’ve got a great team of trainers and unlike some, mine are right behind this and behind their leader.”

Wales and The West quickly extended their advantage at the top of the table when winning race two with Ed Walker’s Dark Trooper (12-1), before The East’s player-manager Dettori was narrowly denied a winner with his first ride of the night aboard Shahbaz as the one-mile handicap went to Dean Ivory’s Achillea (9-2).

However, The East did not have to wait long to get on the scoreboard on home soil as George Margarson’s Farhh To Shy (100-30 joint-favourite) proved superior in the hands of Callum Shepherd in race four and the East were also on the scoresheet when Dettori closed the show in style with a fantastic front-running ride aboard Cumulonimbus (11-2), leading home a one-two for his region in the concluding £100,000 handicap.

Dettori said: “It’s great to win the big race of the day, it’s good for the team and good for (trainer) Charlie Fellowes. We were first and second so that’s good.

“It’s the third year of this so I hope it takes off.”

Despite Dettori’s heroics, the night belonged to Osborne who registered her second winner of the night aboard Michael Bell’s Stone Circle (17-2) in the five-furlong sprint, before bringing up the three-timer aboard Milton Harris’ Alnilam.

She needed every yard of the one-mile-six-furlong trip to hunt down fellow Wales and The West runner Haliphon, but Osborne had a willing partner in the 9-4 favourite who stuck his head down bravely for a half-length win.

She said: “He’s a lovely horse and hopefully he will have a nice future.

“He’s still quite big and ran around a little late on, but he has a willing attitude and did everything right eventually.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Fellowes relishing Racing League link up with Dettori

/in /by

Charlie Fellowes is thrilled to have secured the services of Frankie Dettori to ride both of his two runners on the opening night of the 2023 Racing League at Yarmouth.

Having played a key role in Wales and The West’s victory last year, Dettori has switched sides for the third instalment of the team competition to become player-manager for the East.

Among the trainers able to call upon the Italian is Newmarket-based Fellowes, who is keen to make the most of a rare opportunity.

He said: “Frankie doesn’t ride for me very much, not through choice because I’m a huge fan.

“I think he’ll really suit both horses. They’re two nice, kind individuals who are not going to give Frankie a heart attack in his old age!”

The trainer and rider first team up on Thursday with Shahbaz, who is fitted with a visor for the first time in race three over a mile.

“Shahbaz, I felt, ran very lethargically when third at Ayr last time. He was slow out of the gates and I just didn’t like the way he raced,” Fellowes added.

“A few people commented that he wants further, but I really don’t believe he does. Every time we’ve tried him over 10 furlongs, in my opinion, he’s not got home.

“I really wanted to give him another try over a mile on a straight track, which is why we’ve gone to Yarmouth and any rain is a plus.

“I’ve put a set of visors on him, just to sharpen him up and hopefully help him travel a little bit kinder.

“I’m sure he’s ahead of his mark of 87 and I would just like to see a little more enthusiasm than we saw last time.”

The Bedford House handler has high hopes for Cumulonimbus, who bids to continue his profitable campaign in the seventh and most valuable race on the card, with a total prize fund of £100,000 up for grabs.

The four-year-old has already won at Newmarket and Haydock this season and was last seen finishing third in the Old Newton Cup at the latter venue just under three weeks ago.

Fellowes said: “The other horse is having a fantastic year and is a real pleasure to train.

“He enjoys his racing and I have no problem with a drop to 10 furlongs on a big, galloping track like Yarmouth and with him I don’t really mind what happens weather-wise as he goes on any ground.

“I suppose a bit of rain would make it more of a stamina test, but he’s very versatile, he’s got a fantastic way of going and I think he’ll run a big race on a track where he’s won before.

“It’s an unbelievable pot and I hope he can go and put in a big performance.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Dettori ‘excited’ to helm The East in Racing League challenge

/in /by

Frankie Dettori is ready for the unpredictable nature of the Racing League as he prepares to become the competition’s first ever player-manager.

The Italian represented the victorious Wales and The West side last season, riding winners to the delight of the crowd at both Lingfield and Newcastle, but is set for a new role in 2023 as he makes the switch to The East squad ahead of the multi-team event returning at Yarmouth on Thursday.

Not only will Dettori be sporting the yellow silks of The East as one of its team of jockeys, the 52-year-old has also taken on the challenge of managing the region as he bids to get his hands on the Racing League trophy for the second year in a row.

Racing League 2022 – Race Week 2 – Lingfield Park
Frankie Dettori in Racing League action for Wales and The West last year (Simon Marper/PA)

“Obviously being manager is a big responsibility,” said Dettori.

“For sure I will be at the first and last one and even though I’m probably not going to ride at all of them, I still have the responsibility of being a manager and doing the best for my team.

“I managed to win it last year and I’m really excited to go out there and sort of defend my title.

“I enjoyed it last year, there was a good vibe. My team didn’t have the best of starts, but as the competition went on, the momentum was on our side and Saffie (Osborne) rode a treble on the last day which sealed it for us.”

Dettori will be looking to immediately make his mark on The East’s home soil when the competition visits Yarmouth for the first time and he believes both the competitive nature and unknown quantities of the six-week event is what makes it so exciting for both the participants and those watching on.

Frankie Dettori reacts after winning the William Hill Bet Boost Racing League R11 handicap on Postmark during the Racing League 2022 Race Week 2 meeting at Lingfield Park Racecourse, Surrey. (PA)
Frankie Dettori celebrates a win during last year’s Racing League (PA)

He added: “All of my team members are going to be trying to win, it’s great to be representing the East side of the country coming from Newmarket and the best thing about Racing League is it is very unpredictable.

“I can’t really remember, but I think three teams came into the last week close on points and it was good and I enjoyed it.

“You don’t know what horses you are going to land with and what you might end up riding. Last year a lot of the races were tightly bunched, most of the races had close finishes and were very competitive. It will give everyone a chance and I think people really liked it last year.

“It’s year three now and people can tune in on a Thursday night with something they can follow.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns