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Saturday 16 May 2009

The John Gosden-trained Virtual won the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, and now heads to the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July. The second horse Alexandros is set to run in the Diomed Stakes at the Derby meeting.

Henry Cecil said of Twice Over: "It's difficult to make all of the running all of the way and the trip would have been short enough for him, but he was coming back again at the end. All being well, he'll head to the Prince Of Wales's Stakes now and he is coming back to form."

Paco Boy, beaten into fourth, heads for the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, where connections hope for good ground or better.

Main Aim heads to the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot after winning the the Berry Bros & Rudd Handicap at Newbury by seven lengths. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: "He has won twice at six furlongs and twice at seven furlongs, so we need to work out what his best trip is, which is a nice problem to have.

"He wouldn't want to hear the ground rattle and just needs it safe. Handicaps are out for him now and that looked a good performance."

An entry of 10 has been received for the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday, headed by the Queen’s unbeaten three-year-old colt and Derby entry Free Agent, who landed a Leicester maiden most impressively by five lengths before taking the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Godolphin could be represented by the interesting Chock A Block. A son of the high-class racemare Choc Ice, Chock A Block was successful on his only start in France last season. Local Arundel handler John Dunlop has entered Palavicini, who was a staying-on second in Listed company at Newmarket earlier this month, while Mick Channon, successful in the 2007 Cocked Hat Stakes with Halicarnassus, has three to choose from - Canwinn, Some Time Good and Too Much Trouble.

Other possible starters are Alwaary from the John Gosden stable, Barwell Bridge, a winner at York on May 13, Beauchamp Xerxes and the Henry Cecil-trained Sight Unseen, successful at Newbury in April before finishing fourth in the Group Three Chester Vase. Free Agent, Chock A Block, Palavicini, Alwaary and Too Much Trouble hold entries in the Derby at Epsom Downs on June 6.

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Friday 15 May 2009

Brian Meehan has revealed that Crowded House returned a dirty scope after being beaten in yesterday's Dante Stakes at York. The Rainbow Quest colt scored 2 for mucus and in his trainer's opinion this was a stopper. The colt was scoped after his final piece of work on Monday and scoped clean.

The trainer told brianmeehanatmanton.com on Friday: "Plans for the Epsom Derby are on hold until we have received veterinary advice in the next 48 hours."

Aidan O'Brien strengthened his Derby hand with a 1-2 in the Group Two Dante Stakes at York on Thursday, with High Chaparral's full brother Black Bear Island powering home under Colm O'Donoghue to collar stablemate Freemantle, who tired in the final 100 yards after making most of the running. Jeremy Noseda's Sans Frontieres was an eyecatching third, getting going late but not far away from the Ballydoyle pair at the death.

Black Bear Island is now as short as 6-1 in places for the Investec Derby. Freemantle is a 12-1 chance and Sans Frontieres is a 16-1 chance. Fame And Glory has generally hardened as favourite,w ith 5-2 generally available.

Paul Cole looks to have a Royal Ascot two-year-old on his hands in No Hubris, who won the Stratford Place Stud For Breeders' Cup Winner EBF Maiden Stakes, making all under John Egan and powering clear of Flying Statesman and the Ballydoyle colt Beethoven.

Cole said after the race: "He's a very relaxed horse and he behaved really well, good horses tend to do that. He made all, which is difficult to do at York. The horse won well and is bound to improve a bit. I suppose the Coventry Stakes will be the plan, when a horse wins like that you go up rather than down or sideways."

The John Oxx-trained Arazan will miss the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas a week on Saturday due to a temperature.

Trainer Kevin Prendergast is looking forward to taking on Delegator with his Recharge in the Irish 2000 Guineas.

Prnedergast told At The Races: "I was very pleased with his last run and he's on song to run in the Guineas next weekend. I'm looking forward to taking on Delegator.

"John Oxx's horse (Sea The Stars) only beat us a length in the Beresford and Delegator was further behind him than that at Newmarket, and that was only our lad's second run so I wouldn't be too unduly worried about him. Intense Focus got first run on us, we had to stop and then restart so it was a good performance.

"After that we'll go a bit further with him - I'll see if he gets a mile and a half, he's in the Irish Derby so that will be his plan."

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Thursday 14 May 2009

The John Oxx-trained Beauty O'Gwaun (Rainbow Quest — Angel Of The Gwaun, by Sadler´s Wells) looked an exciting prospect when winning her maiden on her only start as a juvenile last year. She backed up that impression by taking the Group Three Blue Wind Stakes at Naas on Wednesday, a tough assignment for her seasonal reappearance.

Oxx said after the race: "She did it well despite her inexperience. She was green but battled back. She's a nice prospect over a trip and has an entry in the Epsom Oaks. We will have to speak to the owner about that. She loves a little juice in the ground, so it would be unlikely if she would run on fast ground at Epsom."

Steinbeck (Footstepsinthesand — Castara Beach, by Danehill), a 250,000gns son of Coolmore's first season sire Footstepsinthesand, leapt to the head of the Coventry Stakes market after winning the Pat Dunlea Memorial Race. The Aidan O'Brien-trained juvenile posted a two-and-a-half length victory after the favourite Gold Bubbles bumped into a rival at the furlong marker.

Trainer Michael Bell has always held Sariska (Pivotal — Maycocks Bay, by Muhtarram) in high regard and, stepped up to 1m 2f for the first time, the Pivotal filly showed how good she is with a dominant three and three quarter length win in the Group Three Tattersalls Muisdora Stakes at York on Wednesday that saw her promoted to 7-2 favouritism for the Investec Oaks.

Bell said after the race: "It was a reasonably cosy call for her to miss the Guineas as it would all have happened a bit quick for her and all her dam did was stay, stay and stay. We've always been fairly emphatic that the further she went the better she would be. I love her and she is the apple of my eye. She lost a few friends after the Fred Darling but she showed at Newmarket last back-end what a good filly she is and she has proven it again today."

Peter Chapple-Hyam was delighted with Star Ruby, saying: "I couldn't be happier with that and the winner is obviously a good filly. Alan Munro thought he maybe should have kicked a little earlier but hindsight is a wonderful thing." The Ribblesdale is a likely target.

Andrew Balding struck in the Blue Square Stakes with the improving Brief Encounter, who looks set to run in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Godolphin's Italian Derby winner Mastery could be supplemented for the Investec Derby. Saeed bin Suroor told PA Sport: "There is no plan for him yet, but we thought when we got him we would run in Italy. He is not entered in the Epsom Derby but we can supplement. We will talk to Sheikh Mohammed first, but that is an option. A mile and a half will suit, he came out of the race very well and could be anything for the future."

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Wednesday 13 May 2009

James Eustace is considering whether to run War Artist at Royal Ascot this term. The trainer told PA Sport: "He's coming on fine and I'm pleased with how he is in himself, but whether we get to Royal Ascot is in the balance at the moment. He didn't actually have colic surgery but he was opened up in February. Fortunately they didn't have to remove anything, they just freed a trapped part in his short intestine and stitched him back up.

"Obviously it just takes a while to get over that but because they didn't remove anything, there is no reason why he shouldn't come back as good as ever, if not better.

"Thankfully, I'm delighted with the way he is in himself and he is so well he's frightening.

"If we have a completely clear run with him Royal Ascot is possible, but if we didn't go there we would probably go to the Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle, prior to the July Cup.

"There is only just over a week between those races but a week can be a long time. If I was really pleased with him I would like to go to Royal Ascot as the time between that and the July Cup is ideal."

"Last season he had a minor problem behind but that was fully investigated and we found nothing nasty. More importantly he just went over the top after the July Cup.

"We took the decision to turn him out and give him a proper holiday and I think both he and us will benefit from that break in the long run."

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Tuesday 12 May 2009

Brian Meehan reports Delegator as "very likely" to head to the Irish 2000 Guineas in preference to the St James's Palace Stakes. The trainer told his website brianmeehanatmanton.com: "Delegator has taken the Guineas very well and we would have to say that he is very likely to head for The Curragh, provided the ground is good.

"In addition to the fact he is in such good form, we have to consider that the Royal Ascot ground could get quite firm, and we could find ourselves with no place to go if we wait for the middle of June and then find conditions don't suit."

Super Sleuth courl head to France, with Meehan continuing: "We are happy with Super Sleuth and we have not ruled out a trip to The Curragh for the Irish 1000 Guineas. However, we are looking at the possibility of heading to Chantilly for what looks an attractive option of a Group Two."

Of Saturday's Victoria Cup winner Swift Gift, Meehan added: We were delighted with Swift Gift on Saturday. It was a long term plan and it is always very satisfying when they come off. The Bunbury Cup is a logical target for him and it is a race which has been lucky for us in the past. But it is a long time between now and then, and the Buckingham Palace could fill the void very well."

Richard Hannon has big pnas for Ordnance Row, who scored a second successive win in the Listed Royal Windsor Stakes at the Thames-side track on Monday evening.

The six-year-old came with a strong run onthe rail to deny Pinpoint by two lengths. The winner's stablemate Icesolator was third.

Hannon said: "You can take this horse anywhere. I thought he ran a very good race at Haydock over seven furlongs, which is not his trip.

"I've made an entry for him in the Eclipse, and he could very well run there. He's a good horse this fella, he loves it - he's a real battler. He needs keeping busy. The third ran a hell of a race too for a three-year-old."

Hannon was also succesful in the opening Mapis Modelling Academy Novice Stakes with Royal Applause filly Crown, who beat the odds-on favourite Red Avalanche by a length and a quarter.

Crown now heads for the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, with Hannon saying: "She'll have plenty of time between now and Ascot and deserves to take her chance after tonight."

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Monday 11 May 2009

Luca Cumani is delighted with the way Fantasia ran in the French Guineas, given the way the race was run. The Nell Gwyn winner was third behind Elusive Wave and Tamazirte in yesterday's Classic.

"Analysing the race she couldn't have won it whatever she did. The most important thing to say is that the filly that won is very good and was given an excellent ride from the front," Cumani told At The Races. "The sectionals show they went very slow early on and them they sprinted three furlongs out. If they do 11 seconds a furlong from the front it is very difficult to make any ground up and she did just that.

"Given the way the race was won it was impossible to come from the back, even if you just have to come from a length behind. Horses have a speed limit and no matter how good you are you can't go faster than that.

"I think we'll have to go back to France for the Diane. That is a different kind of race because it is at Chantilly which has a longer straight and it is a stiffer track.

"I'm pretty sure the winner won't be there because she is off to the Coronation so it will be a different bunch of fillies and hopefully it will be run a different way."

Richard Hannon is planning to run Paco Boy and Major Cadeaux in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. He told www.richardhannon.tv: "They both worked very well last Thursday and they will have one more breeze on Wednesday, which should put them spot on.

Paco Boy won the Group Two Sandown Mile last month, but after the disappointments of Dubai that was always going to be the stepping-stone for the Lockinge, and this is the one we want.

"I am taking nothing for granted. There is no such thing as a soft Group One. That said, I could not be happier with him. Dubai is now history and his owners agree that we should never have gone, but this horse has such a great temperament and he bounced back four weeks later to win at Sandown, where he defied a Group One penalty.

"The Queen Anne would be the next port of call after Newbury, and long-term the owners, who love the craic, fancy a trip to the Breeders Cup in California in November, but let's take it one step at a time."

Hannon added: "Don't rule out old Major Cadeaux. He runs well when fresh, and, while I don't expect him to beat Paco Boy, he might well get a slice of the place money."

Montjeu colt Fame And Glory is the new favourite for the Investec Derby in places after his emphatic five length win over Mourayan in the Derrisntown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

Jockey Seamus Heffernan told The Racing Post: "I've always thought he was a special horse, and he has done everything right so far. Hopefully it will be a case of onwards and upwards now."

John Oxx, who traines the runner up, added: "One thing looks sure after that. Sea The Stars is going to have to stay every yard of the trip if he's going to beat that fellow at Epsom."

Oxx was successful on Sunday with his filly Baliyana, who was a stylish winner of the Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial. The trainer said after the race: "She did it well today. We thought a fair bit of her last year, but she ran poorly a couple of times on soft ground. She likes Leopardstown, but the main thing with her is the ground. She has caught us out a bit as we took her out of the Irish 1000 Guineas at the end of last year. We may have to look at putting her back in if the ground comes up quick."

Over in France Elisive Wave won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, giving Jean-Claude Rouget a first Classci success. The trainer said after the race: "I'd like to get them both home before making a plan, but the Coronation and the Prix de Diane would both be options for Elusive Wave."

The Luca Cumani-trained Fantasia was third after failing to quicken, and could also head to the Prix de Diane. Cumani said: "I am disappointed as she was favourite. If she had not been favourite and had finished third in a Group One it wouldn't have been a bad result, but there was a lot of expectation. I would say we would look at the Prix de Diane for her, as I am reluctant to go from a mile to a mile and a half at Epsom, and would rather take incremental steps."

Silver Frost won the colts' Classic for Harrogate businessman John Cotton, and could head to the Prix du Jockey-Club. Jockey Christophe Soumillon said: "Many good milers have run well in the French Derby, Shamardal was a miler and won the race and Natagora last year ran well over the trip."

At Lingfield on Saturday Age Of Aquarius won the Derby Trial after taking time to find top gear in the straight. Johnny Murtagh said: "He's a nice horse, this lad. It was only his third run and he was in front.

"He's such a long-strider, and Aidan said if I was left in front I should just nurse him along. He stayed on very strong to the line but from now on horses need to improve quite a bit if they are to make Epsom.

"There are a couple still ahead of him that run in Ireland tomorrow and at York. It's only his third run so there's plenty of improvement to come. He's a big, strong horse and I like him. He's a big, strong galloper and he's got a chance - I hope he's at Epsom."

Henry Cecil goes to the Oaks with a live chance in Midday, who routed her rivals in the Oaks Trial. Cecil said: "She is quite stoutly-bred on the dam's side but is by Oasis Dream, which left a question mark before this. Obviously she stays and she settles, and she was beautifully behaved. The further she went, the better she looked."