2018 Flat Issue 19 - Big weekend ahead at Donny and in Ireland

Headlines

Enable Lands

Mekong Drowns Rivals at Haydock

Limato takes

Report

We start at Kempton on Saturday where Enable ( Bob, Cliff, Neil, Steve, Tony) made her reappearance in the 1m 4f group 3, Made all, driven when challenged over 2f out, drew clear inside final furlong, ran on well, winning by 3 ½ l. She is on course to try and win the Arc again.

She gets 16.5 points.

At Haydock in the 1m 6f handicap Mekong (Tony), went to post, Keen tracked leaders, led 2f out, pushed clear final furlong, winning impressively by 7l. He gets 25.6 points.

On Sunday at York in the 6f listed stakes, Limato ( Steve) took his chance, Close up behind leading trio, headway over 1f out, edged right and led inside final furlong, winning by 2l. He gets 26.6 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                        September          Total

Cliff                 16.5                         993.4

Neil                 16.5                         742.1

Steve                43.1                      637.2

Tony                42.1                         620.9

Bob                 16.5                            354.8

Martin           00                             326.5      

Peej                32.4                           286.1

Cod                00                                234.2

It has been pointed out that I underscored the Duke of York Stakes won by Harry Angel at the start of the season. This is now amended

News

Roger Varian has not ruled out letting Defoe take his chance in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc Triomphe at ParisLongchamp should conditions be suitable.The son of Dalakhani, who is a general 33/1 shot for the 12-furlong prize on October 7, ran well in defeat on his first start since May when finding only Best Solution too strong in a Group One at Baden Baden earlier this month. Roger told the Punter: "It was a good run by Defoe in Germany and he had a lot of things against him."Take nothing away from the winner as he is a solid horse, but unfortunately how the race panned out didn't really suit Defoe."We will see how is, but all options remain open to him.

"He is a mile-and-a-half horse that likes a bit of juice in the ground, so let's see how the autumn weather acts as that will tell us where we go."

Order Of St George has been retired and will stand as a National Hunt stallion in 2019.The six-year-old won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2016 and also counted two Irish St Leger wins among the 13 victories he scored in 25 career starts.As well as having the stamina to win Group One races over two and a half miles, he also had the pace to finish third and fourth in the last two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes.In the 2016 renewal, he was part of a famous one-two-three for trainer Aidan O'Brien, when Found beat Highland Reel with Order Of St George in third.The son of Galileo has not run since finishing fourth in this year's Gold Cup and Coolmore's Richard Henry confirmed Order Of St George will now bow out.He said: "He has been retired and will stand as a National Hunt stallion for Coolmore in 2019."

Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior are on course to meet for the sixth time in Saturday's Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Rhododendron may also run along with Study of Man and Addyebb also still holds an entry.

Alpha Centauri is the star name among 16 fillies confirmed for the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday. Rhododendron and Happily also have entries as does Dan’s Dream.