2026 Flat Issue 12 - Maltese makes the French Cross

Headlines

Rebels Bring Romance to Newmarket

Zeus Thunders home at Ascot

Maltesse make French Cros on Bastille Day

Report

We start at Newmarket last Thursday where in the 1m 4f group 2 Rebel’s Romance (Cliff) went to post, Took keen hold, prominent, ridden when led over 1f out, soon edged left, reduced lead inside final 110yds, kept on, winning by ½ l. He gets 43.46 points.

At Newmarket on Saturday in the 6f group 1 July Cup Venetian Sun ( Martin, Peej), went to post, Raced centre, towards rear, headway over 1f out, went second inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 9 in group, 2nd beaten 1l. She gets 14.55 points.

At Ascot in the 1m group 2 Zeus Olympios (Bob, Martin, Peej) went to post, Led early, headed after 3f, soon prominent on inner, pressed leaders over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on, winning ½ L. He gets 24.5 points.

On Tuesday at Longchamp in the 1m 4f group 1 Prix De Paris Maltese Cross (Cliff), went to post, Towards rear on inner, short of room from over 2f out, headway and switched right over 1f out, soon ridden, squeezed through inside final 110yds, led towards finish, did well in the circumstances, winning by a head. He gets 57.6 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 July        Total

Cliff          101.06          643.61

Bob           24.5               583.93

Cod             52.6            565.19

Neil         00                491.12

Peej           39.05             471.64

Steve         00             386.68

Martin      39.05            287.02

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      26       7

Bob           35   15

Cliff           38   14

Neil          35     12

Peej          34    12

Cod           34     12

Steve          27      11

The Weeks Losers

Precise, Ya Karim, Venetian Sun, Double Rush, American Affair, Schrodinger’s Cat, True Love, Space Waltz

Weekend Runners

Friday 

Wolverhampton

2.43 Monsieur Kodi

Newmarket

20.08 Dandana

Saturday 

Newbury

1.55 Maho  Bay

3.02 Soldier’s Tree, Binhaheer

Curragh

2.15 Faiyum, Tiffany

3.25 Charles Darwin

4.35 My Ophelia, Diamond Necklace, Amelia Earhart, Precise

Sunday 

Curragh

4.25 Carmers, Jan Brughel, Tiffany, James J Braddock

News

William Haggas has said he does not yet know the ceiling of Tuesday evening's last-gasp Grand Prix de Paris winner Maltese Cross. Maltese Cross is the 5-2 favourite for the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on August 19 and whether he turns up in that contest is likely to be decided by his next Group 1 target.

"What we do next basically boils down to the St Leger or the Arc, but probably not both and we've got lots of time to think about it," Haggas said. "If he was to go for the Arc we could think about the Great Voltigeur, in which he would carry a penalty, but if he was going to Doncaster I probably wouldn't run him again.

Constitution Hill is set to have his third Flat outing in a Listed race at Windsor on August 29, with connections now fully aware victory could make an audacious tilt at the Lexus Melbourne Cup slightly more likely. Having run out of time to qualify the former superstar hurdler for the Sky Bet Ebor, Nicky Henderson is targeting the Weatherbys Digital Solutions August Stakes for a nine-year-old who kicked off his Flat career with wins at Southwell under Oisin Murphy in February and then Kempton the following month, when ridden by Ryan Moore.

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2026 Flat Issue 11 - Cod returns to summit

Headlines

Calandagan lands French Grand Prix

Report

At Saint-Cloud om Sunday in the 1m 4f group 1 Prix De Saint-Cloud, Calandagan ( Cod), went to post, Slowly into stride, raced in last, headway and ridden over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, kept on, winning by a neck. He gets 52.6 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 July        Total

Cod             52.6            565.19

Bob           00               559.43

Cliff          00               542.55

Neil         00                491.12

Peej           00              432.59

Steve         00             386.68

Martin      00             247.97

Congratulations to Bob who was June trainer of the Month

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      24        6

Bob           31   14

Cliff           33   12

Neil          34     12

Peej          30        11

Cod           33     12

Steve          25      11

The Weeks Losers

Asfoora, Gethin, Kings Gambit, Tiffany, Abashiri

Weekend Runners

Friday 

Newmarket

1.50 Maho Bay

3.35 Precise

Ascot 

3.10 Ya Karim

Saturday 

Newmarket

4.35 Venetian Sun, Double Rush

5.45 Dancing Tiger

York

3.12 American Affair

Ascot 

1.55 Schrodinger’s Cat

2.27 Zeus Olympios

News

The team behind Asfoora are considering "one last hurrah" in the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood later this month before the three-time Group 1-winning mare is retired. The Australian sprinter has endured a disappointing campaign this season, finishing no better than seventh in four outings and failing to beat a rival home when sent off the 9-4 favourite for Saturday's Coral Charge at Sandown. Her connections are now weighing up whether to give her one last run before she heads back home to embark on a broodmare career.

Bow Echo began his build-up for his intended first encounter with older horses in the Group 1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on July 29 when breezing on Tuesday morning with a new lead horse. 

The dual Group 1 winner took to his usual venue of the Cambridge Road Polytrack, where he was ridden by Billy Loughnane in his first workout since his narrow victory over old foe Gstaad at Royal Ascot last month. 

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2026 Flat Issue 10 - Bob moves ahead

Headlines

View is Purfect at Curragh

Estrange lands Pretty Polly Stakes

Report

We start at the Curragh on Saturday where in the 1m 2f group 1 Pretty Polly stakes for fillies and mares, Estrange ( Neil), took her chance, Towards rear, headway on outer over 2f out, shaken up and led over 1f out, ridden and went clear final furlong, winning comfortably by 1 ½ l. She gets 55.26 points.

On Sunday in the 1m 2f group 3 Purview (Bob) went to post, Raced in second, led going easily over 2f out, shaken up over 1f out, reduced lead inside final 110yds, winning comfortably by ¾ l. He gets 34 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 June      Total

Bob           305.32         559.43

Cliff          251.57          542.55

Cod             216.25         512.59

Neil         294.03          491.12

Peej           247.72          432.59

Steve         174.93       386.68

Martin      54.76           247.97

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      23        6

Bob           31   14

Cliff           31    12

Neil          33     12

Peej          29        11

Cod           32    11

Steve          23      11

The Weeks Losers

Power Fizz, Schrodinger’s Cat, Never So Brave, Red Letter, Sovereignty, Christmas Day, Pierre Bonnard, James J Braddock, Shaihaan , Addison Grey

Weekend Runners

Friday

Sandown

2.25 Adonius

Saturday 

Sandown

1.50 Asfoora, 

3.35 Gethin, Kings Gambit

Newmarket

2.40 Tiffany

Saratoga

21.06 Abashiri

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2026 Flat Issue 9 - Big points shake up the table

Headlines

Gold Cup goes to Scandinavia

Mezcala lands Buckinghanm Palace stakes

Sun Scorches Ascot

Precise is spot on at Ascot

Cat escapes the Box at Redcar

Double in a Rush at Ascot

Report

We start at Ascot on Thursday where in the 2m 4f group 1 Gold Cup Scandinavia ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil), Trawlerman (Cliff), went to post.

Scandinavia prominent, pushed along over 3f out, went second over 2f out, ridden and challenging from over 1f out, kept on well to lead final strides, winning by a head. He gets 52.65 points.

Trawlerman, Led, ridden over 2f out, faced challenge from over 1f out, stayed on but headed final stride, 2nd beaten a short head. He gets 27.4 points.

In the 7f handicap Mezcala (Steve), went to post, Dwelt start, raced near side, towards rear, waiting for room over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden and led narrowly inside final 110yds, kept on, 1st of 22 in group, winning by a neck. He gets 35.4 points.

At Ascot on Friday in the 6f group 1 Commonwealth Cup Venetian Sun (Martin, Peej), took her chance, In touch with leaders up the centre, headway over 1f out, soon ridden to lead, faced challenge inside final furlong, just did enough, 1st of 14 in group, winning by a head. She gets 54.76 points.

In the 1m group 1 fillies Coronation Stakes Precise ( Bob, Cliff, Neil, Peej ) took her chance, Awkward start then slowly into stride, towards rear, headway on outer 4f out, led 2f out, soon against far rail and ridden, kept on well final 110yds, winning by 1 ½ l. She gets 53.24 points.

At Redcar on Saturday in the 5f handicap Schrodingers Cat (Peej), went to post, Travelled strongly, made all, shaken up and went clear over 1f out, ridden briefly and ran on well inside final furlong, winning unchallenged by 4 ¼ l. He gets 23.82 points.

At Ascot in the 6f Heritage handicap Double Rush ( Bob, Steve), went to post, Raced centre, in touch with leaders, headway on near side of group and led overall over 1f out, soon faced challenges, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, just prevailed, 1st of 19 in group, winning by a head. He gets 31.55 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 June      Total

Cliff          251.57          542.55

Bob           271.32         525.43

Cod             216.25         512.59

Neil         238.77        435.86

Peej           247.72          432.59

Steve         174.93       386.68

Martin      54.76           247.97

Royal Ascot Grand Slam

Neil 238.77

Bob 191.12

Cliff   186.97

Steve 174.93

Peej 121.4

Cod 94.25

Martin 54.76

So Neil gets the Ascot Grand slam 20 points.

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      22        6

Bob           30     13

Cliff           28    12

Neil          28   11

Peej          27        11

Cod           30     11

Steve          21      11

The Weeks Losers

Gilded Prize, Trawlerman, Carmers , Maho Bay, Wise Approach, Charles Darwin, True Love , Kalpana, Jan Brughel, Soldiers Tree, Binhareer, French Master

Weekend Runners

Friday 

Yarmouth

2.39 Ya Karim

Newcastle 

6.17 Ya Karim

6.52 Morrophore

Saturday 

Newcastle

3.45 Power Fizz

York

2.25 Schrodinger,s Cat

2.58 Never So Brave

Curragh

3.55 Estrange, Faiyum, Fallen Angel, , Red Letter, 

Churchill Downs

23.03 Sovereignty

Sunday 

Curragh

3,20 Faiyum, Purview, Port Ferdinand, Shaihaan

4.35 Christmas Day, Raheeb, Pierre Bonnard,  Port Ferdinand, Shaihaan, James J Braddock

5.15 Nobody Knows

News

Europe's richest race, the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, will be opened to geldings for the first time in 2027, after board members at France Galop voted to remove restrictions on Monday. France will need to request a change in the entry conditions at a full meeting of the European Pattern Committee but it seems extremely unlikely that any of the other major European nations will object to a measure which brings France's most important race into line with theirs.

Owen Burrows is relishing his first shot at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby as Raaheeb prepares to put his unbeaten record on the line against what is likely to be a formidable Aidan O'Brien-dominated field in Sunday's Classic at the Curragh. Raaheeb is Britain's shortest-priced runner at 5-1 for the Group 1, behind only the O'Brien-trained duo of Benvenuto Cellini and Derby hero Christmas Day in the market. 

The Shadwell Estates-owned colt was on course to feature at Epsom after a convincing success under Rossa Ryan in Sandown's Classic Trial in April, but he had a minor setback and was forced to miss the race. He has been back in work for several weeks now and Lambourn-based Burrows is excited at the prospect of a Classic assault this weekend. Burrows said: "He's still on track for Ireland. I wanted to touch base with the track to see what the ground was like. There was meant to be plenty of rain last week, so hopefully they've had a nice drop and there's a bit more coming.

Ante-post favourite Ombudsman, rated the best in the world after a Royal Ascot tour de force, will miss the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday week. The Godolphin star was evens favourite with the sponsors for the £1 million contest in which he was beaten by Delacroix last year, but will instead aim to win back-to-back running’s of the Juddmonte International at York on August 19.

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2026 Flat issue 8 - Early Royal Ascot points

Headlines

Space Waltz’s home at Chantilly

Diamonds Sparkle at Chantilly

Rivals Bow To Echo at Ascot

Barrier Reef is Great At Ascot

Ombudsman Rules in Prince of Wales

Report

At Chantilly on Sunday in the 1m 2f group 1 fillies Prix Diane Diamond Necklace (Bob), took her chance, Midfield, steady headway on outer over 2f out, led narrowly and ridden over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, ridden out, just held on winning by a short neck. She gets 53 points.

In the 1m 2f group 3 Space Waltz (Cliff), took his chance, In touch with leaders, headway and led narrowly 2f out, pushed along and went clear final 110yds, winning comfortably by 3 ½ l. He gets 35.4 points.

At Ascot on Tuesday in the 6f group 2 Great Barrier Reef (Steve) went to post, Raced far side of centre, prominent, pressed leaders when groups merged over 2f out, edged left when ridden over 1f out, led inside final 110yds, kept on, 1st of 6 in group, winning by ½ l. He gets 54.3 points.

In the 1m group 1 St James Palace stakes Bow Echo ( Bob, Cliff, Neil, Steve) Gstaad ( Cod, Peej), took their chances.

Bow Echo Took keen hold early, hampered soon after start, in touch with leaders, going best and headway on outer over 2f out, soon led and edged right, ridden inside final furlong, just did enough, winning by a short head. He gets 53.68 points.

Gstaad Edged left soon after start, soon bumped and unbalanced, towards rear, headway against far rail over 2f out, soon challenging, outpaced over 1f out, rallied final 110yds, kept on well, just held, 2nd beaten a short head. He gets 13.4 points.

On Wednesday in the 1m 2f group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes Ombudsman (Neil), Minnie Hauk ( Cod), took their chances.

Ombudsman Held up in rear, headway on near side of group 2f out, pushed along to lead over 1f out, edged right and went clear inside final furlong, ran on well, winning impressively by 4l. He gets 79.2 points.

Minnie Hauk, Soon raced in third, prominent behind clear leaders 6f out, headway 2f out, switched left then outpaced over 1f out, rallied and went second inside final furlong, no match for winner, 2nd beaten 4l. She gets 28.2 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 June      Total

Cod             163.6         459.94

Cliff          118.28            409.26

Bob           133.88         397.99

Neil         132.88           362.62

Steve         107.98       319.73

Peej           115.9           300.77

Martin      00           193.21

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      19          5

Bob           25   10

Cliff           23   10

Neil          23      9

Peej          23        8

Cod           28      10

Steve          18      9

The Weeks Losers

Dandana, Schrodinger’s Cat, Tiffany, Copper Knight, Opera Ballo , Damysus, Zeus Olympios, Noteable Speech, Asfoora, American Affair, Gstaad, Puerto Rico, Talk of New York, Kings Gambit, Lover Girl, Minnie Hauk, Daryz, See The Fire

Weekend Runners

Friday 

Ascot

3.05 Venetian Sun, Wise Approach, Charles Darwin

4.20 Precise, True Love, 

6.10 Schrodingers Cat

Saturday 

Ascot

3.05, Jan Brughel, Kalpana, 

4.20 Synchronicity

5.00 Double Rush, Addison Grey, Binhareer

5.35 Nobody Knows

6.10 Jan Brughel, French Master

Redcar

3.22 Schrodigers Cat

4.00 Copper Knight

Down Royal

4.33 Cape Cod, Port Ferdinand

Sunday 

Pontefract

4.05 Kisskodi

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2026 Flat Issue 7 - Christmas comes early for the Fish

Headlines

City Keeps Points Rolling In

Christmas Day comes early at Epsom

Kisskodi wins at Chepstow

Report

We start at Epsom on Saturday where in the 1m 4f group 1 Coronation Cup Bay City Roller ( Peej), Jan Brughel (Bob) went to post, Bay City Roller,  In touch with leaders, went second halfway, alone up the centre and disputed lead over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and clear over 1f out, kept on well, winning by 10l. He gets 102.5 points. Jan Brughel sweating, in rear, headway over 3f out, ridden and chased clear leader over 1f out, no impression, 2nd beaten 10 l. He gets 27.2 points.

In the 1m 4f group 1 Derby stakes Christmas Day (Cod), Maltese Cross (Cliff), took their chances. 

Christmas Day, Raced in second, pressed leader after 5f, led over 3f out, soon pushed along, drifted right over 1f out, kept on well, winning by 2 ¾ l. He gets 88 points. Maltese Cross Midfield, in touch with leaders after 2f, steady headway over 3f out, went second over 2f out, no match for winner 2nd beaten 2 ¾ l. He gets 29.2 points

At Chepstow in the 7f handicap Kisskodi (Cod) took his chance, In touch with leaders, good headway on far side of group to lead over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, winning comfortably by 2 ½ l. He gets 34 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 June      Total

Cod             122           418,34

Cliff          29.2            320.18

Bob           27.2         291.31

Peej           102.5      287.37

Neil         00             229.74

Steve         00          211.75

Martin      00           193.21

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      15          5

Bob           19        8

Cliff           18      8

Neil          19      7

Peej          21        8

Cod           24        10

Steve          14        7

The Weeks Losers

Amelia Earhart, Calandagan, Jan Brughel, Convergent, Maltese Cross, James J Braddock, Renegade, Commandment, Quadrillion

Weekend Runners

Friday 

York

3.00 Dandana

4.45 Schrodinger’s Cat

Saturday 

York

3.00 Tiffany

Chester

4.00 Copper Knight

Sunday 

Cork

4.48  Finalise

Salisbury

2.44 Kisskodi

Doncaster

2.30 Quadrillion

Chantilly

Diamond Necklace

Tuesday 

Ascot

2.30 Noteable Speech, Opera Ballo, Zeus Olympios, Damysus, 

3.05 Great Barrier Reef

3.40 American Affair, Asfoora, Charles Darwin, 

4.20 Bow Echo, Gstaad, Talk of New York, Puerto Rico, Lifeplan

5.35 King’s Gambit

Wednesday

Ascot 

4.20 Daryz, Ombudsman, Calandagan, Minnie Hauk, Bay City Roller, Kalpana, See The Fire, Damysus, 

5.00 Mezcala

News

George Scott is working back from the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller, who could have the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes also on the agenda should suitable ground conditions prevail at Ascot in July.

The Lion In Winter has died after sustaining a fracture on the gallops at Ballydoyle. The four-year-old colt was last seen finishing fifth in the Lockinge Stakes last month and was being aimed at the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. Aidan O'Brien said: "He got a fracture and, unfortunately, we just weren’t able to save him. He was obviously a very good two-year-old and it’s a pity he never really got to fulfil that early potential. On his day he was very talented.’

Bow Echo's rapid rise shows no signs of stopping according to his trainer George Boughey, who sounded an ominous warning to his colt's Royal Ascot rivals when saying on Wednesday "his best days are ahead of him".Boughey is confident Bow Echo has improved physically since he left his rivals toiling on the Rowley Mile last month, his fourth win from as many starts, and he is the even-money favourite to assert his status as the best three-year-old miler in Europe.

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2026 Flat issue 6 - A record start

Headlines

Walk is Talk of Sandown

Ombudsman sets the Rules at Sandown

Estrange reaches a Pinnacle at Carlisle

Carmers wins at Down Royal

Report

We start at Sandown on Thursday where in the 1m listed stakes Talk of New York ( Bob, Steve), went to post, midfield, in touch with leaders 3f out, headway to lead over 1f out, soon went clear, ran on well inside final furlong, winning by 5 ½ l. He gets 14 points.

In the 1m 2f group 3 Ombudsman (Neil), went to post, In touch with leaders, headway and led narrowly from over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, winning by a neck. He gets 32.8 points.

On Friday at Down Royal in the 2m listed stakes Carmers (Peej), took his chance, Raced in second, pressed leader over 2f out, led under 2f out, ridden and ran on well final furlong, winning comfortably by 2 ¼ l. He gets 27.68 points

On Saturday at Carlisle in the 1m 3f fillies group 3  Estrange (Neil), took her chance, in touch with leaders, headway over 2f out, led under 2f out, soon pushed along, winning comfortably by1 ½ l. She gets 33.46 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 May    Total

Cod             296.34    296.34

Cliff          290.98        290.98

Bob           264.11      264.11

Neil         229.74       229.74

Steve         211.75      211.75

Martin      193.21        193.21

Peej           184.87      184.87

Congratulations to Cod who is trainer of the month

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      14           5

Bob           19        8

Cliff           16       8

Neil          18       7

Peej          19         7

Cod           19         8

Steve          12        7

The Weeks Losers

Gethin, Almeric, Montezuma, Copper Knight

Weekend Runners

Friday 

Epsom

4.00 Amelia Earhart, Precise, 

Saturday 

Epsom

2.40 Calandagan,, Jan Brughel, Bay City Roller, See The Fire

4.00 Item, Pierre Bonnard, Maltese Cross, James J Braddock, Christmas Day, 

Doncaster

3.45 Quadrillion

Chepstow

7.25 Kiss Kodi

Goodwood

5.20 Kiss Kodi

Sunday 

Thirsk

4.45 Copper Knight, Montezuma

Saratoga

0.04 Renegade, Commandment

News

Royal Ascot winner Carmers is being aimed at an ambitious trip abroad for the Melbourne Cup at the end of the year after a promising success in the Listed His Majesty's Plate on Friday. 

The four-year-old, who defeated the likes of Scandinavia and Rahiebb in last year's Queen's Vase, claimed his first success since that Royal Ascot triumph when powering clear of Layfayette to win under Billy Lee, and has ignited dreams of heading to Flemington in November for trainer Paddy Twomey.

Before a potential trip to Australia, however, Carmers is slated for a return trip to Ascot on June 18, where he will take on Scandinavia once more in the Gold Cup, for which he was cut to 20-1 (from 33) by Paddy Power. 

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