2026 Flat Issue 5 - Cod top after a close first month

Headlines

Daryz lands Prix Aga Khan

Bright Sunshine at Haydock

Danielle stars at York

Precise is Spot on at Curragh

Rivals Flounder on Barrier Reef

Aventure wins at Longchamp

View is Pur fect at Curragh

Report

We start at Longchamp on Thursday where in the 1m 1f group 1 Prix Aga Khan IV, Daryz ( Cliff, Cod, Neil), took his chance,  In touch with leaders, headway and switched left over 2f out, pushed along to lead over 1f out, kept on well and went clear final 110yds, winning readily by 3 ½ l. He gets 26.2 points.

At Haydock on Saturday in the 6f group 2 Venetian Sun (Martin, Peej), went to post, Took keen hold, held up in rear, switched left and pushed along briefly 2f out, headway to lead going easily 1f out, shaken up and ran on inside final furlong, winning comfortably by 3l. She gets 22.75 points.

At York in the 1m 6f fillies group 3 Danielle (Cod) took her chance, Raced in second, increased tempo and led after 3f, going best 3f out, soon shaken up, ridden over 1f out, faced challenge inside final furlong, kept on well final 110yds winning by 1 ¼ l. She gets 33 points.

At the Curragh in the 1m group 1 Irish 2000 guineas Gstaad ( Cod, Peej), went to post, Prominent, went second 2f out, led over 1f out, soon drifted right, against far rail when ridden and went clear inside final furlong, ran on strongly winning by 3l .He gets 26.37 points.

In the 1m 4f listed stakes Purview ( Bob) took his chance, Travelled strongly, midfield, headway on outer over 2f out, shaken up and edged right over 1f out, soon led and went well clear, eased inside final 110yds, winning impressively by 6l. He gets 34 points. 

On Sunday at the Curragh in the 6f 2 year old group 3 Great Barrier Reef (Steve), went to post, Dwelt start, towards rear, headway on far side of group 3f out, ran green when ridden over 1f out, led inside final 110yds, kept on. Winning by 1 ¼ l. He gets 33.08 points.

In the 1m fillies group 1 Irish 1000 guineas Precise ( Bob, Cliff, Neil, Peej), took her chance, Awkward start, towards rear on outer, headway 2f out, soon ridden, hung right 1f out, soon led, ran on well inside final 110yds, winning by 2 ½ l. She gets 30.95 points 

At Longchamp in the 1m 2f group 2 for fillies and mares Aventure (Cod), took her chance, Raced in second, led and pushed along 2f out, kept on final 110yds, eased towards finish, winning by ¾ l. She gets 44.2 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 May    Total

Cod             296.34    296.34

Cliff          290.98        290.98

Bob           250.11      250.11

Steve         197.75      197.75

Martin      193.21        193.21

Neil            163.48       163.48

Peej           157.19      157.19

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      13             5

Bob           17        7

Cliff           15        8

Neil          15          5

Peej          17         6

Cod           18         8

Steve          11         6

The Weeks Losers

Asfoora, American Affair, Spycatcher, Bay City Roller, Minnie Hauk, True Love, Abashiri, Alther Walden

Weekend Runners

Friday 

Down Royal

6.50 Carmers

Saturday 

Haydock

3.10 Estrange

Sunday 

Thirsk

4.45 Copper Knight, Montezuma

News

Daryz continued his merry way cutting a swathe through the European Pattern on a balmy Thursday evening at Longchamp, completing a hat-trick of Group 1 victories while doing a decent impression of a morning breeze on Les Aigles. In doing so, he made it abundantly clear that Minnie Hauk, Ombudsman, and any other horse planning to deny him a fourth in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot next month will almost certainly have to run the race of their lives.

If you had posed the question in the wake of Daryz’s Arc victory last October, you would have been forced to say that all three of them were suited to further than the 1m1½f trip of the newly renamed Prix Aga Khan IV. But given the dash that the son of Sea The Stars showed last month in the Prix Ganay and again here, we may be dealing with one of those rare horses that can follow any pace over a variety of trips, and still deliver a searing turn of foot. 

First Course Winner Bonus is available at 

In the UK - Brighton, Cartmel, Perth, Stratford, Worcester

In Ireland - Ballinrobe, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Bellewstown, Laytown, Downpatrick,  Listowel, Kilbeggan

2026 Flat Issue 4 - More winners

Headlines

Steve has Chosen a nice Item

Portcullis shuts out rivals at York

Scandinavia lands Levmoss stakes.

Speech lands Noteable points at Newbury

Kalpana takes Aston Park stakes

Reports

We start at York on Thursday where in the 1m 2f group 2 Fillies stakes See The Fire (Martin), went to post, Took keen hold, raced in second, pressed leader over 4f out, led over 2f out, nudged along over 1f out, winning cosily by ¾ l. She gets 43.68 points.

In the 1m 2f group 2 Item ( Steve), took his chance, Took keen hold, in rear, headway over 3f out, went second 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, edged left but went clear inside final 110yds, ran on strongly winning by 2 ¾ l. He gets 53.4 points.

At York on Friday in the 1m confined novice stakes Portcullis (Cliff, Peej, Steve) went to post, Took keen hold, soon prominent, went second halfway, led narrowly over 2f out, ridden and faced challenges over 1f out, stayed on well, winning by ¾ l  He gets 12 points.

At Leopardstown in the 1m 6f group 3 Scandinavia ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil), went to post, Raced in third, went second after 5f, nudged along 3f out, led under 2f out, faced challenge inside final furlong, ridden and kept on well towards finish, always doing enough, winning by ½ l. He gets 16.23 points.

On Saturday at Newbury in the 1m 4f group 3 Kalpana (Martin, Steve), took her chance, Soon in rear but in touch with leaders, switched left and headway 3f out, soon went second, led 2f out, soon ridden, reduced lead towards finish, always doing enough, winning by a neck. She gets 17.1 points.

In the 1m group 1 Lockinge stakes Noteble Speech (Martin), went to post, Travelled strongly, in touch with leaders, switched right over 2f out, good headway to lead 1f out, ridden briefly and ran on well final furlong, winning readily by 2l. He gets 81 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 May    Total

Cliff          233.83        233.83

Bob           185.16       185.16

Martin      170.46        170.46

Cod             166.57     166.57

Steve         164.67      164,67

Neil            106.33       106.33

Peej           77.12        77.12

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      10              4

Bob           13          5

Cliff           11         6

Neil          13              3

Peej          13           3

Cod           11         4

Steve          9              5

The Weeks Losers

Corolla Point, Copper Knight, Red Letter, Fallen Angel, Synchronicity, Lover Girl, Schrodingers Cat, Revival Power, French Master, Damysus, The Lion In Winter, Zeus Olmypios, Addison Grey, Mezcala, Montezuma, Port Ferdinand, Charles Darwin, Wise Approach, Railway Man, Dancing Tiger

Weekend Runners

Saturday 

Haydock

1.45 Morrophore

2.20 Objector

2.58 Venetian Sun

3.30 Asfoora, American Affair

York

3.15 Danielle

Curragh

3.05 Spycatcher

3.40 Gstaad, Puerto Rico, Bow Echo, Lifeplan

Sunday 

Curragh

2,15 Great Barrier Reef

3.20 Fallen Angel, 

3.55 Almeric, Aventure, Bay City Roller, Faiyum, Jan Brueghel, Kalpana, Minnie Hauk, Ombudsman, Purview, Red Letter, The Lion In Winter

4.30 Abashiri, Amelia Earhart, Diamond Necklace, Precise, Synchronicity, True Love, Venetian Sun

News

George Boughey has revealed his 2,000 Guineas star Bow Echo will skip the Irish 2,000 Guineas and head to the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next.

Diamond Necklace was cut across the board for the Betfred Oaks, with the sponsors making her 5-1 second-favourite behind stablemate Amelia Earhart, though it’s hard to escape the conclusion there are a couple of extra points on top because the Coolmore partners may be tempted to return to France for the Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly on June 14. O’Brien and the owners will have that discussion in the days to come, but confirmed she will go up in trip for one of the two middle-distance Classics rather than stay at a mile.

Aidan O'Brien's impressive Chester heroine Amelia Earhart and Precise look poised for a tilt at Betfred Oaks glory with stablemate Diamond Necklace likely to return to France for the Prix de Diane after she put up a scintillating display in the French 1,000 Guineas last weekend.

Triple Group 1 winner Ombudsman is set to warm up for Royal Ascot at either Sandown or the Curragh before he bids for back-to-back wins in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. John and Thady Gosden are considering another crack at Sandown's Group 3 Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes with their five-year-old, who finished second to Almaqam in the 1m2f contest last year under a 3lb penalty.

The Commonwealth Cup favourite Charles Darwin will warm up for Royal Ascot at Naas on Sunday in the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes, while the market leaders for the Coventry and Albany Stakes could also feature on what promises to be a highly informative Royal Ascot Trials day at the track.

Charles Darwin is 5-1 with Ladbrokes for the Commonwealth Cup following his stylish winning reappearance at Navan last month and Aidan O’Brien expects him to make a giant leap forward from that comeback success on Sunday, where a field of 12 have been entered at the five-day stage.

Few horses have created as much of an impression on their debut this season as Great Barrier Reef, who won a Curragh maiden ultra-impressively by six lengths, and he is already favourite for the Coventry Stakes on the back of that and no bigger than 3-1 with any firm.The next rung up the ladder on the way there could arrive in the sprint won by Charles Darwin last year, which has attracted a dozen entries.

Owen Burrows said the decision to bypass next month's Betfred Derby with Raaheeb was a simple one, but he hopes a Classic bid remains in the equation with the Irish Derby under consideration.

The son of Sea The Stars made it two wins from two starts with victory in last month's bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown, resulting in bookmakers cutting him into 8-1 (from 20) for the Epsom showpiece on June 6. 

However, Raaheeb returned stiff from that success and was ruled out of the Group 1 and although it was unfortunate news, Burrows said it was not a tricky decision to make with the brother to Group 1 winners Baaeed and Hukum. Burrows said: "He's been back cantering for a week. He had to walk for ten days, and then trot, and you have to be 110 per cent going to a Derby, so it made our decision quite easy. It's a long season and we want him about for when he's four and five, if he can prove himself. He's an important horse for everybody."The Lambourn trainer is now looking ahead with the unbeaten colt, who will be given an entry for Royal Ascot next month, but the Irish Derby at the Curragh on June 28 is a race he is leaning towards.

Last year’s Gold Cup winner Trawlerman is not a definite runner in this year’s Royal Ascot showpiece due to taking longer than anticipated to come to hand this spring.

First Course Winner Bonus is available at 

In the UK - Brighton, Cartmel, Perth, Stratford, Worcester

In Ireland - Ballinrobe, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Bellewstown, Laytown, Downpatrick,  Listowel, Kilbeggan

2026 Flat Issue 3 - The winners keep coming

Headlines

Jan Brueghel lands Ormonde Stakes.

Maltese Cross lands Derby Trial

Necklace proves a Diamond Pick

James J Braddoclk lands Derby Trial

Report

We Start at Chester last Thursday where in the 1m 5f group 3 Jan Brueghel (Bob) went to post, In touch with leaders, dropped to rear after 3f, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on final 110yds, winning by 2 ½ l. He gets 33.16 points.

At Lingfield on Saturday in the 1m 3f listed stakes Maltese Cross (Cliff), went to post, In touch with leaders, headway 3f out, led 2f out, sustained duel and went clear with runner-up from over 1f out, ran on well, just did enough, winning by a neck. He gets 36.5 points.

On Sunday at Longchamp in the 1m  Poule d'Essai Des Pouliches (Group 1) (Fillies) Diamond Necklace (Bob), took her chance, Midfield on inner, headway to lead over 1f out, soon clear, ridden out, winning by 3l. She gets 53.6 points.

At Leopardstown in the 1m 2f group 3 James J Braddock (Cliff) took his chance, Raced in fourth, went third but pushed along over 2f out, outpaced over 1f out, 3 lengths down inside final furlong, ridden and ran on well to lead post, winning by a short head. He gets 50 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 May    Total

Cliff          205.6        205.6

Bob           168.93    168.93

Cod             150.34    150.34

Neil            90.1         90.1

Steve         82.17     82.17

Peej           65.12        65.12

Martin      28.68        28.68

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      4                1

Bob           8         4

Cliff           7            4

Neil          7              2

Peej          7             2

Cod           6            3

Steve          4               2

The Weeks Losers

Bay City Roller, Kings Gambit, Schrodinger’s Cat, Maho Bay, Gilded Prize, Puerto Rico, Pierre Bonnard, Binharheer, American Affair

Weekend Runners

Friday 

York

2,20 Synchronicity

3.30 Lover Girl

4.05 French Master

4.40 Schrodinger’s Cat

5.15 Portcullis

Newmarket

1.57 Portcullis

Leopardstown

7.22 Scandinavia

Saturday 

Newbury

1.25 Kalpana, French Master

2.35 Damysus, Zeus Olympics, Noteable Speech, Opera Ballo, The Lion In Winter, Gladius

3.45 Objector

4.20 Addison Grey, 

5.00 Mezcala

5.40 Objector

Navan

4.42 Cape Cod

Sunday 

Hamilton

5.15 Montezuma

6.15 Montezuma

Naas

1.55 Port Ferdinand

2.56 Great Barrier Reef

4.56 Charles Darwin

News

George Boughey has revealed his 2,000 Guineas star Bow Echo will skip the Irish 2,000 Guineas and head to the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next.

Diamond Necklace was cut across the board for the Betfred Oaks, with the sponsors making her 5-1 second-favourite behind stablemate Amelia Earhart, though it’s hard to escape the conclusion there are a couple of extra points on top because the Coolmore partners may be tempted to return to France for the Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly on June 14. O’Brien and the owners will have that discussion in the days to come, but confirmed she will go up in trip for one of the two middle-distance Classics rather than stay at a mile.

Aidan O'Brien's impressive Chester heroine Amelia Earhart and Precise look poised for a tilt at Betfred Oaks glory with stablemate Diamond Necklace likely to return to France for the Prix de Diane after she put up a scintillating display in the French 1,000 Guineas last weekend.

Triple Group 1 winner Ombudsman is set to warm up for Royal Ascot at either Sandown or the Curragh before he bids for back-to-back wins in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. John and Thady Gosden are considering another crack at Sandown's Group 3 Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes with their five-year-old, who finished second to Almaqam in the 1m2f contest last year under a 3lb penalty.

The Commonwealth Cup favourite Charles Darwin will warm up for Royal Ascot at Naas on Sunday in the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes, while the market leaders for the Coventry and Albany Stakes could also feature on what promises to be a highly informative Royal Ascot Trials day at the track. Charles Darwin is 5-1 with Ladbrokes for the Commonwealth Cup following his stylish winning reappearance at Navan last month and Aidan O’Brien expects him to make a giant leap forward from that comeback success on Sunday, where a field of 12 have been entered at the five-day stage.

Few horses have created as much of an impression on their debut this season as Great Barrier Reef, who won a Curragh maiden ultra-impressively by six lengths, and he is already favourite for the Coventry Stakes on the back of that and no bigger than 3-1 with any firm. The next rung up the ladder on the way there could arrive in the sprint won by Charles Darwin last year, which has attracted a dozen entries

First Course Winner Bonus is available at 

In the UK - Brighton, Cartmel, Perth, Stratford, Worcester

In Ireland - Ballinrobe, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Bellewstown, Layto

2026 Flat Issue 2 - A frantic start

Headlines

Double Rushes to Newmarket Victory

Cheers Echo Round Newmarket

Love is a True Winner at Newmarket

Neil Scores with his Lover Girl at Salisbury

Knight Earns ore Coppers at Beverley

Hauk Fly’s in at Curragh

Railwayman Steams in at Ayr

Adonius is To Strong for Chester Rivals

Amelia Earhart Flies in at Chester

Report

We start at Newmarket on Saturday where in the 6f Heritage handicap Double Rush ( Bob, Steve) went to post, Took keen hold, pressed leader, led 2f out, pushed along and went clear inside final furlong, winning readily by 2 ¼ l. He gets 26.67 points.

In the 1m group 1 2000 guineas Bow Echo (Bob, Cliff, Neil, Steve), Gstaad (Cod, Peej), took their chances.  Bow Echo raced centre, in rear, headway on near side of group over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on well final 110yds, won going away by 2 ¾ l. He gets 55.5 points.

Gstaad Raced centre, soon in touch with leaders, headway when groups merged over 3f out, briefly disputed lead over 1f out, soon edged right and went clear with winner, kept on but no match for winner, 2nd beaten 2 ¾ l. He gets 13.4 points.

On Sunday in the 1m group 1 1000 Guineas True Love (Cliff, Cod), took her chance, raced near side, midfield, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, drifted right inside final 110yds, kept on well, 1st of 8 in group, winning by 1 ¾ l. She gets 63.6 points.

At Salisbury Lover Girl (Neil) went to post in the 5f fillies conditions stakes, Made all, kept on well from over 1f out, winning by 1 ¾ l. She gets 34.6 points. 

On Monday at Beverley in the 5f handicap Copper Knight (Cod), went to post, Pressed leader, ridden and led narrowly over 1f out, kept on final 110yds, just prevailed, winning by a head. He gets 30 points.

At the Curragh in the 1m 2f group 2 Minnie Hauk (Cod) took her chance, raced in fourth, behind clear leader after 3f, shaken up and went second over 2f out, led inside final furlong, pushed out winning by 1 ¾ l. She gets 43.34 points.

On Tuesday at Ayr in the 6f maiden stakes Railwayman (Peej)went to post, Prominent, led over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on final 110yds  winning by 1 ¾ l. He gets 22.46 points.

At Chester on Wednesday in the 5f 2 year old conditions stakes Adonius (Martin), took his chance, Made all, soon pestered, asserted under 2f out, edged left inside final furlong, ridden out winning by 1 ¼ l. He gets 28.68 points.

In the 1m 3f listed fillies stakes Amelia Earhart (Peej), took her chance, Prominent on inner, pushed along and went second over 1f out, led and edged left inside final furlong, ridden out, winning by 2l. She gets 29.26 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 May    Total

Cod             150.34    150.34

Cliff          119.1        119.1

Neil            90.1         90.1

Steve         82.17     82.17

Bob           82.17    82.17

Peej           65.12        65.12

Martin      28.68        28.68

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      4                1

Bob           4               2

Cliff           4            2

Neil          4               2

Peej           5             2

Cod           6            3

Steve          3               2

The Weeks Losers

Addison Grey, Gstaad, Needle Match, Renegade, Commandment, Venetian Sun, Precise, Abashiri, Asfoora, Faiyum

Weekend Runners

Friday 

Chester

2.35 Bay City Roller, Kings Gambit

3.05 Almeric

4.45 Schrodinger’s Cat

Saturday 

Ascot

2,20 Power Fizz

Lingfield

1.58 Maho Bay, Maltese Cross

Sunday 

Longchamp

Poule d’Essai des Pouliches - Diamond Necklace

Poule d’Essai des Poulains - Puerto Rico

News

George Boughey has revealed his 2,000 Guineas star Bow Echo will skip the Irish 2,000 Guineas and head to the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next.

First Course Winner Bonus is available at 

In the UK - Brighton, Cartmel, Perth, Stratford, Worcester

In Ireland - Ballinrobe, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Bellewstown, Laytown, Downpatrick,  Listowel, Kilbeggan

2026 Flat Issue 1 - Entries for Guineas weekend

Weekend Runners

Saturday 

Newmarket

1.45 Power Fizz, Double Rush, Corrolla Point

2.20 Mezcala

3.35 Bow Echo, Puerto Rico, Needle Match, Gstaad, 

Churchill Downs

11.75 Renegade, Commandment

Sunday

Newmarket 

2.55 French Master

3.35 Precise, Diamond Necklace, Venetian Sun, True Love, Abashiri

Salisbury

2.00 Lover Girl

2026 Flat - The Points Scorers

Calandagan sets out to defend the Horse of the Season title.

81.0 - Notable Speech

63.6 - True Love

55.5 - Bow Echo

53.6 - Diamond Necklace

53.4 - Item

50.0 - James J Braddock

44.2 - Aventure

43.68 - See The Fire

43.34 - Minnie Hauk

39.77 - Gstaad (13.4 + 26.37)

36.5 - Maltese Cross

34.6 - Lover Girl

34.0 - Purview

33.16 - Jan Brueghel

33.08 - Great Barrier Reef

33.0 - Danielle

30.95 - Precise

30.0 - Copper Knight

29.26 - Amelia Earhart

28.68 - Adonius

26.67 - Double Rush

26.2 - Daryz

22.75 - Venetian Sun

22.46 - Railwayman

17.1 - Kalpana

16.23 - Scandinavia

12.0 - Portcullis

2026 Flat - The Single Picks

Bob (12) - Alther Walden, American Affair, Diamond Necklace, Faiyum, French Master, Go Rimbaud, Jan Brueghel, Morrophore, Puerto Rico, Purview, Revival Power, Soldiers Tree

Cliff (13) - Asfoora, Calendar Girl, Gilded Prize, James J Braddock, Maltese Cross, Objector, Power Fizz, Rebel's Romance, Space Waltz, Synchronisity, The Lion in Winter, Theophilos, Trawlerman

Cod (14) - Aventure, Calandagan, Cape Cod, Christmas Day, Commandment, Copper Knight, Dancing Tiger, Dandana, Danielle, Kiss Kodi, Minnie Hauk, Monsieur Kodi, Renegade, Sovereignty

Martin (13) - Adonius, Alkasib, Almeric, Big Leader, Fallen Angel, Gladius, Needle Match, Nobody Knows, Notable Speech, Opera Ballo, See The Fire, Spycatcher, Wise Approach

Neil (13) - Addison Grey, Aegean Prince, Armor De Contramano, Binharheer, Charles Darwin, Estrange, Lover Girl, Maho Bay, Ombudsman, Pierre Bonnard, Port Ferdinand, Red Letter, Teao

Peej (15) - Amelia Earhart, Bay City Roller, Carmers, Consent, Constitution Hill, Corolla Point, Finalise, Lifeplan, Niminy Piminy, Quadrillion, Railwayman, Schrodinger's Cat, Shaihaan, Sibayan, Tiffany

Steve (10) - Enoch, Hasten, Item, Kings Gambit, Great Barrier Reef, Mezcala, My Ophelia, Never So Brave, Protection Act, Ya Karin

In addition, Cliff has reserved rights for Damysus.