2026 Flat Issue 17 - Big points for Steve

Headlines

It’s A Grey Day At Newbury

Item Is Full York Package

Maltese nails rivals to the Cross

Report

At Newbury on Saturday in the 7f handicap Addison Grey (Neil), went to post, Prominent, waiting for room over 3f out, ridden and switched left over 2f out, led inside final furlong, kept on , winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 31.2 points.

On Wednesday at York in the 1m 4f group 2 Maltese Cross (Cliff), went to post, Travelled strongly, soon in touch with leaders, headway over 3f out, edged left but led 2f out, ridden and kept on well final furlong winning by 2l. He gets 46.5 points.

In the 1m 2f Group 1 Juddmonte International stakes Item (Steve) took his chance, Towards rear, short of room 3f out, headway when not clear run 2f out, soon switched right, ridden and hung left inside final furlong, ran on well final 110yds, led final stride, winning by a head. He gets 102,2 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 August  Total

Bob           00             840.48

Cliff          85.5            833.22

Cod         63.04           693.78

Steve         102.2           646.29

Neil         31.2              626.43

Peej           81.4         566.39

Martin      00            344.52

York Grand Slam

Steve 102.2

Cliff   46.5

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      35        8

Bob           45         19

Cliff           46       18

Neil          44          15

Peej          46           14

Cod           45          14

Steve          36          15

The Weeks Losers

Lover Girl, Amelia Earhart, Never So Brave, Corrolla Point, Christmas Day, Pierre Bonnard, Ombudsman, Schrodinger’s Cat

Weekend Runners

Friday  

York

2.25 Carmers, French Master

3.35 Asfoora, American Affair

4.10 Almeric

Hamilton

6.45 Aegean Prince

7.45 Montezuma

Saturday 

York

1.50 Damysus

3.00 Noteable Speech, True Love, Lifeplan, Puerto Rico

3.35 Aegean Prince

4.10 Corrolla Point

4.45 Adonius

Chester

2.40 Aegean Prince

Curragh

4.35 Jan Brughel, Carmers, Consent, Tiffany, Amelia Earhart

Newmarket

3.18 Wise Approach

Sunday 

Southwell

4.10 Kiss Kodi

News

Classic winner Notable Speech is one of 14 declared for Saturday's Group 1 Sky Bet City of York Stakes, the feature race on the final day of the Ebor meeting.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the five-year-old son of Dubawi already holds a victory at the highest level this season, having landed the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. However, he is bidding to return to form after being a beaten favourite when sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on his last outing.

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2026 Flat Issue 16 - Cliff and Cod keep in touch

Headlines

Corrolla makes a Point at Hamilton

Calendar Girl is Haydock Pin Up

Sovereignty Rules in The USA

Tiffany sparkles in Germany

Report

Apologies to Peej as I missed this, at Hamilton on 1 August Corrolla Point went to post in the 5f handicap, Midfield, headway over 1f out, pressed leaders inside final furlong, led narrowly inside final 110yds, faced challenges towards finish, just did enough, winning by a short  head. . He gets 28 points.

On Saturday at Haydock in the 1m listed stakes for fillies and mares Calendar Girl (Cliff) took her chance, Raced wide, took keen hold, towards rear, headway on outer from over 2f out, ridden when led 1f out, ran on, winning by 1 ¼ l. She gets 39 points.

At Saratoga in the 1m 1f Group 1 Whitney Stakes Sovereignty ( Cod), went to post, In touch with leaders, lost ground after 3f, dropped to last halfway, headway over 2f out, ridden and led inside final furlong, went clear inside final 110yds, readily, winning by 4 ¾  l. He gets 63.04 points.

At Hoppegarten on Sunday in the 1m 4f group 1 Westminster 136th Grosser Preis von Berlin Tiffany (Peej) went to post, In touch with leaders on inner, headway and ridden 2f out, edged left and led narrowly final 110yds, held on well, winning by a neck. She gets 53..4 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 August  Total

Bob           00             840.48

Cliff          39            786.72

Cod         63.04           693.78

Neil         00              595.23

Peej           81.4         566.39

Steve         00           544.09

Martin      00            344.52

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      35        8

Bob           45         19

Cliff           45        17

Neil          40          14

Peej          43           14

Cod           44          14

Steve          34            14

The Weeks Losers

Montezuma, Needle Match , Fallen Angel,, Convergent, Go Rimbaud, True Love, Wise Approach, Almeric

Weekend Runners

Friday 

Newbury

5.23 Lover Girl

Cork

7.10 Amelia Earhart

Thirsk

6.43 Copper Knight

Saturday 

Newbury

2.35 Addison Grey, Power Fizz

3.10 Never So Brave

Sunday 

Curragh

4.25 Fayium, Shaihaan

Southwell

4.10 Kiss Kodi

News

Superstar Bow Echo has been retired from racing through injury, with Billy Loughnane describing the unbeaten three-year-old as an "unbelievable racehorse who has given me days in the saddle that I could only ever have dreamed of". Bow Echo leaves the track with a perfect record from six starts, having completed a remarkable Group 1 treble in the 2,000 Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes.

Gstaad is also out for a while,  O'Brien told The Punter ". He got galloped into at Goodwood and got a little bit of an infection in his hind leg. "The antibiotics we put him on would usually mean that you can run him within seven days, but the cut was so deep that they had to put him on extra-strong antibiotics so it will take 14 days to get out of his system, so it will be the Moulin for him now. That's probably where he will go next."

Big Buck's, a long time member of this publication and the greatest staying hurdler of all time and the winner of 18 consecutive races during an astonishing period of unbroken success, has died aged 23.

After being switched back to hurdles following his final-fence exit in the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup, the enigmatic public favourite became the champion against whom all long-distance hurdlers are measured.

Big Buck's became the first horse ever to win four runnings of what is now the Stayers' Hurdle, powering up the Cheltenham hill under Ruby Walsh to the sound of rapturous acclaim from 2009 to 2012. He also carried the colours of Andy Stewart and his family to four wins in the Liverpool Hurdle and three triumphs in the Long Walk Hurdle, invariably hitting a flat spot before ruthlessly dismissing top-class opposition.

Nicky Henderson is "less and less optimistic" about Constitution Hill's appearance at Windsor later this month but will not be hitting the panic button, with a back-up plan already in place for his unbeaten Flat star. The trainer identified a Listed contest at Windsor for the nine-year-old on August 29, but the continued drying ground could force connections to wait another week for his reappearance, with the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton an increasing possibility. 

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2026 Flat Issue 15 - Bob storms clear

Headlines

Bob’s Affair with Jim Goldie rolls on

Diamonds Sparkle at Goodwood

Report

We start at Goodwood on Thursday where in the 1m 2f group 1 Nassau stakes for fillies and mares Diamond Necklace (Bob), took her chance, Took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway over 2f out, nudged along to lead over 1f out, ridden and went clear final 110yds, ran on, winning by 2 ¾ l. She gets 78.34 points.

On Friday where in the 5f group 2 American Affair (Bob), went to post, Raced near side, pressed leader, led group over 3f out, led overall over 2f out, pushed along over 1f out, jockey dropped whip inside final furlong, kept on well, 1st of 8 in group winning by ½ l. He gets 74.1 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 July        Total

Bob           281.05             840.48

Cliff          205.17            747.72

Cod             118.15            630.74

Neil         104.11              595.23

Steve         157.41           544.09

Peej           52.4               484.99

Martin      96.55            344.52

Congratulations to Bob who is July trainer of the Month

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      30            8

Bob           44         18

Cliff           43         15

Neil          40          13

Peej          41           12

Cod           42            12

Steve          33            14

The Weeks Losers

Talk of New York, Asfoora, Montezuma, Kings Gambit, Consent, Danielle, Amelia Earhart, Soldiers Tree, Commandment, Life Plan, Power Fizz, Precise

Weekend Runners

Friday 

Mussleburgh

3.50 Montezuma, Copper Knight

Saturday 

Haydock

2.25 Convergent

3.00 Fallen Angel, Calendar Girl

Newmarket

4.14 Go Rimbaud

Saratoga

23.37 Sovereignty

Sunday 

Curragh

2.50 Charles Darwin

4.00 Great Barrier Reef

Hoppergarten

2.40 Almeric, Tiffany

News

Ante-post favourite Estrange was a surprise withdrawal from the Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks on Tuesday. She had topped the betting for the Group 1 contest following her top-level breakthrough in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in June.   But Cheveley Park Stud's mare, who is trained by David O'Meara, was taken out of the race just before the noon scratchings deadline.  

Calandagan, who was officially rated the best horse in the world last year, is also out of his hugely awaited clash of the generations at York later this month. He was withdrawn from the Juddmonte International, for which he was third favourite at a best-priced 8-1, before the noon scratchings deadline.

Calandagan will not be seen in either of the next two major all-aged middle-distance Group 1s this summer and could skip the rest of the European season completely as the Aga Khan Studs and trainer Francis Graffard look to give the five-year-old the best possible chance of defending his crown in the Japan Cup on November 29. 

Ombudsman, who currently tops the world ratings alongside Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising after his imperious victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, stood his ground at the scratchings stage for the International.

High-class filly Venetian Sun has sustained an injury which has ended her season and may mean she never races again. A decision will be made early next year as to whether the dual Group 1 winner will return to training or be retired for breeding. "Unfortunately she's picked up an injury," trainer Karl Burke revealed to the Punter. "It's a great shame. It's a lesion of her right-fore tendon. There's enough there to pull up stumps for the time being and then a decision will be made early next year as to whether she stays in training or goes to the breeding sheds.

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2026 Flat Issue 14 - Cliff still top after Goodwood winners

Headlines

King de throned at Ascot by Queen Kalpana

York host Saturday’s Special Item

Scandinavia lands Goodwood Cup

Echo’s Bow shoots down Gstaad

Report

We start at Ascot on Saturday where in the 1m 4f Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes Kalpana (Martin, Steve), Calandagan (Cod) took their chances. Kalpana, In touch with leaders, headway 3f out, led under 2f out, ridden and edged right over 1f out, ran on well final furlong, winning by 1 ½ l. She gets 57.5 points.

At York in the 1m 2f group 2 Item (Steve), went to post, Raced in second, lost second and pushed along over 4f out, outpaced 3f out, rallied and led over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on well final 110yds, Winning by 2 ¾ L. He gets 48 points.

At Goodwood on Tuesday in the 2m Group 1 Goodwood Cup Scandinavia (Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil), went to post, Prominent, pushed along when led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, went further clear inside final furlong, winning readily by 8 ½ l. He gets 52.2 points

Yesterday in the 1m group 1 Sussex Stakes Bow Echo ( Bob, Cliff, Neil, Steve), Gstaad (Cod, Peej), took their chances.  Bow Echo towards rear, waiting for room over 2f out, headway when bumped over 1f out, ridden and ran on well final furlong, led final strides, winning by ½ l. He gets 51.91 points. Gstaad, sweating, midfield, headway under 2f out, ridden when led final 110yds, ran on but headed final strides, 2nd beaten ½ l He gets 13.35 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 July        Total

Cliff          205.17          747.72

Bob           128.61             688.04

Cod             118.15            630.74

Neil         104.11              595.23

Steve         157.41           544.09

Peej           52.4               484.99

Martin      96.55          344.52

Stats Per String

           Runs        Wins

Martin      29     8

Bob           38   16

Cliff           40  15

Neil          39    13

Peej          36   12

Cod           40   12

Steve          31    14

The Weeks Losers

Dancing Tiger, Calandagan, Minnie Hauk, Addison Grey, Damysus, Copper Knight, Dandana, Adonius, Gstaad, Puerto Rico,

Never So Brave, Opera Ballo 

Weekend Runners

Friday 

Goodwood

2.25 Talk of New York

3.35 American Affair, Asfoora

Mussleburgh

7.25 Montezuma

Saturday 

Goodwood

2,25 King’s Gambit

3.00 Consent, Danielle, Amelia Earhart

3.35 Soldier’s Tree, Addison Grey

Sunday 

Chester

3.20 Lifeplan

3.52 Power Fizz

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2026 Flat Issue 13 - No winners!

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           36   15

Cliff           38   14

Neil          37    12

Peej          35   12

Cod           35     12

Steve          27      11

The Weeks Losers

Monsieur Kodi, Soldiers Tree, Binhareer, Charles Darwin, Amelia Earhart

Weekend Runners

Friday 

York

7.50 Tiffany

Saturday 

Ascot

2.55 Mezcala

3.35 Calandagan, Minnie Hauk, Kalpana, Bay City Roller

York

1.30 Copper Knight, 

2.00 Addison Grey

2.35 Item, Damysus, Tiffany

Chester

4.23 Copper Knight

Tuesday 

Goodwood

3.00 Never So Brave

3.35 Scandinavia, Trawlerman, French Master

5.55 Dandana

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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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