2015 Flat Issue 8 - the latest action

Headlines

Muhaarar  Conquerors Commonwealth

Mahsoob scores at Ascot

Light Breaks over Bath

Dan goes in at Carlisle

Report

We start at Ascot on Friday where in the 6f Group 1 Commonwealth Cup Muhaarar  ( Peej ), took his chance, held up in mid field, ridden and headway to lead 1 out, ran on strongly , stormed clear inside last, winning by 3 ¼ l. He gets 76.6 points.

In the 1m Fillies Group 1 Coronation stakes, Found ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Lee, Neil, Steve, Tony), took her chance, tracked leaders, effort 2 out, led over 1 out, ran on under pressure, headed close home, finishing 2^nd, beaten a head. She gets 12 points.

At Ascot in the 1m 2f handicap, Mahsoob ( Bob), went to post, tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, strong run entering final furlong, led inside last 100 yards, stayed on well winning a shade cosily he gets 25 .6 points.

Yesterday at Carlisle in the 7 ½ f handicap, Go Dan Go ( Cod), went to post, Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on well, winning by 1 ¼  l. He gets 30.4 points.

At Bath in the 1m 3 ½ f handicap Light Breaks ( Martin) went to post, Made all, clear over 7f out, ridden over 2f out, ran on, eased towards finish winning by 5l. He gets 27. Points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy               

                   June           Totals

Cliff            324              516.7

Bob             283.4            510.3

Tony           169.4              357.6

Cod            93.8               332.8

Peej            182.4             272.5

Martin         126.8           251.9

Neil            75.4              249.2

Le e             118              222

Steve          63.4               200.5

News

Muhaarar, impressive winner of the inaugural running of the Commonwealth Cup, is among 30 horses remaining in the Darley July Cup following the latest scratching stage Hills has taken out Jersey Stakes scorer Dutch Connection but has left in Salt Island, who was fourth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Dual Arc winner Treve is the headline attraction among the 13 names left in Sunday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the latest forfeit stage. Flintshire is also entered and Andre Fabre told the punter,: "He's going for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and he's going to run a good race.

Ante-post favourite Jack Hobbs pleased trainer John Gosden in his final piece of work on Wednesday morning ahead of the 150th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby

 The master of Ballydoyle has four contenders this season, with Epsom Oaks heroine Qualify joined by three colts in French Derby runner-up Highland Reel as well as Epsom fourth and sixth Giovanni Canaletto and Kilimanjaroty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday.

Belardo could head to France for his next start after being forced to miss Royal Ascot. Varian said: "He's in great form, the ground was far too quick for him at Ascot. He's a very nice horse and we need to look after him.

"His next race could be the Prix Jean Prat (at Chantilly) on July 12

Dutch Connection could bid to supplement his Jersey Stakes success at Royal Ascot in the Qatar Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on July 28

The Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes are the next races being considered for Royal Ascot hero Free Eagle.

Freddy Head is keeping his fingers crossed for an ease in the ground at Glorious Goodwood ahead of Solow's highly-anticipated clash with Gleneagles in the Qatar Sussex Stakes

2015 Flat Issue 7 - action-packed

Headlines

Twilight is Bright at York

Fintry Wins at Chantilly

Solow lands Queen Anne

Glen spreadeagles field at Ascot

Report

We Start at York on Saturday where in the 6f handicap Twilight Son (Bob), took his chance, tracked leaders, smooth headway and close up 2 out, shaken up to lead entering final furlong, ridden and kept on towards finish, winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 29.8 points.

On Sunday at Chantilly, Fintry (Bob), took her chance in the 1m group 3, made all quickend clear over 1 out, ridden inside last, held on to win by ½ l. She gets 36.6 points.

At Royal Ascot on Tuesday, in the 1m Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, Solow, ( Cliff, Peej), went to post, Tracked leading pair, 2nd over 3f out, ridden to lead well over 1f out, ran on well, winning by 1l. He gets 52.2 points.

In the 1m Group 1 St James Palce Stakes, Gleneagles ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil, Steve, Tony), took his chance, Sweating, tracked leading trio, effort on outside into 2nd well over 1f out, challenged over 1f out, led 1f out, quickened and came clear inside final furlong, winning impressively by 2 ½ l. He gets 51.4 points.

On Wednesday at Ascot in the 7f group 3 Dutch Connection (Cliff), took his chance, Took keen hold, tracking leaders, went 2nd inside final 2f, led over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, held on well winning by ½ l He gets 65.2 points.

In the 1m 2f Group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes, Free Eagle ( Bob, Cliff, Lee, Tony),The Grey Gatsby ( Neil, Peej) took their chance,  Free Eagle Tracked leading pair, 2nd halfway, led travelling well approaching final 2f, ridden over 1f out, just held on close home, all out, winning by a short head. He gets 53.6 points.

The Grey Gatsby Held up in 5th, headway tracking leaders over 2f out, soon switched left and edging right, 3rd over 1f out, squeezed through into 2nd inside final furlong, strong challenge close home, just failed to get up, 2^nd a short head. He gets 12 points.

to post, Took keen hold, held up rear of mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders when not clear run over 1f out, soon switched right, driven into 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on to lead on line, winning by a nose. She gets 37.2 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy               

                   June           Totals

Cliff            312              504.7

Bob             245.8            472.7

Tony           157.4              345.6

Cod            51.4               290.4

Neil            63.4              237.2

Martin         99.2             224.3

Le e             106              210

Peej            105.8             195.9

Steve          51.4               188.5

News

Aidan O'Brien has been "very happy" with Found ahead of Friday's Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Ol' Man River bids to get a disappointing season back on track in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Henry Candy expects fast ground to bring out the best in Limato in what is a fascinating inaugural running of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Charlie Hills confident about the chances of Muhaarar.

Last season's Gimcrack winner made a successful reappearance in the Greenham at Newbury and was far from disgraced when eighth in the French 2000 Guineas from a nightmare draw.

Hills, who also runs outsider Salt Island, said: "Muhaarar is probably my best chance of the week. He had almost no chance from stall 18 at Longchamp as he was stuck on the outside and was too keen, but he actually ran a very good race.

Tiggy Wiggy was runner-up to Anthem Alexander in the Queen Mary 12 months ago before turning the tables in the Lowther at York and the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

She was third in last month's 1000 Guineas and now reverts to sprinting.

Trainer Richard Hannon said: "We are looking forward to running Tiggy Wiggy in the Commonwealth Cup. This new race has always been her prime target and, though she ran an absolute blinder in the 1000 Guineas, it was only her class and courage which enabled her to finish third. 

2015 Flat Issue 6 - things gathering pace

Headlines

Horn Is Golden in Derby

Moon Shines at Epsom

Tropics Burns off Rivals at Windsor

Abbey scores at Nottingham

Report

We start at Windsor on Monday 1 June where Tropics (Peej), went to post in the 6f listed stakes, held up in rear, smooth progress on outer from ½ way, led over 1 out, going strongly, pushed out and in command, winning by ½ l. He gets 41.6 points.

At Epsom on Saturday in the 1m 4f group 1 Coronation Cup Pethers Moon ( Martin) went to post, held up in last, went 3^rd from 1 /2 way effort on inner over 2 out, went 2^nd and switched inside last, stayed on under pressure to lead last strides, winning by a neck. He gets 64.2 points.

In the 1m 4f Group 1 Derby Golden Horn ( Bob, Cliff, Lee, Tony), Jack Hobbs ( Bob), took their chances. . Golden Horn, took keen hold, held up off pace in last 4, closed and in 9^th entering straight, pulled out 3 out, ridden and headway 2 out, chased leader 1 out, led just inside last, drifted left but went clear winning comfortably by 3 ½ l. He gets 52.4 points. 

Jack Hobbs, held up in mid field, closed and 5^th in to straight, ridden and headway to lead over 1 out, hanging left and soon pressed, headed just inside last, out paced by winner, finishing 2^nd beaten 3 ½ l He gets 24 pointts.

Today at Nottingham, Lexington Abbey ( Martin), went to post in the 6f handicap,

Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, winning by ½ l. He gets 35 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy               

                   June           Totals

Bob             74.4            301.3

Cliff            52.4              245.1

Tony           52.4              240.6

Cod            00                239.8

Martin         99.2             224.3

Neil            00                173.8

Le e             52.4            156.4

Steve          00                137.1

Peej            41.6             131.7

News

Belardo could travel overseas in search of some cut in the ground should conditions be too quick at Royal Ascot next week

Connections of California Chrome admit that the Kentucky Derby winner could be facing his toughest test yet as he gears up for Wednesday's Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Opponents include, Kevin Ryan's The Grey Gatsby, who was also second at Meydan behind Solow in the Dubai Turf, will try to win his first race since he lowered the colours of Australia in the Irish Champion Stakes in September.

The Grey Gatsby was fourth to Al Kazeem in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, a race which Free Eagle had to miss because he was suffering from a head cold.

Dermot Weld reports Free Eagle to be A1 again now, and the four-year-old is ready to run for the first time since he was third in the Qipco Champion Stakes over the course and distance in October.

There are two French-trained possibles in Ectot and Gailo Chop while Japanese challenger Spielberg and Criterion from Australia add even more global interest.

John Gosden is double-handed with Eagle Top and Western Hymn while Sir Michael Stoute relies on Cannock Chase. The Corsican, trained by David Simcock, completes the list.

 

2015 Flat Issue 5 - potentially big scoring weekend

Headlines

Treve Rules at Chantilly

Muthmir

Report

Both winners went to France last weekend, we start on Friday at Chantilly , where in the 1m 2f Group 2 Treve (Cliff), went to post,

Raced mid field on inner, angled out and going strongly 2 out, shaken up to challenge 1 out, soon led, quickend clear under hands and heels, cruised home, winning by 4l. She gets 43.4 points.

On Sunday Muthmir ( Martin, Tony), took his chance in the 5f group 2, waited with in mid field, shaken up and not much room under 2 out, ridden and headway between horses 1 out, ran on to lead narrowly close home, won on the nod by a head. He gets 22.6 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy               

                   May           Totals

Cod            239.8         239.8

Bob             224.9         224.9

Cliff            192.7           192.7

Tony           188.2          188.2

Neil            173.8        173.8

Steve          137.1           137.1

Martin         128.1         128.1

Le e             104          104

Peej            90.1           90.1

Congratulations to Cod who is may trainer of the month

News

Aidan O'Brien is no stranger to Investec Oaks success and Together Forever holds every chance of giving him a fifth win in the Epsom Classic

Golden Horn will face 11 rivals as he bids to justify favouritism in the Investec Derby at Epsom.

Frankie Dettori will be aboard the Dante winner on Saturday as he bids to win the race for the second time.

There is, however, a slight question mark over the suitability of the ground for both the market leader and stablemate Jack Hobbs.Their trainer John Gosden said: "I'll walk the track on Saturday morning. The ground is perfect right now, but we'll see what the weather does and whether they get a thunderstorm. I'm happy with all the horses."

Andrew Balding is in a similar position with Elm Park, who missed the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier in the season because the ground was too fast.The Kingsclere handler said: "It sounds like they (thunderstorms) are going to be localised so let's hope we're lucky and that some of them hit Epsom.

"He'll run, but I'd obviously be a little bit more apprehensive running him (on fast ground). I'm sure it will be safe ground. There's not a lot I can do. It's just que sera sera.

Aidan O'Brien - looking for his fourth consecutive success in the blue riband event - has declared Giovanni Canaletto (Ryan Moore), Hans Holbein (Seamie Heffernan) and Kilimanjaro (Joseph O'Brien)