2016 Flat Issue 8 - an upswing for a few

Headlines

Stars Twinkle Across Ascot

Son Outshines Rivals in Jubilee

Dartmouth is Right Royal Winner

Report

We start at Ascot on Friday where in the 1m 4f group 2 Across The Stars ( Steve), went to post, tracked leaders, effort over 2 out, carried left and led narrowly 1 out, ran on and in command close home, winning by 1 1/4l. He gets 55.6 points.

At Ascot on Saturday in the 1m 4f Group 2, Dartmouth ( Martin), took his chance, midfield, pulled out and headway just over 2n out, ridden to lead narrowly just over 1 out, edged right when duelling with 2^nd inside last, ran on gamely, winning by a head. He gets 54.6 points.

In the 6f Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes twilight Son ( Bob), went to post, took keen hold, chased leading pair, effort over 1 out, went 2^nd and every chance entering final furlong, ran on to lead last 50 yards, ridden out, winning by a neck. He gets 109 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                      June               Total

Bob                    251.9             361

Neil                   195.1             311.9

Tony                  206.1              308.7

Martin                122.5             293.6

Peej                   109.6              292.7

Cliff                   184.1            286.5

Cod                    184.1            252.5

Lee                     91                196.9

Steve                  67.6             143.6

News

Ryan Moore is to ride new Irish Derby favourite Idaho after stablemate US Army Ranger was ruled out with a bad scope.

Michael Dods believes a series of circumstances led to the disappointing performance of Mecca's Angel in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The five-year-old has undergone a series of tests following her poor display in the five-furlong Group One for which she was sent off the 6-4 favourite. "We left her until the end of last week until we did anything. I just wanted to give her time to settle down," Dods told Racing UK.

"We covered everything - bloods, scopes, X-rays, scans. The one thing that has come to light is that she was in season last week at Royal Ascot "There was more than one thing. I've always said she wants good to soft ground so the proper soft ground was a bit too soft and then she didn't get a lead. "When you put all three things together it just wasn't happening with her. "When Paul (Mulrennan) realised she wasn't going he didn't knock her about.

"I'm sure she'll bounce back but the main thing is she came back sound, ate up and everything else is fine with her." Dods' objective now is to make sure his star mare is in the best possible shape to defend her crown in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August

Dermot Weld admits he would have preferred another week to prepare Harzand for Saturday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby The Aga Khan-owned colt finally provided the legendary trainer with a first win in the Investec Derby at Epsom earlier this month despite some drama on the morning of the race. Harzand pulled off a shoe in transit and also managed to prick the sole of his foot with a nail and it needed plenty of treatment to allow him to make the line-up at Epsom.

The rest is history, but all that effort took its toll on Harzand and Weld just hopes the Curragh Classic is not coming too soon.

James Fanshawe may swerve the Darley July Cup with The Tin Man in favour of an easier target.

Aidan O'Brien is hoping the ground at Newmarket will quick enough to allow Air Force Blue to run in next month's Darley July Cup "He won't run again until the ground is good or faster, but we are happy with him," said O'Brien.

Aidan O'Brien's superstar filly Minding heads 10 entries in Sunday's Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh

2016 Flat Issue 7 - a decent week for some lesser lights

Headlines

Rivals Can’t Touch winner at Salisbury.

Aghaany scores at Newbury

Lady is Fair winner at York

Silva puts in Sterling effort at Chepstow

St George keeps Rivals in Order at Ascot

Report

We start at Newbury last Thursday where in the 1m maiden fillies stakes Aghaany ( Lee), took her chance, always prominent, led 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well final furlong, winning by ¾ l. She gets 32.6 points.

At York on Friday Mayfair Lady ( Peej), took her chance in the 6f fillies handicap, made all, ridden over 1 out, kept on strongly, winning by 2 1/2l , She gets 32.2 points.

At Chepstow in the 6f novice stakes Sterling Silva (Martin), took chance, chased leaders , led 3 out, joined 2 out, soon ridden, ran on well final furlong, winning by ½ l. He gets 27.2 points.

At Salisbury on Sunday where in the 6f listed stakes Don’t Touch (Martin, Tony) went to post, tracked leader, ridden 2 out, led entering final furlong, always holding on, driven out, winning by a neck. He gets 16.7 points.

At Ascot on Tuesday in the 1m group 1 Queen Anne Stakes Belardo ( Martin Peej), went to post, Held up, headway over 2f out, effort to press winner approaching final furlong, ran on, but always held, finishing 2^nd  beaten ½ l. He gets 12 points.

On Wednesday in the 1m 2f group 1 Prince of Wales stakes Found ( Bob), took her chance, Close up, ridden and headway to lead over 1f out, ran on, headed near finish, 2^nd beaten a neck. She gets 24 points.

Today at Ascot in the 2m 4f Group 1 Gold Cup, Order of St George (Bob, Cliff , Cod, Neil), Mizzou ( Tony), went to post.

Order of St George, Held up in mid-division, headway on outside over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear inside final furlong, stayed on strongly , winning by 3l. He gets 51.9 points.

Mizzou, Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2^nd beaten 3l, he gets 24 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                      June               Total

Neil                   195.1             311.9

Tony                  206.1              308.7

Peej                   109.6              292.7

Cliff                   184.1           286.5

Cod                    184.1         252.5

Bob                    142.9          252

Martin                67.9          239

Lee                     91           196.9

Steve                  12              88

News

Henry Candy has set his sights on a possible Darley July Cup bid with Limato after he bypassed Royal Ascot due to the ground

Dartmouth tops a field of 10 in the Hardwicke Stakes on the final day of Royal Ascot on Saturday. Last year's St Leger winner Simple Verse looks to build on two prep runs so far this term for Ralph Beckett

2016 Flat Issue 6 - things starting to move

Headlines

Minding takes care of Oaks

Harzand lands the Derby

Postponed lands Coronation Cup

Shabeeb scores at Doncaster

George keeps Rivals in Order

Muntahaa Romps home at Kempton

Blakeny Point Scores at Leicester

Report

We start back at Leicester on 16^th May , apologies to Martin, where Blakeney Point went to post in the 1m 4f handicap, where he won by 1l, getting 26.4 points.

On Thursday at Kempton in the 1m 4f maiden, Muntahaa (Neil), took his chance, Tracked leaders, led 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, kept on well , winning by an impressive  6l. He gets 23 points.

On Friday at Epsom in the 1m4f Group 1 Oaks stakes Minding ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil, Peej, Tony), took her chance. Held up in rear, headway into mid-division 8f out, going for run on inside when badly hampered 4f out until switched left to rail over 3f out, headway soon after, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, stayed on strongly, winning by 1 ¾ l. She gets 53.8 points.

At Leopardstown in the 1m 6f listed stakes Order of St George ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil), went to post,

Dwelt, soon raced in moderate 4th, progress on outer approaching straight, ridden to chase leader from under 2f out, led under 1f out, soon asserted and stayed on well, winning comfortably by 4 ½ l. He gets 13.2 points.

On Saturday at Epsom in the 1m 4f Group 1 Coronation Cup, Postponed ( Cliff, Cod, Neil, Tony), took his chance. Took keen hold, tracked leading pair, went 2nd travelling well inside final 3f, led over 1f out, quickened clear inside final furlong, eased close home, winning easily by 4 ½ l. He gets 53.2 points

In the 1m 4f Group 1 Derby Harzand (Lee, Tony), US Army Ranger ( Cliff, Cod, Martin, Steve), took their chances.

Harzand, Held up in mid-division, headway 3f out, tracked leaders going well over 2f out, 2nd approaching final 2f, ridden to lead over 1f out, pressed briefly inside final furlong, stayed on strongly to assert final 100 yards , winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 58.4 points.

US Army Ranger, Held up in last trio, headway on wide outside 2f out, chased leading pair over 1f out, edged left and challenging inside final furlong, went 2nd final 100 yards, no extra towards finish, 2^nd beaten 1 ½ l. He gets 12 points.

At Doncaster in the 1m 2f classifies stakes Shabeeb (Peej), went to post, Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3f out, led over 1f out, ran on well, winning by 6l, and is on the upgrade.

He gets 23.6 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                      June               Total

Tony                  165.4              268

Peej                   77.4              260.5

Neil                   143.2             260

Cliff                   132.2           234.6

Cod                    132.2         200.6

Martin                12               183.1

Bob                    67              176.1

Lee                     58.4           164.3

Steve                  12              88

News

New Bay has been ruled out of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot next week.

Investec Oaks winner Minding is one of 39 left in the £475,000 Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park on July 2nd after this week's scratching stage

The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly, who sealed a Classic double when winning at Epsom last Friday, is joined by a whole host of big names including Qipco 2,000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold and Investec Derby runner-up US Army Ranger.

As well as Minding and US Army Ranger, Irish Champion trainer O'Brien has left in the extremely impressive Poule D'Essai Des Poulains (Group 1) winner The Gurkha. The Galileo colt is set to line up in the St James's Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot but could make a step up in trip to a mile and a quarter following that run. Champion mare and Breeders Cup Turf winner Found is another notable entry for Ballydoyle.

2015's Champion trainer John Gosden has three horses still engaged, including Wings of Desire, this year's Dante Stakes winner and Investec Derby fourth, along with Western Hymn and Royal Artillery.

Last year's winner Postponed headlines 39 entries for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO) at Ascot on Saturday, July 23 Investec Derby hero Harzand (Dermot Weld) headlines 14 entries from Ireland. The son of Sea The Stars could bid to become the 13th colt to complete the Derby/King George double in the same season and the first since Galileo in 2001.

Aidan O'Brien, Ireland's champion Flat trainer, accounts for 12 entries in total, the most of any handler. His possibles, besides Found, include Minding, who took her Group One tally to four in the British Classic, the Investec Oaks, at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 4, Gold Cup favourite Order Of St George, globe-trotting dual Group One winner Highland Reel and impressive French 2,000 Guineas victor The Gurkha. The Investec Derby runner-up and third, US Army Ranger and Idaho, also feature among the Ballydoyle contingent.

Khalid Abdullah's famous colours were carried to victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes by the great Dancing Brave in 1986 and the owner has two contenders this time. impressive Royal Ascot scorer Time Test (Roger Charlton) and big improver Exosphere (Sir Michael Stoute), who thrashed his rivals by four lengths in the Group Two Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket when returning to action this year.

Henry Candy will send one of his Royal Ascot team for a gallop at Newbury on Friday. "Twilight Son is very well, but is becoming lazy. He'll be coming here in the morning which should sharpen him up a bit.

John Gosden will not rush So Mi Dar back into action after she missed the Investec Oaks last week"We will come back quietly in the second half of the season with her, but we have not set any targets. We are just looking after her at the moment," said Gosden.

"We will soon start moving on with her, but she is only walking at the moment.

Dermot Weld is still aiming Investec Derby hero Harzand at the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Irish equivalent despite revealing his stable star returned sore after his Epsom victory , Weld said: "Harzand was sore for a few days and had some antibiotics to make sure everything was all right. He was back in light exercise today, just a trot, and is sound and well in every way

We'll see how he is, but the Curragh is the logical progression as long as the ground is safe."

2016 Flat Issue 5 - Derby weekend already

Headlines

Out And About enjoys day at Haydock

Report

At Haydock on Saturday in the 7f handicap Out And About ( Martin, Tony), took his chance, raced mid division, pushed along 3 out, headway over 1 out, led and edged left 1 out, ridden out, winning by 1l. He gets 14.3 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                      May               Total

Peej                   183.1          183.1

Martin                144.7          144.7

Neil                   116.8         116.8

Bob                    109.1            109.1

Lee                     105.9            105.9

Tony                  102.6            102.6

Cliff                   102.4            102.4

Steve                  76               76

Cod                    68.4           68.4

Congratulations to Peej who is trainer of the month
News

Ryan Moore admits Minding hasn't had an ideal preparation for Friday's Investec Oaks at Epsom - but he can't find a rival he's afraid of either

Postponed heads the initial betting after Thursday morning's final declaration stage with Sky Bet at 8/11, ahead of Found and Simple Verse at 7/2

Dual Group One winner Amazing Maria will take on the boys at Royal Ascot after the Queen Anne Stakes was confirmed as her intended target.