2017 Flat Issue 13 - Latest news

Headlines

Memory is Magic at Newbury

Report

At Newbury on Saturday in the 6f group 3, Magical Memory ( Neil) took his chance, held up in touch in midfield, closed to track leader 2 out, ridden to lead over 1 out, ran on well and always in command inside last, pushed out, winning by  1 1/4l. He gets 36.2 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 July          Total

Martin             136.8            460.5

Peej                 47.2           404.1

Cliff                84.4             395.3

Neil               173.6           375.5

Lee                  225.4            368.7

Bob                84.8             356.8

Steve              75.4              333.2

Tony               00                308

Cod                 31.8               136.6

News

Sir Mark Prescott has not yet firmed up future plans for Marsha following her narrow defeat in Ireland last weekend. Prescott said: "We were disappointed to be beaten, but she only had 5lb in hand on the ratings.

"The race didn't quite go according to plan and she was beaten a short head, that's life.

"She's come out of it fine and I would imagine she'll go to Goodwood and/or York."

Magical Memory might travel to France in search of an elusive Group One victory following his convincing success at Newbury on Saturday.

The Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs at Deauville on August 6 is a possible target for the Charlie Hills-trained grey, as long as the race does not come too soon after his Group Three win in the Hackwood Stakes.

"Magical Memory was brilliant. I've spoken to Charlie and I think he's probably leaning towards to France, but it's not confirmed," Sam Hoskins, racing manager for owners Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds told the punter.

"As long as our horse is all right I think we'd like to try him over six and a half furlongs.

Jack Hobbs, Ulysses, and Enable represent the punters in Saturdays King George at Ascot

David O'Meara, , has a strong hand in the five-day entries with his five entries for Yorks Sky Bet Dash, including top-weight and Wokingham winner Out Do. EDWARD LEWIS ran well in sixth at Royal Ascot and could benefit from being stepped back up in trip after failing to match that run last time (wasn't well drawn) but the Yorkshire handler also saddles a couple of interesting older horses.

2017 Flat Issue 12 - Latest action

Headlines

Enable stars in Irish Oaks

Medahim lands Newmarket Handicap

Kodimoor wins at Hamilton

Report

We start at Newmarket on Saturday where in the 1m handicap, Medahim ( Lee), took his chance, held up, headway over 1 out, ridden to lead inside last, winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 46.8 points.

In the 6f group 1 July Cup Limato ( Lee, Steve), went to post, prominent, ridden over 1 out, ran on to go 2^nd close home, not reach winner, 2^nd beaten 1 ¼ l. He gets 12 points.

On Sunday at The Curragh,in the 1m 4f group 1 Irish Oaks,  Enable, ( Lee, Martin, Steve), went to post, settled behind leader, in 2^nd, improved and going well to lead over 2 out, pushed along, soon ridden, quickend clear and asserted from 1 out, eased inside last, winning impressively by 5l. She gets 51.4 points.

Today at Hamilton in the 5f handicap, Kodimoor ( Cod), took his chance, Made all against stands' rail, ridden and drifted right over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, winning  unchallenged by 1 ¼ l. He gets 31.8 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 July          Total

Martin             136.8            460.5

Peej                 47.2           404.1

Cliff                84.4             395.3

Lee                  225.4            368.7

Bob                84.8             356.8

Neil               137.4           339.3

Steve              75.4              333.2

Tony               00                308

Cod                 31.8               136.6

News

The Grey Gatsby has his second start for Dermot Weld in the ICON Meld Stakes at Leopardstown.

Winner of the French Derby and Irish Champion Stakes for Kevin Ryan in 2014, the six-year-old has not won since and is wearing a visor for the first time on Thursday evening.

He made a satisfactory first outing for Weld when fourth behind Johannes Vermeer in a Group Three at the Curragh earlier this month and jockey Pat Smullen expects him to take a step forward.

. Henry Candy is leaning towards sending dual Group One winner Limato over to France for next month's Prix Maurice de Gheest.

Although the five-year-old holds an entry in the Qatar Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, the Kingston Warren handler is favouring an outing in the extended six-furlong Group One at Deauville on August 6. 

Charlie Hills is hopeful of a big run from ante-post favourite Magical Memory in the bet365 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The five-year-old has had a mixed campaign, finishing second to Tasleet on his reappearance before finishing down the field at Royal Ascot last time.

That run opted connections to drop him down in class and the move saw the son of Zebedee bounce back with victory in a conditions stakes at Haydock.

The Lambourn handler is now set to step Magical Memory back up to Group Three company this weekend and Hills is hopeful of a big run

Star stayer Vazirabad is on the comeback trail after recovering from the setback that ruled him out of a couple of key summer dates.

Alain de Royer-Dupre's charge has won the last two renewals of the Group One Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud and also landed the Dubai Gold Cup earlier this year.

He was under consideration for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but has been sidelined since suffering a minor injury when winning the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Chantilly in May.

Georges Rimaud, manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: "He had a little problem which meant he had to miss a couple of races, including the Gold Cup.

"There was also the Goodwood Cup. He wasn't going to be ready for that, which is a shame, but he is back in order now and back in work.

"It will be a little while before he is fit enough to run again, but hopefully he could be ready in a couple of months."

2017 Flat Issue 11 - A big battle at the top

Headlines

Ulysses Eclipes Rivals at Sandown

The Black Pricess lands Lancashire Oaks

Glasses Raised for Mojito at Sandown

Memory is Magical at Haydock

Across Dubai wins at Haydock

Snow Thunders home in France,

Tribute is Class Act

Report

We start at Haydock on Saturday where in the 1m 4f group 2 The Black Princess ( Bob) went to post, held up, headway when not much room 2 out, soon in  clear , strong run to challenge 1 out, ridden entering final furlong, ran on well to lead close home, winning by ½ l. She gets 48 points.

In the 6f conditions stakes, Magical Memory ( Neil), took his chance, tracked leaders on stands side, led group 2 out, ridden to close on overall leader entering final furlong, ran on well to lead near finish, winning by short head. He gets 24.2 points.

In the 1m 2f handicap, Across Dubai ( Martin, took his chance, settled in 4^th, closed on leaders 2 out, went 2^nd, going easily entering final furlong, shaken up and quickend to lead inside last, winning comfortably by 1l. He gets 24.8 points.

At Sandown in the 7f handicap Mojito ( Bob, Martin), went to post, tracked leader, pushed along to close 2 out, led 1out, driven out and stayed on well winning by 1 ¾ l. He gets 12.8 points.

In the 1m 2f Group 1 Eclipse Stakes, Ulysses ( Cliff Lee), Barney Roy ( Bob, Cliff, Martin, Peej, Steve), went to post.

Ulysses, held up in last pair, smooth progress on outer over 2 out, ridden to lead 1 out, pressed and ran on strongly, just held on close home, winning by a nose. He gets 60.4 points.

Barney Roy, held up in mid field, ridden and progress over 2 out, driven to challenge 1 out, ran on well late surge just failed, finishing 2^nd beaten a nose. He gets 12 points

At Chantilly on Sunday in the 1m group 1 Prix Jean Prat, Thunder Snow, Lee), took her chance, made all, led single file field, kicked clear just over 1 out, ridden inside last, stayed on well to win unchallenged by 1 ¼ l. She gets 54.8 points.

Today at Doncaster in the 1m fillies handicap Tribute Act ( Martin) took her chance, Held up on outside, took keen hold, headway over 1f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, just pushed out inside final 100 yards, led towards finish winning by a head. She gets 23.8 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 July          Total

Martin             85.4            409.1

Peej                 47.2           404.1

Cliff                84.4             395.3

Bob                84.8             356.8

Neil               137.4           339.3

Tony               00                308

Steve              24                269.8

Lee                  115.2          258.5

Cod                 00               104.8

News

Brilliant filly Minding, the winner of seven Group One races, has been retired.

The daughter of Galileo had not been seen in competitive action since making an impressive start to the campaign in the Mooresbridge Stakes at Naas in early May after suffering a setback.

Aidan O'Brien had hoped to welcome the filly back into training earlier this month, but revealed she was not yet ready to return to exercise, after further X-rays carried out by vet John Halley, and cautioned about her racing future.

And O'Brien's daughter, Ana, tweeted on Thursday: "Wishing Minding a happy retirement as she just left for Coolmore today. #Minding #SpecialFilly."

Caravaggio heads a select field of 10 for Saturday's Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

The exciting son of Scat Daddy, trained by Aidan O'Brien, will face older sprinters for the first time as he tries to take his perfect record to seven.

Leading the older brigade is last year's winner Limato, who aims to become only the third horse since the Second World War to record back-to-back victories. Only Abernant (1949 and 1950) and Right Boy (1958 and 1959) have succeeded in defending their crown.

Henry Candy's five-year-old showed he was returning to his best form when a close third to The Tin Man in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Tin Man, trained by James Fanshawe, is on course to attempt a big six-furlong double.

Epsom Oaks heroine Enable will face nine rivals when she bids to follow up in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.

Gosden also saddles Coronet, who was fifth at Epsom before landing the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. Enable and Coronet will be ridden by Frankie Dettori and Olivier Peslier respectively.

Mirage Dancer could step up to a mile and a half after his creditable effort at Royal Ascot.

The son of Frankel took another step forward when finishing third to Benbatl in the mile-and-quarter Hampton Court Stakes and Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, believes a switch up in trip looks likely in the future.

He told the punter: "He is a work in progress. He is still really raw and he ran really well at Ascot. There is plenty more improvement in him.

Wuheida makes her belated seasonal return for Godolphin in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

2017 Flat Issue 10 - another big single pick winner

Headlines

Peej Run is Unabated

Capri lands Irish Derby

Report

We start at Newcastle last Friday where in the 6f handicap Unabated ( Peej), took his chance, held up in touch on near side, smooth headway over 2 out, shaken up to lead entering final furlong, ran on strongly to win by a neck. He gets 35.2 points.

On Saturday at The Curragh in the 1m  4f group 1 Irish Derby, Capri ( Neil), Cracksman ( Bob, Cliff, Martin, Steve), took their chances.

Capri, close up, soon tracked clear leader in 2^nd, pushed along over 2 out, soon led, kept on strongly under pressure when challenged inside final furlong, held on well, winning by a neck. He gets 113.2 points.

Cracksman, held up in midfield, pushed along over 2 out, , taken to outside in straight, ridden and kept on well under pressure, edged right and took 2^nd close home, beaten a neck. He gets 12 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 July          Total

Peej                 35.2           392.1

Martin             12              335.7

Cliff                12              322.9

Neil                 113.2           315.1

Tony               00                308

Bob                12                284

Steve              12               257.8

Lee                  00            143.3

Cod                 00               104.8

Congratulations to Peej who is June Trainer of the month

News

Cracksman is poised to take his chance in the Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on August 23.

Last weekend's Irish Derby runner-up, trained by John Gosden, could then be primed for the St Leger in September as the Voltigeur is a renowned trial for the Doncaster Classic.

Owner Anthony Oppenheimer said on Thursday: "It (the Voltigeur) is a race that would appeal as it would mean having another opportunity to run against three-year-olds.

"He definitely won't go to the King George as that would come too soon.

Barney Roy and Cliffs Of Moher both feature among nine horses declared for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday.

The Richard Hannon-trained Barney Roy was runner-up to Churchill in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, but reversed the form when landing the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and will step up to a mile and a quarter for the first time this weekend.

Cliffs Of Moher has had this race as his target ever since filling the runner-up spot in the Epsom Derby. The Galileo colt is one of two runners for Aidan O'Brien along with possible pacemaker Taj Mahal.

Eminent is a major contender for Martyn Meade having finished sixth in the 2000 Guineas and fourth in Derby. Silvestre de Sousa takes over in the saddle from Jim Crowley.

David Simcock saddles Desert Encounter and Lightning Spear.

Roger Charlton's Decorated Knight, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Ulysses and Salouen from Sylvester Kirk's yard complete the field.

Last year's European Horse of the Year Almanzor is earmarked to make his seasonal bow at York for Jean-Claude Rouget.