2018 Flat Issue 12 - More winners

Headlines

Bee Stings Rivals at Haydock

Current shocks Rivals at Haydock

Havana Grey sparkels in Sapphire

Kody Ridge wins at Catterick

Report

We start at Haydock last Saturday where in the 1m handicap, Humbolt Current ( Martin), took his chance, held up in last, pushed along 3 out, headway 2 out, led over 1 out, soon ridden, came clear inside last 100 yards, winning by 3l, he gets 26 points.

In the 1m 2f handicap, Save The Bees (Cod), went to post, took keen hold, chased leader, dropped to 3^rd 4 out, switched 3 out, driven and headway 2 out, led1 out, pushed clear inside last, flying home by 3n ½ l. He gets 35.6 points.

On Sunday at The Curragh, in the 5f group 2 Havana Grey ( Neil), took his chance, tracked leader in 2^nd, till led 2 out, ridden clear entering final furlong, stayed on well closing stages, winning by 1l. He gets 61.2 points

Yesterday at Catterick in the 6f claiming stakes, Kody Ridge ( Cod), went to post, Chased leaders, 2nd over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead final strides, winning by a head. He gets 26 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    July          Total

Cliff                 192.8           826.6

Neil                 180.4               502.6

Tony                45.6              440.5

Steve               75.5              376.7

Bob                 47.1                318.3

Martin           72.9               250.9      

Cod                73.6              222.5

Peej             29.8                141.6

News

I asked Sir Michael Stoute for a comment on Crystal Oceans chance in Saturdays King George and he told the punter “"Crystal Ocean is from a very good family. They are good, honest horses. I've not seen the final field yet, but he is entitled to take his chance for sure.”

Goodwood starts next Tuesday and in the Goodwood Cup punters have a number of entries, Stradavarius, Desert Skyline, Order of St George.

In the LennoxStakes, Gustav Klimpt, Oh This Is Us, have enties.

Royal Ascot hero Expert Eye is set to be supplemented for the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood next week

John Gosden remains on weather-watch ahead of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.The Clarehaven maestro has saddled three winners of the midsummer showpiece in the last seven years and has entered Cracksman and Coronet this time.Cracksman would be on a recovery mission if taking his chance after suffering a short-priced defeat in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, but ground conditions are key to his participation.

Coronet, who came within a nose of claiming her first Group One success in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the start of the month, is a more likely runner, but Gosden feels she needs to raise her game to topple the Sir Michael Stoute-trained pair of Crystal Ocean and Poet's Word.Gosden told The Punter: "Cracksman will be looking for thunderstorms, which seem extremely unlikely."Coronet is in good form and she ran great at Saint-Cloud, so she's a possibility for the race at this stage.

Elarqam heads a 10-strong entry for Saturday's Sky Bet York Stakes which also features high-class mare Smart Call and last year's winner Success Days.

2018 Flat Issue 11 - Alpha Centauri stars

Headlines

Centauri Puts In Star Performance

US Navy Sinks Rivals at Newmarket

Kew Gardens Blooms in France

Zakimira wins

Oh, This is a winner at Chester

Report

We start at Newmarket last Friday where in the 1m group 1 Falmouth stakes for fillies and mares Alpha Centauri ( Cliff), went to post, raced near stands rail, with leaders till led over 6 out, made rest, nudged along and quickend 2 out, shaken up and clear over 1 out, winning easily by 4 ½ l. She gets 52.6 points.           

At Chester on Saturday in the 7f listed stakes Oh This Is Us ( Peej), tookhis chance, tracled leaders, ridden to lead over 1 out, edged left when pressed inside final furlong ran on gamely, winning by ½ l. He gets 29.8 points.

At Newmarket in the 6f Group 1 July Cup, US Navy Flag ( Cliff), Brando (Bob), went to post.

US Navy Flag, raced in centre, made all, ridden 2 out, driven and pressed 1 out, stayed on strongly to assert inside last, winning going away close home by 1 ¾ l. He gets 90.8 points.

Brando, dwelt, raced stands side, held up in midfield, on rail, switched left and headway over1 out, pressed winner 1 out, no extra and weakend close home, 2^nd 1 ¾ l. He gets 24 points.

At Longchamp in the 1m 4f listed fillies stakes Zakamiya ( Tony), took her chance, she just held on to win by a short neck, getting 33.6 points.

In the 1m 4f Group 1 Grand PrixDe Paris Kew Gardens ( Neil), took his chance,

Held up towards rear, ridden and good headway from 2 out, led narrowly 1 out, soon pressed, driven and kept on strongly to assert last 50 yards, winning by 1 ¼ l. He gets 54.8 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    July          Total

Cliff                 192.8           826.6

Neil                 119.2               441.4

Tony                45.6              440.5

Steve               75.5              376.7

Bob                 47.1                318.3

Martin           46.9               224.9      

Cod                12                 160.9

Peej             29.8                141.6

News

Kevin Ryan was left thinking what might have been after Brando's courageous run in the Darley July Cup last Saturday.

he six-year-old was placed in the race for the second successive year, once again proving his effectiveness at Newmarket. He will now attempt to retain his Prix Maurice de Gheest title at Deauville, with Champions Day at Ascot also in the mix.

Wesley Ward confirms two-time Royal Ascot winner Lady Aurelia has been retired to the paddocks

2018 Flat Issue 10 - Lion roars home

Headlines

Lion Roars home in Eclipse

Herculean slays Rivals at Pontefract

Report

We start at Sandown on Saturday where in the 1m 2f Group 1 Eclipse Stakes Roaring Lion ( Neil, Steve), Saxon Warrior ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Martin, Neil, Steve, Tony), went to post.

Roaring Lion, Held up mainly in 5th, lost place and in last pair 4f out, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, ran on, led narrowly inside final 100 yards, edged right and held on towards finish, winning by a neck. He gets 52.4 points.

Saxon Warrior, Tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, kept on when narrowly headed inside final 100 yards, carried right by winner towards finish, just held, 2^nd beaten a neck. He gets 12 points.

On Tuesday at Pontefract in the 1m 2f novice stakes Herciulean ( Bob, Martin, Steve), took his chance, Held up, headway over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, led and ridden inside final furlong, stayed on, winning by ½ l. He gets 11.1 points

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    July          Total

Cliff                 49.4            683.2

Tony                12               406.9

Neil                 64.4               386.6

Steve               75.5              376.7

Bob                 23.1                294.3

Martin           46.9               224.9      

Cod                12                 160.9

Peej             00                  111.8

News

Alpha Centauri takes her chance in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.

Without Parole and Gustav Klimt feature among 25 remaining entries for Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on August 1.

In Saturdays July Cup, Brando, Limato, Sands of Mali, US Navy Flag all hold entries

2018 Flat Issue 9 - Ed out in front

Headlines

Yucatan lands

Current Shocks Rivals at Windsor

Report

At the Curragh on Sunday in the 1m 2f group 3 Yucatan ( Cliff), took his chance, Soon led, pushed along over 2f out, wandered slightly inside final furlong and stayed on well winning by 1l. He gets 37.4 points.

At Windsor on Monday in the 1m Novice stakes Humbolt Current ( Martin), went to post, Tracked leading trio, pushed along and struggling to go the pace over 3f out, driven along in 3rd over 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead final strides, winning by a head. He gets 23.8 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    July          Total

Cliff                 37.4            671.2

Tony                00               394.9

Neil                 00                322.2

Steve               00                   301.2

Bob                 00                  271.2

Martin           23.8               201.8      

Cod                00                  148.9

Peej             00                  111.8

News

Oisin Murphy is keeping his fingers crossed Roaring Lion can provide him with a first Group One success in Britain in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse.

Murphy also sees Aidan O'Brien's dual Group One-winning filly Happily as a threat.

"The weight-for-age is huge and obviously Happily would get the sex allowance on top of that," the jockey told The Punter

Connections of Veracious have not yet firmed up future plans for the exciting filly following her fine effort in defeat at Royal Ascot. The three-year-old holds entries in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on July 13, the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on August 2 and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 15.

Connections of Expert Eye have not ruled out the possibility of stepping him back up to a mile and supplementing him for the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Battaash could travel to Ireland later this summer for the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh.

The five-furlong contest will carry Group One status for the first time this year and has unsurprisingly attracted a strong entry of 31 sprinters.

Aidan O'Brien admitted he is "taking a bit of a chance" sending Saxon Warrior into battle once more in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday. Speaking to the punter Aidan said, Obviously we're observing him very closely because he only ran last week. If there was anything negative we'd flag it up straight away.

"We're taking a bit of a chance running him back so close, but we're happy with him.

"We never thought that dropping back in trip would be a problem to him."

The John Gosden-trained Roaring Lion, who finished third in the premier Classic, is also in the final field.

Study Of Man is set to return to action at Deauville next month as a prep run for the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes in September. Alan Cooper , racing manager to the Niarchos Family told me earlier, He had a break after the Jockey Club. Pascal Bary is bringing him back with a view to running in the Guillaume D'Ornano as a prep for the Irish Champion Stakes," "The form of the race at Chantilly is working out very well, with Ascot winners and Rostropovich running so well in the Irish Derby. It could be a very good form line, which would be great."

He added: "We are staying to the mile and a quarter for the moment. If after the Irish Champion Stakes it is felt he can step up to a mile and a half, then the Arc would be very much under consideration."

 Alan also said Alpha Centauri will have a workout over the weekend before connections decide whether to run her in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on Friday week.

Connections have to make up their mind whether to head to the July Course and take on older fillies and mares, or wait for the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 12, where she would clash with the colts.