2025 Flat Issue 5 - Points rack up as Kyprios bows out

Headlines

Aventure to the Clouds

Cold Grey Day at Goodwood

Organ Hits the High Note at Haydock

Guineas turn to Gold at Curragh

Master in Charge at Goodwood

Rivals Drowned in Lake Victoria

Sosie lands

Porta lands Curragh Fortunes

Report

Apologies to Neil and Cod as I missed Aventure at Saint – Cloud last week, in the 1m 2f fillies and mares group 2.  Raced in fourth, shaken up to challenge just under 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on strongly inside final furlong, wining readily  by 1 ¼ l. She gets 21.4 points.

At Haydock on Thursday in the 7f handicap Organ (Peej), took hi chance, In touch with leaders, headway over 1f out, soon outpaced, rallied final 110yds, kept on well and led narrowly towards finish, winning by a head. He gets 28.68 points.

At Goodwood on Friday Arctic Grey (Neil). went to post in the 1m handicap, In touch with leaders, headway from 2f out, soon bit short of room against far rail, led inside final furlong, ridden and drifted left final 110yds, kept on and all out, winning by a neck. He gets 40 points.

At Goodwood on Saturday in the 1m 6f handicap French Master (Bob), went to post, Ran in snatches, in touch with leaders, rapid headway and prominent 6f out, not clear run and lost position 3f out, switched right in the clear and rallied over 1f out, kept on well to lead final stride, winning by a neck. He gets 25 points.

At the Curragh in the 1m group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas Field of Gold ( Bob, Cliff, Peej, Neil), took his chance, Held up in midfield on outer, good headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on well and went well clear inside final furlong, winning impressively by 3 ¾ l. He gets 27 points.

On Sunday at the Curragh in the 1m fillies Group 2 Porta Fortuna ( Bob), took hr chance, In touch with leaders on outer, good headway from over 3f out, led 1f out, soon ridden, kept on, winning by ½ l. She gets 44.5 points.

In the 1m group 1 1000 guineas Lake Victoria ( Bob, Peej), went to post, , Prominent on inner, waiting for room from 3f out, edged left and in the clear 2f out, led inside final furlong, pushed out,  winning comfortably by 2 ¼ l. She gets 26.91 points.

At Longchamp in the 1m 1f group 1 Prix D’Isphan Sosie (Cod), went to post, Close up and squeezed out before end of 1f, raced in fourth, angled out and ridden 2 1/2f out, about 3 lengths off the lead and headway 1 1/2f out, chased leader over 1f out, sustained run to lead final 75yds, winning  readily by 1l. She gets 53.4 points

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

           May        Total

Cod     302.69           302.69

Bob     261.45          261.45

Neil      169.68          169.68

Steve    149.5             149.5

Martin  143.44         143.44

Cliff    124.36             124.36

Peej     124.19            124.19

Stats Per String

               Runs     Wins

Martin     12              4

Steve       12              2

Bob        15              8

Cliff       11               3

Neil      15               4

Peej      14                4

Cod       15              7

The Weeks Losers

Haatem, Overture, Silver Knott, American Affair, Windlord, Hotazhell, Cosmic Year, Anmaat, Kalpana, White Birch, Ghostwriter. 

Weekend Entries

Saturday

Haydock 

2.23 Two Stars

3.33 Audience, 

4.08 Saarisskela

4.45 Saarisskela, Arctic Grey, Organ

Sunday 

Nottingham

4.35 Saarisskela

Longchamp

Prix Du Jockey Club - Bowmark, Detain, 

News

Kyprios has been hailed "the most incredible horse with a concrete mind" by Aidan O'Brien following the retirement of one of the greatest stayers of all time on Tuesday. 

A dual Gold Cup winner at Ascot, Kyprios won no fewer than 17 of his 21 starts and you have to rewind all the way back to October 2023 to find his last defeat. He won his nine subsequent outings and finishes his career on an official rating of 122, identical to the mighty Yeats who won four Gold Cups. 

The decision was made to call time on Kyprios's career due to an aggravation of an old ringbone lesion, picked up while winning the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown for a third time this month. 

Reflecting on a glorious career which started in September 2020 with victory in a Galway maiden, O'Brien said: "Kyprios was just the most incredible horse. Obviously, we had to be ultra-respectful of him. Always. When he was a little bit sore after his run at Leopardstown, we were always not going to take any risks with him. Everybody felt the same way."

Kyprios was our Horse of the Season last year.

Grand Slam 

Leg 1Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

Leg 6 Peej 

Leg 7 Tony

Leg 8 Steve 

Leg 9 Steve

Leg 10 Steve

Leg 11  Steve

Leg 12  Cliff

Leg 13  Neil

Leg 14 Cliff

Leg   15 Bob

Leg 16 Bob

Leg 17 Peej

Leg 18 Bob

Leg 19 Neil

Leg 20 Peej

Leg 21 Cliff

Leg 22  Peej

2025 Flat Issue 4 - Journalism at its best

Headlines

This Is Journalism at It’s Best

Fire Scorches Home at York

Bow Hits the Mark at York

Kyprios wins at Leopardstown

Artist Brushes Rivals aside at Newbury

Report

We Start a York on Thursday where in the 1m 2f fillies group 2 See The Fire (Martin), took her chance, Held up in rear, smooth headway 3f out, pushed along to lead 2f out, went clear over 1f out, ran on well. Winning impressively by 12 l. She gets 43.46 points.

At York on Friday in the 1m confined novice stakes Bowmark (Bob), went to post, Made all, shaken up 2f out, went clear and ridden 1f out, pushed out towards finish, winning comfortably by 4l. He gets 22.58 points

At Leopardstown in the 1m 6f group 3 Kyprios ( Cliff, Martin , Neil), took his chance, Raced in third, went second after 3f, nudged along over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, kept on, winning by 1 ½ l. Cliff gets 32.16 points, Martin, Neil 16.08

At Newbury on Saturday in the 1m group 1 Lockinge Stakes Lead Artist (Steve), Dancing Gemini (Cod), went to post. Lead Artist, Prominent, led narrowly over 1f out, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on well and led again towards finish, winning by a neck. He gets 94 points.

Dancing Gemini, Held up in midfield, headway on far side of group over 2f out, challenging over 1f out, led and ridden 1f out, kept on but headed towards finish, 2nd beaten a neck. He gets 13.15 points.

At Pimlico in the 1m 1f grade 1 Preakness Stakes Journalism (Cod), went to post, Disputed lead, soon headed, raced in midfield on inside, sixth and niggled along halfway, disputed third 2f out, angled out and ridden between horses when bumped and hampered 1 1/2f out, chased 4 length leader 1f out, stayed on to lead close home, winning by ½ l. He gets 58 points.

Weekend Entries

Friday  

Goodwood

3.15 Overture

3.50 Silver Knott

4.55 Arctic Grey

Pontefract

6.15 Copper Knight

Saturday  

Haydock

3.30 American Affair

Goodwood

3.45 French Master

Curragh

3.05 Elite Status

3.40 Back in Black, Field of Gold, Cosmic Year, Ruling Court, Hotazhell, Henri Matisse, The Lion In Winter, Windlord, Whistlejacket, Delacroix, Ides of March, Isambard Brunel, Opera Ballo

Sunday 

Curragh

2,30 Porta Fortuna

3.05 Almaqam, Anmaat, Ghostwriter, Jan Brughel, Kings Gambit, Tower Of London, White Birch, Kalpana

3.40 Lake Victoria, Desert Flower, Ballet Slippers, , 

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

           May        Total

Cod     227.89           227.89

Steve    149.5             149.5

Martin  143.44         143.44

Bob     138.04            138.04

Cliff    97.36             97.36

Neil      81.28           81.28

Peej     41.6            41.6

Stats Per String

               Runs     Wins

Martin     10               4

Steve       9               2

Bob        9                  4

Cliff       8                 2

Neil      11                  2

Peej      8                 1   

Cod       12              5

The Weeks Losers

Gladius, Damysus, Nightwalker, The Lion In Winter, Love Olivia, Glittering Surf, Alsakib, Al Aasy. Kings Gambit, Sunway,  Ides Of March, Berkshire Whisper, Dancing Gemini, Fallen Angel, Rosallion, Noteable Speech, Likealot, Completely Random, Whistlejacket, Saariskela, Copper Knight

News

See you at Royal Ascot was the message from connections of Dancing Gemini and Rosallion, who are already relishing the prospect of a rematch with Lead Artist in the Queen Anne Stakes next month. Trainer Roger Teal said: “The winner has beaten us before and I did think he was overpriced. That's the quickest ground Dancing Gemini's ever been on and Ryan felt it might just have beaten us. The ground was rattling fast – I did ask the clerk of the course yesterday if he'd put a bit of water on it, but he wasn't playing ball.

“We don't duck and dive and have only gone down a neck. He's beaten the rest of them convincingly but it was just an awkward draw out on the flank and he had to take him back to get a bit of cover.”

A return to Royal Ascot is also on the cards for Rosallion, who was just over two lengths behind Dancing Gemini in third on his first outing since winning the St James’s Palace Stakes at last year’s royal meeting.

Trainer Richard Hannon said: “I was pleased with the run, but there is match fitness and he'll go very well at Ascot. Of course I’m disappointed not to win, but I’m sure in a few hours we'll realise he's run a very good race. He's still an extremely good horse and he'll strip a lot fitter next time and take a lot of beating. I’m looking forward to Ascot.”

George Scott has decided to wait for next month's Prix du Jockey Club before unleashing his unbeaten Champagne Stakes winner Bay City Roller, rather than taking on the likes of Field Of Gold, Twain and Cosmic Year in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday.  Scott had been working back from the Curragh Classic with his Group 2 scorer, but a combination of factors have persuaded the Newmarket trainer to wait until the French Derby at Chantilly on June.

Kalpana, a high-profile absentee from York's May meeting, is set to make her seasonal comeback in Sunday's Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. Winner of last season's Group 1 Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot, Kalpana was ruled out of last week's Middleton Stakes with a dirty scope, but trainer Andrew Balding expects her to be fighting fit when she lines up in Ireland at the weekend

Twain will miss the Irish 2000 Guineas and Royal Ascot Aiden O’Brien told the Punter. He has not recovered from he respiratory issue that kept him out of the English 2000 guineas and will be given time to recover. O’Brien also told he Punter that Dreamy will miss the first half of the season.

Grand Slam 

Leg 1 Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

Leg 6 Peej 

Leg 7 Tony

Leg 8 Steve 

Leg 9 Steve

Leg 10 Steve

Leg 11  Steve

Leg 12  Cliff

Leg 13  Neil

Leg 14 Cliff

Leg   15 Bob

Leg 16 Bob

Leg 17 Peej

Leg 18 Bob

Leg 19 Neil

Leg 20 Peej

Leg 21 Cliff

Leg 22  Peej

2025 Flat Issue 3 - Cod on Top

Headlines

Rivals Out Foxed at Chester

Military Finds winning Code at Ascot

Delacroix wins a Leopardsown

Stewards Award Zaringa French Oaks

Matisse Brushes Longchamp rivals aside

Report

We start at Chester on Friday where in the 1m 2f group 2 The Foxes ( Cod) took his chance, Led, headed and prominent after 1f, ridden and edged right over 1f out, led final 110yds, won going away by 1 ¾ l. He gets 45.26 points.

At Ascot on Saturday in the 5f novice stakes, Military Code (Bob), went to post, Made all, joined and ridden over 1f out, edged left towards finish, just held on, winning by a neck. He gets 23.46 points.

At  Leopardstown on Sunday in the 1m 2f group 3, Delacroix (Cod), went to post, Raced in second, pressed leader halfway, led going easily 2f out, ridden and went clear inside final furlong, winning readily by 2 ¾ l . He gets 32.68 points.

At Longchamp in the 1m group 1  Poule d'Essai des Poulains Henri Matisse (Martin, Peej) took his chance, Held up towards rear of midfield, ridden and kept on strongly from 2 1/2f out, led inside final furlong, driven when pressed final 100yds, just held on, winning by a head. He gets 28.4 points.

 

In the 1m group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches for fillies, Zarigana ( Bob, Cod), took her chance, Travelled strongly, towards rear of midfield, ridden and good headway from 2f out, chasing leaders when slightly hampered 1f out, driven when rider dropped whip, kept on strongly final 150yds, just held, finished second, placed first. She gets 26.8 points. 

Weekend Entries

Friday  

York

2.10 Love Olivia

3.13 Glittering Surf

3.45 Alsakib

4.55 Crown Of Oaks, Bowmark

Newbury

3.33 Dr Strangelove

Newmarket

2.52 Crown Of Oaks

Leopardstown

7.23 Kyprios, Jan Brughel, 

Haydock

7.15 Overture

Saturday 

Newbury

12.50 Al Asay, Kings Gambit, Silver Knott, Sunway

1.25 Berkshire Whisper, Ides Of March, Whistlejacket

2.35 Rosallion, Dancing Gemini, Noteable Speech, Fallen Angel, Lead Artist, 

3.10 Likealot, 

3.45 Completely Random

Sunday 

Newmarket 

6.45 Saariskela

Naas

4.33 Whistlejacket, Ides Of March, 

Pimlico

12.01 Journalism

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

           May        Total

Cod     156.74           156.74

Bob     115.46            115.46

Cliff    65.2             65.2

Neil      65.2           652

Martin  83.9             83.9

Steve    55.5             55.5

Peej     41.6            41.6

Stats Per String

               Runs     Wins

Martin     4                 2

Steve       4                1

Bob        6                   3

Cliff       4                1

Neil      4                   1

Peej      5                   1   

Cod       7                 4

The Weeks Losers

Copper Knight, Isambard Brunel, Jonaquil, Mandanba, Elite Status, Smoken, Serenity Prayer

Grand Slam 

Leg 1 Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

Leg 6 Peej 

Leg 7 Tony

Leg 8 Steve 

Leg 9 Steve

Leg 10 Steve

Leg 11  Steve

Leg 12  Cliff

Leg 13  Neil

Leg 14 Cliff

Leg   15 Bob

Leg 16 Bob

Leg 17 Peej

Leg 18 Bob

Leg 19 Neil

Leg 20 Peej

Leg 21 Cliff

Leg 22  Peej

2025 Flat Issue 2 - All off and running

Headlines

Court Rules against Newmarket Rivals

Flower Blooms in 1000 Guineas

Report

We start at Newmarket on Saturday where in the 1m group1 2000 guineas Stakes Ruling Court (Martin, Steve), Field of Gold ( Bob, Cliff, Peej, Neil), took their chances,. 

Ruling Court, Towards rear on near side of group, headway from over 3f out, briefly disputed lead 2f out, ridden and pressed leader over 1f out, led final 110yds, kept on well, winning by  ½ l . He gets 55.85 points.

Field Of Gold, Held up in rear, good headway then switched left 2f out, soon outpaced, ridden and ran on well inside final furlong, went second final strides, beaten ½ l. He gets 13.2 points.

On Sunday a Newmarket in the 1m group 1 1000 guineas for fillies, Desert Flower (Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil), took her chance, Made all, led narrowly and raced far side, pushed along 2f out, ridden final furlong, kept on well, winning by 1l. She gets 52 points.

News

Epsom will be next for Ruling Court, with Paddy Power cutting him to 5-1 (from 10) for the Derby. Should the Downs be conquered, then a £2 million bonus will be up for grabs in the St Leger at Doncaster, with Betfred putting up a reward for a Triple Crown winner having backed all five Classics this year. He is a 12-1 chance to complete the set with Paddy Power.

“We definitely think he’s a Derby horse and if he wins that . . .” Appleby said when asked about a Triple Crown bid. “It’s good for the sport to have an incentive like this, so we’ll go for the Derby and then we’ll see where we are, but the Derby is a race we always saw him running in.”

Weekend Entries

Friday 

Chester

2.35 The Foxes

Ascot

4.00 Storm Free

Ripon 

6.55 Copper Knight

Saturday 

Ascot

1.30 Military Code

Sunday 

Leopardstown

3.30 Delacroix

Longchamp

Henri Mattisse, Detain, Jonaquil, Hotazhell

Zaringa Mandanba, Zanzoun

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

           May        Total

Bob     65.2             65.2

Cliff    65.2             65.2

Neil      65.2           652

Martin  55.5              55.5

Steve    55.5             55.5

Cod     52           52

Peej     13.2           13.2

Stats Per String

               Runs     Wins

Martin     2                  1

Steve       1                  1

Bob        4                   1

Cliff       3                   1

Neil      4                   1

Peej      3

Cod     1                       1

The Weeks Losers

Journalism, Shadow Of Light , Field of Gold, Desperate Dan, French Master, Arctic Grey, White Birch, Lake Victoria, Chantilly Lace

Grand Slam 

Leg 1Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

Leg 6 Peej 

Leg 7 Tony

Leg 8 Steve 

Leg 9 Steve

Leg 10 Steve

Leg 11  Steve

Leg 12  Cliff

Leg 13  Neil

Leg 14 Cliff

Leg   15 Bob

Leg 16 Bob

Leg 17 Peej

Leg 18 Bob

Leg 19 Neil

Leg 20 Peej

Leg 21 Cliff

Leg 22  Peej

 

2025 Flat Issue 1 - The Opening Weekend entries

Saturday

Newmarket  

1.10 Celandine

2.20 Desperate Dan

3.35 Field Of Gold, Ruling Court, Shadow of Light , Twain, Jonaquil, Cosmic Year, Henri Mattisse, 

4.05 French Master, 

Churchill Downs 

11.57 Journalism

Sunday

Newmarket 

1.45 Likealot

3.35 Desert Flower, Lake Victoria, Chantilly Lace, 

Hamilton 

3.05 Arctic Grey, Gladius

2025 Flat - The Points Scorers

Can Kyprios become the first horse to defend the flat's Horse of the Season title?

237.2 - Calandagan (26.6 + 53 + 79.2 + 78.4)

224.18 - Delacroix (32.68 + 84.1 + 27.4 + 81)

214.8 - Ombudsman (91.8 + 29.3 + 80.5 + 13.2)

187.8- Fallen Angel (73.8 + 56.5 + 57.5)

113.6 - Journalism (58 + 55.6)

97.3 - American Affair

94.68 - Organ (28.68 + 40 + 26)

94.0 - Lead Artist

91.93 - Field of Gold (13.2 + 27 + 51.73)

87.0 - Copper Knight (27 + 27 + 33)

82.6 - Dr Strangelove

82.56 - Crown of Oaks (24 + 23.46 + 35.1)

74.2 - Damysus (38.2 - 36)

70 - Brummell (36 + 34)

57.26 - Opera Ballo (28.5 + 28.76)

55.85 - Ruling Court

55.6 - Notable Speech

53.4 - Sosie

52.0 - Desert Flower

52.0 - French Master (25 +27)

50.3 - Aventure (21.4 + 28.9)

49.76 - Gladius (25 + 24.76)

48 - Jonquil

45.26 - The Foxes

44.5 - Porta Fortuna

43.46 - See The Fire

42.43 - Kalpana (15.05 + 27.38)

41.7 - Henri Matisse (28.4 + 13.3)

40.25 - Zarigana (26.8 + 13.45)

40.0 - Arctic Grey

35.5 - Almaqam

35.26 - Al Aasy

32.16 - Kyprios

31.0 - Desperate Dan

30 - Aegean Prince

29.34 - Jan Brueghel

29.0 - Windlord

26.91 - Lake Victoria

26.9 - Anmaat (13.55 + 13.35)

26.46 - Rosallion (13.45 + 13.01)

25.2 - Dancing Teapot

23.46 - Military Code

22.58 - Bowmark

16.3 - The Lion in Winter

14.63 - Almeric

13.15 - Dancing Gemini

2025 Flat - Single Picks

Bob (11) - Bowmark, Elizabeth Jane, French Master, Military Code, Notable Speech, Porta Fortuna,  Silver Knott, Storm Free, Tower Of London, Two Stars, Wonder Legend

Cliff (9) - Almaqam, Crystal Black, Damysus, Dreamy, Fairy Godmother, Hotazhell, Saariskela, Smoken, Uxmal. 

Cod (14) - Calandagan, Carrytheone, Celandine, Copper Knight, Dancing Gemini, Delacroix, Desperate Dan, Ghostwriter, It’s Dan, Journalism, Ramadan, Sosie, Sunway, The Foxes, 

Martin (14) - Alkasib, Ballet Slippers, Chantilly Lace, Crown Of Oaks, Elite Status, Fallen Angel, Gladius, Old Harrovian, Opera Ballo, Rebels Gamble, Sand Trap, See The Fire, The Watcher, Windlord

Neil (10) - Aegean Prince, Arctic Grey, Cool Legend, Glittering Surf, Likealott, Love Olivia, Mandanba, Nightwalker, Starzintheireyes, White Birch, 

Peej (14) - Arabian Light, Bay City Roller, Brummell, Completely Random, Dancing Teapot, Double Rush, Dr Strangelove, Economics, Ides Of March, Isambard Brunel, Organ, Overture, Tiffany, Whistlejacket

Steve (12) - Audience, Bluestocking, Charyn, Detain, Haatem, Jonquil, King’s Gambit, Lead Artist, Nardra, Ombudsman, Secret Theory, Serenity Prayer, 

In addition there are are the following reserved rights:

Bob - American Affair

Cliff - Kyprios