Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Hannon eyeing Lockinge glory.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Wed

Richard Hannon has his eyes on a third JLT Lockinge Stakes as he prepares to saddle Trumpet Major and Libranno in the Group One at Newbury on Saturday.

The Herridge handler has captured the mile showpiece twice in recent years with Paco Boy (2010) and Canford Cliffs (2011) and is expecting good runs from his two representatives.

They renew rivalry after clashing in the bet365 Mile at Sandown where Trumpet Major landed the Group Two spoils, with Libranno back in fourth place.

While Hannon rates Trumpet Major quite highly, he does feel Libranno could reduce the deficit on the back of that outing.

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Byron camp on weather watch

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Wed

Trainer Tom Hogan would like the rain to stay away from the Knavesmire for his Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes challenger Gordon Lord Byron.

The five-year-old won at the highest level in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in October and has since been on his travels, running in Hong Kong and Dubai.

"It's good to get him back on grass again. Hopefully we won't get too much rain. Even though he's won on soft ground he's better on good ground," said County Tipperary-based Hogan.

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Tree tops Cup contenders

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Wed

Joshua Tree will have his first start for Ed Dunlop in the Qipco Yorkshire Cup at York on Friday.

The six-year-old started his career with Aidan O'Brien but was most recently trained by Marco Botti, who saddled him to win his second Canadian International at Woodbine last October.

He finished a close-up ninth in the Hong Kong Vase on his final start for Botti last term and will now represent Dunlop, who won the Yorkshire Cup with Red Cadeaux in 2012.

Last year's Irish St Leger winner Royal Diamond is the sole Irish raider for Tommy Carmody and Johnny Murtagh, while Francois Doumen and Mickael Barzalona team up with Top Trip.

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Nauticus sinks Musidora foes

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Wed

Liber Nauticus staked a claim for the Investec Oaks when she got on top close home to land the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York.

The 4-6 shot hit the front about a furlong and a half out and kept on strongly to beat Romantic Settings by a length and a half, with Woodland Aria just behind in third. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly, ridden by Ryan Moore, was having only her second career start following a debut success at Goodwood last September.

Moore said: "I was very happy with her because she doesn't actually do a lot. She only does enough, so I was very happy. Hopefully she'll get better as she gets older."

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Rain puts Wind in unknown territory

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Wed

The first three from a valuable sales race at Newmarket's Craven meeting all clash again in the Betfred Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

Mark Johnston's Windhoek defied a lengthy absence and inexperience to just come out on top against Luca Cumani's Greatwood and the John Gosden-trained Ghurair. He has since followed up in Listed company, but Johnston admits he has no idea how Windhoek will handle the rain-softened ground.

"I wish I knew if he acts on softer. He's only run on good to firm. My only concern is that sometimes it can get loose on top at York when it rains, especially if they've watered, but they apparently haven't watered this week. He's never run on it before so we'll just have to see," said Johnston.

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Society rocks for hot Fallon

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Thu

Kieren Fallon continued his great run of recent form by driving home Society Rock in the Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes on the Knavesmire.

After struggling to get his mount into the stalls, Fallon managed to get the notoriously slow starter away on a par with the rest of the field.

Lethal Force travelled with great purpose and always looked like playing a hand in the finish, but Society Rock (10-1) passed him inside the final furlong. Lethal Force came back at James Fanshawe's sprinter at the line and only a head separated them, with Gordon Lord Byron back in third.

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Telescope treatment going well.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Thu

Connections of Telescope have issued an upbeat bulletin after the Investec Derby candidate was forced to miss the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

Sir Michael Stoute's three-year-old had the key Derby trial as his aim for some time, but was a surprise absentee at the 48-hour declaration stage after a graze he sustained when entering a horsebox became infected.

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All well with mighty Approach.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Thu

Trainer Jim Bolger said Dawn Approach has been "bucking and squealing" since his deeply impressive triumph in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The unbeaten colt, who runs in the royal blue Godolphin silks, will next be seen in the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 1.

Bolger could not be happier with his well-being ahead of his big Classic assignment.

He told At The Races: "He's still awesome. He's very well, we're very happy with him.

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War declared for Lockinge

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Thu

Aidan O'Brien's Declaration Of War, a midweek gamble for the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, heads a field of 13 for the first Group One of the season for older horses.

The former Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt was available at 7-2 on Monday but sustained support now has him as the clear favourite around the 7-4 mark. O'Brien also runs Reply.

Saeed bin Suroor's Farhh, second in four Group Ones last season, twice behind Frankel, makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance in a race his trainer has won four times.

Roger Charlton's Cityscape avoided Frankel last season as he was in the same Khalid Abdullah ownership but he suffered his own near-misses behind Excelebration.

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Dalkala dazzles in Middleton

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Thu

Alain de Royer-Dupre raided another big prize on the Knavesmire when Dalkala showed her class in the Betfred Middleton Stakes at York.

After winning the Yorkshire Oaks with Shareta last summer, the French handler has good memories of his trips to northern England and Dalkala never looked in any serious danger.

The 2-1 favourite travelled sweetly in the hands of Christophe Lemaire and her Group One form was to eventually prove head and shoulders above her rivals.

Roger Varian's Ambivalent made her work throughout the last furlong but never looked like getting there and was a length behind, with Richard Fahey's Ladys First third and Starscope fourth.

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Libertarian in Dante shocker.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Fri

Libertarian caused a huge shock when staying on best of all to win the Betfred Dante Stakes at York.

All eight runners had something of a chance two furlongs out, but the unheralded Libertarian had been off the bridle for some time.

Sent off at 33-1, William Buick moved to the inside on Elaine Burke's colt and he powered home to beat Jim Bolger's Trading Leather, with Aidan O'Brien's Indian Chief, the 11-4 favourite, back in third.

Karl Burke, the winning trainer's husband and assistant, said: "It is a great win for the yard and everyone connected with the horse. He's a proper horse and having not had many (Derby) horses, or Dante horses even, you are tilting at windmills a bit. We have always thought a lot of him.

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Dettori anxious about comeback

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Fri

Frankie Dettori admits he is nervous of the reception he will be afforded when he makes his planned return to race-riding at Leicester on Monday evening.

The Italian has served a six-month ban after testing positive for cocaine in France in September and in an exclusive interview with Channel 4 News and Clare Balding, Dettori spoke of his "moment of weakness" and pointed towards his fall down the hierarchy of jockeys at Godolphin as a contributing factor, that his head was "wrecked".

Asked about his imminent return, he said: "I'd be lying to say I'm not, of course I am nervous. I've been away from so long I don't know what to expect, I don't know what people expect of me and what I expect from other people. I don't know what it is going to be like."

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Olympic chasing Curragh glory.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Fri

Olympic Glory will aim to rebuild his reputation in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday week.

Richard Hannon's colt was sent off favourite for the French version last weekend, but a bad draw meant he was unable to land a blow. Last season he proved his class by beating all bar Dawn Approach in six races, including in Group One company on Arc day at Longchamp.

"You can put a line through Olympic Glory's French excursion. He was drawn in the cheap seats and could never get competitive, but at least he came back without having had a hard race, so we have decided to take him to Ireland, where the stiff mile should suit him well," the Wiltshire handler told www.richardhannonracing.co.uk.

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Farhh shoots for Lockinge glory.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Fri

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor hopes Farhh can break his Group One duck in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

Despite having enjoyed a fantastic Dubai Carnival, Bin Suroor's string have been slow to come to hand this spring, but he expects Farhh to run a good race. After winning the Thirsk Hunt Cup last year, Godolphin's five-year-old was second in four Group Ones, twice behind Frankel.

"Last time out he finished second in France, but he picked up a problem. He got a small chip in his ankle which needed surgery and that is why he hasn't run since," said Bin Suroor.

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Diamond edges Cup thriller

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Fri

Glen's Diamond repelled the late thrust of French raider Top Trip to land a thrilling renewal of the Qipco Yorkshire Cup at York.

Richard Fahey's charge had to settle for second behind Red Cadeaux last year but was allowed to go off a 25-1 chance this time after some indifferent efforts in the interim.

Tony Hamilton was positive from the off aboard the strong-travelling five-year-old and he looked to have all his rivals in trouble turning into the straight.

However, Mickael Barzalona switched Top Trip to challenge up the inner over two furlongs out and Francois Doumen's runner appeared to just edge in front inside the final furlong. But Glen's Diamond dug deep for Hamilton and fought back, with the pair racing neck and neck at the line.