Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

[denphone]

ALL EYES ON GOLD FOR WELD

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Mon

Dermot Weld maintains his prime objective is to keep Rite Of Passage sound for another crack at the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot next summer.

The Curragh trainer reports the eight-year-old to have had no ill-effects following his superb victory in the Qipco Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Saturday on his first run for 510 days after being sidelined with a tendon injury.

Weld told At The Races: "The good news is he seems 100 per cent. This morning I was happy with him when I looked at his tendons, they seemed perfect. Right now I would say the priority is to keep him sound and win the Gold Cup again in 2013 (having won it in 2010)."

[denphone]

HENNESSY NEXT FOR JULIO

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Mon

Alan King has confirmed Hold On Julio will head straight for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on December 1 following a highly encouraging comeback run at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The lightly-raced nine-year-old disappointed when strongly fancied for the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase at last season's Festival, but following his summer break, he finished an excellent third in a competitive event at Prestbury Park.

[denphone]

BALLYDOYLE BOSS DONNY ENTRY

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Mon

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for six of the 15 juveniles confirmed for the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday.

The master of Ballydoyle has saddled six previous winners of the Group One, with Camelot a scintillating winner 12 months ago.

[denphone]

NO ROAN RUN FOR ALBERTAS

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Mon

Albertas Run will not defend his crown in Saturday's Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

Jonjo O'Neill's three-times Cheltenham Festival scorer ran out a determined winner of the Grade Two handicap 12 months ago and returned from a long lay-off to finish an excellent second in the Ryanair Chase.

Connections suggested earlier this month the 11-year-old could return to action on Merseyside, but Mick Meagher, racing manager for owner Trevor Hemmings, said: "He's fine. He's just not fit enough to run yet, basically. I'd say he's maybe three weeks or so away from a run.

[denphone]

NO DECISION ON CITYSCAPE FUTURE

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Tue

Connections of Cityscape will decide over the next couple of weeks whether the top-class six-year-old will be retired to stud or return to action next season.

Roger Charlton's charge made a brilliant start to his campaign by running out a scintillating winner of the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan and while he has not tasted victory since, he has run some superb races in defeat.

[denphone]

BIG DAY FOR DETTORI AT HQ

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Tue

Frankie Dettori has a full book of rides at Newmarket on Wednesday, all for different trainers, as he returns to action for the first time since the announcement he will not by retained by Godolphin in 2013.

Two of his rides are for Sheikh Mohammed's outfit - the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Ikhtisas in division one of the British Stallion Studs EBF TBA Maiden Stakes and Mahmood Al Zarooni's Quintilian in the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Nursery.

It is business as usual in that respect, despite the shock news on Sunday that Dettori will end his 18-year association with Godolphin.

[denphone]

VAN ON TARGET FOR TROPHY

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Wed

Van Der Neer is Richard Hannon's one certain runner in Saturday's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, with connections still to decide over the participation of stablemate Havana Gold.

The Saeed Manana-owned Van Der Neer is unbeaten in two starts, at Yarmouth and then on soft ground at Leicester last week, while Havana Gold, who falls under Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Qatar Bloodstock banner, has recorded four victories from six starts, including a Listed race and a Group Three.

RAIN EARMARKED FOR HK VASE

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Wed

A tilt at the Hong Kong Vase is on the agenda for Dancing Rain following her encouraging return to action on Champions Day at Ascot.

Last year's Oaks heroine endured a far from ideal preparation for her defence of the Qipco British Champions Fillies' And Mares' Stakes, having been sidelined by injury since finishing down the field in Japan last November.

But the William Haggas-trained four-year-old ran an excellent race to be beaten five lengths into third by Irish raider Sapphire.

[denphone]

MOON MISSES TURF DATE

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Wed

Sea Moon will not be heading to Santa Anita for another crack at the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old finished second to St Nicholas Abbey in the race at Churchill Downs last year and had been due to attempt to go one better.

DELZANGLES OUTLINES BREEDERS' TEAM

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...;+team&day=Wed

Mikel Delzangles will have two runners at the Breeders' Cup meeting at Santa Anita next week.

The Melbourne Cup-winning trainer will be represented by Ridasiyna in the Filly And Mare Turf and Flotilla in the Juvenile Fillies' Turf. Both earned their spots in America with fine performances at Longchamp on Arc day.

The Aga Khan's Ridasiyna ran out a most impressive winner from Izzi Top in the Prix de l'Opera, taking her career record to four wins from five starts, while Flotilla had no luck in running when a close fourth in the Marcel Boussac.

[denphone]

EXCEL ON COURSE FOR MILE ASSAULT

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Wed

Excelebration will aim to maintain the good record of European challengers in the Breeders' Cup Mile on Saturday week.

Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old has stepped out of Frankel's shadow in no uncertain terms and, apart from his debut when with Marco Botti, he has won every race he has contested that has not featured the world's greatest racehorse.

On Saturday he arguably put up a career-best display in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and he is likely to be a warm favourite at Santa Anita.

O'Brien said: "He's in good form and I hope he travels there well. We think he's a very exceptional horse. He's getting quicker and stronger and has progressed very well.

ST NICH BIDS FOR SANTA ANITA DOUBLE

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Wed

Aidan O'Brien has landed the Breeders' Cup Turf three times and will saddle both Treasure Beach and the returning champion St Nicholas Abbey at Santa Anita on Saturday week.

Ladbrokes make St Nicholas Abbey their 3-1 second-favourite behind Point Of Entry (5-2), who beat Treasure Beach in the recent Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes, although Coral have them both at 3s.

[denphone]

FAME GUNNING FOR MARATHON GLORY

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Thu

Fame And Glory is to be tried in headgear for what could be the decorated stayer's final start at next month's Breeders' Cup.

Last year's Ascot Gold Cup winner, who also has an Irish Derby and a Coronation Cup on his CV, will be one of nine runners for Aidan O'Brien at Santa Anita in just a week and a half's time.

O'Brien felt Fame And Glory's attitude could be called into question when he finished only fifth behind Rite Of Passage on Champions Day, and will test him on dirt for the first time in the Breeders' Cup Marathon

NACARAT READY FOR ROAN COMEBACK

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Thu

Nacarat is set to make his seasonal reappearance in the Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

Trainer Tom George hopes the two-and-a-half-mile limited handicap will leave the 11-year-old spot-on for another crack at the william Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

"Our plan at the moment is to run as long as they don't get any more rain and the ground stays as it is," said the Slad-based handler.

[denphone]

DUNDONNELL READY FOR BREEDERS' TILT

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...;+tilt&day=Fri

Roger Charlton is taking encouragement from the fact Dundonnell has been priced up as favourite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita next week.

A son of the American sire First Defence, Dundonnell was a close second to Toronado in the Champagne Stakes having previously won the Acomb at York.

Charlton decided on the overseas adventure in preference to running against Dawn Approach in the Dewhurst or tackling soft ground this weekend in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster

KINGSBARNS TOPS TROPHY LIST

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Aidan O'Brien relies solely on the supplemented Kingsbarns in Saturday's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, the final Group One of the British Flat season.

A total of 15 entries earlier in the week has been whittled down to a field of just seven runners, but it remains a competitive contest.

O'Brien has taken out Battle Of Marengo, ante-post favourite earlier in the week, suggesting his seven-length Navan maiden winner Kingsbarns has been showing him all the right signs at home.

[denphone]

Here are my best tips today for what is a busy Friday.

Newbury 1.50 Inaugural
Newbury 2.20 Sea Shanty
Newbury 2.50 Thought And Memory
Newbury 3.25 Alcando
Doncaster 1.40 Breden
Doncaster 2.10 Winter Snow
Doncaster 2.40 Penny Rose
Doncaster 3.50 The Betchworth Kid

[denphone]

O'BRIEN ACKNOWLEDGES KINGS LEAP

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...s+leap&day=Fri

Joseph O'Brien admits Kingsbarns faces a massive leap in class in Saturday's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

The young pilot was on board when the son of Galileo made a striking debut at Navan just over two weeks ago, winning by seven lengths. His father Aidan had five other possibles for the race but relies solely on Kingsbarns, who was supplemented at a cost of £17,500 on Monday.

Many are drawing comparisons between Kingsbarns and three-time Classic scorer Camelot, winner of the Group One contest last year on the back of just one run. Camelot made his debut in July, though, and O'Brien jnr is well aware Kingsbarns will be making a swift return.

[denphone]

SPENCER GETS QATAR RACING JOB

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Jamie Spencer has been confirmed as the retained jockey for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Qatar Racing operation.

The former champion jockey has signed a two-year contract with Sheikh Fahad, whose horses run under the Qatar and Pearl Bloodstock banners and is fast emerging as a powerful presence on the racing scene.

The owner's racing manager and bloodstock advisor, David Redvers said: "I can confirm that we have agreed terms and that Jamie Spencer will be first jockey for Qatar Racing on a two-year contract, starting from January 1."

LEATHER TAKES NEXT STEP UP LADDER

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Jim Bolger admits the Racing Post Trophy has more strength in depth than the Newmarket race Trading Leather won recently.

The son of Teofilo sprang to prominence for next year's Derby by winning the Autumn Stakes on Future Champions Day and steps up to Group One company at Doncaster.

"He's very well. It's an attractive Group One and as he came out of the Newmarket race very well, he deserves a shot at a race like this. Kingsbarns won his maiden at Navan well, but they are all dangers," said Bolger.

[denphone]

Here are my best tips for today.

Doncaster 1.25 Gifted Dancer
Doncaster 2.00 Party Line
Doncaster 2.30 Dungannon
Doncaster 3.10 Steeler
Doncaster 4.10 Taayel
Newbury 1.40 Secret Gesture
Newbury 2.15 Tawhid
Newbury 2.45 Noble Mission
Newbury 3.15 Victrix Ludorum