Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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HANNON SET TO FIELD MOLECOMB DUO.

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

Richard Hannon is looking to either Dominate or Lyric Ace to give him a third win in four years in the bet365 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood on Tuesday.

The Everleigh trainer landed the Group Three dash for two-year-olds with Monsieur Chevalier (2009) and Zebadee (2010) but had to settle fourth with beaten favourite Crown Dependency behind Requinto 12 months ago.

NAME SEEKS FAMOUS HAT-TRICK.

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

Pat Smullen is running out of words to describe Famous Name as he goes in search of a third successive win in the Jockey Club Of Turkey Meld Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday evening.

Trained by Dermot Weld, the seven-year-old has won 17 of his 34 races, with 10 wins in Group Three company. While a first Group One win continues to prove elusive, he is hard to beat at Leopardstown.

"What more can you say about him? He's a great horse and he seems in good form," said Smullen, who has ridden him in 33 of his 34 starts.

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NATHANIEL ENTERS IRISH CHAMPION MIX.

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

Nathaniel features among 33 entries for the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 8.

John Gosden`s four-year-old has returned better than ever this season, winning the Eclipse and going down by the narrowest of margins when attempting to win the King George for a second successive year.

Nathaniel was not among the original list of entries but connections have paid ?20,000 to add him to the field.

CHACHAMAIDEE IN LENNOX FRAME.

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

Sir Henry Cecil's Chachamaidee may drop back in trip for the bet365 Lennox Stakes on Tuesday, the opening day of Glorious Goodwood.

Narrowly beaten over a mile in the Windsor Forest at Royal Ascot, the five-year-old has previously won three times over seven furlongs, including in the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood last year.

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SIX OF THE BEST FOR MOORE.

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

Ryan Moore increased the tempo in the race for the jockeys' title with a sparkling 366-1 four-timer at Lingfield, followed by two winners on Sandown's evening card.

The three-times champion took his tally for the campaign to 86, 12 ahead of his nearest pursuer Richard Hughes with Lingfield wins on Great Run, Zenaat, Scottish Vespers and Hannibal Hayes, before scoring on Danz Choice and Jacob Cats at Sandown.

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NEWMARKET DUO LEAD YORK FIELD.

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

Afsare and Planteur are battling it out for favouritism after 11 horses were declared for Saturday's Sky Bet York Stakes.

The duo are both trained in Newmarket by Italian-born handlers, with Luca Cumani's Afsare stepping back up in class following an impressive Listed win at Sandown.

Planteur made a fantastic debut for Marco Botti earlier this year, finishing third in the Dubai World Cup, and he backed up that effort by occupying the same position in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp.

MAUREEN GOES FOR MARGARET GLORY.

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

Maureen bids for compensation for her luckless defeat at Newmarket earlier this month in Saturday's Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes at Ascot.

Following an impressive Newbury debut, Richard Hannon's filly encountered serious traffic problems in the Cherry Hinton Stakes before flashing home to finish a neck second to Sendmylovetorose.

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FRANKEL TOPS SUSSEX POSSIBLES.

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

Frankel will face a maximum of seven rivals when he puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Qipco Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday.

Sir Henry Cecil's incredible four-year-old recorded his 11th win from as many starts with a truly awesome performance in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and it is hardly surprising that potential opposition is thin on the ground.

For what could potentially be Frankel's final start over a mile, with next month's 10-furlong Juddmonte International at York on his agenda, he is once again set to be joined by his three-parts brother and regular pacemaker Bullet Train.

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LEGER HOPES IN GORDON CONTENTION.

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

John Gosden-trained duo Michelangelo and Thought Worthy are among nine possible runners in the bet365 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Tuesday.

The mile-and-a-half Group Three was reopened for entries on Wednesday but a small field still looks likely for the recognised Ladbrokes St Leger trial.

Michelangelo and Thought Worthy are both potential runners in September's Doncaster Classic against Camelot and could test their credentials next week.

GRAFELLI GRINDS OUT TYROS TRIUMPH.

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

Jim Bolger enhanced his fine record in the Korean Racing Authority Tyros Stakes as Grafelli dug deep to follow up Sunday's Curragh victory.

Sent off the 13-8 second-favourite due to the sheer weight of support for Lines Of Battle, Grafelli was being urged along three furlongs out after Kingston Jamaica set searching early fractions.

Aidan O'Brien's Lines Of Battle appeared to be travelling best on the outside of the field under the trainer's son, Joseph, but he wandered under pressure and had to settle for second as Grafelli kept finding for Kevin Manning to grind out a neck victory.

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HEREFORD AND FOLKESTONE RACECOURSES TO CEASE TRADING.

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

Arena Leisure and Northern Racing has today announced the permanent closure of Hereford Racecourse and the temporary closure of Folkestone Racecourse.

The companies have today set out their plans to cease trading at Hereford and Folkestone racecourses at the end of the 2012 season.

The racecourse fixtures currently staged at Hereford and Folkestone will be transferred to other racecourses within the enlarged group. The company stated that Folkestone may re-open in the future, subject to on-going negotiations with Shepway Council.

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CUMANI AFTER GROUP GLORY.

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

Afsare bids for his first Pattern-race success in the Sky Bet York Stakes on the Knavesmire on Saturday.

Luca Cumani's five-year-old was second in an Italian Group One on his penultimate start and was last seen impressing in a Sandown Listed event.

"I have been very happy with his performances this year. He couldn't do better than finishing second in a Group One and then winning at Sandown as well as he did," said Cumani.

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GOSDEN TO MAKE NATHANIEL DECISION.

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

Lady Rothschild will let John Gosden decide whether her star colt Nathaniel will lock horns with Frankel in the Juddmonte International at York.

The pair met on their respective debuts in what must be one of the hottest juvenile maidens of all time back in August 2010, with Frankel coming out on top by half a length.

Frankel is now the world's highest-rated racehorse and unbeaten in 11 appearances, while Nathaniel too has gone on to great things, winning last year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and this season's Eclipse.

HIGH HOPES FOR HOYAM AT ASCOT.

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

Michael Bell believes Hoyam's run at the Royal meeting gives her every chance in the Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

The Royal Applause filly advertised her credentials when second to Ceiling Kitty in the Queen Mary Stakes and then opened her account in a Windsor maiden. She now steps up to six furlongs.

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BIRD FLIES HOME FOR VALIANT VICTORY.

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

Lady Rothschild's most memorable season as an owner continued to provide enjoyment as Thistle Bird stormed away with the Listed Woodcote Stud EBF Valiant Stakes at Ascot.

One of Europe's most distinguished families have long been famed for success in the financial sector but their return as a force in racing has been sudden, with Waddesdon Stud in Buckinghamshire producing the Eclipse and Irish Oaks winners Nathaniel and Great Heavens.

GOLDEN CHANCE FOR SALVATION.

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

Golden Lilac gets the chance to repair her reputation when she faces four rivals in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville on Sunday.

Trainer Andre Fabre had spoken in glowing terms about his three-time Group One-winning filly after she beat Cirrus Des Aigles on her first start of the campaign in the Prix d'Ispahan in May.

She was widely expected to follow up in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month, but trailed home a well-beaten ninth of 10 runners after getting worked up beforehand.

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MAK FACING DASH CHALLENGE.

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

David Barron admits Colonel Mak faces a tough task under top weight in the fiercely competitive Sky Bet Dash at York.

The speedy five-year-old is enjoying an excellent season, winning a handicap at Doncaster and most recently a conditions race at Hamilton, and turns out again nine days after his victory in Scotland.

"He's obviously in good form. He's been in good form all season really. It's always difficult with top weight in a really competitive handicap like this and he is giving a lot of weight away," said Barron.

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SOPRANO GIVEN GOODWOOD GOAL.

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

Paul Deegan is leaning towards running his improving mare Midnight Soprano in the iShares Fillies Stakes at Glorious Goodwood rather than the Goodwood Cup.

She was thwarted in her bid for a six-timer behind John Oxx's St Leger possible Hartani in the Curragh Cup when last seen.

"Midnight Soprano will probably go for the iShares Fillies' Stakes (registered as the Lillie Langtry)," said Deegan.

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NORTHERN RACING REMAIN POSITIVE.

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

Lord Howard, chairman of Northern Racing, has stressed that no further racecourse closures are planned.

Northern Racing, along with Arena Leisure, made a shock announcement on Friday that Hereford was to close permanently at the end of 2012, while Folkestone is to close on a temporary basis.

The decision over Hereford was taken after the group, headed by the Reuben brothers, failed to be granted permission to extend the lease which runs out in 17 years.

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SRI PUTRA THE YORK HERO.

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

Sri Putra foiled a plunge on Afsare to land a dramatic Sky Bet York Stakes on the Knavesmire for Roger Varian and Neil Callan.

The eventual winner's stablemate Pekan Star cut out a modest early pace, but two furlongs out the Kieren Fallon-ridden Afsare swept powerfully to the front.

He drifted across to the stands rail, however, and Sri Putra (12-1) challenged to his left under Callan, finding plenty for pressure. Afsare did not go down without a fight but the 9-4 favourite was a neck adrift at the line, with Side Glance third.

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MAUREEN WEARS PRINCESS CROWN.

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

Richard Hannon's Maureen emphatically made amends for her unfortunate defeat at Newmarket with victory in the Group Three Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes at Ascot.

What could have gone wrong in the Cherry Hinton Stakes did go wrong, as the filly was slowly away and could not find room on the muddy July course before she was switched and ate up the ground behind Sendmylovetorose.

All went according to plan here, with Richard Hughes having a smooth passage through the race and pushing the 5-6 favourite two and a quarter lengths clear of Sandreamer.

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VAN IN EXPRESS DELIVERY.

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

Kieren Fallon made up for the disappointment of losing out in the big race when he steered Van Ellis to victory in the Sky Bet Dash at York.

The Mark Johnston-trained three-year-old (8-1) was dropping down to six furlongs for the first time since making his racecourse debut in April and showed he had the pace to foil a big field of seasoned handicappers.

Challenging for the lead over a furlong out, Van Ellis veered under pressure from the centre of the course towards the stands side, but he lost little ground and came home a length and a quarter to the good over Gramercy, with Tax Free half a length away in third.

RED-HOT EASTERBY STRIKES AGAIN.

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

Maven continued trainer Tim Easterby's tremendous form this summer when enhancing her paddock value with victory in the Sky Bet Mobile EBF Fillies' Handicap at York.

Owned by Habton Farms, the breeding operation of the Easterbys, the four-year-old was the stable's 13th winner in the last fortnight.

Having her 12th start of the campaign, Maven (10-1) was produced near the stands rail by David Allan to storm past Hippy Hippy Shake and win by two and a half lengths. Long-time leader Napoleon's Muse stuck on for third, a further one and a quarter lengths away.