Get the facts about your family tree from Genes Reunited, and dependant on your level of interest you can obtain either our Standard or Premier package. For full details, click the link below:
Ground the key to Sea the Stars Derby run.
John Oxx has confirmed again today, he will run 2,000 Guineas victor Sea the Stars in this year's Epsom Derby, providing the ground is no worse than good on the day of the race. In one of several interviews today, the trainer commented,
"The one and a half mile trip is within his compass providing he gets good ground or better, but I would not like to risk him on a soft surface".
Derrinstown looks likely to produce Ballydoyle number one.
In the past Aidan O'Brien has used the Derrinstown Stud Stakes at Leopardstown as the proving ground for his number one horse for the Epsom Derby, and at present he has six of the twelve entrants at the five day decleration stage. Ballysax Stakes winner Fame and Glory currently lines up with stable mates; Black Bear Island, Born to be King, Aristocrat, Hail Caesar, and Liszt.
However, in what has been a lack lustre season so far for the Ballydoyle runners, the O'Brien horses could face stiff competition from John Oxx's Mourayan, who finished a promising third to Fame and Glory in the Ballysax Stakes, Jim Bolgers Fergus McIver, and from Britain, Roger Curtis's Zafisio, who hwon a Group 1 on heavy going in France at the back end of last season.
Channon hoping for softer ground in Ireland.
Although not entirely blaming the firm ground at Newmarket, trainer Mick Channon believes it had a lot to do with the lack lustre 1,000 Guineas performance from his Dubai Duty Free Trial winner Lahaleeb.
Hoping this is the main explanation for their filly's tenth position, connections have decided to give her the opportunity to redeem her reputation in the Irish 1,000 Guineas on 24 May, but her final participation will be dependant on there being cut in the ground on the day of the race.
Hayley Turner joins Channel 4 team for Chester.
Although still concentrating on the preparationof an appeal against a medical riding ban, Hayley Turner will also join the Channel 4 paddock-side team of Jim Mcgrath and John Francome for the three days of the Chester May Racing Festival.
A spokesperson for Channel 4 said today,
"We are delighted to have Hayley on board for the next three days. She brings a fresh and incisive opinion to our racing team, and when it comes to selecting winners, we are sure she will hold her own against her paddock colleagues".
Connections do not want rain for Downhiller.
The news coming from the John Dunlop stable indicates connections are hoping no significant rain falls on Chester racecourse before tomorrow's Chester Gold Cup, as the second favourite is seen at his best on a sound surface, and any easing in the going will not be in his favour for tomorrow's difficult handicap.
O'Brien appears to contradict Murtagh.
Despite Johnnie Murtagh yesterday advising ATR he thought Rip Van Winkle would not get the Epsom Derby trip, trainer Aidan O'Brien appears to have contradicted his jockey's advise, for in an interview in Ireland, the Master of Ballydoyle said,
"Rip Van Winkle has come out of the 2,000 Guineas very well, and it is likely, but not definite, he will now go straight to the Epsom Derby".
Evens Odds On to try to beat handicapper.
Reliant on information coming out of the David 'Dandy' Nicholls yard, we can advist, having been the run-away winner of the six furlong Heritage Handicap Sprint at Newmarket on Sunday, it is most likely, prior to an inevitable hike in his weight for the victory, Evens and Odds will compete in this Saturday's Victoria Cup at Ascot.
Sponsor found for Derby Meeting.
For a long time it seemed the famous Epsom Derby would be without a sponsor, but at the eleventh hour, the Investec banking group have come forward to provide a single sponsor of the two day Epsom Classics Meeting, and their sponsorship, worth around four million pounds, ensures the financial security of the famous meeting for the next five years.
Founded in 1972 in South Africa, Investec obtained dual listing status on the South African and London stock exchanges in 2002, and they specialise in investment portfolios for corporate and individual clients throughout the world, so the famous and historic Derby Meeting is an ideal platform to heighten their profile with the many major firms and individuals involved in the world of horse racing.
Competitive Cheshire Oaks could provide classic clues.
Fresh from his success with Ghanaati in the 1,000 Guineas, Barry Hills, who over the years has trained far more winners than anyother handler on the famous Rooddee racecourse, is to run a filly with a similar profile to Ghanaati in this Wednesday's Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks.
Like the 1,000 Guineas winner, Simple Solution has only had one run, and in a carbon copy of Ghanaati, it involved a win in an all weather Maiden at Kempton Park in the autumn. So for punters who believe lightning can strike twice, choosing the winner of the Cheshire Oaks will be a simple solution.
However, this contest has often been a good guide to Classic races, with 2007 winner Light Shift going on to win the Oaks at Epsom, and apart from the Hill's filly there are some likely sorts in this year's race.
Sir Michael Stoute is represented by Phillipina, and although she has yet to show much on the racecourse, she has been the subject of a large gamble in the Oaks anti post market, having been supported into a current price of 14 to 1 from an original 33 to 1.
Ireland will be represented by Aidan O'Brien's Perfect Truth, and from the 2,000 Guineas winning stable of John Oxx there is the lightly raced Roses for the Lady. While from other british stables, Michael Jarvis's Hidden Brief and Marcus TTregonning's unbeaten Hazy Dancer seem the most likely to challenge for victory.
Whatever way you look at it, this Wednesday's race is one which should figure in the notebook for future winners during the remainder of the season.
Above Average in Chester Vase.
Sandown Classic Trial winner Above Average is the Barry Hills representative in Thursday's Virgin Money Chester Vase, but this Group 3 over one and a half miles around the tight corners of the Rooddee racecourse, looks a hard contest to call.
The inform John Gosden stable are represented by dual winner Debussy, last seen winning the Blue Ribbon Trial at Epsom, while Mick Channon is represented by dual winner Too Much Trouble. Aidan O'Brien always has a strong hand in this race, and he is doubly represented by Golden Sword and Beresford Stakes third Master of the Horse. In addition, there is the unknown quantity of Sight Unseen, who made a very pleasing debut when winning a Newbury Maiden by four lengths in April.
Once again, this eight runner contest looks like one which will produce several Pattern race winners during the remainder of the current flat season.
Connections decide to revert Serious Attitude to sprinting.
For around the first six furlongs of Sunday's 1,000 Guineas, Serious Attitude was up with the pace, but then she faded into an eventual seventh position. Based on what was learnt from the run, trainer Rae Guest has confirmed, connections have now decided to concentrate the filly on sprint races for the remainder of the current season.
Murtagh chosen as Flat Racing Ambassador.
Horse Racing Ireland have chosen Ballydoyle stable jockey Johnnie Murtagh as their Flat Racing Ambassador for 2009. As part of his duties in the role, the rider of twenty one Group 1 victories in 2008 will help to widen the profile of Irish Flat Racing to a domestic and worldwide audience.
Hamilton Park receive praise before first evening meeting.
Mick Channon and several other trainers have heaped praise on Hamilton Park for the major improvement they have made to their racing surfaceover the last few years. The new drainage and sub soil strategy has seen times for five furlong races fall from around sixty seconds three years ago, to just over fifty eight seconds in the first meeting held at the course during the Bank Holiday weekend.
It is hoped this improvement will continue to attract good horses and sponsorship to the Mid Lothian racecourse, and certainly for their first evening meeting of the season this coming Friday 08 May, Hamilton are expecting good entries to compete for the forty thousand pounds which are on offer at their six race Spring Office Party Meeting.
Celebrate your winnings, or commiserate with others with fine wines & champagne’s:
==================================
Archives:
News Stories prior to July 2008
Return to text based index page
