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Murphy's mare too good for Go Native.

In a very impressive display, Colm Murphy's progressive mare Voler la Vedette scorched away from 2009 Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Go Native in this afternoon's WKD Cor Hurdle at Down Royal. Sent off as the 5/4 favourite, the ultra consistant mare responded well for new partner Barry Gerrity, (picking up the ride from the injured Matt O'Connor), and when asked, she took it up readily from Ruby Walsh on Luska Lad. Towards the last hurdle Go Native tried to close, but Gerrity asked his mount to quicken, and she stretched away, scoring by thirteen lengths at the post.

Although weight advantages and the soft ground may have had a hand in today's result, Voler la Vedette is a smart mare, and certainly the leading bookmaking firms have now clipped her odds for the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.

Dreaper thinks Notra Pere will need the run.

Following final declerations, Notra Pere faces seven rivals in tomorrow's jmwine.com Chase at Down Royal. In an interview earlier today, Jim Dreaper indicated his belief that his Welsh Grand National and Guinness Gold Cup winner Notra Pere will come on for his initial run in Saturday's prestigious steeplechase. Dreaper went on to say,

"Notra Pere likes to get his tow in, so the ground will be ideal, but he will almost certainly need the run to set him up for the season, and he would prefer to go left handed, so Down Royal's right handed course is not an ideal way to start, but he really does need the run, and he will just have to cope with the right handed track on this occasion."

Amongst Notra Pere's opposition, British raider The Listener would have every chance if recapturing his triple Grade 1 winning form of season 2007 - 2008, while amongst the home contingent, second season chaser Casey Jones has already shown his well-being with a win this season.

Bradstock issues Carruthers warning.

Mark Bradstock has today warned potential supporters, former smart novice chaser Carruthers will almost certainly need his outing in tomorrow's Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton,

"He is as fit as we can get him at home, but he is a big horse and needs races to get him fully fit. Whatever he achieves at Wincanton will be a bonus, but I have no doubt he will be a lot straighter after Saturday's race."

King delighted with Taratino after schooling exercise.

The Alan King trained Taratino is reported to have put in a foot perfect schooling exercise on Thursday ahead of his proposed run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, and the seven year old's handler is said to be delighted with Taratino's preparation for the two and a half mile contest on 14 November.

Foreign contingent get Breeders Cup Turf boost.

American trainer Brian Coriner has ruled home based Allegre out of the BC Turf after his charge was found to have an abcess in one of his feet. This reduces the American presence in the race to three, (Telling, Presious Passion and Monzante), and gives the British based rivals, (stable mates Conduit and Spanish Moon, John Gosden's Dar re mi, and 2006 winner Red Rocks), a numerical advantage in the race.

Murtagh believes Lillie Langtry can show star quality.

On the first day of the two day Breeders Cup meeting at Santa Anita, Johnnie Murtagh seems confident Lillie Langtry can win this evening's Juvenile Fillies Turf. The stable went very close in the race last year when Heartshaped had to settle for the runners up spot, but Murtagh believes Lillie Langtry has come on from her latest win at Newmarket, and good judges say she has been putting in some sparkling preparation work on the Santa Anita track ahead of tonight's contest.

Discussing his other chances for Ballydoyle, Murtagh indicated both Rip Van Winkle (BC Classic), and Mastercraftsman (BC Dirt Mile), were in fine condition ahead of their respective tasks.

Godolphin bullish about their chances.

Fantastic Light and Tempera were the last Breeders Cup winners for Godolphin, and that was back in 2001, but discussing the chances of their fourteen representatives in this year's Breeders Cup two day competition, Saeed bin Surror today said,

"Our horses are in excellent form throughout the world, and we believe we have brought some very good representatives to this year's Breeders cup competition. Sheikh Mohammed and I are both very confident we will not go home empty handed from this year's Breeders Cup."

Ella trying to create history.

Owner Guy Reed and trainer Alan Swinbank are hopeful the forecast rain will give five year old mare Ella the opportunity to copy her mother Flossy by winning tomorrow's November Handicap.

Flossy won the mile and a half contest back in 1999, and like her daughter, she preferred soft underfoot conditions, so connections are hopeful of a good downpour prior to tomorrow's race. Explaining Ella shortage of exposure this season, Swinbank said,

"She has been entered for handicaps on several occasions this season, but the ground has always gone against her. I just hope she gets the right conditions at Doncaster, and then we will be in with a real chance of copying her dam's win in the race."

Navan seasonal debut for Big Zeb.

Last seen finishing as runner up to Masterminded in the Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown in April, Big Zeb is due to have his seasonal debut in Sunday's ladbrokes.com Fortria Chase at Navan. Commenting on the proposed outing, trainer Colm Murphy said,

"He won't like the heavy ground at Navan, but I have to get a run into him sooner rather than later, so he will run in the Fortria Chase. If he comes out of it in one piece, the Tingle Creek could be a possibility."

O'Connor to miss a minimum of three weeks.

As reported yesterday, conditional jockey Matt O'Connor was hit by his Thurles hoodoo yet again, and after being confirmed with a broken collar bone, the jockey has been advised he will be unable to ride for a minimum of three weeks, but five or six weeks absence from the saddle is more likely.

Art Connoisseur to stand at Irish National Stud.

In a deal brokered by Luke Livingston, Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Art Connoisseur is to stand at the Irish National Stud. The extremely talented but inconsistant four year old won the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2007, but then had problems in his three year old career, before returning earlier this year to collect at the Royal meeting.

It is understood the winner of over £400,000 inprize money will commence his stud duties at the start of the new year.

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