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First gear romp for Big Zeb.

Given a good lead by Made in Taipan, Barry Gerrity eased the Colm Murphy trained Big Zeb alongside at the last fence of today's Grade 2 Fortria Chase at Navan, and then hard held, he took the race by a 'cheeky' half length on the line.

Winning a Grade 2 contest like it was a training gallop indicates why Big Zeb ran Masterminded to a head in April's Kerrygold Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival, and it also suggests Masterminded could have some serious competition in this season's major two mile Grade 1 chases.

Following today's easy victory, trainer Colm Murphy indicated, providing he suffers no ill effects from today's run, Big Zeb would now go for either the Tingle Creek or the John Durkan Chases later this year.

Meade dedicates Aitmatov victory to his owner.

Aitmatov carried top weight to victory in this afternoon's Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan, and immediately after the race, trainer Noel Meade dedicated Aitmatov's victory to his owner John O'Meara,

"John is a personal friend and a good supporter of my yard, but he has been unwell of late, so I hope this win will perk him up a bit."

Aitmatov will go down in the record books as a seven length winner of today's contest from race favourite Noble Prince, but at the start of the home straight the eventual result looked unlikely. The front running top weight was already under pressure from partner Paul Carberry, and second placed Oscar Dan Dan was in close attendance, but the latter made a complete mess of the second last flight and crashed out of contention, leaving Carberry to keep his mount up to his work to complete a welcome victory for his connections.

Clear verdict from Judge Roy Bean.

Stepping up in class from his recent Galway success, Edward O'Grady's Judge Roy Bean secured his first Grade 3 triumph when landing the For Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan this afternoon. Chasing the front running The Hurl into the home straight, Andrew Mcnamara just had to give Judge Roy Bean some extra rein, and he extended to go four and a half lengths clear by the time he passed the winning line.

After the race, a satisfied trainer commented,

"He has improved a lot this season, and was good value for today's win. I will speak with connections, but a step up again for the Royal Bond or the Sandra and Barry Kelly Memorial back here at Navan are both possibilities."

Osana has to work to obtain debut win.

2008 Champion Hurdle runner up Osana had to get serious to see off Roberto Goldback in his debut chase at Navan this afternoon, but after partner Andrew Mcnamara gave him a reminder after the last fence, he found enough to score by three quarters of a length. Commenting on the victory, Edward O'Grady stated,

"He has not long come from David Pipe's yard, and we are still finding out about him. He jumped well today, and I suspect he would be more impressive on better ground. If he has no problems after today's race, I think we will come back to Navan on 05 December for a one-time winners chase."

Notra Pere none the worse for fall.

Jim Dreaper has today confirmed Notra Pere has suffered no long term damage from his fall when coming to challenge The Listener at the fifth last of Saturday's jnwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal. In a brief interview, Dreaper said,

"He suprised everyone, including himself when falling, but he is grand, and we will just give the dust time to settle before we decide where to go next."

King likely to choose Ascot option.

While Alan King is very excited about hurdling prospect Manyriverstocross after his promising debut at Chepstow, the trainer is likely to avoid an early clash with Starluck at Haydock on 21 November, and murmerings from the King yard suggest the handler is more likely to give his new convert from flat racing a run in the Robert Giles Agency's Introductory Hurdle at Ascot on Friday 20 November.

Long Walk option for Mighty Man.

Henry Daly has confirmed former top notch long distance hurdler Mighty Man will make his seasonal debut in either the long distance hurdle at Newbury on 28 November, or the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot three weeks later.

"Although he is entered at Newbury, I don't think he will be ready in time for that race, but he should be spot on for the Long Walk at Ascot."

Mighty Man won the Ascot race in 2006, but a career threatening injury kept him off the track for nearly two years, and he only returned to action last March, putting in two creditable performances at Cheltenham and Aintree.

Limerick gets green light.

Although currently offering heavy going, Limerick has passed a precautionary early morning inspection, and this afternoon's card goes ahead as planned.

Classic history created by Zenyatta.

Despite getting upset in the pre-race activity and then dwelling at the start, the John Sherriffs trained Zenyatta last night created history by becoming the first mare to win the Breeders Cup Classic. Initially Initially using the wrong lead, she found herself at the back of the pack, but her experienced jockey Mike Smith gave her the time to recover herself and after a couple of furlongs she was on the right lead and obviously back in contention.

When Gio Ponti made his bid for glory around two furlongs out, Zenyatta had the move covered, and from that point on, there was only going to be one winner, and Zenyatta duly went on to score her fourteenth consecutive win. Gio Ponti held on for second from Henry Cecil's Twice Over, the latter running the race of his life to finish third.

After the race, an emotional Sherriffs said,

"It has been a privilege to train such a wonderful filly, and at the moment I love everyone!"

Goldikova takes Mile title for second successive year.

Anchored at the back of the pack by Olivier Pesslier from her outside draw, the Freddie Head trained Goldikova slalomed her way through her rivals in the last half mile of last night's Breeders Cup Mile, and when she came level with the pace setting Courageous Cat, it was inevitable as to what would happen next, and as per script, Goldikova quickened again to win her second Successive Breeders Cup Mile while romping away from her field.

In a strange twist of fate, the last french filly to complete the feat of two successive Breeders Cup Mile races was Miesque, and her jockey on both occasions was Freddie Head.

Delegator was unplaced in last night's race, and Zacinto was virtually pulled up by Ryan Moore.

Conduit completes Turf double.

Sir Michael Stoute obtained his traditional Breeders Cup win when Conduit completed a historic second consecutive win the Breeders Cup Turf.

Presious Passion undertook his usual frantic front running style, but he came back to his field as they entered the home straight, and although the leader found his second wind, Ryan Moore had Conduit in his relentless galloping mode, and he wore Presious Passion down before passing him to score a second win in this prestigeous turf heat. Dar re mi and Spanish Moon ran on at the end to take third and fourth positions in last night's contest.

Godolphin land Juvenile with outsider Vale of York.

By way of the Breeders Cup Juvenile, Godolphin managed to get on the Breeders Cup Honour List when jockey Ahmed Ajtebi brought outsider Vale of York with a well timed late run to collar race favourite Luckin At Lucky in the shadow of the post.

Pounced did what it says on the label.

Following their combined win with Donativum in 2008, for the second year in a row, John Gosden and Frankie Dettori combined to land the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. Doing what his name suggests, Pounced came late to deny the front running Bridgetown in a final furlong battle, and the win took Frankie up to joint third in the all time Breeders Cup Winning Jockeys List.

Small fracture probably explains Lillie's flop.

Following her disappointing eighth in the Breeders Cup Fillies Juvenile Turf, pre race favourite Lillie Langtry was found to have suffered a hairline fracture of a knee during the race, thus explaining her lack lustre performance.

Co-owner John Magnier has indicated the injury is not career threatening, and the filly will have a pin inserted, and after about ten days recouperation in California, she will be flown home to Ireland.

Scoop Six rolls over for another week.

Ellerslie George's win in yesterday's Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase not only gave trainer Nick Mitchell an across the card big race double, (with The Listener also winning the jnwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal), it also ended all interest in the Scoop Six wager, and it means £307.340 rolls over in the Win Fund for next Saturday, with £131,717 also going forward in the Bonus Fund. This means next week's combined pools should offer a single winner around six hundred thousand pounds.

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