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Gold Cup tilt for Signor.

Henry Candy is reknowned as a 'canny' trainer of sprinters, so when he indicates he is veryhopeful Signor Peltro will be well placed to make use of his usual last second explosive pace in Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup, it is certainly worth putting his representative on the short list of potential race winners.

However, for all that Signor Peltro is excellent at sneaking into the frame over the last few yards of his races, he finds it hard to get his head in front, and as such, should perhaps be regarded as a good each way bet in Ayr's Saturday centrepiece.

Another Dewhurst banker from Bolger?

With Teofilo, New Approach and Intense Focus all winning over the last three years, Jim Bolger has virtually made the Darley Dewhurst Stakes his personal property. So when he confirmed today National Stakes runner up Chabal is a definite runner in the Group 1 contest, then be assured it will take a good horse to deny the Bolger entry a fourth consecutive win in the race.

Extra fixture announced for Fairyhouse.

Horse Racing Ireland have today announced, Fairyhouse racecourse will stage a fixture on 22 September which will replace the meeting lost to waterlogging at Tipperary on 09 September.

The extra card at Fairyhouse will feature flat racing, with the first race commencing at 2.15 pm. Ticket enquiries can be made through our website, HRI, or direct with Fairyhous ticket office.

Hard task for Ponmeoath.

The Eric Mcnamara trained Ponmeoath has won the Guinness sponsered Kerry National for the last two years, but when he lines up tomorrow in an attempt to become the first horse to win the three mile handicap on three consecutive years, he will have to carry top weight of 11 stones 7 pounds, compared with his winning weight of 10 stones 5 pounds in 2008. While trainer Mcnamara confirms the nine year old is in great condition, he admits trying to win off a handicap mark of 145 could be beyond the abilities of his charge, particularly as there are some very good steeplechasers in the eighteen strong line-up for Wednesday's Listowel centrepiece.

David Pipe's multiple summer winner Star of Germany will have the services of Tom Scudamore, and is the major british threat.

Handicap specialist Tony Martin has two very interesting jockey bookings for his capable duo of - Royal County Star (Paul Carberry), and Northern Alliance (Ruby Walsh).

Another interesting entrant is the Willie Mullins trained Bother Na, who has proved his abilities over course and distance when landing the 2006 running of this very competitive handicap.

Goldikova to stay in France ahead of Breeders Cup.

Freddie Head has today confirmed 'wonder filly' Goldikova will not come to Ascot or Newmarket ahead of her defence of the Breeders Cup Mile crown she won for the first time in 2008. Instead, the four year old will compete in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on 03 October, and providing this does not create any injury problems, she will go straight to Santa Anita in California for this year's Breeders Cup Meeting.

Sheikh to make his decision on Friday.

Jockey Richard Hills has intimated Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum will make his final decision on the running plans of Ghanaati and Aqlaam on Friday of this week.

Currently Ghanaati is entered in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes, but if Rip Van Winkle turns up at Ascot, the latter may seem the better option for Ghanaati to get back to winning ways.

While Aqlaam also has an entry in the QE II, and on current form he would have a great chance of landing the Group 1 prize, a run in the Champion Stakes may be preferred for the Sheikh's very progressive four year old.

Ayr first day attracts bumper entry.

At today's 48 hour decleration stage, 116 horses had stood their ground for the eight races on the opening day of Ayr's Gold Cup Meeting - Thursday 17 September. This trend for larger fields would currently appear to be mirrored across the three days of the Ayr Gold Cup Festival, and is in marked contrast to some of the other high profile meetings held this year, where frankly, some of the races have witnessed small fields, and lack lustre support from owners and trainers.

Ground concerns for Charlton.

Discussing Stewards Cup winner Genki's chances for the weekend, Roger Charlton admits he is not very happy with the good weather forecast for the remainder of this week, for the handler had hoped for some rain on the West Coast of Scotland ahead of Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup,

"Genki is at his best with some cut, but if the weather people are right, the best we can hope for is some light showers, and if that is the case, then he may find it hard to put in his best performance on Saturday."

Lord Lloyd Webber to head appeal.

Urged on by co-owners and well wishers, Lord Lloyd Webber has decided to take the unusual step of leading the appeal against Dar re mi's demotion by the Longchamp stewards in last Sunday's Prix Vermeille. Speaking this morning, the world famous impresario said,

"I don't usually get involved in my wife's horse racing world, but the number of people who have contacted me about Sunday's demotion of Dar re mi has made me realise, for the sake of the co-owners and people interested in fairness in racing, I must pursue the appeal against her demotion as far as it can go.

Personally, I have little hope we will be successful in moving the French racing authorities to a position were they would re-establish Dar re mi as the race winner, but if our action moves racing towards a european wide fairer system, then that will be a major achievement."

Fallon urges continued support for Seta.

In an interview with At The Races, Kieran Fallon has urged punters to keep faith with Luca Cumani's Seta despite her below par performance in last week's May Hill Stakes at Doncaster,

"Seta has grown a lot since her eight length Maiden win, and based on the way she wobbled about in the final furlong of last week's race, I just think she has not yet developed into her new frame. When she becomes the full package, I expect her to be very good, so I would urge punters not to lose faith in her after just one poor run."

Hoping to drink from the Group 1 cup of success.

Sir Michael Stoute is likely to give progressive filly Strawberry Daquiri her first outing in Group 1 company in next month's Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes.

The three year old three time Listed race winner was very impressive on her last run at Sandown, and although the Sun Chariot is a major step up in grade, Sir Michael is a past master at bringing top quality fillies on without over facing them, so if he thinks Strawberry Daquiri should compete in a Group 1 at this stage of her development, then he must think she has the potential to score in this class sooner or later.

Geordie will take his chance in California.

Looking like the winner two furlongs out, Geordieland was a disappointing third in last week's Doncaster Cup, but despite this effort, trainer Jamie Osborne has confirmed the enigmatic veteran will be given the opportunity to strut his stuff in this year's Breeders Cup Marathon at Santa Anita in November.

With Yeats also a likely runner, this year's BC Marathon could turn into one of the most interesting races over the two days of world class competition in California.

Padre to move in higher circles.

Tipperary trainer David Marnane was delighted with the performance of his lightly raced Santo Padre in last Saturday's Portland Handicap, and having won one of the toughest tests on the sprint handicap circuit, the trainer is now convinced his five year old is destined for better things,

"As we have always expected, given his favoured fast ground, Santo Padre is a very useful performer, and the intention would be to move him up to Pattern company in 2010, and dependant on how he handles training over the next couple of weeks, his new campaign may or may not start with one more run this season, possibly the Listed sprint at Dundalk in five weeks time."

Hayes purchases Changingoftheguard.

Having purchased Classic filly Unsung Heroinne in 2008 to compete in this year's Melbourne Cup, Australian trainer David Hayes has now purchased Ebor runner up and Saturday's St Leger sixth Changingoftheguard as a potential winner of the 2010 Melbourne Cup.

It had been thought Aidan O'Brien was likely to run the Ballydoyle three year old in this year's Melbourne Cup, but in a suprising move, Changingoftheguard becomes the latest horse to be sold off by the Coolmore operation into either South African or Australian ownership.

Libaud not unhappy with Vision D'Etat.

Eric Libaud was not unhappy with Vision D'Etat's second behind Spanish Moon at longchamp on Sunday. Providing post race comment on Monday, the french trainer said,

"Spanish Moon has proved himself a good horse this year, and having not raced since June at Royal Ascot, Vision D'Etat very much needed the run on Sunday.

We have left plenty to work with, and I am confident people will see a very different effort from my horse in the closing stages of the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe."

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