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Nine entrants for Goodwood Celebration Mile.

Newmarket 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes runner up Delegator has his first run for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation in this weekend's Celebration Mile at Goodwood. He is joined in the nine strong line-up by fellow three year old and stable mate Evasive, the latter having already run for his new connections when finishing a disappointing sixth in the recent Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.

Sir Michael Stoute's three year old Zacinto made a promising return to the track after nearly a year's absence when landing a Listed race on the final Saturday of Glorious Goodwood, and his course experience could prove invaluable in the Celebration Mile.

Steph Lyddiard's Maclove may be an 'old stager', but he has been a revelation this season, having landed long odds successes in Group races at both Epsom and Salisbury, and on present form, he is ignored again at the punters peril.

Premio Loco has already won a pattern race at Goodwood earlier in the season, and Clive Cox's Beacon Lodge is also a useful competitor on his day.

Amongst the other three race entrants - Cesare has only managed one good run this term, and Ordnance Row and Smokie Oakie have been frankly disappointing so far this season.

Dewhurst mission for Morny victor Arcarno.

Through his spokesperson, owner Hamden al Maktoum has today confirmed Sunday's Prix Morny victor Arcarno will be prepared specifically to capture a second Group 1 success in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on 17 October.

Weather misery now causes Killarney inspection.

This Wednesday's proposed fixture at Killarney was intended to replace the meeting lost to bad weather last Thursday, but continuing rain over Ireland is now putting the revised fixture in danger of cancellation.

When officials walked the track today, they found it to be soft to heavy, but there are some potentially waterlogged sections which require some drying weather, and with an uncertain forecast, it has been decided to hold an official precautionary inspection of the racing surface early tomorrow morning, and it is that inspection which will determine as to whether Wednesday's re-scheduled fixture can go ahead.

Hamilton goes ahead as Sligo is cancelled.

This afternoon's meeting at Hamilton Park has been given the green light after an early morning inspection passed the course as raceable, but tomorrow evening's planned card at Sligo has been cancelled due to the track being waterlogged.

Already exhibiting heavy ground from previous precipitation, Sunday's heavy rain was the final straw for the race track at Sligo, but Hamilton has managed to survive the vagueries of the weather, albeit today's competing horses will have to cope with going described as heavy with soft patches.

Bellewstown alter August Festival schedule.

Weekend rain and the forecast of more inclement weather on Wednesday have caused Bellewstown racecourse to alter their intended programmes of racing for this week's two day August Festival.

The County Meath course have now changed Wednesday's meeting to an all flat racing card, while the Thursday evening meeting, which features a prestigious best dressed lady competition judged by top model Caprice, will now feature national hunt racing.

Course general manager Kevin Coleman said this morning,

"The course is currently soft to heavy after the recent rain, but hopefully we now have two drying days before further bad weather on Wednesday, but by altering our intended programme, we are hopeful of preserving some good strips of ground to ensure the two day meeting can go ahead as planned."

Canford Cliffs to be scoped.

It has been reported this morning, Richard Hannon was so disappointed with the run of Canford Cliffs in Sunday's Prix Morny at Deauville, he has decided to have the throat and lungs of his juvenile scoped in an attempt to find some reason for his two year old's poor performance in the six furlong Group 1.

Special Duty may head to Cheveley Park at Newmarket.

Following her defeat by just a head to Arcarno in Sunday's Prix Morny at Deauville, it would seem, based on after race comments by trainer Criquette Head Marik, Special Duty will now be aimed at the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in October.

Shakesperian may opt for cash bonanza.

The all the way success in Saturday's Group 3 Solario Stakes would have seemed to have set Shakesperian up for a crack at either the Racing Post Trophy or the Dewhurst Stakes, but it would appear his owner has a different target.

According to trainer Mark Johnston, his progressive juvenile may well go to Ireland on 27 September, with his objective being the huge cash prize on offer to the winner of the one mile Goffs Million Sales race at the Curragh.

Fellow British trainer Richard Hannon has made this kind of successful raid on several occasions, winning last year's Goffs Million with Soul City, and this last Saturday's Tattersalls Million with Dick Turpin, and it would seem the owner of Shakesperian fancies the chances of his juvenile picking up a big cash prize rather than the kudos of a Group race success.

Unfortunately for trainer Johnston, this intended run looks like the last time he will be in control of Shakesperian, as it seems certain Sheikh Mohammed's son Hamden, who currently owns the horse, will pass it on for training by the Godolphin organisation, where he will be prepared for his three year old campaign.

Wachman considering return for stable stars.

David Wachman is said to be near to returning two of his current stable stars to active duty. Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Again, is reported to be in good order on the training gallops, and Wachman has confirmed today, within the next couple of weeks, he hopes to give his three year old Classic winning filly her first outing since Royal Ascot.

Wachman is also reported to be considering giving Bush Ranger his first outing since his somewhat disappointing run in the Golden Jubilee Stakes, with the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park likely to be the preferred option for the dual Group 1 winning three year old.

Geordieland back on track for Doncaster Cup.

Jamie Osborne was reportedly disappointed a slight set-back in training made Geordieland unavailable for last week's Lonsdale Stakes at York, but today the trainer has confirmed his eight year old stable star is right on track to line up in the Doncaster Cup the week after next.

"It was disappointing he missed the Lonsdale, for with no insult intended to winner Askar Tau, I would have expected Geordieland to win that particular race. As it is, he is now back in fine form, and right on track for the Doncaster Cup.

If he comes out of Doncaster in good shape, we may have a look at the Breeders Cup Marathon, but I guess we should take one step at a time."

Fallon may be favouring Catterick for first come-back ride.

In an interview on Sunday, Kieran Fallon was asked which course he thought would host his first come-back ride on Friday 04 September, and without confirming the venue, he made the interesting comment,

"It all depends on what offers I receive, but I really like Catterick, you have to work very hard to win there, and that is the kind of initial test I need to assess my race riding fitness."

Beyond Desire could go back to five furlong trip.

Michael Jarvis is considering dropping last week's Lowther Stakes runner-up Beyond Desire back to five furlongs for her next outing. Discussing the situation, Jarvis said,

"Nothing is yet finalised, but from her run in the Lowther, we think she might be better at five furlongs during this stage of her development, and the Group 2 Polypipe Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster on 11 September is a definite possibility."

Alpine Rose now likely entrant for Arc de Triomphe.

The Alain deroyer-dupres trained Alpine rose stepped up in class yet again on Sunday when she saw off the well regarded Lady Marion in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville. Immediately after the race, the trainer indicated his delight with his filly, saying,

"She has improved all season, and I know she has not yet reached her peak. I think she will be a definite runner in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, and if she continues to progress, I give her every chance of landing a major shock."

Possible step up in trip for Charity Bell.

Leading from the start in yesterday's Group 3 Prix de la Nonette at Deauville, John Gosden's Charity Bell seemed to have run out of puff around a furlong from the winning line when challenged by french rivals Article Rare and Tamazirte, but the filly proved she has plenty of stamina as she rallied under a typical Frankie Dettori drive, getting back up to score in yesterday's contest.

Having now proved her stamina over ten furlongs, connections are considering the option of asking their filly to compete in a mile and a half pattern race for her next outing.

Moore hopes he will heal quickly.

Jamie Moore has now been released from the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham after recovering from the initial surgery to pin and insert plates in the ankle he broke in three places at Southwell races on 16 August.

In an interview after his release, Moore said,

"On previous occasions I have healed quickly from injuries, so I can only hope their will be no complications with my ankle, and I can return to race riding earlier than many people think is possible."

Madden confirms second operation a success.

Niall 'Slippers' Madden, who suffered a double fracture to his arm when falling at Kilbeggan earlier this month, has confirmed the second operation to re-align the plate on his injured ulna has been declared a success by his orthopaedic surgeons, and he will now have to wait for a month before an assessment of his progress can be made.

With the usual optimism of jump jockeys, Madden is hoping to be fit in time for the James Nicholson Wines Meeting at Down Royal at the end of October.

Gravitation fails to train on.

Winner of the Group 3 Lillie Langtry Stakes at the 2008 Glorious Goodwood Festival, Gravitation was a well regarded filly for owner Lady Howard de Walden, but trainer William Jarvis has confirmed the half sister to this year's Irish Derby winner Fame and Glory has failed to train on as a four year old, and will now be retired to the paddocks where she will take up duties as a brood mare.

Raise Your Heart impressive at Cork.

Joanna Morgan's Raise Your Heart had to give weight all round to his rivals in Sunday's J P Macmanus Hurdle at Cork, but despite also having to race on unfavourable very soft ground, he won the contest in impressive style. Running upsides 2007 County Hurdle winner Silver Jaro at the second last, jockey Barry Gerrity just had to ask the top weight to quicken, and he forged clear, eventually landing the race by an 'easy' five length margin.

The three flat sprint races planned for the end of yesterday's card had to be abandoned due to waterlogging on the sprint course. So Raise Your Heart's victory in such conditions under top weight in a competitive hurdle marks him out as one to follow as soon as the national hunt season gets into full swing.

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