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Chinese White raring to get into the Dance.

It has been reported this afternoon, Dermot Weld has been enthusing over the training form of Chinese White, and the handler is said to be expressing total confidence in her ability to complete a double by landing this weekend's Dance Design Stakes at the Curragh.

The form of her victory in the Hurry Harriet Stakes at Gowran Park was done no harm with runner up Roman Empress finishing a reasonable third in last week's Darley Yorkshire Oaks, and it is known Chinese White likes some cut, and with the current weather conditions, the four year old filly will certainly get her preferred ground at the Curragh this weekend.

Ballydoyle pair could go in search of Champagne.

Following today's latest decleration stage, it seems Cape Blanco, the winner of last Saturday's Group 2 Futurity Stakes at Fairyhouse, could be joined by Ballydoyle stable mate Viscount Nelson amongst the entrants for the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster next month.

Aidan O'Brien is known to favour the race, and won it with Westfalia in 2008, so it is distinctly possible both of his well regarded juvenile colts could line up at the start of the seven furlong contest on 12 September.

Although Prix Morny winner Arcarno holds an entry in the Champagne Stakes, Brian Meehan has indicated the Dewhurst Stakes is his preferred option, so it is unlikely Arcarno will be seen at the St Leger Meeting.

Classy entry for Ayr Gold Cup.

Europe's richest sprint handicap - the Ayr Gold Cup - is fast becoming a pattern race in all but name, and today's initial decleration stage just franks that assertion.

Last week's Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes victor Borderlescot heads the current entries, and is given top weight of 10 stones 4 pounds. Newcastle Group 3 Chipchase Stakes winner Knot In Wood has also been entered by in form trainer Richard Fahey, and currently carries 9 stones 8 pounds. Great St Wilfred winner Markab represents Henry Candy, and is allotted 9 stones 4 pounds, while Roger Charlton's Stewards Cup winner Genki has to carry 9 stones 3 pounds.

Mind That Bird to miss Travers.

Connections of Kentucky Derby victor Mind That Bird have today indicated the problem with his epiglotis has not been rectified by recent surgery, and he will now miss this weekend's Grade 1 Shadwell Travers at Saratoga.

Halicarnassus to seek Turkish delight.

Having put in his best run of the season when recently finishing as runner up to Kite Wood in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, the Mick Channon trained Halicarnassus will now try to win the Group 2 prize on offer in Turkey's Bospherus Cup at Veliefendi racecourse this coming week. Talking about the chances of success, Channon said,

"He proved in the Geoffrey Freer he will get the mile and a half trip, and the ground is guaranteed to be fast, and that will be to his liking, so I expect him to be there or thereabouts towards the end of the race."

Bellewstown goes ahead as Tipperary is cancelled.

Despite overnight rain, the flat course at Bellewstown has survived an early morning inspection, and today's card goes ahead asplanned.

However, this morning's inspection held at Tipperary has declared the course as waterlogged, and as a result, tomorrow's fixture has been cancelled.

Godolphin supplement Long Lashes into Moyglare field.

Having yesterday afternoon been supplemented at a cost of 25,000 euros, Long Lashes, purchased out of Jessica Harrington's stable in Ireland by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation, is to return to Ireland to compete in this weekend's Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.

A previous winner at the Curragh, Long Lashes was given a relatively easy time when landing the Solera Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month, but despite being extremely well regarded, she will have to step up if she is to defeat the likes of Clive Brittain's Misheer and Aidan O'Brien's Lillie Langtry, both of whom have already proved themselves in Group company.

Rip Van Winkle back in training.

Aidan O'Brien reports Rip Van Winkle has now fully recovered from the hoof injury he aggrevated when winning the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The highly regarded three year old has been seen cantoring on the home gallops, and it is understood O'Brien is aiming to get Rip Van Winkle fit in time to compete in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot next month.

New and replacement fixtures.

With several recent Irish racing fixtures having been lost to the effects of heavy rain on already saturated ground, Horse Racing Ireland have announced Dundalk will stage an additional all weather fixture this coming Saturday 29 August. In addition, today's Killarney fixture which had to be postponed due to waterlogged ground, has now been re-scheduled to take place on Wednesday 02 September.

Insults against Fabre may have cost Soumillon Aga Khan retainer.

Through his website, the Aga Khan has announced a split with retained jockey Christophe Soumillon, and it is rumoured, disparraging comments made by Soumillon at a Deauville dinner about the Aga Khan's former trainer Andre Fabre may be behind the move.

Soumillon has enjoyed an eight year relationship as retained jockey to the Aga Khan, and he has had the opportunity to ride some outstanding horses, including partnering Zarkava in her five Group 1 wins in 2008.

It is reported, it was at a professional jockey's dinner in Deauville this last weekend where The three time French Champion Jockey allegedlymade some personal insults aimed at Fabre, and although the trainer parted company with the Aga Khan last year to run Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation in France, he was still held in high regard by the Aga Khan.

The Aga Khan's website article indicates a personal breakdown as the reason for the split with Soumillon, but whatever the cause, it means the jockey will cease to be the retained rider from the end of this season, although according to the article, he may be given the opportunity to ride some of the Aga Khan's horses in the future.

Murphy confident of September return.

The shoulder injury which has kept Timmy Murphy off the race track since 19 July is now reported to be fully healed, and the number one at the David Pipe stable is undertaking strengthening exercises ahead of a proposed return to race riding during September. Discussing his current situation, Murphy commented,

"Luckily it is fairly quiet at the moment, so if there is a good time to be away from race riding it is probably around this time of year.

If everything goes according to plan, I should start riding out next week, and should be back to race riding in the middle of September."

Manifest supplement in doubt.

Henry Cecil has thrown cold water on the possibility of his progressive three year old Manifest lining up in next month's Doncaster St Leger, for in an interview on Tuesday, the handler indicated connections were not certain to pay the supplementary fee required to secure Manifest's position in the Classic field.

Hughes in hospital after fall.

Following a crashing fall from Alan Swinbank's It's All Yours at the third last of Tuesday's Sedgefield Seller, jockey Brian Hughes is in the North Tees Hospital with a suspected broken collar bone, and may now be out of action for several weeks.

The fall was so severe, it proved fatal to his mount, and Hughes may well be counting his blessings he emerged from the incident with only one broken bone.

News to be off-line on Saturday 29 August.

We would like to give early warning to our regular readers of the News Section, there will be no news coverage on Saturday 29 August, as we are using the Bank Holiday weekend to install new computer hardware and software, and this will include 'approximately 24 hours when we will be unable to upload to our server.

Naturally, we apologise for this situation, but the changes will mean we can provide you with a faster news service in the future.

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