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Aidan suggests potential Breeders Cup targets.

Despite indicating he might change his mind nearer the time, Aidan O'Brien gave the clearest picture so far of his intended runners at Santa Anita in the Breeders Cup on 06 and 07 November.

It seems most likely Rip Van Winkle will go for the blue ribbon BC Classic, while Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mastercraftsman will probably head to the BC Dirt Mile, (thus explaining his run at Dundalk last month).

Man of Iron will head to the BC Marathon, while Alfred Nobel and Beethoven will contest the BC Juvenile Dirt.

Lillie Langtry is a probable for the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, whereas Viscount Nelson will head for the BC Juvenile Turf.

Ground will determine Monet's objectives.

Nicky Richards admits he is very proud of Monet's Garden after he gave weight away to all his rivals and still triumphed in Saturday's Totetentofollow Old Roan Chase. But the handler admitted he is not certain of where his eleven year old will go next, saying,

"Although the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon are sound possibilities, as he has to have good ground, I cannot be precise as to where he will go next. Suffice to say, at eleven he has to have everything in his favour if he is to repeat his Aintree performance."

Front two impressive at Galway.

China Rock may have just got the better of Alpha Ridge in this afternoon's Beginners Chase at Galway, but both novices impressed bookmakers Stan James, and they have now been cut into 25/1 shots for the Royal and Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next March.

Bolger's Free Judgement boosts Dewhurst form.

Although unplaced in the recent Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, Jim Bolger's Free Judgement proved at Leopardstown this afternoon he is no back number, for appreciating a drop in class to Group 3 level, he overpowered Lord High Admiral in the final furlong before going on to win the J.R.A. Killavullan Stakes by two and a half lengths.

Following the race, Bolger declared,

"That's him now for the season, but I think he has shown enough to warrant entries in next year's English, Irish and French Guineas."

Eleven declared for Charlie Hall renewal.

At today's five day decleration stage, the eleven runners still entered for Saturday's running of the £100,000 Charlie Hall Chase are headed by the ever present Ollie McGurn. the winner in 2005 and 2007, the veteran always seems to have his best run of each season in the Wetherby Grade 2 contest, and this included last year, when he was just touched off in the final strides by State of Play.

Paul Nicholss currently has three entries including; Gwanako, Just Amazing, and What A Friend, while the sole Irish representative is Michael Hourigan's Church Island.

Evan Williams has entered the progressive Deep Purple and stable mate Mr Robert, and the field is made up by Snoopy Loopy, Tamarinbleu, Darkness and Canada Street.

Ground to determine plan for Planet of Sound.

Philip Hobbs is making quite bullish noises about Planet of Sound, for the trainer believes his seven year old has come on in great measure from the horse who finished placed in last March's Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival. Accordingly, Hobbs is hoping for goodish ground at Exeter on 03 November as he would like his charge to start his season with a run in the Grade 2 William Hill Gold Cup (Formerly known as the Haldon Gold Cup), but if ground conditions become soft, the handler admits he might have to rethink the intended run for his progressive chaser.

'Tartak will bounce back'.

Tom George today stated his belief that Tartak would bounce back from his poor performance in last Saturday's Old Roan Chase at Aintree,

"We knew he needed the race, and to be fair, he started last season slowly. I am very hopeful he will bounce back, and we will just have to give him the benefit of the doubt over one bad run."

O'Regan to miss a minimum of three weeks.

Following his fall from Astarador in Sunday's Radio City 96.7 Handicap Chase at Aintree, Howard Johnson's stable jockey Denis O'Regan has received confirmation he has a broken collar bone, and the Irishman is now likely to be sidelined for a minimum of three weeks. Although likely to miss several high profile rides for owner Graham Wiley, O'Regan was phlegmatic about his situation,

"I have had a pretty good run without injury, so I guess it's my turn to sit out the action. I am hopeful I will heal quickly, and I understand my situation will be reviewed in about three weeks."

Sanders to have further leg operation.

The fall he sustained while racing at Chester in August 2008 left 2007 joint champion jockey Seb Sanders sidelined for eight months recovering from a major break to his leg, but the after effects of his initial surgery are still being felt as the jockey has been riding ever since with a metal pin still in his femur. In a statement today, Sanders has confirmed he will undergo surgery at the end of November to have the pin removed. It is believed he will then have to undergo various therapies to ensure he has full strength and movement in his leg.

Exciting chasing prospect Pandorama to have debut at Punchestown.

Noel Meade's Grade 1 winning hurdler Pandorama has only suffered one defeat over the smaller obstacles, and that was to the outstanding Mikael D'Haguenet. Consequently, all eyes will be on the interesting prospect when he begins his steeplechasing career in Tuesday's Christmas Parties at Punchestown Beginners Chase.

A clear cut win could see the former point to point winner being catapulted to the head of the betting for the leading Cheltenham and Punchestown Novice Chases, and it could also tell us we could be in for one of the best novice chasing season's in many years.

Rabbah bloodstock add Knight to their roster.

Sussex based trainer William Knight is the latest addition to the Rabbah bloodstock roster. In a press release this morning, the organisation have confirmed Knight will be responsible for the training and development of two yearlings in the joint ownership of Saif Ali and Saeed H Altayer.

Aidan thinks Abbey is 'special'.

Immediately after his victory in Saturday's Racing Post Trophy, we indicated in our post race news article, we had never seen Aidan O'Brien so elated about the performance of one of his horses, and that includes Yeats's fourth career win in the Ascot Gold Cup earlier this year.

It now appears, the Master of Ballydoyle has a firm belief St Nicholas Abbey may be 'very special', and could even rival the achievements of this year's super horse Sea The Stars. For those who doubt there can be two legendary horses occurring at the same time, I would remind them Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard were both two year old's in 1970, and they both built their legends in exactly the same years - 197 0 to 1972. Besides, if St Nicholas Abbey does turn out to be another great horse, it will ensure flat racing in Europe will once more receive high profile coverage in the media, and in a time of recession, that is good news for the racing industry. So on balance, let's hope St Nicholas Abbey does turn out to be a great horse, for it will benefit us all during 2010.

Gillies injuries could have been far more serious.

Campbell Gillies, the conditional jockey involved in yesterday's sickening incident at Aintree, is said to be suffering from a punctured lung, broken ribs, a bruised kidney and liver, and cracked bones in his spine following his collision with Risk Runner in front of the second last hurdle during Sunday's running of the Liverpool Volkswagon Novice Hurdle.

Gillies had tried to make it to the rails after a saddle slip on his mount Lie Forrit had thrown him to the turf, but in his confusion, he ran straight in front of the oncoming Risk Runner, and the following collision left Risk Runner and his jockey on the deck. Following the incident in front of the Aintree grandstands, Gillies, who is conditional jockey for trainer Lucinda Russell, was immediately taken to hospital, but as his trainer said today,

"Campbell has broken ribs and other injuries, but having seen the incident, he is very lucky he has no permanent damage to his internal organs, and for that we are all very thankful."

Cumani could still have two representatives in Melbourne Cup.

After today's third stage declerations for the Melbourne Cup the Luca Cumani trained Basaltico is just about qualifying, being the twenty eighth and final guaranteed entrant of the forty two horses still declared.

However, if Cima de Triomphe is to join his stable companion, he must initially obtain a top three finish in this Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington if he is to guarantee his place in the field for the 03 November running of the 5.4 million dollar Melbourne Cup.

Amongst the other British based runners, it seems likely Frankie Dettori will choose to partner Kirklees, with Kieran Mcevoy taking the ride on Crime Scene.

The dark horse from a British perspective is the Ian Williams trained Munsef, who on the face of it would seem to have a huge task to win the Flemington centrepiece, but who at home this season has recaptured some of the form which once had him regarded as a potential Group 1 winner.

Eva's Request boosts her breeding prospects.

Having already won at Group 3 level, the Mick Channon trained Eva's Request gave her breeding career a major boost when she squeked home in first place in Sunday's Group 1 Premio Lydia Tesio Shadwell in Rome.

Although pushed wide as the field entered the home straight, jockey Alan Munro got a superb late run from the four year old, and she collared German raider Night Magic right on the line, with Kevin Ryan's Les Fazzani a very close third. With Clive Brittain's Nashmiah, and the Godolphin pair Lady Marion and Flying Cloud taking the next three places, British trained fillies filled five of the first six positions in the competitive race.

Possibly due to the underfoot conditions, the in-form Dermot Weld trained Chinese White was unable to stay on after having a promising position a furlong from home.

The win for Eva's Request took Mick Channon's seasonal earnings to over £4 million, three quarters of which has been obtained through raids on international prizes.

Pleasing debut for Fosters Cross.

Former smart hurdler Fosters Cross got his steeplechasing career off to the best possible start with a good win in yesterday's Barna Waste Ballybrit Novice Chase at Galway. Travelling smoothly in behind the front running race favourite Let Yourself Go, partner Davy Russell allowed his mount to go on between the last two fences, and despite a late challenge from Skelm, the Tom Mullins trained gelding went on to score by a comfortable two and a half lengths. The handler was pleased with the effort, commenting,

"He came to us prepared for point to pointing, and he jumped well throughout today's race. We will probably step him up a class for his next outing, but we will give him a few days before we decide where we go next."

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