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Dow to face banned substance enquiry.

The BHA have reported today the banned substance Dexamethasone has been found and confirmed in the sample taken from the Simon Dow trained Curtains following his win in the EBF Maiden at Brighton on 07 June 2009.

As a result of the discovery of the banned substance, as required by the Rules of Racing, Dow has been summoned to appear before the BHA Disciplinary Panel on 08 October 2009.

Five stand their ground in Middle Park.

At today's 48 hour decleration stage only five colts have stood their ground for Friday's Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, but to use an old cliche, what the race lacks in quality, it certainly makes up for in quality.

Impressive York winner Showcasing heads the current market, with Mill Reef Stakes winner Awzaan second in the current betting. Godolphin's Poet's Voice won recently at Doncaster's st Leger meeting, and if the same front running tactics are employed, he will certainly make the Middle Park a test of stamina. Irish raider Arctic is unbeaten in three outings, which includes his last victory in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes, and with his connections having paid a £15,000 supplement to get into Friday's race, they must fance their chances. While Radio Head is on a come-back mission following his fourth behind Awzaan in the Mill Reef Stakes.

Cheveley Park could host 2010 Guineas winner.

This year's Cheveley Park Stakes has a field of nine runners after today's latest decleration stage, and Friday's Fillies Group 1 could provide the main clue to next May's 1,000 Guineas back at Newmarket.

Criquette Head Maarek's Special Duty is the filly with the form, having come close to toppling leading colt Arcarno in the Prix Morny at Deauville, while Lady of the Desert showed in the Lowther Stakes she is very progressive, and Sand Vixen's juvenile course record at Doncaster indicates she will be a strong representative for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation.

With Irish challenger Song of my Heart and Ed Dunlop's Ascot winner Habaayib also in the line up, thwe winner of Friday's contest is almost assured of becoming the new clear anti post favourite for the 2010 Newmarket 1,000 Guineas.

Tamagin will attempt Ascot conquest.

Having put in an excellent run to finish second in last Sunday's Group 2 John Guest Diodem Stakes, the connections of Tamagin are convinced their sprinter has a liking for the Berkshire course, and they are intending to send him on a return mission, in the hope he can go one better during next months Group 3 Wilmott Dixon Bengough Memorial Stakes.

Yeats and Spanish Moon to miss Arc.

At today's second decleration stage nineteen horses remain entered in Sunday's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe ahead of tomorrow's supplemental declerations. With Cavalryman, Stacelita, and possibly Sariska, this could take the field up to twenty two runners, which would surpass the safety figure of twenty.

Amongst today's withdrawals were Aidan O'Brien's Hail Caesar and Yeats, the latter now certain to run in the Prix du Cadran, while Sir Michael Stoute has taken Spanish Moon out of the running as he intends to send his charge on an international campaign during the european winter and spring.

Hannon to keep head gear on Free Agent.

Although Her Majesty the Queen's Free Agent has not won since his Chesham Stakes success in 2008, he did revive his fortunes when finishing second in his last outing at Salisbury, and trainer Richard Hannon is putting the improvement down to his first time use of blinkers. To assess if the head gear will return Free Agent to something like his previous form, Hannon intends to use the blinkers again when his charge lines up in the Noel Murless Stakes at Newmarket.

Kinane issues upbeat assessment on Sea The Stars.

Michael Kinane admits he is really looking forward to riding Sea The Stars in Sunday's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, and he believes the five time Group 1 winner will go into the race in the same great condition as he has shown before each of his winning runs this season. Enlarging on his comments, Kinane said,

"He looks a picture, and I would swear he looks stronger than when he won the Irish Champion Stakes. John Oxx has done a wonderful job of keeping him fresh and fit, and I am confident about our chances on Sunday."

In a separate development, Timeform, the Yorkshire based ratings organisation, have issued a technical analysis of Sunday's race, and based on all known ratings, Sea The Stars is literally lengths in front of his potential rivals in Sunday's mile and a half Group 1 - but will that prove to be the case on the day?

Ennis hoping Flight can mount successful raid.

Last seen finishing third behind Arctic in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes, the Frank Ennis trained Sebastian Flight has already come over from his Curragh yard, and is now working out in Newmarket in preparation for his run in the Summerville Tattersalls Stakes. The juvenile's only success this season has come over the seven furlong trip, and handler Ennis is very confident his charge will go close in this year's Group 3 contest.

Go Native return depends on ease in the ground.

We are now entering the ironic situation where after a summer of waterlogged tracks in Ireland, the dry spell is creating fast ground conditions which are unsuitable for returning top class hurdlers, and that is certainly the picture with regard to Go Native.

The winner of the Cheltenham Supreme Novices Hurdle back in March is due to line up in the Grade 2 Friends of Tipperary Hurdle on Sunday, but connections are now concerned the ground will be too firm, and the Grade 1 winning hurdler may have to miss his proposed entry at Tipperary in favour of a return to action on softer ground later in the national hunt season.

Award for Racing Post Trophy.

Andrew Oliver decided to withdraw his unbeaten Elusive Award from last Sunday's Beresford Stakes at the Curragh because of concerns over slight injury problems. But the handler is confident his charge will be fit in time to compete in the Racing Post Trophy on 24 October. Explaining his juveniles absence from the Beresford Stakes, Oliver commented,

"We have had a few complications with him, and although they were just minor things, we just knew he wasn't ready for the Beresford and couldn't take his chance. We are reconsidering things at the moment, but I think we will go straight to the Racing Post."

Infestation causes change of Epsom programme.

An infestation of sub soil grubs is making the grass on Epsom's sprint course unstable, and in conjunction with the BHA, the Epsom racecourse executive have cancelled the two sprint races scheduled for this coming Saturday's race card, and the races will now be replaced by:

- A ten furlong contest for 3 year old + rated 0 to 95.

- A seven furlong Nursery for juveniles rated 0 to 90.

With the closing date for entries being today, owners and trainers have been notified in advance of this public notice.

Fallon to make American trip for Botti.

As a result of his emphatic win on Gitano Hernando at Wolverhampton last month, Kieran Fallon has convinced trainer Marco Botti he can get the best out of the three year old, and consequently, the Newmarket handler has booked Fallon to accompany Gitano Hernando in the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita racecourse in California.

The Goodwood Stakes is recognised as one of the premier trials for the Breeders Cup, this year held at Santa Anita in early November, and the winner of the race is guaranteed entry into the BC competition.

However, Gitano Hernando will initially have to overcome Kentucky Derby winner Mind That Bird, the latter using the Goodwood Stakes to prove he has recovered from the epiglotisproblem which has kept him off the track for over two months.

Brady concentrating Ebadiyan efforts on Champion attempt.

County Monaghan trainer Oliver Brady has made no secret of his regard for his hurdler Ebadiyan, and many would argue he would have won the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham earlier this year had he not inexplicably run off the course at the second last flight.

In a statement yesterday, Brady indicated his grey has developed since his last run, and he thinks Ebadiyan is a true Champion Hurdle contender, and with that goal in mind, Brady does not intend to over-race his young hurdler, preferring instead to start him off on the track in late November or December, and then gear his efforts towards a big run in the Champion Hurdle next March.

Crowded House will head to Dubai.

Last seen finishing sixth in the Derby, last year's leading British juvenile Crowded House was due to return in the Champion Stakes, but after another couple of minor setbacks, Brian Meehan discussed the horse's options with connections, and the decision has been made to rest him for the remainder of the domestic season, with a view to sending him to Dubai for preparation towards an eventual crack at the Dubai World Cup in March 2010.

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