News On Tidal Bay

oward Johnson will make a decision on targets for Tidal Bay after he makes his return to action in the John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby.

The nine-year-old appeared to be losing his way over fences during the first half of last season and the decision to switch back to the smaller obstacles paid off as he secured victory in the Cleeve Hurdle and put in decent efforts at the Cheltenham Festival and at Aintree.

"He's ready for a run and we've decided to stick over hurdles for his first run. We'll see how he gets on and then we'll make our minds up whether we're going to stick over hurdles or go back over fences," said Johnson.

"He likes good ground so that will suit him, but Nicky Henderson's horse (Duc De Regniere) will be hard to beat. We have to give him 8lb as well, so it's going to be difficult, but we'll still run our horse and see how we get on."

Ooooh It`s Tight!

A dramatic day in the jockeys' title race saw Paul Hanagan head into the penultimate weekend of the Flat season with a lead of five over Richard Hughes.

Leading by six at the start of play, Hanagan watched as the gallant Hughes reduced the arrears to four with a double at Newmarket, which included Listed-race success on Sweet Cecily for the Richard Hannon team.

Hanagan was not in action at Newmarket, but hit back at the Wolverhampton evening meeting with a double to Hughes's solitary winner.

The northern-based rider struck when taking the first at the all-weather track on 7-2 favourite Whispering Gallery for Ann Duffield.


And it did not take Hanagan long to notch his brace and take the gap back to six with a superb ride on One Cool Bex (11-4 joint-favourite) for Newmarket handler Charlie McBride.

Hanagan was then agonisingly denied in the extended two-mile handicap, in which Hughes had a very lucky escape as he was unshipped from Pearl, crashing to the floor but thankfully walking away unharmed from what was a spare ride.

An enthralling few hours ended with Hughes landing an across-the-card treble as he drove Star Links (11-2) home in the final race of the night to deny the Hanagan-ridden Nicholas Pocock. Hanagan sits on 183 winners to Hughes on 178.

200/1 Winner...jeeeez!

Maoi Chinn Tire created the biggest shock of the fledgling National Hunt season to date by landing the Weatherbys Bank Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby at a staggering 200-1.

The victory did not come in a run-of-the-mill race either as there was £15,000 up for grabs in the Listed contest and racing superpowers Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson and Alan King were all represented.

For trainer Jennie Candlish and her main supporter Alan Baxter, the race will live long in their memory, and for the handful of people on track who were lucky enough to back Maoi Chinn Tire - including the owner.

Roger Has A Winner...or two!

Clowance made a rousing return to action after a 189-day lay-off to take the Group Three John Smith's (St Simon) Stakes at Newbury.

Roger Charlton's five-year-old daughter of Montjeu revelled in the soft ground to win the mile-and-a-half contest by a ready two lengths.

Galvanised by a textbook hold-up ride from Richard Hughes, Clowance was nudged into contention two furlongs out and waltzed clear of runner-up Poet and Dreamspeed inside the final 150 yards.

Hughes said: "She was a bit fresh early, but was always going to win halfway up the straight."

Owner Barry Hurley said of the 7-2 favourite: "We've had to be very patient but she has never had anything serious wrong with her, just little things. She just has to have soft ground.

"I might keep her in training as there's no rush to get her to the paddocks and you don't get too many fillies as good as her, but it will be up to Roger."

Al Kazeem had already given Charlton a lift with a fine victory in division one of the Wade Willis 50th Birthday EBF Maiden Stakes.

The Beckhampton trainer has been advised to rest his back for the time being and will have been delighted to see his colt take another step forward from his eyecatching debut fifth at this track a fortnight ago.

Steve Drowne eased Al Kazeem into contention and they found enough on the soft ground to master fellow 5-2 co-favourite Thimaar by a length.

The trainer's assistant Tom Grantham said: "We're very pleased and he has obviously improved from his first run. Steve said the ground was OK for him, but he would probably like it better. He doesn't need to do any more this season but should make a nice three-year-old."

Casamento Now Set To Join Godolphin

Casamento swept to victory in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster to lead home a one-two-three for the Irish challengers in the Group One contest.

Frankie Dettori was always prominent on the Michael Halford-trained juvenile (2-1 favourite) and committed for home two furlongs out.

Sheikh Mohammed's youngster stretched out in terrific style and was always holding the strong challenge of Aidan O'Brien's Seville to score by three-quarters of a length, with the runner-up's stable companion Master Of Hounds back in third spot.

Dettori said: "It was a great performance and I'm delighted for Sheikh Mohammed and Mick - this is his first Group One. I think he's probably a Derby horse, but we'll wait and see. He's a lovely horse."

Halford reported: "I personally think he might have enough speed for the Guineas, but he's not slow either and stays.

"He was idling a bit in front and looking for a bit of company. Frankie said he was always happy on him and kept finding every time a horse got near him. He's a big, relaxed horse and only does what he has to do."

Casamento is now set to join Godolphin, but that does not bother Halford.

He added: "There was never any problem with that. It was always going to be the case and we were so lucky to get him. I'm so grateful to Sheikh Mohammed for sending me the horse in the first place."

The owner's bloodstock agent John Ferguson confirmed: "He'll winter in Dubai and he'll be trained with the Derby in mind, but we might run him in the Guineas too. I think the last Group One we won here in these colours would have been Shantou's Leger in 1996."

Donny` Report

Ryder Cup hero Lee Westwood was at Doncaster to welcome Hoof It back into the winner's enclosure after the 40% Better Off On Betfair SP Handicap.

Mick Easterby's sprinter (10-1) has been running well all year but appeared to be in need of a rest before finishing second at Haydock last time out.

He looked to have plenty to do entering the final furlong as Noble Storm broke clear, but Kieren Fallon crouched into the drive position and got him home by a neck.

Westwood said: "He's a great horse and we had a top jockey on board who gave him a lovely ride.

"He's enormous and will be even better next year. Kieren said he did well to win because he must have been 10 lengths down at one point.

"I've got shares in about 14 horses at the minute and I love it. Footballers, cricketers and rugby players all play golf to relax and this is what I do."

Fallon was expected to make it a quickfire double on Mick Channon's Galtymore Lad in thebettingsite.com Stakes, but he could fare no better than third behind Earl Of Leitrim.

Brian Meehan's colt was the least experienced in the field but that did not show in the closing stages as he knuckled down to his task well.


Galtymore Lad did hit the front, but could find no more inside the final furlong as the 11-1 scorer, ridden by Shane Kelly, powered down the centre of the track to beat Night Carnation by half a length.

Meehan said: "He's a lovely horse and he keeps improving. He's in a Group Two at Maisons-Laffitte and we'll seriously consider that race over six furlongs. He's a smart colt and he'll make a lovely three-year-old."

Azrael To Get A Chance

Alan McCabe is keen to give Azrael a chance in Pattern company in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The progressive Makbul colt could make the short journey from McCabe's Newark base to Doncaster to take up a less daunting engagement in the Universal Recycling Nursery at Doncaster the same day.

However, ground permitting Azrael will be on his way to Berkshire for the Group Three, formerly known as the Horris Hill Stakes.

"We are keen to go to Newbury and it's looking favourable with the ground," said McCabe.

"We've never run him on soft ground so we really don't want to do that, so if it's good or better at Newbury we'll go there.

"He's a progressive horse and has done nothing wrong. He ran very green first time out at Doncaster. He ran very well in the Ascot race Titus Mills won and arguably they didn't go quick enough for us.

"He then won his Leicester maiden which has turned out to be very good and he was very tenacious in the race he won at Newmarket and the fourth horse (One Lucky Lady) has come out and won at Pontefract.

"He's on the market and there are a few offers on the table, but we are just waiting for one to come."

News From Brian Meehans Yard

Brian Meehan believes Lady Of The Desert can be champion sprinter next season.

The three-year-old has been put away for the winter after ending her campaign by finishing second to Gilt Edge Girl in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp.

Jaber Abdullah's filly had won the Diadem Stakes and been runner-up in the Betfred Sprint Cup in her two previous races on reverting to sprint distances.

"We had to try the mile in the spring which I think she got, but she was very unlucky in the French Guineas," the Manton trainer told At The Races.

"She got a lot of interference there. She had a summer break and bounced back really well to sprinting and was very impressive in the Diadem I thought.

"She'll have a break now and come back and be champion sprinter next year. I see no reason why not."

Meehan is also looking forward to 2011 with Waiter's Dream, who ended his juvenile campaign with a creditable fourth to Frankel in the Dewhurst Stakes.

"We were really pleased with him. He probably hasn't in his last two starts quite showed the flair he showed at York," he went on.

"Kieren (Fallon) certainly thinks that. He has ridden him most of the time and thinks three is a lot of improvement in him for next year."

Barry Rides Poquelin

Barry Geraghty will take the ride on Poquelin in the totescoop6 Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

The jockey partnered Nicky Richards' popular grey Monet's Garden to success in the race 12 months ago and the Greystoke handler had been hoping to secure his services again.

But Poquelin's owner Andy Stewart has revealed Geraghty will get the leg up on his Paul Nicholls-trained gelding as he bids to get the better of Albertas Run, who beat him at both Cheltenham and at Aintree in the spring.

"He's going to run this weekend and Barry Geraghty has been booked to take the ride," said Stewart.

Hanagan On Khan?

Champion jockey-elect Paul Hanagan will partner Ed Dunlop's Native Khan in a gallop on Wednesday morning before riding the unbeaten colt in Saturday's Racing Post Trophy.

Winner of a Newmarket maiden and the Solario Stakes at Sandown, Native Khan sidestepped the Dewhurst to wait for the event on Doncaster's Town Moor.

Aside from Richard Fahey and Kevin Ryan, Dunlop has supplied Hanagan with more winners than anyone else in recent seasons, and the rider will be making a rare trip to Newmarket's gallops in an attempt to get himself acquainted with the grey before the big race.

French runner Americain is now as short as 10-1 for the Emirates Melbourne Cup following his victory in the Geelong Cup.

The Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained five-year-old is the second favourite for the November 2 event with William Hill following his impressive triumph.

Partnered by Gerald Mosse, Americain looked to be blocked on the inside turning for home in the 12-furlong heat but when a gap appeared, the son of Dynaformer seized the opportunity. He forged clear of local runner Moudre, but Luca Cumani's Drunken Sailor made no sort of impression in finishing well down the field.

News On Big Bucks

Champion staying hurdler Big Buck's will follow an identical path to last season.

Owner Andy Stewart has outlined four races with trainer Paul Nicholls for the seven-year-old, who is unbeaten since switching to timber since the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2008.

After starting his season in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on November 27, he will head to Ascot for the Long Walk Hurdle (December 18). He will then have a break before bidding for a third Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham and heading to Aintree in an attempt for a third Liverpool Hurdle.

"He's absolutely fine. He'll run at the Hennessy meeting and then hopefully he'll go to Ascot, which was rained off last year but rearranged at Newbury," said Stewart.

"After that it will be the World Hurdle and then he'll go back to Liverpool. If all goes well until then we will have a sit down and ponder what happens next. We kept him down to the four races last season and that is what we'll do again. There was the option of going to Punchestown but we decided against it."

Stewart's smart chaser Tataniano will start his season at the Paddy Power Gold Cup meeting. The six-year-old, who impressed when winning the Grade One Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree, will return in the Sinbad Testimonial 2010/2011 Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday November 14.

Nicholls used the race last year as a starting point for Master Minded but he could only finish third behind Well Chief.

"What we'd like to do with Tataniano is start him off in what used to be called the Connaught Chase at Cheltenham," said Stewart.

"After that we hope to be looking at races like the Tingle Creek, which should be quite interesting as obviously there will be the likes of Twist Magic and Master Minded in there as well. We'll give him a little break after that as he always goes better fresh and if he doesn't go well in those two races, he's not a champion chaser, we'll know by then.

"He can only go on good ground and it was a mistake to run him over two and a quarter miles at Newbury when he got beaten but he bounced round quite nicely at Liverpool. I think he'll take very well to going right-handed over the Railway Fences at Sandown."

USA Winner For Guest

There was a red-letter moment for Newmarket trainer Rae Guest at Woodbine on Saturday night as he sent out filly Serious Attitude to claim the Grade One Nearctic Stakes over six furlongs.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, the 2008 Cheveley Park Stakes winner had last been seen finishing fifth to Lady Of The Desert in the Diadem Stakes at Ascot.

Guest's charge had been winless since Newmarket but showed a tremendous turn of foot to sweep from the rear and score in style from Grand Adventure.

Guest said of Serious Attitude: "We were running out of good races to run in. This was an ideal race for her as she's going to be sold in America at Keeneland. She's in the Fasig-Tipton sales in about three weeks' time.

"We thought this would be a nice little boost for the sales."

Frankie Booked Early

Frankie Dettori will ride Casamento in the Racing Post Trophy after the colt was supplemented for the Group One feature at Doncaster on Saturday.

Trainer Michael Halford expressed his delight at having the Italian on board his Beresford Stakes winner, who is owned by Dettori's boss, Sheikh Mohammed. Casamento was given the thumbs up to go to Town Moor following a spin on the gallops and after all the routine health checks.

"We're happy with him and we've supplemented him. He's quite fit so we just wanted to see that he was well. We checked him out, checked his blood and had him scoped. He's fine. Frankie rides and it's terrific to have him. I've spoken to Doncaster about the ground. They say it's good to soft, so that will be fine," said Halford.

Celestial Halo Chasing Debut Tomorrow

Owner Andy Stewart is looking forward to Celestial Halo making his debut over fences in Exeter's Best Mate Beginners' Chase on Tuesday.

Classy enough to finish second to Punjabi in the 2009 Champion Hurdle, the six-year-old was fourth to Binocular 12 months later. He was last seen falling at the second-last flight in the Aintree Hurdle, an incident which sidelined Ruby Walsh for months, but Paul Nicholls' stable jockey has been down at Ditcheat popping him over some fences in preparation.

"We're really looking forward to it and it's a race we won last year with Tataniano. There is always the fear that they might not take to fences but he has not given us any indication at home that he won't, he's just got to do it on a racecourse proper now," said Stewart.

"Very sadly I can't actually be there but he has schooled very well at home, Ruby has been down to sit on him a couple of times.

"Obviously we are going to find out whether two miles is his trip, he might want two-and-a-half but definitely not three. We know that two miles is too sharp for him over hurdles and he is too high up in the handicap to go that route.

"If I didn't have Big Buck's he'd be going for the World Hurdle, but we know he can't beat Big Buck's so on that basis we may as well give it a go.

"Last year when we were still over hurdles we schooled him over fences and he took to it."

Celestial Halo faces four rivals, Diamond Brook, Jocheski, The Brimmer and Rougham.

Godolphin Done Good Didn`t They?

Rio De La Plata rolled back the years as he claimed Group One success in the Premio Vittorio di Capua at San Siro and completed a memorable double for Godolphin.

Frankie Dettori was content to bide his time early on aboard the son of Rahy but he was always travelling well and after making good headway, he took it up a furlong and a half out.

He initially kicked clear but Vanjura emerged from the pack and Rio De La Plata dug deep to register a gutsy short neck verdict.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "Rio De La Plata ran a huge race today and I am delighted that he has won another Group One. He was always travelling well and Frankie had him in a nice position throughout the race.

"I was a little concerned about the ground today but it rode like good to soft and he finished his race well. There are no plans for him at the moment but we will have to look at winning another Group One race with him now."

Biondetti had earlier got the bandwagon rolling as he landed the Group One Gran Criterium.

Trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni and partnered by Ahmed Ajtebi, the Bernardini colt arrived with two victories in as many starts to his name.

Ajtebi only got his mount on top inside the final furlong and while the Mick Channon-trained Singapore Lilly tried to challenge, Biondetti held on by half a length.

Al Zarooni said: "Biondetti ran a very good race today and he won quite nicely in the end - Ahmed didn't have to be too hard on him. He was still a bit green but he has improved with every appearance and I am very pleased to have won a Group One contest with him.

"I don't know if he will run again this year. We will see how he comes out of this race and then discuss any further plans."

Well Done Dodsy!

Outsider of five Dubawi Gold strung his rivals out to take Ascot's Carraig Insurance Hyperion Conditions Stakes at 25-1.

Michael Dods' Darlington raider had started off his career in fine fettle, finishing second in the Woodcote Stakes, but had questions to answer after some disappointing efforts.

He had no problems stepping up to seven furlongs and made every yard of the running for Tom Eaves, finishing three and a half lengths clear of Tazahum and the 5-6 favourite Big Issue.

"He has been keen in his races before but we spoke about the race beforehand and we thought that he would settle better in front," said Eaves.

"He did, and he's growing up with the more racing he has."

Newcastle Inspect Early

Officials at Newcastle have called an inspection ahead of Tuesday's meeting.

Clerk of the course James Armstrong will assess conditions at 10.30am on Monday with the track currently described as heavy and unraceable.

The venue is forecast a dry day on Sunday but Monday's check will determine the fate of their penultimate fixture on the level.

Bewitched

Charles O'Brien reckons Bewitched might have the potential to become a top-level sprinter after her powerful finish earned her the Models 1 Bengough Stakes at Ascot.

O'Brien, son of the legendary Vincent, trains Bewitched for the his mother Jacqueline and the Magnier family and has campaigned her regularly, but not asked too much, and this was her biggest test so far.

Backed into 6-1, she was well off the pace with a couple of furlongs to run but Johnny Murtagh found a smart change of gear and she passed Genki and Secret Witness to finish three-quarters of a length clear.

Hanagan On Cloud Nine

Paul Hanagan is still on cloud nine after Wootton Bassett gave the title-chasing jockey his first Group One success in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Sunday.

Richard Fahey's youngster headed to France with four victories from four starts, and proved seven furlongs and testing ground were no problem with a brilliant all-the-way success. Hanagan believes he could even improve again ahead of what connections hope will be a Classic-winning campaign in 2011.

"It was brilliant to get that first Group One. It's been a great season so far and to get that Group One, especially as it was the first for Richard as well, was just fantastic. That's him done for the year now, but hopefully there is lots to look forward to next season as I think there's still more improvement in him," said Hanagan.

"He's got the speed and a turn of foot when he needs to use it - he's just a very good horse.

"He's come out of the race absolutely fine and it was a great performance.

"He was a bit keen early as he got a bit of a bump coming out of the gates and that just set him alight a bit. But after that he was always travelling well and I was always confident he was going to win.

"The ground was plenty tacky enough, but he handled it really well and you would have to be hopeful he'll get the mile next year now, especially as he's got such a good temperament - he just seems to have it all."

Hughes Appeal On Thursday

Title-chasing jockey Richard Hughes will have his appeal against the severity of a six-day ban heard by the British Horseracing Authority on Thursday at 9.30am.

Hughes has appealed over the punishment given to him by the Wolverhampton stewards for careless riding when winning division two of the Cleanwastesolutions Handicap on Aviso on Saturday evening.

The stewards at the Dunstall Park course found that in manoeuvring his mount to the left Hughes had caused multiple interference. They suspended him for six days (October 16 and October 18-22), which would see him miss Champions' Day at Newmarket on October 16.

Any ban would be a huge blow to Hughes' hopes of winning the jockeys' championship that ends on November 6.

Ponte` Review

Ajaan has been called plenty of names over the past couple of seasons but showed he still retains plenty of ability with a plucky victory in the Phil Bull Trophy Conditions Stakes at Pontefract.

Henry Cecil's six-year-old headed to Yorkshire with five victories to his name and a rating pushing 100, but he had looked less than co-operative in recent starts, with his last visit to the winner's enclosure coming in May 2008.

Ian Mongan settled the 5-4 chance on the heels of the leaders before striking rounding the turn for home and while favourite Darley Sun came to make a race of it inside the final furlong, Ajaan appeared to want it more and battled on to score by three-quarters of a length.

Sir Michael Stoute ended his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hoodoo as Derby hero Workforce bounced back to his brilliant best in the Qatar-sponsored showpiece at Longchamp.

The King's Best colt travelled strongly throughout in the hands of champion jockey Ryan Moore but was still nearer last than first on the turn for home.

However, he showed an excellent turn of foot given the testing conditions to hit the front approaching the final furlong and dug deep in the closing stages to repel the sustained challenge of Nakayama Festa. Sarafina was third.

Workforce had been a spectacular winner at Epsom, where he broke the course record, but his Arc participation remained undecided until as late as Thursday following his dismal performance in the King George at Ascot on his previous start.

Stoute, who had come closest in the Arc when second with Pilsudski in 1996 and 1997, said: "He was a big disappointment in the King George. It's been a real team effort (to get him back) and I'm not just saying that as a cliche. The jockey gave him some ride.

"If you have any ambition when you start training, you want to win the Arc. We have had a lot of horses running particularly well in it without doing it, so I'm thrilled, especially as he was so impressive on Derby day and the King George performance was inexplicable.

"Ryan felt he should have just switched him off more and I think I may have trained him too hard for the race. I said that to Prince Khalid (Abdullah, owner) afterwards, so I think I was proved right on that. I don't know if I'm likely (to train him as a four-year-old), but I'd love to."

Moore added: "He was back to his best best today. He got a nice run through. It got a bit tight at the top of the false straight, but there was half a gap there and he was very brave and really quickened into it well. The Japanese horse kept at him, but he has a great attitude and Ascot wasn't him.

"The Derby and the Arc were my biggest two ambitions in racing and this horse has supplied them both. He wasn't right at Ascot and the boss has done a fantastic job getting him back to his best."

The victory was a fourth in the Arc for Abdullah after Rainbow Quest (1985), Dancing Brave (1986) and Rail Link (2006), and racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: "I will have to talk to Prince Khalid and Sir Michael, but I think there is a good chance he will stay in training at four."

Rain Alert

Warwick, Pontefract and Windsor have all called precautionary morning inspections ahead of Monday's meetings due to heavy rain.

The Warwick track saw 25 millimetres of rain on Friday, with a further 12mm falling up until 11am on Sunday. More rain was forecast and with the ground reported to be soft, heavy in places, officials called a 7.30am check.

"We had just over 100 runners on ground that was described as soft last Thursday and we have had plenty of rain since," said clerk of the course Andrew Morris.

"There are some areas of the course that are currently still fit for racing but are becoming what I would call borderline. Although we are raceable at present, we thought it prudent to call a precautionary inspection in light of the forecast."

Pontefract remain confident of racing despite calling a 6.30am precautionary inspection. The going is reported to be soft, good to soft in places, after 12 millimetres of rain on Sunday morning, with more forecast.

Assistant clerk of the course Richard Hammill said: "We aren't really anticipating any problems but we have had 12mm of rain on Sunday morning and more is forecast. We could get another 5-10mm before the rain clears away and then it is due to be dry overnight, with a nice day on Monday.

"The track is perfectly raceable at the minute and we remain quite confident of going ahead."

Officials at Windsor have announced a 6.45am precautionary inspection after the track was hit by a deluge of rain, with more on the way.

Clerk of the course Gemma Charrington said: "It's purely precautionary but we did have 18 millimetres of rain on Saturday night. It was dry from 1am until 11.30am, but then it started raining again.

"The forecast is for between eight and 12mm on Sunday night. We should be all right but we weren't forecast the 18mm and if we had the same again, we could be in trouble."

Longchamp Review

High Heeled's valiant second in the NYSE Euronext Prix de Royallieu was the best British performance on an afternoon of near-misses at Longchamp.Last year's Oaks third, who was moved to John Gosden when bought by George Strawbridge after her Classic season and started off with an excellent run back at Epsom in the Coronation Cup, gave connections optimism for the rest of the autumn by going within a neck of Group Two glory.

Olivier Peslier was bold enough to make an early move in the straight, but found himself desperate for the line and Gerald Mosse swooped just in time aboard Maria Royal.

James Wigan, Strawbridge's racing manager, said: "That was a great run. She was always going well, and was conceding weight to the winner. It's likely she will go to the paddocks next year, but she does still have options at Woodbine and in Italy and France later this season."

Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is now considering the Prix Royal-Oak back at the course on October 24 for the winner, in which case she could meet Francois Doumen's Celtic Celeb, the accomplished victor in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay.

He poured on the pressure and came a length and a half clear, while the sole British raider Caucus made little impression.

The Hughie Morrison-trained colt started off setting the sedate pace but Stephane Pasquier, replacing Jamie Spencer, suffered a few traffic problems later on and he weakened to finish second-last.

British horses Distant Memories and Poet were both prominent and filled the third and fourth spots respectively in the Qatar Prix Dollar.

Fury Wins Well!

Kieren Fallon delivered Fury with a perfectly-timed challenge to bag the £500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy at Newmarket.

The former champion jockey was happy to bide his time on the 11-2 joint-favourite as fellow market leader State Opera cut out the early pace, before manoeuvring to the far rail over two furlongs out.

Once the William Haggas-trained winner saw space, he took off up the rail and found plenty in front to win by a comfortable length and three-quarters.

Pisco Sour kept on well to claim second while Formosina, who was very slowly away, finished to good effect to sneak third place.


Fallon said: "I loved him when I rode him at Newbury. I was worried about the ground today, it's a bit churned up and it's sticky, but he flew through it no problem. It's hard to gauge these races, but there were some horses in there with good speed figures and highly rated.

"He travelled so well and he's got a great attitude. He did it smoothly and I think he's got a big future. I don't think the draw mattered - I think I would have won from anywhere on this fellow."

Haggas added: "I think in these races with maximum fields you need so much luck, it doesn't matter how good the horse is. We got the luck with our draw.

"I've always liked him, he has a great nature and a great head on him. I'm always looking for horses that can go to the next level and he might be one. He'll get a Guineas entry and we'll take it from there.

"We had geared everything to this. I suppose there is a possibility he might go for the Horris Hill, but that's not a race I like particularly.

"I suspect we'll put him away. We'll have to talk about it and discuss it when everything settles down."

Ladies Does The Business In Style

Trainer Geoff Oldroyd's confidence in the chance of Ladies Are Forever proved completely justified as the youngster won the £150,000 totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar.

Ladies Are Forever was given a cracking ride by Silvestre de Sousa, who sent her to the front just inside the final quarter-mile and kept her going in good style to hold the challenge of Codemaster by one and a quarter lengths.

The 3-1 favourite is owned and was bred by Reg Bond, and Oldroyd, who has held a training licence since 1983 and was gaining his biggest success, said: "When I saw the declarations I was never worried about her chance, being a filly like her off a mark of only 7st 12lb."

4 From 4 Last Two Days

Four from four last two days! We advised one bet, Captain Royale, on Thursday. WON 6/1. Yesterday we gave three selections, Holiday Cottage, Cape Tribulation and Dream Ahead, ALL WINNERS! Fantastic information right from the very grass roots of racing!

Fahey Hoping

Sir Reginald bids to give Richard Fahey another bumper pay-day in the dash for the cash in the £500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy at Newmarket.

The Yorkshire trainer has already landed two valuable sales races with Wootton Bassett this season and now it is the turn of Sir Reginald, who is owned by Channel 4's Jim McGrath and was second last time out in the £200,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Auction Trophy at HQ.

"This is a better race than the previous Tattersalls Millions he ran in, but he is drawn better in 17, which I am pleased about," said Fahey.

"He was drawn low last time and was probably a bit unlucky behind I Love Me. However, he has come out of the race well and I'd be hoping to be in the first four so we can take home some of the prize money.

"He's never run on the type of ground that is expected, so we'll have to see how he performs on it."

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Rain, Rain Go Away!

Connections of Hooray are praying the ground will not be too soft for the filly in the Adnams Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket today.

The two-year-old, trained by Sir Mark Prescott, carries the colours of the Cheveley Park Stud who have won the race that shares their name twice in recent times with Gay Gallanta in 1994 and Regal Rose in 2000.

Chris Richardson, Cheveley Park Stud's managing director, said: "Hooray has been a very progressive filly all through the season and we hope she continues to surprise us. We are still intending to run, but the forecast is a concern. She's not the same filly on soft ground."

Nationalism Heads Field

Ante-post favourite Nationalism features among a maximum field of 35 declared for the totesport.com Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on Saturday.

The progressive three-year-old will run from stall three in the nine-furlong handicap and is one of three runners from John Gosden's yard, the others being High Twelve and Taqleed.

The latter is owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, who will also be represented by Taameer. The four-year-old, trained by Marcus Tregoning, carries top weight of 9st 10lb.

Leading fancies set to do battle in the first leg of the autumn double include Luca Cumani's Start Right, the Barry Hills-trained Ransom Note, Walter Swinburn's Absinthe, Gerard Butler's Elliptical and sole Irish raider Pires, from Tony Martin's stable in County Meath.

Workforce To Run

Workforce will take his chance in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

Connections made the protracted decision to send the Investec Derby winner to France following an encouraging piece of routine work on Thursday morning at Newmarket.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, told At The Races: "He went on Long Hill, ridden by Ryan Moore. The main thing was to see his action and his general demeanour, and both were good."

Grimthorpe went on: "He just had a nice smooth piece of work about four and a half furlongs for a blow-out. He had a normal blow and moved well.

"I was mystified when the horse's price went out the other day (on the exchanges). Someone has a few pounds on and the whole thing goes weird.

"The whole point of waiting until the last moment (that he was going to run in Arc) is because he really is an important horse to us. We didn't want to mess people around and they knew from the beginning if they were betting on the horse well in advance then there was a good deal of risk involved."

Grimthorpe believes Workforce will have no trouble handling the rain-softened ground.

"It is going to be pretty soft, although I don't think it's going to be quite as bad as everyone thinks it might be," he continued.

"They had no rain there yesterday and there is going to be the odd shower definitely, so it's going to be on the soft side. I don't think he will mind it, personally."

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt has raced just once since his Epsom demolition, when a disappointing fifth behind stablemate Harbinger in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.