Dubawi Off To Ireland

Connections of the Richard Hannon-trained Dubawi Gold are in confident mood as he prepares for another shot at Classic glory in Saturday's Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas.

Owner Andrew Tinkler was prepared to supplement his colt for the Curragh event after his highly respectable second to Frankel at Newmarket and he was quickly installed as favourite by the bookmakers.

Tim Jones, Tinkler's racing manager, said: "He's absolutely spot-on. He did a nice piece of work at the weekend and Richard is very happy with him. It's all systems go and he will probably travel over to Ireland on Thursday."

Didn`t We Do Well!

Inxile pipped compatriot Captain Dunne by the narrowest of margins in a dramatic finish to the Prix de Saint-Georges at Longchamp as overseas raiders dominated the Group Three sprint.

Tim Easterby's Captain Dunne set a furious pace in the five-furlong contest and looked to have done enough to claim victory well inside the final furlong.

But Inxile, trained by sprint king David Nicholls, nipped up the rail under the trainer's son Adrian and just managed to get his nose in front when it mattered.

Split Trois fairly scorched home to claim third, with Robert Cowell's Prohibit not beaten far.

The winning trainer said: "When I first watched it I thought we'd nodded it, but then when I watched the other angle I thought we'd got nodded.

"It's difficult to tell at Longchamp as you're a long way away from the action, but thankfully he got there.

"He's a grand horse. He's won a few Listed races and has now won a Group race, so it's good.

"I'm not sure where he'll go next, we'll have a chat about it on the way home. With a bit of luck, it would be nice to come back for the Prix de l'Abbaye on Arc day."

Ripon Review

Richard Fahey may have been out of luck with Wootton Bassett in the French 2000 Guineas, but his excellent form continued as Kay Gee Be landed the feature race at Ripon.

In what made a refreshing change for Sunday racing, there was £18,000 on offer in the Ripon, Yorkshire's Garden Racecourse Handicap, and the course was rewarded with a highly competitive field.

Kay Gee Be normally makes the running, but with Space War and Snow Bay forcing a brisk early gallop, Tony Hamilton was content to sit in fourth place before kicking on running into the dip, and the 100-30 favourite held off the fast-finishing Dubai Dynamo by half a length.

Fahey's assistant Robin O'Ryan said: "He was flat out with two to run but he kept going. Tony gave him a great ride. He's shown he is versatile now and that he doesn't have to lead.

"Tony thought they were going a suicidal pace, so he dropped him in and used Plan B. He's a good work horse and we're having some fun with him."

David O'Meara's star continues to rise and after he went close in the Yorkshire Cup with Blue Bajan last week, he produced Pepper Lane (10-1) to win first time out for the second year running in the C.B. Hutchinson Memorial Challenge Cup.

The filly, racing off 56 at Redcar last season, defied a mark of 74 on this reappearance, bouncing out of the stalls under Danny Tudhope and never seeing another rival in winning by three and a half lengths.

Winning part-owner Dave Lumley said: "I shouldn't have sold half a share in her, should I! We didn't think she was ready for today and Danny said she blew up a furlong and a half out, but she kept going. I only had £20 on her."

William Haggas improved his already excellent record at Ripon in recent years when Trojan Nights landed some hefty bets in the gottohavediamonds.com Maiden Stakes.

He took his record to 10 winners from 30 runners inside the last five years as the 2-7 jolly always looked like doing the business under Eddie Ahern. Godolphin's Sir Francis Drake, out of 1000 Guineas winner Cape Verdi, stayed on pleasingly for second.

Henry Candy Royal Ascot Ambitions

Codemaster looks set to head to Royal Ascot next month after running out a two-length winner of the Stobart Group King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket.

The Choisir colt made no mistake on his seasonal bow in the Listed contest, helping in-form trainer Henry Candy record an across-the-card double on the day, with Ardlui also striking at Thirsk.

The 7-2 shot, ridden by Dane O'Neill, edged left on ground that was quick enough for him but picked off the favourite I Love Me with relative ease approaching the furlong marker and with the stands rail to assist him, stretched away to record a pleasing triumph.

Candy, with three winners from six runners on the Rowley Mile already this season, said: "That was lovely - he's as tough as boots.

"We were taking a little bit of a chance on the ground - when he won his maiden on the July Course it was proper soft - but we've just got away with it. He kept changing his legs.

"The Jersey Stakes would be a huge step up but the horse is going in the right direction and the track would suit. We might well let have him a go."

Ballydoyle Update

Aidan O'Brien insists his contenders for next month's Investec Derby have yet to be finalised and has warned punters to take care.

The Ballydoyle handler has a strong hand in this year's premier Classic at Epsom, with Derrinstown Trial winner Recital second in the ante-post lists.

Seville is also in contention, with O'Brien having mentioned the possibility of the Derby following his second-placed finish in the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

Twenty-one Ballydoyle horses, including the likes of Master Of Hounds, Treasure Beach and Roderic O'Connor, remain entered, but O'Brien stressed punters should hold fire at this stage.

He said: "There are still three weeks until the Derby, and we felt it important to reiterate that we have yet to decide exactly which horses will be heading to Epsom.

"We are lucky to have several high-class three-year-old colts this year and it's likely we will also be represented in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

"The horses have all come out of their races in good shape and we'll be talking over where they go in the coming days.

"We will make an announcement as soon as firmer running plans are in place."

News From Meehan

Brian Meehan has confirmed that his impressive York winner Theyskens' Theory will head straight for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The filly returned to action to dismiss her rivals with consummate ease in the Listed Michael Seely Memorial Stakes on the Knavesmire, having shown smart form as a juvenile, including a five-length defeat of subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Blue Bunting in a Newmarket maiden.

Meehan said: "You'd have to be pleased with that, it was the right race for her and it will help her confidence. She'll go straight for the Coronation. Her owner is American so further down the line you can imagine her going there, but they start off with me and he has been very good to me."

Duke Of York Preview

Adrian Nicholls is expecting a much-improved show from Regal Parade in the Duke Of York Blue Square Stakes at York after the seven-year-old's return to action in Ireland at the beginning of last month.

The dual Group One winner finished a slightly disappointing fifth behind Lolly For Dolly in a Curragh event.

"We were a tad disappointed with his first run but the ground was so bad - I would say it's the worst ground I've ridden on. He likes a bit of cut in the ground, but it was so heavy that day and in hindsight it wasn't such a bad run," said the jockey.

"I've ridden him work the last few weeks and he's come on for that run. I'm glad to see they've had a bit of rain and the ground should be similar to how it was when he won the Sprint Cup at Haydock. I certainly wouldn't swap him."

Rain Delayed has been beaten just half a length on his last two appearances, but his trainer Michael Dods admits being drawn in stall one is a concern.

"He's very well but I'd rather be drawn in the middle than down the outside," said Dods.

"He's a horse who likes to travel in behind horses and get a bit of cover and that is going to be difficult from where he is. You need to make a few manoeuvres and that is not going to be easy in a top-class race like this."

Richard Fahey's Rose Blossom has won twice at the track and champion jockey Paul Hanagan is looking forward to seeing her return to action.

"It's a really tough race but I couldn't wish for her to be in better form and I'm looking forward to riding her again," said Hanagan.

Prime Defender was a surprise winner last year, but his trainer Barry Hills does not know what to expect this year. He said: "He knows more about the game than all of us, so we'll see what happens"