Europe

In a renewal with an unexpected outcome as last year's G1 Irish Derby winner and 8-15 favourite Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) was tailed off when pulled up with a furlong remaining, Exosphere sprang forward on his 2015 form to provide Sir Michael Stoute with an eighth renewal leaving him just one shy of the record set by Alec Taylor, Jr. Brought along steadily by the Freemason Lodge veteran last term, the homebred started out in the Craven meeting's Wood Ditton S. over a mile in April and ran a non-threatening...

Early Deutsches Derby clues are on offer at Munich on Sunday, when the G3 Bavarian Classic takes centre stage. Darius Racing's Isfahan (Ger) (Lord of England {Ger}) could prove a hard nut to crack based on his win in Cologne's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten over a mile in October, and it may be that he did not run to his best subsequently when sixth in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud the next month. Capricorn Stud's Berghain (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) is of interest following his six-length maiden win over 11 furlongs...

Sunday's G2 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud has attracted His Highness The Aga Khan's star turn Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who reappears for the first time since winning the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in September. That success was a third at the highest level, having overcome Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Coronation S. at Royal Ascot in June and bossed the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches also at Longchamp in May. Also runner-up to Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville in August,...

One of the success stories of 2015, Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) stages her return on Sunday in Newmarket's G2 Charm Spirit At Tweenhills In 2017 Dahlia S. Having rattled off a trio of major-race wins in the summer, Sir Robert Ogden's homebred came unstuck when only seventh in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown in September. Previously, her successes in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot in June, G1 Falmouth S. at the July meeting here and G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville in August stamped her...

Re-routed to Saint-Cloud as Longchamp undergoes its renovation, Sunday's G1 Prix Ganay is not only lacking the recently-retired three-times winner Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}), but also the kind of depth we have become accustomed to as France's best older horses traditionally re-emerge from their winter slumber. As such, it could be that one from the same Corine Barande-Barbe stable, Garlingari (Fr) (Linngari {Ire}), takes precedence following his impressive 3 1/2-length defeat of Sumbal (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt at Chantilly last time Apr....

Aidan O'Brien has a stranglehold on Sunday's G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, with Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) dominant in the betting market, but if there is one who can derail the Ballydoyle train it is Lumiere (GB) (Shamardal) from the resurgent Mark Johnston stable. Campaigned exclusively at six furlongs last term, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's homebred was impressive when beating Sharja Queen (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) by six lengths at the July meeting here before finishing second in the G2 Lowther S. at York in August and landing...

For Air Force Blue (War Front), Saturday's G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket represents a watershed moment, particularly now that the wintry burst to envelop Britain has created an atmosphere more akin to the jump racing that has played such a prominent role in recent weeks. Denied the kind of slick surface that Newmarket Heath's chalk downland turf is renowned for providing, the dashing bay--who has already managed the unique treble of G1 Keeneland Phoenix S., G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and G1 Dubai Dewhurst S.--has an extra obstacle...

Trainer Willie Mullins may have had to withdraw popular mare Annie Power (Ire) (Shirocco {Ger}) from Friday's G1 Punchestown Champion Hurdle, but Rich Ricci's Vroum Vroum Mag (Fr) (Voix Du Nord {Fr}) proved a more than capable stand-in, taking the festival's Friday feature by 1 1/4-lengths under Ruby Walsh. "She has such a lovely temperament," said Mullins. "I hadn't realized how much speed she had until I worked her before Cheltenham. We were gobsmacked that day. We thought we might have supplemented the wrong one for [the Champion Hurdle] at...

By Emma Berry Le Havre (Ire) colt Pouvoir Magique (Fr) (lot 247) did indeed inject a little magic into the final hour of the Guineas Breeze-up Sale at Tattersalls when provoking a spirited bidding war between Tom Goff and Charlie Gordon-Watson to bring the hammer down at 300,000gns in Goff's favour. His sales price––up from a scarcely believable €12,000 at Arqana's August Sale––prompted tears of joy from vendor Mary Reynolds, who operates as Ardglas Stables from Co. Tipperary in partnership with Ambrose O'Mullane. “We had to go to France to...

Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}--Yummy Mummy {GB}, by Montjeu {Ire}), the winner of last year's G1 1000 Guineas and two other Group 1s, has been retired after suffering a setback in training, according to trainer David Wachman. "She had a setback in the spring and the decision has been made to retire her, unfortunately," the conditioner said. "We were lucky to have her. She's been a wonderful filly for us. Lots of days stand out for lots of different reasons, some good and some bad. I'd have to say she's...

Likely hot favourite Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will have 15 rivals to overcome in Sunday's G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket after there was just a single withdrawal on Friday. With Aidan O'Brien set to launch a trio at the Classic, Ryan Moore is booked for the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Dubai Fillies' Mile heroine, who has received an ideal middle draw in eight. Her distinguished dam, Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), failed to make the 1000 Guineas, but Minding has come through the winter and spring...

Saturday's G2 Dunaden At Overbury Jockey Club S. at Newmarket sees the return of the exciting Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling), who is sure to have his readiness tested lining up against the likes of the G1 Ladbrokes St Leger heroine Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}). Last seen finishing third in the G1 Qipco Champion S. at Ascot in October, Godolphin's colour-bearer was always considered to be a work in progress with this year in mind, despite his impressive Classic campaign including a clear-cut win in the G1 Dubai...