A Bit Of Spirit

White Birch, who holds an entry in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, headlines the newly-published catalogue for the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, which takes place at Park Paddocks from Monday, October 27 to Friday, October 31. Trained by John Murphy, the son of Ulysses is already a winner at the top level, having defeated dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin in last year's Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. Last seen finishing fifth in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, he possesses a...

Group 3 winner A Bit Of Spirit will be trained toward the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on October 5, according to trainer Clive Cox. The son of Palace Pier, who carries the Paul and Clare Rooney colours, won the G3 Solario Stakes last month and was also under consideration for the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes closer to home on September 27. "We're over the moon with the success at Sandown and with that under his belt we're drawn towards the Lagardere," said Cox. "With the ability to perform on any...

There's no jumping off the merry-go-round now that the yearling sales are in full swing, and this week's action will take the travelling show to Newmarket and Baden-Baden for Tattersalls Somerville and Germany's premier yearling sale at BBAG. The latter should expect a stampede, as the word around the grounds is that Wednesday's Ryanair flight from Stansted to Karlsruhe will be chock-a-block with new visitors to BBAG's sale alongside the racecourse at Iffezheim.  This year I've been jocked off the Baden-Baden trip by Brian Sheerin, and the current sulk at...

Wednesday, Salisbury, post time: 15:30, BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF STONEHENGE STAKES-Listed, £40,000, 2yo, 8fT Field: A Bit Of Spirit (Ire) (Palace Pier {GB}), Morris Dancer (Ire) (Palace Pier {GB}), Mystic Moment (GB) (Time Test {GB}). TDN Verdict: Despite the fact that Eve Johnson Houghton seems to have the midas touch this year, the class deficit of her runner Mystic Moment means that this boils down to match between the Vintage runner-up Morris Dancer and the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes runner-up A Bit Of Spirit. The Gosdens' runner has the edge...