Andrew Cooper

Connections of Calandagan (Gleneagles) will keep a close eye on ground conditions at Epsom before making a final decision on his participation in Saturday's G1 Coolmore Coronation Cup. Following rainfall totalling 25 millimetres overnight and into Tuesday morning, the official going on the Derby course was changed to good, good to soft in places, with further rain forecast for the rest of the week. Nemone Routh, manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France, conceded that the situation is "not ideal" for the world's highest-rated turf horse, who is unbeaten...

The Betfred Derby will be run for prize-money of £2 million in 2026, making it the joint-richest race in Britain alongside the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. This £500,000 boost in purse from last year is just one of a raft of "significant changes" announced by the Jockey Club for Epsom's Betfred Derby Festival next June. The programme of reinvigoration, with investment of £6 million, includes Coolmore being announced as sponsor of the Coronation Cup, which will be run for £1 million - more than double its previous...

Irrigation has started on select portions of the Epsom Downs in advance of the Cazoo Derby Festival on June 4-5. The ground is currently good, good to firm in places, and the forecast is looking less and less likely for rain. "At nine o'clock yesterday morning I'd have called the ground good," said Epsom Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper. "Yesterday was a dry, sunny day here. Temperatures got up to about 20 degrees--and it was a lovely, sunny afternoon. "We dried out a bit more--and as of nine o'clock...