Avicenna (Ire)

Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) will face 14 rivals as he carries the silks of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid in Saturday's G1 Betfred 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Unbeaten at two, the George Boughey-trained G2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner is the current favourite under Billy Loughnane who is looking for a first Classic victory, with that position at the head of the market not guaranteed now that Ballydoyle and Godolphin's plans are confirmed. Bow Echo was drawn on the wing in 15 nearest the stand's rail, the position of last...

In a renewal of Newmarket's G3 Craven Stakes robbed of a star turn in Hawk Mountain (Wootton Bassett) and of another of interest in Hankelow (Night Of Thunder) due to the quickening ground, it was TDN Rising Star Oxagon (Frankel) who benefitted under enterprising tactics. Sent off the 7-4 second favourite due to the defections, last year's Champagne Stakes runner-up who was sporting first-time cheekpieces was sent straight to the front by Oisin Murphy and dictated to suit. Applying the pressure on the approach to the dip, Prince Faisal's homebred...

Roger Varian's new link-up with Godolphin is paying instant dividends with the promising Avicenna (Starspangledbanner) getting up late to capture Friday's Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster. Held up early by William Buick, the 11-2 shot who had won over course and distance on debut last month delivered a sustained effort down the wing to collar the 5-4 favourite Hankelow (Night Of Thunder) on the line. "He's a lovely horse and I'm very grateful to Sheikh Mohammed and the Godolphin team for supporting me with a few horses this year,"...

Godolphin broke new ground when sending Roger Varian their 450,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 sensation Avicenna (Starspangledbanner) and the two-year-old launched the new connection with a promising win on Saturday. Sent off the well-supported 10-11 favourite for Doncaster's seven-furlong novice, the May-foaled chestnut who is connected to the champion juvenile Xaar tracked the early leader Akho Mezzna (More Than Ready) and while it took time for the penny to drop in the closing stages he was firmly in command for a 1 3/4-length success. Smart debut at @DoncasterRaces! 👀 He...