Epsom

Gavin Wallace, breeder of Derby outsider Al Wasl Storm, says he is completely flabbergasted about having produced a Classic contender and believes his story serves as a timely reminder for small breeders to keep on dreaming.  The 52-year-old farmer, whose family bred dual Tingle Creek Chase winner Long Engagement, has only two mares on his County Kilkenny farm. Along with his wife Orla, he has been provided with an earlier update than expected in the shape of Al Wasl Storm, a horse he openly admits to having been bred for...

Epsom's traditional Derby gallops morning attracted three of the 25 colts remaining in contention for this year's Betfred Derby, including a duo from the stable of John and Thady Gosden. Wathnan Racing's Damysus and Juddmonte's Nightwalker, both by Frankel, stretched out around the unique curves and camber of the Surrey track in tandem, and Thady Gosden appeared to be encouraged by the morning's exercise away from Newmarket. "They both handled it very well. They're very intelligent horses, the pair of them, really taking it in. You could see Damysus pricking...

Delacroix remains Ryan Moore's likeliest mount in the Betfred Derby, according to Aidan O'Brien, who has also pencilled in The Lion In Winter and Lambourn as intended runners in the Epsom Classic on Saturday, June 7. Moore's decision at next week's declaration stage promises to have a significant impact on the Derby betting, which currently sees The Lion In Winter as the 5/2 favourite with the sponsors, despite the son of Sea The Stars finishing only sixth on his return to action in the G2 Dante Stakes at York. Lambourn,...

The Betfred Derby will this year be run in memory of HH Aga Khan IV. The spiritual leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims died on February 4 at the age of 88.  From Shergar's imperious romp in 1981 to Harzand's victory in partnership with the late Pat Smullen in 2016, the Aga Khan won the Epsom Classic five times with homebreds, including Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1988), and Sinndar (2000), who went on to win the Irish Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He also won last year's Betfred...

Recent Southwell novice winner Nightime Dancer (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) has been added to the potential field for the Betfred Derby at the latest entry stage. Owned by Norway's Stall Perlen, the colt was bought as a foal by Peter and Ross Doyle for 110,000gns from his breeder GCE Farm and is trained by Richard Hannon. Nightime Dancer, whose granddam Ragsah (Ire) Shamardal) is a half-sister to Dubai Millennium (GB), has a fascinating pedigree as he is inbred to the latter's dam Colorado Dancer (Ire) and also to Urban Sea through...

Sent off the outsider of the seven contesting Tuesday's Listed Blue Riband Trial, Abdulla Al Mansoori's Sea Scout (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) belied odds of 40-1 to conquer Epsom's unique terrain. Helping to press the early pace under Harry Davies, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Lingfield novice winner had first run on Ballydoyle's 9-4 second favourite Trinity College (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and that counted as he hit the line with a head to spare, with 3 1/2 lengths back to Mirabeau (GB) (Territories {Ire}) in third. The heavily-supported 6-4...

Tuesday, Epsom Downs, Britain, post time: 14:10, BETFRED BLUE RIBAND TRIAL-Listed, £50,000, 3yo, 10f 17y Field: Devil's Advocate (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Mirabeau (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Prince Of The Seas (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Sea Scout (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), The Cursor (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Tiberius Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Trinity College (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Ballydoyle begin their crucial sonar mapping process in the various overseas Derby pointers, with TDN Rising Star Trinity College the chosen one in this revived prep sporting...

The entries for the Betfred Oaks were released on Tuesday, with 47 fillies in contention for the Classic which is due to take place at Epsom on Friday, June 6. Aidan O'Brien is responsible for no fewer than 16 contenders as he bids for an 11th Oaks success, having won the race seven times since 2012 alone. His formidable squad is headed by the unbeaten Lake Victoria (Ire), who completed a hat-trick of top-level victories as a two-year-old when winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes, Cheveley Park Stakes and Breeders' Cup...

As the entries for the Betfred Derby were announced on Tuesday, Aidan O'Brien has admitted that it would be no surprise to see another of his colts take a major step forward this spring to rival current favourite The Lion In Winter (Ire), a son of the 2009 Derby winner Sea The Stars (Ire).  "Being realistic, The Lion In Winter won his maiden very nicely and then went and won a Group 3 at York [Acomb Stakes]. They were two very good runs but obviously he was meant to go...

Trainer Adam West has sent 12 horses to Maisons-Laffitte in France and opened a satellite yard there, according to published reports. The 35-year-old is the trainer of G1 Nunthorpe Stakes hero Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), who has remained at Epsom, but is now housed at Gasston Stables, instead of Loretta Lodge Stables. "I immediately really liked Maisons-Laffitte," West told Jour de Galop from the track on Friday morning. "This centre has a lot of assets. I chose to come to France because the working conditions...

An injunction prohibiting acts of intentional disruption at The Jockey Club's Epsom Downs Racecourse has been extended an additional five years by a High Court judge, TJC announced on Wednesday. The injunction will be subject to an annual review. The original injunction was put in place in May of last year when protesters from Animal Rising made it clear that they planned to breach course security and stage a disruptive protest at the Derby Festival. Judge Sir Anthony Mann has ruled that the final injunction--sought by TJC to restrain acts...

Betfred will be the new sponsor of Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas from 2025 onwards, it was announced on Thursday. The multi-year agreement means the bookmaker will become the first brand to sponsor all five of Britain's Classics--the others being the Betfred Oaks and Betfred Derby at Epsom and Doncaster's Betfred St Leger--at the same time. To mark their sponsorship of the prestigious contests, Betfred have also announced that a £2-million bonus will be on offer to connections of any horse who completes the 'Betfred Triple Crown' by winning...