Epsom

So unlucky in the Oaks 12 months ago, TDN Rising Star Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) made amends back at Epsom on Friday with a command performance under Frankie Dettori in the G1 Dahlbury Coronation Cup. Sent off the 11-4 second favourite, the 4-year-old had the benefit of an extra year to fill her sizeable frame and added advantage of the mares' allowance in this 12-furlong highlight which may have made a crucial difference as Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) chased her to the line 1 3/4 lengths in...

Looks can be deceiving, but it is hard to argue with Savethelastdance's 22-length winning margin in the Listed Cheshire Oaks. The Coolmore filly faces 10 rivals in Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks, among them G3 Musidora S. heroine Soul Sister for Lady Bamford. BE HAPPY (IRE), Camelot (GB) - Frequential (GB) (Dansili {GB}) Owner: M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd & Longfield Stud Trainer: Aidan O'Brien A 340,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase, she is a sister to the Group 3-placed Hector De Maris...

John Murphy has described himself as very lucky to have come across Betfred Derby contender White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and says that his 14-1 chance for Epsom glory is more than worthy of his shot in the line-up for the eagerly-awaited Classic.  White Birch identified himself as a bona fide Derby prospect when streaking to G3 Ballysax S. glory at Leopardstown earlier in the season. From there, he went on to overcome a tardy start to finish an excellent second behind The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G2...

Aidan O'Brien has the key member of the G1 Betfred Oaks again as the certain favourite Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) drew stall four for the Epsom Classic, which will have 11 starters on Friday. Taking out a trio at Wednesday's final stage including the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. scorer Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the Ballydoyle handler left the smart duo Be Happy (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Red Riding Hood (Ire) (Justify) in support of the impressive Listed Cheshire Oaks winner. "You don't take anything for granted,...

Eleven fillies will line up for Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks as Aidan O'Brien trimmed his numbers to three for the Epsom Classic including the certain favourite Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Other than the trio taken out by the Ballydoyle handler which include the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. scorer Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the other notable withdrawal was Dance In The Grass (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) from the Charlie Johnston stable. Heading the opposition to the Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Savethelastdance, who as expected will have the assistance...

Tom Sammes has been appointed as the new General Manager of Epsom Downs Racecourse while James Crespi returns as the new Racecourse Director of Goodwood Racecourse after eight years away from the Goodwood Estate. Sammes, 33, has been employed as Head of Strategy at The Jockey Club since September 2021, leading commercial strategic projects as well as planning to drive long-term revenue growth for the business. A graduate of Bristol University, he worked previously in similar roles in golf for the PGA European Tour and the Ryder Cup. He takes...

Eric Clapton has already inadvertently provided owner Chris Wright and trainer David Menuisier with one Group 1-winning filly in the form of Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and now it's up to The Eagles.  Former record company boss Wright has a long history of naming his horses after song titles, and when it came to the half-sister to the multiple group winner, the selection of Heartache Tonight (Fr) (Recorder {GB}) seemed fitting. There may well have been a little heartache involved, too, as at the time she was signed...

Saturday's Betfred Derby at Epsom has been boosted by one supplementary entry, with the Niarchos family opting to pay the £85,000 fee to add Dante S. third Passenger (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) to the line-up.  At the confirmation stage, 16 colts remain in contention, with Coolmore's Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Godolphin's Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) vying for favouritism.  The latter is trained by Charlie Appleby, who will be aiming for a third Derby success following Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in 2018 and Military Order's full-brother Adayar...

The Jockey Club, owner of Epsom Downs Racecourse, has applied to the High Court for an injunction to prohibit acts intended to disrupt the Derby meeting on June 2 and 3. The hearing will take place on Friday, May 26. The extraordinary move has been taken in the wake of increasing threats from the Animal Rising protest group which has already delayed the start of this year's Grand National by 15 minutes, and staged an on-course protest on Derby day last year. An announcement from The Jockey Club states that...

NEWMARKET, UK--Oh, to be in England now that April's there. So wrote Robert Browning in 1845, though it is unconfirmed that this had anything to do with Classic trials. An unusually wet and cold April did little to lift the spirits this year, so we shall fast-forward to another line of his lovely poem. And after April, when May follows. May is becoming more marvellous by the day. There's York, of course, and who doesn't love York? It is a racecourse which comes close to perfection, from its location in...

Group 1 winner Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), third in Leopardstown's G3 Derby Trial S., will cut back in trip for the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas in late May, trainer Donnacha O'Brien revealed on Tuesday. "I thought he travelled really well [at Leopardstown]," said O'Brien. "There's definitely a chance that he will get 10 furlongs and we could be going back there after the Guineas, but the plan is to go to the Curragh for the Irish Guineas." Raced by the Coolmore partners, the 2022 G1 Criterium International...

Swordlestown Little's Mariann Klay, who along with her husband Des Leadon bred the impressive G3 Chester Vase winner and new Derby favourite Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), says that soft ground will be key to the Juddmonte colt's Epsom challenge.  Arrest, trained by John and Thady Gosden, shot to the head of the Derby market after sluicing up in his favoured testing ground at Chester on Wednesday.  That prompted bookmakers to propel Arrest to Derby favouritism at odds of 6-1, usurping 2,000 Guineas disappointment Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Klay...