Lambourn (Ire)

Staged in the relentless drizzle and mirk that arrived with vicious timing to dampen Derby day, Saturday's G1 Coolmore Coronation Cup came down to survival of the fittest with Victorious Forever's Bay City Roller (New Bay) overwhelming his rivals for a 10-length victory. With the 5-4 favourite Calandagan (Gleneagles) unable to raise a leg and Ballydoyle's leading hope Jan Brueghel (Galileo) struggling from the outset in ever-worsening conditions, it was left to Oisin Murphy to enjoy an armchair ride around Epsom on the four-year-old who had already proven his love...

History was made at Chester on Friday when the dual Derby hero Lambourn (Australia) took the G2 Huxley Stakes to provide Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore with a clean sweep of the May meeting's Stakes races. Having to battle harder than Jan Brueghel, Constitution River, Benvenuto Cellini and Amelia Earhart had to complete the clean sweep in the extended 10-furlong contest, the 6-4 favourite who was last seen finishing fourth in the St Leger saw off Bay City Roller (New Bay) to prevail by a neck, with 1 1/4 lengths...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features Action (Ire), the Frankel (GB) half-brother to Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}). 4.27 Galway, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 8f 73yT ACTION (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) could hardly have shaped with more promise on debut at The Curragh last month and looks poised to build on that third placing behind...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Lambourn (Australia) was afforded the freedom of Epsom when making all for a wide-margin triumph in the G1 Derby and, prevented from enjoying a moment's relief in Sunday's Irish equivalent at the Curragh, was all heart in becoming the 20th horse to complete the Classic double. He found plenty, and then some, under Ryan Moore's forceful urgings inside final half-mile to provide the Ballydoyle maestro with a record-extending 17th, and third straight, success in the race. "He's a very straightforward horse that gets the trip well," said...

Coolmore's Derby hero Lambourn (Australia) will renew rivalry with Epsom second and third, Lazy Griff (Protectionist) and Tennessee Stud (Wootton Bassett), and heads a field of 10 declared runners for Sunday's €1.25-million G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. He is one of five contenders set to represent Aidan O'Brien and has been allocated stall five. Lazy Griff is alongside in four while Tennessee Stud is on the wing in stall 10. The Ralph Beckett-conditioned G2 Dante Stakes winner Pride Of Arras (New Bay) is the only other Epsom runner backing...

After all the pontificating leading up to Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, all that was required was respect for the Chester Vase form as Australia's Lambourn led home Protectionist's Lazy Griff as he had in that Group 3 trial. Cajoled to the front from the break by Wayne Lordan, the 13-2 shot who has become progressively less tardy with racing was soon comfortable in the clear and after freewheeling down the hill stayed on powerfully to provide Aidan O'Brien with his 11th Blue Riband. Beginning from the race's winningmost stall in 10,...

Chester's May Festival is all about Ballydoyle these days and they were at it again on Wednesday's opening fixture with Lambourn bringing up a feature-race double in the G3 Chester Vase. Like the yard's preceding Cheshire Oaks winner Minnie Hauk, the G3 Ballysax Stakes runner-up was well-supported and with Ryan Moore able to gain a prominent pitch behind the leading pair soon after the start the writing was already on the wall. In the end, it was the Charlie Johnston-trained G3 Prix de Conde winner Lazy Griff who had most to say about...

Wednesday, Chester, post time: 15:05, BOODLES CHESTER VASE STAKES-G3, £140,000, 3yo, 12f 63yT Field: Convergent (Ire) (Fascinating Rock {Ire}), Faire La Nouba (Ire) (River Boyne {Ire}), Further (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}), Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Lazy Griff (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), Pinhole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Square D'Alboni (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Thrice (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: There's something about this week every year that seems to coincide with the beginning of Ballydoyle's season proper and Chester's resurgent May Festival has been a very happy hunting ground for the stable for some...

Ballydoyle's Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was fully expected to mark his seasonal debut with a win in Sunday's G3 P. W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown and the 4-7 favourite did not disappoint. Always comfortable on the front under Ryan Moore, last year's G3 Autumn Stakes winner and G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up kicked decisively two out to settle matters. At the line, the leading Derby prospect had 2 1/4 lengths to spare over stablemate Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), with Tiberius Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}--Gossamer Wings, by Scat Daddy) made a winning debut in Wednesday evening's Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race at Killarney and was the main beneficiary as winner elect Green Triangle (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) crashed through the rail when looking nailed on for victory. 2nd-Killarney, €25,000, Mdn, 7-17, 2yo, 8f 40yT, 1:43.12, gd. LAMBOURN (IRE) (c, 2, Australia {GB}--Gossamer Wings {MGSP-Eng & SP-Ire}, by Scat Daddy) raced off the pace in eighth after a sluggish getaway in this debut. Bustled along before halfway, the 6-1...