Newmarket

Newmarket is bursting with talent this week and not just of the four-legged variety. Visitors to the town for the sales and racing can also take advantage of the art scene with a stunning new exhibition of the Society of Equestrian Artists (SEA) having just opened in the National Horseracing Museum. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the SEA, 'We Give You The Horse' runs until May 21 and comprises the work of more than 40 leading members of the society with some familiar names among them.  Plenty of people in...

Members of the racing community gathered with politicians at the National Horseracing Museum on Thursday for the launch of the Newmarket Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding Industry Forum's (NTRBIF) strategy aimed at maximising "the potential of Newmarket's global status as the home of horseracing". A document entitled 'The Case for Newmarket' includes a five-point plan focusing on issues relevant to the country town which has been a horseracing hub for more than 400 years and these days is home to more than 2,500 racehorses, 80 trainers, as well as a number...

John Warren was doing his level best to suppress his excitement, but even a longstanding racing manager who has been privy to the highs and the lows of the sport has to crack after witnessing a performance like that of Portcullis in the Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes at Newmarket. The colt's breeder King Charles III was not present at the Rowley Mile but it's a safe bet that he and Queen Camilla will receive the most glowing post-race report from Warren and Portcullis's trainers John and Thady Gosden. "If I'm...

Taking no prisoners in Thursday's 10-furlong novice at Newmarket, Godolphin's Maho Bay (Dubawi) dominated proceedings to become Dubawi's 49th TDN Rising Star, Presented by Hagyard. Sent off the 11-10 favourite having won his Kempton maiden in December by six lengths, the son of the Natalma Stakes winner La Pelosa (Dandy Man) stretched to an impressive 3 1/2-length success from Ballydoyle's Amadeus Mozart (Wootton Bassett), with the Gosdens' Guildmaster (Teofilo) another 1 3/4 lengths away in third. "He's a big powerful horse, so there was no point messing around and I...

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...

2.30 ParisLongchamp, Cond, 3yo, f, 8fT THE LAST DANCE (FR) (Iffraaj {GB}) puts her Classic credentials on the line in this increasingly important Prix du Louvre conditions event which has hosted the 2021 and 2024 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroines Coeursamba and Rouhiya. Both were beaten in this course-and-distance contest, so Sheikh Omar Esmil Ghrghar, Carlos and Yann Lerner and Antoine Gilibert's impressive Chantilly winner who earned a TDN Rising Star tag remains of interest for next month's Classic as long as she shows up well. Another unexposed Pouliches entry...

Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 15:35, BETWAY CRAVEN STAKES-G3, £95,000, 3yo, Open, 8f 0y Field: Avicenna (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Commander's Intent (Fr) (Victor Ludorum {GB}), Hankelow (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Hawk Mountain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Hidden Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Oxagon (Fr) (Frankel {GB}), Venetian Prince (GB) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}). TDN Analysis: Ahead of one of the most head-scratcher 2,000 Guineas for some time, a fascinating Craven where nothing can be safely ruled out and which has surprisingly attracted a Group 1 winner in Hawk Mountain. While it is...

Causing a 50-1 upset in Wednesday's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket, Azleet (Tasleet) dented some reputations and cast doubt on some 1,000 Guineas aspirations in the time-honoured trial. Last seen finishing second in the six-furlong Bosra Sham Fillies' Stakes here in October, the Stuart Williams-trained Dullingham Park Stud homebred missed the break under Marco Ghiani and was forced to race on the wing in rear throughout the early stages. Making up ground stealthily as the leaders duelled in the centre, the winner who carries the silks of...

3.07 Leopardstown, Listed, 4yo/up, 8fT THE LION IN WINTER (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is the star turn in this Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Heritage Stakes as Aidan O'Brien looks to provide him with an early confidence boost following a three-year-old campaign that remarkably yielded no wins. Favourite for the Derby at this stage last year, he ended up showing his best at seven furlongs and a mile with four placings at the highest level including a close third in the Breeders' Cup Mile. 1.22 Leopardstown, Mdn, 3yo, f,...

Wednesday, Newmarket, post time: 15:00, EARL OF SEFTON STAKES-G3, £95,000, 4yo/up, 9fT Field: Damysus (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Boiling Point (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), King's Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Prague (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Skukuza (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Hopes that Damysus could make his mark at four are high considering he captured the same Listed contest at Deauville as had his esteemed stablemate Ombudsman 12 months earlier. Following up in the G3 Darley Stakes over this course and distance in October, Wathnan's...

A new, free exhibition, We Give You The Horse, will open at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket from April 29 through May 21. The exhibit is presented in association with Bedmax. Showcasing paintings and sculpture by leading members of The Society of Equestrian Artists (SEA), the exhibition offers visitors the opportunity not only to view but also to purchase a diverse collection of equine-inspired works. Alongside contemporary pieces, visitors can also see an original artwork by Sir Alfred Munnings, on loan from the Munnings Art Museum in Essex. The...

Ghaiyyath is still awaiting a major winner in Britain and Ireland but he is compiling an interesting record in other parts of the world, including Australia, and to his G1 VRC Derby winner Observer was added Saturday's G2 Tulloch Stakes winner Storm Leopard. Most exciting of Ghaiyyath's second European crop last year was Godolphin's My Highness, who went unbeaten through four starts for Andre Fabre, culminating in an impressive victory in the G2 Sumbe Prix du Calvados last August.  Notably, amid a flurry of French Classic entries for the Fabre...