Whirl

Saturday, The Curragh, post time: 15:30, PADDY POWER PRETTY POLLY STAKES-G1, €180,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT Field: Higher Leaves (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), Jancis (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Magical Hope (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Wemightakedlongway (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: Whirl looks set to gain compensation for her narrow and game Oaks defeat and continue the progression she has shown throughout her career. Getting 12 pounds weight-for-age from last year's G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes winner...

Now that the Derby and Royal Ascot are in the rearview mirror, it is time for Flat Season Part 2 and that begins at The Curragh this weekend. Every year, there is a distinct shift that follows the high-pressure action on Epsom Downs and Berkshire as the summer envelops all and the paths open up for the various movements of the main players over the next weeks. While Sunday's Irish Derby is the key event of the next two days, the most notable change in tempo is with the two-year-olds...

Friday, Newcastle, post time: 19:05, JENNINGSBET IN DELVES HOPPINGS FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £65,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f 42yT Field: Charlotte's Web (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Diamond Rain (GB) (Shamardal), Golden Ocean (Ger) (Blue Point {Ire}), Imperial Quarter (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Morrophore (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), Tasmania (Ger) (Australia {GB}), Anna Swan (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}). TDN Verdict: Diamond Rain beat the solid yardstick Running Lion in Haydock's Listed Hedge Of Oak Stakes last month and sets the standard, but Charlotte's Web is a proven all-weather performer and a fresh filly having enjoyed a...

Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Lake Victoria has been ruled out of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Undefeated in five juvenile starts last season, including Group One wins in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, the Cheveley Park and at the Breeders' Cup, Aidan O'Brien's filly was beaten into sixth place in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on her return to action but bounced back to her best in the Irish equivalent. The daughter of Frankel was expected to be a major part of the Ballydoyle handler's Ascot team next week, but...

For so long now we have been used to the Galileo factor at Epsom, and while none of his final small crop of 13 has made the line-up for the Derby or the Oaks, we still find his name all over the place on the pages of this year's runners, merely starting to shuffle back a bit in the generation game.  Galileo's sons Frankel, Australia and Circus Maximus each have at least one runner in the Derby, and Frankel and Australia also have Oaks runners. Eight of the 19 Derby...

Friday, Epsom Downs, post time: 16:00, BETFRED OAKS-G1, £573,150, 3yo, f, 12f 6yT Field: Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Elwateen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Go Go Boots (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Qilin Queen (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Revoir (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Wemightakedlongway (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: Desert Flower has possibly stronger credentials than stablemate Ruling Court for getting the Newmarket-Epsom Classic double done and she has proven time and again that she...

Now that the line-ups have been confirmed for the Derby and Oaks, the wait has become one of merely hours for connections and fans of the protagonists alike. An intense period of final planning and preparation, of intermittent reverie. With the current century a quarter of the way though its course, there is little sign that the Epsom Classics have lost any of their draw for the big operations and the lists assembled for Friday and Saturday's Betfred-sponsored tests are testament to that. Since 2000, overseas interests--mainly Irish--have held sway...

Cheshire Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk (Frankel) is the likely mount of Ryan Moore in the Betfred Oaks, according to trainer Aidan O'Brien, with the Ballydoyle team also set to call upon the services of Wayne Lordan and Colin Keane on a busy Classic weekend at Epsom. Speaking on a call hosted by the Jockey Club on Tuesday, O'Brien echoed his recent comments about Delacroix (Dubawi) being the horse most likely to have the benefit of Moore's assistance in Saturday's Betfred Derby, before clarifying the picture somewhat with regards the Oaks,...

Following Saturday's confirmation stage, Godolphin's 1,000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower (Night Of Thunder) is one of nine possible runners in Friday's Betfred Oaks at Epsom. Unbeaten in five career starts, culminating with a comfortable defeat of Flight and Simmering in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, Desert Flower is the sponsor's 7/4 favourite to complete a Classic double at Epsom, a feat last achieved by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Love five years ago. O'Brien is responsible for three of the remaining nine contenders in Giselle (Frankel), the wide-margin winner of the Listed...

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,...