Cheshire Dancer surprises in Valiant Stakes
Palmer, who had struck in the preceding Princess Margaret Stakes with Fitzella, said: 'It's been a great hour, when we got done on the line in the first at Chester I didn't think it would be our day, so this is magical really.
'I said to the owners when she was third at Ascot during the Royal meeting that we would go back for the Valiant and she has since run massive when second in the Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract.
'Sometimes when these fillies find a rich vein of form and grow in confidence they improve and it's difficult to put your finger on how or why, but she's found that magical moment today.
'I was slightly nervous during the race, it wasn't the plan to sit last but they went an even enough gallop and she was really tough.
'She's been in the yard for three years and holds a real soft spot in all our hearts and it's lovely to see the success for everyone who puts so much into her.
'She went up to 86 after the run on the straight track here during the Royal meeting and now after two runs over a turning mile she's going to be up to a 100.
'She failed the vet for America after she finished third in the Kensington Palace. We had accepted an offer for her but that was probably for considerably less than she is now worth now, so it's funny how it goes.'
He added: 'Winning these races are important for all trainers, but what we're really keen to get across to people is despite the fact I may have left Newmarket and moved to Cheshire, we're still doing the same job and winning Group races and people can with confidence send us well-bred horses and home breds.'
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Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
ITV Racing tips: Goodwood and Newmarket tips, Saturday August 2
Ron Wood's selections NAP: Mudbir (3.45, Goodwood) 1pt win @ 11/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐ Next best: Silent Love (3.20, Newmarket) 1pt win @ 7/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐ Others: Arabian Crown (1.20, Goodwood) 1pt win @ 4/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐ French Duke (1.55, Goodwood) 1pt win @ 4/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐ Ruby's Angel (2.10, Newmarket) 1pt win @ 13/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐ Goodie Two Shoes (2.30, Goodwood) 1pt win @ 7/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐ Purosangue (3.05, Goodwood) 1pt win @ 15/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐ Hammer The Hammer (3.05, Goodwood) 1pt win @ 11/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐ Odds provided by Betfred and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (maximum five). If you already have a Betfred account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use on this week's racing, check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts 1.20 Goodwood – Glorious Stakes (Group 3, 1m 4f; ITV1 & Racing TV) This features last year's winner Al Aasy, but he's eight now and there have been signs that he is on the downgrade. Getting back on slow ground should help ARABIAN CROWN and he may be able to adopt his favoured front-running tactics. A smart two-year-old and early three-year-old, Charlie Appleby's runner has lost his way since resuming this term, but he has had some excuses, most recently finding the ground too fast at Newmarket when returning from a 76-day break, his first start since being gelded. 1.55 Goodwood – Class 2 Handicap (1m 6f; ITV1 & Racing TV) FRENCH DUKE won a 1m 4f handicap at this meeting last year. He has had only one start this term, struggling to make an impression in a handicap over the same trip at Royal Ascot, but Roger Varian's runner could build on that. His connections have been working on getting him settled and, if he switches off OK he could improve for this step up in trip. This course evidently suits, he handles slow ground and he has untapped potential. Selection: French Duke 1pt win @ 4/1 with Betfred If you already have a Betfred account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use on this week's racing, check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts 2.10 Newmarket – Nursery Handicap (Class 2, 6f; ITV1 & Racing TV) RUBY'S ANGEL has been a beaten favourite on all three of her starts, but she has been running to a fair level and might prove ahead of her mark in her first handicap. Hugo Palmer's filly most recently finished one place behind Awaafi at Haydock, only a neck behind that rival, but she had been off for two months before that outing. 2.30 Goodwood – Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2, 1m 6f; ITV1 & Racing TV) This is a good, competitive staying event for fillies and mares that includes last year's winner Term Of Endearment, but the vote goes to the Joseph O'Brien-trained GOODIE TWO SHOES, who has won her last three starts in Ireland, most recently a Group 3 over 1m 6f at Fairyhouse. 3.05 Goodwood – Stewards' Cup (Heritage Handicap, 6f; ITV1 & Racing TV) Get It made all in this race last year and again in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot in June, but the ground may be slower than he wants this time. There's also Commanche Falls, who won it in 2021 and 2022, however others make more appeal now. It might not be that imaginative, but it seems like backing PUROSANGUE and HAMMER THE HAMMER would give one a fair chance of being on the winner. Both seem likely to go well. Purosangue was well beaten as the 9/2 favourite for this race last year, but slower ground this time is in his favour and he was second in the 2023 Molecomb Stakes at this meeting, so the track isn't an issue. He comes into this off a nice run in the Wokingham, when ninth of 28 on ground faster than ideal. Hammer The Hammer is a highly progressive three-year-old, most recently finishing second in the Palace of Holyroodhouse at Royal Ascot. This test should suit him and he holds Group 1 entries. Selection: Purosangue 1pt win @ 15/2 with Betfred 3.20 Newmarket – Chalice Stakes (Listed, 1m 4f; ITV1 & Racing TV) This fillies' event isn't strong for the class and maybe SILENT LOVE can progress enough to take it and emulate her dam, Haddith, a Listed winner at Newmarket's other course for the same connections. Silent Love won a maiden at the third attempt, her success coming over 1m 3f at Kempton in the manner of an out-and-out galloper who will be suited by this added emphasis on stamina. Jockey Billy Loughnane has a tremendous record (9-16 before Friday evening's racing) when teaming up with trainer Charlie Appleby . 3.45 Goodwood – Class 2 Handicap (7f; ITV1 & Racing TV) There are a few nice types in this strong-looking three-year-old event, but MUDBIR is hard to ignore. This John & Thady Gosden-trained runner has had only four starts, most recently taking his form to a new level in winning a useful 7f handicap at Sandown. The runner-up from that race ran creditably from a tricky draw here on Wednesday. It's hard to fathom how the handicapper has nudged Mudbir up only 2lb for that, leaving him on a mark of 91. That's an underestimation of this close relation to the same connections' dual Group 1 winner Nazeef. He's also a half-brother to their dual top-level scorer Mostahdaf. Free-to-view coverage ITV4 – 9.30-10.30am: The Opening Show ITV1 – 1.00-4.00pm: Live racing from Glorious Goodwood and Newmarket Saturday's UK and Irish racing Flat Goodwood (1.20-4.55, Racing TV) Thirsk (1.38-5.50, Racing TV) Doncaster (1.45-5.20, Sky Sports Racing) Newmarket (2.10-5.05, Racing TV) Lingfield (5.10-8.15, Sky Sports Racing) Hamilton (5.55-9.00, Racing TV) Mixed (Flat and jumps) Galway (2.02-6.05, Racing TV) Are there any other horses of interest away from the ITV cameras? Yes, Dubai Beach in the 4.05 at Thirsk. She was beaten at short odds at Kempton last time, but it may still be worth buying into the form of her Chelmsford win two starts back, when she fairly bolted up. The runner-up and fourth both won next time out. What does NAP mean? NAP is a word used in betting circles to describe a prediction that a tipster thinks has a particularly strong chance of winning. Many horse racing tipsters pick out a 'NAP of the day', which is their favoured selection from all the races across the different meetings. The term NAP derives from the French card game Napoleon. When players of this game thought they had a particularly strong hand that they would win with, they would shout 'Napoleon'. Star ratings explained ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy ⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims ⭐⭐ - tentative choice ⭐ - minimum confidence
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Horse owned by James Milner and Danny Welbeck to target £5m race after Goodwood win
Seagulls Eleven, owned by current and former players of Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, scored in Group 3 company on Friday Footballers James Milner and Danny Welbeck could be chasing a huge payday with the racehorse they own with current and former players at Brighton & Hove Albion. The ex-England internationals are among the group named Two Plus Three Two Plus Four which own Seagulls Eleven, trained by Hugo Palmer who is based at Michael Owen's Manor House Stables in Cheshire. The three-year-old, whose 11 owners also include the likes of Jason Steele, Pascal Gross and Billy Gilmour, has a record of one win from nine starts and first four finishes in two Group 1 races from nine runs in the club's blue and white-striped silks. On his tenth start Seagulls Eleven scored for the second time in his career at Goodwood on Friday after defeating three others in the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes. Seagulls Eleven ran at the Breeders' Cup in the US last year and has taken connections to the 2,000 Guineas and Royal Ascot in 2025. He could now be campaigned in Australia later this year after he defeated Diego Ventura by three quarters of length. Palmer said: 'We probably over-faced Seagulls Eleven a bit last year – he danced some pretty big dances – but he is a very generous horse and they weren't getting past him. He is quite a handful and not an easy horse to train – gelding him has made a bit of a difference. 'Seagulls Eleven has taken us all around the world and I don't think we are done yet. The Golden Eagle in Sydney has already been mentioned and why not? It is a A$10m dollar race. Where can you say that in England?' A trip to the Cheltenham Festival by Milner and Owen was the catalyst for putting together a syndicate. 'It actually all started at Cheltenham,' said Palmer. 'There was a mare called Mrs Milner and Michael [Owen] suggested to James Milner that he back it. He did and it went from there. 'They have bought a few horses and James is the ringleader. There are 11 players, who aren't all at Brighton anymore – sadly, half a dozen of them were here yesterday but I think they are in Poland today. 'Maybe we will have one more run [in the UK before Australia]. We could talk about supplementing for the City Of York or maybe the Celebration Mile back here. I haven't really thought about it.' Don't miss a FREE £2 William Hill shop bet inside your Mirror every day of Glorious Goodwood Festival Pick up your Mirror every day of the Goodwood festival to get your hands on 12 page pullouts packed with insight from the punters you trust, plus FREE William Hill shop bets every day of the festival from Tuesday July 29 until Saturday August 2, 2025. Find out more here.
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- South Wales Guardian
Asfoora carrying plenty of stable confidence for second crack at Goodwood sprint
The Antipodean speedster stuck around on British soil after her famous Royal Ascot win in the King Charles III Stakes last year and although out of luck at this year's Royal meeting, her team are confident of bettering last year's short-head defeat on Friday. Dwyer said: 'The conditions of the race are a lot more suitable this year and she has a bit less weight without the Group One penalty she had last year and the main opposition, Time For Sandals and Big Mojo, both have quite a bit of weight for their age and are dropping back from six furlongs to five furlongs. Big Evs gets back to winning ways in the King George Qatar Stakes, driven all the way by @TomMarquand to repel the challenge of Asfoora 👏@Q_REC | @MickApplebyUK — Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) August 2, 2024 'So I think the race sets up well for us, it's just a case of whether she can find her best and if she finds it, I think she goes very close to winning and if she's for some reason a length or two below her best, I still think she will still be right there. 'She's nice and relaxed again after Ascot and we gave her two weeks out in the paddock after that to help her settle in a bit more and she seems in a good space. 'I think there's definitely more to come and I do think she will improve again in three weeks' time for York, but she's on an upward curve and is going the right way and hopefully she is in very good shape for this race.' It was Mick Appleby's Big Evs who denied Asfoora in this last year and the Rutland handler, who has formed a great friendship with his Australian counterpart, looks to be a thorn in Dwyer's side once again with July Stakes runner-up and course and distance scorer Big Mojo. 'He's in great order and hopefully we can go and win the race again,' said Appleby. 'He's got plenty of pace and I think at Goodwood it will definitely suit him dropping back to five furlongs and on form he should have a very good chance. 'Asfoora is probably the one to beat, but I think we will be thereabouts anyway.' Joining Big Mojo in reverting back to five furlongs is Time For Sandals who was one half of Harry Eustace's memorable Royal Ascot Group One double when landing the Commonwealth Cup. However, like Appleby, the Newmarket handler has few concerns about the shorter distance and said: 'The big question mark is obviously going back to a sharp five for her having won over a stiff six at Ascot. 'Personally, I don't think it will be a problem and Richard (Kingscote) is pretty positive she'll be fine over it too, but if we're going to find her out this year it will be in this race.' Also expected to thrive on one of the fastest five-furlong tracks in the country is Karl Burke's Night Raider who is backed to showcase his blistering cruising speed. 'When we were buying him I always thought this was the race for him,' said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing. 'He's very fast and Goodwood is a very quick five as we know. It didn't work at Ascot for him, but I do think this will be right up his alley.' Meanwhile Ed Walker's Lowther Stakes winner Celandine will bid to make up for lost time after being kept on the sidelines in the first half of the season. 'It's been a very frustrating year with her so far,' said Walker. 'The plan was to go to Newmarket for the Kilvington as a prep for the Commonwealth Cup. The form from the Lowther was obviously rock solid in the Commonwealth Cup with Time For Sandals winning, so it was pretty heartbreaking being sidelined with a throat infection which dragged on and on. 'We got her back for York in the Summer Stakes, she ran a big race. She was hassled all the way, which wasn't ideal. She didn't get the kind of easy lead she likes but still battled on well to finish third and proved that she's trained on and she's back. 'She had a good blow and she'll come on a lot for that run. I'm not afraid to bring her back to five, so I think she'll be a danger in a wide-open sprint division.'
