Pontefract repeat could be next on Point Lynas' agenda
Point Lynas was eventually run down by Never So Brave, but stuck to his task to pick up the silver medal in second, beaten just three-quarters of a length.
Bethell said: 'I was really, really happy. It was an inspired Jamie Spencer ride and the horse ran his heart out, showing he's still full of life as he's getting older.
'He split two Royal Ascot winners and two proper racehorses (Never So Brave and Haatem). I appreciate we slipped the field, but you don't do what he does and only be beaten three-quarters of a length if you're not in good form, so it was a brilliant run.'
Considering future plans, the trainer added: 'We'll have a look at the Listed race he won at Pontefract last year (Pomfret Stakes) in a couple of weeks' time I would imagine and then we'll probably look towards the Celebration Mile at Goodwood or maybe the Strensall Stakes at York.'
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South Wales Guardian
42 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Illinois expected to thrive over Goodwood Cup trip
The Ballydoyle handler saddled the brilliant Yeats to land the Group One contest in both 2006 and 2008, a feat repeated by his latest superstar stayer Kyprios, who struck gold in 2022 before regaining his crown 12 months ago. Following the latter's retirement, Illinois was drafted into the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and performed admirably to finish best of the rest behind the front-running Trawlerman – and with the latter not in attendance, the four-year-old is favourite to go one better on the Sussex Downs. TRAWLERMAN IS THE 2025 GOLD CUP HERO! #ROYALASCOT — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2025 O'Brien said: 'He ran well in the Gold Cup and we're looking forward to this, obviously it's a shorter trip than Ascot. 'We thought this would be a nice third race back for him this year and we've been very happy with him since Ascot.' Connections have a major second string to their bow in the form of Scandinavia, a dominant winner of the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket three weeks ago and as the sole three-year-old in the field, he is in receipt of a stone in weight from Illinois and the rest of his rivals. 'He was good in Newmarket and he seems in good form. Obviously he's only a baby, but he liked the extra distance in Newmarket the last day and seems to have come out of the race well,' O'Brien added. Despite deciding against running Trawlerman, John and Thady Gosden are well represented, with Gold Cup fourth Sweet William joined by French Master and Military Academy. French Master claimed his fourth win from six career starts in the Copper Horse Stakes at the Royal meeting and now tests the water over two miles on a track where he has been successful before. John Gosden said: 'Sweet William has been in very good form. He broke well in the Gold Cup, it was a tough race and in the end the two and a half (miles) was a little too far for him – he's a two-mile to two-and-a-quarter-mile horse, but he ran a brave race. 'He's in very good form and he knows Goodwood well, so back we go again.' Of French Master, the trainer added: 'I think he's a horse who will rise to the occasion. He won in good style (at Royal Ascot), but he's going from a handicap to a completely open Group One. 'We're hopeful he'll run a good race and we're very much looking forward to running him and seeing the jump in class. If he doesn't handle it, we can regroup.' Another who appears better suited to the drop in trip will be Saeed bin Suroor's Dubai Future, who split Illinois and Sweet William when third in the Gold Cup. Bin Suroor said: 'Dubai Future worked well on Thursday and heads to Goodwood in good order. 'He ran a good race in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but two miles suits him better, as he showed in the Dubai Gold Cup. 'He has done very well this year and I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on.'
North Wales Chronicle
5 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Illinois expected to thrive over Goodwood Cup trip
The Ballydoyle handler saddled the brilliant Yeats to land the Group One contest in both 2006 and 2008, a feat repeated by his latest superstar stayer Kyprios, who struck gold in 2022 before regaining his crown 12 months ago. Following the latter's retirement, Illinois was drafted into the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and performed admirably to finish best of the rest behind the front-running Trawlerman – and with the latter not in attendance, the four-year-old is favourite to go one better on the Sussex Downs. TRAWLERMAN IS THE 2025 GOLD CUP HERO! #ROYALASCOT — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2025 O'Brien said: 'He ran well in the Gold Cup and we're looking forward to this, obviously it's a shorter trip than Ascot. 'We thought this would be a nice third race back for him this year and we've been very happy with him since Ascot.' Connections have a major second string to their bow in the form of Scandinavia, a dominant winner of the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket three weeks ago and as the sole three-year-old in the field, he is in receipt of a stone in weight from Illinois and the rest of his rivals. 'He was good in Newmarket and he seems in good form. Obviously he's only a baby, but he liked the extra distance in Newmarket the last day and seems to have come out of the race well,' O'Brien added. Despite deciding against running Trawlerman, John and Thady Gosden are well represented, with Gold Cup fourth Sweet William joined by French Master and Military Academy. French Master claimed his fourth win from six career starts in the Copper Horse Stakes at the Royal meeting and now tests the water over two miles on a track where he has been successful before. John Gosden said: 'Sweet William has been in very good form. He broke well in the Gold Cup, it was a tough race and in the end the two and a half (miles) was a little too far for him – he's a two-mile to two-and-a-quarter-mile horse, but he ran a brave race. 'He's in very good form and he knows Goodwood well, so back we go again.' Of French Master, the trainer added: 'I think he's a horse who will rise to the occasion. He won in good style (at Royal Ascot), but he's going from a handicap to a completely open Group One. 'We're hopeful he'll run a good race and we're very much looking forward to running him and seeing the jump in class. If he doesn't handle it, we can regroup.' Another who appears better suited to the drop in trip will be Saeed bin Suroor's Dubai Future, who split Illinois and Sweet William when third in the Gold Cup. Bin Suroor said: 'Dubai Future worked well on Thursday and heads to Goodwood in good order. 'He ran a good race in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but two miles suits him better, as he showed in the Dubai Gold Cup. 'He has done very well this year and I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on.'
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘He has a cracking record at the track' – Templegate's GIANT 20-1 NAP on day one of Glorious Goodwood
TEMPLEGATE'S TIPS Horse racing tips: 'He has a cracking record at the track' – Templegate's GIANT 20-1 NAP on day one of Glorious Goodwood Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TEMPLEGATE tackles day one of Glorious Goodwood confident of giving the bookies a pasting with his top tips. Back a horse by clicking their odds below - and check out this 25-1 outsider who looks very dangerous after a break. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up DREAM COMPOSER (3.45 Goodwood, nap) Has a cracking record on the Sussex Downs with two wins and a host of excellent placed efforts on this tricky track. James Evans' flyer has dropped back to his last winning mark and showed plenty of heart when second in a tight finish at Pontefract last time. The ground was tacky in Yorkshire that day but he handles quicker conditions too. So this trip is ideal, he likes the track and is on a fair mark. The bookies are taking a chance by chalking him up around the 20-1 mark and he can go close under his capable 5lb claimer. DORSET (1.55 Goodwood, nb) This selection should be right at home on the south coast of England! The Aidan O'Brien hope is bred to be classy and looked full of promise when scooting in at The Curragh last month. He is proven over this trip and has much more to come. FRENCH MASTER (3.05 Goodwood, treble) He was impressive when winning a Royal Ascot handicap and this longer trip should bring even more improvement. He can go close for the Gosdens who love this race. Templegate's TV verdicts 1.20 GREY CUBAN clocked a massive personal best when scooting in at Chester last week and looks a fair price to go close again. The booking of Oisin Murphy takes the eye and he is best over this trip on fast or sticky ground. Five of the past six runnings of this have been won by a double-figure draw and even a 7lb rise in the weights doesn't dampen confidence. Jolly Jack Tar is improving with every run and looks the main danger. This is his turf debut for the Gosdens but he had plenty in hand when scoring at Chelmsford last time. He's up 9lb for that but stays and can progress again. Castle Cove is another coming here from a Chester win that was all the better as it came from stall 13. He's on the upgrade for William Haggas. English Oak ran well at Hamilton last time and will go close if seeing out this longer trip while improver Defiance lurks on a fair mark. 1.55 DORSET looked the latest future star off the Ballydoyle production line when stepping up from his debut to win impressively at The Curragh. As you'd expect he's from a high-class family and likes this trip. He should take another big step forward under Ryan Moore. Wathnan Racing snapped up Humidity just before his all-the-way win in the Chesham at Royal Ascot and he's another with plenty more to come. He looks the main threat. Zavateri clocked a good time when winning the July Stakes over 6f at Newmarket. He came from off a strong pace there and should enjoy going up in trip. He has a 3lb penalty but Eve Johnson Houghton continues in excellent form. Do Or Do Not came home with a real rattle for second in that race and will also appreciate this trip. Andab needs more after his Coventry Stakes fourth while Laureate Crown was impressive on his Ascot debut and could nick a place at decent odds. 2.30 NOBLE CHAMPION was impressive when winning the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. Being gelded over the winter has clearly worked wonders as he looked a different horse and clocked a decent time despite drifting across the track late on. He's proven over the trip and is open to plenty of improvement. Kinross still looks the main danger at the age of eight. He's won this twice and has been placed on his two other attempts. He was just behind Ten Bob Tony – who has an each-way shout here – at Haydock last time but is better off at the weights today and will have needed that comeback. His liking for the track is a major plus. Last year's winner Audience has been struggling but he's back from a little break and returning here may rekindle his flame. Quinault got the job done well at York last month at Group 3 level and looks a big price to make the frame over an ideal trip. Jonquil was a head second in the French Guineas before finding the drop to 6f too much last time. This in-between distance could be just right. Lake Forest has some decent form over this trip and is better than we saw at York last time out. 3.05 FRENCH MASTER put himself right in the picture for the Goodwood Cup when running away with the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot last time. He won that competitive contest over 1m6f like a top-quality Cup horse in the making. He travelled nicely off the pace and had to come very wide around the home turn before picking up quickly along the short Ascot straight to score going away. He clearly has more on his plate here but that built on another promising victory over the same trip around here in May. That shows his liking for the track and moving up to two miles can unlock more improvement too. There's no doubt he needs a step forward but at this early stage of his career that's highly likely. Illinois sets the standard after his second in the Ascot Gold Cup last time to the gutsy Trawlerman. That was his first crack over two miles or more and he saw it out well enough, still finishing ahead of some useful marathon runners. He kicked off the season winning the Ormonde at Chester so he comes here without too many miles on the clock. The doubt about him has to be the track although handling the Roodee bodes well for taking to Goodwood and he has been a little uneasy in the market this week. That's largely because of a move for Aidan O'Brien stablemate Scandinavia who took the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last time without breaking sweat. He was beaten just a length in the Queen's Vase before that and is another who looks suited to this trip. He's the Ballydoyle second string but still sets a pretty decent standard. Sweet William fans will hope eight line up as he has solid each-way claims at a track that really suits him. He won a big handicap here in 2023 and was second in this race to Kyprios 12 months ago and none of today's rivals are up to that standard. He can be relied on to give his running and a podium finish is highly likely. Sunway is interesting going back over a long trip after a fair run in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot but needs more. Military Academy came up short at Listed level here last time and is likely to find this a bit too much. Trueshan isn't the horse he was and wants it much softer, while Dubai Future was a good if distant third in the Ascot Gold Cup last time and is getting on at the age of nine. 3.45 DREAM COMPOSER has a cracking record at Goodwood and looks a big price in a wide-open race. He's dropped to his last winning mark and went close at Pontefract last time. A repeat of that gives him a solid chance. Redorange was beaten just half a length in hot company at Ascot last time despite having the worst of the draw. That was after an excellent third at the Royal meeting and he's a threat. Adrestia finished two places ahead of him in that race and ran well in a Sandown Group 3 last time so is respected. Shagraan often runs well here and is another coming off a good spin in Group company. Regal Envoy won nicely twice at Windsor before misfiring at York and could bounce back under William Buick. Miss Attitude went close in a York Listed contest last time. Templegate's tips FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
