Latest news with #ChesterVase
South Wales Guardian
6 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Lazy Griff team hoping to secure Soumillon's Derby services
Trained by Charlie Johnston, Lazy Griff heads to the Downs on the back of a fine effort when second to Aidan O'Brien's Lambourn in the Chester Vase, a performance that gives connections belief their colt can defy some bookmakers' long-odds of 100-1. 'He ran really well at Chester and wasn't fully spot on for that and wasn't too far behind Lambourn, so we're expecting him to improve fitness wise,' said Middleham Park's Mike Prince. Another favourite comes in! 🔥 Lambourn wins the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @ChesterRaces — ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 7, 2025 'Lambourn is around a 12-1 chance and we know our lad is a guaranteed stayer and there will be a few in the field who are not, so he definitely warrants being in the race, that's for sure. 'We do need it to rain a little bit and he's a German bred and would need a little cut. Good ground is fine but if it was good to firm, we would then have to take a view. There is some rain around and we'll certainly declare and then hopefully the rain arrives.' In comparison to those towards the head of the betting like Ruling Court who cost Godolphin €2.3million and Ballydoyle candidate The Lion In Winter who was a €375,000 purchase, Lazy Griff was a relative bargain from Baden-Baden's BBAG September Yearling sale in 2023 at €75,000. Led from start to finish! Lazy Griff is allowed to dictate at @fgchantilly for @CSoumillon, @Johnston_Racing and @MprUpdates… — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 21, 2024 Prince continued: 'It's very hard to compete at middle distances against the big owner-breeder conglomerates and we don't actually buy that many horses of that mould for that reason. 'We do try to just buy one or two horses each year that we hope would give us a chance and through bloodstock agent Jeremy Brummitt, that has come off this year. 'It's lovely to be there mixing it and he will be plenty long enough in the market. But we know he'll stay and there will be a few who won't, so it would be great to see him run well.' Lazy Griff was ridden by the aforementioned Soumillon when scooping Group Three honours in the Prix de Conde as a juvenile and the Belgian pilot – who has made no secret of his desire to one day land Epsom's showpiece event – is now pencilled in to ride having taken a shine to the son of Protectionist at Chantilly. 'Christophe said when he won the Group Three that he loved the horse, he gave him a good feel and he'd love to ride him again,' added Prince. 'It made sense to try to book a jockey of that pedigree for the ride.'
The Herald Scotland
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Delacroix in pole position to lead Derby charge for Ballydoyle
However, Delacroix – who has impressed in winning each of his two starts at Leopardstown so far this season – hardened as Derby favourite after trainer Aidan O'Brien said last week 'I would imagine Ryan will find it hard not to ride him'. Delacroix takes the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes and cements claims for the Epsom Derby in June! ✅@waynemlordan | @Ballydoyle — Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) May 11, 2025 On a media Zoom call hosted by the Jockey Club on Tuesday, O'Brien was again asked if he expected Moore to side with the son of Dubawi, and said: 'I think so, it's very hard to know and obviously he doesn't have to make up his mind until 1pm tomorrow. 'Ryan will always ride the horse he thinks he has the best chance, that's always been his way regardless and that's the way it has to be. 'Ryan rides the horse we think is going to win, sometimes we're right and sometimes we're wrong, but he looks at their ability, where they are the suitability of the horse for the race and tries to get on the one he thinks is going to win. 'Obviously no one gets that right all the time, so we'll just have to see how it goes.' Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA) On whether he would try to sway Moore in one direction or another, he added: 'No, I think you have to be very clear thinking all the time, you have to make calculated decisions all the time and you can't let your heart rule your head. That's what we always try to do really.' O'Brien plans to fire a three-pronged assault in his bid for an 11th Derby success, with Delacroix and The Lion In Winter set to be joined by Chester Vase winner Lambourn. Wayne Lordan and Colin Keane will ride the two horses passed over by Moore. Delacroix has been ridden positively in his last couple of races and O'Brien expects similar tactics to be employed this weekend, saying: 'I'd imagine so, that will be Ryan's decision if he rides him. He's a straightforward horse and uncomplicated we think, so I would imagine if he does ride him he'll probably ride him forward. He'll decide that himself when the gates open. 'His sister by Galileo (Grateful) got a mile and six (furlongs) well and as everybody knows he's by Dubawi. You never know until you do it, but we always thought there was a good chance that he would get the mile and a half.' While The Lion In Winter appears likely to line up as the Ballydoyle second string, O'Brien believes he will take a big step forward from his Dante performance. He added: 'We think he's made good progress since York, which we obviously thought he would. He was only just ready to start that day and you're probably better off in a trial knowing that you're going to come forward and everything goes wrong, rather than running in a trial when you think you're fit and everything goes right. 'He was a bit fresh and a bit behind fitness-wise but everything has gone well since, we got a run into him, it looked like he was going to get a mile and a quarter well, he got a little bit of interference in the straight and Ryan looked after him. If he hadn't got that he might have been third and if he hadn't have run a little bit keen early he might have been closer. 'This is only going to be his second run and you'd imagine whatever he does he's going to come forward again.' Minnie Hauk (right) winning the Cheshire Oaks (Nick Potts/PA) The trainer will also be triple handed in Friday's Betfred Oaks, with Cheshire Oaks winner Minnie Hauk, Lingfield Oaks Trial scorer Giselle and Musidora Stakes victor Whirl appearing three of the biggest threats to Charlie Appleby's 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower. 'I'd imagine Ryan will probably ride Minnie Hauk, but obviously that could change if he changes his mind tomorrow,' O'Brien revealed. 'We liked her last year, she had two runs and won the second time. She's a lovely, straightforward filly and we think she's come forward loads from Chester.' On the importance of the two Epsom Classics, the trainer said: 'They're obviously vital, it's where the whole thoroughbred breed is gauged. 'The Derby and the Oaks are the most important races for colts and fillies of the year and for the three-year-old generation.'
Leader Live
8 hours ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Lazy Griff team hoping to secure Soumillon's Derby services
Trained by Charlie Johnston, Lazy Griff heads to the Downs on the back of a fine effort when second to Aidan O'Brien's Lambourn in the Chester Vase, a performance that gives connections belief their colt can defy some bookmakers' long-odds of 100-1. 'He ran really well at Chester and wasn't fully spot on for that and wasn't too far behind Lambourn, so we're expecting him to improve fitness wise,' said Middleham Park's Mike Prince. Another favourite comes in! 🔥 Lambourn wins the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @ChesterRaces — ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 7, 2025 'Lambourn is around a 12-1 chance and we know our lad is a guaranteed stayer and there will be a few in the field who are not, so he definitely warrants being in the race, that's for sure. 'We do need it to rain a little bit and he's a German bred and would need a little cut. Good ground is fine but if it was good to firm, we would then have to take a view. There is some rain around and we'll certainly declare and then hopefully the rain arrives.' In comparison to those towards the head of the betting like Ruling Court who cost Godolphin €2.3million and Ballydoyle candidate The Lion In Winter who was a €375,000 purchase, Lazy Griff was a relative bargain from Baden-Baden's BBAG September Yearling sale in 2023 at €75,000. Led from start to finish! Lazy Griff is allowed to dictate at @fgchantilly for @CSoumillon, @Johnston_Racing and @MprUpdates… — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 21, 2024 Prince continued: 'It's very hard to compete at middle distances against the big owner-breeder conglomerates and we don't actually buy that many horses of that mould for that reason. 'We do try to just buy one or two horses each year that we hope would give us a chance and through bloodstock agent Jeremy Brummitt, that has come off this year. 'It's lovely to be there mixing it and he will be plenty long enough in the market. But we know he'll stay and there will be a few who won't, so it would be great to see him run well.' Lazy Griff was ridden by the aforementioned Soumillon when scooping Group Three honours in the Prix de Conde as a juvenile and the Belgian pilot – who has made no secret of his desire to one day land Epsom's showpiece event – is now pencilled in to ride having taken a shine to the son of Protectionist at Chantilly. 'Christophe said when he won the Group Three that he loved the horse, he gave him a good feel and he'd love to ride him again,' added Prince. 'It made sense to try to book a jockey of that pedigree for the ride.'
Glasgow Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Lazy Griff team hoping to secure Soumillon's Derby services
Trained by Charlie Johnston, Lazy Griff heads to the Downs on the back of a fine effort when second to Aidan O'Brien's Lambourn in the Chester Vase, a performance that gives connections belief their colt can defy some bookmakers' long-odds of 100-1. 'He ran really well at Chester and wasn't fully spot on for that and wasn't too far behind Lambourn, so we're expecting him to improve fitness wise,' said Middleham Park's Mike Prince. Another favourite comes in! 🔥 Lambourn wins the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @ChesterRaces — ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 7, 2025 'Lambourn is around a 12-1 chance and we know our lad is a guaranteed stayer and there will be a few in the field who are not, so he definitely warrants being in the race, that's for sure. 'We do need it to rain a little bit and he's a German bred and would need a little cut. Good ground is fine but if it was good to firm, we would then have to take a view. There is some rain around and we'll certainly declare and then hopefully the rain arrives.' In comparison to those towards the head of the betting like Ruling Court who cost Godolphin €2.3million and Ballydoyle candidate The Lion In Winter who was a €375,000 purchase, Lazy Griff was a relative bargain from Baden-Baden's BBAG September Yearling sale in 2023 at €75,000. Prince continued: 'It's very hard to compete at middle distances against the big owner-breeder conglomerates and we don't actually buy that many horses of that mould for that reason. 'We do try to just buy one or two horses each year that we hope would give us a chance and through bloodstock agent Jeremy Brummitt, that has come off this year. 'It's lovely to be there mixing it and he will be plenty long enough in the market. But we know he'll stay and there will be a few who won't, so it would be great to see him run well.' Christophe Soumillon is poised to ride Lazy Griff (Steven Paston/PA) Lazy Griff was ridden by the aforementioned Soumillon when scooping Group Three honours in the Prix de Conde as a juvenile and the Belgian pilot – who has made no secret of his desire to one day land Epsom's showpiece event – is now pencilled in to ride having taken a shine to the son of Protectionist at Chantilly. 'Christophe said when he won the Group Three that he loved the horse, he gave him a good feel and he'd love to ride him again,' added Prince. 'It made sense to try to book a jockey of that pedigree for the ride.'
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Aidan O'Brien star a huge drifter in betting markets ahead of Epsom Derby
Aidan O'Brien's The Lion In Winter has been a big drifter in the betting markets ahead of next week's Betfred Derby at Epsom. The Lion in Winter was the ante-post favourite for the classic throughout the winter, having enjoyed an unbeaten two-year-old campaign. Sent off the 8/11 favourite for the Dante Stakes at York earlier this month, the son of Sea The Stars flattered to deceive in finishing sixth of 11 runners. O'Brien reassured the racing public after his charge's season debut that he would be a different proposition come the Derby. But the trainer's faith in the horse has not been reciprocated in the betting markets over the last twenty-four hours. Having been 7/2 for the Epsom showpiece on Thursday night, The Lion In Winter's price has drifted to as big as 12/1 in places as of Friday evening. Consequently, the three-year-old's stablemate Delacroix, an impressive winner of a derby trial at Leopardstown last time out, has hardened into the clear favourite and looks set to have Ryan Moore on board. Betfred spokesperson Matt Hulmes said: 'There has been a lot of movement in both Betfred classic markets for next weekend at Epsom. 'The vibes surrounding The Lion In Winter in the market are far from positive which feels a lot more than jockey talk which preceded the earlier moves this week. The long time Ante Post favourite is out to 6/1, bigger than he was immediately following his Dante effort at York. 'Significant support has come for the other Ballydoyle pair. Delacroix is now a solid 15/8 favourite with Chester Vase winner Lambourn cut to 11/1 from 16/1. 'Betfred 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court has also seen his first movement since Newmarket and is now joint-second favourite at 4/1 alongside Dante winner Pride Of Arras." Likewise, Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "It's a tale of two market movers for Aidan O'Brien, and while Delacroix continues to pull away from the chasing pack, The Lion In Winter's Epsom Derby chances have taken a battering over the last few days, if the latest odds are anything to go by."
