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Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Arsenal legend reveals Irish duo he's backing at Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot returns on Tuesday, 17 June, and this year's event will see more than £10 million in prize money handed out across the five-day festival. In total, 35 races will take place across the week, with a staggering £1 million on offer for the winners of Wednesday's Prince of Wales Stakes and Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. The opening race is almost as lucrative, with first place netting £750,000 - and former Arsenal star Ray Parlour has his eye on Lead Artist, set to be ridden by Irish jockey Oisin Murphy, to triumph in the mega-bucks curtain raiser. Only last month, Murphy rode Lead Artist to victory at Newbury in a thrilling encounter that saw the Killarney-born star edge past Dancing Gemini in the final moments. The pair are now set for a rematch at Ascot, with former Gunner and NetBet main man Ray Parlour backing the 29-year-old to repeat his heroics in Berkshire. 'In the opening race at Ascot, Lead Artist is a horse I know won at Newbury and could go very well in the Queen Anne Stakes,' he says. 'Sometimes you receive a tip and follow that one, or look at the in-form trainers and jockeys. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, I will keep a keen eye on this horse, and likely, Oisin Murphy will take the ride.' Lead Artist is 26/5 with NetBet to win the race, just behind Dancing Gemini at 9/2 and the favourite Rosallion at 7/2. Parlour is also tipping another Irish racing legend to succeed, with trainer Aidan O'Brien looking to add to his record-breaking eight wins in the Ascot Gold Cup this year. His horse Illinois is 7/5 favourite with NetBet to win the race, ahead of Candelari at 7/2 and Trawlerman at 21/5. O'Brien scooped six wins at Royal Ascot in 2024, making him the leading trainer at the event last year, the 13th time he has managed it in his career. 'Aidan O'Brien is the best flat trainer at the moment,' says Parlour. 'He has so many top horses in his stable who can win the sprints and longer distance races, so naturally, he's one to follow. 'Illinois is a good horse who may make it a very interesting race and could come out on top in the Gold Cup. Ryan Moore is such a great jockey too, and he proves time and time again the quality he has in the saddle.' As well as NetBet Sport offering great odds on all UK and international horse racing events, NetBet Casino has welcome offers and promotions available, including up to 500 free spins for new customers (full T&Cs can be found here). Sport-specific promotions include Wheel of Sportune, daily prizes, and Correct Score Predictor, with a jackpot of up to €5,000. You could also win a pair of tickets to the Summer Festival at Galway Races every time you bet €10 on UK and Irish horse racing - terms and conditions apply*. 'Royal Ascot is a superb spectacle,' adds Parlour. 'It's an icon of British sport. With the quality of racing, the main stand at the race course looks great, and it gets royal treatment as well, so it's 100 per cent up there for sure as one of the year's best events. 'For me, especially in the big races, I may just go with horse number 15, which was my number when I played.' *Key terms and conditions for the Summer Festival at Galway Races giveaway: The promotion will run until 13/07/2025. Customers will earn 1 entry into the prize draw for every €10 wagered on UK & Irish horse racing within the promotional period. Minimum odds of 1/1 (2.00) per selection apply. Only bets placed with cash stakes qualify. Bets placed using Free Bets or bonus funds do not count towards this promotion. Settled bets only. Cashed out and cancelled bets will not qualify. Prize draws will take place on 14/07/2025. Open only to customers from Ireland. Full terms and conditions can be viewed here. Commitment to responsible gambling The NetBet website is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission: licence number 039170, and by the Malta Gaming Authority: license number 21233842.


RTÉ News
a day ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Colin Keane becomes retained rider for Juddmonte
Juddmonte has announced the appointment of six-time Irish champion jockey Colin Keane as its retained rider with immediate effect. Keane has ridden several big-race winners for the leading owner-breeders, most recently steering John and Thady Gosden's Field Of Gold to Classic success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas after taking over in the saddle from Kieran Shoemark. With Keane's contract starting immediately, he is set to partner Juddmonte horses trained in Britain, Ireland and France, meaning he will be in line for a number of high-profile rides at Royal Ascot next week including Lead Artist in the Queen Anne, Field Of Gold in the St James's Palace Stakes and Babouche in the Commonwealth Cup. Juddmonte's chief executive, Douglas Erskine Crum, said in a statement: "In the past we have had retained jockey relationships (including with Pat Eddery, Richard Hughes and James Doyle) but in recent years we have preferred to work with the many talented jockeys retained by our various trainers around the world. "We have decided that the time has now come to revert to the security and consistency which comes from having a single jockey retainer relationship. We are delighted that Colin Keane has committed himself to Juddmonte. "He is one of the most exciting and talented riders of his generation, he shares Juddmonte's values, we know him well and we warmly welcome him to the Juddmonte team." Keane said: "I have grown up watching these famous colours carried to many victories in all the top races around the globe so it's very special for me to be asked to ride as first jockey for Juddmonte. "I'm excited to get started and look forward to working with some of the best trainers in Ireland, England, and France. Tony Hind will look after my UK rides as he has worked closely with Juddmonte for many years now through Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore."


Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Juddmonte confirm Colin Keane to take retained rider role: ‘The time has now come'
Keane has ridden several big-race winners for the leading owner-breeders, most recently steering John and Thady Gosden's Field Of Gold to Classic success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas after taking over in the saddle from Kieran Shoemark. With Keane's contract starting immediately, he is set to partner Juddmonte horses trained in Britain, Ireland and France, meaning he will be in line for a number of high-profile rides at Royal Ascot next week including Lead Artist in the Queen Anne, Field Of Gold in the St James's Palace Stakes and Babouche in the Commonwealth Cup. Juddmonte's chief executive, Douglas Erskine Crum, said in a statement: "In the past we have had retained jockey relationships (including with Pat Eddery, Richard Hughes and James Doyle) but in recent years we have preferred to work with the many talented jockeys retained by our various trainers around the world. "We have decided that the time has now come to revert to the security and consistency which comes from having a single jockey retainer relationship. We are delighted that Colin Keane has committed himself to Juddmonte. "He is one of the most exciting and talented riders of his generation, he shares Juddmonte's values, we know him well and we warmly welcome him to the Juddmonte team." Keane said: "I have grown up watching these famous colours carried to many victories in all the top races around the globe so it's very special for me to be asked to ride as first jockey for Juddmonte. "I'm excited to get started and look forward to working with some of the best trainers in Ireland, England, and France. Tony Hind will look after my UK rides as he has worked closely with Juddmonte for many years now through Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore."


Powys County Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Juddmonte confirm Colin Keane to take retained rider role
Juddmonte has announced the appointment of six-time Irish champion jockey Colin Keane as its retained rider with immediate effect. Keane has ridden several big-race winners for the leading owner-breeders, most recently steering John and Thady Gosden's Field Of Gold to Classic success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas after taking over in the saddle from Kieran Shoemark. With Keane's contract starting immediately, he is set to partner Juddmonte horses trained in Britain, Ireland and France, meaning he will be in line for a number of high-profile rides at Royal Ascot next week including Lead Artist in the Queen Anne, Field Of Gold in the St James's Palace Stakes and Babouche in the Commonwealth Cup. Juddmonte's chief executive, Douglas Erskine Crum, said in a statement: 'In the past we have had retained jockey relationships (including with Pat Eddery, Richard Hughes and James Doyle) but in recent years we have preferred to work with the many talented jockeys retained by our various trainers around the world. 'We have decided that the time has now come to revert to the security and consistency which comes from having a single jockey retainer relationship. We are delighted that Colin Keane has committed himself to Juddmonte. 'He is one of the most exciting and talented riders of his generation, he shares Juddmonte's values, we know him well and we warmly welcome him to the Juddmonte team.' Keane said: 'I have grown up watching these famous colours carried to many victories in all the top races around the globe so it's very special for me to be asked to ride as first jockey for Juddmonte. 'I'm excited to get started and look forward to working with some of the best trainers in Ireland, England, and France. Tony Hind will look after my UK rides as he has worked closely with Juddmonte for many years now through Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore.'

Leader Live
a day ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Juddmonte confirm Colin Keane to take retained rider role
Keane has ridden several big-race winners for the leading owner-breeders, most recently steering John and Thady Gosden's Field Of Gold to Classic success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas after taking over in the saddle from Kieran Shoemark. With Keane's contract starting immediately, he is set to partner Juddmonte horses trained in Britain, Ireland and France, meaning he will be in line for a number of high-profile rides at Royal Ascot next week including Lead Artist in the Queen Anne, Field Of Gold in the St James's Palace Stakes and Babouche in the Commonwealth Cup. Juddmonte's chief executive, Douglas Erskine Crum, said in a statement: 'In the past we have had retained jockey relationships (including with Pat Eddery, Richard Hughes and James Doyle) but in recent years we have preferred to work with the many talented jockeys retained by our various trainers around the world. 'We have decided that the time has now come to revert to the security and consistency which comes from having a single jockey retainer relationship. We are delighted that Colin Keane has committed himself to Juddmonte. 'He is one of the most exciting and talented riders of his generation, he shares Juddmonte's values, we know him well and we warmly welcome him to the Juddmonte team.' Keane said: 'I have grown up watching these famous colours carried to many victories in all the top races around the globe so it's very special for me to be asked to ride as first jockey for Juddmonte. 'I'm excited to get started and look forward to working with some of the best trainers in Ireland, England, and France. Tony Hind will look after my UK rides as he has worked closely with Juddmonte for many years now through Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore.'