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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Horse Power: The Lion In Winter to roar back with victory in the Betfred Derby at Epsom
It could be déjà vu for trainer Aidan O'Brien as THE LION IN WINTER can roar back in summer and provide him with a record-extending 11th victory in the Betfred Derby (In Honour Of His Highness Aga Khan IV) (No Geldings) (3.35pm) at Epsom on Saturday afternoon. Advertisement For the third year in a row the Ballydoyle maestro's winter ante-post Derby favourite is on a retrieval mission having – like Auguste Rodin in 2024 and City Of Troy 12 months ago – flopped on his seasonal return heading into the Colts' Classic. The Lion In Winter lost his unbeaten tag on just his third start when only sixth to the reopposing Pride Of Arras, trained by Ralph Beckett, in the Dante Stakes at York last month. Unlike those two stars – who went on to land the Colts' Classic at Epsom despite 2,000 Guineas disappointment – though, The Lion In Winter will not have the assistance of Ryan Moore. He will be riding stable-mate and potential favourite Delacroix after the Dubawi colt made a much smoother return to action with victories in two of the recognised trials for the Derby – the Group Three Ballysax Stakes at the end of March and the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes, formerly the Derrinstown, last month – both of which are run at Leopardstown in Ireland. READ MORE: Minnie Hauk lands the Betfred Oaks at Epsom READ MORE: Jan Brueghel crowned a winner in the Coronation Cup at Epsom Advertisement He is sure to go close to victory – along with another Coolmore runner Lambourn, who won one of the other trials – the Chester Vase on the Roodee – but he may have to play second fiddle to his stable-mate The Lion In Winter. The son of the legendary Sea The Stars – who won the Derby in 2009 – has had injury issues since two stunning successes as a juvenile. Following a Curragh maiden win and then an even better victory in the Group Three Acomb Stakes – when he had subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner, Charlie Appleby's Ruling Court, who is vying for favouritism for a second Classic success, back in third – The Lion In Winter was off the track for the rest of the season and was late coming to hand this year. He didn't settle in the preliminaries and early in the race in the Dante and was also stopped when making a late move giving him little chance of making a winning return behind the impressive Pride Of Arras. But he is sure to come on plenty for that return and we have seen so many of O'Brien's leading lights improving tremendously after their first run of the season. The Lion In Winter will have to settle better at Epsom, but if he does, he is arguably the horse with the most talent and potential in what is a high-quality 19-strong field for the premier Classic. Under Colin Keane, he can improve for his return and despite being drawn widest in stall 19 he can get some of the lustre back of his juvenile runs. A case can be made for many in the field including the aforementioned Delacroix, Lambourn, Ruling Court, Pride Of Arras and the last-named's stable-mate Stanhope Gardens. But a chance is taken that The Lion In Winter can roar again and resume his progress with Derby success. Advertisement James Tate's ROYAL DRESS – set to be ridden by Godolphin jockey and Liverpool FC fan William Buick – can go a couple of places better than 12 months ago and win the Group Three Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored By Oddschecker) (1pm). The five-year-old mare was third in this mile contest 12 months ago when not getting the clearest of passages. She went on to win a Group Three contest at the Curragh and ran some good races in defeat. She was then third of four in the 1m2½f Group Two Middleton Stakes at York on her seasonal return at York last month. With that run under her belt and dropping back to an extended mile, Royal Dress can score again. German trainer Peter Shiergen's GEOGRAPHY – set to be ridden by Christophe Soumillon – can back up her recent Group Three win in Dusseldorf with another in the Group Three Betfred Diomed Stakes (1.35pm). GOLD STAR HERO can take the Betfred 3yo 'Dash' Handicap (2.10pm). Michael Bell's son of Starspangledbanner was unable to land a blow when drawn out wide at Chester's May Festival last month. But on this straighter track, he can be seen to better effect and can land a first win on Turf ahead of chiefly Kevin Ryan's duo Against The Wind and Cape Sovereign. Robert Cowell's speedy MICHAELA'S BOY has a solid chance of victory in the Aston Martin 'Dash' Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (2.45pm). The five-year-old gelding won a couple of times on the all-weather over the winter but is yet to score on two starts back on Turf this season. He was fourth over course and distance behind the reopposing Spartan Arrow in April and third at Goodwood last month. A generally consistent performer, Michaela's Boy may be able to land a first success on Turf since his debut at Windsor back in April 2022. Others in with a chance in the typically-competitive Dash are Mick Appleby's seven-year-old Blind Beggar, the George Baker-trained Desert Cop and Existent from the Stuart Williams' stable. Advertisement Baker's BEAULD AS BRASS saw his winning run come to an end when third at Newbury last month after four successes this season. But he can bounce back to winning ways in the Encore Lifestyle Northern Dancer Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (4.15pm). Andrew Balding's CHARTWELL JOCK – who was third at Ascot last month – can go a couple of places better in the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Lester Piggott Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (5pm). While in the finale, the JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap (5.40pm), Richard Fahey's STRIKE RED and the Mick Appleby-trained Intervention can both go well with preference just for the former to return to winning ways on his fourth start of the season. At Musselburgh FIERY LUCY – from the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning stablemate of Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell – can build on a recent second at Leopardstown to win the Listed Edinburgh Gin Queen Of Scots British EBF Fillies' Stakes (3.10pm). Others who can triumph in Scotland are Ed Bethell's course and distance winner I AM ME in the Edinburgh Cup Handicap (3.50pm); another with course and distance form in the past, the Amanda Perrett-trained SIXCOR, in the Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb And Ginger Handicap (1.20pm); John and Sean Quinn's Power Of Gold in the Edinburgh Gin Classic Handicap (1.55pm); and ARRANMORE, from the Micky Hammond stable, in the finale, the Edinburgh Gin Cannonball Handicap (4.55pm). Advertisement At Doncaster Bryan Smart's last-time-out winner CASTAN can go in again in the the Daniel Jones Handicap (5.45pm); and the Mick Appleby-trained BILLYJOH can score in the Happy Birthday Nigel Kirby Handicap (7.15pm). Wright Ones EPSOM 1pm Royal Dress 1.35pm Geography 2.10pm Gold Star Hero 2.45pm Michaela's Boy 3.30pm 1 The Lion In Winter (NAP) 2 Delacroix 3 Lambourn 4.15pm Beauld As Brass 5pm Chartwell Jock 5.40pm Strike Red MUSSELBURGH 1.20pm Sixcor 1.55pm Power Of Gold 2.30pm Alaskan Light 3.10pm Fiery Lucy 3.50pm I Am Me 4.25pm Reservardo 4.55pm Arranmore DONCASTER 4pm Kodi Red 4.35pm Calafrio 5.10pm Light The Night Up 5.45pm Castan 6.15pm Pole Star 6.45pm Brave Bob 7.15pm Billyjoh 7.50pm Churchella Advertisement WORCESTER 1.50pm Bruce Gobbler 2.25pm Ile De Jersey 3.05pm Leading Force 3.45pm Son Of Tyran 4.20pm Dynamite Defense 4.50pm Three Figs 5.25pm Sporty Jim 5.55pm Leave Her To Me LINGFIELD 5.30pm Synergism 6.07pm Special Ghaiyyath 6.37pm Salamanca City 7.07pm Momaer 7.40pm Fulford Cross 8.10pm Blue Collar Lad 8.40pm Queen Of Good News CHEPSTOW 5.30pm Moe's Legacy 6pm Sinj 6.30pm Indian Spirit 7pm Redredrobin 7.30pm Alice's Impact 8pm King of The Dance 8.30pm Vape 9pm Red Derek HEXHAM 4.05pm Present Fair 4.40pm Grand Voyage 5.15pm Sean Og 5.50pm Mancero 6.20pm Mack The Man 6.50pm Our Sam SUNDAY'S NAP: Alcazan (Goodwood 5.20pm)
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Tornado Alert has Bin Suroor hopeful he can take Epsom by storm
Lammtarra put Bin Suroor in the spotlight at Epsom in 1995 and with the old mantra of fourth in the Guineas, first in the Derby set to be put to the test once again – after Generous so gloriously did in 1991 – the multiple Classic winning-trainer is confident this year's candidate will excel now upped in distance. 'The further he goes, the better he will be. He is a nice and relaxed horse,' said Bin Suroor. 'Oisin Murphy is going to ride him, he has been in a few mornings to ride him and he's been happy with him. I'm looking forward to seeing them together in a race. 'The first three were a little in front of him at Newmarket, but he beat Wimbledon Hawkeye who is a good horse. 'He has done everything right since the Guineas and it is exciting to be going to another Classic with him.' Ralph Beckett is still awaiting his first victory in the premier Classic and holds a strong hand with York hero Pride Of Arras and Stanhope Gardens. The former bids to become the 12th horse to do the Dante/Derby double, with the Kimpton Down handler happy his York scorer ticks plenty of boxes. Beckett said: 'I think he's tightened up for the Dante and he's on good terms with himself. We're going there with our best foot forward, that's for sure. 'He's got more speed than I imagined he would have, having trained his dam and his brothers and sisters, so that is a positive, and his half-sister and half-brother both won at Epsom, which gives us encouragement. 'Soft ground isn't a concern, he has a soft ground pedigree and it's been a bit of a surprise to me he handles quick ground as well as he does.' Stanhope Gardens, meanwhile, was only a neck behind Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes in October and made a foot-perfect return at Salisbury. 'Going into the winter this horse was always the one I thought was most likely to show up here,' added Beckett. 'He had the form with Delacroix and he was still pretty inexperienced that day, just his third run having won at Beverley and finished behind Ruling Court on his debut. 'He's a very well-balanced horse, very light on his feet and it's likely he will be suited by Epsom. 'He's a very straightforward customer, the reason he didn't make a trial is because he galloped away from home in mid-April and pulled a muscle in the back of his ribs which forced him to miss two weeks, so he's done pretty well to get here.' Damysus has come a long way since winning on debut at Southwell in December and after catching the eye of many observers when second to Pride Of Arras in the Dante, he could give John Gosden his third Derby and first in conjunction with son Thady. The Clarehaven team will also saddle the Juddmonte-owned Nightwalker, a staying-on fifth behind his stablemate at York, with Thady Gosden expecting both to thrive at a mile and a half. He said: 'Their pedigrees suggests they will stay and also the way they travel during a race points to that as well. 'The Dante was an interesting race. There were a few little things to take out of it, but these are two horses we think will suit Epsom well. They were both doing their best work late on at York and it was a hot trial, but off that performance they've both shown that they deserve to come here.' As well as Nightwalker, the Juddmonte team will be represented by Henri-François Devin's New Ground, one of two French raiders supplemented for the race alongside Francis-Henri Graffard's unbeaten Midak, who will fittingly sport the colours of the late Aga Khan in a race named this year in his honour. Nemone Routh, French racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, said: 'Every time we have run him he has improved and he has also improved physically through the year, so we would be hopeful he could run well. 'He's not going there devoid of hope and has done nothing wrong. It's an open race and he goes there with a sporting chance.'
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Tornado Alert has Bin Suroor hopeful he can take Epsom by storm
Lammtarra put Bin Suroor in the spotlight at Epsom in 1995 and with the old mantra of fourth in the Guineas, first in the Derby set to be put to the test once again – after Generous so gloriously did in 1991 – the multiple Classic winning-trainer is confident this year's candidate will excel now upped in distance. 'The further he goes, the better he will be. He is a nice and relaxed horse,' said Bin Suroor. 'Oisin Murphy is going to ride him, he has been in a few mornings to ride him and he's been happy with him. I'm looking forward to seeing them together in a race. 'The first three were a little in front of him at Newmarket, but he beat Wimbledon Hawkeye who is a good horse. 'He has done everything right since the Guineas and it is exciting to be going to another Classic with him.' Ralph Beckett is still awaiting his first victory in the premier Classic and holds a strong hand with York hero Pride Of Arras and Stanhope Gardens. The former bids to become the 12th horse to do the Dante/Derby double, with the Kimpton Down handler happy his York scorer ticks plenty of boxes. Beckett said: 'I think he's tightened up for the Dante and he's on good terms with himself. We're going there with our best foot forward, that's for sure. 'He's got more speed than I imagined he would have, having trained his dam and his brothers and sisters, so that is a positive, and his half-sister and half-brother both won at Epsom, which gives us encouragement. 'Soft ground isn't a concern, he has a soft ground pedigree and it's been a bit of a surprise to me he handles quick ground as well as he does.' Stanhope Gardens, meanwhile, was only a neck behind Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes in October and made a foot-perfect return at Salisbury. 'Going into the winter this horse was always the one I thought was most likely to show up here,' added Beckett. 'He had the form with Delacroix and he was still pretty inexperienced that day, just his third run having won at Beverley and finished behind Ruling Court on his debut. 'He's a very well-balanced horse, very light on his feet and it's likely he will be suited by Epsom. 'He's a very straightforward customer, the reason he didn't make a trial is because he galloped away from home in mid-April and pulled a muscle in the back of his ribs which forced him to miss two weeks, so he's done pretty well to get here.' Damysus has come a long way since winning on debut at Southwell in December and after catching the eye of many observers when second to Pride Of Arras in the Dante, he could give John Gosden his third Derby and first in conjunction with son Thady. The Clarehaven team will also saddle the Juddmonte-owned Nightwalker, a staying-on fifth behind his stablemate at York, with Thady Gosden expecting both to thrive at a mile and a half. He said: 'Their pedigrees suggests they will stay and also the way they travel during a race points to that as well. 'The Dante was an interesting race. There were a few little things to take out of it, but these are two horses we think will suit Epsom well. They were both doing their best work late on at York and it was a hot trial, but off that performance they've both shown that they deserve to come here.' As well as Nightwalker, the Juddmonte team will be represented by Henri-François Devin's New Ground, one of two French raiders supplemented for the race alongside Francis-Henri Graffard's unbeaten Midak, who will fittingly sport the colours of the late Aga Khan in a race named this year in his honour. Nemone Routh, French racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, said: 'Every time we have run him he has improved and he has also improved physically through the year, so we would be hopeful he could run well. 'He's not going there devoid of hope and has done nothing wrong. It's an open race and he goes there with a sporting chance.'
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Tornado Alert has Bin Suroor hopeful he can take Epsom by storm
Lammtarra put Bin Suroor in the spotlight at Epsom in 1995 and with the old mantra of fourth in the Guineas, first in the Derby set to be put to the test once again – after Generous so gloriously did in 1991 – the multiple Classic winning-trainer is confident this year's candidate will excel now upped in distance. 'The further he goes, the better he will be. He is a nice and relaxed horse,' said Bin Suroor. 'Oisin Murphy is going to ride him, he has been in a few mornings to ride him and he's been happy with him. I'm looking forward to seeing them together in a race. 'The first three were a little in front of him at Newmarket, but he beat Wimbledon Hawkeye who is a good horse. 'He has done everything right since the Guineas and it is exciting to be going to another Classic with him.' Ralph Beckett is still awaiting his first victory in the premier Classic and holds a strong hand with York hero Pride Of Arras and Stanhope Gardens. The former bids to become the 12th horse to do the Dante/Derby double, with the Kimpton Down handler happy his York scorer ticks plenty of boxes. Beckett said: 'I think he's tightened up for the Dante and he's on good terms with himself. We're going there with our best foot forward, that's for sure. 'He's got more speed than I imagined he would have, having trained his dam and his brothers and sisters, so that is a positive, and his half-sister and half-brother both won at Epsom, which gives us encouragement. 'Soft ground isn't a concern, he has a soft ground pedigree and it's been a bit of a surprise to me he handles quick ground as well as he does.' Stanhope Gardens, meanwhile, was only a neck behind Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes in October and made a foot-perfect return at Salisbury. 'Going into the winter this horse was always the one I thought was most likely to show up here,' added Beckett. 'He had the form with Delacroix and he was still pretty inexperienced that day, just his third run having won at Beverley and finished behind Ruling Court on his debut. 'He's a very well-balanced horse, very light on his feet and it's likely he will be suited by Epsom. 'He's a very straightforward customer, the reason he didn't make a trial is because he galloped away from home in mid-April and pulled a muscle in the back of his ribs which forced him to miss two weeks, so he's done pretty well to get here.' Damysus has come a long way since winning on debut at Southwell in December and after catching the eye of many observers when second to Pride Of Arras in the Dante, he could give John Gosden his third Derby and first in conjunction with son Thady. The Clarehaven team will also saddle the Juddmonte-owned Nightwalker, a staying-on fifth behind his stablemate at York, with Thady Gosden expecting both to thrive at a mile and a half. He said: 'Their pedigrees suggests they will stay and also the way they travel during a race points to that as well. 'The Dante was an interesting race. There were a few little things to take out of it, but these are two horses we think will suit Epsom well. They were both doing their best work late on at York and it was a hot trial, but off that performance they've both shown that they deserve to come here.' As well as Nightwalker, the Juddmonte team will be represented by Henri-François Devin's New Ground, one of two French raiders supplemented for the race alongside Francis-Henri Graffard's unbeaten Midak, who will fittingly sport the colours of the late Aga Khan in a race named this year in his honour. Nemone Routh, French racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, said: 'Every time we have run him he has improved and he has also improved physically through the year, so we would be hopeful he could run well. 'He's not going there devoid of hope and has done nothing wrong. It's an open race and he goes there with a sporting chance.'
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Tornado Alert has Bin Suroor hopeful he can take Epsom by storm
Lammtarra put Bin Suroor in the spotlight at Epsom in 1995 and with the old mantra of fourth in the Guineas, first in the Derby set to be put to the test once again – after Generous so gloriously did in 1991 – the multiple Classic winning-trainer is confident this year's candidate will excel now upped in distance. 'The further he goes, the better he will be. He is a nice and relaxed horse,' said Bin Suroor. Tornado Alert (red cap) finished fourth at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA) 'Oisin Murphy is going to ride him, he has been in a few mornings to ride him and he's been happy with him. I'm looking forward to seeing them together in a race. 'The first three were a little in front of him at Newmarket, but he beat Wimbledon Hawkeye who is a good horse. 'He has done everything right since the Guineas and it is exciting to be going to another Classic with him.' Ralph Beckett is still awaiting his first victory in the premier Classic and holds a strong hand with York hero Pride Of Arras and Stanhope Gardens. The former bids to become the 12th horse to do the Dante/Derby double, with the Kimpton Down handler happy his York scorer ticks plenty of boxes. Pride Of Arras heads to Epsom with leading claims (Mike Egerton/PA) Beckett said: 'I think he's tightened up for the Dante and he's on good terms with himself. We're going there with our best foot forward, that's for sure. 'He's got more speed than I imagined he would have, having trained his dam and his brothers and sisters, so that is a positive, and his half-sister and half-brother both won at Epsom, which gives us encouragement. 'Soft ground isn't a concern, he has a soft ground pedigree and it's been a bit of a surprise to me he handles quick ground as well as he does.' Stanhope Gardens, meanwhile, was only a neck behind Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes in October and made a foot-perfect return at Salisbury. 'Going into the winter this horse was always the one I thought was most likely to show up here,' added Beckett. Stanhope Gardens ran Delacroix close at Newmarket (Nigel French/PA) 'He had the form with Delacroix and he was still pretty inexperienced that day, just his third run having won at Beverley and finished behind Ruling Court on his debut. 'He's a very well-balanced horse, very light on his feet and it's likely he will be suited by Epsom. 'He's a very straightforward customer, the reason he didn't make a trial is because he galloped away from home in mid-April and pulled a muscle in the back of his ribs which forced him to miss two weeks, so he's done pretty well to get here.' Damysus has come a long way since winning on debut at Southwell in December and after catching the eye of many observers when second to Pride Of Arras in the Dante, he could give John Gosden his third Derby and first in conjunction with son Thady. The Clarehaven team will also saddle the Juddmonte-owned Nightwalker, a staying-on fifth behind his stablemate at York, with Thady Gosden expecting both to thrive at a mile and a half. Nightwalker (left) and Damysus went through their paces at Epsom (John Hoy/The Jockey Club) He said: 'Their pedigrees suggests they will stay and also the way they travel during a race points to that as well. 'The Dante was an interesting race. There were a few little things to take out of it, but these are two horses we think will suit Epsom well. They were both doing their best work late on at York and it was a hot trial, but off that performance they've both shown that they deserve to come here.' As well as Nightwalker, the Juddmonte team will be represented by Henri-François Devin's New Ground, one of two French raiders supplemented for the race alongside Francis-Henri Graffard's unbeaten Midak, who will fittingly sport the colours of the late Aga Khan in a race named this year in his honour. Nemone Routh, French racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, said: 'Every time we have run him he has improved and he has also improved physically through the year, so we would be hopeful he could run well. 'He's not going there devoid of hope and has done nothing wrong. It's an open race and he goes there with a sporting chance.'
