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Irish Examiner
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Colm Greaves: 10 to follow in the flat season
Last week at Punchestown the National Hunt season ended, and we won't see most of our old jumping friends again until there are brown leaves littering the pavements. So, like it or lump it, Flat racing takes centre stage and here are 10 horses to keep an eye on this summer. Jonquil Age: 3 Trainer: Andrew Balding Andrew Balding continued to build momentum last season and although he has suffered an early blow this year when one of his biggest owners, Qatar Racing, removed all their horses from his yard, he is already prominent near the top of the trainers' table. The improving Jonquil could develop into a very decent colt in the coming months. Transferred from the Michael Stoute's yard on that trainer's retirement, Jonquil won the Greenham Stakes at Newbury impressively on his stable debut. He was raised a whopping 21lbs on that performance and should contend at the highest level up to a mile. Calandagan Age: 4 Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard Few racehorse trainers have a law degree, but Francis-Henri Graffard is an exception. Based at Chantilly, Graffard has developed into one of France's leading handlers in recent years and is the principal trainer for the late Aga Khan. Two of his stars from last season, Goliath and Calandagan are both geldings and as such ineligible for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe so their campaigns will include British and Irish middle distance Group 1 contests. Calandagan ended last season with a rating of 125 following an easy win at Royal Ascot and runner-up efforts in the Juddmonte and Champion Stakes last autumn. First up this year will be the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June and then the King George at Ascot the following month. Native Warrior Age: 4 Trainer: Karl Burke Karl Burke has become a powerhouse in the north of England in recent seasons and the Middleham-based trainer hit two 'personal bests' last season with a total of 121 winners and over £4m (€4.7m) in prize money. Native Warrior, a son of the increasingly influential, and expensive, sire Wooton Bassett, had a busy time last year, running seven times and although he got his head in front only once, in a mile maiden at Nottingham, he showed up well at a couple of the high summer festivals. With a competitive handicap rating of 92, the wily Burke should be able to find plenty of opportunities for him in the coming months. Rosallion Age: 4 Trainer: Richard Hannon Ten years ago, Richard Hannon sent out 195 winners from his base near Marlborough in Wilshire. Last year the total had dropped to 86. The affable Hannon insists that the dip in quantity has been compensated by an increase in quality and, in the case of Rossalion, he has a point. The Blue Point colt developed into a brilliant miler last season, winning the Irish Guineas and the St James' Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before a lung infection finished his season. Hannon resisted the temptation of an autumn campaign last year and believes that the long break has done Rosallion the world of good. A candidate for champion miler, he thrives best when the words 'good' or 'firm' are found in the going description. Estrange Age: 4 Trainer: David O'Meara Fermoy native David O'Meara is another trainer in a hurry to add quality to quantity and last year surpassed a century of winners for the 12th time in succession. He will be hoping that Estrange, a grey daughter of Night Of Thunder, has the ability to develop far beyond her current official rating of 100. Unraced as a two-yea- old, she won well on her debut at Goodwood in August and took a late-season listed race at Doncaster in November. Her only defeat came on unsuitably quick ground at Yarmouth and should be competitive on easy ground at distances up to a mile and a half. Oliver Show Age: 5 Trainer: George Boughey Still only 33, George Boughey is an ambitious young trainer who has recently upgraded his real estate significantly through the purchase of Craven House Stables at Newmarket from Godolphin. His ascent to the top ranks of Flat trainers looks set to continue this summer and his No Nay Never gelding Oliver Show should help with the climb. The five-year-old was only beaten an unlucky nose when second to Godwinson in the Lincoln in March and looks set to play a part in many of the high-value festival handicaps over a mile, starting with the Brittania Stakes at Royal Ascot next month. He goes well when fresh and will be competitive off a rating of 99. Seagulls Eleven Age: 3 Trainer: Hugo Palmer Seagulls Eleven is an appropriate name for a horse in the ownership of current and former Brighton football players. Headed up by James Milner, the syndicate plan to 'take each race at a time' with their horse but he should give them some fine days out through the summer. Battle-hardened from five runs as a two-year old, his CV includes a solid third to Scorthy Champ in the National Stakes at the Curragh last September. Seagulls Eleven perhaps lacks othe class of sire Galileo Gold, a dual Group 1 winner in 2016, but he could net a couple of opportunities his owners in the lower divisions. Catalina Delcarpio Age: 3 Trainer: Paddy Twomey Given that Paddy Twomey bred Group 1 winner, Tagula, when he was 13 years of age it is unsurprising that he has found a seat at the table of the top Irish trainers. He looks like he has a top filly in Catalina Delcarpio who should be competitive in the best mares' middle-distance contests. Unraced at two, she made an eye-catching debut when winning over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown in early April and followed that up with a Group 3 second at Navan three weeks later. An expensively purchased yearling at £400,000 (470,667), she looks the type to mature and improve with time. Jan Brueghel Age: 4 Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Aidan O'Brien has a strong team of stayers at Ballydoyle this year and it should be a 'gimmee' for the brilliant Kyprios wherever he turns up which should leave ample leftovers for stamina-laden stablemates such as Jan Brueghel when he stays home. Unraced at two, he improved steadily last year, but to O'Brien's displeasure he was denied a crack at glory in the Melbourne Cup when scratched by the local stewards. Beaten into second on his recent seasonal reappearance over an inadequate distance of 10 furlongs at the Curragh, he will do better over longer trips. The Lion In Winter Age: 3 Trainer: Aidan O'Brien The Lion In Winter is named after a film about an early version of the British Royal family and O'Brien is convinced his horse will have a regal summer too. By the great Sea The Stars, he was unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile and spent the winter as the ante-post favourite for last week's 2000 Guineas but wasn't yet fit enough to run. In the second of his two races he won the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York where he beat the Guineas winner Ruling Court by two lengths, so O'Brien's hopes are strongly endorsed by the formbook. He could be the marquee middle distance colt of the summer and has an entry next week in the Dante Stakes at York.
The Sun
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Sun Racing's new star columnist Billy Loughnane is gunning to be the youngest ever champion jockey
BILLY LOUGHNANE ain't kidding when he says he wants to make history and become the youngest-ever champion jockey. The 19-year-old has taken the sport by storm since bursting on to the scene as a wet- behind-the ears teenager. 1 He booted home a Royal Ascot double last summer and is now George Boughey's main man in Newmarket. And super agent Tony Hind has been hired to take Billy The Kid's career to the next level. Hind currently looks after the likes of Ryan Moore and Will Buick and previously helped Richard Hughes and Jim Crowley to the title. There is no one better at helping a jockey become champion. Billy smiles: 'I want to be champion jockey, one hundred per cent. 'I have to pinch myself a bit at times. I've not even been riding for three years so to be thinking of going for the championship is pretty crazy. 'But I think it's realistic and I think I've got a chance. To have Tony as my agent is a privilege. He's made nine champions in the past so hopefully it will soon be ten. 'I've been riding for two and a half years so, to even have my name up there, thinking about going for it is brilliant. I'm very lucky to have George Boughey as my boss, he's great and I have a great selection of owners and trainers supporting me from all over the country. It should be a super exciting season.' The bookies have the championship, which runs from today until Champions Day at Ascot in October, down to a straight shootout between Billy and Rossa Ryan. Both are 2-1 with defending champion Oisin Murphy 11-4, Tom Marquand 6-1 and William Buick 7s. Both Murphy and Buick have hinted that their roles as retained riders to Qatar Racing and Godolphin will come first this season. It leaves the door open for a new name to be etched on to the trophy. Billy added: 'George has first dibs and that decides where I go. Then Tony will get the best rides he can for me around that. 'There will be times when George will let me ride elsewhere if I can get on a nice one — but it's a long season. I managed 97 last year so I need to probably up that by at least 30 or 40 if it's going to be realistic. 'Rossa is going to be tough to beat and I know Oisin says he's not going for it this season but he will have a crack, trust me.' Billy made a name for himself on the all-weather when riding winners for fun at just 16. He started out teaming up with his dad and trainer Mark, but was quickly snapped up by handlers up and down the land. Punters even referred to his weight claim when an apprentice as a cheat code. At the end of his first season he celebrated becoming champion apprentice and has not looked back. A Royal Ascot double last season — on Rashabar in the Coventry and Soprano in the Sandringham — truly put him on the map on the big stage. Then at the end of last year he spent two months in Australia and still flew back in time to be named all-weather champ. Billy said: 'Ascot was the best ever day I have had in racing. 'My parents were there to watch and to get that monkey off my back was amazing. Rashabar winning the Coventry was special. Many jockeys wait years for a Royal winner so it takes the pressure off.' Billy was destined for the big time but still made sure to get his house in order at home. Mum Clare ensured he aced his GCSEs at school before he took out his licence. He soon passed his driving test before flying the nest from his family home in Kidderminster to live with fellow jockey Jonny Peate in Newmarket. It all happened at the speed of light but he has stayed grounded. Billy said: 'I've got a lot of help around me. Even in the weighing room a lot of the jockeys have been great. 'I don't want to single them out but I sit next to Oisin most days and he's great — then Will Buick and Ryan Moore have always helped. It's not like the old days of the weighing room, everyone is open and honest. 'I still see my mates back home when I can, though it gets hard as I'm so busy. Not many of them like racing, they think it's a bit weird, but they're following my career and they find it fascinating. 'A lot of them have done well at school and gone off to university, it's a different world!' Billy will clock up the miles in the car in his pursuit of his big goal this season and he's looking up to an all time great. Billy said: 'AP McCoy was my inspiration growing up. I know he's a jumps man but what he did was unbelievable. 'His drive was crazy. I really respect him. He went everywhere for a winner and I'm going to have to do that if I want to lift the trophy.' Young gun Billy rarely gets much downtime. He'll ride out most mornings in Newmarket and will hit the gym before jumping in the car to ride here, there and everywhere. Yet the youngster has already picked up one hobby that gets competitive in the weighing room. Billy said: 'I've started playing golf — though I don't really have the patience for it! 'It's not an easy sport to pick up but it's nice to get out. I'm trying to get better but I need more time on the range! I like Formula 1 too. The Netflix documentary got me into it and I tune in when I can.' If Billy makes history this season he might well need a documentary of his own. 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:
Telegraph
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy misses racing after car accident
Oisin Murphy, the four-time champion flat jockey, has been involved in a car accident which caused him to miss racing at Southwell on Sunday. The crash is believed to have taken place hours after Murphy, 29, was riding at Leicester Racecourse on Saturday. His agent confirmed on Monday that he was involved in an accident but was 'fine'. A British Horseracing Authority's stewards' report said he has missed out on four rides at Southwell due to 'travel issues'. However, Murphy was back again on Windsor's circuit on Monday where he was first on 13-8 favourite Sea Founder in the British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes. Before the first race at 4.25pm, his agent Gavin Horne told The Mirror: 'All I know is Oisin had a car accident and that is it. He is fine and racing tonight.' Murphy, 29, is widely regarded as among the most talented jockeys in the weighing room. He has been riding out of his skin in the early part of the season with 33 winners at a rate of one winner to four rides. However, he has endured complications away from the sport, and said last year that counselling had helped him greatly. He lifted last year's champion jockey trophy – his fourth title – since returning from a 14-month suspension in March 2023 for breaches of Covid-19 rules and for twice failing racecourse breath tests for alcohol. Murphy is currently retained jockey for Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani's Qatar Racing but that operation being down on numbers means he is free to ride as first jockey to Andrew Balding who is vying to be champion trainer. He will be in a good position to defend his title when the 'season' starts on Saturday. From Kerry, Murphy is a nephew of Best Mate's jockey Jim Culloty.
The Herald Scotland
22-04-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Epsom debutant Jackknife looks smart prospect in the making
Varian said: 'I'm delighted and I'm pleased to have a winner for Sheikh Fahad and the Qatar Racing team. We've always liked him and we liked him last year, but he had a little setback and never saw the racecourse. Jackknife looks a proper horse 👀 The half-brother of Coronation Cup winner Defoe wins impressively on debut 👏 — The Jockey Club (@TheJockeyClub) April 22, 2025 'He's by Kameko who is Sheikh Fahad's stallion and he is a half-brother to Defoe who is a very dear horse to us and won the Coronation Cup, so we feel quite linked-in to the horse on pedigree anyway.' Jackknife travelled stylishly throughout in the hands of his jockey Oisin Murphy, impressing his Carlburg Stables handler in the process, with Varian now able to sit and ponder future options. Varian added: 'It was a good debut and he travelled nicely and moved into it well. For an unraced horse around the contours of Epsom, he did well to defy that and win and I really liked how he travelled into the race, you were drawn to him two furlongs out and that is often a good sign. Jackknife showed a great attitude in the hands of Oisin Murphy (John Walton/PA) 'We've liked him this spring. Oisin sat on him last week and thought he was ready to get started and we're very pleased with how he's handled the track. He's a very well-balanced horse and the ground was lovely, as it is always is at this meeting. 'We're delighted, but we'll see how he comes out of the race and how he is before we make any big plans. I'm sure he will have learned plenty and hopefully he is OK in the morning and then we can think what we can do with him, but hopefully he is a nice horse for the summer.' Also on the card, David Menuisier was thrilled to see 9-4 favourite City Of Delight follow up a recent Doncaster win in the Lilley Plummer Risks City & Suburban Handicap. City Of Delight (centre) en route to victory (John Walton/PA) 'I'm glad, because before I decided to go to Doncaster, it was always may plan to run in the City & Suburban so I'm delighted he's gone and won both,' said Menuisier, who was winning the race for the second time in four years. 'He's gone and done it in style as well and at one stage he never looked like getting up, but then when he hit the rising ground he found another gear and won quite well at the end. 'Fingers crossed this isn't the end of his winning and with a bit more improvement he could be a horse with black-type potential.' Menuisier was, however, out of luck in the following Weatherbys Global Stallions App Great Metropolitan Handicap, as his 3-1 favourite Master Builder had to play second best to Dylan Cunha's Asgard's Captain who landed the spoils at 13-2.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
200-1 winner Heavenly Heather kicks off Easter racing with major shock
Amie Waugh smiles after Heavenly Heather's shock victory at Newcastle. Photograph: Richard Sellers/PA The Easter racing programme saw a major shock at Newcastle on Good Friday as Heavenly Heather, a 200-1 chance ridden by 3lb claimer Amie Waugh, became the longest-priced winner of the year so far with a half-length success in the seven-furlong Fillies' and Mares' Championships Handicap. Advertisement Waugh's mount had failed to win any of her previous five starts and was 19lb 'wrong' at the weights, meaning that Heavenly Heather raced from an effective handicap mark of 79 rather than her official rating of 60. Related: Skelton's Cheltenham winner maintains narrow title lead in duel with Mullins Her rider took full advantage of her draw on the stands' side, however, and got a fine response from Heavenly Heather when she asked her to quicken against the rail a furlong from home. The winner was the 12th horse to win at 200-1 in Britain since the turn of the century, and the first at those odds since November 2024. The UK's record price for a winner is 250-1, set by Equinoctial at Kelso in November 1990. Advertisement Elsewhere on the Newcastle card, Andrew Balding continued his strong start to the 2025 Flat season with a double in the first four races, but there was a setback for his stable too with the news that Sheikh Fahad al-Thani's Qatar Racing operation has removed its six horses from the yard. Balding saddled Kameko to win the 2,000 Guineas in 2020 in Qatar Racing's claret and gold colours, while Elm Park, Side Glance and New Century, a Grade One winner at Woodbine in Canada last September, also notched victories at the highest level for the owner in recent seasons. The sudden departure of Qatar Racing from the Balding yard is a surprise, not least as the trainer has had such a fine start to 2025, building an early lead in the race for the trainers' championship with 42 winners and around £700,000 in the bank before racing on Friday. In strictly numerical terms, though, the loss of half a dozen horses will scarcely be noticed at Kingsclere, where Balding now trains one of the largest strings in the country, with nearly 300 horses listed in the latest edition of Horses In Training. Advertisement Balding sends four runners on the long trip from Hampshire to Musselburgh's valuable meeting on Saturday, and Wild Waves (3.35), who progressed from maiden company to a run in the St Leger during his three-year-old season, is a worthy favourite to land the £50k first prize in the Queen's Cup, the feature event on the card. Musselburgh 1.50 The three-year-old Wiltshire Lad was the penultimate winner of Sir Michael Stoute's outstanding career when successful on the all-weather at Southwell last October. Gelded since, he starts his first season for the Balding stable off a 5lb higher mark and will surely pay his way as the season develops. Haydock 2.05 Got Grey made a flying start for Dan Skelton back in the autumn but seemed to lose his way on softer ground as the season wore on. His mark has eased by 6lb in three outings as a result, however, and the return to a quicker surface here could well see a well-timed revival. Musselburgh 2.25 Jennie Candlish's Alzahir has returned to the turf in the form of his life following a wind operation earlier in the year and will take all the beating in his bid for a third straight success. Advertisement Haydock 2.40 The front-running Burrows Hall is unbeaten in three starts since Danny McMenamin took over in his saddle and he could be very tough to pass again here. Musselburgh 3.00 The high-numbered stalls have a significant advantage over this five-furlong course so Jim Goldie's American Affair, the narrow winner of the Portland Handicap at Doncaster last September, has the ideal berth in box nine for his seasonal debut. He also has winning form when fresh, including a victory at this meeting last year. Haydock 3.15 Gary Hanmer has already coaxed a rich new vein of form from The Flier Begley since his switch to the stable at the start of the campaign, and the 10-year-old's victory in the Market Rasen qualifier for this veterans' event is the strongest recent form on offer.
