Stable tours 2025

[luckyme]

Aidan 0' Brien stable tour (Racingpost)


Aidan O'Brien clicked into gear in excellent style at the end of last month as Henri Matisse and Delacroix made winning starts to their campaigns as they build towards Classic tilts.

The more vaunted three-year-olds still lay in reserve, however, with 2,000 Guineas favourite Twain, Derby market leader The Lion In Winter and last season's Dewhurst runner-up Expanded building up to a return.

Outstanding stayer Kyprios will lead the older battalion, with the unbeaten Jan Brueghel, Los Angeles and Illinois filing closely behind, and it's an exciting time of year for the stable which continues to dominate the Classics each side of the Irish Sea.

In 2022, after Tuesday landed the Oaks, O'Brien became the most successful trainer of all-time in the five British Classic races and his Classic haul now stands at 45 in Britain and 52 in Ireland.

O'Brien says: "It's an exciting time of year because anything can happen throughout the season in so many different ways. The main thing at the moment is to get them started. We feel they have a good level of fitness but they obviously aren't fully tuned up at this stage, as you hope they progress throughout the season."

Older horses
Continuous
Five-year-old colt by Heart's Cry (sire) out of Fluff (dam)
Owners: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, Westerberg
Form figures: 13009-3
Racing Post Rating: 122 Official rating 112

He won the St Leger in 2023 and we’ve stepped him up in trip this year. He ran in the Dubai Gold Cup on Saturday but couldn’t get into it from off the pace.

Diego Velazquez 4c Frankel - Sweepstake
Smith,Magnier,Tabor,Westerberg,Brant
6/48011-
RPR 118 OR 119

He’s going to be trained for the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and will have a run or two beforehand. He’s in good shape and moving well.

Illinois
4c Galileo - Danedrop
Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor
212221-
RPR 119 OR 116

He's in good form but we're not 100 per cent sure where we start him; it could be at the Curragh in the Alleged Stakes [April 12] over a mile and a quarter or he could go to Chester for the Ormonde Stakes [May 8]. He got a mile and seven well when winning on his final run at Longchamp last season and was second in the St Leger, but he's comfortable over a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half.

Jan Brueghel
4c Galileo - Devoted To You
Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith
1111-
RPR 120 OR 117

He had a very good three-year-old campaign, winning all of his four starts including the St Leger. He’s very well and working very well but he’s going to have to stand in line behind Kyprios this season I’d imagine. He could have a run before the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot because if Kyprios is there in the Gold Cup there’s probably no point in any of ours running against him. He's definitely a mile-and-a-half-plus horse, even though he won a Group race over a mile and a quarter.

Star quality
Kyprios
7h Galileo - Polished Gem
Moyglare, Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg
111111-
RPR 128 OR 122

He's back and in great shape and the plan is to go back to Royal Ascot to try for a third Gold Cup with two runs beforehand. Then everything else can fall into line after that. Everything is very good with him at the moment. He's incredible, he just goes forward, plants himself in second gear and goes asleep. He’s always been like that, even when he was a two-year-old. I remember when we took him to Newmarket for the Zetland Stakes, he went asleep and didn’t wake up at all in the race. His personality is the same still and Ryan [Moore] rides him great.

Los Angeles
4c Camelot - Frequential
Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith
311439-
RPR 121 OR 121

We’re very happy with him and the plan is to go for the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He might have a run in one of those mile-and-a-quarter races before. We feel going back to the Arc would suit him well – it didn’t work out for him last year as he ended up making the running and he’d obviously prefer to be getting a lead, but he could be a very legitimate horse this year. He’s big, powerful and has done very well physically.

Storm Boy
4c Justify - Pelican
Storm Boy Partnership
341348-
RPR 117 OR 114

He's a new arrival from Australia and he’s fast. Before he came down, we didn’t know whether he'd want six furlongs, seven furlongs or a mile but he's very quick and is definitely a sprinter – that was very apparent the minute he stepped up a gear. The plan is to go to Royal Ascot with maybe a run at the Curragh in the Greenlands Stakes beforehand. You’d be very happy with everything he’s doing.

Tower Of London 5h Galileo - Dialafara
D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, Westerberg
49/1151-
RPR 119 OR 118

He won three out of four last year and is in good shape. We're thinking of going to France early for a Group 1 over two miles [Prix Vicomtesse Vigier] with him. Rather than having him run into Kyprios, we're thinking of going a different way with him.

Three-year-olds
Acapulco Bay 3c Dubawi - Je Ne Regretterien
Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith
21-2
RPR 100 OR 100

He ran well when second at Naas over a mile last month and should come forward for that run. He'll definitely get a mile and a quarter and could get further.

Aftermath
3c Justify - Flying
Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith
231-
RPR 100 OR 103

He won nicely at the Curragh last season and was back nearly ready to go but we had to give him another little break again. It will probably be mid-season before he's out again.

Ballet Slippers 3f Dubawi - Magical
Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier
3213-
RPR 101 OR 104

She did well last season despite winning only once. She had a lovely run at the Curragh when second behind one of Donnacha’s fillies [Falling Snow] – I know he loves her. She then ran very well when third in the Fillies’ Mile, and we were going back to France with her for a mile-and-a-quarter race but she got injured. We’ll train her for the Oaks.

Bedtime Story
3f Frankel - Mecca's Angel
Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
11155-
RPR 108 OR 111

She’s good but a little highly strung, a bit like her sister Content. She was a very quick learner and won the Chesham by nine and a half lengths, but she probably wanted to overdo things and she was a bit too keen after Ascot. However, I'd say she’s a smart filly. I’d imagine for her next run she’ll be second or third string and there’ll be no pressure on her; whoever is riding her can try to switch her off and see what happens. We thought Content wouldn’t stay a mile and a half, but she did, and there must be a chance this filly will too.

Bounty
3c No Nay Never - Rosdhu Queen
Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
213-
RPR 96 OR 97

He did well in three runs last season, winning at Naas before finishing third in a Listed race at Doncaster. Like Aftermath, he just had a little setback, so he's another one who won't be out until mid-season.

Camille Pissarro 3c Wootton Bassett - Entreat
M Tabor & D Smith & Mrs J Magnier & P M Brant
02621-2
RPR 114 OR 114

We were very happy with his run at the Curragh when second in the Gladness. We were conscious of not bottoming him on his first run back – we felt we bottomed Giant's Causeway a bit when he won it and he got beat in both Guineas afterwards, so we were keen not to do that against older horses while carrying a Group 1 penalty. The 2,000 Guineas is a possibility but, if Twain goes to Newmarket, this horse could go to the French Guineas. We think he's versatile ground-wise but he might prefer it better as he might travel better on it. He struggled a bit in the soft ground at the Curragh before he got going again and he's a very good mover, so better ground probably suits him better.

Delacroix
3c Dubawi - Tepin
Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
21212-1
RPR 116 OR 116

He was just beaten in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last year and you'd have to be very happy with his performance in the Ballysax. He is still babyish but he is growing up. I think he'll go back to Leopardstown for the Derby Trial if everything is well, and racing will only help him. We always thought he would stay well and be a middle-distance horse and he's a fine, big, powerful horse. He'll improve plenty fitness-wise. He quickened very well in the straight and is not a horse who will be over-raced.

 

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Dreamy
3f American Pharoah - Tapestry
Flaxman Stables, Mrs Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith
114-
RPR 100 OR 101

She's not quick enough for a Guineas but she could be an Oaks filly. That's why we ran her in the Fillies' Mile, to find out, but she'd prefer going a mile and a half. She's done very well and would like a bit of nice ground.

Exactly
3f Frankel - Heartache
Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
2331-2
RPR 109 OR 111

We were very happy with her first run back at Leopardstown when second in the Priory Belle. She had a bad draw and the race was a little bit rough for her. She had a lot to do and it got a bit messy in the end but we think she'll come forward plenty for it and will be much better once she goes up to a mile.

Expanded
3c Wootton Basset - Jigsaw
Coolmore/Westerberg/Mrs A M O'Brien
12-
RPR 113 OR 118

He got beat a short head in the Dewhurst having got kind of a raw deal. He was going into the race for experience mainly as second string behind The Lion In Winter, but that horse didn't run and he got put into the front line, so it was a massive run on his second start. He's being trained for Guineas weekend but he could go to the Curragh for the Tetrarch the day after the Guineas if he doesn't go to Newmarket. If Twain goes to Newmarket, he might take the easier option at the Curragh, given he's not a Group winner.

Genealogy
3c Wootton Bassett - Musical Art
M Tabor & D Smith & Mrs J Magnier & P M Brant
215-
RPR 91 OR 95

He won his maiden at Punchestown before finishing fifth in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket. He's ready to start at a mile or a mile and a quarter and we think he could get further in time.

Giselle
3f Frankel - Newspaperofrecord
Brant/Magnier/Smith/Tabor/Westerberg
213-
RPR 92 OR 96

She had a few little hold-ups but we’re looking at her as an Oaks filly with a trial before. She’s headstrong and always trying to do a little more than you want her to, but she’s a big filly, powerful and strong.

Heavens Gate 3f Churchill - Itqaan
Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier
1410-
RPR 101 OR 107

She was a Group 3 winner last season and we'll train her for a Guineas and see where we go. She's ready to start and will go for one of the trials at the Curragh, Leopardstown or Newbury.

Henri Matisse 3c Wootton Bassett - Immortal Verse
Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Merriebelle Irish Farm Ltd
1251-1
RPR 118 OR 116

He won at the Breeders' Cup last year and did well to win at Leopardstown first time out this year as it was a good gallop and Ryan said he'd definitely be more comfortable going up to a mile. You'd have to be happy with that performance and he'll improve plenty. He's obviously very smart and does quicken very well. He wants to get there late and, when he gets there, he waits.

Ides Of March 3c Wootton Bassett - Nickname
Magnier, Tabor, Smith & Brookdale Racing
43117-
RPR 107 OR 108

He was a Group 3 winner over six furlongs at the Curragh last season and he's on the Commonwealth Cup programme. He could have a run in one or two races beforehand and we'll take it from there.

Isambard Brunel 3c Justify - Magical Dream
Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
551-
RPR 87 OR 92

He won his maiden at Navan well last season and is back in full work and in good form, nearly ready to start. There's a winners' race at Cork later this month and, all being well, he's a possible for that.

January
3f Kingman - I Can Fly
Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
3122-
RPR 102 OR 105

We think she's a very good filly. She had some very good form last season and ran well when second in the Fillies' Mile on her final start. We're happy with her, she's done very well and we might look at the Park Express with her.

Lake Victoria
3f Frankel - Quiet Reflection
Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier
11111-
RPR 116 OR 119

She had a longer break than the others because her year was very long, ending up at the Breeders' Cup, where she made it five wins out of five. I'm not sure she'll make the Guineas but we're training her for it and I wouldn't rule her out because she usually comes quickly and she is starting to come, so we'll see. If she doesn’t come in time, she’ll go to the Athasi the day after at the Curragh.

Lambourn
3c Australia - Gossamer Wings
Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
115-2
RPR 107 OR 105

We were very happy with his run when second in the Ballysax behind Delacroix and he's come out of it well. We were delighted with it for his first run of the season and he looks like a horse who will get further.

Merrily
3f No Nay Never - Caponata
Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
14351-9
RPR 105 OR 106

She's a Group 3 winner, landing last year's Oh So Sharp at 25-1, and we thought she could be a Guineas filly. She was ninth on her return at Leopardstown but we were happy with it for her first run.

Dark horse
Minnie Hauk
3f Frankel - Multilingual
Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
21-
RPR 84 OR 88
She's improved a lot and done really well physically. She ran twice last season, finishing second at Cork and winning well at Leopardstown. She's a mile-and-a-half filly and is one for an Oaks trial.

Mount Kilimanjaro 3c Siyouni - Decorating
Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
5312-3
RPR 107 OR 109

He had some very good runs last season and won well in France before finishing second in the Group 1 at Saint-Cloud. We might run him in one of those trials at Chester. He was beaten at Dundalk on his return but we felt we might have started him a little too early. He looks like he'll get a mile and a quarter well and handles an ease in the ground.

Officer
3c Dubawi - Hydrangea
Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
1-3
RPR 109 OR 108

We were delighted with his run when third in the Gladness, especially for a very green horse who had run just once last year. We'll have a look at the Tetrarch with him and possibly one of the Guineas.

Puppet Master 3c Camelot - Realtra
Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
214-4
RPR 102 OR 105

He won well at Galway last season and we were disappointed when he was fourth in the Royal Lodge – we don't think he was 100 per cent after that. We were happy with his return when fourth in the Ballysax and he looks like he'll get a mile and a half.

Shackleton
3c Camelot - Damaniyat Girl
P M Brant & Mrs J Magnier & M Tabor & Derrick Smith
2213-
RPR 97 OR 101

He won at the Curragh last year and was third in the Zetland. He's in good shape and ready to start; we were thinking of running him last weekend. We think he's going to get a mile and a half and he'll be divided up somewhere with options at Lingfield, Leopardstown or Chester.

Swagman
3c Wootton Bassett - Secretina
Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier
312-
RPR 94 OR 103

He was second to Hotazhell on his final run last season. Similar to Shackleton, he's one for those Derby trials, although we're not sure he'll get a mile and a half.

Dark horse
Takemetothemoon
3f Uncle Mo - Together Forever
Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
35-
RPR 82
She had a couple of runs near the end of last season and was third and fifth but it looks like she's going to be a stakes filly. She's a lovely, good-moving horse who will get a mile and a quarter well.

Star quality
The Lion In Winter 3c Sea The Stars - What A Home
Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier
11-
RPR 116 OR 118
He won what looked a really good Acomb Stakes on what proved to be his final run last season as he had to miss the Dewhurst. He’s in good shape but took a little time to come right, so he’s a little behind the others. He’s very well but just carrying plenty of condition, so he probably won't make Newmarket. He might make the Irish Guineas and we'll have a look at the Dante as well.

Treasure Isle 3c No Nay Never - Newton's Night
Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
004135-
RPR 100 OR 99

He was a Listed winner over five furlongs last season. He's a very fast horse and is keen, so he might not stay that far, but we'll see. He's in good shape and nearly ready to start.

Trinity College 3c Dubawi - Hermosa
M Matsushima & Mrs J Magnier & M Tabor & D Smith
4142-1
RPR 107 OR 105

He made a winning start over a mile at Naas last month and had also had a few very good runs last season. I'd imagine he'll have no problem going a mile and a quarter. He could be a French Derby horse.

Truly Enchanting
3f No Nay Never - Alluringly
Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
101-
RPR 97 OR 101

She finished off last season well with a Group 2 win at the Curragh over six furlongs. She's fast and that might be as far as she wants, but we'll see. She could start off in a fillies' sprint at Cork.

Star quality
Twain
3c Wootton Bassett - Wading
Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier
11-
RPR 112 OR 113
He looks a very good horse. He won his maiden by six lengths in October and came out eight days later to win a Group 1 in France. It ended up soft for both those runs but we think he'd have no problem on good ground. He's done very well physically and is doing everything great. He could start in the Guineas but it seems like he'll also get a mile and a quarter well and, if he's good over that distance, he could get the Derby trip.

Whirl
3f Wootton Bassett - Salsa
Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier
4511-
RPR 93 OR 99

She won her last two runs last year, including a Group 3 at the Curragh, and has done very well. She could start in a Guineas trial or go to the Oaks trial at Navan. She's working well and we're very happy with her.

 

[luckyme]

Whistlejacket
3c No Nay Never - Adventure Seeker
P M Brant & Mrs J Magnier & M Tabor & Derrick Smith
12125-
RPR 111 OR 114

He's already a Group 1-winning sprinter, having won the Prix Morny last season. He was very consistent and is in good shape. He's a very fast horse and we think six furlongs is his trip.

Two-year-olds
We've a lot of two-year-olds to go and you'd have to be very happy with them. We're very happy with the St Mark's Basilicas, there's eight or ten of them here and they are lovely, laid-back and relaxed, like their sire.

There's a St Mark's Basilica colt out of Step Sequence and a No Nay Never colt out of Muirin [full brother to Blackbeard] who look nice. There's also a Wootton Bassett out of Yet who looks a bit different.

Others to mention are a Wootton Bassett colt out of Hence, a Starspangledbanner colt out of Mosa Mine [half-brother to Vandeek] and a St Mark's Basilica colt out of Willow. There's also a St Mark's Basilica colt out of Archangel Gabriel who is a fast horse.

Two for the Tracker

The Trainer
What Twain and Expanded did last year was very unusual as the two of them came out late and in seven or eight days they came back with massive runs in Group 1 races. Twain looks a very good horse and could start in the 2,000 Guineas, while Expanded will be ready to start at the same time and could go to the Curragh instead.
Aidan O'Brien

The Reporter
I've always been a fan of Diego Velazquez, who thrived once he got dropped to a mile last season, twice winning really impressively, and he could develop into a top miler on quick ground this season. There's plenty to come from Ballet Slippers and her juvenile form was very strong. She was thrown into the deep end in the Fillies’ Mile but she ran as well as could be expected having been up with a very strong pace and she could develop into a proper Oaks contender.
Conor Fennelly

The Tipster
Officer shaped really well on his Curragh reappearance behind Big Gossey on soft ground and smacks of a colt who will be best when conditions underfoot are much livelier. Seven furlongs looks his trip. Whirl is a big filly who looks open to considerable improvement this year. She holds Group 1 entries, and could develop into an Oaks contender.


Aidan O'Brien Stable Tour 2025 (Sportinglife)


Fran Berry visits Ballydoyle to get a run down on Aidan O'Brien's big hopes for the new flat season.

OLDER HORSES
DIEGO VELAZQUEZ
He’s going to be trained for the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and will have a run or two beforehand. He’s in good shape and moving well.

JAN BRUEGHEL
He’s very well, done very well and working very well but he’s going to have to stand in line with Kyprios I’d imagine. None of them are going to want to take him on so I thought he could go to Ascot for the Gold Cup or Hardwicke with a run before. If Kyprios is there in the Gold Cup there’s probably no point in any of ours running against him. I’d imagine he’s a mile-and-a-half-plus horse.

KYPRIOS
He's back and in great shape and the plan is to go back to Ascot with two runs beforehand. Then everything else can fall into line after that. Everything is very good with him at the moment, he’s very comfortable. He’s a great horse, he’s incredible. He goes forward, plants himself in second gear and falls asleep. He’s always been like that at home, even when he was a two-year-old. I remember when we took him to Newmarket for the Zetland Stakes, and he went asleep and didn’t wake up at all in the race. His personality is the same still. Ryan rides him great.

LOS ANGELES
We’re very happy with him. The plan is to go for the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He might have a run in one of those mile-and-a-quarter races before, but he’s done very well physically. We feel to go back to the Arc would suit him well. It didn’t work out for him last year where he ended up making the running and he’d prefer to be getting a lead, but he could be a very legitimate horse this time around. He’s big and powerful.

STORM BOY
He’s fast. Before he came down [from Australia], we didn’t know how fast he was going to be but he is very quick. The plan is to go to Ascot with maybe a run at the Curragh in the Greenlands beforehand. He’s quick and you’d be very happy with everything he’s doing.

TOWER OF LONDON
In good shape and working well. He was at the Curragh last weekend and we were very happy. We’re thinking of going to France for the Group One early with him rather than running into Kyprios at home.

THREE-YEAR-OLDS
BALLET SLIPPERS
She had a lovely run at the Curragh where one of Donnacha’s fillies beat her and he loves her. Ballet Slippers ran very well in the Fillies’ Mile, and we were going back to France with her for a race over a mile-and-quarter but she got injured. She’s back and we’ll train her for the Oaks. She’s a grand filly.

BEDTIME STORY
She’s good but a little highly-strung, a bit like her sister Content. I’d imagine her next run she’ll be second or third string and there’ll be no pressure on her and we can try to switch her off and see what happens. She was a very quick learner who probably wanted to overdo things, and she was a bit too keen on her two runs after Ascot but she’s smart. We thought the sister wouldn’t stay a mile-and-a-half, but she did and there must be a chance she will too.

BUBBLING
A No Nay Never filly who could get a mile, most of them don’t but she could. It looks like it might be within her compass and she’s probably a Guineas filly as well.

CAMILLE PISSARRO
We always thought he was very good but he didn’t win a Group One right until the end of the season, so I’d say we probably got it wrong with him. He’s a fast horse, we think a mile is as far as he’s going to go and he’ll have to be ridden to get it. Christophe (Soumillon) was very impressed with him in France, he won very nicely, and I’d say we were riding him wrong and doing the wrong things with him before then. Now we know him, we should be better with him this season and he’s a classy horse. He’s a possible for the Guineas.

DELACROIX
He’s very well, in good shape and was at the Curragh as well. We view him as a middle-distance horse, and I’d imagine he’ll start in one of the trials with the view to being a Derby horse.

DREAMY
She’s not quick enough for a Guineas but she’s an Oaks filly. We ran her in the Fillies’ Mile just to see. She’ll prefer going a mile-and-a-half and is a lovely, big filly who’ll like nice ground.

EXACTLY
She’s going very well and is a very good filly. She could run in a Guineas in England or France and is very straightforward. You can ride her up there and she’s working great and was very good the last day. We made too much use of her in the Boussac but she’s very smart.

FAIRY GODMOTHER
She’s very good. She was away at the Curragh last weekend and I’m very happy with her. She did an unusual thing at Ascot, winning as she did, and worked seven furlongs with ease in the ground at the Curragh and got it very well. It’s very possible she could go to the Guineas without a run.

GISELLE
We haven’t seen the best of her yet. She had a few little hold-ups but was away at the Curragh and we’re looking at her as an Oaks filly with a trial before. She’s headstrong and always trying to do a little more than you want her to, but she’s big, powerful and strong.

HENRI MATISSE
He’s a fast horse who likes fast ground and to come late. I put blinkers on him in bad ground in France last season and he got a bad bump and got frightened but went on to win very well in America. What he did there is a very difficult thing to do, coming from a bad draw and a long way back and he still got there easily. I don’t think Ryan hit him and he’s a horse with a lot of ability. A very good mover, we wouldn’t be in a rush to go on soft ground with him again.

LAKE VICTORIA
She was at the Curragh as well. She had a longer break than the others because her year ran long. She went nicely last weekend in an easy piece of work and I’m not sure she’ll make the Guineas but we’re training her for it. If she doesn’t come in time, she’ll go to the Curragh the day after. Knowing her she’ll probably come in time, she’s that type of filly, and physically has done very well. She’s fast.

 

[luckyme]

LORD BYRON
A staying horse who will want a trip. He was green on debut at Punchestown but came home well and is probably going to want a mile-and-a-half plus.

THE LION IN WINTER
He’s in good shape but took a little time to come right so he’s a little behind the others. He was at the Curragh last weekend and went well, the work was easy what he did. Whether he’ll make it in time for the Guineas I’m not sure, we’ll know in the next week or so. But if he doesn’t, he might be trained for something like the Dante and go straight to the Derby. He’s very well but just carrying plenty of condition so he might not make Newmarket. In the next couple of weeks, we’ll know.

MINNIE HAUK
A filly who has improved a lot. She’s an Oaks Trial/Oaks filly and has done very well physically.

TAKEMETOTHEMOON
An Uncle Mo half-sister to City Of Troy and she’s lovely. She’s a lovely-moving filly and she’ll get a mile-and-a-quarter well and looks like a Stakes filly.

STAY TRUE
A son of Galileo out of Bounce. He hasn’t run and he’s the last one for me by the sire and not far away from a run. Hopefully he’s smart.

TWAIN & EXPANDED
What they did last year was very unusual. The two of them came out late and went back within five or six days for a Group One, both of them. Twain won in France and Expanded just got beat in the Dewhurst.

He got a bit of a raw deal in that he was going to Newmarket for experience as second string behind The Lion In Winter and then he didn’t run and he got put into the front line and ran very well.

Twain has done very well physically and he’ll have no problem with good ground.

WHISTLEJACKET
A fast horse. Six furlongs is his trip, he went to the Curragh and worked well.


TWO-YEAR-OLDS

They’ll be ready to start in the next two or three weeks. We’ve a lot to go and you’d have to be very happy with them at the moment.

We try to get a run into everything if we can and eight or ten are ready to go, lovely relaxed, laidback horses.

Ones I’ll mention at this stage are a St Mark’s Basilica colt out of Step Sequence, there’s a No Nay Never colt out of Muirin, a Wootton Bassett colt out of Yet.

There’s another Wootton Bassett colt out of Hence, a Starspangledbanner colt out of Mosa Mine, a St Mark’s Basilica colt out of Willow and another St Mark’s Basilica colt out of Archangel Gabriel who is a fast horse too.

In a couple of weeks, we’ll know more. They’re not named yet, Sue Magnier will be doing that, and she usually puts the good names to the good horses. She’s always done that.

 

[luckyme]

Three maidens with the Timeform 'Large P' open to major improvement
By Timeform


Horse Racing
Thu April 24, 2025 · 1h ago

Timeform identify three maidens that shaped well in defeat on debut and were awarded the 'Large P' to show they're open to significant improvement.

Antrim (Timeform rating 74P)
Fifth, 1¼m novice, Yarmouth, Saturday 5 April

Antrim has an eye-catching pedigree being by Dubawi and out of a close relation to the top-class dual Arc winner Enable, but he was too green to do himself justice on debut at Yarmouth.

Antrim was sent off the 5/4 favourite, despite being up against a previous winner for the powerful Godolphin operation in Alpine Trail, but he was soon on the back foot after breaking slowly. Antrim also showed his inexperience during the race as he had to be niggled entering the straight with more than half a mile still to run.

He never threatened to get on terms in a race run at a steady gallop that was dictated by the winner Alpine Trail, but he kept on gradually and could be a different proposition with this experience to call on. His pedigree certainly offers plenty of hope and he's in top hands. John & Thady Gosden.

The Sporting Life Racing Club
Etawa (82P)
Third, 1¼m maiden, Leopardstown, Wednesday 9 April

Subsequent Group 1 winners Tarnawa and Above The Curve have won this fillies maiden in recent years and the latest winner, Catalina Delcarpio, also looks like a smart prospect after quickening clear in the manner of one set to go on to better things. She wasn't the only filly in the line-up awarded the Timeform 'Large P', though, as third-placed Etawa also shaped well on debut despite clearly being held back by inexperience.

Etawa was last of the seven runners entering the straight and raced awkwardly when first asked to quicken, carrying her head high and wandering around. However, the penny seemed to drop for Etawa inside the final furlong and she ran on strongly to close on the runner-up.

She's from a family the trainer knows well - her winning dam is a half-sister to the smart Eziyra who was placed in a Hong Kong Vase for the yard- and she should build on this promising introduction. Dermot Weld.


True Friend (61P)
Fourth, 1m fillies' maiden, Gowran Park, Wednesday 16 April

True Friend, a close relation to several winners including the multiple Group 2 winner Armory, attracted support on debut at Gowran Park and shaped better than the bare result would suggest in fourth.

She may have been beaten ten lengths, but the six-length winner, the 25/1 shot Gotomylovely, ploughed a lone furrow up the far rail and may have been at an advantage. True Friend was only four lengths behind the one who fared best of those who raced towards the stand side, Harana, and probably would have finished closer had she raced handier in a steadily-run event.

True Friend had to pick her way through but put in some good late work and looks likely to take a big step forward. Donnacha O'Brien.

 

[luckyme]

Top jockey Tom Marquand gives us five horses to follow for the 2025 Flat season.



ALMAQAM – It felt like he never got a clear rub of the green last year but he’s a lovely horse. He wants a bit of cut in the ground and hopefully Ed Walker can have a big season with him.

ALOBAYYAH – She’s a Ghaiyyath filly who won at Yarmouth last October. She won well and could be anything this year, she’s a nice big rangy filly and I expect a good year from her.

BIG MOJO – In theory he should be even better at three than he was at two. He’s exceptionally fast and he ended the year with a good run in the Breeders’ Cup. He should be an exciting horse for the year ahead.

CROWN OF OAKS – He ran once last year and then ran at Newbury the other day where he was unlucky, they came to the stands’ side and he had no room, but he’s a lovely horse for the season ahead.

ECONOMICS – He’s back again and he’s exceptionally talented. Obviously he won an Irish Champion Stakes but I really hope we haven’t seen the best of him yet.

 

[luckyme]

Joseph O'Brien Stable tour 2025

Older horses


A Piece Of Heaven
Seven-year-old gelding
Jukebox Jury (sire) - Activa (dam)
Owners: Syndicates Racing
Form figures: 41/1732-
Racing Post Rating 105; Official rating 107

It was a great effort when second in the Irish Cesarewitch on his final run of the season, but he had a little setback after that. We're looking forward to having him back for those nice staying races from the summer onwards.

Aeronautic
4g Gleneagles - Meri Shika
Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd
5114-
RPR 99 OR 97

He put in two good performances at Dundalk and Leopardstown last year and ran well when fourth in the Vinnie Roe on his fourth start. The plan is for him to reappear over the Guineas weekend at the Curragh and he might go to Ascot for a handicap afterwards.

Al Riffa
5h Wootton Bassett - Love On My Mind
Masaaki Matsushima & Al Riffa Syndicate
46210-3
RPR 121 OR 119

He's been a great horse and ran some big races last season, including when second in the Eclipse before his Group 1 win at Hoppegarten. He ran a great race when third in the Neom Turf Cup earlier this year and will probably now go to the Prix Ganay next before a race in Hong Kong or the Tattersalls Gold Cup. The Coronation Cup also comes into the equation as an option. He's high class and hopefully he can continue to compete in those Group 1 races as a five-year-old.

Birthe
4f Study Of Man - Barakaat
Tim Porter
311720-
RPR 107

She was a Group 2 winner in France last year and has settled in well since joining us. She's a nice filly and will probably start off in the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes on Guineas weekend at the Curragh.

Dawn Rising
8g Galileo - Devoted To You
JP McManus
53561-6
RPR 108 OR 103

He won the Queen Alexandra two years ago and ran another good race in it when third last year. It makes sense to aim for the race again and he'll probably go to the Vintage Crop and the Saval Beg on the road like he did last year.

Galen
4g Gleneagles - Apache Storm
Barry Taylor/TG Fitzgerald/Paul H Redmond/Barry Fowler
48-4651
RPR 115 OR 110

We were very happy with him in the Alleged Stakes where he put it all together with an impressive win. We'll look at the Mooresbridge and the Tattersalls Gold Cup now. He ran very well in some really good races last term, although it just didn't pan out for him in Dubai this year. We'd felt his best was yet to come and it was nice to see him do it on the track at the Curragh.

Leinster
4g Camelot - Black Envy
Al Shira'aa Racing Limited
8/13-1
RPR 93 OR 91

He improved for stepping up to a mile and a half at the Curragh last month, when winning a handicap in good style, and he could go for the Chester Cup or the Vintage Crop. He's hopefully going to be a progressive stayer this season.

Sons And Lovers
4g Study Of Man - So In Love
H O S Syndicate
63284-3
RPR 109 OR 105

He joined us from Jane Chapple-Hyam having shown some good form last year. We were very pleased with his first start for us when third in the Alleged, which was a perfect stable debut and marked him out as an exciting prospect for the season. He'll probably run in either the Mooresbridge or the Tattersalls Gold Cup en route to Royal Ascot.

The Liffey
4g No Nay Never - Rain Goddess
Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
1/51-
RPR 104 OR 98

He's joined us from Ballydoyle and we're happy with how he's training. We'll make a decision about his reappearance nearer the time.

Trustyourinstinct
5g Churchill - Gussy Goose
JP McManus
2212-83
RPR 112 OR 108

He showed some really good form last year, winning a Group 3 at Leopardstown over a mile and a half and just touched off in a Group 2 in Italy in October. We were happy with his run when third in the Devoy Stakes, but the set-up of the race wasn't ideal for him. Depending on ground, he could go for the Mooresbridge next.

Uluru
4f Zoffany - Boucheron
Team Valor
33253-4
RPR 101 OR 102

She's consistent and was only beaten a couple of lengths on her reappearance at Leopardstown, running up the tails of some really good horses. She's comfortable over a mile and nine furlongs. She has a good few options for her next start – perhaps something like the Victor McCalmont at Gowran next month.

Uxmal
6g Galileo - Only Mine
Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd
4212/11-
RPR 112 OR 108

He was an impressive winner of the Queen Alexandra last year but picked up a little niggle in the race so didn't run again. We'll work our way back to the same race this year. He undoubtedly has plenty of stamina and it's a race that suits him.


Three-year-olds


Amangani
f No Nay Never - La Naturel
Philip Antonacci
31-
RPR 82

She's a nice filly who improved from her debut at Gowran to win her maiden at Punchestown. We'll probably see her back in the Athasi Stakes and will take it from there.

And So To Bed
f Kodiac - Pepys Tillergirl
Ridgmont/Thomas P O'Brien/V Zhdanov
451582-
RPR 92 OR 98

She progressed nicely last season and finished off in good style when runner-up in a Group 3 at the Curragh. She's also probably going to start back in the Athasi as well. She likes a bit of soft ground and is a nice filly.

Cowardofthecounty
c Kodi Bear - Hawaajib
Stonestreet Stables Llc/J Oxley/T Farmer
177159-
RPR 102 OR 107

A Group 3 winner at Deauville last year over seven furlongs, he's going to make his reappearance in the Committed Stakes at Navan on Saturday. We're hoping he's en route to the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. We think six to seven furlongs is his trip and he's done very well over the winter and is training nicely.

Emit
c Too Darn Hot - Light Of Joy
Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd
5315-2
RPR 91 OR 99

He had a really good reappearance run at Cork last weekend when a close second and it was a very pleasing effort. He pulled up well afterwards and will either head straight to Ascot or go to the Gallinule first.

Green Triangle
g Gleneagles - Whimsical Dream
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
1O34-33
RPR 95 OR 92

He contested a smart race at Cork last weekend and just got sucked into it a bit early but did well to finish third. He'll probably go up in distance for a winners' race at Roscommon. He won his maiden there last year so it looks a suitable spot for him.

Kibris
c Lope De Vega - Dark Rose Angel
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
1-65
RPR 94

He won his maiden at the Curragh on his only start last year and had a lovely run on his reappearance in the Ballysax. He was below par at Cork last weekend, but we're hoping he can get back on track next time.

Lady With The Lamp
f King Of Change - Caring Touch
K Blake/Mrs E Palmer/M Wilson/N Luck
16318-1
RPR 103 OR 102

It was great to win another stakes race with her at Cork early in the season and she's a star. She'll either go back to Cork for the Polonia Stakes or there's a nice race at Chelmsford for her. She's tough, tenacious and fast.

Saracen
c Siyouni - Soteria
Al Shaqab Racing
1-3
RPR 104 OR 103

He ran a great race when third in the Greenham at Newbury – we were really pleased with that on just his second run after he won his maiden very well at the Curragh last year. It has to be discussed with the Al Shaqab team whether he runs in the Classic or waits for the Jersey Stakes. A mile is probably something we'll explore at some stage, but we're not in a rush to do it.

Scorthy Champ
c Mehmas - Fidaaha
Rectory Road Holdings Limited & B Fowler & Mrs AM O'Brien
131-
RPR 113 OR 116

He was obviously a real high-class two-year-old, winning two of his three starts and putting in a high-class performance in the National Stakes. He was probably as good a two-year-old as we've had and the plan is to start off in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. He has a very high cruising speed and we think there's a good chance he'll handle the track at Newmarket, which would mean he goes there as one of the realistic contenders in what it's fair to say is an open race. We see him as a miler at the moment, but he could drop back to seven furlongs at some stage if we wanted as he's got buckets of pace.


Tennessee Stud
c Wootton Bassett - In My Dreams
Westerberg, Tabor, Magnier, Smith
3121-
RPR 110 OR 110

He won the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his last start and the feeling here was that he did it despite the ground as it was a real slog that day. He's wintered very well and has matured and progressed so we're very excited about him. He ran late last year so it was always the plan to miss the early Derby trials this season. He'll go to Leopardstown on May 11 for the Derby trial and from there on to Epsom. His pedigree has plenty of pace in it and is really more of a mile pedigree, even though he's out of a Sadler's Wells mare, so it wouldn't be absolutely guaranteed he'd get a mile and a half. We'll evaluate it after Leopardstown and Epsom.

Valencia
f Lope De Vega - Deccan Queen
Philip Antonacci
724-
RPR 83 OR 87

She's a nice maiden who had three good runs last year, including a solid fourth in the Goffs Million. She's done well over the winter and might end up a filly for the Sandringham.

Wemightakedlongway
f Australia - Don't Ask Me At All
E S Racing
313-5
RPR 98 OR 102

We thought it was a real good run when fifth in the Ballysax on her return, and she'll go to either Chester or to Navan for the Salsabil on Saturday. Hopefully she can be a real smart filly for the year.

 

[luckyme]

Two-year-olds


Green Sense
f Starman - Big Boned
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
1
RPR 87

She was very impressive on her debut at the Curragh when beating the colts – you don't see that too many times during the year with a filly. We'll probably look to go to Naas for the juvenile fillies' race next month and then have a discussion to decide the next step from there. It's always positive when the first two-year-old who runs puts in a good performance and it bodes well for the team at home.

Two for the Tracker

The Trainer
Saracen was a very good winner of a Curragh maiden last year and we were really happy with how he performed in the Greenham. He looks a smart colt and could be one for the Guineas or the Jersey. Sons And Lovers had some very good form last year and put in a really pleasing stable debut for us when third in the Alleged Stakes behind Galen. He's one to look forward to this season.
Joseph O'Brien

The Reporter

It doesn't take a genius to unearth Scorthy Champ but, at 9-1 for the 2,000 Guineas, I still think he's being underestimated for the first Classic of the campaign. His third in the Futurity at the Curragh was bursting with promise given he was slowly away, green and had to sit and suffer in a slowly run race, and he then reversed that form with Henri Matisse when an authoritative winner of the National Stakes. Emit should also win his fair share of races after a very encouraging return at Cork last weekend.
Conor Fennelly

The Tipster

Leinster clearly hasn't been easy to train given his winning four-year-old debut was only the fourth run of his life, but it certainly promised a lot more if he can stay sound. The way he quickened again from the front at the Curragh caught the eye, and he could prove a long way ahead of his rating despite an 8lb rise. I like a man with a plan and the fact O'Brien has mentioned the Sandringham for Valencia makes her a filly to look out for. He has twice had fillies placed in that Royal Ascot handicap from higher marks than Valencia has, and all of her juvenile form was promising.

 

[luckyme]

Ralph Beckett

Graham Clark visits Kimpton Down Stables to get a run down on Ralph Beckett's big hopes for the new flat season.

When it comes to trainer’s in Britain possessing a team with proven talent mixed with exciting horses yet to reach their full potential then look no further than Ralph Beckett.

End of season exploits from Bluestocking in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp and Starlust in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar transformed what had been a solid 2024 campaign into a sensational one.

Bluestocking might have moved on to pastures new to take up broodmare duties, but everywhere you look at Kimpton Down Stables it is brimming with quality to suggest the 2025 season will be equally exciting as the last.

A total of 12 entries in this year’s Betfred Derby tells its own tale as to the quality of horse the Classic winning handler has at his disposal.

And with a crop of exciting three year olds joined by the likes of 2024 Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me and stable stalwarts Kinross and Starlust everything points to another season filled full of success for Beckett and his ever expanding equine team.

Beckett said: “It has been an aim to concentrate on quality over everything else and we are honing that every year.

“None of us expected any of that to happen in the Arc. Bluestocking ended up being a well backed second favourite on the day, but we didn’t go into the weekend thinking we would win. But the rain in the morning helped significantly as did a terrific draw. She really thrived for going to the Vermeille and coming back to the Arc.

“Starlust just loves travelling. They went ballistic through the first quarter of a mile in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and that set it up for him.

“There were plenty of others backing them up, including You Got To Me, whose win in the Irish Oaks was huge and she put in a big run in the Yorkshire Oaks. She has got a pedigree that suggests she will be better this season.

“As for the two year olds we had any number of maiden winners going into this year and hopefully a couple will step forward. I think that we’ve been sent a lot of nice two year olds so that is great. Hopefully the ball will keep rolling.”

And is not just equine talent that Beckett will be nurturing with promising apprentice jockey Jack Dace, son of trainer Luke Dace, joining his roster of riders to call upon this season.

Beckett added: “George Baker approached me to take him and he was an old ally of ours back in the day so it felt like a good fit.

“We’ve not had an apprentice for a while, but he rides well and he impressed in his trial here.

“He will learn plenty here from Rossa Ryan, Hector Crouch, Eddie Greatrex and Richard Kingscote. He has got plenty of advice coming his way as his dad is a good guy.

“He will have plenty of help from lots of places. He will live here, and work here, and we will do the best for him.”

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AMILOC
He kind of surprised us, but he is from a good family, however the mare has found it difficult to get in foal. I hope he will be one for a Royal Ascot handicap. He is a tough lad. He flipped in the stalls at York in a conditions race right at the end of the season. He would have been favourite if he hadn't done that so has got to do a stalls test. We never thought of him as being complicated, but he was just in the stalls a long time that day at York.

ANNIVERSARY
Although he is already gelded he is a nice horse. Hopefully he will end up being a horse for the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot. He will stay well. He over-achieved at two, but he probably should have won that smart nursery at Newmarket. He just got a bit lonely in front and he paddled around. Jim Boyle’s horse off a light weight had something to aim at and ran him down. I think he is on the right side of the handicapper and I like the horse.

AUREL
He is German bred and the German Derby could be the way to go with him. He has a good way of going and puts plenty in during the mornings. He is training well and he has come forward physically over the winter. We were very surprised on his debut. We were astonished as he kind of did it on his own. If you watch the race back I don’t think Eddie (Greatrex) hits him. He just threw the reins at him to finish the race out, and he did. We are pleased with him.

BOLO NEIGHS
He is a smashing little horse. He is a bonny, hardy horse. He did a tibia when he was second on his second start and that is why there was a big gap between that run and his third run and that is why things panned out how they did. He had that prep run then went to Ireland for the sales race. I probably should have run him in the Cornwallis and not the Rockingham.

He won’t be particularly early to come to hand, but he will do well. I think six furlongs is his optimum. He is rated 99 at the moment. I will work out if he is good enough for a Commonwealth Cup or whether we have to leave him slightly below that level. It is not that big of a jump he has to make to be a Commonwealth Cup horse.

BRAVE MISSION
I like him and I thought it was a good effort on his last start. I hope he will be in those mile to a mile and a quarter three year old only handicaps going through to Royal Ascot. We will probably start him over a mile then we will work out where we go. He could be a Britannia horse or one for the Golden Gates Handicap. I think from what we have seen at home he has done well from two to three and there is mileage in him.

BRIGHT TIMES AHEAD
She is a filly that we always had a big opinion of. She wasn’t the most robust and she was quite immature. We sat and watched her win her maiden at Newmarket while I was in Del Mar with her owner and that went down quite well. She is pretty talented and I think she will get a mile and a half, but I’ve got to prove that. If she does stay then we are in business. I think she is going to have to go into a mile and a quarter Oaks trial and work our way from there, however the Michael Seely Memorial Stakes at York might be a possibility as well.

CALLA LAGOON
He is a tough lad. He has a bit of a round action so he will need some juice in the ground. I like the way he went through the Silver Tankard. He surprised me a bit at Ascot as I’m not sure we felt we would win going into the race. I thought he would need it again. He was very professional that day as he had to run through a tight gap and in the end he won pretty well.

He is a forward going sort of horse. We will probably go for a Derby trial with him and work it out from there. He could go to Sandown, but I don’t think Chester would be a danger to him either as I think he would handle it around there. The question will be how far will he get as on his pedigree there is a question mark. I think 10 furlongs might end up being his maxim, but we will see.

CATHEDRAL
I think she will probably go straight to the 1000 Guineas. She is in good form and is training well, but she is just a little bit behind in her coat. When she first came here from the breeze-ups she was a very sick filly so we had to send her away and she was in a field for six weeks. She was impressive at Lingfield, but then I think we made too much use of her in the Oh So Sharp Stakes. I think if we had hung on to her a bit more she would have probably won.

She is a tough girl and she should improve significantly this year I would think. It doesn’t really worry me going straight to a 1000 Guineas with her. Being a breeze-up filly they have got a slightly different profile and she has quite a lot of experience under her belt for a filly that has only had two starts.

CHANTILLY LACE
She is a good filly I think and I’ve always had a high opinion of her based on her homework. “I’m not sure it was much of a race she won, but she could do nothing more than win. She has grown exponentially over the winter. We will see how things develop, but she is a big girl now. I don’t have a strong view where we will start yet, but I think she will stay. She is behind in her coat so I’ve not really gone looking for her. I’m still waiting for her to come to me. I think she will end up competing in pattern races as she is bred for it. I’ve just got to wait for her a little bit.

DOHA
Doha did well last season winning the Kensington Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before winning a Listed race over at Saint–Cloud later in the season. Although it failed to happen for her in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day, hopefully she can get her head in front in a Group race this season. She is training well at the moment, but she is one that always takes a little while to come to hand. She has an entry in the Middleton Stakes and I would be keen to take her to York for that if she is ready for it.

 

[luckyme]

GREY’S MONUMENT
It is all about the ground with Grey’s Monument. Over seven furlongs on the right ground he will get it done. It was great for his owner last year when he won the Listed race up Redcar while he was also impressive when he scooted clear in the handicap he won at Ascot. He is just a genuine, hard knocking horse that always does his best. If we place him right then he will go and do it again. He should be up to winning another Listed race again if we stick to the right ground and trip with him.

FEIGNING MADNESS
We have got him back in for another partnership and hopefully we can get him in some of those nice mile and a half races and even possibly mile six contests. He has got quite a lot to prove in a sense. We know he has got a lot of ability, but where he has got to prove it is that he can hold it all together. A lot of it is what is going on between his ears. If we can get that to work, and get him to do it on his terms, he will give us plenty of action. Races like the John Porter and Aston Park are the sort of races we want to be looking at with him.

I AM I SAID
He was a big surprise when he won on debut. He worked it out for himself in the race. He hadn’t really shown that at home plus he had an away day as well. We hadn’t spotted it. Normally it would stand out on an away day, but sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes the best ones don’t show up on that first away day. He has done well over the winter and is quite forward. He has done a couple of pieces of work, just easy stuff. He will run in a Derby trial in five or six weeks time and he will be ready for one.

KINROSS
He is back in and is going again. I thought the Chipchase was a good place to start him last year, but if it turned up wet at Royal Ascot then he could go for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. His year will be framed around the Lennox Stakes, City Of York, Park Stakes and Foret again in all probability. We’ve also popped him in the Lockinge. He was only beaten three quarters of a length in a so it isn’t like he doesn’t get a mile. We might be a little bit more open minded as to where we go this year. He is moving well and training well.

As much as anything else it is about looking after him as he will pay us back if we look after him. On the figures Timeform had him running right up to his best at Doncaster in the Park Stakes. He was beaten by a very good filly in the Foret and he was drawn slightly away from it in the Champions Sprint, but he had been at it a while then I suppose. Hopefully he can continue operating at that level as an eight year old as we think he retains all his enthusiasm.

LORD MELBOURNE
He picked up a problem in the November Handicap and he has been off all winter. He won’t be ready until the second half of the season. Ground is important to him. I would love to go a little bit further with him to try and see if we could get him into an Ebor as that is what I thought at the end of last year. With him having that problem that is still a possibility, but we will see how that all develops.

If that is a push we have got things like the November Handicap again. The real angle with him is that he is such a straightforward horse to ride that you can put an apprentice on him. He will be a very good spot for an apprentice again. Jack Dace starts here with us in the middle of the month having had his trial here and he will be a good ride for him.

MATAURI BAY
He had a horrendous trip to France so you can put a line through that run. We sort of ended up having to run him rather than thinking it was a good idea. Hector (Crouch) looked after him when it wasn’t going to happen and he came out of it well. He has been training well this spring. I haven’t worked out where we will go with him yet. He isn’t a horse that would need a lot of work. He is a good horse and I do think he has done well from two to three physically. He is a very light framed horse that doesn’t weigh a great deal. I think he is longer and scopey than he was. I wasn’t sure that was going to happen, but it has.

OXFORD COMMA
She should do well again this year. She probably had just had enough when I ran her at the back end of the season. The ground is important to her, but she stays very well. I hope the Lillie Langtry and Park Hill Stakes is the route I hope to go with her. The ground is important for her. The Bronte Cup could well be a good place to start her off in at York. I felt I had to step her up in grade at the end of last season. She is a real stayer and her pedigree is stamina laden and she could easily stay two and a half miles.

PERFECT YOUR CRAFT
She is a nice filly that has plenty of scope. I’m not sure it was a great race she won, but she did it off not much practice. She should do well this year, but she will probably always need a bit of juice in the ground. I imagine we will start her off in an Oaks trial. She is a straightforward filly and we should be starting her off in a Oaks trial.

PINHOLE
He hadn’t really shown it home between arriving from Freemason Lodge and running so I was a little bit surprised he got it done quite the way he did at Southwell. I just wanted to see if we could win a maiden with him. Once they have been up the Rowley Mile you never really worry about them needing more experience as it teaches them so much there and it clearly had. I know Quadrilateral showed a lot of boot, but he really does look like he is going to stay. He is in the Derby and he has got a pedigree to match and he has got the temperament as well. He is a well balanced horse so he has got everything in the right place. He is just not a horse that is obvious at home so we will see how we go.

PRIDE OF ARRAS
He is a talented horse, but he had a small issue after he won his maiden so that is why he didn’t appear again. He should do much better this year. We will see how it pans out for him, but he is a talented horse. I’m not sure where we will start him. We might go for a novice first to give him more experience opposed to pitching him into a stakes race. I would say we will head for a novice event first then work our way up.

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PRINCE OF THE SEAS
He kind of surprised me as I never had a big opinion of him. There was a lot of discussion whether he should be kept as a three year old, but I’ve been really pleased with him over the winter. The way he has gone this spring I’m glad we have kept him. I just thought I had underestimated him based on his racecourse performances. I think he is a horse who will do well this year. Do I think he is a stakes horse at the moment, probably not, but he might go through the grades handicap wise.

PUSH THE LIMIT
He kind of surprised me last year. He has a staying pedigree, but I always thought he was quite an immature horse. He is a lean long horse that is well balanced. He should stay really well, but I will see how his work is on the grass then make a decision about him. My gut is saying that he is going to stay. He could fall into the same category as Starzintheireyes later on in the season.

QIRAT
He was a little bit behind in his coat and he would have preferred more in the Lincoln,but that isn’t why we didn’t run him. I would have run him on that ground, but at the five day stage it was clear he wasn’t going to make it. I hope he will make the Spring Cup at Newbury, which I see they are running around a bend this year, and that will suit him as well. It is possible he could take the step out of handicap company at some point. He has always been a slightly quirky individual. I think we think he is a bit more straightforward this year, psychologically. All the form book says he needs a strong gallop to aim at so it might be that big field handicaps are always going to suit him slightly better. I still think there is a good handicap in him off this mark.

SANDTRAP
She is a talented filly, but she has had a small hold up. She is quite behind in her coat so I’m not sure when she is going to appear. She is doing well and is healthy and it will all fall into place. It is a funny situation with her as physically she looks like she is going to stay and her style of running suggests she is going to stay, but it is quite a fast pedigree she has. I’ve got to get her over this small issue before we work out quite which route to take with her.

SAQQARA SANDS
She is a sweet filly. I think the Fred Darling will come too soon for her. She is a bit like Tabiti and I kind of see her in that bracket. She is in the German 1000 Guineas as well. I don’t think she wants soft ground, even though she was second in the Radley Stakes on it. I will find another Listed race for her depending on how she is working and how we feel at the time. She feels to me that she could be one for the Eternal Stakes at Carlisle in July. That feels like a really good spot for her. I don’t have her in the same bracket as Cathedral yet, but she may end up in it. At the moment that is really where I would have her.

 

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SEACRUISER
He is a very nice horse and I like the way he goes. He will definitely appear in a Derby trial as things stand. His work has been good and with that pedigree you would expect plenty of improvement. I thought it was a good effort at Newmarket, which was perhaps against the curve in the sense that Sea The Stars doesn’t have too many two year old winners. If we got a maiden win into him at two he was always going to have to run in a Derby trial at three so that is what we will do.

SEA TO SKY
I think she is probably a Listed class filly, but she has done very well from two to three so I might be wrong. She is training well and is a tough girl. I think a mile will be her trip and I don’t think she will get much further. It was a good effort for her to finish third in the Radley Stakes. Her brother needed juice in the ground and so the fact it was soft in the Radley Stakes would maybe indicate that is as good as she is, but we will see.

SING US A SONG
He is one that will stay really well as he is a very laid back horse for a Camelot. He only does enough, but he could also be a horse for the King George V Stakes as I think he is another one that is on the right side of the handicapper. He could start in the London Gold Cup at Newbury as I think that would be a good spot for him. He is a tough horse so those big field handicaps will suit him.

He has got a good attitude. He just did enough at Goodwood as he needs something to aim at. He was quite fiery initially as a two year old which is why we ran him so early as I wanted to get his back down a little bit. Eddie Greatrex gave him a good introduction on the July Course then it all fell into place and he then worked out what he was there for quite quickly. He should do well this season.

SIR DINADAN
He is a lovely big powerful horse. He will stay very well and he is likely to run in a Derby trial somewhere, but I’ve not worked out which one yet. Ground might be an issue as he hits the ground quite hard. I wouldn’t mind going around Chester with him at all having gone around Pontefract and given the way he travelled there. He went around Pontefract better than I expected him to. The Classic Trial at Sandown could suit him as well. They would be the two most likely trials. He is a difficult horse to read as he doesn’t always show up in the mornings. It took him three starts to get off the mark as he was a slow learner. I do think he will stay very well.

SKELLET
We could possibly go to the Dahlia first time out with her or the Middleton. I like the idea of the Dahlia. I always felt she would get a mile and a quarter well, and she did when she got run down in the last 20 yards at Chantilly that day. It was one of those ones where nothing really went right for us last year in terms of herself or her racecourse campaign. It was really frustrating as she took forever to come to hand in the spring which is why she didn’t make her debut until the Irish 1000 Guineas. I was just always slightly on the back foot with her. She is a big framed filly, who again is taking a while to come to hand.

This is her year if I can get all my ducks in a row. It was great to see her win the Listed race at Sandown Park on her final start and it was important that she did for her owners. Once that happened it was a relief as it meant I didn’t have to run her again. I was looking after her by not running her again. I was doing it on her terms rather than mine. She is a stakes winning sister to a Group One winner and that is always going to be there so we can campaign her in a way that will suit her.


SMOKEN
She surprised me all year. We thought she was a maiden winner, but we didn’t envisage her winning a stakes race at two although I’m not sure how strong of a race it was. Although she was well backed I didn’t think we were that confident going into the race. She travelled really well through the race then paddled a bit coming out of the dip, but I still thought it was a big effort despite her short price. She will appear in one of those Oaks trials in the first half of May whichever one we feel fits best. The Musidora at York might be the way we go with her.

SQUARE D’ALBONI
He is a gelding so we have to campaign him with that in mind. He is another that will stay well and with the French premiums it means we will have a few of those races on the radar as well. Physically he has done well from two to three as he was quite a weak horse last year, but he has really bulked up. His form has wired out well as the horse he beat into fourth (Tajlina) in the Prix Isonomy has come out and won a Group Three which is good. He is a horse that I really like, but as he was a rig we had to geld him.

STANHOPE GARDENS
He is another lovely horse. He has a terrific attitude to life in general. He hit the front and I think the rail helped the winner in the Autumn Stakes. That form is now very strong with Delacroix coming out and winning the Ballysax Stakes. He could run in the 2000 Guineas, and I wouldn’t rule that out, but he won’t be ready before then. It would be a toss up between the 2000 Guineas or the Dante. I’ve not galloped him yet. He has been a little bit behind in his coat, but he is a horse that puts in plenty every morning. It is not about fast work with him as he is not a horse that needs a lot of work so that helps me out.

STARLUST
He is back again and his programme will be framed around the Nunthorpe, Prix de l’Abbaye and the Breeders’ Cup once again. He really thrives on travelling so I hope he ends up back in America. I would say he looks after himself a little bit. He is not ungeniune, but things have to go his way which is why I think he proved to be effective at York. We got sucked into a strong pace out in Hong Kong and I don’t think we rode him the right way around. I felt going into the race he was in very good shape so I was surprised that he didn’t run well, but he got sucked in from that draw to be ridden more positively than was ideal for him. He looks to retain plenty of enthusiasm so hopefully he can have another good campaign again.

STARZINTHEIREYES
He has got a small issue and won’t appear until the second half of the season which is disappointing. Despite who he is by (Starspangledbanner) I think he is a stayer in the making. I would imagine he won’t appear until around the July Meeting at Newmarket or something like that and we will then work our way into the autumn. Something like a Bahrain Trophy is what we could start him in and he could possibly be a St Leger horse. He outstayed them in the Zetland Stakes so you would think that is a realistic aim. You don’t look at him and think stayer, but his way of running would suggest he is. I thought they went hard in the Zetland and he went better to the line than anything else. His profile suggests that further than a mile and half would be where he will be best suited.

STOP THE CAVALRY
She is a sweet filly, but she has never been that physically robust and that is why she has been a bit stop start. She should do well this season, but she does need juice in the ground. She has already got a bit of black type, but I think she is capable of winning a stakes race as I think she has got that in her. I think we will campaign her between a mile and a mile and a quarter. I don’t see us changing that too much. I know she won over six furlongs at Chester, but that was because the ground was there and I needed to get a run into her. On pedigree she should get a mile and a quarter.

 

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TABITI
She is a funny one. I don’t think it was a great Dick Poole she won down at Salisbury and she might be one for a German 1000 Guineas. She is in good form so I’m pretty hopeful she will turn up in the Fred Darling. I didn’t think there were a lot of excuses when she was beaten on her last start in the Fillies’ Mile. I think it was a very good Fillies’ Mile so I suspect that will be going a little bit under that level. Having won on the July Course, and been to Salisbury as well, I don’t think the track was an excuse. She is a Group Three winner already. If we can get her up in grade that would be terrific, but we will see how it pans out. I think she will get the mile.

THAT’S AMORE
She is a hardy filly. We have had plenty of New Bay’s and you know where you are with them in a sense. I was really pleased with how professional she was at Newbury as I think it would have benefitted her going around a bend that day. She will show up in an Oaks trial as she should stay. She is a sister to Persica, who I think stays pretty well. We will start her in a mile and a quarter Listed trial and work our way from there with her. She is a little bit behind in her coat so the next month is important to her.

YOU GOT TO ME
She is back for more which is great and you would hope she will be a flagbearer for the team. Physically she has done very well and she looks very well. She had her break, but she didn’t really thrive as she is better off in training. She is probably going to come to hand a bit quicker than what I planned on. She is a high achiever and Bluestocking didn’t have her profile at three. She was a big achiever and You Got To Me has a pedigree to suggest she will be better this year.

She will have a Coronation Cup entry and I think that would be a good place to start her and she will probably go there first up. I suspect we will give her an away day before that. If that didn’t work out then you have got the Lancashire Oaks and if you are going the right way again you go to the King George and so on.

The pattern have made it tougher this year as they have moved the Prix Vermeille and Prix Niel back so there is now only two and a half weeks between the Yorkshire Oaks and the Vermeille so for a four year old filly that is problematic, but we will have to deal it with it.

It may impact how we campaign her. If we are thinking we are going to run her twice quickly we might have to factor that in during the first half of the year, but I like the idea of the Coronation Cup first up as she handled the track well in the Oaks. I wonder in retrospect if she bounced in the Oaks given she put so much in at Lingfield. She travelled very well, but didn’t finish off in the Oaks.

ZOUM ZOUM
He is another one where ground is important to him, but going back to six furlongs should suit him very well. I think probably as he is getting stronger, and older, that like his mother he will get quicker. She started at seven then dropped back to six furlongs. I suspect as things become easier for him that because he is a strong travelling horse six furlongs is probably going to be his optimum trip.

I would be keen to go a Wokingham and Stewards’ Cup route then see if we can go up in grade. I don’t think it is going to be much of a leap for him to stakes level if it pans out. It was a good effort in the Jersey Stakes and the Greenham so it is not as if we are far away. He just saw a bit too much light in the Wentworth Stakes on his last start, but he ran to a big figure in the handicap there on his previous start.

 

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Andrew Balding talks Graham Clark through some of his big hopes for the new Flat season.

Andrew Balding might have had to play second fiddle to Aidan O’Brien in the trainers’ title fight in 2024, but there is every chance he could go one better this time around judging by the quality of his team.

Last year saw Balding register a career best domestic tally of 163 winners along with smashing through the £5,000,000 barrier in prize-money for the first time since taking over at the helm of Park House Stables back in 2003.

Victory for Kalpana in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot was a notable moment, but big race success was not just limited to home shores with New Century landing the Grade One Summer Stakes at Woodbine and Bellum Justum taking out the Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs.

With a smart older team, headed up by Kalpana, in place along with a clutch of exciting three-year-olds all with Classic aspirations and a good number of useful handicappers, then you have a team capable of mixing it with the best.

Balding said: “I think finishing second in the trainer’s championship was a good achievement and the most encouraging thing about it was the development of some really smart horses that stay in training this year. Particularly satisfying was Kalpana’s campaign. New Century’s win in America was pleasing as well.

“What else was a very satisfying moment was Bellum Justum winning the Nashville Derby, which was the most valuable race we won by some way last year. At the same time we didn’t have a Royal Ascot winner, which was disappointing, but I think by and large if you finish second in the trainer’s championship you would take that all day long.

“It is early days with the two-year-olds and I have a lot that will be seen out later on in the season that look like nice middle-distance types, but I’m happy with where we are with them.”

The Sporting Life Racing Club
ALMERIC
He has been working very well and he is a handy horse that has a decent level of ability. He will start in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket and we will take it from there. I’ve a feeling that he will stay a mile-and-a-half no problem from what I’ve seen. He is probably more one for Royal Ascot, but we will keep all options open.

ALSAKIB
He is a lovely horse. He has been gelded over the winter, which will be a help. He is moving great. We just felt he wasn’t fully focussed at home sometimes. He loves soft ground and he stays well. There will be races to be won with him. He won the Silver Cup up at York and is good on his day. I hope he is up to progressing into a Stakes horse on the right conditions this year.

ARRAY
He has been off for a while but he has done plenty of work. Coming back from not having had a start for a long time you are going to expect him to just improve with racing. We still don’t know what his best trip is. He has got entries from six furlongs to a mile and anywhere in between. The plan at the moment is to start him back over seven in a conditions race up at Thirsk and take it from there. We were hoping to have him back this season, but he had to go and pass a lot of vet checks and they did a lovely job with him in pre-training in Ireland.

BELLUM JUSTUM
He is one to look at the nice ten furlong races with, but I certainly wouldn’t rule out a mile-and-a-half with him. He goes on fast ground which is a help and in all likelihood he is going to start over nine furlongs in the Earl Of Sefton at Newmarket to sharpen him up, however he does also have an entry in the John Porter at Newbury on Saturday as well. We hoped his campaign would shape up like it did last season, but the nice thing about him is that he is perfect for the international circuit as well. We will look at all our options, but that capability to travel does open up a lot of other races in North America for him.

BERMUDA LONGTAIL
I thought she ran a good race in the conditions at Kempton Park. The plan was to always go there and then on to the Listed Michael Seely Memorial Stakes up at York. She didn’t do anything at Kempton Park that suggests she isn’t capable of doing that. She has got a mark of 89 and if she comes up short in the Michael Seely then you have got the Sandringham at Royal Ascot. At the moment though with all the fillies like her the priority is to get Black Type.

Timeform Horses To Follow
COLTRANE
Coltrane is back in training with us again. He really has been a star for the yard. He is just shy of winning a million pounds in prize money and we would like to get him past that mark if we can. He will start off in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot which he has won twice. If he is not up to that level we have got the Queen Alexandra as a back up plan for him at Royal Ascot this year, as opposed to the Gold Cup, and realistically that is probably his race.

If he could get to a million pounds in prize money and win a race this year it will be job done and he then can have a long and happy retirement. He doesn’t do anything at home and I could probably run faster than him! It was a brilliant day when he won the Sagaro last year and he also ran a great race in the Cadran as well. He has just been a fabulous horse to have in the yard and train.

CONTACTO
He is a nice horse and was due to start at Thirsk at the weekend, but that would be weather dependent as he wouldn’t want to go on fast ground. He is a really smart staying type that will start off in handicaps and we will then go from there. He would be a very similar horse to Coltrane. I would think if he gets to Royal Ascot that the Copper Horse Handicap over a mile and six furlongs would be for him. It won’t be until the end of the year that we try him over two miles. I’d hope he can make the jump out of handicaps as he is a very solid horse who is very willing.

COOL HOOF LUKE
Unfortunately Cool Hoof Luke has had a setback and he won’t be out until the second half of the season which is annoying, but we think everything has been resolved. That is why he missed the Middle Park last year and it has just rumbled on. He has had some surgery and they are fairly confident that will do the trick. I’m fairly confident we will see him back with a view to have him ready for something like the City Of York. I would hope he would get seven furlongs this year and he enjoyed last year when he won the Gimcrack so that would be the obvious target. With a horse of his ability there are international targets as well if it all goes well.

EYDON
He is a talented horse, but he has had a couple of below par starts on the all-weather, however we feel the surface didn’t suit him. There has been a lot of stop-start with him throughout his career which doesn’t help. Hopefully, we can keep him right this season and we are targeting the Aston Park at Newbury next month.

FALCONER
He's likely to start at Newbury this weekend, but I’ve got a feeling he is a horse that is likely to be better with a bit of give in the ground. He will stay well and is fit and ready to go. He has some nice entries next to his name, but has only run the once so we will see what route we go after his first run.

FLORA OF BERMUDA
She is back in fast work and looks great. She will either go to the Ellen Challoner Stakes at the Guineas Festival or the Duke Of York. She is a very decent filly. She has some top form in the book, but had no luck last year. There is a big race in her, but I think she is one that appreciates a bit of juice in the ground. I think going up to six furlongs has helped her, but now she looks like she might stay seven furlongs so that is something we might explore later in the year. We have got a strong team of older horses like her and that is what every yard hopes to have.

FORMAL
She is due to run in the Fred Darling and we have been very happy with her. She isn't the biggest, but is classy in her work and a lovely filly to have in the yard. It is difficult to make conclusions from her run in the Rockfel Stakes, but she had been impressive in her first two starts so I hope that she will be fine. I thought if we have a run at Newbury first then if she is good enough we can take another chance at Newmarket and go for the 1000 Guineas.

There are a lot of good races for fillies out there and you can’t be putting a line through not handling the track on one bad performance so you would have to try it again. You are looking forward to races like the Falmouth and Sun Chariot. It is a big track to put a line through on the strength of one start.

 

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FORMAL
She is due to run in the Fred Darling and we have been very happy with her. She isn't the biggest, but is classy in her work and a lovely filly to have in the yard. It is difficult to make conclusions from her run in the Rockfel Stakes, but she had been impressive in her first two starts so I hope that she will be fine. I thought if we have a run at Newbury first then if she is good enough we can take another chance at Newmarket and go for the 1000 Guineas.

There are a lot of good races for fillies out there and you can’t be putting a line through not handling the track on one bad performance so you would have to try it again. You are looking forward to races like the Falmouth and Sun Chariot. It is a big track to put a line through on the strength of one start.

JONQUIL
I’ve been very happy with him and hopefully we will start him off in the Greenham at Newbury on Saturday. He looks a smart horse, but we are still learning about him. He has only had two runs and one of them was a write off for whatever reason. He looked very good at Sandown when he won on debut for Sir Michael Stoute. He has been working well and he is a smart horse.

I would hope we can treat him as a 2000 Guineas horse, but that is why the trial is there and that will tell us where we are at. He has been grand since coming down here. He had a bit of a break before he came to us, but has settled in well.

JOUNCY
He has been gelded since his run in the Middle Park at Newmarket on his final start last season. The plan is to go for a conditions race at Chelmsford. He is a little bit in and out, but he is there to go and try and earn as much money as he can. He could possibly be one that develops into a Jersey horse at Royal Ascot.

KALPANA
She was just one of those horses that kept improving with every run and every piece of work at home. I remember when we first started doing fast work with her I didn’t think she was much and we had gone as far as discussing a sales entry for her. Every time she worked she got better and every time she ran she got better. Those are the sort of horses you love to train.

I thought she looked very good in the Glasgow Stakes and the September Stakes and then really top class at Ascot on Champions Day. I think when Ryan Moore rode her at Newmarket in the handicap was the real turning point. I’d actually left the track, but he rang me and said this is a pretty smart filly and that was when we really knew what we had.

We jumped straight into the Pretty Polly after that and she was beaten by a very good filly in Friendly Soul in a tight finish, but they went miles clear of the rest. The only disappointment was the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot as I thought she would win that day, but she was third. I think we are all agreed that the Arc is high on the wish list, but that is not until October. The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes might be a possibility mid-summer.

Where we start will be determined by when she is ready and ground conditions. I wouldn’t want to run her on very fast ground unless we absolutely have to. I think the most likely starting point would be the York for the Middleton and then take it from there. She will be fairly versatile in terms of trip, but she obviously stays that mile-and-a-half well and that is what she won her Group One over.

KASSAYA
She is back with us. It was no fault of her own that she was beaten in the Queen Mary. She never came off the bridle anywhere over the five furlongs as she just had nowhere to go. She is a very smart filly and we are looking forward to her year. She hasn’t won a Listed race yet so we are going to start her off in a three year old fillies only Listed race at Chelmsford on May 1st. We will look towards going back to Royal Ascot with her in the hopes that she could be a Commonwealth Cup horse.

MOUNT ATLAS
He ran a really good race in the Roseberry at Kempton Park, it just didn’t pan out for him. He got left in front sooner than we wanted and was just vulnerable the last 100 yards. Off a big weight he ran a hell of a race. There is a big race to be won with him. He could stay further, but we will stick to a mile-and-a-half with him for the time being. Off his mark of 98, handicaps will be for him for the foreseeable future.

MUSIC PIECE
She is a lovely filly that has just been slow to come in her coat and we are playing things by ear. She would be another for one of those Oaks trials, maybe even the Pretty Polly at Newmarket. She built on a solid debut at Ascot by then winning next time out up at Haydock Park. Hopefully she can continue going forward this season and develop into a smart type.

NEW CENTURY
I’m really pleased with him and my feeling is that he will appreciate further than a mile. His work has been very good. He is a Group One winner and I think he has been overlooked in the Classic markets. He will have a run in the Craven. Depending how he shapes up there will determine where he goes after that. We hope he has got the class to run very well in the 2000 Guineas.

That will still take a lot of winning, but there aren’t many Group One winners in there, however he is one of them so you have got to think he can be competitive in it. He was a bit like Kalpana last season in that he improved with every piece of work and every race he had and that is why we are keen to run him in a trial. From that debut run each time he stepped up he improved and that is what we hope will happen again this season.

OLD HARROVIAN
He is now six, but he has only had 10 starts in his career. He has steadily worked his way back to form and was an impressive winner under Callum Hutchinson over a mile-and-a-quarter up at Newcastle last-time-out. We will head back to Newcastle over the same trip for a tilt at the Easter Classic. I’m sure it will be a tougher race as it is worth a lot of money, but hopefully he can go well again up there.

REGAL ULIXES
He is a lovely horse that won the Haynes, Hanson and Clark last year at Newbury on his second start. It will be interesting to see how he goes as both of his runs have been on soft ground and I’ve got the feeling he will be better on a sound surface. He will hopefully start in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom. He will certainly stay a mile-and-a-quarter; it is just whether he gets that bit further.

REMAAT
The plan is to start her off in the Nell Gwyn. It was a bit frustrating with her last season as she won very easily on the July Course but then had a problem which kept her off for the rest of the season. We are hoping to pick up where we left off, but she has been absent for a long time and it will be interesting to see how she goes next week.

I don’t think getting the mile will be a problem for her as she is very relaxed and she was strong at the end of her race on the July Course which she won so I think that trip will suit her well.

ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT
He was second in the Royal Lodge, but bombed out in the Futurity Trophy up at Doncaster, however a lot of horses disappointed that day and the ground was very tricky. It didn’t work out for us, but he has had a long time to get over it, but I would put a line through that run and we have belief he is a genuine Stakes horse.

I think Oisin’s (Murphy) feeling was that we should have finished after the Royal Lodge, but with a horse bred like he is we had to try and give him the opportunity to win a Group One as a two-year-old. He is a smart horse. The key to him is how far will he stay. We are going to start off in the Burradon Stakes up at Newcastle over the stiff mile and we will make decisions after that.

SEE THE FIRE
She is very much back with us again. She is very exciting and the hope is that we start off in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket. The Nassau is the main aim with her as she was second in it last year. After that if she is shaping like she is staying a bit further she might have a try at a mile-and-a-half as well. She ran a great race in the Champion Stakes having had a long hard season and was only beaten two lengths. She is without doubt a high class filly.

 

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SEE THE FIRE
She is very much back with us again. She is very exciting and the hope is that we start off in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket. The Nassau is the main aim with her as she was second in it last year. After that if she is shaping like she is staying a bit further she might have a try at a mile-and-a-half as well. She ran a great race in the Champion Stakes having had a long hard season and was only beaten two lengths. She is without doubt a high class filly.

SECRET OF LOVE
She shaped nicely in the Montrose at Newmarket at the end of last season. She just looks like she will stay well, but is quite backward in her coat. We would be looking at an Oaks trial with her. I would imagine it would be either the one at Chester or at Lingfield to start with. She is not in the Oaks, but she is in the German Oaks and Irish Oaks, but there is every chance it could be the Italian Oaks she ends up in. She is that type of filly and is a nice horse to have in the yard. We expect her to more than pay her way.

SECRET SATIRE
She won the Musidora at York, but we didn’t really feel that she handled the track at Epsom in the Oaks. She ran a good race out in New York, but unfortunately came back with an injury and has been off the track ever since. She is back in fast work now. The Middleton back at York might come too soon, but that was the aim. She is a high class filly.

We will try a mile-and-a-half again with her as I think there was a lot going on at Epsom and you couldn't really read into that whether she stayed the trip or not. She is a talented filly who has done very well physically.

SPANISH VOICE
He is a lovely horse that we are aiming to take to Newmarket next week. I thought he shaped well on his debut and will now go for the mile-and-a-quarter novice at the Craven Meeting and go from there. It is often a race that has thrown up good horses. We will find out where we are after that as he has only had the one run unlike a few of those other three-year-olds who fall into the same category.

He came from Sir Michael Stoute’s later in the year, but they always liked him and felt he was ready to run. You have got to have aspirations for these horses and it would be nice if he was up to being a Stakes class horse.

STORM STAR
I’ve been thrilled with him as he has won both starts this year. He has improved as did his work. He is delightfully laid back which is a help. He will go to All-Weather Finals Day at Newcastle for the mile handicap. He has got some fanciful entries next to his name, but if he happened to win on Good Friday it would be the perfect springboard to chance our arm in the Lockinge. That race can often throw up some funny results and if you are fit, and some of them are having their first run of the year, it is not a bad spot to be in.

SUBSEQUENT
He has had a little setback so won’t be out until the second half of the season. He did nothing but improve last year and he is clearly a very talented stayer. It was an excellent performance in the Noel Murless. He stays well and he did nothing wrong last year. If he had a bit more luck, when he got mugged at Doncaster, he would have probably won five races last year. You would hope he could ply his trade at pattern race level and those stayers, as I’ve found in the past, tend to improve a lot from three to four then from four to five. He is an exciting horse.

TACTICIAN
He is another nice stayer, but I do think he is better with a bit of give in the ground. There is quite a valuable staying handicap at Southwell and the plan is to start there at the end of this month. After that he will have an entry in the Chester Cup and all those staying handicaps.

I think his defeat in the Cesarewitch Trial on his final start last season was down to the fact that he'd had a long season. He wasn’t anywhere near his best that day so we just put a line through it. I do feel there is one of those good pots in him. He stays well and is tough so there will always be good opportunities for him.

TEUMESSIAS FOX
He won the Roseberry well last time at Kempton Park, but has now gone up in the weights as a result of that win so it will be tough to place him. I think his best form is on the Polytrack, but having said that he has won a nice race on the turf at Newmarket with a bit of give in the ground, however that was off a low rating. We will pick our battles and I’m sure there is a race or two to be won with him, but in many ways his season is already paid for so he is ahead of the game.

THE FOXES
It was a great run from him out in Qatar and we are now probably going to look at the Huxley Stakes with him as a prep for Royal Ascot. By and large we try to get the King Power-owned horses to Royal Ascot if we can. Whether that will be for the Hardwicke, Prince of Wales’s or the Wolverton we will find out. I think if the race is right it doesn’t matter if you run him over ten or 12 furlongs.

We had problems with him for a good part of the year, but he came back strong and was very good when he won at Newcastle, before running well in both Hong Kong and Qatar. It looks like he is back to his best and in the second half of the year I would imagine travelling will be on the agenda with him.

THE LOST KING
I thought he looked very good at Newmarket when he won then we probably didn’t ride him right in the Ascendant Stakes up at Haydock Park. We can put a line through that effort and he is very much on a mark where handicaps are an option. He will start off in the Esher Cup at Sandown. That is over a mile, but I do think he will stay a mile-and-a-quarter as the season goes on.

TROPICAL STORM
He is a very handy horse who is very speedy. We are thinking he will either go to the Palace House or the Listed Westow Stakes up at York. We are hoping he is going to be good enough to take his chance in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was still a maiden when he won the Listed race at York, but he was second in the Norfolk and he ran some very good races in defeat. We learnt plenty about him, and he is very speedy. He doesn’t give you that impression at home as he is very laid back.

It is only when he gets to the track and that adrenaline starts running that you see the best of him. He was very keen in the Richmond, but was very keen that day, and we thought he was nailed on to improve for six furlongs. I wouldn’t rule out trying that trip again at some stage.

WILD WAVES
He had a good year last season and I thought he ran a very good race in the Melrose up at York. He is the same as Mount Atlas in that he will be in handicaps for the time being. He will have a Chester Cup entry and will have a prep race before that. He is on the cusp of being Stakes horse as he could be one for the Chester Cup or the Ormonde.

I think the Ebor has got to be on his agenda this season. He is a really fun horse, and he is a fast ground horse, where a lot of these stayers need a bit of give in the ground so he will always have an opportunity.

WINDLORD
The form of his run in the Beresford Stakes looks rock solid with the winner (Hotazhell) then coming out and winning the Futurity Trophy. I don’t really send many over to Ireland, but it looked like a good fit and at the time we thought the track would suit him well. He just took time to get going there but finished his race well. The aim was always to go to Sandown Park at the start of this season for the Classic Trial and we will know more after that. He is a horse with good ability.

 

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WATCH: Richard Hannon Stable Tour 2025 - Unibet Blog | UK

WATCH as trainer Richard Hannon invites you backstage while he talks you through his full 2025 team.

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Jessie Harrington got no mention here, yet.
Not one to make out her ducks to be swans she is very very keen on Green Impact for the 2,000 Gns, describing him as cool as a cucumber, wintered well and well up for the race.
16/1 and better ew looks an absolute steal.