Denis Hogan

A month on from recording a breakthrough Group 1 success, Joe Doyle, the rider who will forever be associated with multiple stakes-winner Make A Challenge (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), is back on familiar shores. However, Doyle has no plans on resuming his riding career in Britain or Ireland, where the 27-year-old has enjoyed successful spells respectively. No, Doyle is merely keeping his eye in before returning for New Zealand, where he has a 1,000 Guineas prospect to look forward to next season, by riding at the breeze-ups. It's not surprising...

One of the main attractions of the Goffs Autumn Horses In Training Sale on Tuesday is Gustavus Weston (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}), the four-time winner whose career highlight came when he landed the G2 Greenlands S. at the Curragh last year.  On that occasion, Joe Murphy's charge was chased home by Make A Challenge (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a 10-time winner for Denis Hogan, who is also in the sale.  Hogan said of his eight-strong draft, "We've a nice draft of horses going to Goffs. We'll be sorry to see some...

Make a Challenge (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) will make his next appearance in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye Oct. 4. The winner of four of six starts this season, including a pair of Irish listed stakes in August, the gelding finished fifth--beaten two lengths--in his most recent start in the Curragh's G1 Flying Five S. Sept. 13. "We were very happy with the horse," said Hogan. "He raced out on his own for most of the race and the drying ground probably didn't help, but I think the main thing...

Rags to riches sprinter Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}-Jealous Again, by Trippi), a listed winner and twice Group 1-placed this season, died on Tuesday morning after suffering a fatal injury on the gallops. Trainer Denis Hogan tweeted, "We have been dealt a devastating cruel blow at Boherna this morning  with the loss of our superstar sprinter Sceptical. He was a horse of a lifetime and a game changer for my training career and everyone at Boherna." Bred by Godolphin out of the G2 Queen Mary S. winner Jealous Again,...

Listed winner Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), will start next in the Aug. 9 G3 Phoenix Sprint S. at The Curragh instead of targets in the UK or France, owner Hilltop Racing tweeted on Thursday. Ireland's top sprinter, the June 20 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. third went one better in Newmarket's G1 July Cup S. on July 11. "After two amazing runs in Group 1 company in the UK, Sceptical will stay in Ireland for his next start," Hilltop tweeted of the Denis Hogan trainee. "He's one of 31...

The 2020 season had all the ingredients to be a potentially ground-breaking one for trainer Denis Hogan before a COVID spanner was thrown in the works in the spring. With a semblance of normality back in day-to-day lives, Hogan's season is now starting to deliver what it originally promised it might with the trainer basking in the glow of having the two highest- rated sprinters in Ireland under his care at his Tipperary stables. "It's going brilliantly at the moment and we have a fantastic bunch of horses but it...

A trip to York for the G1 Nunthorpe S. is the next major target for Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) following another excellent effort in defeat in Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup. Denis Hogan's 4-year-old has made remarkable progress since opening his account at Dundalk in November--going on to complete a hat-trick at the County Louth venue before landing a listed prize at Naas and finishing a half-length third in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot. With Frankie Dettori keeping the ride at Newmarket, Sceptical this time...

G1SP Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) is likely to return to England in a bid for sprint honours at the top level following his narrow defeat in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot where he was third to Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) for trainer Denis Hogan. Hogan will look at the G1 Darley July Cup and the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. for his stable star. Sceptical, a winner at listed level in Ireland, is also the highest rated speedster in Ireland, with four wins on the...

Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) will bypass Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. in favour of the G1 Diamond Jubilee on the final day of Royal Ascot. The winner of four of five career races, the Hilltop Racing representative posted a three-length tally most recently in the Listed Woodlands S. at Naas June 8. Trainer Denis Hogan tweeted: "After discussing with @RacingHilltop +jockeys, weighing up all options, we have decided in the best interest and welfare of the horse--and considering long season ahead--to skip the King's Stand in favour of...

There were days when we were drumming our fingers on our at-home desks or dining tables wondering what on earth to write about for tomorrow. But now that the shock of racing's shutdown has been completely erased by the return, finally, of racing in Ireland to complete a European full set, the panic is not what to write but how on earth to keep up with it all. No complaints here. The last few weeks since the French return in mid-May and Britain just over a week ago have provided...