Ed Dunlop

Kildangan Stud's first-season sire Earthlight (Ire) (by Shamardal) became the latest in his bracket to get off the mark as his daughter Lady Lightning (GB) struck at Wolverhampton on Monday. Sent off at 12-1 for the five-furlong Download The Raceday Ready App EBF Restricted Novice S., the Ed Dunlop-trained 30,000gns Tatts Book 1 purchase was taken straight to the early lead by Rossa Ryan. Staying on strongly up the straight, she registered a 1 3/4-length verdict over Earthlight's Ashen Glow (Ire) to give the freshman a one-two in the bargain....

The catalogue for the Tattersalls Online March Sale is now available on the Tattersalls Online website and features a total of 24 entries to be offered in the timed auction to take place on Mar. 8 and 9, 2023. The catalogue includes 14 horses in and out of training from both Flat and National Hunt codes, two broodmares, a selection of 2-year-olds and a pair of point-to-pointers. One of the catalogue highlights is Malina Girl (Ire) (Malinas {Ger}) (lot 22), a winner of four of her six starts to date, including...

Cristina Patino's John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is expected to resurface next Friday at Sandown, where he will take a class drop for the Listed Gala S. over 2000 metres. John Leeper, a son of the multiple Group 1-winning mare Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab), was named a 'TDN Rising Star' when breaking his maiden by four lengths at Newcastle on Apr. 30, and he confirmed himself an exciting prospect with a victory in the May 15 Listed Novice S., where he had the subsequent G2 King Edward VII S. runner-up...

It has become custom for some to yearn for the glory days of the Epsom Derby, when the blue riband of the English turf sat proud on its Wednesday slot dominating the consciousness of the London area. While it has fallen some way short of its past standard as a national treasure, one of the factors in its relative demise has been lack of competition but this year's Cazoo-sponsored renewal stands up on that score at least. In fact, with all its converging plots there has not been as exciting...

There are 19 colts remaining in the 1 1/2-mile G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 5. Leading the way is current favourite and G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. hero Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), one of six for Aidan O'Brien and the various Coolmore partners. Joining the G3 Ballysax S. victor from Ballydoyle are: former race favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the G2 Beresford S. at two and was third in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. to Godolphin's Hurricane Lane...

Fifty years on from Mill Reef (Never Bend)'s victory in the Blue Riband at Epsom Downs, 29 horses have stood their ground after the latest scratching stage for the 2021 G1 Cazoo Derby on June 5. G3 Chester Vase scorer Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is doing well ahead of the Blue Riband. His best showing as a juvenile was a third in the G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. and he was fourth in his seasonal opener-the Apr. 13 Listed bet365 Feilden S. at HQ. Andrew Balding, the son of...

Fourth tackling an insufficient seven furlongs in his Sept. 11 debut at Doncaster, his lone juvenile outing, Anamoine Ltd's homebred John Leeper earned 'TDN Rising Star' status upped to 10 furlongs at Newcastle on his Apr. 30 seasonal return last time and continued on a rapid upward trajectory with a career high in this first stakes start. Keen under cover in fourth early, he was sent up to join the front rank with three furlongs remaining and stayed on resolutely under continued rousting inside the final quarter mile to win...

Ed Dunlop is among an elite group of five current trainers to have saddled two Oaks winners. His first, Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), has already gone on to produce the Derby winner Australia (GB), a son of Galileo (Ire), and the baton could potentially pass now to Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) to follow suit with John Leeper (Ire), by Galileo's son Frankel (GB). Whether it's at Epsom or a later big-race target, to have a blue-blooded colt in the stable who has shown some early promise is naturally...

Newcastle's QuinnBet Novice S. may end up being an important footnote by the end of the year as Friday's extended 10-furlong contest played host to Anamoine Ltd's precious homebred colt John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Emulating his illustrious dam Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) in breaking his maiden on the all-weather, the dark bay flashed the considerable ability that gets you into the Derby picture at this stage of the season to earn TDN Rising Star status. Anchored in rear early from his wide draw, the 9-4 joint-favourite whose half-sister Virgin...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features the return of blueblooded Frankel colt John Leeper. 5.50 Newcastle, Novice, £5,600, 3yo, 10f 42y (AWT) JOHN LEEPER (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) makes his keenly-anticipated reappearance for Anamoine Ltd, having been taken out of his intended return at Newmarket earlier this month due to the quick conditions....

John Gosden, alongside fellow Newmarket trainers Sir Mark Prescott, Robert Cowell and David Simcock, will make up one of the dozen teams of the Racing League tournament which begins next summer. Another Newmarket team is comprised of Michael Bell, Ed Dunlop, James Fanshawe and Roger Varian. Clive Cox, Nicky Henderson, Charlie Hills and Jamie Osborne are representing Lambourn. Another team is Mick Appleby, Michael Dods, David O'Meara and Paul Midgley. Mick Channon has joined Paul and Oliver Cole, Eve Johnson Houghton and Hughie Morrison. France will also send a team...

Naming a horse in someone's memory can be a risky strategy but, for Juddmonte, naming a Galileo (Ire) colt after their late American trainer Bobby Frankel was certainly no drawback. Since the outstanding Frankel (GB) retired to stud, a number of his offspring have also been named after trainers of note. Atty Persse (Ire), took the name of the trainer of The Tetrarch (Ire) and became Frankel's first Royal Ascot winner in 2017. He was wearing the Godolphin silks by that time but he raced initially for his breeder, Bjorn...