Kempton Park

Each Christmas, Kempton hosts the most important day of jump racing in the British calendar outside the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. It's a racecourse synonymous with the great names of this sport - Kauto Star, Desert Orchid, Wayward Lad, One Man. Yet Friday's compelling edition of the King George VI Chase crouches under extinction's peak - and we've learned it's been huddled in that brace position for the past seven years due to the wilful actions of its owners, the Jockey Club. Most people thought any immediate threat to Kempton,...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features the return a 'TDN Rising Star'. 6.30 Kempton, Novice, 2yo, 8f (AWT) NATION'S HOPE (IRE) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) was an instant hit here last month, earning TDN Rising Star status with a dazzling debut display and Charlie Appleby has opted to return for further education at the...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features the return of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 7.30 Kempton, Cond, £60,000, 3yo, 8f (AWT) OPERA BALLO (IRE) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) takes in this "European Road To The Kentucky Derby" Conditions Stakes which tends to have little or no bearing on that monument but which 12 months ago...

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. Wednesday's Observations features a pricy sales grad.   18.30 Kempton, £8,000, Nov, 3yo, 8f (AWT) Godolphin's once-raced EL CORDOBES (IRE) (Frankel {GB}), a 2-million guineas Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate, is out of a half-sister to G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine Tante Rose (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) and returns off...

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. Wednesday's Observations features a relative of GI Yellow Ribbon S. 17.30 Kempton, Nov, £7,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 8f (AWT) Sir Mark Prescott representative APOSTLE (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), is the ninth foal out of dual G3 Dahlia S. victrix and G1 Matron S. runner-up and dual G1 Falmouth S. placegetter Heaven Sent...

Emirates Park's Ejaabiyah (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Estijaab {Aus}, by Snitzel {Aus}) was denied a debut run with the abandonment of Yarmouth's Oct. 24 meeting, but made up for lost time and attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with a highly impressive display in Wednesday's Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice S. at Kempton. She becomes the 37th Rising Star for Frankel, whose list includes this term's G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Ylang Ylang (GB) and G2 Golden Fleece S. victor Diego Velazquez (Ire). The 6-1 chance raced along the rail in fourth through...

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. Wednesday's Insights features a daughter of G1 Golden Slipper heroine Estijaab (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) set for her debut at Kempton. 16.55 Kempton, £6,800, Nov, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT) Emirates Park's homebred EJAABIYAH (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a Roger Varian-conditioned daughter of G1 Golden Slipper heroine Estijaab (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}),...

Season XI of the All-Weather Championships is set to kick off on Tuesday, Oct. 17, and culminates back at the same venue with the £1-million All-Weather Championships Finals Day on Mar. 29, 2024, with the £395,000 All-Weather Championships Vase set for the same day at Lingfield Park. This year there are some notable changes to the structure of the All-Weather Championships, including removing the 'Fast Track Qualifier' status from races which previously earned horses a guaranteed entry to the Final in each category. The rule requiring three runs on an...

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. Friday's Observations features the return of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 13.40 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT BAUHINIA (IRE) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) earned TDN Rising Star status at ParisLongchamp last month and Godolphin's daughter of the G2 Rockfel S.-placed Desert Blossom (Ire) (Shamardal) is kept away from...

Fitri Hay's dual nursery handicap second Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}--Beyond Desire {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), notched a quickfire double at Chelmsford and Newbury earlier in the year and took a step up the ladder with a narrow verdict in Saturday's G3 Unibet Zero% Mission Sirenia S. at Kempton, his sixth straight start going six furlongs. With tasks made easier by the scratching of 'TDN Rising Star' Eben Shaddad (Calyx {GB}), Starlust went postward as the 2-1 second favourite and found a comfortable rhythm off the pace in sixth before...

Sir Michael Stoute trainee Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}--Hayyona {GB}, by Multiplex {GB}), winless in three Group 1 starts since annexing last term's G1 Champion S., regained the winning thread with a confidence-boosting success in Saturday's G3 Unibet September S. at Kempton. The 8-11 favourite hit the board in both G1 Prix Ganay and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup earlier in the campaign and went postward this first outing at the 12-furlong trip coming back off a fifth in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot. Bay Bridge...

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. Friday's Observations features a daughter of Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}). 15.10 Haydock, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, f, 7f 212yT BOLSENA (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is the latest progeny out of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's wonder mare Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), whose list of seven...