Newbury

Paying a big compliment to her Listed Pretty Polly Stakes conqueror Falakeyah on Saturday, TBT Racing's Qilin Queen booked her ticket to the Oaks in Newbury's Listed Childwickbury Stud Fillies' Trial Stakes. Quickly placed on the lead by Hollie Doyle, the Ed Walker-trained daughter of Pinatubo had to battle late to get to the line in front of the Lawn Stud homebred Revoir but proved up to the task to score by a short head as the 18-5 second favourite. The runner-up, a daughter of Study Of Man who also...

A renewal of Newbury's G1 BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes which read like a baffling puzzle beforehand went the way of Juddmonte's Lead Artist, with the son of Dubawi the one with the right mix of readiness and tactical advantage on Saturday. Supported into 17-2 for the mile feature, with the Gosdens fully expecting the regally-connected homebred to leave his latest last-of-eight in the G2 Sandown Mile way behind, the otherwise progressive 4-year-old was positioned near the steady early tempo by Oisin Murphy with the race's main fancies anchored too far back....

3rd-Newbury, £12,000, Mdn, 5-16, 2yo, 6fT, 1:11.97, gd. HUMIDITY (GB) (c, 2, Ulysses {Ire}--Sultry {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}), sent off at 6-1 for this often-informative maiden won in 2018 by Advertise, broke smartly to lead under Oisin Murphy. Pressed throughout by the 7-2 favourite Title Role, the homebred hung tough to prevail by a short head from that Too Darn Hot colt who was a 500,000gns Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up purchase last month. "He's a lovely horse and we'll talk with the team and see what they want do," trainer Andrew...

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. Friday's Observations features Godolphin homebred Words Of Truth. 3.00 Newbury, Mdn, £12,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT WORDS OF TRUTH (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is one of the key members of a fascinating race which hosts several Royal Ascot hopefuls. Representing the Charlie Appleby stable which has started brightly with...

Dancing Gemini will be ridden by Ryan Moore for the first time in Saturday's G1 Boylesports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. The son of Camelot will be bidding for a third straight victory in 2025, having followed his reappearance win in the Listed Doncaster Mile Stakes with an equally dominant performance when landing the G2 Mile at Sandown. Kieran Shoemark did the steering on Town Moor, before Rossa Ryan deputised when Shoemark was required to ride Lead Artist at Sandown, but trainer Roger Teal has now turned to Moore as Dancing...

Putting a disappointing juvenile finale firmly behind him at Newbury on Saturday, Juddmonte's Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) emerged best in a fascinating G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes. Labelled a TDN Rising Star after his debut at Sandown in August, the homebred relation of Frankel (GB) who had flopped when sixth in Doncaster's Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes in September tracked Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) towards the stand's side throughout the early stages. Mastering that rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining, the 8-1 shot,...

Upping her game on her 3-year-old bow, Victorious Racing's Duty First (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) spreadeagled some choice opposition in Saturday's G3 Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury. Always travelling with gusto near the front end, the Archie Watson-trained 33-1 shot opened up under Hollie Doyle from two out to take the seven-furlong 1,000 Guineas trial by 3 1/4 lengths from the 40-1 fellow outsider Hey Boo (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). There was another length back to Time For Sandals (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}) in third. The winner, who...

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. Saturday's Observations features a full-brother to Coolmore stallion Blackbeard (Ire). 2.20 Curragh, Cond, €22,000, 2yo, 5fT CHARLES DARWIN (IRE) (No Nay Never) is the fourth foal out of the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes fourth Muirin (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), whose son Blackbeard (Ire) carried all before him for...

4th-Newbury, £40,000, Cond, 4-11, 3yo, 10fT, 2:07.36, gd. GETHIN (IRE) (c, 3, Ghaiyyath {Ire}--Aniseed {Ire} {MSP-Eng}, by Dalakhani {Ire}), off the mark by six lengths on testing ground at Nottingham in October, took a keen hold throughout the early stages even after being handed a lead from Falconer (GB) (New Bay {GB}). Marginally in front approaching the two-furlong pole as that 9-4 favourite sadly broke down, the 7-2 shot had plenty in reserve to stretch to a 3 1/2-length verdict over Saddadd (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}). "He's a horse we've always...

If you're a jumps devotee, Saturday will be all about the Scottish Grand National meeting and wondering whether Willie Mullins can continue his ominous late charge in the British National Hunt trainers' championship to reel in long-time leader Dan Skelton. There is seemingly nothing the master of Closutton can't do. I wouldn't bet against him returning with a favourable deal for Ireland if he was sent as special envoy to Washington to negotiate with President Trump on tariffs. But let's not spoil our weekend by worrying about the ever-changing diktats...

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. Friday's Observations features a 'TDN Rising Star'. 2.00 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT WE'LL DEFEND (FR) (Zelzal {Fr}) carries the TDN Rising Star label into this Prix de Diane pointer, having impressed with her four-length success on Chantilly's Polytrack last month. Victorious Racing and Ecurie Nass's half-sister...

An unusually dry March, with those conditions carrying on into April, will be causing headaches for trainers and clerks of courses alike, and it is one reason that we will be seeing the return of Juddmonte's Cosmic Year (GB) (Kingman {GB}) at Kempton instead of in Saturday's G3 Greenham Stakes. The colt's trainer Harry Charlton has taken advantage of the BHA's interactive race programme, which saw the installation of an extra 7f novice contest this Wednesday evening, in order to give the half-brother to former stable star Time Test (GB)...