Southwell

Former champion hurdler Constitution Hill could be seen in action in a new £40,000 1 1/2-mile novice Flat contest at Southwell on February 20, according to trainer Nicky Henderson. A faller for the third time in four trips to the post since his race in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November, the son of Blue Bresil will hopefully receive a confidence boost in this new endeavour ahead of a try at the Champion Hurdle later this year. Part of the Friday Night Live series, the new race meets...

David Ward's year of celebration with Starman has continued into the run-up to Christmas as his filly Sound And Vision provided the breakthrough first-season sire with his 42nd winner at Southwell on Friday. After watching the Ed Walker trainee collect the five-furlong novice, he was keen to reflect on the season of all seasons. "You go into the year with hopes and dreams, don't you? But in life, hopes and dreams get dashed, never mind in horse racing," he said. "To come out the other end with those hopes and...

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. Thursday's Observations features an exciting newcomer for Amo Racing. 1.52 Southwell, Novice, 2yo, 6f 16y (AWT) FIREWALKER (GB) (Kingman {GB}) makes his belated debut just over two years since making the top five lots at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale when selling to Amo Racing for 360,000gns. Kevin Philippart...

Appearing six months after connections went to €300,000 for her at the Arqana May Breeze-Up, Amo Racing's Domina Ignis (Pinatubo) looked well worth the wait as she sparkled on debut at Southwell on Friday. Sent off the 7-2 second favourite for the six-furlong novice, the Kevin Philippart De Foy-trained bay from the family of Johnny Barnes travelled smoothly and once committed by David Egan two out quickly had the race in safe keeping. At the line, there was a five-length margin back to the Doncaster maiden runner-up Angel Gabriel (Mehmas)....

The National Stud's Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) was the latest first-season sire off the mark on Wednesday as his James Owen-trained daughter Social Exclusion (GB) dominated the three-runner five-furlong novice at Southwell. Quickest away under Harry Davies, The Gredley Family's 45,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 purchase put in a rapid penultimate split to settle matters and hit the line with three lengths to spare over Museum Piece (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). "She knows her job well and was very professional," Davies said of the 3-1 shot. "When I sat on her...

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 a half-sister to a Classic winner. 13.27 Marseille-Borely, Mdn, €21,000, 3yo, f, 10fT Lordship Stud and Philipp von Stauffenberg's unraced FLEUR DE LIS (FR) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) is a Jerome Reynier-trained half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}). She...

Saturday's G3 BetUK Winter Derby at Southwell has become a target race for the Gosdens with four renewals falling the way of Clarehaven since 2019, so the presence of the yard's unexposed Military Academy (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the latest edition generates extra intrigue. Impressive at Salisbury in September, Isa Salman and Abdulla Al Khalifa's 4-year-old was in a class of his own last time when making his all-weather debut with an authoritative win in Kempton's Listed Floodlit Stakes in November and could be one of the stable's lurkers...

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. Thursday's Observations features a son of G1 Coronation Stakes winner Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}). 6.00 Southwell, Novice, £6,300, 2yo, 8f 13y (AWT) WRITTEN FOR YOU (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is a notable debutante for John and Thady Gosden during a spell that warrants close attention paid...

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. Monday's Observations features a TDN Rising Star stepping up in grade. 16.53 Deauville, Group 3, €80,000, 2yo, f, 8fT SANDTRAP (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status with her impressive debut win at Salisbury last month and heads to Deauville to contest this G3 Darley Prix...

The Breeders' Cup-bound duo of Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Big Mojo (Ire) (Mohaather {GB}) both pleased trainer Mick Appleby after taking spins around Southwell on Thursday. The pair, owned by Paul and Rachael Teasdale's RP Racing, will be ridden at Del Mar next month by Tom Marquand, who was aboard for Thursday's activities. In a similar move that resulted in Grade I accolades last term, Big Evs galloped five furlongs along the home bend before finishing at the one-furlong mark in company with stablemate Blind Beggar (Ire)...

SOUTHWELL, UK -- It is not often that the eyes of the racing world are on Southwell. The country track had been closed to the public for nine months until early August following extensive flooding, but on Friday it was the place to be as the top-rated horse in Europe, City Of Troy, descended on Nottinghamshire with an entourage akin to a Taylor Swift tour. He even brought his own American starting stalls. And swift is how he looked as he eased clear of the five-strong working party from Ballydoyle,...

Southwell Racecourse will be opening its doors for free to members of the public who wish to watch City Of Troy (Justify) in action on Friday, September 20. The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt will undertake a racecourse gallop prior to heading to Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup Classic. American starting stalls and an as yet unconfirmed team of stable-mates will join City Of Troy at the Nottinghamshire track as he is put through his paces. Mark Clayton, executive director at Southwell, has confirmed that racing fans wishing to attend will...