Coronation Cup comeback an option for Emily Upjohn

/by

Epsom’s Coronation Cup has been highlighted as a potential starting point for Emily Upjohn.

Narrowly denied when sent off the 6-4 favourite for the Oaks at the Surrey venue last year, the daughter of Sea The Stars then blotted her copy book in the King George at Ascot before returning to Berkshire following an 84-day break to put the record straight on British Champions Day in the Fillies & Mares Stakes.

With the decision to stay in training at four made after that taking three-length success, Emily Upjohn was pointed towards a trip to Meydan for the Dubai Sheema Classic in the early part of 2023.

Emily Upjohn, here ridden by jockey Frankie Dettori when narrowly denied in the 2022 Cazoo Oaks
Emily Upjohn, here ridden by jockey Frankie Dettori (red silks) when narrowly denied in the 2022 Cazoo Oaks (John Walton/PA)

However, having not come to hand as quickly as liked, she missed the opportunity to test her mettle against Japanese superstar Equinox and could now return to Epsom on Oaks Day looking to right last year’s wrong.

“She ran a huge race in the Oaks when just beaten there and had a nice swansong (at Ascot) at the end of last year,” said Thady Gosden – who trains in partnership with his father John – on Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday.

“She was heading towards Dubai but with the cold weather in the spring, it didn’t quite work out. Obviously she would have been taking on Equinox which would have been an interesting one.

“The Coronation Cup would be a nice early one to start with if she’s ready in time, but we’ll see how she is and she’ll tell us.”

Another star filly from the Gosden string staying in training at four is Inspiral, who could head to Newbury on May 20 for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, with all the top mile races on her radar this term.

Inspiral ridden by Frankie Dettori on their way to winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot
Inspiral ridden by Frankie Dettori on their way to winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“She’s wintered well and is in good order, enjoying her training and looks great,” continued Gosden.

“She is obviously a top-class miler and all these mile races will be the ones for her.

“She is certainly an independently-minded filly. She has plenty of character but is exceptionally talented.”

A return to Royal Ascot could be on the cards for recent World Cup night winner Lord North.

The seven-year-old won the Dubai Turf for the third year in a row last month and could now bid to repeat his Prince of Wales’s Stakes success of 2020 when running on home soil this summer.

Gosden continued: “He had a slightly curtailed one last year and it was fantastic to get him back for the Dubai Turf – it was a good team effort there.

“He won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes two years ago and he is a horse you could look towards that with.”

The young handler also identified Arrest as the horse most likely to provide the Clarehaven operation with Classic success in 2023.

He added: “He was proven at Group One level last year when just beaten at Saint-Cloud. He is a talented horse and always looked like a three-year-old. He has plenty of size, scope and class about him.

“He will start off in a trial and we will go from there. Possibly Sandown, but we will see how he is.”

‘Robust policing plans’ in place after reported National protest plot

/by

Merseyside Police has underlined its “robust policing plans” after climate activists were reportedly plotting to “ruin” the Grand National by staging a protest on raceday.

Members of Animal Rebellion, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, plan to form a human barricade across the course at Aintree after sneaking into the event with ladders and bolt cutters, according to reports.

The Mail on Sunday reports more than 100 activists had signed up to take part on April 15, with the climate group planning to take them to the racecourse in mini buses, where it is claimed they would then glue themselves to the course.

Runners in the 2022 Grand National
Runners in the 2022 Grand National (David Davies/PA)

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “Merseyside Police has a robust policing plan in place for Aintree, as it does for any major public event, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.

“We have been working with our partners, including the Jockey Club, for a number of months in the build-up to this year’s festival to ensure that any necessary plans and processes are in place to deal with any incidents that may arise and to prevent any significant or ongoing disruption to racegoers and local residents and businesses.

“We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression of views, but public order or criminal offences will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.”

Six activists ran on to the track before the Derby at Epsom last year, while four climate-change protesters chained themselves to the rail by the winning post on the final day of Royal Ascot in 2021.

Shishkin ready to step up in Aintree Bowl

/by

Shishkin will step up to three miles in the Aintree Bowl, with trainer Nicky Henderson rating the April 13 contest as the potential “race of the year”.

The nine-year-old was a dominant force in the two-mile chase division until he was pulled up in the 2022 Champion Chase and after struggling on his return in the Tingle Creek, Henderson successfully stepped him up to two miles and five furlongs for an impressive 16-length victory in the Ascot Chase.

Shishkin was duly sent off the evens favourite for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham but he was slow to stride and a bad mistake three fences from home cost him valuable momentum, with the gelding eventually staying on to finish a two-and-three-quarter-length second to Envoi Allen.

Shishkin was a wide-margin winner at Ascot in February
Shishkin was a wide-margin winner at Ascot in February (Steven Paston/PA)

Henderson will now roll the dice at a longer distance on Merseyside, where possible rivals include Bravemansgame, Conflated and Protektorat, the respective second, third and fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, as well as the 2021 Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard.

The Seven Barrows trainer said: “The Bowl is going to be some race because everyone’s threatening to run. It won’t be a re-run of the Gold Cup because I can’t see the Gold Cup winner coming (Galopin Des Champs), but I can see the rest of them coming. So he’s going to have join in with them. It could easily be the best race of the year.

“Ascot suggested that two-miles-five-furlongs wasn’t a problem, so you’re going three extra furlongs on an easier track. So it shouldn’t technically be a problem.

“If this works then that will definitely tell us where we go next year. You’d be thinking about the King George or even the Betfair Chase to start with. And if the King George goes well then obviously you’ve got to think about the Gold Cup. But again, everything has to go right.”

Nicky Henderson with Aintree hopeful Shishkin
Nicky Henderson with Aintree hopeful Shishkin (David Davies/PA)

Henderson admitted he and his team have needed to address a couple of issues since Cheltenham, after Shishkin hung left throughout the race.

He added: “We haven’t found issues that we haven’t corrected and I’m hopeful he won’t do all that again. He shouldn’t. We haven’t done anything dramatic, it was more physio, chiropractors – hopefully we’ve helped him.

“He’s a horse that has in the past had a few issues. We had those issues and we got him right and it all came together at Ascot and then we slightly fluffed our lines at Cheltenham, which was sad.

“But he still finished a remarkably good second, having got it all wrong. So if we have ironed that out then we’ve got every right to think we must have a chance at Aintree.”

Zarinsk among potential stars on show at Leopardstown

/by

Irish Champions Weekend winner Zarinsk is among a classy field of 14 runners set to line up in the Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Trained by Ger Lyons, the Juddmonte-owned filly bounded clear to win the Ingabelle Stakes in September, after which connections were happy to put her away for the season.

While that victory came on soft ground, the going is expected to be far more testing this weekend, with a precautionary inspection planned for 7.30am after more rain on Saturday morning left the going officially heavy.

“She ended last year on a good note winning on Champions Weekend in good style and she’s wintered well, Ger is happy with her and this looks a nice starting point,” said Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon.

“She won with cut in the ground – but there’s cut and there’s what we have at the minute. We’ve had a lot of rain recently, so you wouldn’t know about heavy.

“She’s a very nice filly and we’ve been very happy with her, and she’s ready to go.

“There was no temptation to run her again after Leopardstown. That was job done – she’d won her stakes race. So we put her away, as she was a very tall filly last year, and straight after the race we were happy to say that was her season done and to give her a bit of time.

“She’d had four runs, so hopefully we’ve a nice filly for this year.”

Never Ending Story with Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore
Never Ending Story with Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore (Brian Lawless/PA)

Aidan O’Brien runs three, with Ryan Moore on Never Ending Story, who brings Group One form to the contest, having been fourth in the Moyglare and third in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

Joseph O’Brien’s Madly Truly and Thornbrook, Kieran Cotter’s Matilda Picotte, Dermot Weld’s Tarawa and Paddy Twomey’s Impact Warrior also bring strong claims to the table.

Only seven colts have been declared for the Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2,000 Guineas Trial.

Aidan O’Brien’s Hans Andersen sets the standard, having finished second in the Futurity last season before slightly disappointing in the National Stakes when fifth.

Jessica Harrington runs Bold Discovery, bought by owner Marc Chan following an impressive debut win at Naas.

His first run in his new colours saw him finish a respectable third to Cairo in the Killavullan Stakes.

“He might be just a bit short of match practice but we hope he will be a nice horse this year,” said Jamie McCalmont, the owner’s racing manager.

“First time out he ended up on the lead and won, and I think that was a bit of a surprise, then the next time he ended up on the lead again. So the horse just lacks some racing experience and the idea on Sunday is to get him to come from behind and I think he will improve a lot from Sunday’s race.

“He’s a very big horse that will hopefully just get better with time, so we will take things slowly with him.”

In 2016 Dermot Weld’s Harzand won the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes before winning the Derby and the O’Brien family will be hoping to repeat the trick.

Aidan O’Brien runs the Moore-ridden Alexandroupolis, winner of his only start to date, as well as Denmark and Mohawk Chief.

His eldest son, Joseph O’Brien, is represented Up And Under, while his sibling Donnacha is represented by Alder, third in a Group Two to Auguste Rodin when last seen.

Fabre targets French Oaks with Pensee Du Jour

/by

Andre Fabre has Classic aspirations for Pensee Du Jour after the exciting filly maintained her unbeaten record with a thoroughly impressive display in the Group Three Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud.

The daughter of Camelot made a big impression when making scoring by four lengths on her racecourse debut on the all-weather at Chantilly in February, and successfully stepped up to Listed class with a seven-length verdict at Saint-Cloud last month.

Pensee Du Jour was a hot favourite to complete her hat-trick under Bauyrzhan Murzabayev and was well on top as she passed the post clear of Andrew Balding’s Doncaster maiden winner Sea Of Roses, with Be Happy third for Aidan O’Brien.

Fabre considers the French Oaks at Chantilly an “obvious” target for the winner, but could first test her Group One credentials in the Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp on May 14.

He said: “She made the running, but is able to accelerate as well if needed.

“She has a huge action and I was pleased with her performance.

“The Prix de Diane (French Oaks) is an obvious target for a filly of this calibre. She might go for the Prix Saint-Alary in the meantime, but we’ll see.”

Fabre completed a big-race double in the Prix Edmond Blanc, with the Godolphin-owned Tribalist making a winning reappearance.

Popular veteran The Revenant was a warm order to claim back-to-back victories in the Group Three prize, while Ralph Beckett sent dual French Group One winner Angel Bleu back across the Channel.

As per usual The Revenant gave it his all, but Tribalist – third in last year’s French 2000 Guineas and subsequently victorious in Listed company – was well on top at the line in the hands of Mickael Barzalona. Angel Bleu was a disappointing sixth of seven.

“He’s always been a nice horse and has got stronger over the winter,” Fabre said of Tribalist.

“He needed a bit of time, but now he is quite strong you can make more use of him. I was quite pleased.

“There is a Group Two coming in a couple of weeks’ time that he could go for.”

Pam Sly strikes Doncaster Mile gold with Astral Beau

/by

Pam Sly is no stranger to pulling the odd rabbit out of a hat and she managed it again when Astral Beau bolted up in the Pertemps Network Doncaster Mile.

With morning favourite Simon and Ed Crisford’s unbeaten Poker Face a non-runner due to the testing conditions, the Listed contest had an open look to it, but Astral Beau was sent off a bigger price than all bar one of the others runners at 9-1.

Hollie Doyle set the tempo on Tempus, but looked a sitting duck as Tacarib Bay loomed up on the outside entering the final two furlongs.

However, Rob Hornby had every move covered on the filly Astral Beau, who won three of her final four outings last season.

Despite that progress, she was still only rated 86, by some way the lowest in the race, but some bold thinking by Sly paid off and she now has another very valuable filly on her hands given she is from the same family as her 1000 Guineas winner Speciosa.

Hornby clearly was not thinking of any further handicaps, driving her out to win by four lengths from Brunch.

“I expected it to be honest but you probably think I’m big-headed in saying that,” said Sly.

Trainer Pam Sly
Trainer Pam Sly (Julian Herbert/PA)

“She improved so much at the end of last season and she loved the soft ground.

“The ground is important but we thought she’d improved at home. Shane Kelly had been in a couple of times to ride her and said as much.

“I don’t know what we’ll do now, we’ve nowhere else to run her as all the other races were 0-100 or something so I thought we may as well come here and have a go – and it’s paid off.”

Hornby said: “That was remarkable as nothing went to plan really. I was supposed to get cover but I got left on the wing and I was always over-racing.

“When you have a horse like her who goes on this ground it makes such a difference – it felt like good ground on her.

“She improved a lot last year and to beat horses rated so superior to her, she must have a bright future.”

Migration provides De La Sayette with second Lincoln success

/by

Benoit De La Sayette produced top-weight Migration with a perfectly-timed challenge to claim his second victory in the Pertemps Network Lincoln at Doncaster.

Previously successful in the traditional feature on the first day of the British Flat season aboard Haqeeqy in 2021, De La Sayette was crowned champion apprentice last term and it is not hard to see why.

Migration, trained by David Menuisier, won valuable handicaps at Goodwood and York in the summer of 2021 but only made it to the track three times last season.

Making his first appearance since finishing fourth in a Listed event at Newmarket in October, the seven-year-old was an 18-1 chance for his Town Moor return and benefited from the coolest of cool rides from his young rider.

Entering the final furlong it looked like proven mud lover Baradar might emerge triumphant after travelling smoothly into contention, with the well supported Awaal also right in the mix.

But having raced at the rear of the field for much of the straight-mile contest, Migration powered home against the stands’ rail and had a length- and-a-quarter in hand over Awaal at the line.

De La Sayette said: “He’s a horse that likes to come from off the pace. He came from off the pace in the Balmoral on Champions Day but I could never find the gaps. He finished off that race really strong, so we thought we’d try the same tactics today.

“The Lincoln is the Lincoln and it is very hard to find the gaps, so I’m very happy I found them at the right time. He really ran on in the last furlong and hit the line strong.

“To carry top-weight in that ground, it was a great performance. I ride a lot for Mr Menuisier, we have a good connection, and he told me to just do the same as at Ascot, as he just loves to come from off the pace. Luckily he was right.

“Last year went so well for me and to win this again, two years after winning on Haqeeqy right at the start of my career, is a fairytale.”

Menuisier said: “Not many top weights who are seven win the Lincoln but he’s so lightly raced, he doesn’t have much mileage.

“He’s been giving us the right signals all the way through so we were actually quite confident. He flies on this ground, anything from good to soft to heavy is absolutely fine.

David Menuisier saddled Migration to win the Lincoln
David Menuisier saddled Migration to win the Lincoln (Simon Cooper/PA)

“We’ll have to go into Pattern races now. He’s won that off 107 with a 3lb claim, he’ll be around 110 now, so I think that’s the end of handicaps and we’ll look at black type races – hopefully he can handle it.

“We’ll be patient anyway, because he’s very good fresh. He’s already made his money for this year and next – it’s a great way to start the season.”

Joint-trainer Simon Crisford said of the runner-up Awaal: “He’s run really well, I’m very happy with him. We’ve got a lovely horse for the rest of the season ahead of us and he likes that ground.

“It’s the name of the game and you’ve got to take it (defeat) on the chin.

“We might step him up in distance.”

Of the third-placed Baradar, trainer George Boughey said: “I’m very happy, he’s run a big race and I think seven furlongs is his ideal trip.

“He bolted up here over seven on this ground. Kevin (Stott) said he just didn’t quite see it out as well as possibly stouter-bred horses.”

Chester next stop for Magnolia victor Foxes Tales

/by

Foxes Tales appears to have earned himself a trip to Chester’s May meeting after justifying favouritism with an impressive success in the Unibet More Extra Place Races Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.

The Andrew Balding-trained five-year-old won the Group Three Rose Of Lancaster at Haydock at three, but lost his way somewhat last term.

However, he had shown his well-being with a smart third to subsequent Dubai Turf winner Lord North in the Winter Derby at Lingfield in February and was a 5-2 market leader for Kempton’s Listed feature.

The pace was good from the outset and William Buick appeared keen to catch his six rivals knapping aboard Secret State – kicking for home aboard last season’s King George V Handicap winner with over two furlongs still to run.

Oisin Murphy, though, had the ideal stalking pitch on Foxes Tales and soon had the Charlie Appleby runner in his sights.

The gelded son of Zoffany drew readily upsides and powered clear for a fourth career-win, scoring by three lengths.

Rogue Millennium (33-1) stayed on well for second, with Phantom Flight, who failed to get a run when Buick kicked, a further half length back in third.

Balding said: “He had a bit of wide trip in the Winter Derby but he ran well and Lord North went and franked the form in Dubai, so we were pretty hopeful today.

“He is definitely more focused for being gelded and he is back to the level of form he was showing as a three-year-old.

Foxes Tales returns to the winner's enclosure
Foxes Tales returns to the winner’s enclosure (PA)

“I think last year he was just thinking about things, but he has been gelded and has had a good winter off and hopefully he will have a good season.

“It was either he had to win a Group One last season or have him gelded and have him as a racehorse this season and we have him as a racehorse.

“He has done it well and to the eye it was quite impressive.”

Balding is now eyeing a return to Pattern class, adding: “I think we will probably go to Chester now for the Huxley Stakes (May 12).

“He won a Group Three as a three-year-old and I can’t see why he can’t win at Group-race level again.”

The trainer and jockey made it a double on the card, when Grenham Bay wore down Fix You in a thrilling finish to the six-furlong Unibet More Boosts In More Races Restricted Novice Stakes.

Murphy went on to record his treble as Dora Penny recorded a tenth career success, holding off the lare challenge of Cruise, who had a luckless passage in the six-furlong Fillies’ Handicap.

Vadream dominates Cammidge Trophy rivals

/by

Vadream made light work of the testing conditions at Doncaster to run out a decisive winner of the Pertemps Network Cammidge Trophy.

Fit from three runs on the all-weather, the Charlie Fellowes-trained mare was a 9-1 shot to strike Listed gold and claim her first victory since landing the Group Three Bengough Stakes at Ascot in the autumn of 2021.

After initially travelling strongly on the heels of the leaders, Vadream took over from the halfway stage and never really looked in any danger of being caught.

The further she went the further the five-year-old went clear and she was not hard pressed to pass the post with four and a half lengths in hand over Fast Response in the hands of Kieran Shoemark.

Fellowes said: “We ran her on ground that was too quick last season so we won’t be doing that again but what we did learn last year was that she always improves with racing.

“We gave her three runs on the all-weather before coming here. She loves soft ground and loves six furlongs and has always threatened to do something like that.

“Last year was frustrating with quick ground all summer but we know her a lot better this year, we’ll stick to cut in the ground and six furlongs is perfect.”

Charlie Fellowes was delighted with Vadream's victory in the Cammidge Trophy
Charlie Fellowes was delighted with Vadream’s victory in the Cammidge Trophy (Mike Egerton/PA)

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “She’s in on All-Weather Finals Day and Newcastle probably is the only all-weather track you could get away with it and think you have a big chance. She is the sort of filly you can back up quickly and then she’d have a little break.

“She’ll have an entry at York in May (Duke of York Stakes) and she might get an entry in Ireland where they get cut in the ground. Hopefully we have a wet summer.

“The owner loves racing. A lot of people would have had her covered this year but he said he’d waited a long time for a filly like this and as long as she’s in good heart, kick on.”

Punchestown Gold Cup winner Kemboy is retired

/by

Willie Mullins has announced the retirement of multiple Grade One-winning chaser Kemboy.

The 11-year-old burst onto the staying chase scene with a stunning victory in the 2018 Savills Chase at Leopardstown and while he came to grief shortly after the first fence in that season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, he subsequently blew his rivals away in the Bowl at Aintree.

Kemboy is perhaps best remembered for his victory in the following month’s Punchestown Gold Cup as he gave Ruby Walsh the perfect send-off by getting better of Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning stablemate Al Boum Photo, a performance which ensured he ended the season as the highest-rated horse in training.

The French-bred gelding has found victories harder to come by since, but did add the 2021 Irish Gold Cup to his CV and ended a two-year losing streak in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February.

In all, Kemboy won 10 of his 36 career starts and earned his connections more than £800,000 in win and place prize-money.

“The decision has been made to retire Kemboy,” Mullins told www.sportinglife.com

“He gave us some great days over the years, winning the Bobbyjo Chase this term and Grade Ones at Leopardstown, Aintree and Punchestown during a tremendous career. He’s been a great servant to the yard and connections.

“Ruby Walsh retired after winning the Punchestown Gold Cup on him and now it’s Kemboy’s time to bow out. I hope he has a long and healthy retirement.”

In all Kemboy won 10 of his 36 career starts and earned his connections more than £800,000 in win and place prize-money.