Klassical Dream brings up Punchestown hat-trick

/by

Willie Mullins’ dominance in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle continued as Klassical Dream became only the third horse to win the Punchestown contest three or more times.

The winner in both 2021 and 2022, Klassical Dream had a point to prove having flopped at Cheltenham when only ninth in the Stayers’ Hurdle last month.

However, he silenced the doubters under a cool ride from Paul Townend to strike at the Punchestown Festival for the fourth time overall and give the master of Closutton his 10th victory in the three-mile Grade One.

There was little change in the order for the most part as Summerville Boy led the field along with Klassical Dream and Townend content to bide their time towards rear.

Things began to hot up when Sire Du Berlais took closer order after four out and sensing an opportunity to seal a unique Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown treble, Mark Walsh sent Gordon Elliott’s evergreen 11-year-old for home after two out, rounding the final bend.

It momentarily looked like Walsh’s enterprise could pay off, but Klassical Dream was moving stealthily onto his tail under a motionless Paul Townend.

Klassical Dream (right) clears the final hurdle on his way to winning the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle during day three of the Punchestown Festival
Klassical Dream (right) clears the final hurdle on his way to winning the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle during day three of the Punchestown Festival (Brian Lawless/PA)

There was three in a line jumping the final flight as Klassical Dream, Asterion Forlonge and Sire Du Berlais all left the ground in unison, but on landing it was the Closutton hat-trick seeker who edged his way to the front and he stuck on gamely to hold off his rallying rivals and come home half a length to the good from Asterion Forlonge with Sire Du Berlais a neck away.

“Paul was so cool on him. He was out the back and the minute he got a bit of daylight he locked on and I thought ‘wow this is it’. It was a masterclass in riding again,” said Mullins.

“I’m a bit worried now as going celebrating with Jo (Coleman, owner) is no simple task! We have good nights.

Klassical Dream after winning the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle for a third time
Klassical Dream after winning the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle for a third time (PA)

“I think we’ll bring him to Auteuil again. We had a good time there last year (finished second) and a weekend in Paris is never a bad thing.

“Asterion Forlonge ran a cracker and stayed on great at the end. I think hurdling is just too fast for Monkfish, he wants slower ground and bigger fences to maximise jumping.”

Townend said: “His record here is very good. We just held on. I was trying to leave it late and I still managed to get there too soon.

“He hasn’t had the most straightforward of season and all credit to Dave (Casey, assistant trainer) and the gang at home for getting him back here in such good form on that bit of nice ground.

“I was always going to give him the chance to use his speed and take the criticism if I didn’t get there. I thought I’d the quickest horse and I was going to give him every chance. I wasn’t going to get involved that far from home.

“It’s easy riding for Willie in Punchestown. We’ve had a brilliant season and it’s nice to be a part of this massive team – a small part of it – to round of the season here in Punchestown.”

Harrington keen to ensure unintrusive affordability checks

/by

The British Horseracing Authority intends to ensure the affordability checks on lower-level gambling spend are as unobtrusive as proposed in the government’s Gambling Act Review White Paper.

The paper proposes that the threshold for these checks is £125 net loss within a month or £500 within a year and also states that the checks will be ‘frictionless for customers and conducted online by credit reference agencies’.

Julie Harrington, chief executive of the BHA, felt the nature of these checks was crucial to their success and that their practical implication would decide how much of an impact they would have on racing’s revenue.

She said: “The numbers around the less intrusive checks, the £125, are much lower (than anticipated), but it depends on the big unknown for us.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer making a statement to MPs in the House of Commons on the Gambling Act Review White Paper
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer making a statement to MPs in the House of Commons on the Gambling Act Review White Paper (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)

“The work we will do with the Gambling Commission on behalf of the government is how unintrusive and friction-free those checks are.

“The one area we want to get visibility on to see how much of a risk it is to us is those friction-free tests at the lower end of losses.”

Harrington was concerned that the paper’s estimation of the financial losses racing will suffer as a result of the measure was an underestimation, with a total reduction in income between £8.4 and £14.9 million the predicted sum.

“The government’s own economic impact work is estimating between £8.4 and £14.9 million negative impact per annum,” she said.

“We want to work with our partners in the media rights companies to do our own economic check on those numbers. We’re a little concerned that it might be an underestimation.”

Another factor the BHA intend to raise with the Gambling Commission is the seasonal nature of racing gambling, with punters likely to stake and potentially lose more when the big festivals are under way.

This could bring a customer who is not a habitual gambler close to the threshold for enhanced checks and the BHA has data to share to highlight these patterns among those who bet on racing.

“Part of our conversations with the Gambling Commission has got to be taking into account customer behaviour and historic customer behaviour shows that people do save up for those major festivals in the same way that other people would save up for holiday,” Harrington said.

“We’ve got a huge amount of evidence on that to share with the Gambling Commission. The wording is also around net losses, so we know some of our customers might use their winnings from a major festival to fund their punting for the remainder of the year – how will those checks take that into account?

“Particularly the 90-day threshold, you could still be losing money in July that you won in March. It’s a detail that we need to get some context on.”

State Man ‘the one to beat’ ahead of Champion test

/by

With no Constitution Hill to worry about, State Man will be widely expected to end an excellent season on a high in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

Impressive in winning the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and a Grade One novice event at Punchestown at the end of last season, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old has this term taken the step up into open company in his stride.

Victories in the Morgiana Hurdle, the Matheson Hurdle and the Irish Champion Hurdle earned him a shot at the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham – and while no match for Nicky Henderson’s brilliant winner, he was clearly best of the rest and aims to confirm his status as Ireland’s top two-miler on Friday.

“I was happy with him at Cheltenham and he’s in good form. There’s no Constitution Hill so hopefully he’ll be the one to beat,” said Mullins.

The champion trainer also saddles the admirable veteran Sharjah, who finished runner-up to Constitution Hill in the Aintree Hurdle a fortnight ago, as well as the five years younger Vauban.

The latter has finished behind State Man in his last three races, including when fourth in the Champion Hurdle, and Mullins already has one eye on a possible Flat outing later in the year.

He added: “We’ve Sharjah and Vauban in the race as well. Vauban possibly needs a longer trip and we’ll give him a good shot at the Flat later in the season to see what he can do there, but the plan is to go to Punchestown first.”

Gordon Elliott saddles Champion Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle third Zanahiyr and Pied Piper, who was last seen being beaten a head by Faivoir in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Colonel Mustard in action at Cheltenham last year
Colonel Mustard in action at Cheltenham last year (Mike Egerton/PA)

Colonel Mustard completes the field, with trainer Lorna Fowler preparing to send him back into action just six days after finishing second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

She said: “I’m really happy with him. He was beaten fair and square in Ayr but he ran great, beaten by a horse (Rubaud) carrying less weight and a better horse at the weights, so I’d no gripes with it.

“We obviously think a lot of our horse. He’s been lightly-raced this season. Nobody can account for the bounce factor but we’ve given him every chance in every way to bounce back. He’s a good traveller, drinks well and I’m really happy to be going and really happy with him.

“On ratings he’s not going to beat a few, but it could be a tactical race and the prize money is fantastic.

“It just feels the right decision to be going and I really feel that he could run a good race. I hope so anyway.”

Impaire Et Passe puts lofty status on the line

/by

Impaire Et Passe puts his unbeaten record and tall reputation on the line in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.

The French bumper winner made a hugely impressive hurdling debut for Willie Mullins at Naas in December before dominating his rivals in the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown a month later.

The Closutton dogs were barking Impaire Et Passe’s name ahead of last month’s Cheltenham Festival and he duly delivered, easing clear in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle in the style of a horse destined for even greater things.

Mullins had the option of running the five-year-old over the Moscow Flyer distance of two miles earlier in the week, but has elected to stick to a longer trip on the penultimate day of the meeting.

“We ran him over two miles in the Moscow Flyer in Punchestown before Cheltenham and the speed he showed in Cheltenham was fantastic but then again, that was against two-and-a-half-mile horses,” said Mullins.

“For Impaire Et Passe, it’s no problem doing two-and-a-half around Punchestown.”

High Definition winning on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown
High Definition winning on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

The champion trainer also saddles Champ Kiely, who was seven and a half lengths behind Impaire Et Passe when third in the Ballymore and takes him on again.

One-time Derby favourite High Definition is stepped up in distance by Joseph O’Brien following a seventh placed finish in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. The five-year-old also sports cheek pieces for the first time since pursuing a jumping career.

Amir Kabir (Gordon Elliott), Inothewayurthinkin (Gavin Cromwell) and Thecompanysergeant (Denis Hogan) are the other contenders.

Arrest out to collar Sandown’s Classic Trial

/by

Arrest is given the opportunity to earn himself a shot at Derby glory when he makes his seasonal debut in the bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown.

The Group Three contest has proved a key pointer to the world’s most famous Flat race in the last couple of years, with 2021 runner-up Adayar going one better at Epsom and last season’s winner Westover finishing a luckless third in the Derby before lifting the Irish equivalent.

Like Westover, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Arrest is a son of the great Frankel and also carries the late Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte operation.

“We’re looking forward to seeing Arrest back in action, he’s in good nick and it’s a good starting point,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon.

“It worked out well for us last year with Westover and hopefully history can repeat itself.”

Arrest certainly brings excellent credentials to the table in the 10-furlong contest, having won twice during his juvenile season before rounding off his campaign with a narrow defeat in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

Frankie Dettori will be in the saddle on Friday, with the popular Italian still on the lookout for a ride in what will be his final Derby before retirement.

And with the forecast testing conditions not a major concern, Mahon is hopeful Arrest can advertise his Classic credentials.

He added: “He handled the heavy ground in France last year and I think it was pretty soft when he won at Ffos Las the time before. I think he’s pretty uncomplicated when it comes to ground conditions.

“The trials are all so tight and all so close to the big day, so I think if he was to go to a Derby, we’d probably do what we did last year with Westover and go straight there from Sandown.

“There’s a few nice types in the race, but our lad is ready to start and while I’m sure he’ll improve for the run, hopefully he’s fit enough to run well.”

Westover’s trainer Ralph Beckett bids for back-to-back wins with the promising Salt Bay.

Ralph Beckett has high hopes for Salt Bay
Ralph Beckett has high hopes for Salt Bay (Mike Egerton/PA)

An impressive winner on his Haydock debut in September, the Farhh colt subsequently finished third in the Criterium International and Beckett is excited ahead of his return.

“Salt Bay has trained well this spring and Sandown will suit. I’m looking forward to running him,” said the Andover-based trainer.

“I don’t think the trip will be an issue as he will probably get a mile and a half. It is a race we have thought about for a while for him.

“He is a generous worker and a very straightforward customer. I think he is a horse that will probably improve physically as he gets older as he is that type, but let’s hope he has improved enough over the winter to get competitive on Friday.

“Westover was much more experienced at this stage last year as he had already had three starts, whereas this fellow wouldn’t know quite as much, so the comparisons are unfair at this stage.”

Flying Honours won three of his five starts as a two-year-old for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, including the Group Three Zetland Stakes at Newmarket on his most recent appearance.

Appleby said on www.godolphin.com: “Flying Honours has enjoyed a good prep and this has been his aim for a while.

“He hasn’t raced on ground like this before although his pedigree suggests that he should be OK and, if it places an emphasis on stamina, it will be another plus for him.”

Salisbury novice victor Circle Of Life represents the King and the Queen Consort for the trainer-jockey combination of Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore, while Andrew Balding raises Relentless Voyager’s sights following a runaway success in an all-weather maiden at Kempton last month.

Slipofthepen still in Guineas frame following Newmarket workout

/by

Slipofthepen could yet give King Charles III a Classic runner on his Coronation Day after warming up for a possible Qipco 2000 Guineas bid with a racecourse gallop at Newmarket.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt is a son of Night Of Thunder, who won the 2000 Guineas in 2014 for Richard Hannon, and has been visually impressive in winning each of his two starts to date.

The three-year-old enjoyed a leg stretch on the Rowley Mile on Thursday and retains the option of returning to the track on Saturday week, where he would carry the royal colours of the King and the Queen Consort just hours after His Majesty is officially crowned at Westminster Abbey.

Speaking after Slipofthepen’s morning gallop, John Gosden said: “He worked well and we’ll obviously make our decision over the next few days.”

Slipofthepen and James Doyle at Newmarket
Slipofthepen and James Doyle at Newmarket (Jockey Club/John Hoy/Megan Ridgwell/PA)

Slipofthepen is a best priced 20-1 to strike gold in the 2000 Guineas, a race the late Queen Elizabeth II won in 1958 with Pall Mall.

James Doyle has partnered Slipofthepen to his two Kempton triumphs and was also on board for his Thursday morning spin – and with stable jockey Frankie Dettori seemingly set to partner Chaldean in the Guineas, Godolphin-retained rider Doyle could again come in for the mount, subject to his availability.

“It depends. Frankie at the moment obviously has Chaldean, the Dewhurst winner, so we’ll just have to see,” Gosden added.

“Depending on what else runs, James may well be available. There are decisions to be made.”

BHA welcomes new gambling white paper

/by

The British Horseracing Authority has welcomed the government’s Gambling Act Review White Paper which was released on Thursday, but stressed the need for a swift review of the Levy.

The government announced in the long-awaited legislation that gamblers could face financial checks before being allowed to part with their money, with the Gambling Commission intending to consult on two forms of financial risk checks for lower and higher levels of spending.

The lower level looks for signs of financial vulnerability, such as County Court Judgments, and the paper proposes that the threshold for these checks is £125 net loss within a month or £500 within a year.

The higher level of spending check has a proposed threshold of £1,000 net loss within 24 hours or £2,000 within 90 days and would warrant ‘a more detailed consideration of a customer’s financial position’.

The paper also proposes that these thresholds are halved for customers aged between 18-24 ‘given evidence of increased risk’.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced the new legislation in the House of Commons
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced the new legislation in the House of Commons (House of Commons/UK Parliament)

Joe Saumarez Smith, chair of the British Horseracing Authority and member of the Gambling Strategy Group (which has led on representations around the Gambling Act Review and Horserace Betting Levy reform) said: “Today’s publication of the White Paper is an important moment for the industry on a significant issue for its future prosperity.

“It is crucial that any regulatory framework for gambling recognises that millions of people safely enjoy betting on horseracing, while taking action where needed to protect people experiencing gambling-related harm. British racing is already supporting work in this area through the development of a safer gambling policy, building on good practice already established on our racecourses.

“We are pleased that the UK Government has reflected on our industry’s detailed representations and recognised the importance of British racing in today’s White Paper. Throughout the last two years, we have spoken clearly and with one voice to the Government about the importance of proportionate legislation, and the significant potential for unintended consequences.”

The paper states that only a small number of gamblers are likely to be affected, with an estimate of three per cent, and that the checks will be ‘frictionless for customers and conducted online by credit reference agencies’.

New measures have been brought in to reflect the change in gambling habits
New measures have been brought in to reflect the change in gambling habits (John Stillwell/PA)

As those with gambling issues often hold several accounts with different bookmakers, the paper proposes that the Gambling Commission consults on introducing a ‘cross-operator harm prevention system’ that will involve the sharing of data and will be informed by the findings of live trials developed with input from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Commission.

Saumarez Smith added: “While there are a range of measures included within the White Paper, there will be a series of further important consultation processes – including on the critical area of affordability checks – in the months ahead.

“In these, we will continue to make our case that sweeping blanket checks on affordability are not appropriate, with any measures needing to being proportionate and targeted at individuals and their specific circumstances.

“We will now undertake further consideration of these measures, assessing their impacts on British Racing, and will provide a comprehensive, evidence-based, response to the various processes which today’s White Paper has commenced.”

The paper also proposes limitations on the advertising and sponsorship sector of the gambling industry and aims to review the ‘design and targeting of incentives such as free bets and bonuses’ so that excessive gambling is not encouraged among those who are vulnerable.

It is estimated that as a result of the measures racing will suffer between a six and 11 per cent reduction in the online component of the Levy collection, translating to a total loss of income to the industry that will fall somewhere between 0.5 and one per cent.

The paper recognises the symbiotic relationship between the racing and gambling industries and pledged to review the Levy system by 2024, considering the sport’s proposed changes that include adding overseas races into the scope of the levy, increasing the overall level of contribution and basing the calculation on gross amount staked rather than on gross gambling yield.

BHA chief executive Julie Harrington said the Levy review was needed to enable British racing to receive a “fair return” from betting activity.

“We very much welcome the launch of the review of the Horserace Betting Levy,” she said.

“This important review provides an opportunity for the Government to ensure British racing receives a fair return from betting activity, protects the sport against inflationary pressures, and maintains our position as the world-leader in thoroughbred racing and breeding.

“We call on the Government to now complete and implement this Levy review as soon as possible in order to support a great British sporting and cultural asset.

“While the publication of the White Paper sets out a roadmap for the future of gambling regulation in Britain, it is clear that substantial consultations will be required in the important weeks and months ahead.”

Grand National hero Derek Fox sidelined by broken collarbone

/by

Derek Fox, who came back from injury to ride Corach Rambler to victory in the Grand National at Aintree, has been sidelined again after breaking his collarbone.

Fox was unseated from the Lucinda Russell-trained Diamond State at Perth on Wednesday.

“He has broken his collar bone, so will be off for five or six weeks,” Russell’s partner and assistant trainer, Peter Scudamore said.

“What a time to do it. Thank God he did it after the National and not before.”

Fox bravely battled back from a shoulder injury picked up in a fall at Wetherby 12 days before returning to ride in the National.

It was his second success in the world’s most famous chase, having partnered the stable’s One For Arthur to success in 2017.

Fox had been due to ride Douglas Talking in the Pigsback.com Handicap Chase over two miles at Punchestown on Thursday.

Douglas Talking will now be partnered by Stephen Mulqueen, who won his first Grade One aboard Apple Away, when scoring in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree for Russell.

Scudamore added: “It gives Patrick Wadge a chance now – he’s been riding ever so well. Stephen Mulqueen will be heading to America to ride, so Patrick will get plenty of opportunities now.”

Adayar starts out on road to Ascot

/by

Derby and King George hero Adayar locks horns with the exciting Anmaat in an intriguing renewal of the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown on Friday.

Adayar provided trainer Charlie Appleby with a second Derby success at Epsom two years ago, a victory he proved was no fluke by beating his elders in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Last season was not so smooth for the son of Frankel, he did not make his reappearance until dominating a couple of rivals in a Doncaster conditions race in September, after which he got closest to Bay Bridge in the Qipco Champion Stakes.

With Appleby keen to add a 10-furlong Group One to the five-year-old’s CV before he is retired to stud, he views this Group Three as an ideal starting point ahead of an intended appearance at Royal Ascot.

“We have been delighted with Adayar’s preparation. He worked well in a racecourse gallop at Newmarket last week and it was always the plan to start him off here,” he said on www.godolphin.com.

“The ground is going to be testing and this is very much a prep race ahead of the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, but he is the class horse in the field.”

The Moulton Paddocks handler also saddles Highland Avenue in a bid to ensure the four-runner contest does not develop into a tactical affair, adding: “Highland Avenue is a decent horse in his own right, having won the Feilden Stakes and run well on soft ground in the Heron Stakes as a three-year-old

“He will hopefully ensure that there is a decent gallop in the race.”

Anmaat at Longchamp
Anmaat at Longchamp (Ashley Iveson/PA)

The biggest threat to Adayar is the Owen Burrows-trained Anmaat, who last season won the John Smith’s Cup at York, the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock and the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend in Paris.

The Awtaad gelding is saddled with a Group Two penalty for that latter victory, meaning he has to concede 5lb to Adayar despite being rated 3lb his inferior by the handicapper.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “We’re very much looking forward to seeing him run. He’s got his work cut out, taking on a Derby winner, but we’ve got to start somewhere.

“I don’t know if he wants heavy ground, but a bit of ease won’t do him any harm and Owen has been very happy with him as far as I know and it will be good to get him back in the swing of it.

“We’ll take it one race at a time, but that is obviously the plan in a perfect world, to make him a Group One winner.

“He’s an incredibly tough horse with a great attitude. I don’t think he’s going to want firm ground, so we’ll be guided by the conditions as to whether to he’s a mid-summer horse or not, but let’s take it one step at a time and get this out of the way first.”

Sir Michael Stoute’s Regal Reality, who won the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over the course and distance four years ago, is the only other runner.

Palmer keen on Guineas bid for Stenton Glider

/by

Stenton Glider booked her ticket for the Qipco 1000 Guineas when narrowly touched off at Newbury on Saturday.

Reeled in by Ralph Beckett’s Remarquee, with both fillies having just their second starts, the Fred Darling looked well up to standard as a Classic trial this year.

Having won a Chester novice on her debut in September, Stenton Glider was due to run in December, but refused to go in the stalls. She appeared to have done well through the winter, however, and looked in rude health in the Newbury paddock.

Trainer Hugo Palmer believes the striking daughter of Dandy Man warrants her place in the Rowley Mile fillies’ Classic on Sunday week after such a narrow defeat under Tom Marquand.

“Handsome is as handsome does,” laughed the Cheshire-based handler.

“As a trainer, you can’t go making expensive entries like the Guineas with a maiden winner, get beaten two-foot in a trial and then say ‘no’.

“She has got to step up and she’s a 25-1 shot, but she’s only two-foot behind a 6-1 shot. Two foot is nothing.”

Stenton Glider showed plenty of ability, taking a keen hold in the Group Three contest, before being collared inside the last 150 yards.

Palmer has no qualms about the additional furlong in the Guineas as he seeks another Classic success following Galileo Gold’s 2000 Guineas victory in 2016 and the Irish Oaks success of Covert Love in 2015.

He added: “She is going to meet a different test at Newmarket. She’s going to meet a big field and she is going to meet undulations and almost certainly going to encounter quicker ground.

“She showed loads of speed, but I’m certain she’ll stay – and Tom Marquand said a mile will be absolutely no problem to her.

“All her work suggests she’s a miler. She showed loads of speed, but they went very steady. Nothing wanted to lead, the time was very slow for good fillies.

Hugo Palmer feels the Rowley Mile will suit Stenton Glider
Hugo Palmer feels the Rowley Mile will suit Stenton Glider (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We feel she will be better on better ground. She could possibly have been a non-runner if her owner hadn’t given up tickets for the snooker World Championships to come and watch her!”

Along with her son Tom, Jane Mairs owns the filly, who is named after the famous racing bicycle invented by her grandfather, Percy Stenton.

The Stenton Glider Cycle Company was based in Ardwick, Manchester, and advertised its machines as ‘The cycle that gives you a sporting chance’.

Palmer added: “Jane’s maiden name was Stenton and her grandfather invented the first drop-handled racing bike, which was called the Stenton Glider, which debuted at the Olympics in the 1920s (Amsterdam 1928).

“All racing bikes now have handles in the drop-handle position and for Jane, who has owned horses in syndicates for a number of years, it has always been her dream to have a horse and call it Stenton Glider.”

Flaming Rib (centre) runs in Hong Kong on Sunday
Flaming Rib (centre) runs in Hong Kong on Sunday (Tim Goode/PA)

Meanwhile, Palmer’s high-class sprinter Flaming Rib, who was runner-up to Perfect Power in the Commonwealth Cup last summer and took a valuable sprint in Doha in February, has settled in well ahead of Sunday’s bid for the six-furlong Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong.

“Flaming Rib is in good order,” said Palmer. “He was invited and he has got to raise his game to feature, but he has travelled over there in good shape and seems to love getting on an aeroplane.

“He won well in Doha and seemed to be on the wrong side in Dubai, the way the race panned out.

“It is over six furlongs and he does seem to have produced his best efforts round a bend.”