Lonsdale makes Huxley Point

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Favourite backers were made to sweat before eventually collecting their winnings as Point Lonsdale toughed out victory in the IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes at Chester.

Successful in four of his five juvenile starts two years ago, the Australia colt only made it to the racecourse once as a three-year-old, finishing down the field in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

However, having proved his talent remains intact with a comeback victory in the Group Three Alleged Stakes at the Curragh last month, he was a 5-6 shot to give trainer Aidan O’Brien a fourth Huxley Stakes win and he ultimately got the job done, albeit in workmanlike fashion.

It was not easy viewing for his supporters, with Ryan Moore rowing along in the saddle a long way from home in behind the pacesetting Poker Face.

But to his credit, Point Lonsdale kept responding to his rider’s urgings and after striking the front in the straight, he had enough in hand to see off the late charge of Mujtaba by a neck.

Moore said: “He was a good two-year-old who won a Listed race, a Group Three and a Group Two but he wasn’t around for most of last year.

Point Lonsdale after winning the Huxley Stakes at Chester
Point Lonsdale after winning the Huxley Stakes at Chester (Neil Morrice/PA)

“It wasn’t very pretty, was it? He’s a real galloper and he probably hasn’t been round a tight track like this before.

“He’s only really been to the Curragh, Leopardstown and Ascot and he was just a bit unsure what to do with himself.

“Today’s race was well up to standard and the track didn’t suit him, but he has a great attitude to be fair to him and plenty of ability. It was a very good performance.”

Desert Crown remains on course for Sandown return

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Last year’s Derby hero Desert Crown will make his long-awaited comeback in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on Thursday week, connections have confirmed.

The unbeaten son of Nathaniel has not been seen since defeating Hoo Ya Mal at Epsom in June, having suffered an ankle injury.

However, the unseasonably wet spring has caused problems for many trainers, with Sir Michael Stoute unable to use Newmarket’s grass gallops.

The Saeed Suhail-owned Desert Crown will still take his chance in the 10-furlong contest, however.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to the owner, said: “He runs in the Brigadier for sure.

“We have tried to get him on the grass, but everywhere is closed, so we might have to use something on Racecourse Side, I don’t know. I can’t think it will be any issue.

“But he is in good shape, the horse looks good and all has gone to plan, from what I have been told.”

The Brigadier Gerard is a race Stoute has farmed over the years, winning it 11 times – most recently with Bay Bridge last year, who went on to land the Champion Stakes.

Bright Diamond aiming to sparkle in Oaks Trial test

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Connections of Bright Diamond have no qualms about switching the Fitzdares Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes from Lingfield’s turf track to the all-weather surface, following a midweek deluge.

The daughter of US sire El Kabeir takes on eight rivals in the mile-and-a-half Listed contest on her seasonal debut, with plenty of camp confidence following her placed effort in the Group One Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket when last seen in October.

Trained by Karl Burke, Bright Diamond ran three times last summer, scorching to a nine-length victory on her seven-furlong Newmarket debut in August before being placed in Group Three company at Goodwood.

Thoughts of running in the Musidora at York next week were shelved primarily because of the prospect of easy ground.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, said: “The Musidora looked a bit tougher. We thought about it, but who’s to say what the ground is going to be like up at York?

“She doesn’t want it heavy and Karl wants to get her on the track. He said she is working well, but he needed to get a race into her.

“She ran well when third in the Fillies’ Mile and she’s a good-moving filly, who has improved physically over the winter and she is better on better ground.

“She stays well and she has wintered very well. Karl is very happy with her.

“When she won first time, she caught us all a bit by surprise as she streaked clear. She doesn’t always show at home what she does on the track, which is a good thing.”

Perfect Prophet also had three runs last season, winning a mile all-weather novice at Kempton before finishing third in the May Hill at Doncaster on good to soft ground.

“She was doing all her best work at the end in the May Hill,” said her trainer, Ed Walker.

“We toyed with the idea of running her over 10 furlongs in April in France, but I just felt she needed the extra distance, hence we opted for this over the Musidora, even though I don’t think the sharp nature of the track will play to her strengths at all.

“It’s a weaker race than the Musidora and a better trip for her and if she can run well in a race like this, on a track that doesn’t suit, we will know she will be even better when she gets on a galloping, turf track.

“We’re looking forward to seeing her, she’s a lovely filly who is bred to stay well and we hope she runs well.”

Aidan O’Brien, who has won this race twice before with Baraka (2004) and Seventh Heaven (2016), relies upon Be Happy, who has the benefit of a run under her belt, having finished third in the Group Three Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud last month.

Charlie Appleby is seeking a first success in the race and saddles both Eternal Hope and Sunset Point.

The former, a daughter of Teofilo, has had two starts so far this year, scoring over 10 furlongs at Chelmsford in February.

Sunset Point, by Dubawi, has more experience with four previous outings, winning the last two, a novice over a mile on the all-weather at Lingfield and when running away with a 10-furlong fillies’ handicap at Windsor on her seasonal bow last month.

Charlie Appleby said: “Eternal Hope is slightly less experienced than Sunset Point, but both have won on the all-weather.

“Both don’t look out of place in the field and this should give us a gauge for their future.”

Passenger added to Dante field

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Sir Michael Stoute’s Passenger has been supplemented for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes, with 14 in contention for the York feature.

An impressive winner of the Wood Ditton at Newmarket on debut, it has cost connections £14,000 to add the son of Ulysees into the Betfred Derby trial, which Stoute has won on seven occasions and landed 12 months ago with subsequent Epsom hero Desert Crown.

Passenger would also have to be supplemented into the Derby itself if passing his Knavesmire assignment, something successfully done eight years ago by Golden Horn.

Golden Horn is one of three winners for John Gosden in the last 10 years and alongside son Thady, the Clarehaven team could be represented by Blue Riband Trial winner Epictetus this time around.

Flying Honours looks most likely to run for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin with stablemate Military Order declared for Lingfield on Saturday, while Charlie Johnston already has one Derby candidate in the form of 2000 Guineas fifth Dubai Mile and could bid to add a second string to his bow with Dear My Friend.

Winner of the Burradon Stakes last time, the colt’s owners, Middleham Park Racing, are now dreaming of further glory.

“We’ve got lots of excited owners on our hands at the moment. Very much the dream is still alive! We’ll have a big crowd there next Thursday and they’re just really excited, just to see how his season develops,” said Middleham Park’s Mike Prince.

Dear My Friend ridden by James Doyle wins the talkSPORT Burradon Stakes at Newcastle
Dear My Friend ridden by James Doyle wins the talkSPORT Burradon Stakes at Newcastle (Richard Sellers/PA)

“The syndicate were absolutely delighted with his run at Newcastle – the form is working out nicely,”

“Him and Flight Plan had a ding-dong battle in the final furlong but he was quite comfortably on top in the last 100 yards and looked to be extending away.

“He’s got a lovely, long stride on him and we think that stride-length will come into play when we step him up to a mile and two. We’re pretty adamant that the step up in trip will suit him.”

Cairo and Continuous are possibles for Aidan O’Brien, while John Joseph Murphy’s Ballysax winner White Birch is another potential raider from Ireland.

Free Wind has been added to the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes mix
Free Wind has been added to the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes mix (Mike Egerton/PA)

Canberra Legend was a taking winner of the Feilden Stakes and could bid to get his Classic ticket stamped, with the Craven Stakes form represented by Andrew Balding’s The Foxes and Roger Teal’s Dancing Magic, who finished second and third respectively at Newmarket.

In the supporting Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes, the Gosdens have added Free Wind to the line-up at a cost of £11,200, but their star filly Nashwa is a notable absentee.

A maximum of eight will head to post in the 10-furlong contest, with German Oaks winner Toskana Belle a possible to make her debut for Roger Varian and Richard Hannon’s track-and-trip scorer Aristia another name of note.

De Sousa handed 10-month ban by Hong Kong Jockey Club

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Silvestre de Sousa has been suspended for 10 months after pleading guilty to a betting charge on Friday.

The three-times British champion jockey pleaded guilty alongside fellow rider Vagner Borges, who was banned for 12 months by the Hong Kong Jockey Club stewards. Both suspensions begin immediately, with De Sousa sidelined until March 12, 2024 and Borges until May 12, 2024.

Both riders were found in breach of rule 59 (3), which states “no jockey shall bet, or facilitate the making of a bet, or have any interest in a bet, on any race or any contingency relating to a race meeting”.

Silvestre De Sousa is a three-times British champion jockey (
Silvestre De Sousa is a three-times British champion jockey (Julian Herbert/PA)

According to a press release from HKJC, Borges “had an interest in a bet” on his mount Young Brilliant in a race at Happy Valley on April 26, with De Sousa having “facilitated” that bet.

The statement added that “there was no evidence before the stewards that Borges and De Sousa had ridden their horses in the respective race with any intention other than to obtain the best possible placing for their mounts”.

However, the stewards also underlined “it is fundamental to the integrity of racing that jockeys are not permitted to bet or to have an interest in a bet”.

De Sousa moved to Hong Kong last September after riding as a freelance due to his retainer with King Power Racing not being renewed at the start of 2022.

‘Disappointed’ Byrnes still to decide on appeal over Gowran decision

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Charles Byrnes has expressed his disappointment with the decision of the stewards at Gowran Park on Wednesday to find him in breach of the rules regarding the run of Ellaat in the concluding contest on the card.

Byrnes was fined €6,000, rider Gearoid Brouder suspended for 21 days and the horse prevented from running for 90 days, after the seven-year-old gelding finished fourth in the Racing Again May 23rd Handicap.

Following an inquiry, the stewards stated they were satisfied “that both trainer and rider were in breach of Rule 212A(i) in that both were involved in the running and/or riding of a horse in a race, who deliberately or recklessly causes or permitted a horse to run other than on its merits”.

Speaking after a winner at Clonmel on Thursday, Byrnes said: “I haven’t made up my mind yet whether to appeal or not – I have three days to make the decision.

“I’m very disappointed with the decision to find me guilty as I clearly stated I wasn’t happy with the ride.

“The horse is valueless after it (suspended until August 8) as he is a summer horse. It is what it is, but I don’t know at the moment.”

Hackman leaves Owen purring after Chester victory

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Michael Owen cut a delighted figure in the Chester winner’s enclosure when Hackman surged to an impressive victory in the British EBF Ruby Anniversary Maiden Stakes.

The former England international famously relishes winners at his home track and had his first success on the Roodee with Treble Heights in 2002.

Trained by Hugo Palmer, Hackman was the 11-8 favourite in the hands of James Doyle and having bounced out of the stalls, made every yard to register an easy one-and-three-quarter-length victory.

Hackman returns after winning at Chester
Hackman returns after winning at Chester (PA)

It is a race Owen has tasted plenty of success in over the years and with the precocious son of Mehmas fittingly winning the race his sire landed in 2016, connections are now dreaming of a trip to Royal Ascot later in the summer.

“His work at home suggested he’d come on a bundle for his debut,” said Palmer.

“I was nervous would he get the five furlongs, but he saw it out well. We are now dreaming of the Norfolk Stakes and maybe Sandown at the end of the month.”

Owen added: “He’s a really good horse and he’s very fast – he’s five furlongs through and through.

“This place means a lot to me and to win here means a lot. It’s an important meeting and we’re on the board with what we thought was our best chance of the week. He’s a nice horse and we’ve always thought Royal Ascot with him and I don’t think he’s changed our minds there.

“I really wanted to win that one. I’ve been fortunate to win plenty of races around the world and Group Ones and people might be thinking ‘a poxy little maiden round Chester’ but I wanted to win that one.

“He is just everything you want in an early two-year-old, he jumps quick and he’s a little bull of a horse. He’s great and I love him.”

Point to be made from O’Brien ace in Huxley Stakes

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Point Lonsdale bids to add further riches to his stellar CV when he lines up in the IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes at Chester.

Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old has won five of his seven racecourse appearances, but has only been seen twice since his his high-class Juvenile days when he took four of his five starts and finished second to Native Trail in the Group One National Stakes.

A disappointing run in the 2000 Guineas was his sole outing at three, but he showed the fire still burns bright with a game success in the Alleged Stakes last month following a 351-day absence.

The form of that victory over Visualisation got a boost when the runner-up landed the Mooresbridge Stakes recently and more success for Point Lonsdale here could pave the way for Group One assignments later this season.

O’Brien said: “He won in soft ground at the Curragh. That was his first time over a mile and a quarter and he got the trip well.

“We’ve been happy with him since and we think he’s ready for his next run now.”

Andrew Balding’s Foxes Tales was third in the Winter Derby behind Lord North in February and was last seen handing the useful Rogue Millennium a three-length beating to scoop the Listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.

Mujtaba returning after a comprehensive victory at Newbury
Mujtaba returning after a comprehensive victory at Newbury (Neil Morrice/PA)

He now has his sights raised to Group Two level, while also taking a step up in class is William Haggas’ Mujtaba who has been forced into pattern company following a seven-length romp in a Newbury handicap in the autumn.

“He put up a very impressive performance in soft ground at Newbury and went up to 115, so this is a good starting point for him to get him going,” said Haggas.

“He likes the ground so hopefully he will run well. He’s won at Chester before but he’s also run poorly at Chester before, so we will see how we go.”

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Poker Face suffered the first defeat of his career when second in the Earl of Sefton Stakes on reappearance, but the form of that race was given a timely boost when the winner Ottoman Fleet scored at Belmont last weekend and connections are confident there is still more to come from Fastnet Rock gelding.

Poker Face ridden by jockey James Doyle on their way to winning at Pontefract
Poker Face ridden by jockey James Doyle on their way to winning at Pontefract (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He’s lightly raced and he ran a very good race in the Earl of Sefton for his first run back of the year,” said Ed Crisford.

“This race is another step up in class, but he has come out of Newmarket well and has been training well.

“He has a good draw and the ground should suit. He’s in good form and although it is a big step up for him, I’m sure he has a lot more improvement in him.

“He’s only had four runs in his life and is still a baby really and still learning. I think with racing experience he should be improving all the time and is an exciting horse for the future.

“This is another step up and there are some very good horses in there, but he has had his first run of the year now and I’m hopeful he will run a very good race.”

Six go to post for the Group Two contest with Roger Varian’s Royal Champion and Noel Meade’s Layfayette completing the field.

Tahiyra in top form after Newmarket, but next run yet to be decided

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Dermot Weld reports Tahiyra to have returned from Newmarket in good form following her brave second in the Qipco 1000 Guineas.

Making just her third start in the one-mile Classic, the daughter of Siyouni was sent off the 6-4 favourite in the hands of Chris Hayes and belied her trainer’s pre-race trepidation the race may have come a touch too soon by fighting out a thrilling finish with the Saeed bin Suroor-trained winner Mawj.

Ultimately the lack of a prep run may have played its part, but the Rosewell House handler described her performance as “excellent” and she lost little in defeat up against the race-fit winner.

Tahiyra and Chris Hayes going to post before the Qipco 1000 Guineas
Tahiyra and Chris Hayes going to post before the Qipco 1000 Guineas (Nigel French/PA)

Tahiyra holds entries in both the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot where a rematch with Mawj is a possibility, but although happy his filly has recovered from her Rowley Mile exertions well, Weld will now take his time before electing a next port of call.

He said: “She’s come out of her excellent run at Newmarket very well, but no decisions will be made about her next start for another few weeks, certainly until closer to the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

“She ran an excellent race and has come out of it well.”

A plan is also yet to be finalised for the improving Azazat who built on an encouraging third to Betfred Oaks favourite Savethelastdance to open her account in style at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Azazat ridden by jockey Colin Keane (centre) on their way to winning the Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden during Derby Trial Day at Leopardstown
Azazat ridden by jockey Colin Keane (centre) on their way to winning the Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden during Derby Trial Day at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Azazat herself is a best price of 16-1 for the Epsom Classic on June 2, but the daughter of Camelot also holds an entry in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Juddmonte Irish Oaks later in the season.

“She did it very well on Sunday,” continued Weld. “In her race previously she was beaten by Savethelastdance and I thought she did it very well.

“We’re likely to make a decision next week where she will run next and all options are on the table and are open.”

Hamish joins an elite club with successful Ormonde Stakes defence

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Hamish became the first horse in over 20 years to secure back-to-back victories in the tote.co.uk Bet £5 Get £20 Ormonde Stakes at Chester.

The William Haggas-trained gelding may be a seven-year-old, but he has been raced sparingly, with this only his 15th career start.

His six previous victories include three at Group Three level, with his win on the Roodee supplemented by success in the Cumberland Lodge at Ascot in October.

With conditions to suit, Hamish (7-4) was given plenty of time to find his feet by Tom Marquand as 11-10 favourite Changingoftheguard set out to make all.

Hamish and Tom Marquand after winning at Chester
Hamish and Tom Marquand after winning at Chester (Neil Morrice/PA)

The complexion of the race changed before the home turn when Changingoftheguard came under pressure while Hamish was only getting going and he was ultimately good value for the winning margin of a length and a quarter. Lone Eagle stuck to his task well to split the pair in second.

Hamish is only the fourth horse to win a second Ormonde Stakes and the first since St Expedit claimed successive wins in 2001 and 2002.

Maureen Haggas, assistant to her husband, said: “He was second in the Irish Leger last year and is in at York (Yorkshire Cup) next week. He could run there if there was some cut in the ground and he told us he was ready, as William’s father (Brian Haggas, owner) loves York.

“He had a tendon injury as a four-year-old – who knows what he might have achieved without that? But he’s one Andrew Tinkler and I fight to ride (at home), you get such an attachment to a horse like him.

“He once ran on good to firm at Newbury but he won’t be asked to race on anything faster than genuine good ground again.

“The whole family like a bit of cut in the ground, and all credit to him today as it wasn’t run to suit him.”