Malone Road back in business at Kilbeggan

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Malone Road made his eagerly-awaited comeback a winning one with a debut victory over hurdles at Kilbeggan.

The highly-rated six-year-old had been sidelined for 642 days, but his return was worth the wait as Gordon Elliott’s charge enjoyed a smooth success in division two of the Hurley Family Maiden Hurdle.

Malone Road’s jumping was understandably novicey at first, but he settled nicely in front for Keith Donoghue.

Claude Greengrass kept him company until fading away before the business end and it was left to Broomfields Jerry to try to make a race of it, but Malone Road jumped the final flight four lengths clear and the 1-5 favourite extended his advantage to nine and a half lengths at the line. Dedanann was 14 lengths away in third place.

Bought for £325,000 guineas by Cheveley Park Stud after winning a point-to-point in Ireland, Malone Road won two bumpers in 2018 but a knee injury ended that campaign prematurely. Then he picked up an injury last November which extended his absence.

Malone Road was to have returned at Ballinrobe earlier this month, but was withdrawn as the ground was unsuitable.

Elliott said: “He was a bit rusty, but it’s good to have him back. He hadn’t any fast work done and was half sleepy going around there.

“It probably wasn’t the ideal track for him, but we have to start somewhere.

“He had two knee injuries and hopefully he’ll be OK in the morning after that. It’s baby steps and we might look at something in Listowel for him.”

Elliott also won division one with Curlew Hill (4-5 favourite), ridden by Luke Dempsey.

Hogan working towards Flying Five with Make A Challenge

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Denis Hogan is plotting a path via Saturday’s Curragh Sprint Stakes for his consistent gelding Make A Challenge.

The five-year-old is due to line up in the Listed six-furlong contest as he prepares for future Group One engagements.

Twice a winner this season after clocking up six successes last term, the son of Invincible Spirit was last seen coming home just a length behind A’Ali in the Group Two Holden Plant Rentals Sapphire Stakes.

Hogan now has his eye on a handful of top-flight sprints and is hoping this weekend’s run will serve as the perfect preparation.

“We’re looking forward to it,” he said.

“He’s just had a freshen up since his last run, I suppose we’re aiming for the Flying Five at the Curragh on Champions Weekend, on September 13.

“These are all stepping stones for there really. Speak In Colours will be hard to beat, but he’s beaten him this season already. We’re not expecting to just turn up and win or anything, but we think it’ll bring him on for the Flying Five.

“He’ll love conditions and every bit of rain that falls is good for us. He’s in good nick, he’s drawn in the middle and should really accelerate.”

Make A Challenge is entered for the Listed Abergwaun Stakes at Tipperary on August 27, with the Prix de l’Abbaye also under consideration.

“He has an entry at Tipperary next Thursday,” Hogan said.

“So we’ll see about that. He has an entry in the Abbaye as well, we’re definitely going for the Flying Five but he does have an entry in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

“We’ll look at that race afterwards, but they’re the two targets we have for him so hopefully he’ll get there in one piece. We don’t work him much at home, he does most of his work on the Curragh in his races.

“It’s all good prep for the big one really (the Flying Five).”

Cadillac out to hit top gear at the Curragh

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Jessica Harrington’s exciting juvenile Cadillac will bid to double his career tally and remain unbeaten in the Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

Cadillac was a wide-margin winner on his only appearance to date, taking a maiden at Leopardstown by nine lengths at the start of last month.

A follow-up run at the same track was vetoed because of firm ground, something the colt is unlikely to encounter this weekend.

“He’s in great form, he’s doing very well,” Harrington said as she fine-tunes preparations for the Group Two contest.

“The only reason I didn’t run him at Leopardstown was because the ground was very quick that day. I took him out then, but he has been in great form since, and we’re hoping for a big run from him.”

Harrington also has another promising two-year-old on the same card, with Palifico set to run in the Group Two ARM Holding Debutante Stakes.

The filly was beaten just a neck by on her racecourse debut in June, and was subsequently placed again when finishing third in a similar maiden contest a month later.

Harrington, who won the Debutante Stakes last season with the top-quality filly Alpine Star, thinks her representative this time could be better than her form suggests.

“I am hoping she will run well,” she said.

“I know she is still a maiden, but she’s gone very well in two solid races so far.”

Palifico would not relish very testing conditions, however, and Harrington is therefore hoping the soft ground does not become heavy.

“I would really like it not to rain much more, if possible. She wouldn’t like that.”

Harrington also confirmed Alpine Star is faring well after her gallant effort in defeat behind Palace Pier in the Prix Jacques le Marois.

The filly went down by just three-quarters of a length when taking on colts for the first time in Group One company.

“Alpine Star is grand after her race,” said her trainer.

“She’s well, she’s in very good form. I was delighted with her, absolutely delighted with her. I really was.”

Battaash is Nunthorpe king once more

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Battaash continued his brilliant sprinting CV with a hard-fought victory in defence of his Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes crown at York.

Charlie Hills’ speedster had to defy rain-softened ground which put hopes of bettering the course record he set last year off the agenda.

He also faced an unexpectedly stern challenge from outsider Que Amoro, before getting firmly on top in the final furlong to land the odds as the 1-2 favourite and see off the 22-1 runner-up by a length.

Jim Crowley was capping an outstanding day in the saddle, completing a four-timer in the first four races – following the victories of Alfaatik, Enbihaar and Minzaal, all like Battaash for his retained owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Hills said: “He’s had to really work hard in very tricky conditions. There was a lot against him, the wind was howling, the pace was on the other side, but I think experience won him it today. It’s not easy, it’s similar ground in which he’s been beaten on, but his experience pulled him through.

“If every horse I trained behaved like this today then it would be a very easy job. He was immaculate, the way he behaved – brilliant down at the start, just the ultimate professional now.

“We’ve been working hard on him the last four years, everybody knows it hasn’t been easy, but this season he’s probably been the best he’s ever been, especially down at the start.

“The second showed amazing speed and with the tailwind it can be hard to reel them in, so I knew it was going to be tough.

“I’m so proud of him today, he was brilliant and I probably think it was the best run of his career as conditions were against him – he had to knuckle down and work really hard.”

On plans, he said: “The Abbaye is the obvious route to take, but if the ground is like last year we’d probably avoid it and look elsewhere, but I don’t know where that might be. I’d have to speak to Sheikh Hamdan. At the moment Plan A would be Longchamp.”

Asked about the Breeders’ Cup, Hills said: “That’s definitely going to be a decision from Sheikh Hamdan himself. Plan A is definitely to go to France – then, who knows?

“The world we’re living in at the moment, it’s not easy to have too many set-in-stone plans.

“He’s just the horse of a lifetime really. To show us that enthusiasm throughout – it’s emotional now.”

He added: “It’s been an amazing day for Sheikh Hamdan – it’s great to be involved with that operation, they are so professional and they are being well rewarded.

“Jim’s brilliant. He is amazing, works very hard at what he does. We’re all very proud of a great team.”

Crowley said: “He tried very hard. They went a serious gallop, but he was a real man and stuck his head out. In the past he has always won his races at halfway, so fair play to the second horse. He’s an amazing horse.

“We’re lucky to have him about and it’s fantastic for Sheikh Hamdan – he’s a big supporter of racing and has been for a long time and I’m glad I can repay him in some way. It’s been a golden summer.”

He added: “He’s the horse of a lifetime, you get one in a career, a horse like this.”

Celebration time for Jim Crowley
Celebration time for Jim Crowley (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Meanwhile, Michael Dods reflected with pride on such a fine run in defeat from his filly Que Amoro.

The County Durham trainer said: “She would have preferred faster ground, and so would he, but I didn’t think we’d get that close – so she’s run a blinder.

“To get that close to a horse like that is a hell of a performance.

“She’s seriously quick – when she ran here the other month, because the ground had gone a bit, we half-saved her to get home. I said to (jockey) Paul (Mulrennan) to take no prisoners today, to just go – because that’s the only way to ride her. She burns horses off.

“She’s not in the Abbaye – we decided we wouldn’t put her in, and if she ran a big race here we’d supplement her. With what’s going on, we didn’t know what would happen, but that is probably where she’d go.”

Royal Ascot winner Art Power was sent off the main market rival to Battaash, but Tim Easterby’s charge never seemed totally happy and finished sixth of the eight starters.

He was ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, who said: “I don’t think he’s run his race. He likes heavy ground and he didn’t have that today. He just didn’t go the pace early on, but he still wasn’t beaten too far.

“Even still, I’d like to think he’s better than that.”

Minzaal oozes class in Gimcrack

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Minzaal overcame a tardy start to register a taking success in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York.

Completing a treble for jockey Jim Crowley, Minzaal fluffed the break in the six-furlong Group Two but soon got back on terms and travelled supremely well throughout.

Mohawk King tried to make all, but Minzaal made smooth progress to take up position on the leader’s shoulder with two furlongs to run and really stepped up a gear when asked to go about his business.

Having just his third start, Minzaal drifted across the track a touch in the final furlong, but he had a ready two lengths in hand at the finish over Devilwala, with Mystery Smiles back in third.

Betfair offered 33-1 about Minzaal for next year’s 2000 Guineas and 14-1 for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Burrows said: “That was very straightforward. He didn’t jump out very quick, but I don’t think Jim wanted to set him alight in any case, as he has so much speed.

“He just lets him find his rhythm and Jim said he couldn’t believe how well he was going – if anything he got there too soon, but there was nothing else he could do.”

Looking to potential targets, the trainer said: “I think he’s all speed, I don’t think he needs to be going further than six furlongs, so we’ll be looking Middle Park rather than Dewhurst and it will be straight there.

“I don’t see him as a Guineas horse, more Commonwealth Cup and Jim thinks that, too.”

Enbihaar sees out Lonsdale Cup test

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Enbihaar will seek an elusive Group One success after fending off the late challenge of Stratum to claim the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York.

John Gosden’s superstar stayer Stradivarius had won the extended two-mile contest for the last two years, but even in the absence of his champion, the Newmarket handler still had the right horse for the race in Enbihaar.

The five-year-old was sent off the 15-8 favourite following a recent Goodwood success and she slotted into the pack as Withhold set the early gallop before the main players all started to line up in the straight.

The Mark Johnston-trained Nayef Road was in front with two furlongs to run, while Crowley looked to be hard at work on Enbihaar on the stands side and Dashing Willoughby launched his challenge on the far side.

However, Enbihaar kept finding for pressure, edging in front with half a furlong to run and stealing a handy advantage on Willie Mullins’ fast-finishing Stratum, eventually prevailing by three-quarters of a length.

Thady Gosden, assistant trainer to his father, said: “We always thought she’d stay two miles as she has that lovely long stride on her. She’s a big filly with a deep chest so there was everything to suggest she’d get it all day long.

Enbihaar does battle with Nayef Road and Stratum
Enbihaar does battle with Nayef Road and Stratum (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“The Qatar Prix de Royallieu, in which she was third to Anapurna last year on Arc day – that’s the aim. She’d stayed in training this season with the aim of winning a Group One and that will be her best chance, against fillies.”

He added: “She handled the ground, but it’s more dead than soft, obviously the ground would be the worry come October, we’ll just have to hope it isn’t too deep.

“She’s hard as nails, she’s definitely maintained her ability and beaten some good stayers there.”

Gosden and Crowley were completing a quickfire double having landed the opener with Alfaatik.

Crowley said: “She is so tough and she stayed very well. Credit must go to Sheikh Hamdan because he’s kept her in training and it’s so great she’s been able to repay the faith we have all shown in her.

“It was a war up the straight. Mark Johnston’s horses are hard to get past. Lots of credit to her. She really toughed it out. She is a super mare.”

A rueful Johnston had to settle for minor honours once more behind a Gosden runner with Nayef Road.

He said: “I don’t know if he’s quite run to form because if he had we thought he would have won.

“Two out he looked to be going better than anything, but he just didn’t win and that’s the story of his life.

“I don’t know where he’ll go next.”

Alfaatik back to winning ways at York

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Alfaatik returned from a lengthy lay-off to claim a cosy victory in the Sky Bet Handicap at York.

John Gosden’s charge was having just his fourth career start, and his first outing since finishing last in Derby trial at Goodwood last May – but he was not unfancied as a 15-2 shot.

Jim Crowley opted to take the shortest route in the 12-furlong contest, biding his time as favourite Zabeel Champion set out to make all before his stride started to shorten in the straight.

Dark Jedi hit the front with two furlongs to run, but as Crowley got serious, Alfaatik knuckled down to the task, finding plenty in the final half-furlong before eventually triumphing by a comfortable three-quarters of a length. On To Victory stayed on for third.

Assistant trainer Thady Gosden said: “It was a little bit of a surprise. He obviously won first time out, but slightly lost his way after that. Gelding him has made a big difference and he finished his race of nicely.

“We haven’t really looked beyond this as he’s a work in progress, you couldn’t take how he would run for granted and like I said, it was a slight surprise.

“We’ll see how he comes out of the race. He’s always had plenty of ability, but just hasn’t always shown it. That was a decent race today and he’s done it well.”

Jim Crowley enjoyed a four-timer at York
Jim Crowley enjoyed a four-timer at York (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Alfaatik’s victory proved the springboard to an excellent afternoon for Crowley, who went on to notch a 127-1 four-timer, with the Gosden-trained Enbihaar prevailing for the rider in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup.

Minzaal in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes and Battaash in the feature Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes ensured Crowley dominated the early part of the card.

However, his winning run came to end as Tawleed found Naval Crown (5-4 favourite) too good in the British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes.

Charlie Appleby’s runner came home four and a half lengths clear in the hands of William Buick, with Betfair offering odds of 66-1 about the Godolphin colt for next year’s 2000 Guineas.

Angel Power proved too good for her rivals at York
Angel Power proved too good for her rivals at York (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Crowley teamed up with 9-4 favourite Asiaaf in the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap, but she failed to fire as Angel Power stormed home by three and a half lengths for Roger Varian and Silvestre de Sousa.

The winning rider said: “She’s been very consistent this year and has shown some good form.

“She’s done well to pick up in that ground. We went a nice even gallop, she went through the gears and put the race to bed.

“I ended up on the rail, but I don’t think the ground is any quicker.”

Brunch triumphed in the last race of the day
Brunch triumphed in the last race of the day (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Trainer Michael Dods had to settle for second with Que Amoro in the Nunthorpe, but he was able to celebrate a winner as Brunch (15-2) finished with a flourish under Callum Rodriguez in the closing Sky Bet Mile Stakes.

Dods said: “He got beat at Haydock because he got in a pocket – he lengthens not quickens, so has to come with a run like that.

“He’s very lightly raced and I just said to Fiona (Denniff, owner), you wouldn’t know how good he is because he’s improving. He’s got a great manner and attitude.

“He’s owned by the breeders, so it’s important he goes for black type.”

Devious Company still on course for Naas

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Devious Company remains on course for this weekend’s Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes at Naas after his fine effort to finish runner-up at York.

Tom Dascombe’s classy two-year-old was just outdone by Happy Romance in Thursday’s Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes, but the plan is still to run him in Ireland on Sunday.

Devious Company won his first two starts in maiden and novice company at Haydock, and was then twice a Group Two runner up – in the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket and the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

The son of Fast Company stepped down to six furlongs at York, something Dascombe felt contributed to his defeat.

“Sadly, for me, not for Richard Hannon (trainer of Happy Romance), the one danger was dropping back in trip on a faster track,” he said.

“He’s never been the fastest out of the stalls – but he’s always got away with it until now, to some degree.

“Yesterday after a hundred yards, he couldn’t win. He’s a nice horse, but the winner is obviously very good. I thought we ran a great race – it just didn’t work out for us.”

Dascombe is considering another six-furlong test at Naas, in a lucrative race open to juveniles whose sire stands at median fee of no more than 75,000 euros.

The near 150,000 euros on offer to the winner is especially attractive to the Cheshire trainer when he compares it to reduced levels of prize money currently in Britain because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s very tempting to go to Ireland on Sunday for that sales race,” he said.

“As we all know, the prize money this year is absolutely shocking. Ballyhane, the sponsor, have done a fantastic job of putting on really good prize money – and they deserve to be really well supported.

“I would dearly love to run him, but if I think there’s any reason not to then I’ve got until midday tomorrow to make up my mind. The intention is definitely to run on Sunday, if there’s no reason not to.”

Recent rainfall has left the Naas turf yielding to soft, but Dascombe is not perturbed by the further rain forecast and feels his consistent colt can perform in all conditions.

“Honestly I don’t think he minds,” he said.

“He’s just a totally professional two-year-old colt who will pretty much respond in any way that he can. If I give him a challenge that he can’t do, well then he can’t do it.

“Yesterday I asked him to take on a very good filly over an inadequate trip on a fast track – but that was my fault, not his.”

Quinn hoping for clear run with Safe Voyage

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Safe Voyage bids to get back to winning ways in a “spicy” renewal of the Sky Bet City of York Stakes.

The consistent John Quinn-trained seven-year-old, who won the Surrey Stakes at the Derby meeting on his penultimate outing, finished a close-up fourth in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last time out.

He met trouble in running there – and while Quinn does not think that cost victory over Space Blues, it would still have been a much better run on paper than it initially looks.

“He had a few traffic problems at Goodwood, but it wasn’t the difference between winning and losing – he might have been second or third,” said the Malton trainer.

“I’ve been very happy with him since, and this looks like the right race for him – in saying that, it’s a spicy affair.

“They had the rain Wednesday night, and that will stop the ground from getting too firm. As long as there’s still a bit of juice in it, he’ll be fine.”

Safe Voyage will need to be at his best on Saturday to beat William Haggas’ mare One Master, who overcame her own troubled passage to win at Goodwood.

Roger Varian’s San Donato drops in trip, having made a big move in the Sussex Stakes only to tire late on, and last year’s Gimcrack winner Threat is another with solid form to his name.

In the Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes, David O’Meara’s 2019 Queen Anne winner Lord Glitters sets the standard.

Charlie Hills’ Pogo arrives on the back of a career-best effort when third in the Prix d’Ispahan, while Varian fields two likely contenders in Prince Eiji and Zabeel Prince.

Royal Hunt Cup winner Dark Vision is there also, as is Alan King’s Beringer, who re-opposes after going down narrowly to Mark Johnston’s four-year-old at Pontefract on his first run since chasing home Lord North in the Cambridgeshire.

“He ran a nice race on his comeback at Pontefract the other day and he’s trained well since,” said King.

“This is another step up for him. But he isn’t a million miles behind on ratings, and I hope he’ll run well.

“A bit of ease in the ground will suit him.”

King also has a lively contender in the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap in Midnights Legacy, winner of his last three.

The Barbury Castle trainer said: “He’s a progressive horse, and I think the step up in trip will suit him.

“He was good at Haydock last time, and this race has always been the plan.”

Hughie Morrison’s Kipps has the assistance of Ryan Moore – with Richard Hannon’s Mambo Nights, winner of all his three races this season, carrying top weight.

True Self tries again as Mullins eyes second Ebor victory

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Willie Mullins seeks a second win in the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap when he saddles True Self in the York feature.

The Closutton trainer struck in the 2009 renewal with the mare Sesenta, a 25-1 shot under then 5lb claimer Gary Carroll when she got the better of Aidan O’Brien’s hotpot Changingoftheguard.

Mullins’ representative this year was beaten only three lengths into sixth place 12 months ago, before going on a round-the-world tour – which included trips to Australia, where she won a Group Three, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

Since returning to Ireland, True Self has finished a creditable fourth behind the top-class Magical in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and a slightly disappointing sixth in the Munster Oaks at Cork.

However, 10lb lower than 12 months ago, the seven-year-old is expected to put up a bold showing on her return to the Knavesmire, where she will be ridden by Jason Watson.

Mullins’ assistant David Casey said: “Hopefully she’ll run well. She ran well in the race last year when things didn’t really go her way during the race, and she seems in very good form at home.

“She ran a good race in the Group One behind Magical, and Cork probably came a bit quick after that.

“We’ve put a tongue-tie on her at home, and it seems to have improved her – she’s been working very well this week.

Mustajeer was an impressive Irish winner last year
Mustajeer was another Irish winner of the Ebor last year (Clint Hughes/PA)

“If she brings her A-game, she should run a big race.”

True Self is one of two Irish challengers, along with Joseph O’Brien’s Pondus.

The raiding party is bidding to win the race for a fourth time in the last seven years following the recent triumphs of Johnny Murtagh’s Mutual Regard (2014), Tony Martin’s Heartbreak City (2016) and the Ger Lyons-trained Mustajeer (2019).

Alan King fires a twin assault, with the well-fancied Trueshan joined by Royal Ascot-winning stable companion Scarlet Dragon.

Trueshan was last seen claiming a Listed prize at Haydock, while Scarlet Dragon finished seventh in the Old Newton Cup on Merseyside – having previously claimed top honours in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at the Royal meeting.

“Trueshan is in good order, and I think the step up in trip will suit him,” said King.

“He was good at Haydock a few weeks ago – we’ve been happy with him since, and I was pleased to see the rain come earlier in the week.

“It’s a very competitive race, obviously. But he’s progressive, and I hope he’ll run well.

“Scarlet Dragon was tremendous at Royal Ascot, and I thought he ran well at Haydock in ground that would have been much too deep for him.

“I see we’re drawn widest of all – but we’ll slot in behind anyway, so it’s probably not the end of the world for him.

“He is his own man, so it just depends what sort of mood he’s in. I think a mile and six is within his compass.”

Nicky Henderson views ground conditions as key to the chances of his high-class dual-purpose mare Verdana Blue.

Nicky Henderson's Verdana Blue prefers quick conditions
Nicky Henderson’s Verdana Blue prefers quick conditions (Jeff Holmes/PA)

The 2018 Christmas Hurdle heroine was mowed down late by King’s Coeur De Lion in the Ascot Stakes on her latest outing.

Henderson said: “I’m told the forecast is for dry and windy weather and sunshine, which would be great.

“She ran very well at Ascot. It was probably all that rain they got on the Monday night that caught her out, and maybe the last couple of furlongs as well.

“We’re coming back six furlongs in trip. But she loves two miles on fast ground over hurdles at Kempton, so a mile and six on the Flat should be perfect.

“If the forecast is right and the ground is good, I’d be hopeful.”

Other leading contenders include Roger Varian’s Fujaira Prince, Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Deja and the William Haggas-trained pair of Pablo Escobarr and Monica Sheriff.

Pablo Escobarr won the Group Three Glorious Stakes at Goodwood last month, while Monica Sheriff is unbeaten in her last five starts, but the pair have been drawn in stalls 20 and 21 respectively.

Haggas said: “They’re drawn 41 between them – how’s your luck? It’s a disaster, but there you go, there’s nothing I can do about the draw.

“They’re both very well.”

Smart all-weather performer Stargazer is a big outsider for Phil Kirby, having been sidelined since winning at Newcastle in April of last year.

“It’s a big ask for his first start back, but he seems well and we’ve got to start somewhere,” said Kirby.

“We had planned to go for the Northumberland Plate, but he had a small setback when we were getting him ready, and this was the next natural race for him.

“I’m sure he’ll improve for the run. We’ll make a start and see where we are.”