Looking back to last week’s July Meeting at Newmarket, I was mightily impressed with the performance of Senorita Bonita in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes. The daughter of Starspangledbanner had looked very smart at the Craven Breeze-Up sale … Read More »

I have to admit that I am a little confused about the pecking order of this season’s three-year-olds. The Coral-Eclipse on Saturday was the first Group 1 test against older horses but, on form, this did not strike me as … Read More »

I’ve recently come to the conclusion that Aidan O’Brien starts the season without a clear idea of the pecking order of his horses. He is admirably forthcoming in the previews and on open days, and there is no doubting his … Read More »

It may seem perverse to bring to your notice an observation about a 25-rated maiden on the eve of the world’s most prestigious week of flat racing, but I believe the circumstances relating to Rockafeller Skank warrant a mention for … Read More »

I don’t know what the analysts will make of the racing that took place on Epsom Downs on Saturday, but I was left wondering after the last race had been run if the many hours devoted to the outcome of … Read More »

Experienced observers of form generally consider that if horses finish in a bunch then they cannot all be world-beaters, regardless of the class of race. However I’m pretty sure this will not apply to yesterday’s Prix du Jockey Club, in … Read More »

The fact that Ryan Moore has twice been on the ‘wrong one’ in the fillies’ Guineas races reflects the uncertainty at Ballydoyle over the pecking order for their top-class performers at this time of year. In the 1000 Guineas at … Read More »

Ante-post betting has always been a high-risk business, but it has become even more speculative since the domination of Willie Mullins over the jumps and Aidan O’Brien on the flat. This is because, in both cases, they usually have more … Read More »

It’s difficult to know where to start when trying to predict the likely Ballydoyle representatives at Epsom … all the more so given that ‘The Lads’ have not, as far as we know, apparently yet had the conversation with their … Read More »

I’ve brought to your attention in recent weeks the practice of running horses with point-to-point form three times in novice or maiden hurdles, mostly over two miles, to acquire a favourable mark for a low-grade staying handicap hurdle. Well it … Read More »

Aidan O’Brien will probably be “very happy” – which seems to be his go-to phrase for 2026 – with the way his team are performing, recording a 23 percent strike-rate for the current season with a few of Ballydoyle’s big … Read More »

There are certain profiles that I like to see in a horse’s form. In a previous edition I wrote about the ex-point-to-pointer who showed reasonable form between the flags before joining a yard and finishing down the field in maiden/novice … Read More »