I gather there was an eerie silence in the stands as Anmaat got the better of Calandagan in the closing stages of the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. I suspect that many in the crowd had to refer … Read More »

At first sight Saturday’s Dewhurst Stakes looked nothing special, with the first three finishing within two necks of each other and the ante-post favourite The Lion In Winter an absentee. The most intriguing performance came from Aidan O’Brien’s Expanded, who … Read More »

I think most of us felt beforehand that there was no outstanding candidate for the Arc but I have to admit that I didn’t really fancy Bluestocking to win. The thing that most surprised me was how significant the betting … Read More »

I have never considered myself a great judge of work. Over the years I have seen dozens of home gallops, but horses are seldom given too hard a time in their work and you don’t always know how much weight … Read More »

I was possibly being a little harsh when I described the St Leger field as a bunch of plodders in my Weekend Card preview, but with the first four covered by a length and three-quarters there was no clear-cut winner. … Read More »

The pecking order for the top older horses this season must be all over the place following the two big races over the weekend. I could never have fancied Montassib to win the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock … Read More »

A lot has been written and said about Ryan Moore in recent weeks, with some justification given the initiative and skill he displayed in the case of City Of Troy at York. Going back many years – to 1984 – … Read More »

Although it was no surprise to see City Of Troy win the Juddmonte International at York last Wednesday, I had never have expected him to make the running, especially given the presence of a pacemaker. However, in hindsight, it was … Read More »

I read today that Free Wind, on whom Kieren Shoemark received criticism in certain quarters for his ride in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood, has been retired having injured herself as the stalls open. Then on Sunday in the … Read More »

Last week at Goodwood there was the customary crop of eyecatchers, although not as many as we had before the false rail and cutaway was introduced two furlongs from home in 2022. I’m not sure how punters fared over the … Read More »

I never had much of a feel for Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes but, even so, it was negligent of me not to make any mention of the winner Goliath. One of my cardinal rules from … Read More »

The early indications are that there are some pretty smart two-year-old fillies in Ireland at this stage of the season. Fairy Godmother came from what looked an impossible position to win the Albany Stakes while the following day Bedtime Story … Read More »