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A crowd of 10,600 (about 6% up on 2024) came to Esher on Saturday afternoon for the Eclipse at Sandown Park Racecourse. The race was celebrating its 50th year under the sponsorship of Coral Bookmakers who continue to operate separately in the UK even though they are part of the Entain Group with Ladbrokes. As an aside, Sandown Park is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The course has an interesting history but it has always attracted the well-to-do from London with an excellent train service from Waterloo. From train tracks to race tracks (see how he does it) and the weather was much cloudier than recent days, muggy with rain in the air though only 1.5mm had fallen overnight. Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper called the ground Good to Firm, Firm in places with a pentrometer of 7.0 - Sandown is built on clay which holds the moisture in winter but with no rain it can dry out very quickly. Just six went to post for the Eclipse over 2000m which carried a first prize of £567,100. Short on quantity, the field may have been but it was very deep on quality with five of the six being Group 1 winners (the only one who wasn't was DELACROIX). English 2000 Guineas winner RULING COURT and the Jockey Club winner CAMILLE PISSARRO led the 3-y-o along with beaten Derby favourite DELACROIX and the Racing Post winner HOTAZHELL who had run just once in his 3-y-o campaign when third in the Irish 2000 Guineas. The two older horses were both quality - SOSIE had run fourth in the Arc as a 3-y-o but had returned as a 4-y-o winning both the Ganay and the Ispahan. This was his first experience outside France and his first on such quick ground while OMBUDSMAN had come from an impressive win in the Prince of Wales at Ascot albeit just 17 days previously. Before the race, OMBUDSMAN looked to be getting quite warm and the markets responded by easing him out to 6/4 with money coming for DELACROIX into 3s and RULING COURT into 4s. Speaking after the race, the always stoical John Gosden, joint trainer of the runner up OMBUDSMAN with his son, Thady, remarked that everything you thought would happen in the race didn't and indeed the exact opposite happened. Many expected Ryan Moore to be prominent on DELACROIX and for SOSIE to be waited with but that's not how it happened and you could have got some pretty fancy odds on the Aidan O'Brien runners being the last two into the straight. Probably more predictable would have been the argument that even in a small field there'd be trouble in running for those trying to come from off the pace. This was an unusual race in the modern era in there not being a clear pacemaker (or two). Neither Coolmore nor Godolphin entered a pacemaker which I found curious. Whether Moore was intending to go from the start I don't know but in the end SOSIE and HOTAZHELL cut out the running and with Oisin Murphy struggling to hold RULING COURT, Moore lost the catbird position leaving the two Godolphin horses in midfield and the two Ballydoyle horses at the rear. I'm not sure Maxime Guyon wanted to be at the front on SOSIE - it's not how the horse normally runs in France and he didn't get an uncontested lead which might have been better. The horse was clearly not in his comfort xone and when push came to shove faded tamely to finish last. You couldn't blame the ground on this occasion and perhaps the Juddmonte remains an option with a strong gallop certain. Given it was only his second run of the season, HOTAZHELL was still a bit fizzy up the front. I'm also not wholly convinced on this ground he sees out the 2000m but he ran with credit to be beaten about four lengths in fifth. CAMILLE PISSARRO was another for whom I thought the ground was an issue. He looked to have every chance 300m down before hanging left and weakening (and in doing so, did his stable companion DELACROIX no favours) losing third on the post to RULING COURT. It transpired he had also lost the left-fore shoe in the race which might be a valid excuse on the ground. I look forward to seeing him on some slower turf later in the season as he clearly has a lot of ability. RULING COURT was having his first run beyond a mile and you could certainly argue he saw the trip out. He was a little fizzy from the gate as well (only 18 days for him since his St James's Palace run) and didn't help Oisin Murphy and in the straight couldn't get a clear run as the front runners were stopping in front of him. He ran home strongly to snatch third on the post, beaten two lengths by the winner. Post race, connections were keen for a rematch with the winner in the Juddmonte and pointed out they had beaten FIELD OF GOLD in the English 2000 Guineas. I knew RULING COURT would be fine on the track and the ground but the trip was a concern - given a clear run he'd have been closer but how much closer? William Buick probably had the best run round on OMBUDSMAN - he got reasonable track position by the home turn and came into the race travelling strongly much as he had at Ascot. He was also a shade keen early - did that cost him the race? Debatable at best - he hung right under pressure and for me this was about as fast ground as he could manage. Nonetheless, in a messy and confusing race, another fine effort from this 4-y-o and he too will head for York though whether John Gosden, who trains FIELD OF GOLD for Juddmonte, believes deep down OMBUDSMAN can beat the 3-y-o I'm not sure. "In Ryan We Trust" could be the motto of punters like me who took 9/2 about DELACROIX in the morning. To be fair, everything that could have gone wrong went wrong and I'm sure Moore didn't want to be last turning for home. Both Moore and Murphy got repeatedly checked as the front runners weakened and CAMILLE PISSARRO started to hang (for reasons explained above). He's not one of the world's best jockeys for nothing but you need the horse to get you out of a jam, pickle or other condiment. DELACROIX got going at the 200m and still had three lengths with OMBUDSMAN but he ran down the favourite to win a neck. The irony then is the one horse in the field who hadn't won a Group 1 beat all those who had but when Moore chose DELACROIX over CAMILLE PISSARRO, well, that was a clue. I'm not sure how much that race will have taken out of DELACROIX. Moore, in the post race, actually thought DELACROIX didn't stay the 2400m at Epsom rather than it being down to the unique configuration of the Downs but there you go. The circus rolls on to the Juddmonte next month with perhaps all of these facing FIELD OF GOLD and the Japanese champion DANON DECILE. If they all turn up (and that's a big if), it will be the race of the season. The time of the Eclipse was 2 minutes 5.92 seconds (1.08 seconds below standard). The sectionals tell us it was a crawl and a sprint up the hill. SOSIE and HOTAZHELL kicked from 800m down but that didn't last and the others closed quickly but only DELACROIX and RULING COURT were finishing well. Much less to say about the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock where rain had eased the ground to Good, Good to Soft in places. Just four went to post with ESTRANGE sent off 2/7 and SCENIC 3/1 and as expected it turned into an intriguing dual between the two. SCENIC, now in the Wathnan ownership, was given a fine tactical ride by James Doyle, but just didn't have the speed at 2400m (probably needs further) and ESTRANGE went on to win a neck. Talk of the Arc seems premature on this evidence but the Yorkshire Oaks might tell us more. SCENIC heads for the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood.

Interesting. Of last year's five classic winners, three have stayed in training as 4-y-o - NOTABLE SPEECH, the 2000 Guineas winner, ELMALKA, the 1000 Guineas winner and JAN BRUEGHEL, the Leger winner. CITY OF TROY, the Derby winner, was retired at the end of his 3-y-o career and the Oaks winner EZELIYA suffered an injury while being trained for the Irish Oaks and was retired. The powerhouses - Coolmore, Godolphin and Juddmonte up here - seem more willing to keep horses in training as 4-y-o and beyond and as we've seen it provides for quality racing from mid season onward as the current crop of 3-y-o have to face a stronger cohort of older horses. I suspect also the powerhouses, who already have formidable breeding operations with well established and successful stallions, don't need another "pretender" who will take time to establish himself as the "next big thing". After all, FRANKEL himself raced as a 4-y-o and his rating and reputation improved from the 126 he had from his runaway 2000 Guineas win to the 140 he retired on after his seven length romp in the Juddmonte.

After a profitable Saturday (and I hope those who read my drivel were able to put a few beans on DELACROIX), I'll post up the review tomorrow. For now, time to look forward to next Friday and we have the five day entries for the second day of the Newmarket July Festival. The feature Group 1 is the Falmouth for the fillies and mares over the mile and 12 have been entered. Eight 3-y-o take on three 4-y-o and a solitary 5-y-o but the older horses are at the head of the market currently. CINDERELLA'S DREAM for Godolphin is 11/4 favourite with CRIMSON ADVOCATE at 7/2 and they were first and second in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge at Ascot three weeks ago. There didn't look to be any fluke about the win but whereas that was on the round mile, the Falmouth is run up the straight mile and that might give CINDERELLA'S DREAM a chance of reversing places and she should given she's 9 lbs ahead of CRIMSON ADVOCATE on the ratings. RUNNING LION made the pace that day but faded to fourth and I'm to be convinced she can mix it with the first two. CINDERELLA'S DREAM also comfortably holds ELMALKA on form from earlier in the season. Aidan O'Brien has entered three, all of them 3-y-o fillies. JANUARY was third with EXACTLY sixth in the Coronation while BEDTIME STORY was runner up in the Diane at Chantilly. To add some international spice, we have the German 1000 Guineas winner LADY ILZE among the entries. The supporting Group 2 is the Duchess of Cambridge for the juvenile fillies over 1200m. The Albany winner VENETIAN SUN faces the Queen Mary runner up FLOWERHEAD but we'll see what the final declarations look like later in the week. The ground at Newmarket remains Good to Firm (watered).

The Sandown ground is now Good to Firm (watered) following another dry and warm day in London Town. Sunday's declarations are now through - at Deauville, the ground is officially Good to Soft. The Group 1 Prix Jean Prat had drawn a field of nine. THE LION IN WINTER is a surprising runner for Aidan O'Brien. He went into winter quarters strongly fancied for the Derby after an impressive win in the Acomb at York but he failed in both the Dante and the Derby itself where he was nearly 30 lengths behind LAMBOURN. I know Aidan has always liked this colt but this will be a real work of genius if he can get the horse back to his level over a trip 1000m shorter than his last run. SHADOW OF LIGHT was third in the English 2000 Guineas and went off favourite for the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot but whereas it looked as though 1600m was too far at Newmarket, it looked as though 1200m was too short at Ascot and perhaps with the quick ground against him too, I can see why Godolphin and Charlie Appleby see this race as ideal for this talented colt and he's the likely winner. COSMIC YEAR from the Harry Charlton yard ran second to FIELD OF GOLD in the Irish 2000 Guineas and were HOTASHELL to run well in the Eclipse, I could see COSMIC YEAR attracting market support. Francois Graffard runs WOODSHAUNA who beat subsequent Commonwealth Cup winner TIME FOR SANDALS in a Group 3 on soft ground last time - it's an interesting line of form but I'm not convinced. Fourth in that Chantilly race was MANAMOA CHARLIE who beat SILIUS in a Longchamp Group 3 next time. As you know, I prefer Group 1 form in a Group 1 race so it's SHADOW OF LIGHT for me. Next Thursday sees the opening of the Newmarket July Festival - the ground on the July Course is currently Good to Firm and little rain is currently forecast. Two Group 2 races highlight the opening day - the July Stakes for the juveniles over 1200m sees Royal Ascot form given a run out. WISE APPROACH was second in the Norfolk but DO OR DO NOT was second in the Coventry but the fact is both are behind the two market leaders who both swerved Ascot. Charlie Appleby, in addition to WISE APPROACH, has entered the unbeaten MAXIMIZED who beat the subsequent Windsor Castle winner in the Woodcote at Epsom while Aidan O'Brien has entered BRUSSELS who won on debut at The Curragh. The Princess of Wales Stakes over 2400m has just six entries. GHOSTWRITER and PALLADIUM were third and fourth in the Hardwicke at Ascot but were split by a length and a quarter. ARABIAN CRHOWN represents Godolphin and Charlie Appleby and in the spring of 2024, after winning the Classic Trial at Sandown, was thought of as a serious Derby contender but it's not gone well since and he lost his crown jewels after a poor run in the Gordon Richards last time. The sole 3-y-o is WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE who was fourth in the King Edward VII at Ascot having run third in the Dante.

The final declarations are through for Saturday's racing. The Eclipse has just six runners but this is the often the case with this race. Short on quantity but long on quality - the lowest rated is 115 and all six are Group 1 winners. Where to start? Four 3-y-o take on two 4-y-o so let's start with the older horses who head the market. SOSIE is the French raider off 121 and as we know won the Grand Prix de Paris as a 3-y-o and ended up fourth in the Arc. This season he's won the Ganay and the Ispahan, the two French Group 1 races over 2000m and 1800m respectively. Concerns? First, the ground - he's never gone on anything faster than Good to Soft so the Good, Good to Firm in places he's likely to encounter at Sandown is going to be interesting, Second, how will he cope with an end-to-end gallop? In truth, there might not be one as there are no pacemakers and it could be a tactical race which would suit his French style of racing. OMBUDSMAN is the highestj rated off 128 and the current Evens favourite and this comes off his impressive win in the Prince of Wales at Ascot where he beat MAP OF STARS, who was fourth, five and a half lengths back. SOSIE only beat MAP OF STARS a neck in the Ganay so on a tenuous line of form he holds SOSIE quite easily and he's rated 7 lbs higher - I'm less convinced and think they will be a lot closer. Nonetheless, IF OMBUDSMAN brings his Ascot form he's got to have a big chance. It's worth remembering the 3-y-o get 10 lbs from the two older horses thanks to weight for age. CAMILLE PISSARRO comes here off a win in the Jockey Club and had been previously third to HENRI MATISSE in the Poulains. Now, HENRI MATISSE beat RULING COURT in the St James's Palace though both were behind FIELD Of GOLD (and he's the one piece of the puzzle missing). Whether you can argue that puts CAMILLE PISSARRO in front of RULING COURT I'm not sure. RULING COURT won the English 2000 Guineas beating an arguably unfortunate FIELD OF GOLD after which he (RULING COURT) was trained for the Derby before being scratched the day before. He was then dropped back to a mile for the St James's Palace and ran third but it was clear that wasn't the original plan so perhaps the poor run can be excused and on what we saw at Newmarket the 2000m should be ideal. DELACROIX did run in the English Derby for which he was the favourite after emphatic wins in the Ballysax (where he beat the future Derby winner, LAMBOURN) and the Derby Trial at Leopardstown. However, he got bumped around in the early scrimmaging and was never going to get involved. This should be more his cup of rosie lee but fast turf is a slight concern. Finally, we have HOTAZHELL who did me a nice favour in the Racing Post Trophy last autumn and didn't run too badly on seasonal return when third in the Irish 2000 Guineas. I'm not wholly convinced the 2000m is what he wants. So, who wins? It's an intriguing puzzle - I'm not convinced OMBUDSMAN would beat SOSIE and both have to deal with a group of 3-y-o who have a few questions to answer. William Buick presumably had the pick of the two Godolphin runners and has gone with OMBUSMAN over RULING COURT. Ryan Moore had the choice of the two Ballydoyle runners and has chosen DELACROIX over CAMILLE PISSARRO. I'm not playing financially but put $20 from @scooby3051 in my hand and I'd play on DELACROIX at 6s. We have no real idea where the 3-y-o and 4-y-o stand relative to each other as there have been no serious inter generational races until now at this level so it may be the younger horses will be better than we think and with the weight concession they must have a chance. At Haydock, the ground has improved to Good, Good to Firm in places but the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks has disappointingly cut up to just four runners. The two 3-y-o look completely outmatched and SCENIC has 10 lbs to find on the numbers with ESTRANGE who is naturally 1/4 to follow up her impressive win in a Group 3 over course and distance. SCENIC won a Group 3 over 2800m at York last time but it's hard to see her coping with the favourite. 18 go in Sunday's Deutsches Derby at Hamburg and I've now realised using the translate option to read the German race card wasn't a smart move. SUGAR LOAF is actually ZUCKERHUT and with the correct name won the Group 2 Union Rennen at Cologne (the German equivalent of the Dante). JUWEILER beat PATH OF SOLDIER in a Group 3 last time and had claims as does the sole filly, the unbeaten LADY CHARLOTTE. CONVERGENT is the sole British runner and on his Chester form is right in this.

SUGAR LOAF is a son of Almanzor while JEWELLER is a son of Wootton Bassett. A filly called MATILDA won the German 2000 Guineas by six and a half lengths at odds of 25/1. She's by Soldier Hollow out of a Giant's Causeway mare and she has a half running in Class 4 handicaps in Hong Kong classed CLASSIC ARCHI. MATILDA has been moved from her German stable to the Francois Graffard yard in France - she has an entry in the Matron at Leopardstown in September but her breeding suggests to me she could go 2000m. None of this much help for the German Derby I'm afraid but we'll have the Eclipse declarations out this morning.

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In a brief lull, a little bit of housekeeping on the action coming up here in the European summer. In Britain, we have the Newmarket July Festival which runs from 10-12 July and then a nice break before the King George on July 26th at Ascot and the following week we have Glorious Goodwood from July 29th to August 2nd. In Ireland, the Irish Oaks is on July 19th before the liver buster that is the Galway Festival from July 28th to August 3rd. As for France, their big July race is the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on July 14th before the French racing scene decamps to the Normandy coast and Deauville for the August Festival starting on the 3rd. Finally, a note we have the Deutsches Derby at Hamburg this coming Sunday, July 6th. TRINITY COLLEGE won't be running and the sole British and Irish challenger in the entries is CONVERGENT from the Karl Burke stable who hasn't run since coming third in the Chester Vase in May behind the subsequent English and Irish Derby winner LAMBOURN. If we can take that form literally, CONVERGENT must have a significant chance. I have to confess my knowledge of German form is almost non existent - the highest rated horse in the field is called SUGAR LOAF but why I don't know.

Was that Will Featherstone? I also saw Ashley Dascombe among the winning riders as well. Ashley rode in point to points up here on the south western circuit.

We've had a couple of instances up here of trainers and owners getting together and not entering horses at a fixture in a protest at prize money levels but it's incredibly hard to manage as those who are at the lower end of the hierarchy will take any opportunity to get some prize money so if the "big boys" don't enter, they will. We have the reverse problem to you - too much racing and that leading to uninspiring small field races. Today we have just 40 runners in 6 races at Brighton and 57 runners for 7 races at Musselburgh and this is bread and butter midweek racing which should be popular ad there are many more slow horses than fast ones. Just 6 go in the single Class 2 at Musselburgh but apart from one Class 4, every other race is either a Class 5 or 6 (the lowest grade).

Looking ahead, we have the Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday for which the ground is currently Good, Good to Firm in places (watering). Eleven have been entered and current market leader is Prince of Wales winner OMBUDSMAN at 13/8. SOSIE has been entered - he won the Ganay and Ispahan this season and was last year's Grand Prix de Paris winner. He's a fascinating runner and adds a lot of interest to the race. SOSIE is 9/2. Aidan O'Brien has entered three - EXPANDED as a pacemaker, the beaten English Derby favourite DELACROIX and the Jockey Club winner CAMILLE PISARRO who I imagine will be Ryan Moore's pick. I saw ALMAQAM beat OMBUDSMAN over the same course and distance in the Brigadier Gerard but can he confirm the places? RULING COURT moves up to 2000m having been a late scratching for the Derby and well held in the St James's Palace behind FIELD OF GOLD, who heads for the Sussex. ANMAAT was second to OMBUDSMAN at Ascot but we know he's decent as is WHITE BIRCH from Ireland while the Ralph Beckett horses have hit form and STANHOPE GARDENS was a decent fifth in the Derby, well in front of DELACROIX. This looks a mouthwatering renewal so plenty to consider later in the week. At Haydock, the big race is the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks over 2400m for which just seven have been entered. This should be another of those intriguing clashes of the generations but the two 3-y-os look to have plenty on against ESTRANGE who won a Group 3 over this course and distaance last time. Next Sunday's big race at Deauville is the Jean Prat over 1400m. More on all these races as we move down the week.

On then to yesterday and while it was a quiet day in Britain, there were Group 1 races in Ireland and France. At The Curragh, it was Irish Derby Day and LAMBOURN was bidding to join the club of those who had achieved the English and Irish Derby double (about twenty strong as I recall). He was re-opposed by LAZY GRIFF and TENNESSEE STUD who had followed him home at Epsom. At the off, LAMBOURN was 8/13 with TENNESSEE STUD at 6s and Dante winner, PRIDE OF ARRAS, who had flopped at Epsom, 8s. As @Ohokamanhas already thoughtfully possted the race video, I won't bother. LAMBOURN may not have the flamboyance or the killer acceleration of others who have achieved the English-Irish Derby double but he’s got an abundance of courage and stamina and that got him home here. He’s not a vintage winner but he gets the job done. That said, I don’t think he ran to the same level as Epsom and this looked workmanlike rather than exciting. SERIOUS CONTENDER was close to the pace throughout and looked a real threat off the home turn and only gave way in the final 150m. He had run in a handicap off 92 at Ascot and was beaten by MERCHANT, one of those “Group horses masquerading as a handicapper” I referenced in my previous, in the King George V Handicap. SERIOUS CONTENDER was put up to 101 off that effort and he gave a horse rated 120 a race so the other question is how good is MERCHANT? MERCHANT is 20s for the King George at the end of July at Ascot and looks yet another fascinating contender in what is shaping up to be a strong renewal. LAZY GRIFF saved my each way cash with a strong late run to finish third having been well back early and that looked a very decent Leger trial. TENNESEE STUD was fourth with the two horses in the same ownership, SIR DINADAN and GREEN IMPACT, fifth and sixth respectively. The real disappointment was PRIDE OF ARRAS who finished last. LAMBOURN now, I think, has to prove it on the bigger stage against the older horses but he’s only 14s for the King George at Ascot, the same price as 109-rated King Edward VII winner AMILOC. I could see him running well in an Arc or a St Leger but the fact remains he probably didn’t run to 120 here and there are real questions over the quality of what he has achieved. SERIOUS CONTENDER is in the Princess of Wales at Newmarket and the Goodwood Cup though I’m not sure he’s a stayer on this evidence. LAZY GRIFF got a length or so closer to LAMBOURN than he had at Epsom but confirmed places with the Epsom third, TENNESSEE STUD who was for me a shade disappointing. They went a strong gallop and the winning time of 2 minutes 29.18 seconds was 3.72 seconds below race median confirming decent ground and a relentless pace. In Paris, at Saint Cloud racecourse, they staged the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud for the older horses over 2400m. This saw an intriguing clash between the very useful CALANDAGAN, the smart filly AVENTURE and GOLIATH, who won last year’s King George at Ascot. CALANDAGAN went off 10/11 favourite. A stunning performance by CALANDAGAN who, having been second on four consecutive occasions in championship races, got his reward and showed everyone he’s one of Europe’s best horses. He won by three and a half lengths and in truth those of us who fancied AVENTURE can have no complaints – she was well beaten but not disgraced. GOLIATH faded tamely to finish a long last. CALANDAGAN is 4/1 for the King George and currently second favourite to JAN BRUEGHEL who beat him at Epsom in the Coronation Cup but Ascot is a very different track and we know CALANDAGAN enjoys it and quick ground so there’s a strong argument he could overturn the Epsom form. It might have been quick enough for AVENTURE and to be fair she doesn’t bump into a CALANDAGAN every day. On proper Parisien autumn soft ground she looks a live contender for the Arc and she won’t meet CALANDAGAN because he’s a gelding and they aren’t allowed to run in the Arc. One Aga Khan owned colt AVENTURE might well meet in the Arc, however, is DARYZ who was a ready winner of the Group 2 Eugene Adam over 2100m. He’s not in her league yet but he’s improving fast. CALANDAGAN ran the 2400m in the Group 1 in 2 minutes 28.28 seconds – 0.82 seconds below race median confirming the recent trend of well-run races on decent ground.

On then to the weekend just gone and as it's hotter than the boiler room in Hades this morning in London Town (32c expected today and tomorrow), I suspect horse welfare, which is of a really high standard here in the UK, will be put to the test. Fortunately, today's afternoon venues are at Pontefract in Yorkshire and Ffos Las in West Wales, where it's a lot cooler and Windsor don't start their card until 6pm. Anyway, back to the past rather than the future and Saturday saw the first of the series of Group 1 races in Ireland and Britian which will basically define the rest of the season - the inter generational clashes between the 3-y-o and the older horses. Yes, there are still Group 1 races for just the 3-y-o (the Leger being one such) but more and more we'll be seeing the clash of the generations (and we'll get the juveniles involved down the line). The Pretty Polly over 2000m at The Curragh took place on ground described as Good (watered). The 3-y-o contender was WHIRL from the Aidan O'Brien yard who had won the Musidora at York and then ran a fine second to her stablemate MINNIE HAUK in the English Oaks at Epsom. She faced a formidable older opponent in KALPANA from the Andrew Balding yard who had won the Fillies and Mares at Ascot's Champions Day fixture last autumn abd had retuned with a decent third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup behind LOS ANGELES though the latter's poor run in the Prince of Wales at Ascot had knocked that form a little. KALPANA went off 5/6 favourite with WHIRL at 13/8 and 20/1 bar the two including the French raider SURVIE and the intriguingly-named WEMIGHTAKEDLONGWAY from the Jospeh O'Brien yard. A really good horse race. Ryan Moore made his intentions clear and rode WHIRL to the front after 200m but Colin Keane was never going to give him an easy lead and kept him honest on KALPANA. I'm pretty sure KALPANA led briefly 250m down but Ryan got to work on his filly and WHIRL asserted in the final 200m to win a length and a quarter with both SURVIE and WEMIGHTAKEDLONGWAY running on from the rear without ever really threatening to get involved. The key point to remember is tahnks to Admiral Rous and his weight for age scale, WHIRL was getting 12 lbs from KALPANA. I thought KALPANA ran well in defeat - there's some evidence she wants further but you could say the same about the winner - and on the terms of the race I think she put up a strong performance. She's 7s for the King George at Ascot at the end of July but could she go for the Yorkshire Oaks in mid August? WHIRL is, like so many of the Wootton Bassett/Galileo types, a real battler and she showed a lot of determination (as she had at Epsom) to rally once challenged and headed. Is she a 2000m type or a 2400m type? Probably both in truth and it's interesting her entries seem skewered more to the shorter trip so she's in the Nassau and the Irish Champion and she's 14s for the King George at Ascot. This is a conversation Aidan and the "lads" will no doubt have as to how to campaign both her and MINNIE HAUK who presumably heads for the Irish Oaks in the middle of next month. SURVIE was seventh in both the Vermeille and the Arc last year and ran well in defeat behind AVENTURE in the Corrida on her seasonal re-appearance. She's clearly a 2400m type and she's being prepped for an autumn campaign and is one to keep an eye on. WHIRL ran the 2000m in 2 minutes 4.95 seconds - 0.25 seconds below standard. The Group 2 Airlie Stud saw BEAUTIFY confirm the promise of her debut with an all-the-way success and she's clearly decent though the favourite LADY IMAN ruined her chance by running with the choke out for the first half of the race. Joseph O'Brien has a nice one in TRUSTYOURINSTINCTS, a 5-y-o gelding who has improved rapidly this summer and took out the 2000m Group 3 with the minimum of fuss which was decent given he's a stayer and he could well be an Irish Leger type - I just wonder if they'll enter him at Flemington. Speaking of Flemington, ONESMOOTHOPERATOR, who was mid division in the Melbourne Cup last year, was only eighth in the Plate at Newcastle on Saturday and with the winner rated only 89, I suspect there are no clues from that race. LAKE FOREST disappointed as favourite in the Group 3 over 1400m at York but it probably came soon enough after his Ascot run. Just a note - the City of York has been upgraded to Group 1 this year so will probably be the big focus of the 1400m older horses.

Yes and will comment on that and the Irish Derby in the weekend review. He put AVENTURE in her place - my sole worry about CALANDAGAN in the Arc would be the ground.

True enough, my friend and you can pay £25 to attend a 6-race card at Lingfield on the synthetic made up of three class 5 and three class 6 races. I'd argue Royal Ascot at least has quality - as an example, we have Eclipse Day at Sandown next Saturday (a big day and a Group 1 race). Entry to the Grandstand Enclosure, if you fetch up on the day, is £38. The Premier Enclosure is £52.50. Even to see Tom Jones, it's not unusual for the course to charge £50. A "normal" afternoon at Sandown such as July 24th (where last year I saw RULING COURT make his debut and thought I'd seen the 2000 Guineas winner. Turns out I had) would set you back £25 and it's a single enclosure so you have access to the whole course. I know that seems ridiculous coming from your jurisdiction but we do things differently here and the courses take the financial burden of staging a day's racing with all the requirements related. The courses largely decide when they want to race - I suspect in NZ, it's a bit different.

I've sort of followed this from over here with increasing disbelief. The analogy is with France where you can only bet through the Pari Mutuel (PMU) but that offers fixed odds and is owned and run by the State. France Galop (the equivalent of NZTR) would like more PMU funds into French racing but the French Government doesn't usually play ball (or boule as you might say). In the UK and Ireland, it's very different, We have a range of off-course and on-course bookmakers as well as the Tote, owned I think currently by the Tote Group who bought it from Betfred in 2019. How Are Bookmakers Taxed? – UK Bookmakers Basically, the General Betting Duty is 15% of profits so the Government skims off 15% of all profits made by all bookmakers on racing transactions. They do the same with Totes (it's called Pool Betting Duty). The Government has been talking about raising this to 20% or higher but the bookies have warned they will pass this on to the punter with fewer and lesser offers and skinnier prices to try to build up the profits. I'd just add while there's competition both on and off course, it's not quite as competitive as you might think. Money talks, odds walk (or tighten) and in the era of digital displays, 11/4 can become 5/2 before you even realise and the on-course markets are heavily influenced by the exchanges so money for a horse on the exchanges shortens the on-course prices to the mug punters like me.

Drone pictures are very useful for race analysis - at the recent Royal Ascot meeting, Ruby Walsh used them a lot to show where horses were, the options jockeys had and how the races developed and on that basis, in conjunction with sectional data, they are very good at showing not just what happened but explaining why it happened and pointing out both good rides and bad rides. I don't remember the drone pictures being used in-race at any point - that relied on the regular cameras positioned round the course. They also used a drone to provide some context of the expanse of the course from the Royal Enclosure down to the Village and the Windsor Enclosure - what you might call the cheap seats though even for those it was £25 entry.

The Part 2 wrap up covers the horses: 2-y-o: Aidan O'Brien looks again to have a very strong juvenile crop. GSTAAD (Coventry) and CHARLES DARWIN (Norfolk) were his stars but with reports ALBERT EINSTEIN is better than both of them, the Ballydoyle stranglehold looks hard to beat currently. Wathan had a decent bunch of juveniles but Godolphin perhaps less so with the likes of TREANMOR well held. Among the fillies TRUE LOVE was very good in the Queen Mary but Aidan O'Brien suffered setbacks with the defeats of SIGNORA in the Albany and MOMENTS OF JOY in the Chesham. VENETIAN SUN looked a really nice prospect in the Albany and was the only ray of light in what was a tough week for northern trainers. 3-y-o Colts: The standout here was FIELD OF GOLD who was impressive in the St James's Palace and he could be one of the best Juddmonte have had since FRANKEL himself. On the presumption he'll be too strong for ROSALLION in the Sussex, the Juddmonte already looks an enthralling prospect in August but they'll be wary not to go to the well too often. TRINITY COLLEGE looked very good in the Hampton Court and could be improving fast while MERCHANT for the Haggasn yard was one of a number of handicap winners in the week who looked unexposed and could well be on the way to Pattern company. The 2800m Queen's Vase saw a bunch finish but CARMERS looks a cup horse in the making for next season. 3-y-o Fillies: ZARIGANA's defeat by 33/1 shot CERCENE spoke volumes about the paucity of quality in this division (with the likely exception of LAKE VICTORIA) but with a 1-3-4 in the Commonwealth Cup, the sprinting fillies looks a decent bunch . I was impressed by GARDEN OF EDEN in the Ribblesdale but whether she will go on to races like the Vermeille in the autumn I don't know. Older Horses: DOCKLANDS excels at Ascot and he just held the late challenge of ROSALLION in a thrilling Queen Anne. Whether the latter can hope with FIELD OF GOLD in the Sussex remains to be seen. The Prince of Wales saw the eclipse of LOS ANGELES in a race which Ryan Moore will probably wish to forget but a fine run by OMBUDSMAN who may himself take on FIELD OF GOLD in the Juddmonte but this is an improving type and I look forward to seeing him run again. LAZZAT was superb in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee but SACTONO REVE's run suggested the elusive first Japanese winner at the Royal meeting wasn't far away. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as REBEL'S ROMANCE won the Hardwicke and for all his globe trotting exploits, he remains a firm favourite with the home audience who would love him to win a British Group 1 - I suppose if he wins well on Sunday, LAMBOURN might head for the King George but it could be open for REBEL'S ROMANCE. MY performance of the week was TRAWLERMAN in the Gold Cup - as flawless a display of dictating the pace from the front as you'll ever see from William Buick but he needed a willing partner and he got that with TRAWLERMAN who bounces off the firm turf and is one of few horses who sees out 4000m really well. Ones to Watch: Apart from all the Group and Listed races, Royal Ascot has a strong programme of very competitive and valuable handicaps and while in former times the handicaps were fiendishly tough, we're seeing a growing pattern of top yards putting unexposed types in these races off marks which, while representing what they'd actually done on the racecourse to date, were well short of the likely potential. UP here, we term them "group horses masquerading as handicappers" and they are often punted right down to 3s or 7/2 in a field of 25-30 runners which is ridiculously short. FRENCH MASTER, a 4-y-o Frankel colt in the care of the Gosdens, was backed down to 5/2 to win the 2800m handicap which closed the first day and won really well off a mark of 100 - he's now up to 108 and is just 5/1 for the Goodwood Cup at the end of next month. MY CLOUD, a 4-y-o colt by Blue Point trained by Roger Varian, was backed down to 3/1 to win the Hunt Cup over the straight 1600m and just held on. He ran off 95 and has been kicked up to 104 by the assessor. He's due back at Ascot for a warm 1400m handicap on King George day for which he is 7s. MERCHANT, a 3-y-o Teofolio colt trained by William Haggas, was backed in to 3s and won the 2400m King George V Handicap off 90. He's been kicked up to 103 by the assessor. NEVER SO BRAVE, a 4-y-o No Nay never gelding trained by Andrew Balding, won the 1400m Buckingham Palace Handicap beating 26 rivals by two and a half lengths off a mark of 105 - he's now on 115 and is a 5/1 chance for the Group 2 Lennox over the same distance at Goodwood at the end of next month. Two who finished second but were backed into favourite and I think were unlucky being drawn on the "wrong" side of the track were MORE THUNDER, a 4-y-o Night of Thunder colt trained by William Haggas, who was second in the 1200m Wokingham Handicap and is now off 101 and is 8s for the Bunbury Cup, another big 1400m handicap, at the Newmarket July meeting. Finally, SERAPH GABRIEL, a 3-y-o Saxon Warrior colt trained by Ralph Beckett. was backed into 11/4 favourite for the 2000m Golden Gates Handicap and was beaten a nose despite getting a less than clear run. He's been pushed up from 95 to 101 and is clearly on the upgrade. The last word to the bookies who ended the week well ahead nicely buoyed up by my cash overall. The first three days belonged to the punters but the bookies owned the last two and won fortunes on both two days as only four of the last fourteen favourites went in. I hope everyone has enjoyed the coverage of the Royal meeting - let's do it again next year !

So to part 1 of the wrap up of the 2025 Royal Ascot meeting. In my view, the best since the magical 2012 renewal - the year of FRANKEL and BLACK CAVIAR and while it seems improbable we'll have seen anything of that quality, five days of wonderful racing has thrown up some new stars for the season. The plaudits - top jockey at the meeting was Ryan Moore as expected with 7 winners, aided by Aidan O'Brien but also two from the Willie Mullins in the 4000m handicap and the concluding 4250m race. Oisin Murphy and William Buick were also among the winners and it was good to see Paul Mulrennan ride his first winner in 15 years at the Royal meeting. Despite a tie with five winners each, on count back John & Thady Gosden won the Trainers award. They dominated the first three days with FIELD OF GOLD, OMBUDSMAN and TRAWLERMAN. Also on five winners was Aidan O'Brien who dominated the 2-y-o races with the likes of GSTAAD and CHARLES DARWIN but it was the first time for many years Aidan failed to land a Group 1 at the meeting. Andrew Balding had four winners and it was good to see both Charlie Appleby and Saeed Bin Suroor among the winners. Top owners were, not surprisingly, Coolmore but Wathnan finished second with five winners and six thirds in front of Godolphin with four winner and those three powerhouses accounted for 40% of the week's winners. Crowd numbers: Tuesday 45,551 (43,791 last year) Wednesday 41,571 (40,163) Thursday 65,718 (62,549) Friday 62,628 (57,743) Saturday 71,073 (69,291) This was a 4.8% increase from 2024 which was obviously helped by five days of perfect weather and while Ascot would like to get back to 300,000 total it's interesting to see how the first day, for all its equine quality, struggles with the numbers against marginally weaker days later in the week - Tuesday is the only day with three Group 1 races. By all accounts, betting turnover and activity in the betting ring were also well ahead.

We have the final declarations through for some decent racing on Sunday in Ireland and France. In Ireland, ten go for the Irish Derby over 2400m which carries a first prize of 712,500 euros. As expected, the first three from Epsom re-oppose. LAMBOURN was a convincing winner of the English Derby handing out a bigger beating to LAZY GRIFF then he had at Chester and while you'd never describe either Chester or Epsom as "conventional" tracks to expect LAZY GRIFF to find nearly four lengths is a big ask but I do expect LAZY GRIFF to run well. TENNESSEE STUD was a length behind LAZY GRIFF at Epsom and found improvement for his first run at the trip. He's been put in as second favourite to LAMBOURN but it's hard to see him finding five lengths on the Derby winner. GREEN IMPACT is a fascinating runner from the Jessie Harrington yard - he beat English Derby favourite DELACROIX twice last year including in a Group 2 at Leopardstown and returned with a sixth in the English 2000 Guineas which was highly promising, He won a small Listed race three weeks ago and should be cherry ripe for this. On breeding, they'll be hoping the stamina from the dam's side will come to the fore and he looks a serious contender at 7s. In addition to LAMBOURN, Aidan O'Brien runs four other contenders including Lingfield Derby Trial winner PUPPET MASTER and a couple, including Queen's Vase fourth SHACKLETON, who are likely to be there to set a strong gallop. PRIDE OF ARRAS was very good when winning the Dante but was well held at Epsom and I'm not sure he'll be ideally supported by a strong pace though he has his own pacemaker in SIR DINADAN. Two yards - Aidan O'Brien and Ralph Beckett - both running pace setters suggests it'll be a stamina race and that will be ideal for LAMBOURN and LAZY GRIFF and expose any flaws in the other leading contenders. It wouldn't susprise me if the first two at Epsom were the first two again at The Curragh and while I expect LAMBOURN to win, I've had a play on LAZY GRIFF at 12s each way. Five are confirmed in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud over the 2400m for the older horses. I'm still of the view AVENTURE will surprise CALANDAGAN and GOLIATH in what looks an intriguing race.

A developing story in today's Racing Post (apart from Oisin Murphy being in trouble again) is the impact of the World Pool on horse racing. Last week Royal Ascot saw the equivalent of £150 million of turnover into the World Pool during the five days of the meeting and a share of that will find its way back into British racing with turnover up every day and roughly £35 million alone wagered on the second day. Last autumn, it was announced British racecourses had benefitted by up to £50 million from World Pool payments during 2024. However, there is concern courses are more interested in attracting World Pool money than on preserving the quality and diversity and indeed tradition of their own cards. Sunday's Irish Derby card at The Curragh features the Group 1 Irish Derby but the other eight races are two Listed events and six handicaps. Traditional Derby supporting races like the Railway and the Anglesey have been moved to other meetings as it is believed World Pool punters want to play on handicaps rather the conditions races. The view is the home punters and those attending the meeting are being short changed to provide betting opportunities for punters in Asia. It'll be interesting to see how this one plays out.

The final day saw in excess of 70,000 pour through the various entrances with the main enclosures all sold out. The ground remained Good to Firm (watered) with the Stands and Far sides on the straight course both recording a penetrometer of 8.8 and the centre recording 8.4. The feature Group 1 on the final day was the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee over the straight 1200m which saw a strong international field including LAZZAT, from France and the Japanese challenger SATONO REVE as well as the home challenger INISHERIN. The money came for SATONO REVE who was 2/1 favourite at the off with INISHERIN at 4s, TOPGEAR at 5s and LAZZAT walking out to 13/2 having been race favourite a few days earlier. The markets don’t always get it right – LAZZAT put up a commanding performance making nearly every yard under James Doyle to crown an excellent meeting for Wathnan Racing. Having raced effectively over 1400m and further, you always knew LAZZAT would stay but he bounced off the quick ground and under a beautifully judged ride from Doyle, put up a sparkling performance. SATONO REVE and Joao Moreira did nothing wrong – perhaps they were unfortunate not to be closer to the pace which was more centre but SATONO REVE travelled strongly into the race only to find himself outgunned by a better horse on the day. The two dominated the race and are clearly very good though how good does that make KA YING RISING? I’m not sure of future plans for either first or second but I suspect they won’t include the July Cup. Perhaps Australia further down the line? FLORA OF BERMUDA repaid my confidence with a fine third, albeit more than three lengths off the first two and she comes out of this with a lot of credit having comprehensively reversed York form with INISHERIN. She heads to Newmarket and a clash with SYMBOL OF HONOUR in what looks an open July Cup. NIGHTEYES, IBERIAN and JASOUR all outran big odds to finish fourth, fifth and sixth respectively and JASOUR is the one I’d be interested in moving forward. Of the other fancied ones, INISHERIN raced prominently but just couldn’t quicken and this has to go down as a poor effort while TOPGEAR finished last having lost both front shoes in the run so some excuse there. STORM BOY jumped awkwardly and never featured and has subsequently been retired. The supporting Group 2 was the Hardwicke for the older horses over 2400m – the race, named after Queen Victoria’s Master of Buckhounds between 1874 and 1879, is often a trial for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes run over the same distance at the end of July. Eleven went to post and the favourite was REBEL’S ROMANCE for Godolphin, bidding to end a drought at the Royal meeting for Charlie Appleby stretching back to 2022. REBEL’S ROMANCE had already won over £10 million in win and place prize money with wins in the United States, Germany, Qatar, Dubai and Hong Kong among his achievements. He went over 6/4 favourite with AL RIFFA at 4s and GHOSTWRITER, now in the AMO Racing having been purchased at the Goffs London Sale, at 5s. The three dominated the betting and the finish – William Buick was always well placed on REBEL’S ROMANCE behind the pace setters SPACE LEGEND and SUNWAY and quickened to the front 300m out. AL RIFFA came out of the pack to challenge but was never seriously threatening and ended up a length and three quarters second with GHOSTWRITER in third ahead of PALLADIUM and SUNWAY who dead heated for fourth. This was a decent effort by GHOSTWRITER on his first attempt at 2400m and you couldn’t say he didn’t stay. He might do better on a less demanding track but he’s clearly got the stamina. AL RIFFA is a Group 1 performer and has mixed it with some very good types. This was his best run at this trip since winning the Group 1 Preis von Berlin last year. It wouldn’t surprise me if AL RIFFA and GHOSTWRITER crossed paths again in Germany. REBEL’S ROMANCE is an absolute legend – this was his 15th stakes win and his 18th out of 26 in total, a magnificent achievement. He confirmed Yorkshire Cup form with EPIC POET here and we know 2400m is his optimum – he’s in the Princess of Wales at the Newmarket July Meeting for which he is 5s but also the King George back at Ascot at the end of July for which he is 6s JAN BRUEGHEL and KALPANA are currently 3/1 joint favourites for the King George on July 26th. The card opened with the Chesham for the juveniles over 1400m. A small field but plenty of “potential” on offer with horses coming off debut maiden wins and filling the “could be anything” file. Godolphin’s TREANMOR looked very good winning a Newmarket maiden and went off 6/4 with Andrew Balding’s HUMIDITY at 4s and Aidan O’Brien’s MOMENTS OF JOY at 9/2. TREANMOR looked to be hating the quick ground and never got involved – Ryan Moore looked to be going okay on MOMENTS OF JOY but the horse probably didn’t find what Ryan might have hoped and it was James Doyle who started what would be a good day for Wathnan with a win on HUMIDITY who followed up a win in a Newbury maiden unlike his full brother HOLLOWAY BOY who won the Chesham on debut back in 2022. From there, HOLLOWAY BOY was second in the Vintage at Goodwood and that might well be the target for HUMIDITY. Second was THESECRETADVERSARY who had run second on debut to a Ballydoyle colt called ITALY who has just had one run and one win but looks a nice prospect and is a half to the decent 3-y-o colt BOWMARK in the Gosden stable. MOMENTS OF JOY was third but I’d also note VENETIAN LACE who finished fourth for Charlie Johnston who has had a quiet Ascot but has been banging in the winners at the northern tracks this week. The two fillies who finished third and fourth acquitted themselves well against the colts. The final Group race of the week was the Jersey over 1400m for the 3-y-o and while this didn’t look the strongest of renewals on paper, it produced an impressive winner in NOBLE CHAMPION giving trainer Ed Walker his second winner of the meeting. NOBLE CHAMPION had been well held in the Greenham but returned in fine form here and put three and a half lengths on the others who were led home by the Godolphin runner SPY CHIEF who ended a fine week for the Gosdens. The race favourite was Irish 2000 Guineas fifth COMMANCHE BRAVE from Donnacha O’Brien’s yard but he never looked at ease on the ground and was well held in third just in front of joint second favourite REMMOOZ who lost his unbeaten record but ran with credit and I’d like to see him back up to a mile. The final race of the day and indeed the week was the Queen Alexandra which holds the dubious honour of being the longest race run in England during the Flat season at 4250m. Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore had already won the race four times and made it five with SOBER who bolted up landing some big bets (11/10 into 4/5). SOBER is owned by OTI Racing which has Australian connections and it neatly bookended the meeting as they also own DOCKLANDS who won the first race of the meeting, the Queen Anne, way back on Tuesday. The plan for SOBER is to go to the Melbourne Cup but he either needs to win the Ebor which is our “win it and you’re in it” race or get a Group/Listed placing in a race like the Lonsdale at York or the Irish Leger. We know quick ground doesn’t worry him and he would probably be happy with a stronger gallop over the shorter trip. A note on times – the Hardwicke was run in a very respectable 2 minutes 28.23 seconds, 1.47 seconds quicker than the race median and suggesting a strong gallop and quick ground. The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee was run in 1 minute 11.30 seconds which was 1.2 seconds faster than median so another strong time on fast ground and compares favourably with the 1 minute 12.03 seconds notched by the 3-y-o in Friday’s Commonwealth Cup. I'll do a final round up of the Royal meeting tomorrow.

Looking ahead to the weekend and the main meeting is at The Curragh in Ireland where, following recent rain, the ground has eased to Good, Good to Yielding in places. A spell of light rain is expected at the County Laois venue tonight after which it should be dry - needless to say, Ireland won't get the heatwave southern England is promised (London is due 31c on Sunday, 33c on Monday and 31c on Tuesday). Seven go in the Pretty Polly over 2000m and it looks a fascinating inter-generational clash between the 3-y-o WHIRL, who won the Musidora and was second in the English Oaks and the 4-y-o KALPANA who was third on her seasonal debut to LOS ANGELES (unlikely to be seen now before the autumn) in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and was set to run in the Prince of Wales at Ascot last week before being taken out due to the quick ground. There's 5 lbs between them on ratings but because of weight-for-age and penalties, KALPANA has to give WHIRL 12 lbs. We know KALPANA enjoys soft turf having won the Fillies & Mares over 2400m on Champions Day at Ascot last year but the weight concession worries me and for all she is doubtless very good, I think she'll struggle to give the weight to the younger filly. SURVIE was seventh in both last year's Vermeille and Arc and returned with a pleasing second to AVENTURE (second in both the Arc and Vermeille). On a line through LOS ANGELES, she isn't far behind KALPANA and she'd be a good each way call if there were eight runners but with just seven, I'm going to go with WHIRL. The supporting Group 2 Airlie Stud over 1200m has just six juvenile fillies going to post. LADY IMAN is unbeaten in three including beating GREEN SENSE and SIGNORA in a Naas Group 3 last time and in all honesty neither of the placed horses boosted the form in the Albany at Ascot. LEBLON QUEEN won a modest Roscommon maiden on debut so it's probably best to stick with Aidan O'Brien's BEAUTIFY in the hope she'll build on her debut third. The Grand Prix de Saint Cloud looks a fascinating race on Sunday and while the Irish Derby will have its takers (and I'll preview that with the final declarations tomorrow), I think the French race, for all it has just five runners, is the more intriguing. Currently the ground is Soft but the heat is in northern France and the course is forecast 30c tomorrow and 33c on Saturday with sunny skies so I suspect it will dry back to somewhere near Good. Francois Graffard has two Group 1 class runners - CALANDAGAN and GOLIATH. The former was a spectacular winner of the King Edward VII at Ascot last year and chased home CITY OF TROY in the Juddmonte at York. He then chased home ANMAAT in the Champion at Newmarket, the Japanese horse DANON DECILE in the Sheema Classic and latterly JAN BRUEGHEL in the Coronation at Epsom. I think the quicker the ground the better - whether he prefers a decent gallop rather than something tactical I'm not sure. GOLIATH was the shock winner of the King George at Ascot last summer beating subsequent Arc winner BLUESTOCKING. His form since hasn't lived up to that though his sixth in the Japan Cup was decent. He won a Group 3 last time but he has, for me, something to prove. IRESINE is held by GOLIATH on past form and JUNKO is probably a pacemaker. The filly AVENTURE might beat them all - she was a close fourth in the Diane last year but her second places in both the Vermeille and the Arc were top class form and she's won both her starts this term including the Group 2 Corrida last time. I suspect the end objective is a return to the Arc in October - who'd have thunk it? - and this is a big step on that road. I think she might be able to upset CALANDAGAN but this is one to savour and with the Irish Derby two races with considerable significance for big races later in the year.

The Chesham over 7f has always been intended as a starting point for the future middle distance 3-y-o and the hope is the progeny of stallions who stayed beyond a mile would themselves get further. POINT LONSDALE (2021) is an example of what a Chesham winner should be but the following year you had PINATUBO who barely got a mile. Historically, you didn't get many 7f 2-y-o races in June but now they are starting earlier and if it were me I'd run the Chesham as a mile juvenile race at the meeting as the first 2-y-o race over the distance with perhaps a bonus if the winner follows up in any mile and a half race or further at the following year's meeting. As for the Windsor Castle, it's a strange race as it has to compete with the Norfolk and in pushing it up to 6f it now has to compete with the Albany and the Coventry. I can see an argument for restricting the race to progeny of stallions whose median auction price is low but we have other races which do that. We could make it a seller perhaps which would be no more out of place than the Queen Alexandra but as Eve Johnson Houghton rightly pointed out, the race works in its current guise and nearly always attracts a big field so if it's not broke, why try to fix it?

On then to the fourth day of the Royal meeting and the weather remained fine, hot and sunny. The ground remained Good to Firm (watered) but the stands side had eased from 8.9 to 8.7 while the centre was unchanged at 8.5 and the far side to 8.4 so the Clerk had deliberately managed the irrigation to try to correct the huge stands side bias evident in Thursday’s racing. Two Group 1 races featured on the card – the first was the Commonwealth Cup over 1200m for the sprinting 3-y-o and strong support came for 2000 Guineas third SHADOW OF LIGHT who was backed in to 6/4 favourite in front of the Juddmonte pair of BABOUCHE and JONQUIL who were 13/2 and 9/2 respectively. A right result for the bookmakers with TIME FOR SANDALS winning a second Group 1 for Newmarket trainer Harry Eustace (after DOCKLANDS won the Queen Anne) at 25/1. Racing alone up the centre of the course, TIME FOR SANDALS just held the late thrust of ARIZONA BLAZE who raced nearer the stands side with the French raider RAYEVKA third and SAYIDAH DARIYAN fourth. The second, third and fourth were split by barely a length and were more than two lengths in front of SHADOW OF LIGHT who was fifth. William Buick reported post-race SHADOW OF LIGHT had never been happy on the firm turf and they’ll be hoping the July Cup is run on a more suitable surface. 25/1 for the winner and 28s, 20s and 66s for the other places. The Trifecta paid £23,471 which is nice work if you can get it. A 1-3-4 for the fillies as well with the winner having been runner up in last year’s Lowther before a low-key end to 2024 and start to 2025 and a rating of 105 suggested she had a bit to find here but the quick ground brought her back to her best. No plans at present for TIME FOR SANDALS. ARIZONA BLAZE ran really well in second off 110 and is 20s for the July Cup. He was behind BABOUCHE in the Phoenix last year but was a fine second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint over the 1100m at Del Mar last November. RAYEVKA showed how French horses can improve for a bit of decent ground and while ARIZONA BLAZE confirmed mid-April form with her from the Sigy, a Group 3 at Longchamp, RAYEVKA was much closer today and is clearly improving fast. SAYIDAH DARIYAN completely outran her odds off a mark of 101. Neither BABOUCHE nor JONQUIL ever looked like getting involved - the latter finished 13th while the former ran far too free early and faded to be one from last. On this evidence, the 3-y-o sprinters look a poor bunch and the older sprinters may be the ones to look at in races like the July Cup. The winner was drawn one with the placed horses 20, 10 and 7 so the draw bias of Thursday seemed to have bene removed. The other Group 1 was the Coronation over the round 1600m for the 3-y-o fillies and while the colts’ equivalent on Tuesday drew the English, Irish and French Guineas winners only ZARIGANA, awarded the Pouliches controversially, came to this dance and she was backed in to 6/4 favourite. FALAKEYAH, the subject of positive noises, was backed in to 5/2 with the unbeaten KON TIKI easy to back at 8s. Another boil over as CERCENE came home at 33/1 defeating ZARIGANA and there was no fluke. CERCENE (which in Spanish means to trim or cut off) looed to relish the fast turf despite being slowly away and improved on her Irish 1000 Guineas third (how good is LAKE VICTORIA?). ZARIGANA did very little wrong coming with her challenge but the post-race analysis showed her head going up as she hit the front and basically, she threw it away. Her trainer and owner, post-race, were magnanimous in defeat but it must be hugely frustrating to have a filly of such obvious talent but with such a quirk. JANUARY was a close third for Aidan O’Brien in front of the two Ralph Beckett runners, CATHEDRAL (best work at the finish) and CHANTILLY LACE. FALAKEYAH ran far too free in front early and was beaten 400m out while as for my punt on the big outsider, SIMMERING, well, she was clearly 50s for a reason. The plan is for CERCENE to step up 800m for the Irish Oaks next month before taking on some serious engagements at Longchamp and York. She’s by Australia and you’d certainly fancy her to get 2000m but an extra 400m – well, we’ll see. They’ll have to see if they can finesse ZARIGANA into her races as late as possible and I imagine they’ll head to the Rothschild or the Jean Romanet at Deauville. The main “winner” will probably turn out to be Aidan O’Brien and LAKE VICTORIA who looks the top 3-y-o filly miler and is an intriguing possible for the Sussex at Goodwood. The supporting Group 2 was the King Edward VII over 2400m for the 3-y-o colts, a race widely known as Ascot’s Derby. The betting suggested it was a two-horse race with the unbeaten AMILOC who, as a gelding had been unable to contest the Derby, sent off at 11/8 with the Johnny Murtagh trained ZAHRANN at 5/2. Aidan O’Brien had withdrawn PUPPET MASTER leaving Ryan Moore to switch to GALVESTON. Ryan set a strong pace on GALVESTON determined to make it a test and looked to be going well on the home turn but it was all too much and AMILOC closed up travelling strongly and led 300m down. The last challenger was ZAHRANN who had been caught out wide at an early stage but he couldn’t reel in the favourite who scored by three quarters of a length. GALVESTON held on for third in front of WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE who ran free early and in the straight looked like a cat on hot bricks – he hated the ground and I thought he ran a huge race to be fourth. GREEN STORM ran well in fifth and could be one for the Voltigeur on this evidence. GALVESTON ran a little with the choke out but I’m sure Aidan will find something for him. ZAHRANN was only having his fourth race and while Matt Chapman’s suggestion in the post-race interview ZAHRANN could be an Arc horse seemed fanciful, it was interesting Murtagh’s response was “maybe next year” and we know Murtagh enjoyed winning big races for the Aga Khan in his riding days. AMILOC maintained his unbeaten record with an authoritative performance and while I suspect the Eclipse isn’t an option, he’s in both the Group 2 Princess of Wales at the Newmarket July meeting and the Group 1 King George back over the Ascot 2400m for which he is 12s. Whether he’s up to that class of race at this stage I’m not sure. AMILOC’s win provided some relief for punters who were given a right going over with 25/1 and 33/1 winners in the big races. The card opened with the Group 3 Albany for the juvenile fillies and a big gamble on the Aidan O’Brien trained SIGNORA went astray with a rare win for the north in the form of Karl Burke’s VENETIAN SUN who followed up her win in a Carlisle maiden on debut. It’ll be interesting to see if she is aimed for a race like the Lowther at York in August. The one for me from the Albany was Hugo Palmer’s FITZELLA who finished fourth, definitely one for the notebook. The Commonwealth Cup was run in 1 minute 12.03 seconds, 0.47 seconds below the median and a decent time while the Coronation was run in 1 minute 38.35 seconds, 0.85 seconds below the median and another strong time (the St James’s Palace on Tuesday had been run in 1 minute 38.41 seconds but the ground had quickened in the interim).