Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Secret impresses in Oaks Trial.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sat

Secret Gesture ran out a deeply impressive winner of the Betfred 'The Bonus King' Oaks Trial Stakes at Lingfield.

Always travelling sweetly just off the pace set by Miss You Too, jockey Jim Crowley could afford to look over both shoulders at the quarter-mile pole before easing the even-money favourite to the lead.

Ralph Beckett's filly stretched easily clear from there, with fully 10 lengths in hand of the long-time leader at the line.

Beckett has a fine record in the Lingfield race and in 2008 his Look Here finished second before going on to land the Oaks at Epsom.

Beckett has another string to his bow in the shape of recent Pretty Polly Stakes winner Talent, and said: "That was probably better than I expected.

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Nevis takes depleted Trial contest

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sun

Persistent rain saw conditions officially changed to 'soft' ahead of the Betfred Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield, leading to the withdrawal of likely favourite Greatwood and leaving the way clear for yet another Aidan O'Brien winner of a Classic trial this week in Nevis.

Like Ruler Of The World and Magician at Chester, Ryan Moore did the steering and he soon had the son of Dansili at the head of affairs.

Negotiating the downhill turn with what looked like real aplomb, Moore always had matters firmly in control and the 4-9 favourite readily asserted from three furlongs out, slamming Elidor by nine lengths.

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Ektihaam storms to Buckhounds win

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sun

Ektihaam recorded an impressive success in the Listed Buckhounds Stakes at Ascot.

Paul Hanagan kicked clear before the home bend on the 11-4 chance, and much as eventual runner-up Thomas Chippendale attempted to make up ground in the home straight the former went on to win by six lengths.

Winning trainer Roger Varian said: "I was thrilled with his comeback run at Sandown when he was unlucky not to get second and he has thrived since."

He added: "Providing he got the mile and a half trip today I thought he'd run a big race and I told Paul to get him into a rhythm. He's versatile regards ground and gets a mile and a half.

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Angel flies home to land Chartwell.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sun

Irish raider Lily's Angel wrestled the betfred.com Chartwell Fillies' Stakes from French hope Kendam in a cosmopolitan gathering for the Group Three at Lingfield.

Lily's Angel (4-1) is a credit to the Ger Lyons' stable, stepping up from a Kempton Listed win to scramble past Kendam by a short head.

"She was really struggling in the ground and it took her a long time to get going but she finished well," said jockey Gary Carroll.

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Style wins the day in Paris

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sun

Olympic Glory proved disappointing as Style Vendome took his winning run to five in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp.

The Nicolas Clement-trained colt had won the Prix Djebel on his previous start and he continued his progress with a decisive, though narrow, triumph in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.

He responded to jockey Thierry Thulliez's urgings to lead inside the final furlong and hang on from Dastarhon. Intello finished with a real flourish on the outside to grab third place, but Richard Hannon's favourite Olympic Glory could never get in a blow from his wide position and was towards the rear of the field for most of the race.

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Classic glory for Flotilla

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sun

Flotilla got up in the final strides to land the French 1000 Guineas for trainer Mikel Delzangles at Longchamp.

Last season's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf winner came with a rattling run under Christophe Lemaire to collar the Andre Fabre-trained favourite Esoterique close home.

Fabre's Tasaday was third, while Zurigha came from way off the pace to grab fourth place for trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes. The Ralph Beckett-trained Waterway Run was just behind the placed horses.

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Battle won for O'Brien.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...;Brien&day=Mon

Battle Of Marengo was left generally unchanged by bookmakers for Classic glory after a workmanlike success in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

Giving Aidan O'Brien his fourth Derby trial winner of the week, the Galileo colt - sent off at prohibitive odds of 2-13 - took over from Dont Bother Me around five furlongs out and it looked like he would win with real ease when going clear with quarter of a mile to run.

He had to get a reminder from Joseph O'Brien, however, and in the end was pushed out to beat Loch Garman, with Little White Cloud running an eyecatching race in third.

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Highclere double-handed for Dante.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Mon

Greatwood will clash with Telescope in the Betfred Dante Stakes at York on Thursday after being a last-minute withdrawal from Lingfield on Saturday.

Trainer Luca Cumani took the odds-on favourite out of the Betfred Derby Trial following heavy rain at the Surrey venue. Greatwood is owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, who are also responsible for the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Telescope.

However, both horses are owned by different syndicates and the plan is for the pair to put their Investec Derby claims on the line in the Group Two contest over an extended mile and a quarter on the Knavesmire.

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Liber takes aim at Musidora.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Mon

Sir Michael Stoute's once-raced filly Liber Nauticus goes on trial for the Oaks in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday.

The daughter of Azamour won a Goodwood maiden by a length and three-quarters in September and has been considered as a contender for the Classic ever since.

Indigo Lady represents Peter Chapple-Hyam and was third in a French Group Three at the end of last season. John Gosden's Woodland Aria has a similar profile to Liber Nauticus having won a Wolverhampton maiden on her only appearance

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Room at the top for Cityscape.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Mon

Trainer Roger Charlton sees a chance for JLT Lockinge Stakes-bound Cityscape to establish himself as the champion miler this season.

With Frankel and Excelebration now retired, the Khalid Abdullah-owned seven-year-old has the opportunity to play a leading role in the big events at this trip.

Although Cityscape never quite recaptured the brilliance of his Dubai Duty Free win last March, he ran several fine races in defeat. Charlton is happy with his progress ahead of his seasonal reappearance at Newbury on Saturday.

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Pink primed for Duke Of York.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Tue

Sir Henry Cecil relies upon Tickled Pink to give him his first triumph in the Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes on Wednesday.

Surprisingly the York Group Two sprint has eluded the master of Warren Place, though he has enjoyed great success in the other big races at this three-day meeting.

Tickled Pink was supplemented for the six-furlong contest at a cost of £7,500 after stepping up from maiden company to Group Three class with an emphatic win in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last month. The four-year-old filly is among a high-quality field of 18.

Heading the list are Group One winners Gordon Lord Byron and James Fanshawe's Society Rock, successful in the Prix de la Foret and Betfred Sprint Cup respectively

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Fabre confirms Ocovango for Epsom.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Tue

Andre Fabre is looking forward to running Ocovango in the Investec Derby at Epsom next month.

The Monsun colt maintained his unbeaten record in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud, a race Fabre won with Pour Moi before he went on to land the Epsom Classic in 2011.

Ocovango made all the running in the Group Two, but Fabre believes his charge is adaptable tactics-wise.

Previously Fabre has been reticent to commit to England's premier race but he told Press Association Sport: "All being well he will run at Epsom.

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Telescope out as Chief tops Dante

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Tue

Indian Chief heads a field of eight for the Betfred Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

Aidan O'Brien has carried all before him recently on the Derby trials front and his latest candidate was impressive in winning a Leopardstown maiden last month.

In the shock absence of Telescope, the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing operation rely solely on the Luca Cumani-trained Greatwood, who missed the Lingfield Derby Trial on Saturday due to rain-softened ground. Kieren Falllon would not have been able to ride at the weekend due to suspension but is back on the Knavesmire.

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Lantern enters Oaks picture.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Tue

Connections of Sky Lantern are to consider supplementing the Qipco 1000 Guineas winner for the Investec Oaks.

The grey filly ended a long wait for trainer Richard Hannon when giving him his first success in the Classic over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket. The veteran trainer would now like to open his account in the Epsom showpiece and he could be persuaded to add her to the field on May 31.

"She's a good filly. I don't know where we are going to run her next. There is talk about the Oaks. Richard (son and assistant) is gagging to run her in the Oaks," he told At the Races.

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Nauticus out to put Classic case

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Tue

Liber Nauticus will be Sir Michael Stoute's only Classic hope to go on trial at York when she makes her reappearance in Wednesday's Tattersalls Musidora Stakes.

This was set to be a major week for the eminent trainer but the withdrawal of Derby prospect Telescope from Thursday's Dante leaves just the Investec Oaks candidate to appear on the Knavesmire.

Liber Nauticus, who is from a regal family of owner-breeders Ballymacoll Stud, has only raced once so far when showing a huge amount of promise in a Goodwood maiden last September.