Andrew Nelis racing

  Nymphadora claimed a clear-cut victory in the Langleys Solicitors British EBF Marygate Fillies' Stakes at York. Sixth behind the exciting Desert Dreamer on her racecourse debut at Newmarket last month, Andrew Balding's juvenile was a 13-2 chance as she stepped up to Listed class on the Knavesmire.        Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Poetic Flare and Mother Earth are set to bid for Classic doubles in their respective French Guineas assignments at ParisLongchamp this weekend. Jim Bolger's Poetic Flare, a tenacious winner of this month's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, is one of 12 set to do battle on Sunday following final declarations. Aidan O'Brien's Newmarket heroine Mother Earth is one of a field of 14 for the French 1000 Guineas on the same card.      Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Long-time Derby favourite High Definition puts his unbeaten record and tall reputation on the line in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York. Aidan O'Brien's colt spent the winter months at the top of ante-post lists for next month's premier Classic, having followed up his debut success at the Curragh with a scintillating display in the Beresford Stakes at September.       Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Snowfall led her rivals a merry dance to provide Aidan O'Brien with his first victory in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York. The daughter of Japanese superstar Deep Impact managed just one win in seven outings as a juvenile last season, albeit her final two outings were at Group One level in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Fillies' Mile. She was a generous-looking 14-1 shot on her reappearance, with the market dominated by the impeccably-bred pair of Noon Star - a daughter of Derby winner Galileo and top-class racemare Midday - and Sea The Stars filly Teona.      Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews

  High Definition is one of 11 colts declared for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York on Thursday. Unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile, Aidan O'Brien's charge spent the winter months as clear favourite for the Cazoo Derby at Epsom. The Galileo colt missed his intended comeback run in last Saturday's Lingfield Derby Trial following an unsatisfactory blood test result, but is set to appear on the Knavesmire five days later.      Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Samcro returned to winning form with a tenacious success in the Grade Three An Riocht Chase at Killarney. Dual Cheltenham Festival hero Samcro has been out of sorts in just three starts since his thrilling 2020 Marsh Novices' Chase victory. But Gigginstown House Stud's nine-year-old - pulled up in his last two races, both at Grade One level - was back to somewhere near his best as he pounced on the front-running Cilaos Emery after the final fence to win by a neck under Jack Kennedy for trainer Denise Foster.      Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Tuesday's meeting at Chepstow has been called off following an inspection. Officials checked the track on Monday morning after 48.5 millimetres of rain fell at the venue over the weekend. The ground was deemed not fit for racing and with further rain expected, the fixture has been cancelled.     Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Pam Sly has a Flat debut pencilled in at Haydock this month for her classy bumper filly Eileendover. The four-year-old, whose grand-dam is Sly’s 1000 Guineas winner Speciosa, began her career under the National Hunt code last November. Campaigned in a bumpers through the winter, Eileendover was a runaway winner of her first two starts before going on to claim a Listed success in the Alan Swinbank Mares’ race at Market Rasen. A run in Cheltenham’s Champion Bumper was vetoed in favour of a Grade Two mares’ event, in which she could finish only fourth after struggling to stay the two-mile one-furlong trip. Sly was already settled on a switch to the Flat, but an engagement in Goodwood’s Listed Daisy Warwick Fillies’ Stakes on April 30 was skipped because Eileendover was briefly out of sorts on the gallops. “She didn’t go when we were thinking of a Listed race at Goodwood,” said the Cambridgeshire trainer.        Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Aidan O'Brien's Joan Of Arc dominated the Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown. The 11-4 favourite, ridden by Ryan Moore, was in front after a furlong and stayed there without ever having to come under strong pressure. Joan Of Arc was restating her case for a clutch of high-profile entries in top races over the coming months, having failed to build on her Curragh maiden victory when only sixth in a similar trial over seven furlongs here last month.      Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Rachael Blackmore enjoyed a hat-trick of winners during a successful day on the opening card of Killarney's three-day May meeting. Mr Tambourine Man triumphed on his second run over hurdles when taking the Follow Killarney Races On Instagram Maiden Hurdle to give the Grand National-winning jockey the first leg of her treble when riding for trainer John Halley. The four-year-old was previously campaigned on the Flat by Aidan O'Brien and joined Halley's yard in April to embark on his jumping career.      Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Sir Michael Stoute's Noon Star and the Roger Varian-trained Teona put their Cazoo Oaks credentials on the line in Wednesday's Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York. A total of eight fillies will line up in the trial, which is a Group Three races in its own right so offers valuable black type. Noon Star, who runs in the Juddmonte colours, is a daughter of brilliant mare Midday, a multiple Group One winner for Sir Henry Cecil, and she is by champion sire Galileo.       Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Martyn Meade believes the experience of running in Lingfield's Novibet Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes could prove invaluable for Technique ahead of a potential bid for Classic glory at Epsom next month. Successful on her racecourse debut at Wolverhampton in late January, the daughter of Mastercraftsman marked herself out as an Oaks contender when narrowly beaten by Wirko in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom two and a half weeks ago.      Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Adayar gets the opportunity to stake his claim for Epsom glory in the Novibet Derby Trial at Lingfield on Saturday. Trainer Charlie Appleby began the week with several hopes for the Cazoo Derby on June 5. But with Wirko and Yibir failing to run up to expectations in the Chester Vase and Dee Stakes earlier in the week, the Moulton Paddocks handler will be hoping Adayar emerges as a legitimate contender for next month's premier Classic with victory this weekend.         Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Owner Rich Ricci has announced the retirement of three of of his equine superstars in Faugheen, Douvan and Benie Des Dieux. Faugheen in particular will go down as one of the most popular National Hunt horses of the modern era, with the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and back-to-back victories in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton featuring on a glittering CV. It looked as though his racing career could be over in the spring of 2019 after he was found to be suffering from a heart problem when pulling up in the Aintree Hurdle       Andrew Nelis racing new and reviews 

  Stable companions Sir Ron Priestley and Nayef Road are among nine confirmations for the Matchbook Yorkshire Cup on Friday. Sir Ron Priestley has made a fantastic return from a year and a half off the track this season, with a successful comeback in the Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham followed by an impressive front-running victory in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket..       Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Parachute's emphatic Newmarket victory has put Ed Walker in a quandary as he assesses Royal Ascot options for his Derby entry. Walker admits 'Plan A' for the son of Sea The Stars involved a trip to Lingfield for this weekend's Derby Trial - a race the Lambourn trainer won last year with English King, who was then fifth at Epsom. But those ambitions were abandoned when Parachute could manage only a disappointing - albeit close - third on his first run of the season in a 10-furlong Redcar handicap.       Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Aidan O'Brien has high hopes Japan can follow in the footsteps of St Nicholas Abbey, having got his career back on track with victory in the tote+ Pays You More At tote.co.uk Ormonde Stakes. 'St Nic's' best days seemed behind him when he arrived at Chester in 2011 as a four-year-old, having missed the Derby - for which he was favourite - and been well beaten on his return from a lengthy lay off. He blitzed his rivals that day, though, and never looked back. He won the Coronation Cup on his next outing and added the Breeders' Cup Turf, another two Coronation Cups and the Sheema Classic to his CV. So should Japan emulate that haul, then O'Brien will be happy.     Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Andrew Balding's Youth Spirit emerged as a Derby contender in causing a minor upset with a clear-cut victory in the Chester Vase. Blue Riband Trial winner Wirko was the 6-4 favourite to cement his Epsom claims for Charlie Appleby, while Law Of The Sea - already a dual winner this year - also carried the Godolphin colours for John and Thady Gosden. Aidan O'Brien, who had saddled seven of the last nine winners of the Group Three contest, was represented by Craven Stakes sixth Sandhurst - but it was Youth Spirit (15-2) who stole the show. Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Ontario bids to continue Aidan O'Brien's recent domination of the tote+ Biggest Dividends At tote.co.uk Dee Stakes at Chester on Thursday. The Ballydoyle handler has saddled six of the last eight winners of the recognised Derby trial, with multiple Group One winner Circus Maximus landing the most recent renewal in 2019.       Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Up to £40 in bonus funds Fev Rover has either the Irish 1,000 Guineas or the Prix Saint-Alary on her agenda after her big run at Newmarket. Richard Fahey’s filly outran odds of 22-1 to be beaten only a length and a quarter into third by Mother Earth in Sunday’s 1000 Guineas. Taking a keen hold from the stalls, Fev Rover disputed the lead for the first five furlongs before crossing the line a neck behind runner-up Saffron Beach. Nick Bradley’s racing partnership owns the horse, and he was in attendance alongside a clutch of fellow shareholders. “Fev Rover ran a great race,” he said. “We decided we wanted to be handy, because there didn’t look to be much pace in the race. “She was a little keen early doors, but we had her where we wanted her. “She looked like she was going to drop away, but then she picked up out of the dip and ran really well.” The daughter of Gutaifan had previously enjoyed both Group and Listed successes, having gained black type form in Sandown’s Star Stakes last s

  Aidan O'Brien will rely on Ontario to provide him with a ninth victory in the tote+ Biggest Dividends At tote.co.uk Dee Stakes at Chester. Magician (2013), Cliffs Of Moher (2017) and most recently Circus Maximus (2019) are among the previous Ballydoyle residents to win Thursday's recognised Derby trial on the Roode       Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Saffron Beach has the Cazoo Oaks among possible next destinations following her fine effort in defeat in the 1000 Guineas. Jane Chapple-Hyam's filly beat all bar Aidan O'Brien's Mother Earth in the Newmarket Classic on Sunday, and was staying on again crossing the line. Connections are consequently giving thought to another Classic bid next month - with the Coronation Stakes, Irish Guineas and Pretty Polly Stakes also in the mix.

  Trainer Johnny Murtagh is looking forward to Champers Elysees’ return to the track at the Curragh for what he anticipates will be a big year for the filly.          Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Aidan O'Brien is banking on Santa Barbara's "exceptional" ability to make up for her inexperience in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. While the daughter of Camelot made a big impression when winning on her racecourse debut in late September, few could have envisaged she would be a red-hot favourite for the first fillies' Classic of 2021 off the back of that solitary outing. The reason for her contracting odds in recent weeks have been the unusually bullish reports coming out of Ballydoyle this spring.      Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Poetic Flare just edged out Master Of The Seas in a thrilling finish to the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning, Poetic Flare was sent off a 16-1 shot for the first Classic of the season. Naval Crown set the early gallop - but it was the first two home who finished with real purpose, racing neck and neck inside the final furlong. However, it was Poetic Flare who just poked his head in front of Charlie Appleby's Craven winner on the line, with Lucky Vega running on late in the day for third.      Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews 

  Charlie Appleby is finding it tough to split Master Of The Seas and One Ruler in their respective bids for Qipco 2000 Guineas glory. The Newmarket handler would love to win the Rowley Mile Classic for the first time on Saturday - and feels his two leading contenders give him a strong chance of doing so. William Buick has sided with Master Of The Seas following his course-and-distance triumph in the Craven Stakes little over a fortnight ago, leaving James Doyle to pick up the ride on One Ruler on his seasonal reappearance.        Andrew Nelis racing news and reviews