Andrew Nelis racing

  Davy Russell is looking forward to linking up once more with trainer Gordon Elliott as he returns to race-riding after nearly a year out through injury. The Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning jockey has been on the sidelines since dislocating and fracturing vertebrae in a first-fence fall in the Munster National at Limerick in October aboard Doctor Duffy. Russell, 42, is yet to put a date on his return to action but has been working hard on his fitness this summer.                     Andrew Nelis racing 

  As money continues to come for Starman in the Betfair Sprint Cup, William Buick has high hopes he can challenge the favourite in the Haydock showpiece aboard Creative Force. The Godolphin-owned gelding met with defeat for the first time this season when two lengths behind Starman in fifth, as Ed Walker's stable star came out on top in the Darley July Cup.             Andrew Nelis racing news 

  £20 Free Exchange Bet July Cup hero Starman heads 14 confirmations for the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday. Ed Walker’s four-year-old is on course to attempt to become the third horse this century to win both races in the same season, after Dream Ahead (2011) and Harry Angel (2017). The Archie Watson-trained Glen Shiel, runner-up to Dream Of Dreams last year, has stood his ground, as has Art Power, from Tim Easterby’s stable, who was back in fourth in 2020. Charlie Hills’ Garrus and David O’Meara Summerghand, who won Deauville’s Prix de Meautry and Newmarket’s Hopeful Stakes respectively at the weekend, have the option of making a quick return to action, while Godolphin hopes rest with the Charlie Appleby-trained Creative Force. Clive Cox has left in his two entries, Supremacy and Nando Parrado. “The drier autumn has given us a chance to include Supremacy, while Nando Parrado ran a blinder at Newbury in the Hungerford and this is an opportunity to run back over six,” he sai

  Benbatl has the option of going for a second victory in Newmarket's Joel Stakes following his pleasing return to action at Goodwood on Saturday. Saeed bin Suroor's triple Group One winner recorded a brilliant success in the 2019 running of the Group Two contest, while he finished a close third in last year's renewal behind 2000 Guineas hero Kameko.                    Andrew Nelis racing 

  Flotus bounced back to form with an impressive victory in the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy Stakes. Joint-trainers Simon and Ed Crisford were winning the Bank Holiday feature at the North Yorkshire course for the second year in succession - while Silvestre de Sousa was back on board for the first time since Flotus was an equally emphatic winner on her debut in may at Goodwood                   Andrew Nelis racing 

  Toro Strike   boosted his chances of contesting the Breeders’ Cup with a record-breaking performance in the Weatherbys Hamilton Supreme Stakes at   Goodwood . The four-year-old covered the seven furlongs in one minute 23.62 seconds to take the Group Three prize and go one better than 12 months ago. Toro Strike was the first leg of a 15-minute across-the-card double for trainer  Richard Fahey , with the victory of the Al Shaqab Racing-owned colt seeing the North Yorkshire handler reach 100 winners for the 14th year in a row – and it was not long before Kingson made it 101 at Beverley. The son of Toronado was steered home by  Ryan Moore , who was in action in New York on Saturday night when he was second on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Japan in the Grade One Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga.                       Andrew Nelis racing 

  Perfect Power is on course for the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket next month, after opening his Group One account in Deauville’s Prix Morny. The Richard Fahey-trained colt showed impressive acceleration to land the spoils by a length and a quarter from Trident. That emphatic triumph made up for an unlucky run in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, and was a return to the form he showed in winning the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. “He looks like being a decent horse. Any horse that quickens like that has got a huge advantage over anything else,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum. “I think he was a bit unlucky in the Richmond. They didn’t go much pace, and poor Paul (Hanagan) couldn’t get anywhere. He got stopped wherever he went – and then the race was over. “I expected him to beat all those that ran in the Richmond. It was good. “It will be the Middle Park next, and then we’ll see                      Andrew Nelis racing 

  Taj Alriyadh puts his unbeaten record on the line when he steps up in class for the British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy at the North Yorkshire course on Monday. The Karl Burke-trained colt earned the right to go for this Listed contest after completing his hat-trick when successful over the same course and distance in this month's Hornblower Stakes.                  Andrew Nelis racing 

  Mise En Scene maintained her unbeaten record and provided trainer James Ferguson with the first Group-race success of his career in the tote Prestige Stakes at Goodwood. Impressive when winning by four lengths on her debut at Haydock, she was sent off a 7-1 chance in a strong-looking Group Three. When the favourite Daneh took two lengths out of the field at the furlong marker, it appeared James Doyle had made a race-winning move as all her rivals looked in trouble.                   Andrew Nelis racing 

  Aidan O'Brien's multiple Group One winner St Mark's Basilica is on course to recover from a small setback and return to action in time for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 11. The three-year-old has won his last four races - all at Group One level - beginning in the Dewhurst last season. This term he has landed the French Guineas, French Derby and the Coral-Eclipse, beating Addeybb and Mishriff - but he was forced to miss the Juddmonte International after a cut on his hind leg caused by a lost shoe became infected.                     Andrew Nelis racing 

  Colin Keane celebrated his 100th win of the campaign as Barretta came home a comfortable winner of the Donate To The Coast To Curragh Cycle In Memory Of Pat Smullen Maiden at Navan. The rider started the day 45 winners clear of Shane Foley in the Irish jockeys' championship - a title he claimed in both 2017 and 2020 with 100 winners.                                            Andrew Nelis racing 

  Richard Kingscote executed a perfect front-running ride as Solid Stone came out on top in the Sytner BMW Sunningdale & Maidenhead Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who was registering an eighth success in this Group Three event, Solid Stone was sent off a 9-4 chance in a four-runner heat after finishing fourth at Salisbury last time.                 Andrew Nelis racing 

  Saeed bin Suroor expects Benbatl to improve for his first run of the season in the tote Celebration Mile at Goodwood. A Group One winner in Germany, Australia and Dubai, the seven-year-old has not been seen since being beaten into third by last year's 2000 Guineas winner Kameko in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket in September. That was also his first run for over 200 days, after he had finished a creditable third in the Saudi Cup on dirt behind the American specialists.                 Andrew Nelis racing 

  The Revenant could bid for a record-breaking third Prix Daniel Wildenstein victory, while a Queen Elizabeth II Stakes title defence is also under consideration. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard had the gelding entered in the Group Three Prix Quincey at Deauville on Sunday, but the conditions are unlikely to be suitable for the soft-ground specialist and he has not been declared. The six-year-old has run twice this season, finishing third and fourth in the Group Three Prix Edmond Blanc and the Group Two Prix du Muguet respectively.                   Andrew Nelis racing 

  Leading Australian rider Jamie Kah has apologised after being suspended from riding for three months for breaching Covid-19 regulations. Kah, along with fellow jockeys Ben Melham, Ethan Brown and Celine Gaudray, were all banned until November 25 following the conclusion of a Racing Victoria hearing on Friday. The quartet were found to have attended a gathering at an Airbnb on Wednesday night, breaking both state government and racing protocols.                     Andrew Nelis racing 

  Jockeys will remain limited one meeting per day after industry leaders agreed to extend the protocol, initially introduced last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced the move after discussing the matter with jockeys and other stakeholders in a survey. Prior to the rule, jockeys would often travel between tracks on the same day in order to maximise their number of rides.                   Andrew Nelis racing 

  Dermot Weld has yet to win the Irish Champion Stakes, but he will be heading to Leopardstown on September 11 with exceedingly high hopes for Tarnawa. Weld, who went close with Free Eagle in 2015 when he was unfortunate behind Golden Horn in finishing third, could not be happier with his stable star.                  Andrew Nelis racing 

  Andrew Balding is hoping a holiday break will give Alcohol Free the time she needs to freshen up for a shot at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day. Alcohol Free, a three-time Group One winner, disappointed in sixth when tried over a-mile-and-two-furlongs for the first time in the Juddmonte International at York last week.                      Andrew Nelis racing 

  William Muir   has set his sights on the end of the year for   Pyledriver , with options abroad in focus. A minor setback kept the Coronation Cup winner firstly out of the King George at Ascot and more recently the Juddmonte International at York. Muir, who trains the four-year-old in partnership with Chris Grassick, has been at pains not to rush him back – and as a result has taken Champions Day and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe off the menu, with a possible run in Germany on the cards. “I’ll let him tell me when he’s ready. After York I said I wouldn’t set more targets and we’d just go easy for 10 days and trot for a couple of weeks,” said Muir. “I’m just going to take my time, it’s something minor but I want him to heal properly and not have any scars in his mind. “He’s jumping out of his skin at the moment, he’s so fresh and well. I would say the first race we could think about looking at is on November 7 which is the last Group One in Europe (Grosser Preis von Bayern in Munich).

  Tom Dascombe has another big prize in mind as he plots the next steps for York winner Ever Given. The two-year-old has had a busy campaign since winning on his racecourse debut in May, progressing to take three further contests - including the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes on the Knavesmire last week.               Andrew Nelis racing 

  Saffron Beach will stay closer to home for the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes on October 2 rather than head abroad. Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam had mooted a trip to Canada for the E.P. Taylor Stakes after her stable star got back to winning ways at Sandown on Saturday. However, those plans have been shelved for the time being for the 1000 Guineas runner-up, with travel possibly on the agenda next year. “The plan going forward will be to head to the Sun Chariot. It is her backyard and she has done extremely well there before having won there twice and finishing second there twice in four starts so she knows the track really well,” said Chapple-Hyam.                     Andrew Nelis racing 

  Mo Celita may try to complete her remarkable rags-to-riches story with a bid for top sprinting honours in the Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye at ParisLongchamp in October. The Adrian Nicholls-trained filly is likely to first take in either the Group Three Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert at ParisLongchamp over five furlongs or the Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies' Stakes over five and a half at Ayr next month.                 Andrew Nelis racing 

  Wonderful Tonight remains on track for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after her fourth-placed effort in the Yorkshire Oaks. The filly was running for the third time this season, having won her previous two on her preferred soft ground - in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and then the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood.                  Andrew Nelis racing 

  Former champion jockey Richard Johnson said he could not turn down the chance to help raise funds for racing charities by getting involved in this year's Mondialiste Leger Legends Classified Stakes at Doncaster.               Andrew Nelis racing 

  It is "back to the drawing board" for connections of Ehraz, who produced an unsatisfactory scope after disappointing in the Acomb Stakes at York. Trainer Richard Hannon had made no secret of the regard in which he holds the Showcasing colt, and his previous win at Ascot looked exciting.                    Andrew Nelis racing 

  William Haggas would be keen to take Sacred to the Breeders' Cup - should the owners agree - if soft ground scuppers a crack at the Prix de la Foret in October. Sacred returned to winning ways with an emphatic performance at Newbury last time out in the Hungerford Stakes.                  Andrew Nelis racing 

  Hurricane Lane has strengthened his position at the top of the Cazoo St Leger market after emerging as the sole Godolphin contender for next month's Classic. The Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris winner is one of 18 remaining, following the latest forfeit stage for the centre piece of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster.                     Andrew Nelis racing 

  James Fanshawe's Audarya was denied a repeat victory by the narrowest of margins courtesy of outsider Grand Glory in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville. A surprise winner of the race herself 12 months ago, Audarya had gone on to prove herself a filly of the highest class, winning at the Breeders' Cup.               Andrew Nelis racing 

  Stuart Williams remains keen on a crack at the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes with Desert Dreamer after his star filly ran yet another fine race in defeat at York. A dual winner at Newmarket in the spring, the daughter of Oasis Dream has since finished second in the Listed Empress Stakes, the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes and the Group Three Princess Margaret - beaten just a nose by Zain Claudette on the latter occasion.                   Andrew Nelis racing 

  There was a twinkle in Jane Chapple-Hyam's eye after stable star Saffron Beach put a couple of below-par efforts behind her with a commanding success in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes, to set up a possible trip to Canada.  Chapple-Hyam has shown unwavering belief in Saffron Beach since her debut success last September and saddled the daughter of New Bay to finish second in the 1,000 Guineas this season.                   Andrew Nelis racing 

  Sonnyboyliston hung on to give trainer Johnny Murtagh a second victory in the Sky Bet Ebor at York. The handler sent out Mutual Regard to win the handicap feature back in 2014, and Sonnyboyliston (10-1) fended off Quickthorn to once again take the prize back to County Kildare.                Andrew Nelis racing 

  Perfect Power and Khunan give Richard Fahey a strong hand in the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville. A narrow winner of the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in June over the high-class Go Bears Go, Perfect Power then got into all sorts of traffic problems in last month's Richmond Stakes at Goodwood and was beaten just over a length into fifth place. Khunan was not far off his stablemate when sixth in the Norfolk, and turned the tables in the Richmond when he filled the runner-up spot behind the Alan King-trained Asymmetric - who is also in Sunday's Group One field.                 Andrew Nelis racing 

  William Jarvis is excited to see Lady Bowthorpe bid for back-to-back Group One victories over a mile and a quarter in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville. The five-year-old mare, owned by music agent Emma Banks, gave Jarvis a day to remember when landing the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last month.                  Andrew Nelis racing 

  Lusail drew clear in the closing stages to land a convincing success in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York. A 3lb penalty for his victory in the July Stakes on his previous start failed to stop the Richard Hannon-trained colt from chalking up a second Group Two win. Pat Dobbs had Lusail (7-2) tucked away off the pace as Last Crusader made the early running, with Gis A Sub always prominent, while the 3-1 favourite Berkshire Shadow compromised his chance by being slowly away.                 Andrew Nelis racing 

  Winter Power put up a fantastic performance to land the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at 9-1. Much of the talk pre-race had been about Golden Pal and Suesa, and it was the former who led them through the early stages. But he could never shake off Tim Easterby's filly, who kept up a tremendous gallop under Silvestre de Sousa as Golden Pal folded disappointingly.                   Andrew Nelis racing 

  Stradivarius became the first horse to win the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup three times when edging out Spanish Mission in a tremendous finish at York. Five other top stayers, including Further Flight and Persian Punch, had won the race twice - and Stradivarius showed the fire still burns bright with a battling performance under his regular pilot Frankie Dettori.                    Andrew Nelis racing 

  High Definition bids to kickstart his season in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. The Galileo colt spent the winter months at the top of the ante-post betting for the Derby after powering home to round off an unbeaten juvenile campaign with victory in the Beresford Stakes, but little has gone right for Aidan O'Brien's charge since.               Andrew Nelis Racing 

  Snowfall gave another brilliant display when adding the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York to her two Classic victories this summer. The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly surged away from the opposition in the final two furlongs to land a third Group One after completing the English and Irish Oaks double in spectacular fashion.                 Andrew Nelis racing