Andrew Nelis racing

  Joseph O'Brien is one trainer who does not want the current dry spell to end as he believes it will aid Thunder Moon's chances in the Qipco 2000 Guineas. An impressive winner of the National Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend on just his second start - where recent Craven victor Master Of The Seas was fourth - the Zoffany colt finished third in the Dewhurst on his final outing. While he was not disgraced behind St Mark's Basilica and Wembley, both trained by his father Aidan O'Brien, the former champion jockey feels faster ground could help him turn the tables.              Andrew Nelis racing news .

July Cup winner Oxted is on course for the Betfair Sprint Cup after featuring among 15 entries for Haydock’s showpiece. The four-year-old will try to join an elite band to win both races, with Harry Angel in 2017 being the last horse to complete the notable double. Oxted gave trainer Roger Teal and jockey Cieren Fallon their first Group One triumph when taking the Newmarket race – and it is all systems go for Saturday’s Merseyside feature. “All seems good – fingers crossed, we’ll get there in one piece,” said Teal. “I’ve had a quick look at the entries. I was watching them come in, and it’s what was expected......                      Andrew Nelis Racing 

Andrew Balding is pinning hopes on the QEII at Ascot to provide another crowning moment after a season he senses could have worked out very differently for his 2000 Guineas hero Kameko. Since his Classic victory at Newmarket, Kameko has run in the Derby over a mile and a half, the Sussex Stakes over a mile and the 10-furlong Juddmonte International..                    Andrew Nelis Racing 

The Flying Childers at Doncaster and the Middle Park at Newmarket are among the options under consideration for Michael Bell's star juvenile The Lir Jet. After being snapped up by Qatar Racing following a runaway victory on his racecourse debut at Yarmouth, the youngster claimed Royal Ascot glory with a narrow verdict over American challenger Golden Pal in the Norfolk Stakes in June...                    Andrew Nelis Racing 

The Sprint Cup at Haydock is next on the agenda for Clive Cox's speedball Golden Horde. A high-class juvenile last season, the son of his trainer's former stable star Lethal Force made the perfect start to his three-year-old career by claiming Royal Ascot glory in the Commonwealth Cup. He had to make do with an honourable third when taking on his elders in the July Cup at Newmarket, before finishing a close-up fifth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.                    Andrew Nelis Racing 

Andrew Balding is confident 2000 Guineas hero Kameko can play a major role in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, providing he stays the trip. The son of Kitten’s Joy will make his first start over a mile and a quarter in Wednesday’s Group One showpiece, after connections decided to swerve this weekend’s alternative in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. While Kameko, who finished fourth in the Derby on his penultimate start, still has his stamina to prove, the Kingsclere handler believes 10 furlongs may prove his optimum distance. Balding said: “The decision not to run in France was down to two things. “There was ground – because they had a lot of rain – which may have been unsuitable for him, and then there was the restrictions on jockeys (travelling and returning from France), so we decided to give him a go over a mile and a quarter. “We always thought this would be his trip, but you never know until you try. “He shaped like a mile was his trip (when fourth...

Dual Classic heroine Love is the star attraction among eight contenders for the Darley Yorkshire Oaks. Following a dominant victory in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, Aidan O’Brien’s filly was even more impressive when stepped up to a mile and a half for the Oaks at Epsom. The daughter of Galileo is challenging the brilliant Enable for favouritism for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in early October, and will be widely expected to enhance those claims at York next week. O’Brien has also entered his multiple Group One winner Magical, as well as Epsom runner-up Ennistymon. John Gosden decided against bidding for a third Yorkshire Oaks victory with Enable – but the Clarehaven maestro could instead call upon Frankly Darling, winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing third behind Love at Epsom, and recent York winner Franconia. Sir Mark Prescott’s Alpinista could be set for a swift step up in class after winning the Listed Upavon Fillies’ Sta...

Oisin Murphy strengthened his position at the top of the Flat jockeys' championship with a Listed-race double at Newmarket, highlighted by victory for Withhold in the Gloriously Simple MansionBet Further Flight Stakes. Although the former Northumberland Plate and Cesarewitch winner may no longer be the force he once was, the Roger Charlton-trained seven-year-old demonstrated he still retains plenty of ability in landing the mile-and-three-quarter feature usually staged at Nottingham. Out in front from leaving the stalls, the 5-4 favourite stayed on in tenacious fashion under the reigning champion to cross the line three lengths clear of Dubious Affair..                     Andrew Nelis Racing 

Ben Haslam has identified the Cesarewitch at Newmarket as a potential long-term target for Solo Saxophone following his latest triumph at York on Thursday. Following previous stints with leading Irish trainer Dermot Weld, and latterly prominent jumps handler Dan Skelton, the son of Frankel joined Middleham-based Haslam - and it has proved an inspired move. Since making a winning debut for the yard at Thirsk in mid-June, Solo Saxophone has added facile wins at Haydock and York to complete his hat-trick - and Haslam now has his eye on bigger prizes further down the line....          Solo Saxaphone  Andrew Nelis 

Cieren Fallon claimed a landmark first Group One success aboard Oxted in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket. Fallon, son of former champion Kieren, was the leading apprentice last season and was making his breakthrough at the highest level aboard the Roger Teal-trained victor. He made a bold move over two furlongs from home on the four-year-old, and had a length and a quarter to spare over the field..                        Andrew Nelis Racing 

Charlie Appleby believes Master Of The Seas can handle the step up from maiden company to Group Two level in the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket. The Godolphin trainer was not surprised by the way the Dubawi colt performed when making a winning debut at Newmarket three weeks ago, and can see him making his mark on Saturday. “He has come out of his last race well,” said Appleby. “Looking at them on paper, they have all either just broken their maidens or won novices, so we felt he wouldn’t look out of place...

A delighted PJ McDonald rode the 1,000th winner of his versatile career in Britain when Zabeel Champion struck at Newmarket on Friday. The Mark Johnston-trained runner's victory was McDonald's 963rd on the Flat in Britain to go with his 37 strikes over jumps. He has also won four races on the Flat in Ireland, but they do not count towards his domestic total. Only one of McDonald's 1,000 winners in Britain has been in a Group 1, when Laurens gamely won the 2017 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket. However, McDonald added further top-level success in France the following season on the tenacious filly, winning the 2018 Prix de Diane. The former jump jockey has also ridden Invincible Army, Havana Grey, Hey Gaman, Duke Of Hazzard and Far Above to Group-level success in recent seasons..                         Andrew Nelis Racing .

Dandalla led home a one-two for owners Nick Bradley Racing in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket. The brilliance of her performance in the Albany Srakes at Royal Ascot was missing but the even-money favourite went to the front inside the distance and toughed it out well close home. Fev Rover (20/1) was the challenger in the owner's red cap and finished strongly to be beaten only a head. Outsider Santosha was another to come home powerfully and was only a length away in third..                            Andrew Nelis Racing 

Hollie Doyle landed the first Group race of her career as Dame Malliot ran out a game winner of the Princess of Wales's Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket.   Fresh from a first Royal Ascot win last month, Doyle broke new ground at Group Two level with Ed Vaughan's charge, who had made good progress last season, winning at this level in France last August. Doyle was not happy with the pace of the race at halfway and took up the running, before both Alounak and Communique headed her at one stage, yet despite drifting a little to the far side, Dame Malliot kept on finding for pressure. Towards the finish the 8/1 chance was well on top, pulling two and a quarter lengths clear of last year's winner Communique...                            Andrew Nelis Racing 

Nazeef bids to complete her progression through the ranks in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on Friday. The four-year-old filly, trained by John Gosden, has been on a roll since opening her account in a maiden at Newmarket in June 2019. She has won her last five starts, with victories in Listed and Group Two company on her last two starts...                     Andrew Nelis Racing 

Royal Ascot winners Hello Youmzain and Golden Horde head a classy field of 13 for the Darley July Cup at Newmarket. Traditionally seen as the big midsummer sprinting target, Saturday's renewal looks well up to scratch. Kevin Ryan's Hello Youmzain was backing up his victory in last season's Haydock Sprint Cup when coming out best in a blanket finish to the Diamond Jubilee Stakes..                    Andrew Nelis Racing 

Clive Cox believes Golden Horde will be lining up in “a proper Group One” for the Darley July Cup at Newmarket. The three-year-old will clash with older horses for the first time in Saturday’s six-furlong feature, after making a victorious return to action in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last month. That was a first top-level success for the Lethal Force colt, who landed the Richmond Stakes last year as well as finishing placed in both the Prix Morny and Middle Park, but Cox is aware his charge is going up a notch at Newmarket, with Diamond Jubilee winner Hello Youmzain heading the possible opposition. He said: “He’s in great form, he came back from Ascot very well indeed. The timescale between that run and here is perfect – obviously that was his seasonal debut, and I couldn’t be happier, he’s come back and thrived since then. “I think it’s a proper Group One, there’s a host of horses I would be respecting.                 ...

ceptical is attracting support ahead of the July Cup over six furlongs in Newmarket on Saturday. Denis Hogan's charge has gone from strength to strength since winning his maiden at Dundalk in November. He went on to pick up two handicaps on the Poytrack, before landing a LIsted contest at Naas in June. It was his last performance, though, that marked him out as a top-level sprinter as he was beaten a head and a neck into third in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs at Royal Ascot. Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Irish raider Sceptical was a wafer-thin beaten favourite in third last time in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, where Frankie Dettori was just denied a four-timer, but punters have been more than happy to forgive that reversal and Denis Hogan’s speedball has now halved in price into 3/1 from as big as 6/1.” Clive Cox's Golden Horde, who won the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, remains favourite with Paddy Power at...

Threat will take his chance in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket rather than head to France this weekend. Trainer Richard Hannon had earmarked Sunday's seven-furlong Prix Jean Prat for last year's Gimcrack winner - but he has had a change of heart. Threat finished fifth to Palace Pier over a mile in the St James's Palace Stakes on his only outing to date this season. Hannon told his website www.richardhannonracing.co.uk: "As long as there are no last-minute glitches, the plan is for Threat to take his chance in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday. "We were originally looking at the Prix Jean Prat in France. But the ground there is very soft at the moment, and I don't really want to run him on that surface in what looks a hot little race..                           Andrew Nelis Racing 

Khaadem is set to go for the Darley July Cup at Newmarket following his encouraging effort in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. The Charlie Hills-trained sprinter had to settle for fourth place in the Group One behind Hello Youmzain after travelling as well as anything two furlongs from home. The ease in the ground may not have suited Khaadem, and connections for hoping for quicker conditions on Saturday week. “The plan at the moment is to go to Newmarket,” said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. “He ran well at Ascot. He was a bit fresh. The ground was a little bit too easy for him, arguably, but it didn’t quite go his way — without making excuses.                        Andrew Nelis Racing