Newbury

Having caused a 50-1 shock in Royal Ascot's Buckingham Palace H., William Stobart's Witch Hunter (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was at it again on Saturday as he swooped to conquer in Newbury's seven-furlong G2 Hungerford S. Tried over six furlongs after his Royal success, the Richard Hannon-trained gelding had found the action a touch too quick when third in Newcastle's G3 Chipchase S. before failing to handle Chester's tight track when third in the Listed City Plate S. and running fourth over a mile in Pontefract's Listed Pomfret S. Switched off...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Insights features Reliant, a half-brother to G1SW Mishriff (Ire). 14.40 Sandown, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT RELIANT (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the focal point of all the newcomers on a tantalising Thursday, being the fourth foal out of Nawara Stud's star broodmare Contradict (GB) (Raven's Pass), whose 100% record...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a grandson of King (Ire) (Danehill). 18.05 Newbury, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT ARRAY (IRE) (No Nay Never) wins the award for the day's best-bred newcomer, being the sixth foal out of Juddmonte's prized mare Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who shares her famed dam Kind...

QIPCO British Champions Series (QBCS) will sponsor a set of maiden races this autumn to help strengthen the 2-year-old programme in Great Britain. The four races will be run at the QBCS racecourses of Doncaster, Goodwood, Newbury and York. Each race will be run for a total prize fund of £30,000. The QIPCO British Champions Series-sponsored maidens are scheduled from late-August to October, offering a springboard to compete in the 2024 Series, which kicks off at the QIPCO 2000 Guineas in May. David Redvers, QIPCO's representative and Racing Manager to...

Newbury Racecourse appointed George Hill its new Clerk of the Course, succeeding Keith Ottesen who leaves the role following the conclusion of the Dubai Duty Free International Meeting Sept. 22-23. Hill, current Clerk of the Course for Arena Racing Company's (ARC) Southern Region and at Lingfield Racecourse, previously served as Clerk at both Brighton and Fontwell Racecourses. With multiple years of experience in the bloodstock industry prior to starting as trainee Clerk of the Course at Brighton Racecourse in 2015, Hill has been with ARC for 10 years. Hill was...

Racing Welfare's Racing Staff Week returns for its seventh year this Saturday, June 24, the charity announced on Monday. The industry's annual celebration of people who work in British horseracing brings together the racing business and its followers to recognize the workers inside the industry. Sponsored by Betfair, this year will see five charity races specifically for stable staff, as well as a number of community events and a competitions with prizes of £500 in vouchers awarded to the winners. Races will be held at Ayr, Chepstow, Newbury, Nottingham and...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a full-sister to Grade I winner Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). 14.50 Newbury, Novice, £40,000, 3yo, f, 8fT CLASSIC TIMES (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is a full-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and GI Just a Game S. heroine Newspaperofrecord (Ire)...

She may not necessarily be Oaks-bound, but Ballydoyle's Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could be a major player at Royal Ascot nonetheless after beating TDN Rising Star Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) in Newbury's Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. on Saturday. Showing battling qualities when off the mark over this 10-furlong trip at Leopardstown 13 days previously, the daughter of the triple group 1 winner Sea Siren (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) raced in a share of second early. Sent forward by Ryan Moore two out, the 5-2 second favourite...

Successful at the elite level at two Breeders' Cups, in a Poule d'Essai des Poulains and a Woodbine Mile, Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Modern Ideals {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) finally did it in the UK as he swooped to dominate Saturday's G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury. Drawn on the extreme towards the stands' rail, the 3-1 favourite was in the right place if the preceding London Gold Cup was anything to go by and William Buick was able to enjoy the perfect draft behind My Prospero (Ire)...

Further underlining the merit of last year's G1 St Leger, Juddmonte's Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) got up late to register a winning return in Saturday's G3 Aston Park S. at Newbury and enhance her claims in next month's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Demoted from second to fourth in the Doncaster Classic, which was coming up quickly after her success in York's Listed Galtres S. in August, the homebred only just made this gig after what her trainer Ralph Beckett described as a "tough Spring" and was held...

Newbury's G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. has been a happy hunting ground for some top fillies in recent times and Saturday's renewal features another as TDN Rising Star Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}) takes aim at the colts. Dazzling with her sectionals in a Kempton novice in September, the daughter of Promising Lead (GB) (Danehill) was sent into battle for the G1 Sun Chariot S. by the normally more-reserved Gosdens just days later and justified that risk by beating all bar Fonteyn (GB) (Farhh {GB}) in the Newmarket contest. With a...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features an Almanzor (Fr) 'TDN Rising Star'. 15.25 Chantilly, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, f, 10fT ELZORA (FR) (Almanzor {Fr}) earned TDN Rising Star status for Riviera Equine and Eric de Chambure and the Jean-Claude Rouget stable with a stirring display at ParisLongchamp last month and preps for a...