Protagonist

Cheltenham is behind us and, yes, we still have Aintree and Punchestown to come of the major jumps fixtures but, with the clocks on the turn, really the only thing to think about now is the return of the Flat. The turf season makes its staggered return in Ireland on Sunday, and in Britain the following Saturday. France is already racing ahead and packed in four stakes races at Saint-Cloud last Saturday, with the Listed Prix Omnium II providing the first TDN Rising Star on the European turf for 2023...

Four horses trained by William Haggas are in good form in advance of planned starts in Australia in the coming weeks. Competing on Saturday are Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables colourbearer Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who will run in the 1500-metre G1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Gardens. "They're lovely people and this filly came to us by accident really," said Haggas, who has already saddled three-time Australian Group 1 winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) Down Under. "She was bought to go to the States and then missed her flight...