Running Lion

Royal Ascot was tremendous in myriad ways. Sun up, crowd up, and a spread of results which drew in some of the world's biggest owners and trainers alongside syndicates and smaller yards. Then on Sunday morning came the news that QIPCO is to significantly reduce its sponsorship of British racing from next year. British Champions Day will still be run in its name, and the company owned by Sheikhs Hamad and Fahad Al Thani will remain as an official partner of Ascot racecourse, but Newmarket's Guineas meeting, Ascot's King George...

Looks can be deceiving, but it is hard to argue with Savethelastdance's 22-length winning margin in the Listed Cheshire Oaks. The Coolmore filly faces 10 rivals in Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks, among them G3 Musidora S. heroine Soul Sister for Lady Bamford. BE HAPPY (IRE), Camelot (GB) - Frequential (GB) (Dansili {GB}) Owner: M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd & Longfield Stud Trainer: Aidan O'Brien A 340,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase, she is a sister to the Group 3-placed Hector De Maris...

It's a heady time of year to be on Newmarket Heath of a Saturday morning. You can tell by the convoy of smart cars when one of the big strings is about to arrive at the Al Bahathri, with Guineas weekend providing the perfect opportunity for owners to watch their horses work.  This past Saturday, either 2,000 Guineas day, Kentucky Derby day, or Coronation day, depending on your persuasion, was no exception. With the car park double-stacked and trainers and jockeys all about, Joe Foley, waiting for the off with...