Sean Levey

St Albans Bloodstock's 4-year-old homebred filly Heredia (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Nakuti {Ire}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) took seven attempts to make a stakes breakthrough, doing so in last month's Listed Dick Hern Fillies' S. at Haydock, and continued her belated rise up the ladder with a career high in Saturday's G3 Virgin Bet Atalanta S. at Sandown. The Richard Hannon trainee settled into a smooth rhythm after breaking from the outside stall and raced in rear for most of this one-mile test. Making eyecatching headway out wide once into the straight,...

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...

Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}--Hard Walnut {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) was the most experienced of nine contenders lining up for Tuesday's G2 Nicholson Gin Vintage S. at Goodwood and paid a handsome compliment to his G2 Superlative S. conqueror City Of Troy (Justify) with a game success in the seven-furlong test. The March-foaled bay becomes the first stakes winner for freshman sire Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire) and a first winner of the contest for Richard Hannon, whose father Richard senior...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Rosaline {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) became his first-crop sire's third stakes winner when scooting to an impressive four-length triumph in Saturday's Listed Flexjet Pat Eddery S. at Ascot. The 11-1 chance, who annexed his June 7 debut over 6 1/2 furlongs at Newbury when last seen, raced under cover in eighth through the early fractions of this straight seven-furlong test. Making eyecatching headway on the bridle once past halfway, he cruised to the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining...

The British Horseracing Authority has accepted Sean Levey took no prohibited substance following a "non-negative" saliva test at Sandown last year, which was later deemed negative by a laboratory. Levey was stood down by the raceday stewards on September 14 when an instant saliva test produced a positive result for amphetamine. The Group 1-winning rider requested a urine test within 24 hours and when that returned negative, he was allowed to resume riding. However, Levey was forced to miss the closing night of the Racing League, for which he was...

Yeomanstown Stud's Invincible Army (Ire) (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) added his name to the growing list of winner-represented first-season sires on Sunday as his son Love Billy Boy (Ire) scored on debut at Musselburgh. Sent off the 9-4 favourite for the five-furlong Race To A Cure For MND EBF Novice S., the £90,000 Goffs UK Premier purchase who races in the famous Roldvale Ltd silks travelled strongly for Sean Levey held up behind the leading pair. Making smooth progress to hit the front 1 1/2 furlongs down, the Richard Hannon-trained...

There was high drama at the beginning of Saturday's G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham S. at Newbury when Frankie Dettori parted company with G1 Dewhurst S. hero and leading G1 2000 Guineas contender Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) upon exiting the stalls, which allowed Manton Thoroughbreds VII's reopposing Dewhurst seventh Isaac Shelby (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Kentucky Belle {Ire}, by Heliostatic {Ire}) a free run to make all for a second pattern-race triumph in the seven-furlong feature. Last term's G2 Superlative S. victor was swiftly into stride, away...

Wednesday's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket was a wide-open affair beforehand, but became a full-on dress rehearsal for HQ's G1 1000 Guineas as Amo Racing's Mammas Girl (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}--Mamma Morton {Ire}, by Elnadim) delivered a devastating turn of acceleration in the closing stages to pulverise her 14 rivals in the seven-furlong staging post. The 16-1 chance had previously debuted with an impressive two-length triumph over course and distance in October and was immediately quoted at odds as low as 6-1 for the Rowley Mile Classic...

A total of 108 jockeys signed up for the 2023 Racing League draft with last year's leading rider Saffie Osborne, Oisin Murphy, and Sean Levey among the first-choice picks. Each team will have the option of using a wild card pick at any time during the competition, allowing them to add an eighth jockey to their squad of seven. The seven teams and their respective jockeys are as follows: Ireland-- Kevin Blake  Daniel Muscutt Billy Loughnane Ben Curtis Joanna Mason Dylan Browne McMonagle Gavin Ryan Adam Farragher London & The...

The anti-doping saliva testing pilot programme has been paused by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Started in May of 2021, the programme was halted due to the negative laboratory follow-up analysis requested after a point of care racecourse non-negative saliva sample donated by jockey Sean Levey at Sandown on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The BHA said in a statement, "A review of the pilot, which has tested more than 1,300 samples, is now underway to determine what can be learned and agree with the [Professional Jockeys' Association] (PJA) on a combined...

   There was no fairytale at Deauville on Sunday as Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) failed to fire on her European bow in the G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet won from the front by Elizabeth "Bunny" Roberts's Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Aristia had found only Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) too strong in the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood last time July 28 and that form saw to it that the Richard Hannon trainee traded at only 4-1 as Sean Levey sought to dictate to suit. Kept company by Rosscarbery (Ger)...

Manton Thoroughbreds' hitherto undefeated 2-year-old colt Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Kentucky Belle {Ire}), by Heliostatic {Ire}) registered a taking 3 1/2-length success in his May 31 unveiling going 6 1/2 furlongs at Newbury, the chestnut's only prior start, and doubled up in game fashion after a ding-dong tussle with Godolphin's Victory Dance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) throughout the closing stages of Saturday's seven-furlong G2 bet365 Superlative S. at Newmarket. The 3-1 chance was the sharpest of five into stride and accepted a tow from Dark Thirty (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus})...