#Alpine Star

The eyes of most punters will be focused on the Curragh, where four Group Ones light up a tremendous card for day two of Longines Irish Champions Weekend. The Eddie Lynam-trained Soffia gets the nod in what promises to be an intriguing clash with British raider Mabs Cross in the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes. The former was hugely impressive…

Taking on Ballydoyle in the 1000 Guineas is like facing Manchester City in the Etihad - victory is theoretically possible but recent history suggests that one of their expensive stars will see you off. Aidan O'Brien has won it five times in the last six years and seven times overall. Nobody else currently training has taken it more than…

You cannot keep a good man down for long and Frankie Dettori, who adores the royal meeting like few others but might have begun to question his love affair with it after a trying week, was back doing what he does best - steering a strongly backed big-race favourite to a storming victory in front of a roaring crowd. Inspiral, last year's champion…

The first of six challengers from the powerful Aidan O'Brien stable with the master of Ballydoyle looking to secure a 14th victory in the Irish Derby. ARTHUR'S KINGDOM is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his sire, Camelot who won this Classic for the trainer in 2012. He has never finished outside the top two places and has a leading chance for…

Our virtual trip around the international world of horse racing continues over the July 4-5 weekend with a bevy of important races in England and France. Four postponed classics are on the agenda, including the coveted Oaks and Derby in England, but the highlight of the weekend is undoubtedly the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, in which superstar Enable will…