#Luca Cumani

Antony Brittain might not be on a lot of trainer-to-follow shortlists, but, after a quiet start when taking over the reigns at Northgate Lodge, Brittain has really started to find his feet of late, notching up 28 winners in 2019. The way the yard started 2020 was nothing short of extraordinary, with Brittain having chalked up 17 winners before…

With Frankie Dettori already off the mark on the first day of this year's Royal Ascot (16 June), we take a look at the reasons why the Italian jockey is such a favourite with the public - and it's not just for his flying dismounts… Lanfranco Dettori, the son of Italian champion jockey Gianfranco Dettori and a circus performer mother, was born in…

OLI BELL is familiar to horse racing fans as the fresh-faced presenter of The Opening Show, and will be again be covering the Cheltenham Festival for ITV. An expert on all things racing and a natural in front of the camera, Bell also hosts a popular podcast with footballer Charlie Austin. But it was for another reason the 33-year-old made headlines…

A life described as'the true stuff of legends' was remembered as some of the biggest names of British racing rubbed shoulders with ordinary punters at Sir Henry Cecil's memorial service at Ely Cathedral. That such an eclectic congregation of just over 1000 joined with Cecil's family to pay tribute to a horseracing great was hugely appropriate. No…

Father Gianfranco Dettori (13-time champion jockey in Italy; won 2000 Guineas on Bolkonski 1975, Wollow 1976) Apprenticed to Luca Cumani, Newmarket 1987-89 First winner Rif, Turin, November 16, 1986 First winner in Britain Lizzy Hare, Goodwood, June 9, 1987 Lost claim Versailles Road, Beverley, July 18, 1989 First Group winner Legal Case (1989…

Good Morning Bloodstock is Martin Stevens' daily morning email and presented here online as a sample. Here he looks at the history of the Guineas winner's breeding and All you need do is click on the link above, sign up and then read at your leisure each weekday morning from 7am. In my book, one of the biggest fallacies in the bloodstock industry…

It's the penultimate day of Royal Ascot, and we've already had a great few race days so far. Thousands of racegoers will descend on Ascot for one of the biggest events in Berkshire's calendar. Racegoers can place bets on their favourite horses and spoil themselves with fine dining and champagne at the biggest racing event of the year on Friday,…

Michael Kinane was new into his role as equine talent spotter for the HKJC when he arrived at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2019 and set about securing a son of Acclamation out of a mare from a strong Godolphin family. There was an element of disguise familiar to any Sales regular - Kinane left the ring while his daughter Aisling carried…

The Aidan O'Brien horse is going at 4.20pm while El Vip in the 30-runner Royal Hunt Cup looks to be the next best bet on the day. Fillies might not have the best record in the Jersey Stakes with only Ishvana hitting the target for the distaff division in recent years, but Daban ticks all the boxes to make her a real contender in the seven-furlong…

Well done: Eydon gets a pat from David Egan after landing the Feilden Stakes Thursday: Newmarket The classy Mishriff burst on to the scene when winning a Listed race on the Rowley Mile in 2020 and two years on owner Prince Faisal looks to have unearthed another jewel in Eydon, who ran away with the featured Feilden Stakes. Roger Varian's…

With Japan's top international race taking place at the weekend, Nicholas Godfrey looks at the task facing overseas runners in Tokyo - and traces the nation's emergence as a racing superpower One of the world's foremost international races takes place on Sunday [Nov 27] with the 42nd edition of the Japan Cup at Tokyo racecourse, the Japan Racing…

The Japan Cup takes centre stage internationally next Sunday and while the race - worth a cool £2.5 million to the winner - has not gone to a horse trained outside Japan since 2005, that hasn't deterred connections of four European runners from making the journey, the biggest contingent in a decade. And there are reasons for hope of a breakthrough,…

On the Gate to Wire podcast Episode 2, Michael Vale asked Pick 6 King, Jon Stettin to comment on the winning ride executed by Ricardo Mejias on the long shot, Dean Martini in the Ohio Derby. Jon answered "Nowadays, aggressive rides win more than the patient ones.'' A few hours later, one of the world's most prestigious classics, the Investec Epsom…

Heading for a holiday in Sardinia, I remembered that the last time we were there our engine-less, drifting boat was rescued by a Mr Dettori. Mrs Oakley's relief was tempered only by my disappointment that our saviour wasn't Frankie or even a relative. This time it looks as though it is Frankie, the world's favourite sardine, who might need…

channel for our exclusive free betting tips, picks and offers. Frankie Dettori has racked-up 14 Breeders' Cup wins over the years and the pocket Italian is back for more this weekend. He's got four booked rides on Breeders' Cup Saturday at Keeneland - so, let's take a look at which horses Dettori is getting the leg-up on. best horse racing betting…

I might have cut my racing-interest teeth over jumps, or more particularly the point-to-point field, but I can't say the two-day jumps season opener at Chepstow (or three-day if you include Ffos Las) left me looking forward to the remainder of the season with any greater anticipation that I had before and judging by the relatively lukewarm…