#May Hill Stakes

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…

The biggest empires in history evolved from one great individual at the very top. From the heady days of Julius Caesar and the Roman empire to Napoleon Bonaparte's French conquests, it takes the best leader to ignite sheer success. For owner John Dance, his expanding racing empire is thriving thanks to his own Empress at the top charting the…

Sorrow enveloped Warren Place stables in Newmarket on Tuesday after Sir Henry Cecil finally lost his long battle with cancer at the age of 70. But it was matched by a determination from his staff to deliver a winning tribute to their beloved boss at next week's Royal Ascot. They were told that Cecil had died at a private Cambridge hospital after…

Ross Millar provides his expert analysis on the leading juveniles we have seen so far this season and also suggests a couple of ante-post bets for next year at large odds. Finally, he got the job done! Ebro River justified my high opinion of him and put it all together to win the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

Good Morning Bloodstock is Martin Stevens' daily morning email and presented online as a sample. Here he reflects on the sudden and way too premature death of the Classic heroine Billesdon Brook, who leaves behind just the one foal - All you need do is click on the link above, sign up and then read at your leisure each weekday morning from…

Members of the Gallop Racing syndicated enjoyed what they described as a "red letter day" after Lakota Sioux provided them with their biggest-ever success when completing a 20.6-1 treble for Charlie and Mark Johnston in the Jewson Sweet Solera Stakes. Having finished third in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot 49 days ago, the daughter of…

Prosperous Voyage looks primed for a big run in the Coronation Stakes (4.20pm) on day four of Royal Ascot. The 1000 Guineas second is fancied to overturn the form with Cachet at the top fixture. My selection galloped home strongly to get within a neck of the front runner - a step up on her previous efforts. But she can prove that run, at odds of…

Yesyes gets the vote in the Group 2 Coral Park Hill Fillies' Stakes on day two of Doncaster's big fixture. New London is set to start a hot favourite for the feature Cazoo St Leger on Saturday Urban Artist runs in the Group 2 Coral Park Hill Fillies' Stakes YESYES is fancied to go two places better than her third of 12 months ago in the Group 2…

EVEN the booking of the champion jockey Colin Keane was not enough to reduce the odds on Paris Secret as she made her debut at Galway, but the filly showed that her returned odds of 28/1 were an insult with a willing effort that saw her win from some vastly more experienced opponents. Racing in the colours of Paul Hardy, this €8500 yearling buy at…

Polly Pott: filly will join Ben Pauling when Harry Dunlop stops training Shock May Hill winner Polly Pott will get her chance at the highest level after connections confirmed she will be supplemented for next week's bet365 Fillies' Mile. Trained by Harry Dunlop, the juvenile has a remarkable profile having won over 5½f on firm ground at Bath before…

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…

The Lope De Vega filly caught the eye when accounting for Aidan O'Brien's Red Riding Hood in a fillies' novice event at Ascot last time out, a second victory to add to her debut success in July. Her latest assignment represents a steep upgrade, but trainer Ismail Mohammed is hopeful his runner can hold her own. "It is a big jump, but I hope she…

Those who brave the early start for a round of golf at Naunton Downs are likely to catch a unique glimpse at the stars of one of the most in-form racing yards in the country. Set alongside the well-kept course is the secret to a remarkable resurgence from Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Ben Pauling. A two-year vision of Ben and his wife Sophie,…

There's a couple of Group 2s on the ITV4 schedule on Friday afternoon; the seven furlong Dubai Rockfel Stakes (1500) and the Dubai Joel Stakes (1535), plus with the Group 3 Dubai Stakes (1425) and four other strong races it's going to be another busy day. Don't forget, you can get all the latest racecards and results from both racecourse by using…

Adam Farragher returns in triumph on Thunder Legend Friday: Newmarket Apprentice Adam Farragher returned from a five-month absence in triumph on his first day back when winning on Thunder Legend. The 22-year-old was due to ride the favourite Mujtaba in the Lincoln for his boss William Haggas at Doncaster in March before a fall two days earlier on…

It would be no surprise to see many of these reoppose in either the Queen Mary or Albany Stakes later in the summer, but it is Hannon's impressive Newmarket scorer that is chalked up as the general market leader for this five-furlong event. The speedy daughter of Cotai Glory was a €62000 purchase and showed she was worth every penny when bolting up…

The daughter of Showcasing was hugely impressive on her racecourse debut at Newmarket in the spring and justified her tall reputation with victory in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. She was disappointing when bidding for her hat-trick in the Lowther at York last month, seemingly failing to see out six furlongs, but Burke has not lost any faith in…

It's nearly time for, which is the jewel in the crown of flat racing and here are three match-ups that could light up the week. If the ball had hopped a little more kindly for Coroebus last season, he would still be unbeaten. After easily landing a novice stakes at Newmarket's July Course last August on his racecourse debut, the Godolphin colt was…

John Ingles looks at the five best horses owned by Queen Elizabeth II based on their peak Timeform ratings. AUREOLE (Timeform rating 132) As well as being one of the best horses to race for the Queen, Aureole was also one of the very first, as she inherited him as an unraced two-year-old on the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. Trained…

As well as being one of the best horses to race for the Queen, Aureole was also one of the very first, as she inherited him as an unraced two-year-old on the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. Trained by Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort at Newmarket, Aureole ran just twice at two, finishing sixth in the Middle Park Stakes after making a…

Today sees the first Group 2 event, the Cazoo May Hill Stakes (15h35) run over a mile for juvenile fillies. The Johnston trained Dance In The Grass is unbeaten in two starts and is likely the favourite. Her form looks strong - on debut at Sandown over 7 furlongs, the daughter of freshman sire Cracksman proved far too strong for the Godolphin…

Day 2, Thursday, sees the first Group 2 event, the Cazoo May Hill Stakes (15h35) run over a mile for juvenile fillies. The Johnston trained Dance In The Grass is unbeaten in two starts and is likely the favourite. Her form looks strong - on debut at Sandown over 7 furlongs, the daughter of freshman sire Cracksman proved far too strong for the…

The St Leger Festival moves into its second day at Doncaster with two quality Group Two contests headlining Thursday's card, all live on Sky Sports Racing. A quality field of 10 lines up in the Group Two Cazoo May Hill Stakes (2.35), a race won last year by superstar Inspiral. Of this year's potential world beaters, the standout is Mark Johnston's…

Last year's Derby and King George hero has not been since the Champion Stakes in October, where he was fifth having finished fourth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe prior to that Ascot outing. It was hoped he would make his comeback in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, but when that was ruled out attentions turned to Royal Ascot and then the…