#Soldier of Fortune

A tour of Coolmore Stud in Fethard, County Tipperary is a wonderfully enriching experience for any Flat racing fan, the site being home to so many champions from years gone by. To drive the point home, simply check out the stud's roster for 2021 which counted 16 stallions and the winners of 44 Group/Grade 1 races between them. Of course, winning…

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…

Aidan O'Brien has sprinkled some spice on Saturday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby by supplementing Oaks winner Tuesday, who will bid to become the first filly to win the Curragh Classic since Balanchine 28 years ago. Tuesday was the standout name among the 16 remaining possibles for the Irish Derby at the five-day stage and she is set for a…

channel for our exclusive free betting tips, picks and offers. This Tuesday, 1 November, the horse racing NAP of the Day, according to SportsLens experts, is Hawthorn Cottage. She goes in the 2m 4f conditional jockeys' handicap chase at Warwick this afternoon (3:45). Next Best and one to back each way, meanwhile, is racecourse debutante Lady Caro…

We would probably never have found out how good Salsabil was had she not taken on the colts in the Irish Derby. She'd proven the best of her own sex in the English classics, winning the 1000 Guineas and then following up by five lengths in the Oaks. The Irish Oaks would have been the more conventional - and easier - option for her next, though as…

AN TOBAR looked a horse with a big future when destroying eleven opponents in a point-to-point at Ballyvodock in late January. The five year old powered away to score by 20 lengths and the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh have all lost their maiden tags since. Previously handled by Denis Murphy, he has joined Henry De Bromhead and will be…

You need a thick skin and ear muffs to be a handicapper but it's hard to feel much sympathy for the French assessors right now after they effectively prevented Verry Elleegant running in the Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe on Sunday. The multiple Group One winner and 2021 Melbourne Cup heroine has not been at her best in two starts this season since…