National assignment on the radar for Vintage hero Zavateri
Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton will now look to test her star juvenile at Group One level, potentially at the Curragh on September 14.
'He's come out of Goodwood great,' said the Blewbury-based trainer.
'He is unbelievable because he thought he'd won his race, he'd switched off and then good old Morris Dancer came for him and you could see him flick his ears, change his legs and almost say 'oh for goodness sake, come on then!'.
'We'll look at the Dewhurst but that's quite a long way off, he's in the National Stakes too so that would be quite a nice start for him with the timing – National and then Dewhurst.
'He's fantastic, I'm so proud of him. It's very, very exciting.'
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Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Follow in Messi's footsteps and sing Oasis songs in perfect World Cup host city
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Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
My magnificent stay shows Mar Hall has joined the ranks of Scotland's great hotels
Major General Robert Walter Stuart, 11th Lord Blantyre, returned from the battlefields of Egypt and Spain with a dream to create something timeless on Scottish soil. Sir Robert Smirke, one of the leaders of Gothic Revival architecture and the celebrated architect of the British Museum, was commissioned in 1828 to create a house that blended influences from Scotland with echoes of the grand salons of Europe. A distinctive building to defy expectations. Almost two centuries later, Mar Hall has been reimagined with a £20 million redevelopment, turning the hotel and resort that opened in 2004 into a new destination, operating in the highest echelons of Scottish hospitality. Mar Hall houses 74 luxurious guest rooms and suites, two restaurants, two bars, and a collection of grand spaces, cosy corners and hidden nooks to be discovered. About ten minutes from Glasgow Airport, it is often where tourists begin or complete grand tours of Scotland. It has also offers discreet luxury accommodation to visiting celebrities over the years, including Liam Gallagher, Kyle Minogue and Bob Dylan. It features an 18-hole championship golf course, private event spaces, state-of-the-art leisure facilities, plus a 20-metre swimming pool and spa. The revamp – which was led by Glasgow-based firm Graven also includes new additions such as a 24-person private cinema, Gaming Room and Billiards Room. Lisa King, Design Director of Align Partners who led the design vision behind the transformation says: 'It was a key focus for all involved that we should champion the best talent that Glasgow has to offer, from interior designer, Jim Hamilton of Graven Images, to the team at Timorous Beasties for our wallcoverings and fabrics, and Ali Smith at Art Pistol who curated the many walls of artwork, chosen from local emerging and established artists. Finally, Nichol Wheatly, a distinguished Scottish artist whom we commissioned to create four special pieces for the hotel, bringing with it another layer in the rich tapestry that makes up Glasgow's creative talent. 'The brief was to revitalise Mar Hall, accentuating the building's original qualities whilst also elevating the guest experience, breathing new exciting energy into the space, and creating something distinctly different. We wanted to create a contemporary feel of a grand house rather than a hotel, that will give a warm welcome to our guests and members, and deliver the very best of Scottish hospitality; putting the west coast of Scotland firmly on the map for both national and international luxury travellers. 'The project involves a complete overhaul of all guest rooms and public spaces, including the gallery, restaurant, bar, private event rooms, reception and main entrance, whilst also integrating new additions such as an exclusive members' lounge, private cinema, and billiards room. Re-establishing the building's connection to its surrounding landscape was also an important part of the brief, relandscaping the gardens, and very much making the exterior an extension of the interior views.' Here's what we found during our stay in a suite at Mar Hall. 1 . The Gallery A grand yet comfortable space for afternoon tea, now featuring a marble-topped bar for champagne, and cocktails. The Gallery is the hear of Mar Hall, now elevated by eye-catching furniture and art pieces - the hotel has worked with Glasgow's Art Pistol gallery and sources works from students at Glasgow School of Art. The room has doors that open out to the gardens which have been improved with more breakout spaces to relax. It's a striking setting that combines the traditional with a modern Scottish interpretation of luxury. | Mar Hall Photo Sales 2 . Afternoon Tea Award-winning Executive Pastry Chef Szilard Szentesi has created an afternoon tea menu that features an artistic selection of pastries, sandwiches and savouries, complemented by a wide choice of loose-leaf teas, champagne and sparkling wine. Our favourites were the strawberry cube with a Perthshire strawberry mousse, the carrot cake with aerated citrus crème fraîche and the obligatory scones served with clotted cream and Scottish preserves. | Mar Hall Photo Sales 3 . Mar Hall We stayed in the Erskine Suite with fantastic views across the Clyde. Rooted in the past while showcasing modern Scottish sensibilities, this is grandeur that is effortlessly elegant with a cool aesthetic. It feels like your own apartment within the resort. The room features a four-poster bed, a separate lounge area with a grand piano and bookcase, alongside an impressive bathroom with bath and shower. With the abundance of windows and corner location, our stay was framed by sweeping views of the river giving this room a tangible sense of place. | Mar Hall Photo Sales 4 . Mar Hall Lisa King, design director of Align Partners, explained the guiding principles behind Mar Hall's transformation: "We were careful to avoid any clichés of 'Scottish design' but instead you will find subtle nods to Glasgow's industrial past, for example, in the metalwork of the bar, lounge and restaurant. At the same time, the stunning landscape that surrounds the hotel definitely influenced the colours, the wallpapers, and our art selection. It was about weaving those elements in thoughtfully, giving a nod to the surroundings without making it feel too obvious. The result is a space that feels distinctly local, but in a fresh, contemporary way." | Mar Hall Photo Sales Related topics: ScotlandHotelsHistoryRestaurants
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Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Fringe Theatre reviews: Down to Chance Escape the Noise Anatomy of Pain + more
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Down to Chance Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) ★★★★☆ On Good Friday 1964, Alaska was hit by a 9.2 magnitude earthquake. The Great Earthquake took out all communications in and around Anchorage apart from the local radio station, where female reporter Genie Chance was left in sole charge. Her calm broadcasts throughout the night shared the news, helped reunite missing people and coordinated the volunteer effort. Down to Chance | Ali Wright This true story is the basis of the new two-hander by Cornwall-based theatre company Maybe You Like It, who are associate artists at the Pleasance 2025-27. Performers Ellie Jay Cooper (also the writer) and Robert Merriam switch between a host of different parts in this fast-moving production directed by Caleb Barron. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Until the earthquake happens, Chance (Cooper) is struggling to get her stories aired. Everyone seems to patronise her as a woman in a man's world, and even her husband Winston is starting to suggest that she quit the station to spend more time with their three kids. However, her maturity and determination when faced with big decisions about what to broadcast eventually earns her the grudging respect of General James Whittaker of the National Guard who takes charge in the city. There are some laugh-out-loud moments when Dom, Genie's hapless accomplice, and his friend Kathleen, try to keep the station running through the night by singing Everly Brothers songs and playing charades, and garrulous radio ham Walt Sourbeer offers help in connecting with other hams across the state on short wave. The madcap comedy action does at times sit uncomfortably with the seriousness of the disaster, which claimed 139 lives. But there is so much to like in this production, a tribute to a woman who stepped up and triumphed in the toughest of moments, and a love letter to the golden age of radio. SUSAN MANSFIELD until 25 August Escape the Noise Central Hall (Venue 295) ★★★☆☆ It is non-stop: the alerts, alarms, emails, text messages, reels, and news stories. All compete for our attention, which is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. This is especially true of teens growing up in the global West, who we can observe at the outset of Escape the Noise as they text one another in the dark: 'You up?' 'Really need to talk to you right now.' 'Did you hear what happened?' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Performed by Shoreline Theater Academy, Kidz Connection, a cast of 14 embody a diversity and range of experiences as a class at the fictitious STAKK High School. Not only are they reeling from the recent death of one of their friends, whose story is revealed steadily, but they are also dealing with the prospect of an upcoming outdoor educational event, which has a strictly no-phones policy. The piece is full of endearing moments, such as when two friends attempt to commit to memory a starry night without the use of their cameras. The stage is transformed easily through effective use of choreography and song, and this aids the delivery of the play's core message: that it is possible to forge and maintain meaningful connections in a world of hyper-connectivity. JOSEPHINE BALFOUR-OATTS until 6 August Forget-Me-Not Greenside @ George St (Venue 236) ★★★☆☆ In Forget-Me-Not, Julie Lake (known for playing Angie Rice in the American comedy-drama television series Orange is the New Black) and singer-songwriter Annie Macleod navigate the chaos and wonders of new motherhood. Using autobiographical details, the pair explore the intimacies of pregnancy – including, but not limited to, preeclampsia, nausea, vomiting, and incontinence – as well as topics like abortion, miscarriage, and ethical non-monogamy. Original music provides a haunting mixture of jazz and folk, and their voices blend exquisitely despite holding often-conflicting viewpoints – not least regarding the compatibility of motherhood and artistry. It is a gentle theatrical experience, right down to the softness of the lighting and the delivery of dialogue between songs. The overall effect is soothing, as if being held in a sling, or swaddled. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ultimately, this is the story of the show, and how it came bravely into being. Their timeline approaches the present like a wave approaching the shore – Julie's sinus infection is real, as is their jetlag – and there is no pretence in their reflections as they take stock. They are in Edinburgh; they are in their 40s. They are artists, mothers, and friends. It is sometime in late summer, and most importantly of all, they are loved. JOSEPHINE BALFOUR-OATTS until 9 August Anatomy of Pain theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (Venue 53) ★★★☆☆ Alex (Klara Grapci-Germizaj) does not simply live with pain, she lives IN pain. Based on writer-director Aoife Parr's experience living with chronic illness due to an undiagnosed case of Ehlers-Danos Syndrome (EDS) — a condition where your joints move too easily and too quickly — this is an unusually disciplined show that sometimes holds the audience at arm's length. Parr uses poetic language to describe Alex's pain, which can be slippery to relate to. However, this is perhaps intentional as Alex's doctors and psychiatrist (all played by Will Kirk) also struggle to understand or even believe her (EDS is often misdiagnosed as hypochondria). There's an interesting formalism to the staging as Alex and her various physicians stand at mics as far part as the stage will allow, unable to come to an agreement between lived experience and medical theory. If this makes proceedings a little dry — and it does — it brings a forensic element to a story that deals with suicidal ideation and despair. Both performers equip themselves extremely well and if there's a lack of emotional involvement then perhaps that's the point. It's an illustration of the dissociative effects of pain that sometimes seems aimed more towards the medical profession than a general audience. RORY FORD until 9 August Dial 1 for UK Greenside @ Riddles Court (Venue 16) ★★★☆☆ 'The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation,' wrote Thoreau. For Uday Kumar, as a new immigrant to England from India, his life is more desperate than most — not that you'd necessarily know it. As winningly performed by Mohit Mathur, Uday is a lively, ingratiating presence, as eager to please the audience as the retired British gentlefolk he's employed to care for. In truth, it's not that different from his previous job in India as a phone operative for a crypto company; gaining people's trust with constant chatter, anxious to keep the conversation going lest desperation slip in during one of the silences. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This one-man show coasts well enough on Mathur's charm initially but it's only when he lets the facade begin to slip that it really engages. Without ever truly losing sight of his character's sense of optimism he shades Kumar's personality (the initials 'UK' are no accident) to show what men living lives of quiet desperation might feel driven to. Purists may balk at Mathur's use of AI generated images to help set scenes but at least it's consistent with Kumar's circumstances; forced to live by his wits — and Chat GPT — in a foreign land. RORY FORD until 9 August Summer Fling theSpace @ Niddry St (Venue 9) ★★★☆☆ The exploitative nature of reality dating shows is effectively skewered in this likeable new comedy from writer/director Grace Donaldson. Four young hopefuls arrive on an island looking forward to a summer of 'sun, short shorts and semen' — and if that strikes you as a tad rude then you're probably not going to vibe with the endearingly vulgar energy of this Student Theatre at Glasgow production. The performances go a long way to make this; George Rogers horrendous 'landlord-slash-influencer' Aaron is nicely complemented by Erin Bruff's charming 'beta-male' farmer, Ollie. Lola Gibbons imbues Maisie with a neurotic Irish crackle that sparks well off the laid-back arrogance of Savannah Merriwether's 'Chlamydia Barbie' Donna. While this often resembles a series of sketches on a theme rather than a play — a more rigid sense of structure and plot would not go amiss — this has the good sense to keep the scenes short and snappy so there's still a real sense of pace even without real narrative drive. It admirably has no truck with subtlety and the talented cast manage to imbue this with a frenetic — almost cartoon — energy that can sell the crudest gags. RORY FORD until 9 August
