
Celestial Orbit swerves Ascot and will await more rain
Sangster said: 'I was thinking the ground was going to be a bit fast for her and she's a filly who wants a bit of ease in the ground. Even though we've had a lot of rain around the last week, it's still looking like it might be a bit quick for her at Ascot.
'She's a filly who has been on the back-burner a bit since France, where the ground was too fast for her after her good run before that in the Nell Gwyn. We're just biding our time and hoping she can have a productive autumn.
'I've got a few races in mind depending on when the rain comes, maybe the Oak Tree at Goodwood (July 30) or the Dick Hern over a mile at Haydock (August 9) could be nice options. Alternatively if the rain doesn't come there's no rush and there's plenty of nice races down the line.
'Her first run back will be a case of just getting her back and started really, but she's not a filly we would want to risk on fast ground.'
Haydock's Listed Dick Hern Stakes could also be on the cards for Celestial Orbit's stablemate and fellow Star Stakes scorer Shuwari, who has been absent since running in Kempton's Snowdrop Stakes earlier in the season.
'She's had a couple of small setbacks after Kempton but nothing more than that and she's a filly that also wants a bit of ease in the ground, so we've taken plenty of time with her,' added Sangster.
'I provisionally marked the Dick Hern for her at Haydock if there is some ease in the ground. She's training away nicely and hopefully can have a good second half of the season, it will be nice to get her back to the track anyway.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ruben Amorim given unlikely boost to solve Man Utd issue after private transfer talks
Manchester United are considering signing a new goalkeeper before the end of the summer transfer window and their chances of getting one of the world's best have just increased Manchester United are weighing up a move for Gianluigi Donnarumma after Paris Saint-Germain agreed a £34.9million deal to sign a new goalkeeper. Donnarumma, 26, has seen his future plunged into uncertainty after failing to agree a new contract. The Italy international's current deal with PSG expires next summer and the European champions don't want to lose him for nothing. Luis Enrique's side will therefore listen to offers for Donnarumma after striking an agreement with Lille to sign Lucas Chevalier. PSG's move could spring United into action, with Ruben Amorim keen on a new goalkeeper of his own. The Red Devils are understood to be interested in Royal Antwerp's Senne Lammens, who'd provide competition for Andre Onana. Although Onana has no plans to leave Old Trafford, the Cameroonian's form has been an issue for Amorim. The United manager even took the 29-year-old out of the firing line towards the end of last season after a string of mistakes. But instead of signing an up-and-coming shot-stopper like Lammens, the vastly experienced Donnarumma could be an option after privately discussing a move to England with his Italy team-mates. French outlet L'Equipe report that as PSG prepare to welcome Chevalier, both United and rivals Manchester City have registered their interest in Donnarumma. Chelsea have also been linked with a move while Galatasaray are said to have gone a step further by making a formal approach. It'd be a surprise if City put their hat in the ring after they struck a £27m deal with Burnley to re-sign James Trafford. The topic of Donnarumma's future was bubbling under the surface as the ex-AC Milan wonderkid helped PSG finally get their hands on the Champions League in May. As recently as last month, Donnarumma confirmed that it was his priority to stay in Paris. "My priority is to stay at PSG, I don't think there will be any problems in the negotiations," Donnarumma told Sky Italia on June 9. "We're a great team." Should Manchester United bid for Gianluigi Donnarumma? Have your say in the comments section. Napoli have also been linked with Donnarumma but his agent, Enzo Raiola - cousin of the late super agent, Mino - dismissed the speculation by labelling it 'pure fantasy'. "I've an excellent relationship with Director Giovanni Manna at [Napoli], but we've never discussed Gigio," Raiola told Radio CRC via Calciomercato. "He feels good in Paris, we're at the European champion club, so we have no complaints. We are working on a renewal. I have never ruled out interest from the top Italian clubs, but there has never been a negotiation, let's see. "He is still young, I have to squeeze him for at least another 10 years. At the moment, however, it is very difficult to see Donnarumma in the Italian championship, I'm not just talking about numbers but also about the sporting project. "In Italy, beyond Inter who reached the Champions League final, there are Milan and Juventus who are struggling, they are in the process of reorganising: these factors are fundamental."


Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd transfer news: Red Devils on ‘alert' for major hijack as bombshell move made
Manchester United have already spent heavily this summer but the Red Devils' work in the transfer market looks far from finished with deals for Gianluigi Donnarumma and Idrissa Gueye Manchester United have spent heavily this summer as Ruben Amorim attempts to get the side back on track. Matheus Cunha became the Red Devils' first summer signing a few months ago. And he was very quickly followed by another big-name arrival as United chiefs finally got a £71m deal for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo over the line. But Amorim's side might not be totally finished there. A striker and a new goalkeeper are among the players that they could move for in the remainder of the window. But with three weeks to go until their Premier League opener against Arsenal, they need to get a move on. Away from incomings, a few more exits might also be on the agenda. Marcus Rashford has already completed a loan move to Barcelona, while Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho could all still leave. With all of that being said, take a look at all of the latest transfer news and rumours from Old Trafford. United on 'alert' for Donnarumma Manchester United are keeping a close eye on developments surrounding Gianluigi Donnarumma's future at PSG. Talks over a new contract for the Italian goalkeeper have come to a standstill over recent weeks, and it appears that the French giants are ready to move on. According to L'Equipe, they are in talks with Ligue 1 rivals Lille regarding a deal for Lucas Chevalier, who is seen as a replacement for Donnarumma. And that has seen a couple of Premier League sides sit up and take notice. Manchester United have a long-term interest in the former AC Milan man, while Manchester City are also eyeing him as a possible replacement for Ederson should he decide to leave the Etihad. Red Devils plot Brentford hijack Manchester United could be set to frustrate Brentford more after their protracted move for Bryan Mbeumo. According to The Sun, they are going head-to-head with the Bees for the signing of Metz teenager Idrissa Gueye. The youngster caught the eye in Ligue 2 last season, scoring five goals in 17 appearances. United see him as one for the future, while Brentford would offer him first-team football straight away. Man United have already been left annoyed by Brentford's actions this summer during their talks regarding forward Bryan Mbeumo. Amorim confirms Mbeumo plan Speaking of United's recent signing, boss Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Mbeumo is not quite ready to make his debut for the Red Devils yet. He said: 'Bryan is starting slowly. "He is not going to play in the next one. We hope to have Bryan in the last game [in the United States]. He's training now, so we'll see." Mbeumo's £71m move to Old Trafford was finally confirmed last week. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.


Edinburgh Reporter
14 hours ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Watson reaches 100 caps for Scotland
Charlotte Watson celebrated her 100th cap for Scotland with a spectacular solo goal, but the Tartan Hearts were broken by a 4-3 scoreline in the second of two hockey Test matches with France at The University of Edinburgh Playing Fields at Peffermill. The 27-year-old, who also has 34 caps for Great Britain and competed in the Paris Olympics last year, forced a turnover just outside the French D and drove for goal, leaving the defence in her slipstream. Then the player, who has recently signed to join English club side, Wimbledon, calmy picked her spot before firing in the net after 22 minutes. The home side were 3-0 down at the time and that sparked a comeback which lead to the Scots equalising at 3-3 with a deflected goal from Sarah Jamieson (Watsonians) 12 minutes later for 3-2 and the leveller arrived from Katie Birch with ten minutes remaining. That was just after the French goalkeeper, Violette Ferront, made a superb pad save, sticking out her left leg to send the ball to safety. The aggressive French side, who held the Scots 1-1 in the first test at the same venue on Saturday after losing a practice game 2-1 at Peffermill on Thursday, netted through Yohanna Lhopital after 52 minutes following a penalty corner to stun the home side in their last competitive outing before the EuroHockey Championships in Germany next month. Delfina Gaspari had opened scoring after 1min 52sec, capitalising on slackness in the Scotland defence, and Eve Verzura scored again seven minutes later with LHopital making it 3-0, chipping the ball over the advancing Scotland goalkeeper, Jessica Buchanan, after 19 minutes making it a long way back for Scotland. The narrow win is undoubtedly a boost for France who are ninth ranked in Europe, two places below the Tartan Hearts who open their EuroHockey Championship campaign against England on August 10 (9.15am) in Monchengladbach. Then they play Spain 24-hours later (2.30) and finish their qualifying pool by squaring-up to Belgium on August 13 (11.15). Chris Duncan, Scotland's head coach, has much to ponder as the clock ticks down towards the EuroHockey Championships, including lack of real penetration in the final third despite enjoying a large slice of possession, and also his side's failure to convert more penalty corner chances, only one taken in ten attempts. Watson confirmed it had taken over nine years to hit three figures for Scotland but the former Dundee Wanderers player does not see herself playing on to reach 200 caps. She started her senior international career during a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town in 2016 and progressed to being a member of the Scotland Commonwealth Games squad in 2018 in the Gold Coast in Australia. Her CV includes scoring the second and clinching goal in the final of the EuroHockey Championships, Second Division, in Glasgow in 2019 as the home side won gold. She then received a call from the Great Britain selectors and she made here first appearance during a Test match against Japan in Hiroshima before playing in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Now she is looking to help steer Scotland to a high placing in the EuroHockey Championships also in Munchengladbach. At her last appearance there she scored a memorable and game-clinching goal as Scotland edged Spain 2-1 to record one of their finest victories in recent times. Spain were ranked No 8 in the world at the time, Scotland were No 19, but Watson was sent clear by Dunfermline-raised Eve Pearson and she slid the ball low into the right-hand corner for 2-0. PICTURE: Charlotte Watson is applauded by team-mates as she is presented with her 100th cap by Chris Duncan, Scotland's head coach, before the second Test against France at The University of Edinburgh Playing Fields. Picture Nigel Duncan Like this: Like Related