Latest news with #StJames'sPalace
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Aidan O'Brien up for a fight as Group 1 superstar with ‘blistering turn of foot' smashed in betting for £1million race
AIDAN O'BRIEN is up for a scrap with John Gosden - after a massive market move suggested Delacroix is set to take on Field Of Gold. A tidal wave of money for the former means the Group 1 superstars will likely do battle in the awesome £1million Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. 1 Delacroix ran a stormer under Ryan Moore to deny William Buick on Ombudsman in a thrilling Coral-Eclipse Credit: ©Debbie Burt And sandwiched in the middle is Richard Hannon's star miler Rosallion. It looked like brilliant St James's Palace winner Field Of Gold would be in a straight head-to-head with Rosallion. But the fact Delacroix has been destroyed from as big as 25-1 into 5-1 shows 'the lads' at Coolmore fancy their chances at a mile. Delacroix won the 1m2f Coral-Eclipse on his last run, coming from nowhere under Ryan Moore to nut Ombudsman on the line. O'Brien said afterwards that Moore had told him he felt Delacroix would be a miler. And they will now test that theory - after it had looked likely he would head to the Juddmonte at York. But the money is rarely wrong with the Coolmore horses. William Hill slashed Delacroix to 5s from 16-1. Most read in Horse Racing And spokesperson Lee Phelps said: "We're two weeks away from the Sussex Stakes, and the much-anticipated clash between Field Of Gold and Delacroix could be coming sooner than we thought. "The Juddmonte had seemed their potential first head-to-head, but we've taken notable money for Aidan O'Brien's Eclipse hero to see him more than halve in price for the Sussex. "He's now a 5-1 shot from 16s, and while he still has a way to go to get to Field Of Gold at 4-7 favourite, his price collapse could suggest that Ballydoyle are seriously considering dropping him back to the mile. "We'd still expect Field Of Gold to be very hard to beat over this course and distance, but their meeting would be a tantalising prospect for racing fans." FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Aidan O'Brien up for a fight as Group 1 superstar with ‘blistering turn of foot' smashed in betting for £1million race
It could be an awesome triple threat showdown DEL BOY Aidan O'Brien up for a fight as Group 1 superstar with 'blistering turn of foot' smashed in betting for £1million race AIDAN O'BRIEN is up for a scrap with John Gosden - after a massive market move suggested Delacroix is set to take on Field Of Gold. A tidal wave of money for the former means the Group 1 superstars will likely do battle in the awesome £1million Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Advertisement 1 Delacroix ran a stormer under Ryan Moore to deny William Buick on Ombudsman in a thrilling Coral-Eclipse Credit: ©Debbie Burt And sandwiched in the middle is Richard Hannon's star miler Rosallion. It looked like brilliant St James's Palace winner Field Of Gold would be in a straight head-to-head with Rosallion. But the fact Delacroix has been destroyed from as big as 25-1 into 5-1 shows 'the lads' at Coolmore fancy their chances at a mile. Delacroix won the 1m2f Coral-Eclipse on his last run, coming from nowhere under Ryan Moore to nut Ombudsman on the line. Advertisement O'Brien said afterwards that Moore had told him he felt Delacroix would be a miler. And they will now test that theory - after it had looked likely he would head to the Juddmonte at York. But the money is rarely wrong with the Coolmore horses. William Hill slashed Delacroix to 5s from 16-1. Advertisement And spokesperson Lee Phelps said: "We're two weeks away from the Sussex Stakes, and the much-anticipated clash between Field Of Gold and Delacroix could be coming sooner than we thought. "The Juddmonte had seemed their potential first head-to-head, but we've taken notable money for Aidan O'Brien's Eclipse hero to see him more than halve in price for the Sussex. "He's now a 5-1 shot from 16s, and while he still has a way to go to get to Field Of Gold at 4-7 favourite, his price collapse could suggest that Ballydoyle are seriously considering dropping him back to the mile. "We'd still expect Field Of Gold to be very hard to beat over this course and distance, but their meeting would be a tantalising prospect for racing fans." Advertisement FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Scottish Sun
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Royal Ascot is an absolute beast and keeps getting bigger – but Charlie Appleby can't buy a winner there
TURF TALK Royal Ascot is an absolute beast and keeps getting bigger – but Charlie Appleby can't buy a winner there THE beast that is Royal Ascot just keeps on getting, erm, beastier. I don't think that's a word, but oh well. Across the board, attendances have been dipping at our biggest tracks after a post-Covid surge. But this meeting continues to buck the trend. 1 Field Of Gold has been the start of the Ascot show this week Credit: PA Crowds have been up on each of the first four days this week — no doubt thanks also to the sweltering weather. Ascot has thoroughly deserved to have its days in the sun, though. As much as I've become a dinosaur and roll my eyes at things considered 'Instagrammable', that's exactly what this meeting is . . . and people can't get enough. From the moment the gates opened punters were streaming in and queuing for 20 or 30 minutes at four designated selfie spots. The action has been good off the track, but even better on it. It's one of the great weeks of the year and people like to be a part of it. Long may that continue. The game's wealthiest owners spend millions to have runners here and the result, as ever, has been a top-class four days of racing with one day still to come. And, Jesus wept, it's been hot. So hot, in fact, the icing on the cakes in the press room was close to melting. You don't realise how tough we have it sometimes. Thanks in advance for your sympathy. There is no doubt in my mind who the star performer of the week was, and that's Field Of Gold. He won the St James's Palace by three and a half lengths and it could have been even more comprehensive had Colin Keane delayed his challenge a little longer. Those with a greater grasp of the formbook than me reckon he is the best miler since his old man Kingman 11 years ago — it's hard to argue on what he's done the last twice at the Curragh and Ascot. The galloping grey got the Johnny G show rolling, and what a difference a year makes. In 2024, Gosden was scrabbling around looking for a half decent horse, and all of a sudden he's got a stable full of them. In contrast, what a complete nightmare it's been for Godolphin's main man Charlie Appleby. His last winner at Royal Ascot was in 2022, when Naval Crown struck at 33-1, and he has now had 35 straight runners without a winner at the Royal meeting. He had lots of beaten fancies last year and this week it's been a similar tale of woe, with Notable Speech (4-1), Ruling Court (4-1), Cinderella's Dream (5-4f) and Shadow Of Light (6-4f) among those turned over at short odds. It certainly does not bode well for his two fancied runners Treanmor and Rebel's Romance today. It's three years in a row now that Appleby has got off to a fast start in the spring before spluttering to a halt in early summer. What on earth is happening? Are the horses peaking early and unable to back up? Appleby must be sick of the sight of all those top hats and tails by now. And it must hurt even more that Godolphin have had three winners this week, two trained by Gosden and one by Saeed bin Suroor. I bet Saeed is secretly over the moon — he has been starved of ammunition over the last decade having falling down the pecking order with Sheikh Mo, but he has shown repeatedly he can still get the job done on the big days. If it's the most important week of the year for trainers, it's probably more significant for the men and women in the weighing room. A couple of jocks who were in the wilderness coming here were Richard Kingscote and Kieran Shoemark, but both went home with winners under their belts. You could see the weight of the world melt off Shoemark's shoulders in particular after he guided 22-1 shot Never Let Go home in the Sandringham yesterday. Whatever you think about his ability in the saddle, the bloke has clearly suffered since losing the Gosden gig and you'd have to have a heart of stone to not wish him well going forwards. Mind you, one jockey who hardly did his reputation on these shores any good was the mercurial Frenchman Mickael Barzalona. Zarigana travelled like stink in the Coronation but he couldn't lift the hot favourite home, just a couple of weeks after losing another tight one at Epsom on popular punters' pick Calandagan. He was only appointed as the No1 jock to the Aga Khan at the start of the year but, after this latest dud, he'll surely be feeling the heat . . . and that makes two of us. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Daily Mirror
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Royal Ascot jockey talks up 28-1 shot and compares favourite to Declan Rice
Sean Levey holds a stellar book of rides for day 1 of Royal Ascot, and thinks his best chance is a mount who works like Declan Rice, with a 28-1 outsider also in with a solid shout Sean Levey believes his opening ride at Royal Ascot, Rosallion, compares to Arsenal star Declan Rice at home and has 'little to find' in order to win the Queen Anne Stakes. St James's Palace charge Rashabar is another the 37-year-old thinks could outrun his 28-1 price. Levey first tasted victory at the prestigious Royal meeting back in 2022, and last year, guided the then-three-year-old Rosallion to Group 1 glory in the St James's Palace for just his second Ascot winner. This year, he has three rides on day 1, and none are bigger than the now four-year-old son of Blue Point, who fractionally disappointed on his return when third in the Lockinge Stakes last month, but heads the Queen Anne betting at a general 5-2. Richard Hannon's colt is one that Levey regards highly, and one he feels works and performs like Gunners ace Rice, with an understated and reserved but effective temperament. "He's never been very flash like Declan Rice. I mean, we always thought he was exceptional with his mannerisms and the way he went about things, but he never caught the eye with the way he worked at home," admitted Ladbrokes ambassador Levey. "I think it's normally a sign of a smart horse. A lot of good horses are quite reserved at home. They leave their running for the race course. That kind of gives them that bit of longevity going forward. "He confirmed what we thought of him when he ran on a track for the first time, and then continued to confirm that throughout. There's no doubt he brings his best out to the races whenever he does run." Levey continued, touching on Rosallion's Queen Anne chances: "He's obviously going there with a favourite's chance, and he'd probably be my most fancied horse anyway. He's in a difficult position because, obviously, he was a dual-Group 1 winner as a three-year-old. He had a setback that left him off the track for nearly a year leading up to the Lockinge. "So, ultimately, he was having his sort of a prep run in the Lockinge, where, like he did as a three-year-old, he got beat, but at the same time, we knew he would have needed it. At the end of the day, if you look at the Lockinge, we were only beaten two lengths by what you'd argue were horses having their third run of the year. Not a lot to find, considering we have been off the track for so long." Later in the day, Levey will get a leg up on Brian Meehan's colt Rashabar, who impressed at this meeting 12 months ago when claiming the six-furlong Coventry Stakes as an 80-1 shot. He placed fourth on his last outing in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. The three-year-old has been put up in trip this campaign, and while he hasn't tasted victory since his Ascot win, some promising runs in behind quality horses over seven furlongs and a mile give Levey hope at a price of 28-1. "Well, the St James's Palace is always one of the biggest three-year-old races of the meeting. I mean, it is considered the stallion maker. It's a massive race," added Levey. "Rashabar is in a good place. He kind of missed running in the French Guineas and ended up in the Irish one, and we thought he'd come on again for that run in the Irish one. And if he does so, it obviously leaves him being quite competitive [in the Coventry]. "I think you could argue Rashabar is going to come on for his run at the Curragh. I think Ascot will definitely suit him, it being a stiff track, and we'd like to think he'll come on from his last one."
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Royal Ascot tips: ‘He can prove his class for a legendary duo' – Templegate's 11-2 day one NAP
TEMPLEGATE'S TIPS Royal Ascot tips: 'He can prove his class for a legendary duo' – Templegate's 11-2 day one NAP TEMPLEGATE tackles an absolutely sensational day one of Royal Ascot confident of leaving the bookies crying into their top hats. Back a horse by clicking their odds below - and bag yourself some of our best free bet offers. Advertisement GSTAAD (3.05 Ascot, nap) He did well to win on debut at Navan last time despite looking green right through the race. He wasn't helped by having to slalom for a gap entering the final furlong but got the job done. He will come on plenty for that run and can prove his class. ROSALLION (2.30 Ascot, nb) Impressive St James's Palace winner last season on quick ground. Ran well in the Lockinge when needing the run and will be fitter now. Proven in this grade and the one to beat. Advertisement TORITO (5.35 Ascot, treble) He hasn't run since his excellent third in this race 12 months ago and can make a winning comeback under top pilot Colin Keane. We know this trip and track suit and he should get his favoured decent ground too. He's clearly had problems but he goes well fresh and the Gosdens should have him ready to roll in what looks a wide-open contest. Templegate's Ascot verdicts 2.30 Advertisement ROSALLION can roar to victory in the Queen Anne. He was a brilliant St James's Palace winner here last year and shaped with real promise after 11 months off when third in the Lockinge last time. He needed the run and will be fitter now. Plus I can't ignore the fact he is already proven in this grade. Richard Hannon says he's in top form and is confident of a big run. Advertisement The front two from that race — Dancing Gemini and Lead Artist — can give him the most to do. Templegate's Queen Anne runner-by-runner guide I run through every runner in the awesome opener below, rating them out of five stars. One is the worst - five the best. CAIRO 1 CAIRO can go. Spends most of his time running over further with fair results at a slightly lower level. Drop in trip and hike in class a worry. CARL SPACKLER 3 CARL on marks. Makes debut for Aussie yard having been bought from America where he took a Keeneland Grade 1 on quick ground last time. Likes this trip and going should suit. Place hopes. DANCING GEMINI 4 LITTLE Gem. Proved he's a Group 1 miler this season thanks to a blistering comeback at Doncaster before a close second to Lead Artist in the Lockinge. He handled firm ground there but would ideally like it a bit slower. Leading chance again. DIEGO VELAZQUEZ 3 EZ does it. Smart dual Group winner at Leopardstown last year. Missed his return after playing up in stalls there last month. Has ability but this is a tough comeback and needs a career best. DOCKLANDS 3 DEEP Dock. Ascot specialist who was second in this last year. Trip suits on quick and he was unlucky in the Diomed at Epsom last time. Doesn't win many but could hit the frame again. LAKE FOREST 3 FOREST fire. Globetrotter who won a decent pot Down Under in Nov and showed promise over 7f in France last time when finishing well. Second in Commonwealth Cup last season and interesting for a place over this trip. LEAD ARTIST 4 TAKE the Lead. Won the Lockinge in game style and improving with every run. Proven at a mile and thriving. Solid claims if he backs that up in this hotter race. NOTABLE SPEECH 3 FREE Speech. Last year's Guineas winner ran a fair comeback in the Lockinge. Doesn't have much to find but ran poorly at this meeting last year. QUDDWAH 2 QUDD chewed. Two from three at Ascot over this trip and ground suits. Listed winner in France on comeback so needs more but track form a plus. ROSALLION 5 LION has teeth. Impressive St James's Palace winner last season on quick ground. Ran well in the Lockinge when needing the run and will be fitter now. Proven in this grade and the one to beat. 3.05 GSTAAD did well to win on debut at Navan last time despite looking green right through the race. He wasn't helped by having to slalom for a gap entering the final furlong but got the job done. Advertisement He will come on plenty for that run and can prove his class in a race. Military Code showed his liking for this track when battling to win here over 5f last time. He'll have to step up on that but could well do so upped a furlong. Postmodern was an impressive debut winner at Yarmouth when absolutely tanking along. Advertisement He is certain to build on that and has proven staying power for this trip. Warsaw is another Aidan O'Brien runner in the picture. He didn't have to hit top gear when scooting in at Navan on debut and will leave that form behind in this better company. Gavoo stepped up from his debut second to win with something in hand at Listowel earlier this month. He will be doing his best work at the end. Advertisement Power Blue was beaten in a close finish for the Group 3 Marble Hill at The Curragh last time. He could build on that and has place claims. Andab was a place behind him in what looked a good race for the grade. Christophe Soumillon is an interesting booking for Wolverhampton winner Bone Marra so check the betting. 3.40 Advertisement BELIEVING was snapped up by the 'Lads' at Ballydoyle for a whopping £3m before making a winning start in their colours at Meydan last time. She was impressive in taking that Group 1 sprint over this trip and ran some mighty races last season too. She was also a good fourth in this contest when trying to come from a mile back. Stepping up to 6f didn't suit in the Jubilee Stakes before she struck again at The Curragh in July. Advertisement A series of near misses at the highest level then followed before that Dubai breakthrough. Hopefully her stall one draw will be fine and she must go close under Ryan Moore. Defending champion Asfoora looks a big threat again although this year's preparation hasn't been quite as smooth. There has been no warm-up this year and she didn't stay 6f in an Aussie Group 1 last time. Advertisement The first-time blinkers are an interesting move but we know she's been here and done it before. Last year's second Regional warrants plenty of respect after chasing home the tip in Dubai last time. He likes quick ground and trainer Ed Bethell continues in excellent form. Night Raider is rapid and blew away the cobwebs with a solid third in a York Group 2 last month. Advertisement He went off too quick there and didn't last home over 6f. It's strange that connections have waited this long to try him over the minimum trip and he should be suited by it. He could run into the places. Starlust won the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint over this trip in November before a poor run in Hong Kong. He clearly needed the run at Haydock on comeback last month and should show his true colours here. Advertisement William Buick stays on board Mgheera after her Temple Stakes success at Haydock 24 days ago. She likes decent ground and is another with place claims if she can avoid the slow start she sometimes throws in. American Affair has a decent draw and had no luck in the Temple Stakes at Haydock when the door was slammed in his face. He's a useful handicapper who deserves a crack at this stronger company but must improve to figure. Advertisement West Acre came up short in this grade in Dubai last time after landing a couple of group races. It may have been stepping up to 6f that scuppered him and it would be no shock to see a better showing here from what could be the plum draw in stall 23. Aesterius wasn't disgraced at the Breeders' Cup and needed his comeback at York last month. It's asking a lot to win but he could run into the extra places plenty of bookies will be offering. Advertisement Tropical Storm comes from stall 19 with Colin Keane on board and is another who could run into the first half a dozen places. 4.20 FIELD OF GOLD can turn the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas form around with Ruling Court who beat him fair and square on the day. Fingers were pointed at jockey Kieran Shoemark for leaving his challenge too late on the Gosden runner. Advertisement And he did but it still took the big grey a while to hit top gear and he wasn't entirely happy going through the dip at Newmarket before being beaten half a length. He was much more at home at The Curragh last time where he took the Irish version without breaking sweat. He had the excellent Colin Keane on board that day and it's wise move to keep him in the saddle this afternoon. Ascot should be right up his street although he won't want to be too far behind turning on to the short straight – Keane knows that and can get the job done. Advertisement Although I think he'll have to settle for second place it's not a forgone conclusion that Ruling Court won't uphold the HQ form. He quickened sharply when asked by William Buick and kept rolling to the line. He should get similar ground here and Ascot's round track will play to his strengths. He can give the odds-on favourite a good race. Henri Matisse idled in front when winning the French Guineas by a neck. Advertisement That was a big personal best and there's every chance he'll improve again under Ryan Moore. He has a bit to find with the other two but is on a different level to the rest of the field. Windlord was Field Of Gold's pacemaker in Ireland and will do the same job and the other two Ballydoyle horses, who have no business running in this. Let's hope it doesn't become a messy race. Advertisement 5.00 MR HAMPSTEAD should be right at home tackling this marathon trip for the first time. He actually ran in the Derby last season but staying was always going to be his game as he showed when striking over two miles on comeback at Goodwood last month. He went back to the Sussex track for a crack at a hotter handicap where he went down to Manxman in a photo. Advertisement He runs again here too and has solid each-way claims. But David Egan's mount looks to have more staying power and this extra half-mile should be ideal. The King and Queen have a good chance with Reaching High who moved to Willie Mullins over the winter. He was beaten on the nod at Leopardstown over 1m4f on comeback last month and is another who looks all about staying. Advertisement Mullins has another big chance with Poniros who won the Triumph Hurdle before running another cracker at Punchestown last time. This is the furthest he's tackled and it could bring improvement. East India Dock is another Cheltenham winner who was brilliant when taking the Chester Cup last time. He'll stay and only the quicker ground is a slight concern. Advertisement Ascending ran well at Cork last time and is in place picture along with Comfort Zone who has good Flat form over two miles and should appreciate this test. 5.35 TORITO hasn't run since his excellent third in this race 12 months ago and can make a winning comeback under top pilot Colin Keane. We know this trip and track suit and he should get his favoured decent ground too. Advertisement He's clearly had problems but he goes well fresh and the Gosdens should have him ready to roll in what looks a wide-open contest. Ecureuil Secret got the job done very nicely over this trip at Epsom's Derby meeting and deserves this move out of handicap company. He hasn't tackled quicker ground before but has a touch of class and should handle it. Haatem moves beyond a mile for the first time and it could bring improvement. Advertisement He was placed in the Newmarket and Curragh Guineas last season so has plenty of talent. He was disappointing in France last time but this could be the making of him. Enfjaar wasn't asked too many questions when fifth in the Brigadier Gerard on comeback last month. He will be fitter for that run and showed his class over this trip when winning last year's John Smith's Cup. Advertisement He goes on any ground and has his favoured hood back on here. Liberty Lane landed Listed honours at Goodwood last time when toughing it out ahead of Meydan. There won't be a lot between them again and they both have place prospects. Military Order is the pick of the Godolphin pair but has a bit to find. Advertisement 6.10 GAVIN Cromwell rarely leaves empty handed on his British raids and his MY MATE MOZZIE can improve on last year's close-up third in this race. He left his challenge a bit late and came home with a real rattle. He has talented 5lb claimer Warren Fentiman doing the steering this time and should be right there again from effectively 4lb lower in the handicap. Advertisement French Master showed his liking for this testing trip when landing a battling win at Goodwood last time. That was all the better because he managed to get through the traffic problems that are so common at that track. A 4lb rise in the weights seems very generous and the first-time blinkers can give him a nudge too. Ryan Moore rides Charlus for Willie Mullins and they are usually a potent partnership. Advertisement He is making his Flat debut for the Irish jumps king here and could be way ahead of the handicapper. Lavender Hill Mob had plenty left in the tank when scoring over 1m4f at Newmarket last time. He went from the front and kept producing when challenged. He should appreciate this stiffer test. Caballo De Mar has become a winning machine at lower levels and beat some useful rivals over two miles at Haydock last time. Advertisement His staying power should be an asset and he can improve again despite being 33lb higher than his first success. Endless Victory has some useful form around 1m2f and it's interesting to see Charlie Appleby up him so far in distance. He's bred to stay a bit further than he's been tackling so could find improvement. Prydwen has a Group 3 win on his CV over this trip and needed the run at Haydock last time after a break. He could sneak into the places at a big price. Advertisement Templegate's tips FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
