The Joseph O’Brien-trained 12/1 chance claimed the scalp of the 4/5 favourite Henri Matisse, trained by the winning handler’s father, Aidan.

Scorthy Champ, ridden by Donegal jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, had three-quarters of a length in hand on runner-up Henri Matisse, under Ryan Moore, with British raider Seagulls Eleven (7/1) the same distance further back with Oisín Murphy in third.

First winner in Ireland for Hollie Doyle

Bradsell gave jockey Hollie Doyle her first winner in Ireland this afternoon in the Group 1 Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes.

Trained by Archie Watson in England, the four-year-old son of Tasleet led home a British-trained clean sweep with the visitors claiming the first six places.

The post Scorthy Champ and Bradsell claim Group 1s at The Curragh appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The weights are headed by last year’s winner Shark Hanlon’s Hewick with thirty-four still standing at this stage.

Entries at Weights

GALWAY Wednesday, 2nd August 2023

(6:40) 214D The Tote Galway Plate (H’cap S’chase)

(Grade 3) €159,300.00 ( 2m 6f 111y – 4yo+)

[MAX 22]

1 Hewick (167) (JJHanlon) ……………… 11,12
2 Kilcruit (160) (WPMullins) ……………. 11,05
3 Easy Game (FR) (159) (WPMullins)……………11,04
4 Fury Road (155) (GElliott) ……………. 11,00
5 Lifetime Ambition (155) (MrsJHarrington) …….. 11,00
6 Andy Dufresne (150) (GElliott) …….. 10,09
7 Final Orders (GB) (149) (GCromwell) …………… 10,08
8 Enniskerry (148) (BConnell) ………… 10,07
9 Visionarian (148) (PFahey) ………….. 10,07
10 Ciel De Neige (FR) (147) (WPMullins) ……………. 10,06
11 Foxy Jacks (147) (MFMorris) ……….. 10,06
12 Authorized Art (FR) (146) (WPMullins) ……………. 10,05
13 The Goffer (146) (GElliott) ……………. 10,05
14 Ash Tree Meadow (FR) (145) (GElliott) ………………… 10,04
15 A Wave Of The Sea (143) (JPO’Brien)…………….. 10,02
16 Gabbys Cross (143) (HdeBromhead) ……… 10,02
17 Fighter Allen (FR) (142) (WPMullins) ……………. 10,01
18 Hollow Games (142) (GElliott) ……… 10,01
19 Hurricane Georgie (141) (GElliott) … 10,00
20 Peregrine Run (141) (PFahey) ……… 10,00
21 Tullybeg (141) (GElliott) ……………….. 10,00
22 Lieutenant Command (FR) (140) (NMeade) ………………… 9,13
23 Upping The Anti (139) (HdeBromhead) ……….. 9,12
24 Born By The Sea (138) (PJGilligan)… 9,11
25 Gevrey (FR) (138) (GElliott) ……………. 9,11
26 Hereditary Rule (138) (JCMcConnell) …………. 9,11
27 Fils D’oudairies (FR) (137) (GElliott) ………………….. 9,10
28 Vina Ardanza (137) (GElliott) …………. 9,10
29 Farceur Du Large (FR) (131) (NMeade) ………………… 9,04
30 Ilikedwayurthinkin (131) (GCromwell) …………….. 9,04
31 Mars Harper (GB) (131) (GElliott) …… 9,04
32 Presentandcounting (131) (DMcCain (inGB)) ……… 9,04
33 Streets Of Doyen (131) (TGibney) ….. 9,04
34 Pakens Rock (126) (BTMurphy) ……… 8,13

The post Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle Entries appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The son of Australia made all in the 1 mile 2 furlong contest under jockey Colin Keane to give trainer Aidan O’Brien a first success in the St-Cloud contest.

Broome had a length in hand on Ebaiyra with Gold Trip third and In Swoop fourth.

Broome finished fourth in the 2019 Investec Derby at Epsom but only managed two runs last season.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained Baron Samedi, who was prominent in the early stages, faded late on.

The post Video: Broome lands Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle

Henry de Bromhead’s Honeysuckle faces five rivals in the feature race, the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.

The Rachael Blackmore-ridden unbeaten superstar will face three from the Willie Mullins stable. Triple Matheson Hurdle winner Sharjah heads Mullins’ team. The champion handler is also represented by Saint Roi and Saldier. Gordon Elliott saddles both Abacadabras and Petit Mouchoir. The latter horse won the 2017 Irish Champion Hurdle when trained by Henry de Bromhead.

Ladbroke’s Dublin Chase

Six horses line up in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase. Mullins will again have three in this race. Last year’s first and second, Chacun Pour Soi and Min, and Tornado Flyer will represent the Closutton handler.

The 2020 Arkle Novice Chase victor, Notebook, represents Henry de Bromhead in this contest. Jessica Harrington runs Sizing Pottsie and Joseph O’Brien saddles Fakir D’oudairies.

Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle

The first of Saturday’s Grade 1 races is the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle. Course winners Gaillard Du Mesnil and Stattler head Mullins’ strong team. Emmet Mullins runs another leading fancy in Cape Gentleman. Gavin Cromwell has Vanillier in the field. Mouse Morris will be represented by Gentlemansgame. Jessica Harrington’s Ashdale Bob and the Gordon Elliott-trained Fakiera are other notable runners in a field of 13.

Patrick Ward & Company Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase

Willie Mullins launches a strong challenge for the Patrick Ward & Company Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase. The champion trainer runs Energumene, Franco De Port, Unexcepted and Blackbow. Gavin Cromwell saddles Darver Star, while Henry de Bromhead runs Captain Guinness. Gordon Elliott’s Felix Desjy is another strong entry in the race.

The Matheson Handicap Chase

The Matheson Handicap Chase has a full field of 20. Epson Du Houx will be seeking a hat-trick. Emmet Mullins’ The Shunter, Aramax, trained by Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins’ pair, Pont Aven and Andalusa are likely to be some of the main players in the race.

Ladbroke’s Hurdle

Twenty two runners will line up for the Ladbrokes Hurdle. The Eddie Cawley-trained Golden Jewel was runner-up in the contest a year ago. Topping the weights is the Willie Mullins-trained Buildmeupbuttercup. Paul O’Flynn saddles West Cork Wildway. Eclair De Beaufeu is a likely strong challenger for the race, having won the Matheson Handicap Chase in 2020.  Noel Meade’s Hes A Hardy Bloke, the Gavin Cromwell-trained Gabynako, and the Charles Byrnes-trained Advanced Virgo could also be in the reckoning.

Goffs Future Stars INH Flat Race

The Goffs Future Stars INH Flat Race, won by Envoi Allen in 2019 and Appreciate It last year, will have ten runners. Gordon Elliott relies on Chemical Energy, Willie Mullins runs three. The Closutton team is Kilcruit, Whatdeawant and Ramillies. Gavin Cromwell’s Letsbeclearaboutit and the Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats are also included.

The first of a seven-race card is underway at 1.05pm. There will be TV coverage on RTÉ, ITV and Racing TV.

A free racecard for Saturday can be accessed here.

The post Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle is Dublin Racing Festival Day 1 Feature appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The Michael Winters-trained Chatham Street Lad, winner of the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Cheltenham a month ago, heads the entries. The Emmet Mullins’ Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle winner The Shunter is also aiming for the race.

Joseph O’Brien has Front View, successful in a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse last month, among the current field. The Jessica Harrington-trained Impact Factor is also among the entries and will be bidding for a third Fairyhouse win.

Gordon Elliott has six horses still in the race, including Chosen Mate, winner of the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Willie Mullins has both Fan Des Blues and Pont Aven.

Quilixios among 17 entries in Hurdle

Saturday’s card will also feature the ITM Virtual Stallion Trail Hurdle for which Gordon Elliott has entered Quilixios. He was an impressive winner at both Punchestown and Down Royal and heads a list of 17 entries.

Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse, said:

“We are delighted to have another very exciting Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase on a great day’s racing at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Impact Factor was an impressive course and distance winner in the Easyfix Handicap Chase in November. Chatham Street Lad will be bidding to follow up on his Cheltenham win for the popular Cork trainer Mick Winters.”

The going is currently heavy at Fairyhouse.

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The 2019 Investec Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck and his stablemates Armory, last year’s Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes winner Magic Wand and 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Santiago are the Aidan O’Brien-trained first acceptances for the Caulfield highlight next month.

Last year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) fourth placer Master Of Reality, is one of four first acceptors from the Joseph O’Brien stable, along with Buckhurst, Pondus and Twilight Payment.

The 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) winner True Self stands her place in the Caulfield Cup first acceptances for Ireland’s National Hunt champion trainer, Willie Mullins, but stable companion Stratum will bypass the Caulfield Cup and instead head straight to the Melbourne Cup.

There are 12 internationally-trained horses at the first acceptance stage, as the international presence has seen an increase on the past three years, with 10 raiders amongst the first acceptances in both 2019 and 2018, and seven in 2017.

The overall number of first acceptors for the 2020 Caulfield Cup, which takes place at Caulfield on Saturday, 17 October, has also risen on the figures in past years with 74 (2019), 83 (2018) and 70 (2017) having previously stood their ground.

Of the Australian-trained horses, Orderofthegarter, formerly handled by Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle, retains his place in the acceptance list having won his way into the AUD $5.15m showpiece courtesy of his victory in last Saturday’s Catanach’s Jewellers MRC Foundation Cup (2000m). The seven-year-old, who will be ridden in the Caulfield Cup by rising star Jye McNeil, will aim to give his trainer Danny O’Brien a second win in the race while his high-profile stablemates Russian Camelot and reigning Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Vow And Declare are also amongst the first acceptances.

Mirage Dancer, who finished third for the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young training partnership in 2019, will be aiming to go two better this time around whilst Chris Waller’s seven-strong team of first acceptors includes multiple Group 1-winning mare Verry Elleegant.

Second acceptances for the Caulfield Cup will close on Tuesday, 6 October 2020.

The post Entries from 3 Irish stables for Stella Artois Caulfield Cup appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The high-class contingent, which includes 16 internationally trained horses and 13 horses who will join Australian trainers upon their arrival down under, will complete two weeks quarantine before arriving in Melbourne on Friday, 2 October.

Upon arrival they will be required to undertake a further two weeks quarantine at the TAB Werribee International Horse Centre before being permitted to race from Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Day – Saturday, 17 October – onwards.

The list of horses that have entered quarantine is:
1. Anthony Van Dyck – Aidan O’Brien
2. Armory – Aidan O’Brien
3. Magic Wand – Aidan O’Brien
4. Tiger Moth – Aidan O’Brien
5. Santiago – Aidan O’Brien
6. Wichita – Aidan O’Brien
7. Buckhurst – Joseph O’Brien
8. Master of Reality – Joseph O’Brien
9. Pondus – Joseph O’Brien
10. Twilight Payment – Joseph O’Brien
11. Stratum – Willie Mullins
12. True Self – Willie Mullins
13. Ashrun – Andreas Wohler (Germany)
14. Aspetar – Roger Charlton (UK)
15. Dashing Willoughby – Andrew Balding (UK)
16. Prince of Arran – Charlie Fellowes (UK)
17. Involved – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
18. Sir Dragonet – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
19. Tinandali – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
20. Mr Satchmo – Chris Waller
21. Selino – Chris Waller
22. Almania – Kris Lees
23. Collide – Kris Lees
24. Le Don De Vie – Anthony & Sam Freedman
25. Nickajack Cave – Peter Moody
26. Port Guillaume – Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes
27. San Huberto – Matt Cumani
28. Skyward – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
29. Sound of Cannons – John O’Shea

RV General Manager – International & Racing Operations, Paul Bloodworth, said: “It’s an incredibly talented group of horses led by Anthony Van Dyck who will be the first Epsom Derby winner to compete in Australia. There’s a terrific blend of horses that will be very familiar to Australian racing fans and punters, along with some of the emerging talent that has been in great form in Europe throughout this year.

“Prince of Arran, True Self and Magic Wand were all feature winners in Victoria during last year’s Spring Racing Carnival so we’re really pleased to see them on the way back, while Twilight Payment and Master of Reality both contested last year’s Melbourne Cup, the latter of course being second past the post before being demoted to fourth on protest.

“The Lexus Melbourne Cup, Stella Artois Caulfield Cup and Ladbrokes Cox Plate are the primary targets for many of the horses that have entered pre-export quarantine, but not all are guaranteed starts so you can expect to see a number of them contesting other feature races throughout the Carnival which will add great depth and generate plenty of interest” Bloodworth added.

The post 12 Irish-trained in quarantine ahead of Australia’s Spring Racing Carnival appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The three highest weighted horses in the 143rd Caulfield Cup, to be run at Caulfield on Saturday, 17 October, are O’Brien’s star-studded Group 1-winning trio of Anthony Van Dyck (58.5kg), Japan (58.5kg) and Magical (58kg).

With the latter two only nominated for the Caulfield Cup, 2019 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck is the sole topweight for the 160th Melbourne Cup, to be run at Flemington on Tuesday, 3 November, with 58.5kg.

O’Brien’s 2019 Irish Derby winner Sovereign is among a trio of horses allotted 57kg in both races, making them the equal second highest weighted horses in the Melbourne Cup. The other two are defending Melbourne Cup champion Vow And Declare (Danny O’Brien) and Godolphin’s three-time Group 1 winner Avilius (James Cummings).

Russian Camelot (Danny O’Brien), the pre-weights Caulfield Cup favourite, has been allotted 53.5kg making him the highest weighted Northern Hemisphere three-year-old in both races alongside Aidan O’Brien’s 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Santiago.

Surprise Baby (Paul Preusker), the pre-weights Melbourne Cup favourite, has been handed 54.5kg in both races – 1kg more than the 2019 Adelaide Cup and The Bart Cummings winner carried into fifth place in last year’s Melbourne Cup.

Of the other horses highly fancied in pre-post betting for both Cups, Chris Waller’s four-time Group 1 winning mare Verry Elleegant has been allocated 55kg in each, while Team Hawkes’ revelation of the 2019-20 season, Master of Wine, has been weighted on 53.5kg.

Like her stablemates Japan and Magical, Aidan O’Brien’s globetrotting mare Magic Wand is nominated for the Caulfield Cup only. The 2019 Mackinnon Stakes winner has been handicapped on 55kg – 1.5kg more than she carried when 10th in the 2019 Melbourne Cup.

Speaking at the release of weights this morning Racing Victoria’s (RV) Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter said:

“Aidan’s O’Brien’s entries are the standouts on performances over the past 18 months and have been handicapped accordingly at the top of the weights for this year’s Stella Artois Caulfield Cup and Lexus Melbourne Cup.

“The joint Caulfield Cup topweights Anthony Van Dyck and Japan were both Group 1 winners over 2400m in 2019 and have been placed behind the world’s highest rated horse Ghaiyyath this year. Anthony Van Dyck holds the honour of sole topweight in the Melbourne Cup with Japan not nominated.”

Continuing his explanation of weight allocations, Carpenter said:

“The outstanding Magical, who is a six-time Group 1 winner and nominated for the Caulfield Cup only, has 58kg and will need to set a weight carrying record for a mare with Tranquil Star claiming that mark when winning the 1942 Caulfield Cup with 56kg.

“There’s a challenge been set for talented local mare Verry Elleegant also, who has 55kg in both Cups. Makybe Diva is the only mare to carry more than 55kg to victory in the Melbourne Cup having done so in 2004 (55.5kg) and 2005 (58kg), the latter being the last time a mare has placed in our most famous race.

“There is always great interest in what weight is given to the defending Melbourne Cup champion and this year that is Vow And Declare who rises to 57kg having won the race with 52kg last year for Australia with Craig Williams in the saddle for Danny O’Brien.

“The 5kg increase for Vow And Declare represents a 1.5kg increase in his weight-for-age benchmark moving to five years of age and a 3.5kg penalty for his 2019 win. That’s the same penalty that was afforded to Cross Counter, Prince of Penzance, Green Moon, Dunaden and Americain for their title defences over the past decade.

The weights allocated to other notable entries are as follows:

Dual Melbourne Cup placed horse, English stayer Prince Of Arran (Charlie Fellowes), has been allocated 54.5kg – 0.5kg more than he carried when promoted to second in the 2019 edition and 1.5kg more than his third placing in 2018.

Master of Reality, who was second across the line in the 2019 Melbourne Cup before being demoted to fourth on protest, rises 0.5kg this year to 56kg – the same weight the Joseph O’Brien trained stayer has in the Caulfield Cup.

In addition to Master of Reality, Australian owner Lloyd Williams has the Joseph O’Brien-trained pair Twilight Payment (55.5kg), Buckhurst (55kg) as well as Adelaide Cup winner King of Leogrance (53.5kg) prominent in the weights in his pursuit of a seventh Melbourne Cup and second Caulfield Cup.

The Willie Mullins-trained duo of recent Lonsdale Cup runner-up Stratum and last year’s VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner True Self have been handicapped on 55kg and 52kg respectively.

Germany’s sole entrant Ashrun has been assigned 53kg in both races for the 2014 Melbourne Cup-winning combination of trainer Andreas Wohler and syndicators Australian Bloodstock.

Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds have won two of the last three Melbourne Cups. Young French stayer Port Guillaume (Jean-Claude Rouget), touted as a key contender should he make the trip, has been weighted on 52.5kg.

The post Irish horses given top weight for both Caulfield and Melbourne Cups appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The Ballydoyle brigade for the weight-for-age championship of Australasia are Armory, Circus Maximus, Ennistymon, Japan, Magic Wand, Magical, Mogul, Mythical, Order Of Australia, Peaceful, Tiger Moth, and Vatican City.

Joseph O’Brien has three acceptors for the race with Buckhurst, Degraves and Patrick Sarsfield, while champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins has one acceptor in True Self.

Today’s 109 acceptances includes 37 Group 1 winners, represents the second highest number of first acceptors in the past decade with the lion’s share of a AUD $5 million purse and a one-off gold Cox Plate trophy on offer for the winner at The Valley on Saturday, 24 October 2020.

Nominal Cox Plate favourites Russian Camelot (entered in next Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes) and Verry Elleegant (Group 1 Winx Stakes winner at Randwick) feature among the acceptances, as does the former Aidan O’Brien-trained Sir Dragonet who arrives in Australia on 2 October to join the Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace stable.

Other notable first stage acceptors include Melbourne Cup hero Vow And Declare (an intended runner in the Group 1 Makybe Diva next Saturday), Arcadia Queen, Behemoth (winner of the recent Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield), Surprise Baby and last weekend’s Feehan Stakes winner Humidor who is guaranteed a shot at a third Cox Plate placing.

A total of 22 Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds feature among the first acceptors including Alcyone, Farnan, Flying Award, King’s Legacy, North Pacific and Tagaloa.

Second acceptances for the Cox Plate will be taken on Tuesday, 22 September 2020.

The post 16 Irish horses in 100th Cox Plate after first acceptance stage appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

O’Brien Senior, the 2014 Cox Plate-winning trainer, has entered 13 horses including 2019 contender Magic Wand and stable stars Japan and Magical. The Ballydoyle handler’s other nominations are Armory, Circus Maximus, Ennistymon, Mogul, Mythical, Order Of Australia, Peaceful, Sir Dragonet, Tiger Moth and Vatican City.

Joseph O’Brien has entered eight horses: Bolleville, Buckhurst, Crossfirehurricane, Degraves, Master Of Reality, Patrick Sarsfield, Pondus and Twilight Payment, while his younger brother has one horse nominated for the Ladbrokes-sponsored race, Prix de Diane winner Fancy Blue. There will be many Melbourne Cup Betting Offers and one to look out for maybe will be an O’Brien to train the winner.

The impressive list of 182 entries in total for Australia’s weight-for-age championship includes nominations from each state in Australia, New Zealand, France and England. Included within the entry list are 51 Group 1 winners, 42 Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds and 14 Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds.

Headlining the Australian contingent is Danny O’Brien’s Lexus Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare and his stablemate Russian Camelot, who was ridden by Cork-born jockey Johnny Allen to win the South Australian Derby in May, Queensland hero Alligator Blood and the inaugural two winners of The All-Star Mile, Mystic Journey and Regal Power.

With Russian Camelot and Nassau Stakes winner Fancy Blue among the 14 Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds on the entry list are 2020 Group 1 winners Kameko (Qipco 2000 Guineas) and Peaceful (Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas).

Eight horses that contested the 2019 Cox Plate are entered for the 2020 edition – Magic Wand (4th), Mystic Journey (5th), Kings Will Dream (6th), Harlem (8th), former Aidan O’Brien-trained horses Cape of Good Hope (10th) and Homesman (11th), Verry Elleegant (12th) and Danceteria (14th).

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