Toronado heads ten for Royal Ascot opener

TORONADO, narrowly denied at last year’s Royal Ascot, heads a field of ten for the opening race of this year’s five-day extravaganza, Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes.

Stablemate Olympic Glory failed to feature among the final declarations revealed on Sunday, although trainer Richard Hannon will still be doubly represented courtesy of Producer.

Lockinge Stakes second and third, Tullius and Verrazano, were both declared, along with South African-raider Soft Falling Rain.

France will also be represented courtesy of Anodin, with Ansgar, Glory Awaits, Mull Of Killough and Side Glance completing the field.

 

Richard Hannon jnr: has a hard act to follow in today’s Cathedral Stakes

 PICTURE: Martin Lynch (racingpost.com/photos)

Professor gunning for repeat Cathedral success

RICHARD HANNON has a hard act to follow in today’s Listed EBF Stallions Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury as his father won it three years on the spin, most recently with Professor, who bids to repeat his win from 12 months ago.

 RELATED LINKS: Card ,  Free bets ,  Race In Focus,  Ten Second Tip

The mount of Richard Hughes, Professor is joined by stablemate Indignant in an eight-strong line-up in which the top-rated runner is last year’s Ayr Gold Cup hero Highland Colori, although trainer Andrew Balding warned he is not a certain runner if the ground continues to dry out.

“Professor won the race last season and has run two promising races this season,” said Hannon. “He’s in the Wokingham but that race is always a lottery, what with the draw and ground, so we thought we’d come here again and see what happens.

“Indignant is a decent filly too. She’ll come on for her comeback race last month and showed last year the drier ground suits her.”

Professor stopped the rot for favourites when scoring at odds of 5-6 last year but before that you had to go back to 2004 to find a winning market leader.

After a dry night the going at Salisbury is good to firm, firm in places, a description that is likely to bring a smile to the face of trainer Rae Guest, who runs Minalisa.

He said: “I hope they don’t get any rain as she wants fast ground. She wasn’t beaten far on her return at Windsor last time and I think she has a big chance.”

Today’s pointer

Eight out of the last ten winners of the 5f Westover Group Handicap (2.15pm) at Salisbury were aged five or above and rated in the 80s – Cruise Tothelimit fits the bill nicely today.

Courtesy of Raceform Interactive

Today’s going

Cork Round track good; Sprint track good to yielding
Doncaster Good
Downpatrick Good to firm (watering)
Salisbury Good to firm, firm in places

 

Nicholas Jones has resigned from his role as independent director

Unhappy Jones stands down as BHA director

THE BHA has been rocked by the sudden resignation of prominent owner-breeder Nicholas Jones from his role as an independent director.

Jones confirmed he had quit when contacted by the Racing Post on Saturday, but was not prepared to reveal the reason behind his decision. However, it is understood he was unhappy with the way the sport’s governing body is being run.

Jones brought a wealth of racing and financial experience to the BHA board when appointed in April 2011, at the same time as trainer Mark Johnston, and was among the leading candidates to take over as chairman when Paul Roy stepped down. That post, however, went to Steve Harman, who has been in office since last July.

 

Shamkala: unbeaten in three starts and won a Group 3 last time

Shamkala heads betting for red-hot French Oaks

Preview: France, Sunday

Chantilly: Prix de Diane Longines (Group 1) 1m2½f, 3yo fillies, 2.45pm BST, ATR/RUK

THREE fillies have dominated the build up to the French Oaks, with the Aga Khan’s Prix Cleopatre winner Shamkala the 13-8 favourite over Avenir Certain and Miss France, both 4-1 shots and winners of the French and English 1,000 Guineas.

RELATED LINKS:  Prix de Diane card 

The soft going description has forced Andre Fabre to dismiss fears over the state of the ground for Miss France, who beat the best of Britain and Ireland at Newmarket on good to firm. Fabre believes Miss France will stay the extra two and a half furlongs as she seeks to go one better than her dam Miss Tahiti, who was second to Bryan Smart’s Sil Sila in the race 18 years ago.

“The ground will be perfect and although there are some light showers forecast it won’t change,” he said. “I’m happy, she worked well and she looks okay, but it seems a good field. I have had a virus in the yard since March and that is another concern, but my most recent runners have been alright.”

Avenir Certain was very impressive in running away from her field in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and also holds reasonable claims – on pedigree and temperament – that she can handle the step up in trip.

All going appears to come alike to her but there remains a slight suspicion that her superiority at Longchamp may have been exaggerated, both by the soft surface and the rough passage endured by others.

Sylvain Vidal, racing manager to co-owner Gerard Augustin-Normand, said: “Everything has gone very well. She won her first race on good ground and has since won on the all-weather and on heavy so I have no worries on that score. She is a very calm filly so she has every chance of staying.”

Yet Shamkala heads the betting over both. She represents the winning formula for this race, with the Aga Khan seeking to add to his seven triumphs, all but one of whom were trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre. She was unextended when scoring in the Group 3 Prix Cleopatre, though arguably she has yet to face top-notch opposition.

“She doesn’t show us a lot at home but we haven’t had any major problems with her preparation,” said Royer-Dupre. “It’s a strong-looking field. She has done everything asked of her in her races but without being flashy, so it’s hard to be certain how good she is.”

 

The Great War (right): will skip Tuesday’s Coventry Stakes

 PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

O’Brien confirms Ascot targets for top juveniles

AIDAN O’BRIEN has revealed to the Racing Post that War Envoy will fly the Ballydoyle flag in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, with ante-post favourite The Great War being lined up to contest the Norfolk Stakes on Thursday instead.

RELATED LINKS: Coventry Stakes card ,  Norfolk Stakes card 

War Envoy was heavily supported on Saturday, his odds tumbling from as big as 14-1 into a general 5-1 for a race his trainer has won seven times already.

The colt was third behind Kool Kompany and Toscanini in a Listed race at Naas earlier this month, but the market believes he will reverse the form in Berkshire.

The Great War has justified odds of 30-100 and 1-9 and is sure to be well fancied to make it a hat-trick on Thursday.

O’Brien said: “The Great War, who has won both his starts, is being aimed at the Norfolk Stakes, and War Envoy will run in the Coventry.”

 

fonte: RacingPost