British Horseracing Authority News Headlines

Banner stars in Sprint field

Aidan O'Brien's Starspangledbanner features among a final field of 16 runners in Saturday's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.

The ex-Australian speedball has already scored twice in Group One company on British soil, winning the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot as well as Newmarket's July Cup. He will be bidding to bounce back to winning form on Merseyside having had to make do with the runner-up spot behind 100-1 shot Sole Power in last month's Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Colm O'Donoghue takes the mount as stable jockey Johnny Murtagh is riding at Leopardstown.

A number of other horses beaten on the Knavesmire are in opposition again, with Nunthorpe fourth Prime Defender, the sixth home Borderlescott and the ninth-placed Kingsgate Native all in attendance. The David Nicholls-trained Regal Parade won this contest 12 months ago and could hardly be in better form as he bids to defend his crown following Group One success in France.

Other interesting contenders include Markab, Doncaster Rover and Mark Johnston's filly Rainfall. The Barry Hills-trained Equiano is a notable absentee.

Hills' son and assistant Charlie said: "We weren't completely happy with Equiano when he did a breeze on Wednesday, so we just decided not to run him. We just want to give him a bit more time really. He didn't run great at York either so we'll give him time and maybe look at the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp."

Of the stable's representative, Hills added: "Prime Defender ran a great race at York over a trip that isn't ideal for him. The extra furlong on Saturday will definitely help him and he's won at Haydock a couple of times before, so hopefully he'll run well."

Rip leads Champion six

Rip Van Winkle heads Aidan O'Brien's three-strong team as the Ballydoyle trainer seeks a sixth success in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Stable jockey Johnny Murtagh takes the ride on last month's Juddmonte International Stakes winner, who faces five rivals in the mile-and-a-quarter feature.

Seamus Heffernan will partner Irish Derby hero Cape Blanco while O'Brien's son Joseph will be aboard Beethoven. The trainer withdrew his other entries Fame And Glory and Black Quartz at the final declaration stage.

Owner Prince Khalid Abdullah will be double-handed with Dermot Weld's Famous Name and Twice Over. The last-named, trained by Henry Cecil, was runner-up to Rip Van Winkle at York having previously landed the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Completing the sextet is Mark Johnston's Sea Lord, who was supplemented for 75,000 euros at Monday's confirmation stage. The Godolphin-owned Cavalryman, who has an alternative date in Germany, and the Clive Cox-trained Poet, were the other absentees.

British trio seek Matron honours

British raiders Music Show, Spacious and Jacqueline Quest feature among seven runners in Saturday's Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

Mick Channon's Music Show arrives in great form having won the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket before finishing second to Goldikova in the Prix Rothschild.

The James Fanshawe-trained Spacious was second to Music Show in the Falmouth and is still seeking an elusive first Group One triumph, while Henry Cecil's Jacqueline Quest needs to bounce back after disappointing in a Goodwood Group Three.

The pick of the home quartet is Dermot Weld's Bethrah, who is making her first racecourse appearance since winning the Irish 1000 Guineas in May.

Aidan O'Brien runs Falmouth fifth Lillie Langtry, while Hen Night and Gile Na Greine complete the line-up.

Fanshawe reports Spacious to be in tip-top shape ahead of the race and told At The Races: "She ran really well at Newmarket and obviously Music Show produced the run of her life.

"She won nicely there, but Spacious has turned the form on some of the other fillies she's been racing against and ran a hell of a race. They have had far less rain in Ireland than we have had here. It's going to be good to firm ground there, that's the impression I get.

"It's not just Music Show. There are plenty of other good fillies in the field, if Lillie Langtry produced her Coronation Stakes form and there's the Irish Guineas winner (Bethrah). I'm very happy with Spacious. She doesn't mind good to firm, she's got a lovely action.

"Kieren (Fallon) rode her work last week and was very pleased with her. He's keen to ride her and Luca (Cumani) has given the green light. Johnny (Murtagh) has ridden her lots of times but he's on Lillie Langtry. Kieren rode her in the Falmouth and got on well with her."

Moore out of luck on return

Ryan Moore finished fourth on his return to the saddle in division two of the European Breeders' Fund Quidhampton Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Salisbury.

The champion jockey has been sidelined with injury for more than three weeks and now trails Paul Hanagan by more than 30 in the title race.

After unsaddling Sir Michael Stoute's debutante Caraboss, Moore said: "It's good to be back. You are always going to get injuries. The end of the season is two months away and anything can happen."

The event went to 33-1 shot, Brian Meehan's Shim Sham, who made all the running under an enterprising Martin Dwyer to finish three-quarters of a length in front of even-money favourite Khawlah.

Meehan said: "The ground was too soft for her on her first run at Newbury (unplaced) and she needed to get it out of her system. I think she's a stakes filly and it's great to have my first winner for (owner) Bjorn Nielsen."

Bassett bids for Donny glory

Exciting juvenile Wootton Bassett remains on course to put his unbeaten record on the line in the Weatherbys Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster next week.

Following wins at Ayr and Doncaster, Richard Fahey's youngster turned in a hugely impressive performance when landing the DBS Premier Yearling Stakes at York's Ebor Festival. Fahey thinks his charge may even have improved again since and is excited about the future.

"We're very happy with him and he'll probably going to Doncaster next week for the sales race," said the handler.

"He seems to be improving all the time and I think the York race did him a bit of good as it's the first proper race he's had. He's a very decent horse."

Looking towards his three-year-old career, Fahey is unsure whether the colt could develop into a realistic Classic contender due to the pace he possesses.

"It's very difficult to say what his best trip will be as he's got a lot of natural speed," the Malton trainer continued.

"I did put him in the Irish Guineas the other day as he did finish the race off really well over six furlongs at York, but he is a very quick horse, so we'll see."

Blue to bypass Melbourne tilt

Illustrious Blue is highly unlikely to take up his engagement in the Melbourne Cup in November with connections favouring the shorter trip to France.

The Goodwood Cup winner was far from disgraced when finishing fifth in last month's Lonsdale Cup at York and while trainer William Knight had been eyeing a possible trip Down Under, October's Prix du Cadran is now his preferred target.

"They didn't go quick at York and had they gone that stronger pace, it would have set itself up nicely for him. I wasn't disappointed at all with that run and he has come out of the race well, but I think it's pretty much certain that he isn't going to go to the Melbourne Cup," Knight told At The Races.

"We're going to train him for the Prix du Cadran and then put him away for the year. There have been people trying to buy the horse and he's had a long season.

"It's a long way out to Melbourne and obviously it's a chance of a lifetime, but this horse owes me nothing and I'd never forgive myself if something happened to him going down there or in the race.

"He's been on the go since February and was out in Dubai, so one would wonder whether the horse would carry his form all the way through to November.

"It's the safe bet not to go and we'd like to have a go at a Group One this year. The Prix du Cadran is two and a half miles on a right-handed track and should suit him down to the ground."

Lemaire keen on Siyouni chance

Christophe Lemaire expects Siyouni to put up a bold show in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday.

The French-based jockey is looking forward to getting back in the Group One groove after returning from injury earlier this week, and he teams up in the one-mile feature with Alain de Royer-Dupre's Pivotal colt, who was runner-up to Dick Turpin in the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly two months ago.

"I worked the horse last Tuesday and he seems to be in excellent condition. He had some rest this summer and he goes to the Moulin with a lot of ambition. The field will be very strong but I'm sure he has a very good chance to finish in the first three," Lemaire told At The Races.

"He likes this autumn season. Last year he won the Group One (Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere) on the Arc weekend and I'm sure this autumn he will be in excellent shape to win a big race."

Light campaign in store for Fly

Willie Mullins is keeping his fingers crossed that this will be the season star hurdler Hurricane Fly finally gets his trip to the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old has won six of his eight starts since joining the trainer in 2008 - but injury has meant he has missed out on a trip to Prestbury Park for the last two campaigns.

He looked as good as ever when making a winning return to action at Punchestown in April and Mullins told At The Races: "Paul (Townend) produced him nicely at Punchestown, I thought he was beaten 50 yards from the line but the horse put his head down and said he wasn't going to be beaten."

Mullins went on: "I love a horse like that with plenty of guts and he has ability as well, so hopefully we can keep him right for Cheltenham this year. Our main aim will be to get him towards Cheltenham as he's missed the boat the last two years.

"I don't think a heavy schedule is any good to him and I haven't sat down and thought about where he'd start yet. I'd imagine the race at Punchestown he ran in last November might be an idea."

Another Mullins inmate who could be Champion Hurdle-bound is Blackstairmountain, who won the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown last term.

"He's in great shape and I'll try and get him going sooner because he's not a real heavy ground, winter horse," Mullins added.

"He improved all last season and I think he'll improve again - he'll have to if he's going to go to Cheltenham."

Que team aiming for Festival treble

Willie Mullins is eyeing a David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle hat-trick with Quevega ahead of the new National Hunt campaign.

The six-year-old landed the Grade Two contest in devastating fashion once again last season before beating the boys over three miles at Punchestown. There have been plenty of calls for her to test her mettle in the Champion Hurdle or World Hurdle at Cheltenham next year, but Mullins remains keen on keeping her against her own sex.

"She's just been in a couple of days and has done well from her summer break. If all goes well and she gets back to Cheltenham, you'd have to think at this stage of the year she'd be aiming for the mares' race," the trainer told At The Races.

"It's so far away but we'd definitely be aiming for Cheltenham and I don't think she'll have too many runs before that. We'll see how she takes her training."

Mullins also had news on Golden Silver, who rounded off last season with a superb Grade One victory at Punchestown.

"He really came to himself last year and improved and I think he's improving again," Mullins continued.

"He's in tremendous form coming in off grass this year. Paul (Townend) gets on well with him and he loves the soft ground.

"Hopefully if he improves again we'll get back to Cheltenham with him, but I just wonder if he'll be better in the Ryanair Chase on better ground."

Mikael on comeback trail

Mikael D'Haguenet is reported to be in good shape as he builds towards his first official racecourse outing since May 2009.

The highly-regarded six-year-old missed the whole of the last campaign due to injury, but did come close to a comeback having schooled after racing at Leopardstown in January.

Trainer Willie Mullins has been pleased with his charge since returning from a summer break and told At The Races: "He's good and in pre-training now. He's good and strong and doesn't seem to have any problems yet. Fingers crossed he stays right and he'll go novice chasing."

Stable companion Fiveforthree, a dual Grade One winner, has been off the track for almost exactly the same time, but he too should return this season.

"He's back training and he's another we're keeping our fingers crossed with," Mullins admitted.

"He's back riding and will probably make a late start to the season, but we'll try to go novice chasing with him if we've got enough time."