UK flat season.

I am aware that many of our posters are wishing for the jumps to finish and flat racing would return, dont panic its on the way.

Demand the driver as Ladbrokes insert Abbey


LADBROKES on Tuesday cited "supply and demand" as the reason for their introduction of St Nicholas Abbey as 2-1 favourite in their betting on the 2,000 Guineas.

Ladbrokes had been the only firm not to list the unbeaten Racing Post Trophy winner's price in their 2,000 Guineas market, although they pointed out that he had always been available for punters who requested him.

Spokesmen for the firm had consistently taken the line that they consider St Nicholas Abbey more of an Investec Derby contender, but claims of a surge in punter interest for the Guineas has led to the firm listing him in their market for the StanJames.com-sponsored Classic on May 1.

Stan James go 7-2 about him for the Guineas, while Boylesports on Monday cut him to 5-2 (from 3).

Boylesports' spokesman Leon Blanche said: "He was very impressive in the Racing Post Trophy and all the Classics are open to him.

"He has shown a lot of speed, so Newmarket should not be a problem, and there has been a few quid about for him today, hence our price cut."

St Nicholas Abbey's Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate Jan Vermeer was also a market mover on Monday, being cut to 10-1 (from 12) for the Derby, while Richard's Kid was introducedinto the Dubai World Cup market at 16-1 by William Hill.

On the jumps front, Takeroc was the notable market mover for Saturday's Totesport Trophy, with Coral and Paddy Power going 10-1 (from 14), and Victor Chandler 12-1 (also from 14).

The principal Cheltenham Festival interest centred on Tom Segal's selection for the RSA Chase, Uimhiraceathair.

Boylesports went 20-1 (from 25), while Coral went the same price (from 33). Ladbrokes cut him to 25-1 (from 33).

Super Kenny, who could make his British debut at Huntingdon on Thursday for Nicky Henderson, was cut to 20-1 (from 33) for the JCB Triumph Hurdle by Hills and Paddy Power.

If i have to do my money id rather do it in a minute or two,rather than wait until i fall at the last in a 3 mile chase..lol

This is for you Hibby:

Goldikova set for return visit to Prix d'Ispahan

France: Dual Breeders' Cup Mile winner Goldikova is set to start her season in 2010 the same she did in 2009 - by running in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp in May.

Trainer Freddie Head outlined the plan on Sunday, when the five-year-old was named last year's champion older horse at a ceremony at Auteuil.

Head will surely be hoping for a better performance this time around, as Goldikova could finish only seventh of nine behind Never On Sunday in last year's d'Ispahan before racking up four Group 1 victories later in the season.

"She has been back with me for a few weeks and is in great form," said Head.

"I think I will have to start her in the Prix d'Ispahan as she must have a run before the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot but all will depend on the ground."

Criquette Head confirmed plans for Special Duty, who was named France's champion two-year-old.

"So far so good," said Head. "The intention is to run her in the Prix Imprudence before sending her to Newmarket for the 1,000 Guineas." The Aga Khan's Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Siyouni, runner-up to Special Duty in the Robert Papin, has been marked down for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) rather than a trip to Newmarket.

Last year's champion three-year-old filly Stacelita stays in training for Jean-Claude Rouget, who will race her at trips short of 1m4f.

However, the identity of France's horse of the year was the same as that of Britain and Ireland - namely Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sea The Stars.

As for the jumps awards, RSA Chase favourite Long Run was considered the best four-year-old chaser in France during 2009, while Rock Noir -set to run in the Vincent O'BrienCounty Hurdle - was named top hurdler in the same category.

It must have been a tight decision between champion hurdler Questarabad and champion chaser Remember Rose (champion chaser) for jumps horse of the year as both had fine records for this distinction.

In the end Questarabad took the title, despite Remember Rose's winning both the Grand Steeple-chase de Paris and Prix La Haye Jousselin.

Oxx - how do you follow Sea The Stars?

France: John Oxx has spoken of the difficulty he faces attempting to replace last year's all-conquering duo Sea The Stars and Mick Kinane.

Oxx was speaking at an awards ceremony at Auteuil on Sunday at which the Prix de l'Arc de Triopmhe winner was named France's horse of the year.

Oxx had flown in to attend the event, which was sponsored by French racing publication Courses et Elevage.

"I would like to thank everyone for this very kind reward on behalf of the Tsuis," said Oxx.

"We feel very privileged and fortunate that this great horse just turned up," he added.

"It was always the objective to end up running in the Arc de Triomphe because it is a race very dear to both the Tsuis and my heart.

"It was something for him to follow in the footsteps of Urban Sea and he is just as much a French horse as he is Irish because the Tsuis started everything in France.

"Sea The Stars was a very special horse and you only get one like him every 20 years. I would put him in the same category as Sea Bird, Dancing Brave and Mill Reef.

"I have had some good horses in the past but nothing like him but we have to look to the future.

"It is going to be a big change this year with no Sea The Stars or Mick Kinane. It was wonderful for the pair of them to end their careers in such glory and very well deserved."

Can`t wait,although it also means i have to work later during the summer,but the drive home is far better in the evening..

Are you having a Summer this year? thought it was just a long long winter -

It`s always a long summer for betting shop staff!!

O'Brien outlines his Guineas battalions

LAST season's champion two-year old St Nicholas Abbey will head a possible four-pronged attack as Aidan O'Brien bids to land a sixthStanJames.com 2,000 Guineas next month.

The impressive Racing Post Trophy winner could be joined by Viscount Nelson, Fencing Master and Beethoven in the season's first Classic.

Quoted on his website, O'Brien listed the colts as his most likely runners, before suggesting an alternative Classic plan for Steinbeck, who was ruled out of the Newmarket Guineas last month.

"It is unfortunate that Steinbeck is going to miss the StanJames.com 2,000 Guineas as he has done really well and we are very excited about him. Hopefully, he will re-start in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday, May 22 at the Curragh," said the Ballydoyle trainer.

O'Brien also nominated recent Leopardstown flops You'll Be Mine and Famous as his most likely runners in the StanJames.com 1,000 Guineas, along with Devoted To You, who was second at the Curragh on her reappearance.

If St Nicholas Abbey has trained on he will perhaps be the nearest thing to a Sea The Stars in 2010. Looked the real deal last year but time will tell.

Moore welcomes rivalry for jockey championship


CHAMPION jockey Ryan Moore believes that the competition for his crown this season from Kieren Fallon, Frankie Dettori and Paul Hanagan is "good for racing".

Three-time champion Moore sits second in the jockeys table after the opening weeks of the season behind Paul Hanagan, who added a further two winners to his haul at Pontefract on Tuesday.

But Moore, who also landed a double himself at Yarmouth, welcomed the competition although he has no intention of changing his methods in light of the challenge.

"It's good for racing," Moore told At The Races on Tuesday. "But I can only go and do my own thing and I won't be doing anything differently, I'll still be riding for the same people.

"I'llbe doing the best I can on my rides and hope I have a good year that way and have a few good winners through the season."

Moore will be in action at the Craven meeting at Newmarket on Wednesday and Thursday where his rides include Safina in the Leslie Harrison Memorial Nell Gwyn and Elusive Pimpernel in the Racing Post breezeupbonus.com Craven.

Moore is hoping that Safina can make up into a StanJames.com 1,000 Guineas contender and added: "She's been working nicely and looks quite well.

"The fillies have had a hard winter but sheseems quite forward. We hope she's going to be up to his level and maybe the Guineas because it's such an important race."

Newmarket good, good to firm after watering

THE Craven meeting at Newmarket is likely to begin on good, good to firm ground after officials watered the course on Tuesday to counteract the drying weather conditions.

The Rowley Mile has experienced a mixture of sunshine and strong winds over the last couple of days and the forecast is for much of the same, with temperatures between 12-14C for the duration of the two-day meeting.

Clerk of the course Michael Prosser said on Tuesday: “We’ve watered the whole course and, after applying 6mm today, we’ve got a GoingStick reading of 8.4."



Although wind speeds are expected to decrease slightly, riding tactics could still take on greater significance on a straight track.

Prosser added: “We’ve had 14 mph winds today, but they are expected to drop to between 9-10 mph tomorrow. The wind is coming from the north-east, across and behind the runners, so should provide some assistance.”

Rumoush upsets Oaks favourite in Feilden

Report: Newmarket, Wednesday

Blue Square Feilden Stakes (Listed Race) 1m1f

RUMOUSH maintained her unbeaten record, quickening nicely to land the Feilden Stakes by two-and-a-half lengths at 7-2 from 40-1 shot Fighter Boy, with Marie De Medici in third at 8-1.

Investec Oaks ante-post favourite Timepiece, who was sent off the 2-1 favourite, could only manage fourth.

The generous early pace was cut out by the Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum second-string Mufarrh and Stags Leap, who both faded tamely.

However the eventual third, Marie De Medici, was always prominent and surged to a two length lead under Frankie Dettori just after the two furlong pole and had every chance.

Tom Queally held the favouritein midfield, and moved into the race when Frankie Dettori took up the running. Queally never looked to be travelling with the authority his market position suggested, looking one-paced.

Queally was stalked by Richard Hills on the eventual winner, who quickened past the field having been held up early. Fighter Boy was held up in last and was the first off the bridle, but he ran on gamely, making eye-catching headway to grab second on the line.

Rumoush, a half-sister to impressive rowley mile performers Ghanaati and Mawatheeq, delighted connections.

Speaking after the race, Marcus Tregoning said: "I'm delighted with her. She gone from a Lingfield maiden to a proper trial. She's done nothing but improve and is a nice filly and she was a bit green in front.

"Mawatheeq is by Danzig and gets a mile and a half so hopefully the [Oaks] trip won't be a problem. I love York and the track would suit her down to the ground. I'll have to speak to Sheikh Hamdan before making any decisions."