UK flat season.

Musidora winner Aviate soars to Oaks favouritism

AVIATE on Thursday usurped Rumoush as favourite for the Investec Oaks at Epsom on June 4, after being cut by Victor Chandler and William Hill to 9-2 (from 5).

Most firms have the pair as joint favourites, but while Bet365 and Paddy Power favour Rumoush, Hills, Coral and Stan James all have Aviate as market leader.


Akdarena, Ceilidh House and Gertrude Bell were other market movers for the Oaks, while St Nicholas Abbey shortened to 7-4 favourite (from 2) with Ladbrokes for the Investec Derby on June 5.

Another Epsom favourite to shorten up was Fame And Glory, whom Paddy Power make 6-4 (from 7-4) for the Investec Coronation Cup on June 4. Youmzain was also cut for the race, to 7-1 (from 10) by Paddy Power.

Showcasing was once again a mover for the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot on June 19, being cut to 6-1 favourite (from by Hills.

Sajjhaa halved in price for Investec Oaks

SAJJHAA was halved in price on Saturday for the Investec Oaks after the once-raced Michael Jarvis-trained filly remained among the 17 possibles for Friday's Classic at the five-day stage.


The recent Sandown maiden winner is 7 (from 14) with Victor Chandler for Epsom, 8 (from 12) with Ladbrokes and the same price (from 16) with Paddy Power and William Hill.


Continuing confusion over Aidan O'Brien's running plans for Saturday's Investec Derby did not stop punters latching on to a couple of his possibles. Jan Vermeer was trimmed to 5-2f (from 11-4) by William Hill while the same firm also saw support for stablemate Midas Touch in the race and go 8 (from 9).

The big mover in the Derby market though was the Henry Cecil-trained Bullet Train. The winner of Lingfield's Derby Trial was cut to 6 (from 10) byWilliam Hill, 8 (from 9) by Victor Chandler and Paddy Power and the same price (from 10) by Ladbrokes.

The O'Brien-trained Fame And Glory hardened at the head of the market for Friday's Coronation Cup after just 11 were left in the race at the five-day stage. Last season's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory is 5-4 (from 6-4).

Haydockwinners Main Aim and High Standing were cut for the Golden Jubilee Stakes. Main Aim is 10 (from 16) with Victor Chandler and 12 (from 16) withPaddy Power, while High Standing is 14 (from 16) with Paddy Power.

Vermeer replaces Abbey as favourite for Derby

JOHNNY MURTAGH is to delay a decision on his Investec Derby mount after St Nicholas Abbey failed to sparkle on the Ballydoyle gallops on Friday morning - and punters reacted to the news by backing stablemate Jan Vermeer into favouritism for next week's Epsom Classic.

William Hill report plenty of interest in Jan Vermeer and now make Sunday's impressive Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes winner their 11-4 favourite with St Nicholas Abbey out to 3-1 (from 7-4).

The firm's spokeswoman Kate Miller said: "The punters have forced our hand with Jan Vermeer this morning and no amount of manoeuvring has stemmed the tide of money for him. Punters, it seems, have forgotten all about St Nicholas Abbey.''

Betfred, Blue Square and Paddy Power are toeing the same line as William Hill, making Jan Vermeer 5-2 favourite and St Nicholas Abbey a 3-1shot.

The flip-flopping favourites comes in the wake of a downbeat bulletin from Ballydoyle on St Nicholas Abbey's workout earlier in the day.


Speaking at 12.45pm on Friday, trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "Johnny rode St Nicholas Abbey this morning and felt the colt might not have shown the same sparkle as he did when he rode him on Tuesday morning.

"Consequently, he won't be making up his mind about what he will ride in the Derby until the middle of next week."

O'Brien confirmed that running plans for Jan Vermeer and Cape Blanco, both of whom hold entries in the Derby and the Prix du Jockey Club the following day, will not be made until the middle of next week.

Australian raiders begin to arrive for Royal Ascot

SYDNEY trainer Gary Portelli embarks this week on the adventure of a lifetime to the Royal Ascot meeting.


The unlikely conduit for Portelli's first trip to Europe is Gold Trail, a horse the trainer originally thought would be lucky to win races in his home town.


But the five-year-old has surprised his trainer over the past 12 months, graduating from stakes placegetter to Group One winner of the Railway Stakes in New Zealand.

His gallant fourth in the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore this month convinced connections to press on to England.

"The KrisFlyer was 1,200 metres [6f], which is always a question with him," Portelli said.

"But the 1,000 metres [5f] of the King's Stand at Ascot should really suit. The horse arrived fit and well from Singapore. Nothing seems to faze him and I'm very excited about seeing him next week.

"He travelled to New Zealand and Singapore with no problems at all, which is a big advantage and has regained the weight he lost on the way to England.

"I am going over on Thursday and will be there for all his gallops leading up to the race.

"He will workon the Saturday and the Tuesday then have a hard gallop on the Thursday ahead of the race the following Tuesday.

"I've never been to Europe and I'm looking forward to the experience."

Michael Rodd willpartner Gold Trail in the King's Stand on June 15 while Frankie Dettori will be aboard Australia's other entry, Nicconi.

The David Hayes-trained Nicconi has been installed the 5-1 favourite with British bookmakers while Gold Trail remains a 16-1 chance.

Alverta, who accompanied Nicconi on last week's flight from Melbourne to England, is 16-1 for the Golden Jubilee [6f] on June 19 while Nicconi is 10-1 for that race.

Tye Angland, who rode the Paul Messara-trained Alverta to her Group 1 victory in the Coolmore Classic, has been rewarded with the ride at Royal Ascot.

Australian sprinter Choisir won both races in 2003 but only Nicconi will possibly contest the two.

Ahern has high hopes for Oaks chance Timepiece

EDDIE AHERN is in confident mood about the chances of Investec Oaks hope Timepiece with the Epsom Classic just five days away.

The filly, held in high regard by trainer Henry Cecil, began the campaign as ante-post favourite for the Oaks, but after suffering two defeats, including in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, she has been overtaken in the betting by Tattersalls Musidora Stakes winner Aviate and the Marcus Tregoning-trained Rumoush.

Speaking on At The Races, Ahern said of Timepiece: "She's in good form and has been working well. I don't think the track will get in the way too much as she handled Lingfield very well.

"She has enough speed with her dam by Sadler's Wells and the mile and a half trip won't be a problem."

The experienced jockey has come in for the ride on Timepiece, withTom Queally, stable jockey for Cecil, preferring the claims of stablemate Aviate, who also carries the colours of owner Khalid Abullah.

Ahern added: "It was a very difficult choice for him to make. I wouldn't have liked to make the decision either."

Overdose out of Ascot - but on comebacktrail

OVERDOSE was on Tuesday ruled out of Royal Ascot, but the 'winner' of the voided Prix del'Abbaye two years ago is ready to make his comeback in France this month.

The Hungarian sprinter, nicknamed the 'Budapest Bullet', missed all last year with a foot problem, but owner Zoltan Mikoczy remains upbeat about the five-year-old.


He said: "Royal Ascot is definitely off as it would be wrong to go there without a run. Any other horse maybe, but Overdose needs two runs before a Group 1 race."

Overdose was a 10-1 shot generally for the King's Stand Stakes and 12-1 for the Golden Jubilee, but was taken out of the betting by a number of firms on Tuesday.

His owner continued: "We are now looking at a Listed race at Maisons-Laffitte on June 25 (Prix de Hampton) for his planned comeback."

Goldikova in form of life as cut for Queen Anne

GOLDIKOVA was on Monday cut to 2-1 favourite (from 9-4) by William Hill for the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next Tuesday, as trainer Freddie Head reported the multiple Group 1 winner in the form of her life for the clash with Paco Boy and Rip Van Winkle.

Victor Chandler made the same price cut for the dual Breeders' Cup Mile winner, although Paco Boy is their joint-favourite.


VC’s Neal Wilkins stated: “The Queen Anne could be described as the race of the meeting and Paco Boy will have to take another step up after his easy success in the Lockinge.

"Goldikova is a fantastic racemare and Rip Van Winkle’s victories in the QEII and Sussex Stakes proved he is up there with the best. It is certainly a race to savour and racegoers should ensure they arrive in time to watch it!”

As Head enthused over the well-being of Goldikova, Richard Hannon jnr, assistant trainer of Paco Boy, said there was still an outside chance he would run in the Golden Jubilee Stakes instead, although the Queen Anne remained the much more likely prospect.

Goldikova would be bidding for her ninth Group/Grade 1 victory and was last seen landing the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan last month. Head told the Racing Post: "She is in very good form; I do not think I have ever had her better."

RipVan Winkle has not been seen since disappointing as 2-1 favourite for the Breeders' Cup Classic, in which he could finish only tenth.

However, he is a dual Group 1 winner, including at Ascot and in the BGC Sussex Stakes, in which he beat Paco Boy by over two lengths. He retains plenty of supporters, as evidenced by Hills' decision to trim the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt to 11-4 (from 3) on Monday.

Goldikova's fellow French raider Dalghar, from the stable of Alain de Royer-Dupre, was also supported on Monday for the Queen Anne, with Victor Chandler going 10-1 (from 12).

Hawkeyethenoo, who finished like a bullet when runner-up in the Investec Entrepreneurial Class Dash on Derby day at Epsom, has been backed to go one better in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot on June 19.

The Jim Goldie-trained sprinter is 8-1 favourite with Paddy Power (from 10) and Hills (from 9).

'Paco Boy faces tough task against Goldikova'

CONNECTIONS of Paco Boy are raring to take Goldikova on in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot but acknowledge that the great mare will prove a particularly tough nut to crack, despite Paco Boy having "improved".

Paco Boy was an impressive winner of the first race of the royal meeting last year and comes into the race having barely come off the bridle in taking the Group 1 Totesport.com Lockinge Stakes.


The 1m Group 1 is also the intended target of Rip Van Winkle, who defeated Paco Boy the only time they met in last season's BGC Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Speaking on At The Races, assistant trainer Richard Hannon Jnr said: "The [Queen Anne] is the plan and it's looking like the race of the week. Hopefully they all turn up and it will be a great race and Paco will win by six wickets.

"Paco will have to run to his best to win but he's definitely improved, however Goldikova will be very hard to beat and is a champion."

Paco Boy also holds an entry in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot but Hannon jnr confirmed he is an unlikely starter in the 6f contest.

"There's still a very small chance we will have a look at that race but he's more likely to run in the Queen Anne and that will be thebest for everybody.

"He's in super form and he looks better this year than ever."

Cliffs has 'outstanding
chance' in St James's


RICHARD HANNON JNR thinks Canford Cliffs has an "outstanding chance" in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and is looking forward clashing with StanJames.com 2,000 Guineas winner Makfi.

Canford Cliffs, an electric winner of the Coventry Stakes at last year's meeting, finished third to Makfi at Newmarket before a stunning victory in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas three weeks later.


"He's in very good form," Hannon told At The Races. "Canford won the Irish race very well and he has an outstanding chance.

"They went a very good gallop in Ireland, he got a good tow and never looked like getting beaten. We're taking on Makfi again and I can't wait."

Canford Cliffs will be negotiating a bend for the first time in the St James's Palace Stakes but Hannon feels this will not be a problem despite the son of Tagula being wayward in previous outings.


He said: "I woundn't think it would be a problem. He's been a straightforward horse and he has lugged left on occasions but he's a straightforward individual."

Stablemate Dick Turpin is also an intended starter in the race and Hannon believes his form is rock-solid after finishing second to Prix du Jockey Club winner Lope De Vega in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains on his latest outing.

Hannon added: "You've got to respect Dick Turpin. He's done absolutely nothing wrong and he's a very, very good horse.

"He was second to the horse that won the [French] Derby yesterday and the way he won the race it was clearly no shame to be beaten by him."

Makfi and Siyouni cut for St James's Palace Stakes


THE French-trained duo of Makfi and Siyouni were all the rage with punters on Wednesday, as their Richard Hannon-trained St James's Palace Stakes rivals Canford Cliffs and Dick Turpin went on the slide in the market.


StanJames.com 2,000 Guineas winner Makfi was cut to 9-4 (from 5-2) by Boylesports, Bet365, Blue Square and 888Sport, and his jockey at Royal Ascot next Tuesday, Olivier Peslier, said: "I think Makfi has a good chance. He won very well at Newmarket and the third [Canford Cliffs] has since won the Irish Guineas.


"I know Makfi and I am looking forward to it, but he's Christophe Lemaire's ride if Siyouni didn't run for any reason."

Siyouni was a significant market mover himself on Wednesday. Coral go 6-1, while a host of firms sliced him to 7-1 (from 10).

Canford Cliffs retains favouritism but went 13-8 (from 6-4), and they respect Makfi's chance as they make him a shortest-priced 2-1.

The suggestion from team Hannon that Dick Turpin could run in the Jersey Stakes instead could have played a part in his drift on Wednesday; Boylesports went 6-1 (from 4), while Coral go 7-1 (from 5).

In the King's Stand, which precedes the St James's Palace next Tuesday, Australian sprinter Nicconi cemented his position at the head of the market on Wednesday, when Boylesports, Victor Chandler and Totesport cut him to 7-2 (from 4).

"The Aussies have farmed the King's Stand in recent years and it's no surprise to see further support for Nicconi as the royal meeting moves ever closer," said Totesport spokesman George Primarolo.

Punters were having none of trainer Luca Cumani's pessimism over the chances of Acrostic in the Royal Hunt Cup next Wednesday, as Totesport were forced to cut him to 10-1 joint-favourite (from 14), while William Hill went 12-1 (from 14).

Showcasing continues to firm as favourite for the Golden Jubilee Stakes on June 19, with Totesport going 5-1 (from 6) and VC 11-2 (from 6).

With Coventry Stakes entries unveiled on Wednesday, Paddy Power took the opportunity to price up a few of the colts for next year's 2,000 Guineas.

They quote 25-1 about Samuel Morse, Strong Suit and Zoffany, and 33-1 about Elzaam.

Fallon reunited with Presvis for royal meeting

KIEREN FALLON will attempt to use all his powers of persuasion to to get a winning tune out of international ace Presvis after the former champion jockey was confirmed to ride the Luca Cumani-trained star in Wednesday's Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Fallon suffered three consecutive defeats on Presvis during the Dubai Carnival, after the last of which he relinquished the mount, claiming that he was unable to build "a good rapport" with the six-year-old.


However, with first choice rider Ryan Moore claimed to partner Glass Harmonium in the Royal Ascot highlight, Fallon has been booked for the ride on Presvis.

Fallon said: "I went to Dubai to ride him, trying to get to know him on the Tapeta, which he didn't like. The surface was no good to him, so I gave up the ride on him. But this is different, this is back on turf, and it could be a different story.

"I've ridden enough difficult horses, and have always got on with horses, and I think I can get on with him on the turf and get something out of him. I'm looking forward to riding him again. He's a very talented horse and the way Luca's horses are running at the moment, anything could happen."

Presvis remains a general 8-1 shot for the Prince Of Wales's, for which market movement on Saturday centred on the two French runners.

The Andre Fabre-trained Byword, favourite with most firms, is into 7-2 from 4-1 with William Hill, while Prix Ganay runner-up Shalanaya is 8-1 from 10-1 with Paddy Power.

This thread was posted last year and if you wonder what happened to the "star"?

St Nicholas Abbey holds Curragh Sunday entry

ST NICHOLAS ABBEY is among 15 entries for the Listed Geegeez.co.uk Alleged Stakes over 1m2f at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old, who was unbeaten at two when he landed the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, has not run since finishing sixth when favourite for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last year.