Monday 19th October, 2026 O’Brien takes dead aim at Futurity Trophy

By Chris Phillips, Press Association

Aidan O’Brien holds a strong hand in Saturday’s William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, the final Group One of the Flat season, with 11 of the 17 remaining entries trained at Ballydoyle.

At the latest confirmation stage for the two-year-old contest – the last major prize of the turf season with £275,000 on offer – O’Brien looks like going all out in his pursuit of another trainers’ championship.

O’Brien’s only rival in the battle for the title, Andrew Balding, who currently trails the Irishman by over £80,000, has just one in the race in impressive Salisbury winner Gran Dia.

The master of Ballydoyle will pick his team from Albany County, Capability Brown, Choctaw Nation, Drumbeat, Giant Sequoia, Haffner, Man’s Best Friend, the ante-post favourite Noble Exhibit, Sergei Diaghilev, Shakespeare and Wall Street.

First Law and Al Hudaiba (Charlie Appleby) could fly the royal blue flag for Godolphin while Karl Burke has left in Burning Up but one smaller yard hoping some of the bigger guns do not show up at the end of a long season is William Muir, who intends to run Breacher.

Muir believes the Cracksman colt will relish the step up to a mile and insisted his two-year-old deserves the step up class after finishing third to Desert Castle in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at the Yorkshire track last time out.

“He’s fantastic, he’s in great shape and he is going run at Doncaster in the Futurity Trophy,” said Muir, who trains the colt with Chris Grassick. “He’s done nothing wrong and he has been crying out for a mile. From even before we started he has been crying out for the mile.

“I made a statement that the winner of the Champagne (Desert Castle) was as nice a horse as I’ve seen for years. So to go and run as well as he did at Newmarket the winner (Darkness Falls) must be exceptional.

“The second horse (Sergei Diaghilev) went and finished second only just beaten in the Autumn Stakes. We wanted a step up in trip. If we’d had a mile we’d have been closer.

“We wouldn’t have beaten the winner, I think the winner’s exceptional, but I think we’d have been closer to the second horse if it had been a mile.”

Monday 19th October, 2026 Storming George staying over hurdles after minor setback

By Ashley Iveson, Press Association

Grade One-winning hurdler Storming George is set to stick to the smaller obstacles this season after a summer setback delayed his return to action.

Neil King’s six-year-old finished off his novice campaign on a high when striking at the top level at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in the spring, claiming the notable scalp of the Dan Skelton-trained Sinnatra, who made an impressive start to his career over fences at Ffos Las on Wednesday.

Storming George could well have been pursuing a novice chase campaign himself, but with King’s stable star now unlikely to return until December at the earliest, another season over hurdles beckons.

King said: “He’s not ready for a run yet, he had a setback just before he came back in from his grass holidays, so we’re behind schedule.

“He’s just started cantering away now and I’m not sure how long it will be before he’s out – six weeks, two months – I hope it will be this side of Christmas.

“We’re going to keep him over hurdles this year. Having had a delayed start to the season there’s no point going novice chasing, so we’ll stick to hurdles.

“It’s frustrating we’ve had a delayed start to the season, but as long as we come good now it will be fine.”

Monday 19th October, 2026 Ombudsman set for Breeders’ Cup finale

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

John Gosden has confirmed his brilliant Champion Stakes hero Ombudsman is on course for a potential swansong at the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday week.

A dual winner of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and runner-up to Calandagan on Champions Day last season, the Godolphin-owned five-year-old turned the tables on Francis-Henri Graffard’s globetrotting star with a sensational display in front of a bumper crowd on his return to Berkshire over the weekend.

Now a five-time Group One winner having also struck gold in last season’s Juddmonte International and the Dubai Turf earlier this year, Ombudsman is set to begin a lucrative career at stud in 2027, but not before an exciting tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland.

“He’s been entered for the Breeders’ Cup this morning,” Gosden told the Press Association on Monday. “He’s in good order from Ascot and we’re taking a look at the Breeders’ Cup Turf with him.

“We’ll see, the horse has taken his race very well. Interestingly enough he gets an invitation to run, a sort of free entry – a ‘win and you’re in’ I think it’s called – for winning at both (Royal) Ascot and there (Champion Stakes).

“It’s a nice invitation and we’re right to take a good look at it.”

Ombudsman is the 6-4 favourite to successfully step up to a mile and a half for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, with Aidan O’Brien’s multiple Group One-winning filly Diamond Necklace – last seen finishing third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – rated his biggest threat at 5-2.

Monday 19th October, 2026 Varian excited for next season with Saddadd

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Roger Varian will look to the future with Saddadd after confirming his Group One star will not run again this season.

The four-year-old has shown his worth against the middle distance-performers around this term, running with credit in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Coral-Eclipse before striking gold at the highest level in the Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany.

On paper his most recent performance in finishing 15th of 16 in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was disappointing, but Varian is far from despondent.

“He ran well and the race wasn’t run to suit,” said the Carlburg Stables handler. “There was seven lengths between first and 16th, Saddadd was 15th, six and a half lengths behind Daryz. As you go down the field the distances were shorter and shorter.

“He doesn’t have great gate speed and from stall nine I thought he got as good a position as he could have. He was sat mid-division with Kalpana inside of him and following Maltese Cross and I thought that was as good as we could hope for.

“They’ve steadied and the challengers came on the outside and through no fault of his own he has found himself further back than his initial position.

“They sprinted as soon as they straightened off the false straight and he took a while to get going and then crossed the line just about hitting his straps, but the trouble was the race was over.

“For me it wasn’t a disappointment. We were asking him a big question and I thought he ran well. We watch most Arcs where there is a furlong between first and last and one run like that might have suited him. Seven lengths separating the field isn’t really his gig but he didn’t disgrace himself.”

Varian feels he will have ample opportunity to see Saddadd enhance his reputation at the highest level next term, while also praising Francis-Henri Graffard’s dual Arc hero Daryz, who has since bowed out after successfully defending his crown in Europe’s richest middle-distance contest.

“That will be him done for the year,” continued Varian. “He can only improve with age and he stays well. Ray (Dawson) got off him at Longchamp and even said you could try going one-mile-six with him.

“He’s a very relaxed, laidback horse who can shut down in a race and respond to pressure. This year’s Arc didn’t suit him and it probably shows you how good the winner is that he was able to pick up so well off a medium gallop when not many did. You have to take your hat off to the winner.”

Sunday 18th October, 2026 Come What May caps Lordan’s dream weekend

By John O’Riordan, Press Association

Come What May rounded off a fantastic weekend at Leopardstown for Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan with a runaway victory in the Trigo Stakes.

The trainer and rider teamed up to complete a sensational six-timer at the Foxrock venue on Saturday and 24 hours on Curragh maiden winner Come What May, a full-brother to Derby hero Desert Crown, was a 4-6 favourite to follow in the second of two Listed races on the card.

After sitting on the tail of Mr Vettori until the straight, the Nathaniel colt quickened up smartly to put clear daylight between himself and the chasing pack, eventually passing the post with six lengths in hand over Diego El Queso.

“In fairness he just took time to come to hand. He’s a big horse and Aidan gave him all the time he needed to strengthen up,” said Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong.

“He was fierce impressive the first day at the Curragh but I think he was even more impressive here. To come here with just one run and to do that against horses with plenty experience and solid form was ultra impressive.

“He’ll even appreciate going up in trip again. He’s in the horses in training sale, but whether they take him out and keep him for next year will be decided over the next week. I’d say he’s a horse with above average ability.”

Paddy Twomey and champion jockey-elect Billy Lee combined to win the Bahrain Turf Club Knockaire Stakes with 5-2 shot King Cuan.

A winner at Listed level in the Concorde Stakes two weeks ago, the five-year-old made it a Stakes race double with a half-length verdict over O’Brien’s Lewis Carroll.

Twomey said: “I was never worried about him staying the mile. He’s a horse that relaxes and does everything well.

“He’s got fundamental class and I’m delighted with the way he won. We’ll keep him in training next year. There is a good programme of races for a horse like him.

“I told the owners he was going to the sales but he’s come out and won every time I’ve ran him since I said that so we’ll keep him.”

Lee doubled up on Michael Grassick’s Truth Be Told (5-1) in the Bahrain Turf Club October Handicap.

John Joseph Murphy’s Vico Road (22-1) upset odds-on favourite Sunatia with victory in the Leopardstown Golf, Padel And Range Maiden, while the Andrew Slattery-trained Highbury See See edged out Majestic King by a nose in a thrilling climax to the Nord Anglia International School Dublin Foxrock Cup Handicap.

“He got hemmed in in Listowel and he ran bad in the Curragh the last day, but I think they came up on the heaviest of the ground. I put cheekpieces on him today and he’s been threatening to do that all year,” said Slattery.

“It’s grand to win one with him. I wasn’t going to run him this morning, I said the ground was probably too dry. Then I said to the owner we might as well run as there’s only two weeks (of the season) left.”

Slattery was on the mark for a second time with 7-2 favourite Zaraahmando in the Watch Every Irish Race Live On Racing TV Handicap.

Dylan Browne McMonagle rode his first winner since returning from injury aboard Maurice Ahern’s 6-1 shot Thyer in the Christmas Festival Tickets On Sale Now Handicap.

Ahern said: “I’m delighted with that. He’s been knocking on the door. He got an unbelievable ride from Dylan. He gave me my first winner last year, so I’m pleased to give him his first winner back.”

Sunday 18th October, 2026 Kings Hill claims Munster National glory

By Thomas Weekes, Press Association

Kings Hill provided father and son Paul and Danny Gilligan with a first success together in Ireland when running away with the BOYLE Sports JT McNamara Munster National at Limerick.

The seven-year-old looked to be getting the better of a two-horse battle with long-time leader Anyway in the Grade Three feature when his main rival took a crashing fall two fences from home.

Anyway’s exit after a brave attempt to make all under Darragh O’Keefe allowed 11-1 shot Kings Hill to coast home 10 lengths clear of Littlefoot in the hands of Danny Gilligan, who only arrived back from Far Hills on Sunday morning after finishing third in the American Grand National on Gordon Elliott’s Zanahiyr.

The trainer said: “Danny was in America last night so fair play to him. People might think it is great flying out to ride a horse, but it is a big commitment.

“Any race is good to win but when you’re winning these races it is always better when your own lads are riding these winners. It is extra special.”

While Anyway’s rider escaped unscathed, the eight-year-old who finished second to Caldwell Potter at the Cheltenham Festival last year was fatally injured.

“It was not a nice way to win with Anyway falling,” Gilligan added.

“But it is good for Paul Lyons, Kings Hill’s co-owner who is in Cyprus today, it’s important for the breeder Jimmy Lawler, from Kilkenny, and we bought the horse from Tony Costello.

“For small yard like ours, it is not easy to find these horses but we have good supporters in the yard, so I’m delighted.”

Gilligan trained Kings Hill to win the valuable Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase at the Festival in late July before a disappointing run in the Kerry National at Listowel.

After observing that the gelding fares better going right-handed, the trainer is planning a return to Ballybrit for the big one next summer.

He said: “My dream would be to win a Galway Plate, so we’ll look at that next year.

“I thought we shouldn’t have gone to Listowel as it is a different track to Galway, where he had previously won, but he won well today.”

Sunday 18th October, 2026 Craig Lidster determined to make it through tough period

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

‘Have you ever thought of giving up?’. It feels a valid gambit as Craig Lister stares bleakly at his bank account during a 2026 that has yielded just seven winners.

The response? One of true Yorkshire grit. Quitting is simply not an option for the Rotherham-born handler, the grandson of a key figure on the once-prominent South Yorkshire mining scene and whose working class values have carried through the generations to the stable lad come trainer.

Lidster said: “Every day I wake up and think what is going to go wrong today. Who am I going to upset? Who can I make happy? How can I make them happy? Then you open your bank balance and you’re staring at the numbers wondering what’s the point in doing it for nothing.

“I’ve never fallen out of love with the game, but you do wake up sometimes and think, ‘why am I doing this to be skint?’.

“One thing we’ve never done though is skimp and scrape when it comes to the horses, Laura (wife) would not allow it, she ensures the highest standards. We’ve had that bred into us and even if it is to the detriment to our business we’ll never cut a corner.

“I made money out of pre-training and one thing I was always good at was young horses. It was great and I had a happy life doing it, but I still have a great life now, just with a bit less money.

“I have three full-time staff underneath me who I regard as family and I would hate to let them down by jacking it in. They deserve the best from me and I want to give them the best careers possible.”

Since registering his first winner in 2022, Lidster’s stock would rise while holding court at the Burdett family-owned Eboracum Stables in North Yorkshire, with Alfa Kellenic’s six-race winning run culminating in Ayr Silver Cup glory perfectly illustrating his talents.

Lidster continued: “I had three good years and I helped build the place and it helped grow my profile.

“We did great with the likes Alfa Kellenic and it showcased what I can do. Obviously the Burdetts helped by buying horses, but it showed I can train a bigger string than I have now.

“We trained plenty of winners out of there and the owners were getting a great experience.”

Lidster was replaced by Ivan Furtado at the Easingwold set up at the start of 2025, switching back to his spiritual home of Malton where although the first season maintained the status quo, the following 12 months has brought internal soul searching while battling the unprecedented meteorological elements of 2026.

“It’s been rough and I’ve been more vocal than most,” continued Lidster. “I brought it up to the vets in March that something just wasn’t right, the horses were training well and then were finishing races legless.

“It’s been hard as I’ve felt like I’ve been lying as I keep saying they are working well but then they go and run badly. But then it’s been tough for everyone when you look around. Personally I think viruses have been flying around all over.

“Charlie Appleby struggled to get going until the Lockinge and Aidan O’Brien said he had something in the yard last month – the only place more bio-secure than Ballydoyle is NASA and if those guys are struggling then we’ve got no chance!”

He went on: “It’s been an unprecedented year and it was very wet last winter and then we’ve had three months of no rain where it has been like the Gobi Desert.

“I was stood at the top of the gallops the other month looking over to the North Yorkshire Moors and all you could see was dust, it looked like fog but it wasn’t and if you think your horses are breathing that in at 15 litres a second it is clearly not going to be great for them.

“You can’t shut up shop though and there’s still 10 races a day you have to try to win.”

It is no surprise to see Lidster showing the inner resolve and steel synonymous of the region of his birth having called such distinguished names as Malcolm Jefferson, Brian Ellison and Richard Fahey his boss during his rise through the ranks.

During his time at Musley Bank he was travelling head lad during the unbeaten two-year-old career of Wootton Bassett, while his reputation for nurturing youngsters and easing the worries of nervous starters has seen his services called upon to assist with the likes of Mondammej and Royal Ascot and July Cup-winning Shaquille down the years.

The 44-year-old has unwavering believe in his ability to solve the greatest challenge he has faced so far with a licence.

“I love puzzles and if I was born in a different era I might have been diagnosed with something like ADHD I think, but I love the game and trying to solve problems with horses,” added Lidster.

“I’ve always said give me the ammunition and I will take it all the way, but if you have a bug that you can’t shift, it’s difficult. I’ve a proven record that I can do the job at hand and I just need healthy horses to work with.

“In this game you have to be singer and entertainer. You have to come have a laugh and giggle and have a pint with your owners, but you need to find them winners as well or they will go elsewhere.

“I’m unorthodox and perhaps still a stable lad at heart, but I’m loyal and honest and I like to think people have horses with me because of who I am.

“I’ve got some big dreams for the future, I don’t want to stay stationary and I want to get back moving upwards. I might have to be ruthless and one thing I’ll do is keep on grafting, Yorkshire style. I love the game and I don’t think I could ever see myself doing anything else.”

Sunday 18th October, 2026 Sean Bowen hungry for top-level success

By Phil Blanche, Press Association

Champion jockey Sean Bowen has put Grade One wins at the top of his racing agenda this season.

Bowen has ridden 420 winners to claim the last two jockey titles, following up his 179 successes in the 2024-25 campaign with 241 last season – a total bettered only by Sir Anthony McCoy.

The 29-year-old from Pembrokeshire has made a slower start this season, with his total of 77 winners leaving him some 25 behind championship leader Harry Skelton, but he admits his focus has slightly shifted.

Bowen told the Press Association: “I’m not used to being in second, but Harry’s had an incredible start.

“Obviously I want to be champion jockey again. I’m going to give it a good go and once we get rain and get the good horses out we’re going to be flat out busy.

“It was great last season and I’d like to try to ride over 200 winners again, but riding big winners is something that everybody wants. I’d probably say that’s my main aim this year.

“Try to get that Grade One horse. It would be nice to be on the big stage riding big winners because that’s where everyone wants to be.”

Bowen rode the Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs to an Irish and Welsh Grand National double in 2025.

But the nine-year-old’s bid for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in March ended in disappointment, and he then finished 14th of 34 runners in the Grand National at Aintree the following month.

Bowen has never won a race at the Cheltenham Festival, but hopes that will change as the operations of trainers Olly Murphy and his brother Mickey Bowen continue to grow.

He said: “I feel I’ve never been in a position to ride winners at Cheltenham before. I’ve had rides there, but never gone with any favourite chances in the whole time I’ve been riding.

“It would be nice to find one or two going there with big chances this season. When I was younger I used to go to Cheltenham and Aintree with a bit of nerves, but I’ve gone there that much with disappointment you don’t build yourself up before you get there.”

Sunday 18th October, 2026 Constitution Hill on target for Italian job

By Ashley Iveson, Press Association

Nicky Henderson is gearing up for a trip to Milan at the weekend after giving Constitution Hill the go-ahead to run in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club.

Following a couple of routine victories earlier in the year, the former superstar hurdler met with defeat for the first time on the Flat when fourth in Kempton’s September Stakes on his latest outing, but his performance in finishing fourth saw his rating rise to 108, effectively ruling out potential handicap targets on home soil.

Connections had the option of running much closer to home in the Group Three BetVictor St Simon Stakes at Newbury a day earlier, but Henderson is now fully committed to an exciting trip across Europe, with Oisin Murphy – who steered him to a memorable success at Southwell in February – booked for the ride.

“We’re on, absolutely – we’re going to Italy,” the Seven Barrows handler told the Press Association on Sunday.

“He’s in very good shape, he worked yesterday (Saturday) and that’s all done really now, so hopefully we’re going to go and give it a good go.”

Henderson is expecting to see plenty of familiar faces at San Siro, adding: “This will be fun and we are looking forward to it.

“We’re driving him over on Thursday, I think they all go by road and there’ll be a lot of English runners by the sound of it. It sounds like Mr (William) Haggas is going, Andrew Balding is going and I think George Scott is going – I think everyone is going!

“It sounds like the ground should be fine. I know there’s a race there today and they’re calling the ground good, but I think there’s some rain around as well and Oisin is going to ride him, so we’re all set to go.”

It will be a significant change from the norm for Henderson, who would usually be heading to Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting for the start of the new season at Prestbury Park.

However, with the continuing dry spell meaning it could be a while before his biggest guns will be seen in action over jumps, the trainer will be having his passport stamped for what at one time would have seemed an extremely unlikely ‘Italian Job’.

“It looks as if Cheltenham is going to be quite a quiet weekend (for us) with the ground, although I think there is some rain coming, which will be good, as we might be able to run a a couple on Friday,” he said.

“If someone had said a year or two ago we’d be taking Constitution Hill to Milan, you’d have said it must be April Fool’s Day or something like that, but it’s exciting. We had a few Italian media people here on Monday and it’s something to look forward to.”

Sunday 18th October, 2026 Great Barrier Reef out to enhance O’Brien’s Juvenile Turf record

By Ashley Iveson, Press Association

Great Barrier Reef will bid to provide Aidan O’Brien with a ninth victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland.

The Ballydoyle handler has won the last four editions of the Grade One contest, most recently with Gstaad, and looks set to launch a strong challenge once more.

Coventry Stakes winner Great Barrier Reef suffered an odds-on defeat in a Group Three at the Curragh on his return from two months off the track in August, but a creditable third place finish behind esteemed stablemate Darkness Falls in the Dewhurst at Newmarket last weekend appears to have booked his ticket to Kentucky.

“He ran very well and I was kind of surprised and delighted really,” O’Brien said of his Newmarket performance.

“He’d had a good break when he ran at the Curragh where he got chinned and just got tired. Then we tried to run him back again and he got sick and had a bad scope.

“It was a very serious run in the Dewhurst. We thought if he ran well we’d go on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Turf) with him because we thought he was a horse that would get seven furlongs and could get a mile, so that’s where we’re going next with him.”

Darkness Falls will not be heading across the Atlantic, with the Ballydoyle handler reiterating his belief he has a genuine Triple Crown contender on his hands for next season.

“We probably shouldn’t saying too much about it because I don’t want to put much too much pressure on everybody and every horse,” said O’Brien.

“We always thought he was that (Triple Crown) type of horse, but obviously the 2000 Guineas is a massive race to win first off and if that did work we’d take it one race at a time.

“Every year you are looking for a horse that could do it and it’s very rare really. This horse you would imagine would have gone on to a Futurity Trophy (at Doncaster), but John (Magnier) and the lads decided to go to the Dewhurst with him, which I thought was a massive call, but it was going to give us a big insight into next year with him.”

Darkness Falls won the Group One Golden Fleece Stakes over nine furlongs at Leopardstown prior to his Dewhurst success over seven, giving O’Brien hope that he could go one better than his sire Camelot managed by becoming the first horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to win the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger.

“It’s a very difficult thing what he did, I don’t think anyone really realises,” he added.

“Running over a nine furlongs as a two-year-old is a long way and then to come back to seven furlongs in Newmarket is very, very difficult. If it wasn’t for the horse he is and the ability he has it wouldn’t have happened.

“At least now we’re happy training him for the Guineas and we’ll go on from there and see what’s going to happen.”

Sunday 18th October, 2026 Tregoning eyeing Silver Tankard gold with Silverella

By Chris Phillips, Press Association

Marcus Tregoning is confident Silverella can hold her own at Listed level when she takes her chance in the British Stallion Studs EBF Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract on Monday.

The Frontiersman filly was an impressive winner of a novice event at Goodwood in late August and the form of that race has been franked, with the second Rhythm Of My Heart and third Roku Nana both going on to win since.

Silverella then won at Pontefract in bloodless fashion last month, being eased down and still coming home five and a half lengths clear of the field to make it two from two on turf, earning herself a step up in class on her return to the West Yorkshire track.

Tregoning said: “I think she’s up to this level. When you step up to that level it’s a bit of a jump up. She’s in good form, but they’ve all got to be haven’t they?

“The reason I took her there last time is that I eyed up the Silver Tankard long-term. I just wanted to make sure she’d handle the track, she handled it well. I didn’t have any problem with it so hopefully she’ll go there and if she’s in the form she was in when she won then she’ll have a chance.

“The main thing with fillies is getting black type if you possibly can. She’s shown a lot, she’s a nice filly, she’s well proportioned.

“She’s got good confirmation, good feet. She’s by Frontiersman and he wouldn’t have had too many Flat mares, this is probably the best one he’s had. But he’s a beautifully-bred horse out of Ouija Board by a champion (Dubawi) so he’s perfectly capable of getting a good one.”

Tregoning won the Cheshire Oaks with Shadow Dancing in 2002 and Hammiya in 2003 and would love to complete the hat-trick with Silverella next spring.

The Derby-winning trainer said: “As long as she’s in the same form I’ve always fancied winning the Cheshire Oaks again.

“She goes on most ground and she’s a strong traveller and in the future somewhere like Chester would suit her, but let’s just see how she goes.”

Silverella is set to face seven rivals at Pontefract, with the Owen Burrows-trained King High and Undiscovered from Ralph Beckett’s setting the standard on ratings.

Other hopefuls include Hugo Palmer’s Haydock scorer Game Character and Tyrrhenian Thunder, a winner on his debut at Ayr for Adrian Keatley.