Sunday 26th July, 2026 Holloway Boy breaks course record in capturing Pomfret Stakes honours

By Josh Luckhurst, Press Association

Holloway Boy showcased his quality by breaking the course record when securing the William Hill Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract.

Invariably campaigned at a much higher level and a real credit to his connections, Karl Burke’s six-year-old dropped down in class in West Yorkshire and more than justified his 4-5 favourite tag with the third Listed success of his career.

He occupied the ideal position on the rail behind 2024 race winner Point Lynas, who had maintained a strong gallop throughout to make it a two-horse contest as they reached the final bend.

Holloway Boy moved off the rail and into the middle of the track, and needed to work hard to break the Ed Bethell-trained front-runner’s resolve before ultimately cruising past the post with three-quarters of a length in hand.

“It’s always great to get another big winner, but to break the course record is even better,” jockey Clifford Lee told Racing TV.

“He ran against (stablemate) Zeus Olympus the last day at Ascot, finished second just half a length behind him and ran a fantastic race.

“A little bit of a weaker race today, but I was in the box seat. You could almost get stuck in a pocket, but I got the job done.

“I was drawn two and tried to stay two off the rail, but once I knew Ray Dawson (on Model Yuko) was on the outside, I had to sit and suffer, but he didn’t have the horse to finish with and I was able to make the manoeuvre.”

He added: “He was pricking his ears, I didn’t want to be hitting the front too soon, but once I was there I was confident enough to put the stick down and press for the line.”

Sunday 26th July, 2026 Constitution River on course for huge Ombudsman clash

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Aidan O’Brien has confirmed star three-year-old Constitution River is firmly on course for the Juddmonte International Stakes, as Ballydoyle take aim once again at Ombudsman in the York showpiece.

O’Brien’s Delacroix got the better of John and Thady Gosden’s star in the Coral-Eclipse last season, but had to settle for second in the rematch on the Knavesmire, a race the Irishman has won a record seven times and most recently with City Of Troy in 2024.

With Ombudsman proving at least as good as ever when defending his Prince of Wales’s Stakes title at Royal Ascot, O’Brien is now preparing to unleash his French Derby and Eclipse hero in what is sure to be a mouthwatering clash on day one of York’s Ebor Festival.

O’Brien said: “York is the plan, absolutely. Hopefully they all run there, Constitution River has been very good since Sandown and we’re looking forward to it.”

Constitution River’s stablemate Minnie Hauk was the latest to challenge Ombudsman, finishing second at the Royal meeting.

The dual Oaks heroine is another to hold an entry for York’s 10-furlong Group One and O’Brien mused over the best way to utilise the filly’s strengths after she faded into eighth when returned to her Classic-winning distance in Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

“Maybe we should have taken our time a little bit more on Minnie going a mile and a half against older horses,” continued O’Brien.

“She ran well against Ombudsman last time and is pacey and has mile-and-a-quarter pace. She was up with the pace all the way so looking back maybe we should have ridden her a bit more patiently.”

Sunday 26th July, 2026 Joorabchian has maximum faith in ‘fantastic’ Ancient Egypt

By Josh Luckhurst, Press Association

Kia Joorabchian is adamant it is a case of when Amo Racing’s star performer Ancient Egypt will land one of racing’s biggest prizes and not if following excellent efforts at Royal Ascot and ParisLongchamp.

Charlie Johnston’s three-year-old was one of many to suffer during a rain-lashed Derby at Epsom, but the Frankel colt showed he deserves to be at the top table with his two latest performances.

He was engaged in an enthralling battle with Causeway when going down by a neck in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting, before looking like he might claim Group One gold in the Grand Prix de Paris, only to be denied on the line by William Haggas’ fast-finishing Derby runner-up Maltese Cross.

“He’s fantastic isn’t he? He’s been unbelievable,” said Amo founder Joorabchian.

“When you think about his last two runs, the Derby was one we can put a scratch through as it was soft ground and he doesn’t really like soft ground.

“But to come back and reverse the form at Ascot and do what he did in the Grand Prix de Paris just shows how he’s developed as a horse, and how he is getting bigger and stronger.

“I think he is a horse that reminds me of King Of Steel – he’s been a bit unlucky and been unfortunate in a couple of these races.

“And then he’ll come out and get one or two of those really big ones. It’s just going to be when.

“We might have to drop him back a little at some stage – everyone is supportive that he needs a mile and a half, but I think if you drop him back a little bit in trip, he’ll be leading and have a better chance.

“It shows his versatility, he has unbelievable versatility and to see the pedigree of him is unbelievable, being a Frankel.

“With that versatility and that diversity that he can go 10 furlongs and a mile and a half, that is a big positive for us going forward because we can enter him in multiple different races and have him as a very diversified horse in that sense. He’s a horse that everyone dreams of having.”

No firm plans are in place for Ancient Egypt, who started his three-year-old campaign with Listed success at Newmarket.

However, Joorabchian did hint at a potential trip Stateside for Grade One glory on August 15.

“I don’t know where we are going to go next, Charlie and I are talking about it,” he added.

“We might venture for the big American race called the Sword Dancer at Saratoga, which I’m potentially aiming him at.

“We’ve got a variety of options at the moment.”

An Amo colt who has recently added a Group Two to an already impressive CV is the Robson De Aguiar-trained Power Blue.

The Phoenix Stakes winner went off as 11-10 favourite in the Minstrel Stakes last weekend and the drop back to seven furlongs did the trick as he sealed a comfortable length-and-a-half triumph at the Curragh.

Now a return to Group One company beckons in the shape of the City of York Stakes on the final day of the Ebor Festival.

“He’s doing good, he’s in good shape,” Joorabchian said.

“”He’s exactly where we expected him to be and we were really hoping he’d come out and excel in his three-year-old career. Maybe he wasn’t ready at the very beginning and we ran him in the (2000) Guineas and were a little optimistic, but now he has come back to himself.

“Robson has done a great job with him and I think the City of York (will be next).”

Sunday 26th July, 2026 Gamrai could be given German option instead of Ebor

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

George Scott could be tempted to skip the Sky Bet Ebor with new signing Gamrai in favour of sealing a German St Leger bid in September.

The Royal Ascot runner-up is as short as 8-1 with Ladbrokes for York’s prestigious handicap on August 22, but the four-year-old’s primary objective for his new connections is a trip to the Middle East for the newly-created Bahrain Long Distance Cup in November.

A late summer trip to the Knavesmire has not been ruled out by the Eve Lodge handler, but he does have an eye on a trip to Dusseldorf for the Group Three event he has won with stable favourites Prydwen (2024) and Caballo De Mar (2025) the past two years.

Scott said: “The Ebor is there on the table for him, but it could be a big ask for a horse to switch stable and then go for a race like that. But then again there is some magnificent prize-money, he’s towards the top of the market and there probably wouldn’t be much to lose by going for it.

“I do like the idea of the German St Leger though for him and it’s a race we’ve won a couple of times and is always an enjoyable experience.

“After that he will go to Bahrain for their new staying race which is kind of why we have bought him. The prize-money for it is great and I would hope we can turn up there with a sensible rating and have a good go.”

Gamrai is the latest to switch mid-season to Scott having been snapped up by the ambitious Victorious Forever operation.

Previously with John and Thady Gosden, he won Kempton’s Roseberry Handicap on his first outing this term before knocking on the door at both the Guineas meeting and in the Copper Horse at the Royal meeting.

Scott added: “He doesn’t look like a horse who takes much training and Thady, who is a great friend of mine has been particularly helpful with him. It’s always daunting getting one off the Gosdens, I’ve always looked up to John as the best trainer in the country and if we can just maintain his level of form we will be doing fine.”

“The Gosdens seemed to have him worked out pretty well and we’ll just try to keep him on a similar trajectory.”

Meanwhile, there will be no Qatar Goodwood Festival for the exciting Efsixteen, with Scott also waiting for York’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes to relaunch the career of fellow talented youngster Mrair.

“Efsixteen has met a tiny setback which is really upsetting as she was training beautifully,” said Scott.

“She’s going to probably reappear in the St Hugh’s and she’s a filly we really like.”

The Victorious-owned pair commanded six-figure fees at the spring breeze-up sales, Efsixteen bringing the hammer down at 350,000 guineas, while Mrair required even deeper pockets, with an £880,000 cheque being signed.

The latter was eighth in the Coventry Stakes and Scott added: “I thought Mrair would really benefit for a bit of down time after Ascot and now he’s back cantering and we’ll look at the Gimcrack for him.

“Both horses breezed then raced quickly and so they have had a lot of training despite only racing a few times. Both are big, scopey horses who will go forward.”

Sunday 26th July, 2026 Hotazhell returns to his best for Group One delight in Munich

By Josh Luckhurst, Press Association

Hotazhell produced a fine front-running performance to hold off Timeforshowcasing to land the Group One Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in Munich.

The four-year-old was a star juvenile for Jessica Harrington, winning the Tyros and Beresford Stakes in Ireland before finishing the campaign with Futurity Trophy success at Doncaster, where he accounted for Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix.

Although the Too Darn Hot colt had struggled somewhat at the top table since that Town Moor victory, Hotazhell had some form from his two runs this season and took up the early running in the hands of Shane Foley, with Timeforshowcasing in hot pursuit as the pair continued to set a strong gallop as they hit the final bend.

Charlie Johnston’s charge pushed alongside Hotazhell at the front, but the leader did not give up and they passed the line stride for stride, with the Irish raider coming out on top by a nose.

George Scott’s new recruit Wimbledon Hawkeye left his challenge just too late as the race favourite flew down the outside to finish a half-length behind in third.

“He really got down and fought today,” said Harrington, recording her first Group One since that Doncaster triumph.

“He was really good and I’m really thrilled that he’s won another Group One. He’ll go forward from here.

“He’s a really tough and gutsy horse, it’s how he won the Futurity Trophy when you think about it. He wouldn’t give up and he just had an unfortunate year last year, a nearly year.

“It’s absolutely fantastic. We’ll come back and regroup and see where we go.”

Foley admitted it was not the plan to make the running as he secured his first Group One victory in Germany.

He said: “He was really good as a two-year-old and lost his way a little bit last year, but his two runs have been good.

“He’s coming back to himself so hopefully he can have a nice autumn, and thank god our head was in front at the right time.

“It wasn’t the plan to make the running, I went forward from my inside draw and I thought there wasn’t much pace in it and I ended up getting it very easy in front.

“They attacked me early in the straight, but this lad’s a fighter.”

Sunday 26th July, 2026 Redknapp and Skelton teaming up for the first time with exciting new recruit

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Harry Redknapp is relishing linking up with Dan Skelton as big-money signing Kaiser Ball becomes his first horse with the champion trainer.

The FA Cup-winning manager turned King George-winning owner has been bolstering his team ahead of the winter months and among the new recruits is £360,000 purchase Kaiser Ball, a wide-margin bumper winner when trained by Willie Mullins and third to the Cheltenham Festival-winning King Rasko Grey on his only hurdles outing for Tony Costello.

The six-year-old sees Redknapp becomes the latest footballing name to join the Skelton’s Lodge Hill fold, where former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been a steadfast supporter.

Redknapp told the Press Association: “It’s my first horse with Dan and I’m looking forward to it.

“I’m relying on Dan’s judgement really and he was keen on the horse and I’m hopeful we will have some fun. I can’t wait for the jumps season to start, I love it.

“Dan is from a fantastic racing family. You only have to look at the whole set-up there and Dan has done amazing, Harry (Skelton) is a fantastic jockey and their dad (Nick Skelton) knows a thing or two about horses!

“They had an amazing last year with Dan becoming champion trainer so hopefully there’s lots to look forward to.”

Redknapp has also further cemented his association with Ben Pauling during racing’s transfer window.

The Naunton Downs handler has given Redknapp not only a Cheltenham Festival winner but his greatest day in racing thanks to The Jukebox Man’s memorable Boxing Day triumph in last year’s King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Dreams of Cheltenham Gold Cup glory would subsequently end in disappointment at the Festival in March, but the 79-year-old is hopeful his star performer can take another shot at the blue riband next spring.

Redknapp said: “I’ve bought another couple with Ben Pauling and one with DJ Jeffreys and hopefully there’s a lot to look forward to.

“I went down to Ben’s yard last week and The Jukebox Man has come back well.

“The Gold Cup would be the dream and he’s had a wind op. He had his problem before Cheltenham and we took the chance he would be OK, but he wasn’t right. There’s only one Cheltenham Gold Cup and we took a gamble we would get away with it, but we’ll hopefully go there again next year and give it another go.

“Kempton was an incredible day for me last season winning the King George, it was so special. I’ve been lucky and had a Cheltenham winner and a King George winner and who knows hopefully I’ll have another big winner somewhere when the winter comes around.”

While most talk of Redknapp’s squad for the new season will quite rightly focus on The Jukebox Man, Redknapp is also intrigued to see how the Grade Two-placed Taurus Bay fares having thrived during his off-season break.

The former West Ham and Tottenham manager also gave a word for another of his summer signings, Mourne Crystal, an impressive nine-length winner of a Portrush point-to-point in March before making the switch to Pauling’s Gloucestershire base.

“The biggest surprise for me when visiting Ben’s was Taurus Bay, he looks amazing,” added Redknapp. “He’s grown and looks like a different horse, he’s big and strong and was looking fantastic.

“I send them down to Colin Tinkler in the summer and he always does a wonderful job looking after them on their holidays. Colin loved Taurus Bay and sure enough he was looking magnificent.

“We’ve also got a lovely horse called Mourne Crystal, who Ben thinks the world of. We’ve got big hopes for him this year.”

Sunday 26th July, 2026 Ward backing Bacio to end his wait for Nunthorpe glory

By Gideon Brooks, Press Association

Wesley Ward admits Bacio will be “jumping in at the deep end” when he tries to make the leap from handicap good thing to genuine Group One contender in the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes at York next month.

After near-misses in the race with Acapulco and Lady Aurelia, the Keeneland-based trainer is hopeful that in Bacio he might finally have the raw material to land the Knavesmire’s sprint championship.

Bacio left a competitive field toiling in his wake when winning the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes over the minimum trip at Royal Ascot, scorching clear up the stands rail to win by approaching four lengths.

While Ward concedes they are stepping into unknown territory, they are doing so with the evidence of the clock to back them up, with Bacio winning in a quicker time than it took to run the Group One King Charles III Stakes on the same card.

“Is he up to going up to a stakes race? Well, that is what we are hoping. That’s why we are jumping in at the deep end of the pool,” Ward told the Press Association from his Keeneland base.

“He is an extremely talented horse who has only been beaten once and we are looking forward to this race.”

Ward has endured two close-run things in the Nunthorpe, with his two-year-old Acapuclo holding a clear lead inside the final furlong only to be cut down close home by Mecca’s Angel in 2015 and then, even more agonisingly, with Lady Aurelia who was pipped on the line under Frankie Dettori in 2017.

“On Lady Aurelia I remember Frankie sat up and gave the old salute like he had won it, but I wasn’t quite as sure as him and sure enough we didn’t,” said Ward of the defeat by the slenderest of margins to Sir Mark Prescott’s filly Marsha.

Hitting the bar twice has done nothing to put off the irrepressible Ward and with York generally favouring prominent racers he will attempt to make it third time lucky with his latest Royal Ascot winner.

“It is quite expensive, but being a Group One winner for this guy would make a big difference. We are going to bypass a $2million race down the street – the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Stakes – and we are going to travel.

“It is a race I have been second in twice. It’s a very historic race. It is a front-runners’ track. He will be in front and hopefully, this time, the whole way. He is certainly as fast as racehorses are, that’s for sure.”

Bacio is set to fly via Chicago, landing in Prestwick in Scotland on August 11 before travelling down to York. Ward said: “He will hang out there at the track until we are ready to go, but he will get a breeze between landing and the race.”

“It is quite a trip as we get him down to Chicago five hours away where they walk them out on to the tarmac and then he is packaged up – they put the sides on then the top and raise him up and slide them in on rollers. Like a FedEx package getting mailed anywhere in the world.

“He is going to travel with a pony – Redneck Ways or just ‘Red’ – from the yard which is an added expense but when they have a buddy, a gelding, they don’t seem to fret or lose any weight travelling.

“Bacio is pretty easy going but when you are on your own, it’s like us, it is a lot easier to travel with a friend and it’s the same for horses.”

Once the air miles are banked and he says his goodbyes to his travel buddy in the racecourse stables, it will be over to Bacio. Ward is hoping the colt will be happy enough flying solo up front over the final five furlongs.

Sunday 26th July, 2026 Scandinavia and Trawlerman declared for Goodwood Cup

By Josh Luckhurst, Press Association

Round two between staying heavyweights Trawlerman and Scandinavia is the confirmed highlight on the opening day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival following the final declaration stage.

Aidan O’Brien’s Scandinavia emerged with a thrilling victory over John and Thady Gosden’s eight-year-old in the two-and-a-half-mile Ascot Gold Cup and the pair now go toe-to-toe in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, this time over half a mile shorter.

Rahieeb was eighth at Ascot and tries again for Roger Varian, while the Charlie Johnston-trained Lazy Griff is a fascinating new rival for the big two after winning over this trip at Sandown over this trip last time out.

Queen Alexandra Stakes first and second Illinois and French Master, Amiloc and Miss Alpilles complete the eight-runner field.

Al Hudaiba will look to consolidate his status as one of the leading juveniles over seven furlongs in the Coral Vintage Stakes.

Charlie Appleby’s Dark Angel colt has won on each of three races he has finished – he was leading when he unseated Tom Marquand on his second start at Yarmouth – and was last seen recording a short-head success over O’Brien’s Abraham Lincoln in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.

O’Brien saddles Haffner in this Group Two affair, while the unbeaten Dr Rascal represents Oliver Cole, Pikachu (Johnston), Ruler’s Control (Joseph O’Brien) and Undiscovered (Ralph Beckett) also feature in the field of six.

Qirat shone at this meeting last year with his 150-1 success in the Sussex Stakes and he is one of eight for the HKJC World Pool Stakes alongside Lake Forest, Marvelman, Witness Stand, Rogue Diplomat, Holgium, Poet Master and Lord Britain.

Saturday 25th July, 2026 Nil Bua Gan Dua adds to Joseph O’Brien’s riches

By John O'Riordan, Press Association

Nil Bua Gan Dua continued Joseph O’Brien’s stunning summer when gamely making all after a well-judged ride from Dylan Browne McMonagle in the John Fleming Irish EBF Marble City Stakes at Gowran.

The master of Owning Hill has farmed the top races on both sides of the Irish Sea this season enjoying Classic success in both the English and Irish Oaks and he made sure of success in the mile and a half Listed contest by saddling the first two home.

It was 5-1 shot Nil Bua Gan Dua, who struck for home at the two furlong marker, and he held on by a fast diminishing distance, passing the post a short head in front of stablemate Vauntingly under Joey Sheridan.

O’Brien is likely to raise the sights of the winner next time out. He said: “His focus was much better today with the cheekpieces. Ryan (Moore) just felt he was waiting in front the last time (in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket’s July meeting)

“I thought he won impressively. It was a great run from the filly who finished second as well. I’m delighted to get some black type with her.

“I’d say he’ll go into a Group race now. I think there’s more to come from him. I think he’s quite a good horse. We’ve always tried him quite highly and always had good thoughts about him. He’s not finished yet.”

Saturday 25th July, 2026 Balding revels in joining the greats on King George list

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Andrew Balding may have been brought up on stories of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but he had perhaps never considered Kalpana providing him with his own victory in the Ascot showpiece would leave him scrambling for excuses to avoid a tattoo of his champion mare.

Balding’s Kingsclere home and the midsummer highlight have always been indelibly linked. It is the hallowed training centre from which the first ever winner Supreme Court was sent out in 1951 and also where the trainer’s late father Ian Balding sent out the great Mill Reef to triumph in 1971.

It was also the place his daughter Flora had mused if her father had ever considered a tattoo earlier this week, only to be batted away with a reply Balding could now live to regret after emulating his father only seven months on from his sad passing, to add his own chapter to the Kingsclere-King George anthology.

Balding said: “It’s a big deal and one we’ve always wanted to win. It’s a race that defines your season and also your career and I’m so pleased.

“My daughter asked me the other day if I would ever get a tattoo and I said maybe I’ll get one of Kalpana if she wins the King George, so I hope she doesn’t hold me to that!

“It’s great to emulate my father and as well as Mill Reef he had a couple of near misses with Mrs Penny and Diamond Shoal so it’s a race we’ve grown up watching and hearing stories about.

“I think the first ever winner of this was trained at Kingsclere by Evan Williams and it’s lovely to bring it back home all these years later.”

Last year Colin Keane had sent the Ascot specialist on only to see Kalpana have no answer to Calandagan’s French flair at the finish as he flashed by with an almighty flourish.

Connections may have felt a sense of déjà vu as Keane angled out his mount and unleashed for home, with Mickael Barzalona cranking up the revs aboard Francis-Henri Graffard’s defending champion on the outside.

However, 40 years on from Dancing Brave avenging his Derby disappointment in his rematch with this Shahrastani, it was now time for Kalpana to do the same, as the sharper, battle-hardened Kalpana sustained her charge to add her name to a glittering roll of honour that also includes the great three-time heroine Enable for the same owners.

Balding went on: “We were honestly thrilled last year when she was second because we were worried about the ground, but this is just magic really.

“Looking at the field this year we thought we were just a lively outsider and if you’d have asked me this morning we’d have settled for third.

“There was always a danger she might have been run down again and you could see Calandagan coming down the outside, but for whatever reason this year she just seems leaner and slimmer and easier to train.

“She’s a much finer model this season and I don’t know why, but I’m sure that has made the difference today.”

Kalpana could be given the chance to follow in Dancing Brave’s footsteps again later in the year if tasked with another tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but for now Balding is content to savour every second of the five-year-old’s finest hour.

“She’s a very special filly and it was always a comfortable watch and we’re all thrilled,” said Balding.

“This has always been one of her targets and it would have been very easy for Juddmonte to have retired her at the end of last year but she’s paid them back in spades.

“Juddmonte are a great operation to train for and horses like this, they make my life a lot easier.”

Saturday 25th July, 2026 Graffard: Calandagan had no excuses on the day

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Francis-Henri Graffard offered up no excuses for last year’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Calandagan, admitting his champion gave everything in his repeat bid but lost out to a superior opponent on the day as Kalpana gained her revenge.

Calandagan, sent off the 6-5 favourite, came from the back of the field in the home straight and battled on well to go down by a length and a half 12 months on from inflicting defeat on Andrew Balding’s mare.

Since then Calandagan had cemented his position as the best turf horse in the world with a victory back at Ascot in the Champion Stakes and most memorably of all in the Japan Cup, but he had his colours lowered on this occasion.

“We had less time between Saint-Cloud and today which doesn’t help, especially with the heat we had in France,” said Graffard.

“But, he has been beaten by a good filly who looked fantastic in the paddock before. As a horse I have nothing to blame him for. He tried and he was a good second.

“You just feel sorry for him to be beaten because he doesn’t like that. He gave away a lot of weight today and he always finds himself quite far back. He doesn’t look like a flat horse. She just quickened strongly and he kept trying. That is racing.”

Calandagan, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, stayed on well to finish second with Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini under Ryan Moore another half length back in third and Lambourn with William Buick in fourth.

Aidan O’Brien trained both the third and fourth and insisted he was delighted with the pair’s showing.

“I’m very happy. He (Benvenuto Cellini) ran a great race and his first one against the older horses,” said O’Brien.

“We learned a lot about him. We learned that he gets a mile and a half well which obviously we couldn’t be sure until he did it against the older horses.

“Even going to the line he didn’t look finished. He could go to the Breeders’ Cup. Lambourn has run well as well and he’s a dual Derby winner and is a good solid horse.”

Saturday 25th July, 2026 Kalpana gets King George revenge on Calandagan

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Kalpana battled her way to a thrilling victory in the international clash of the generations landing a thrilling King George VI And Queen Stakes at Ascot.

Wearing the same Juddmonte colours carried to victory by three-time winner Enable, the five-year-old mare exacted sweet revenge on her conqueror 12 months earlier when she had finished second to Calandagan.

Sweeping into the lead well over a furlong out off the back of a ferocious pace set by Ballydoyle pacemaker Action, the Andrew Balding-trained mare powered clear up the straight.

From there to the line she galloped on strongly to hold off the surge of last year’s winner Calandagan to win by one and a half lengths at 13-2.

Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini stayed on well to finish third under Ryan Moore with last year’s dual Derby winner Lambourn in fourth.

A field containing the last two winners, Derby heroes, two Japanese raiders, the Arc second and the winners of multiple Group Ones looked on paper the race of year. And on the track it did not disappoint.

Saturday 25th July, 2026 Amazing Journey continues in International for Osborne

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Jamie Osborne worked his magic once again to win the £150,000 Moet & Chandon International Handicap with Amazing Journey.

Osborne was winning the prestigious handicap for a third time after Field Of Dreams (2012) and Raising Sand (2019) and this time his daughter Saffie was on board, who continues her fine run in the saddle.

The lightly-raced favourite Extremely Zain travelled to the front looking menacing but Amazing Journey (4-1), stepping back up to seven furlongs, powered away from him, eventually beating Two Tribes and Aalto by a length and a quarter with the favourite only fourth.

Osborne said of the well-backed winner: “I have said all week that I couldn’t understand why this horse was the price he was as he was the only one 5lb well-in and looked like he was on the upgrade.

“It looked the right time to have a shot from the bottom of the weights at something like this and the market probably woke up and realised.

“He’s gone and won it well and he’s clearly decent. Did I think he would win with that amount of ease? No.

“The race didn’t go perfectly and he actually has been slow away most of his life but he jumped the gates well today and Saffie was a bit more prominent than we had intended to be.

“But it never really looked in doubt to me and I know Saffie’s body language inside out and from three out I didn’t have a doubt! She’s given him a great ride and she’s having a great run.”

Ed Walker is already looking ahead to the future after Never Enough proved more than enough with a professional front-running display in the opening Dentakay EBF Crocker Bulteel ‘Confined’ Maiden Stakes.

Sent off the 11-8 favourite after going close at Windsor on debut, he was always to the fore under William Buick and kept forging on for a taking length and a half success.

“I really like the horse that beat him at Windsor (Captaincy) and he has always shown to be a nice horse at home,” said Walker.

“I was almost surprised by his debut when he was second and he’s come on well from that so I’m thrilled.

“He’s a big horse and the dam was a good two-year-old (Frenetic) but I think this lad has scope to go on in the future.

“It’s very important he gets some black type for the mare and hopefully he can step up and William is adamant he could go a bit further.”

The son of No Nay Never was cut to 33-1 from 100s for the Gimcrack Stakes at York next month, but Walker may take a tentative approach, anticipating next season as the time for his exciting prospect to shine.

“I think we could stay at six furlongs for now given how well he jumped and travelled and then as he sharpens up mentally he could be an exciting one for the future,” added Walker.

“Whether we go for a novice with a penalty or something nicer I’m not sure as he’s still a little backwards both mentally and physically.

“I’m not sure we’ll throw him into something smoking hot just yet, so maybe he isn’t ready for a Gimcrack, but he could be a very nice three-year-old and I would love to have a crack maybe an autumn stakes race with him.”

Saturday 25th July, 2026 Item bounces back with smooth York win

By Press Association Sport Reporters

Item put his Derby flop at Epsom behind him when producing a powerful staying performance to land the Sky Bet York Stakes.

Back at the scene of his Dante triumph on the Knavesmire in May and back at 10 furlongs, Andrew Balding’s three-year-old became the first winner from the Classic generation to land the Group Two contest since Best Alibi in 2006.

In doing so he proved his Epsom disappointment when ninth as a well-backed 11-2 shot was all wrong.

After initially appearing to labour behind leaders Pride Of Arras and Royal Champion two furlongs out, Rob Hornby got the colt’s head in front with a furlong to go.

From there to the line he pulled away strongly to win by two and three-quarters of a length at 3-1 from Pride Of Arras in second.

Balding said: “It was a great performance and it’s never easy with a penalty but he looked to be doing it well at the end.

“He’s beaten some nice horses there so you have to be delighted.

“I haven’t discussed or thought about plans at the moment but he has a lot of interesting entries and he deserves another go in a Group One.

“I’m pleased and relieved. Obviously we went to Epsom with high hopes and it didn’t happen but he got back on track today. It’s never easy winning with a penalty but he’s done it and it encourages us too have another go at a Group One.”

While Epsom had not gone according to plan, winning rider Hornby suggested the colt improved for the experience.

Hornby said: “He has shown a bit of resilience to come back from what was a hard race for a lightly-raced three-year-old in the Derby on very soft conditions and coming back here today on ground which is more to his liking it has worked out well.

“Epsom would have been tough but it might just have made a man of him. He has relaxed beautifully today, is a big powerful horse and he has a big stride, but it’s all about just getting things the right way round.

“He hit a bit of a flat spot but he was strong at the line and he is racing more professionally and is growing up. This is only his fifth run and he has beaten older horses today.”

Saturday 25th July, 2026 Kon Tiki stamps authority on Valiant Stakes

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Kon Tiki defied a market drift but benefited from a supreme Ryan Moore ride to win the Longines Valiant Stakes at Ascot.

Jane Chapple-Hyam’s four-year-old had run a fine race in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at the Royal meeting in fourth but was coming up against the Coronation Stakes runner-up Touleen, and conceding weight to that rival.

The Owen Burrows-trained favourite was trapped three wide coming off the bend and never looked particularly happy, while Moore had Kon Tiki just behind the leader, Pina Sonata.

Kon Tiki (7-2) kicked clear a furlong out and put the race to bed while Brian Meehan’s Esna made late gains for second a length and a quarter away. Skydance pipped Touleen for third.

Winning owner Peter Harris was absent as he was attending the wedding of his grandson so no doubt there will have been celebrations all around.

Chapple-Hyam said: “We’ve always believed in her and today was her day so I’m thrilled.

“She’s a big girl and I was nervous this morning as I thought she would run a big race. She’s trained well since Royal Ascot where she got a bump at the start and it kind of cost her any chance. When you get a bump in a big field from a wide draw like that you are out of contention.

“Ryan has given her a peach today and I think she’s better than a Group Three horse. I think she’s probably capable of winning a Group Two and if we’re honest maybe placing in a Group One if we get to one.

“I would love to have a go at the Sun Chariot with her but that’s a few months away and we’ll have to see how she is. But I like her very much.

“We have given her plenty of time and she’s pitched up today and shown her quality and hopefully she can go on for the rest of the season and produce the goods again.”

Burrows said of  Touleen: “There’s no excuse and you could maybe point towards the ground being a bit quick the way she hung as she’s had a few runs on quick ground now. Something may come to light but at the moment that’s all I can think of really.

“We’ll regroup now and give her a bit of time and go again once we get some rain.”

Saturday 25th July, 2026 Moonrise holds on to claim Princess Margaret honours

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Moonrise backed up a second placed finish at the Royal meeting with a win in the Group Three Princess Margaret Japan Cup at Ascot.

The Andrew Balding-trained two-year-old was runner-up to King Of Cloughan in the Windsor Castle Stakes over the same course and distance last month.

But stepping up in grade, the Churchill filly travelled well before taking it up a furlong from home and holding on close home to win at 11-2, three- quarters of a length in front of the fast finishing Dee’s Funny Girl under Ryan Moore.

Paddy Twomey’s Velozee picked up more valuable black type in third.

Balding said: “She got a nice lead into it today which helped and she was then strong at the end as well which helped, so we’re very pleased.

“She had done some nice work before the Windsor Castle and we were hopeful of a big run and she nearly did it, but I would be very happy with today’s performance.

“Donnacha O’Brien’s horse  (Dee’s Funny Girl) was coming and you are always fearful until you have crossed the line. But it was great to see keep on well.

“She’s in the Lowther and that looks the next logical step, but after that is a long way away to be thinking back just yet. There’s plenty of races we can be looking at.”

Saturday 25th July, 2026 Bethell bids for more Pomfret glory with Point Lynas

By Gideon Brooks, Press Association

Ed Bethell is hoping history repeats itself in more ways than one when he lines up Point Lynas for his third Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract on Sunday.

Point Lynas was an all-the-way winner of the Listed contest in 2024, coming home unchallenged by five and a half lengths, but a follow-up bid 12 months ago fell flat with the now seven-year-old finishing last of the six runners.

With hindsight Bethell put that disappointing run down to the gelding having a tough race when finishing second in the Group Two Summer Mile at Ascot two weeks before his repeat bid.

So having swerved this year’s Summer Mile only to watch this weekend’s chief rival Holloway Boy finish runner-up, Bethell is keeping his fingers crossed that lightning might strike twice.

“Holloway Boy is the one to beat here after he ran so well to finish second in the Summer Mile but we did that last year and it left its mark on us so it might be the same this year with him,” said Bethell.

“We had initially been looking at the Ascot race again this time around but it turned out to be a Group One in all but name so we opted out in order to keep him fresh for this so it is fingers crossed.”

Karl Burke’s Holloway Boy certainly sets the form standard after chasing home stablemate Zeus Olympios in the Ascot Group Two a fortnight ago.

But the six-year-old has won just three races in 29 attempts and is without a win on turf in 13 runs stretching back to September 2024.

Bethell added: “We are looking forward to running as Point Lynas obviously likes it round there so we will keep our fingers crossed he gets a good trip round but we are under no illusions Holloway Boy is going to be hard to beat.

Meanwhile, David O’Meara will make a late call on the participation of Cerulean Bay, with the gelding a possibility to be redirected to Goodwood next week if forecast rain does not arrive in West Yorkshire.