Sunday 20th September, 2026 Run Ted Run remains unbeaten as Mullins enjoys Listowel treble

By Thomas Weekes, Press Association

Run Ted Run maintained his unbeaten record to initiate an opening-day treble for Willie Mullins at the Harvest Festival at Listowel.

The five-year-old was a 4-6 favourite off the back of a successful bumper debut at Galway and knuckled down to make a winning transition to the jumping game under Paul Townend in the Kinisla Dairygold Maiden Hurdle, seeing off Too Hot To Trot by a length and a quarter.

Mullins said: “He must be a fair machine to put in a performance like that as he was running away (keenly) and was so wound up. His stamina and jumping came into play and he needed all of it to fight off his rivals one by one.

“I thought it was a very brave performance over that trip and first time out over hurdles, so I think we might just give him an easy time now before going for a novice.”

The Closutton team were on the mark again in the following Kinisla Kerrymaid Rated Novice Chase, as another recent Galway winner Ocastle Des Mottes doubled his tally over fences with a fine jumping display as the 5-4 market leader.

“Having won in Galway, it shows how versatile he is to win going left-handed on a flat track today,” Mullins added.

“He likes that trip but Paul felt he’d like more of a dig in the ground. It took him six runs to win over fences but he is a forward going two-miler and we are only now learning how to train him.”

Green Hint (8-13 favourite) never had a moment of worry as he cantered to a dominating seven-and-a-half length victory in the Kinisla Farm & Home Store (Pro/Am) Flat Race.

Mullins said: “He is a nice horse and one could say he is a winter horse, but we just got him ready earlier. He finished second in the Goffs Defender Bumper and looks a nice winter type.

“I’ll have a word with the owners and see if they want to go hurdling, or stay bumpering this season. The way he did that today, he could be one for the Cheltenham bumper as he’ll improve away, so we’ll see.”

The champion trainer was double-handed in the feature Kinisla Handicap Chase, but his runners Jalila Moriviere and Where’s My Jet had to make do with second and fourth respectively as 12-1 shot Net Boy ran out a nine-length winner for Barry Connell and Sean Flanagan.

Having registered a first chase win impressively at Ballinrobe in the spring, Net Boy was disappointingly pulled up on his next start at Killarney in July, but he bounced back in impressive fashion.

Connell said: “He has really only had one-and-a-half runs over fences as he went at the third fence at Leopardstown and pulled a shoe when pulling up at Killarney. As a result, I thought the others would have too much experience for him.

“It was a €45,000 handicap which is a lot for this grade of horses so it was grand to get it done. He is a two-miler and is a young man’s ride.

“He jumped them like a set of hurdles and Sean wasn’t taking a pull. He got away with it today because it is Listowel, but I’d be hoping he’ll learn a little bit if he is to go to Leopardstown, or places like that.

“There is a 0-130 at Leopardstown over Christmas for him, and if he gets up higher, there is the likes of the Dan Moore Chase.”

Danny Power defied his pre-race antics when bolting up by eight-and-a-half lengths in the Kinisla Charleville Cheese 3-Y-O Hurdle under Darragh O’Keefe.

O’Keeffe completed a quickfire double in the following Kinisla Cheestrings Irish EBF Mares Hurdle, as Eric McNamara’s 6-5 favourite Tumbling In followed up a first career win at Roscommon last month with a 16-length demolition job.

Fraher Field was a 14-1 winner of the Kinisla Bloom Feeds Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle for John and Thomas Kiely and 5lb claimer Alan O’Sullivan.

Sunday 20th September, 2026 Saffie Osborne points to Ballydoyle spell as key in her development

By Chris Phillips, Press Association

Saffie Osborne credits a season at Ballydoyle as pivotal to her rise to the top of British racing.

The 24-year-old made history last weekend, becoming the first female rider to win a British Classic after steering Highwayman to glory in the 250th Betfred St Leger at Doncaster.

Osborne is on track to enjoy the most successful year of her career having partnered 74 winners from 506 rides in Britain, with the 87 she managed in 2024 the highest return so far.

As well as learning from Aidan O’Brien, a trip to Australia also played a key role in the progression of the multi-talented Osborne, who was a highly-decorated event rider in her teens.

“I went to Ballydoyle and spent a season there and it was incredible. I learned so much and rode some amazing horses,” she said.

“It was sort of like the kid walking into a candy shop. I’d gone from riding out for dad (trainer and former jump jockey Jamie Osborne) and then walking into Ballydoyle where every horse has a name on the saddle cloth and you’re looking at the likes of Kew Gardens, Japan and all these incredible horses – I was just there in total awe.

“That was amazing and then I spent the winter in Australia with Ciaron Maher. Then he told me I’d had too much fun so he spent me to Gai Waterhouse for a month – it was amazing.

“I’ve grown up in racing and I really understand the whole picture. I’ve grown up being obsessed with it and I think going to Aidan’s and then going to Australia stood me in really good stead because I got a really good overview of the industry.”

Osborne was a European Championship medallist in the eventing sphere, but admits racing was always closest to her heart.

She said: “I did three European Championships and won five medals in that time and won British Championships. I entered up to four-star level, which is the one just below Badminton and Burleigh and all of that. When you’re 16 that feels like the be all and end all, so it’s extremely competitive.

“You just have to look at British Eventing and how well they’re doing at the senior level to realise how competitive it is – they’re winning absolutely everything.

“I loved eventing, it was great, but as soon as I started riding out (racehorses) there was a lightbulb moment because I thought ‘this is what I want to do’.”

Osborne believes the door is open for female riders at the top of the sport if they prove they are good enough, as the likes of Hollie Doyle and Hayley Turner demonstrated prior to Osborne’s historic success on Town Moor.

“I don’t think there is a lack of opportunity for female riders – I haven’t been viewed any differently. I was like any other apprentice just starting that wasn’t Billy Loughnane and it takes a while for you to really get the hang of it and get good,” she added.

“I’ve been riding for six years now and this year and last year are really the times I’ve got these big opportunities, and I think that’s right. I wasn’t ready to have opportunities like this four years ago.

“There are plenty of days sat in that weighing room and I’m the only girl there, and that’s a lot of the time now with Hollie being injured, but I think the girls that have done well have proven that if you’re good enough, you’ll do well.”

Sunday 20th September, 2026 Lake Forest camp targeting American riches

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Having conquered Australia in his younger years, Lake Forest will now be given the chance to master America, as connections plot a two-race Stateside adventure for the consistent globetrotter.

It was back in November 2024 that the son of No Nay Never plundered a huge bounty in the Golden Eagle and while did not manage a victory last season, he has regained the winning thread this term by landing the Spring Trophy at Haydock and the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.

Now the William Haggas-trained five-year-old will cross the Atlantic in search of further riches, firstly tackling the $1.25million Coolmore Turf Mile on October 3 before returning to Keeneland a month later for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, where the City of York Stakes runner-up will face a rematch with his Knavesmire conqueror Notable Speech.

“The plan is to go to America and William is very happy with him,” said Sean Graham, racing manager for Tony Bloom who owns the gelding alongside Ian McAleavy.

“He might have a race in America before the Breeders’ Cup, but the Breeders’ Cup Mile is the main objective.

“The horse has been all the way to Australia twice and back and touch wood is a good traveller. If you’re travelling a horse for the first time you never know how they will take it but he’s a proven round the world traveller and that’s a big box ticked.”

Sunday 20th September, 2026 Scott happy to swerve Arc with Bay City Roller if ground unsuitable

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

George Scott would be happy to switch Bay City Roller to the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes at Ascot if conditions at ParisLongchamp are deemed unsuitable for his planned tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

A Group One winner in Germany last year, the four-year-old proved he also has what it takes to mix it with the best on home soil when bolting up a soft ground Coronation Cup at Epsom in early June and he was last seen chasing home last season’s Arc hero Daryz in the Prix Foy.

Scott would love to send his charge back across the Channel for a likely rematch with Daryz in Europe’s premier middle-distance contest in a fortnight’s time, but revealed that if sufficient rain does not fall on the Bois de Boulogne, he is likely to wait for Champions Day on October 17.

“The horse is training beautifully, we couldn’t be happier with him,” the Newmarket handler said at the Henry Cecil Open Weekend on Sunday morning.

“There has just been a little bit of rain come in the forecast. I think with the weather forecast for like 10 days you can predict, anything after that is a little bit of a lottery, but literally in the last 24 hours they’ve been showing some rain in Paris.

“Our Plan A is absolutely to go to Paris for the Arc, but we won’t be running if it’s watered ground – it has to be soft enough so that they’re not having to water, otherwise we’ll go to the Champion Stakes and then the Breeders’ Cup.

“I don’t really want to take him to France and not run. He’d leave on the Friday morning, so you’ll probably have a pretty good idea by then and if there’s rain swirling round he’ll travel, but I feel quite relaxed about Plan B – I love that idea of running in the Champion Stakes if the ground was soft because you wouldn’t necessarily see Ombudsman or Calandagan.”

When asked whether there was a possibility his charge could run in both races, he added: “100 per cent. Last year his best run was in Germany which came off the back of running two weeks, two weeks, two weeks almost – he’s a hardy horse.”

If Bay City Roller is given the green light to head back to Paris, he will be part of what looks a strong Scott contingent being readied for the Arc meeting.

“We’ve got eight possibles across the two days, depending on the weather,” the trainer added.

“We’ve got Caballo De Mar going back for the Prix du Cadran, Ridari will go for either the Prix Daniel Wildenstein or the Prix Dollar and Wimbledon Hawkeye is going for the Dollar.

“We’ve also got two horses for the handicaps – Commander’s Intent is going to run over a mile and then Command The Stars can either go a mile or a mile and a quarter.

“If it got soft Poatan could go for the Abbaye and I would give Forty Years On a chance in the Foret if it rained enough, but it probably won’t and they’ll probably both run at Ascot a week Saturday.”

Sunday 20th September, 2026 Craig Williams booked for Braddock mount in Melbourne Cup

By John O'Riordan, Press Association

Veteran Australian jockey Craig Williams has been booked to partner Derby third James J Braddock in the Melbourne Cup, but Joseph O’Brien’s other riding plans for the Flemington showpiece are still to be confirmed.

The 49-year-old – who landed the ‘race that stops a nation’ with Vow And Declare in 2019 – has been snapped up by the gelding’s part-owner, Australian-based Aziz Kheir.

O’Brien could have as many as 10 runners, with St Leger winner Highwayman high up on his list of possibles.

“The second quarantine hasn’t started yet so we still have to get there,” said O’Brien.

“Of the ones that we have entered, they are all being programmed towards the race.

“Omni Man and Starford are going to run in the Caulfield Cup, so they are going down on the first shipment.

“Kizlyar and Small Fry are both going down in the first shipment as well because they probably need to win in Australia to get into the race. The other ones are on the second shipment with the intention of going there.

“Craig Williams is booked for James J Braddock. Aziz Kheir got that sorted during the week. The other ones are undecided as yet.

“Highwayman is the obvious one given he is on the back of a Group One win, but he has plenty of weight for a three-year-old.”

Sunday 20th September, 2026 Darley Stakes next on agenda for Haatem after American success

By Press Association Sport Reporters

Newmarket’s Darley Stakes is next on Haatem’s agenda after providing trainer Richard Hannon with his first American success earlier this month.

A dual winner at Royal Ascot having won the Jersey Stakes in 2024 and the Wolferton Stakes last year, the Wathnan Racing-owned five-year-old claimed the most lucrative victory of his career to date in the Grade Three Mint Millions Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs a fortnight ago.

Haatem will now bid for a first win of the year on home soil in Group Three company on the Rowley Mile on October 10.

Speaking on Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday programme, Hannon said: “It was great to break new ground and have a winner over in the States. It was my first American winner, my dad (Richard Hannon senior) didn’t have one and it was kind of a monkey off our back.

“I’m delighted that horse could do it because he’s a very special horse and it’s typical of him to do that. We had a big welcome back for him and he was (already) a special horse after his two wins at Royal Ascot over different trips – he can pretty much do anything.”

Haatem looks set for another trip across the Atlantic before the year is out, with Hannon adding: “We’re looking at the Darley Stakes now at Newmarket and then probably the Man o’War Stakes at Belmont.

“I didn’t actually go (to Kentucky Downs), which kind of tempts me not to go back, but it was great and we have got some more (American runners) in the pipeline – Persica might go to the Man o’War as well and Dover Street and Pershaada might go to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Sunday 20th September, 2026 Paborus all set for Champions Day assignment

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Paborus looks set for a Qatar Racing British Champions Day rematch with Haydock conqueror Almeraq, as Ed Bethell appears to have committed the smart five-year-old to sprinting.

The winner of Newcastle’s Chipchase Stakes in his first outing over six furlongs in June, he returned to his tried and tested seven furlongs for Group One action in last month’s City of York Stakes, finishing down the field behind Notable Speech.

He dropped back in trip for Haydock’s Sprint Cup, where he was clearly best of the rest behind the brilliant William Haggas-trained winner, and the pair are in line to lock horns again in the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes on October 17.

Bethell said: “I’m very happy with him and he’s come out of Haydock well, so I think it is all systems go for British Champions Day.

“Unfortunately we’ll have to try to take on Almeraq again and we’ll try to latch onto his coattails and get a bit closer, but Paborus is in really good form and I’ve been delighted with how he’s come out of the race.”

The early stages of Paborus’ career were spent campaigning over seven furlongs and even a mile, but having returned from a year off the track as good as ever, Bethell believes the Wathnan Racing-owned gelding has more to give in the sprint division.

He added: “We’ve tried him over further and did a mile once, but we sort of knew a mile wouldn’t be his thing, and when we went seven furlongs in the City of York Stakes his run just seemed to peter out in the final furlong. I think at that level he does just want to be at six furlongs and allowed to sprint.

“I do think he’s getting quicker and his training at home is suggesting that too. He’s looking like he’s really learning to sprint and it’s very exciting and lovely to have a horse like him in the yard.

“He’s a very talented horse obviously and it’s great to see him show this level of form after his time off. He’s still lightly raced and hopefully there is more to come from him over the next couple of years. We’ll try to keep the wheels on the track and then go from there.”

Sunday 20th September, 2026 Charlie Appleby readying juvenile aces for Group One action

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

With his string in red-hot form, Charlie Appleby is poised to send the cream of his juvenile crop in search of top honours in the coming weeks.

Both Desert Castle and Musical Times enhanced their reputations with first Group-level successes in the Champagne and May Hill Stakes respectively during last week’s St Leger Festival at Doncaster, shooting up towards the head of the betting for next year’s Classics in the process.

The former is now pencilled in for duty on home Newmarket soil in the Dewhurst Stakes next month, a race Appleby has won with Pinatubo (2019), Native Trail (2021) and Shadow Of Light (2024) previously.

“I didn’t want to be too confident, but I’d have been disappointed if he’d got beat in the Champagne,” said Appleby.

“He’s come out of it well, and it’s a straightforward task to head to the Dewhurst. He’s still learning.”

Musical Times could join her stablemate at the Dubai Future Champions Festival, having been pencilled in for the previous day’s bet365 Fillies’ Mile.

However, Appleby is reserving the right to send the exciting daughter of Lope De Vega to France a week earlier if conditions dictate.

“Musical Times has come out of her race well and the priority would be the Fillies’ Mile, but if it’s quick ground at Newmarket and a bit slower in France, then we could go to the Prix Marcel Boussac with her,” he continued.

“I think she’s versatile, but if you want to see the best of her, I think the slower the ground, the better.”

Notable Speech aside, the trophy cabinet has looked somewhat barren at Moulton Paddocks this summer as the big-races on the calendar have come and gone without significant contribution from one of Newmarket’s powerhouse stables.

However, for Appleby there was never a cause for concern, as his steadfast commitment to the tried and tested is beginning to bear fruit with a phenomenal September that has so far yielded 15 winners from 24 runners.

“I always say keep going and don’t change the recipe if it works,” said Appleby.

“Everyone is allowed their freedom of speech, as they say, but I was never worried. Yes, you could say they were running badly earlier this season because they weren’t winning, but they just weren’t good enough to win, it was as simple as that.

“You have to drop them down a peg and the older horses are all starting to find their level now. They all have to find their level and as much as from the outside it might look disappointing, as long as internally you’re not worried about it, then keep a steady hand on the tiller and it will come right.

“The older horses, the likes of Cerro Blanco, Distant Storm and Talk Of New York, they are all capable of winning Group Ones I feel and therefore if we give them time and let everyone else go out and have their tear-up, we’ll just play a waiting game and run them when we’re ready.”

Central to the Appleby resurgence has been the crack team of juveniles he is assembling at a time of year when his youngsters are often seen coming to the fore.

As well as the aforementioned A-team of Desert Castle and Musical Times, a productive two days at Newbury has seen the gigantic Bin Jahwar enter the picture for next year’s Derby, while Nabati gave the Godolphin handler a second successive Mill Reef Stakes.

Meanwhile in the first fixture back at the Rowley Mile, Appleby saw Flower Show impress when opening her account at the second attempt, while he has also scooped Group One honours in the juvenile division across the pond in Canada thanks to Al Hudaiba.

Appleby continued: “I’ve always been half confident with the two-year-olds, but the hardest part can be when you’re in the position we were in the spring and you’re still not wanting to train the two-year-olds. When the older horses aren’t performing, it’s very easy to think, ‘I have to go and start to bring some ammunition out’.

“I’m lucky in the position I’m in where I can just say ‘right lads, don’t worry’. we just have to let these two-year-olds come and they’ll repay us. If I started training them early on, when the older horses weren’t turning up, they’d be burnt out, or something would have gone wrong.

“Sometimes you’ve got to just tread water a bit, and then they’ll find their way.”