Saturday’s action
The loss of Sandown’s Imperial Cup card ensured it was a low-key Saturday on the domestic racing front.
A double at Ayr saw Brian Hughes extend his lead over Richard Johnson in the jockeys’ title race to 19 winners, the current champion drawing a blank with his three rides in Scotland.
Johnson bids to fight back with four mounts at Warwick today with Hughes not in action again until Monday.
The Lincoln Trial Handicap at Wolverhampton went to the Ed Walker-trained Assimilation under Luke Morris, while Ryan Moore recorded a comfortable success on the Richard Hannon-trained Urban Icon in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes.
Barney’s back
The Charlie Appleby-trained Barney Roy secured the second Group 1 of his career on Saturday with a decisive victory over stable companions Magic Lily and Spotify in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan.
Winner of the 2017 St James’s Palace Stakes as a three-year-old, Barney Roy proved sub-fertile at stud and now races as a gelding for Godolphin.
He was delivered from off the pace by William Buick, scoring by a length and three-quarters, and will now take in the Dubai Turf ahead of a European campaign.
Today’s racing
The Leinster National (3m) is the most valuable race on Naas’s card today. Six-year-olds Castle Oliver and The Long Mile, representing trainers Padraig Roche and Philip Dempsey, both look to be improving and give owner JP McManus a strong hand in the staying contest.
Warwick stages an eight-race jumps card while there is a mixed programme at Southwell.
Gold Cup dozen
Twelve runners remain in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, including last year’s victor Al Boum Photo, one of three runners for Willie Mullins along with Kemboy and Real Steel.
Paul Nicholls relies on his dual King George VI Chase hero Clan Des Obeaux, Nicky Henderson supplies Santini, racing for his owner-breeder Richard Kelvin Hughes, and Lostintranslation and Elegant Escape represent the Colin Tizzard stable.
Bristol De Mai, Chris’s Dream, Delta Work, Monalee and Presenting Percy complete the field.
