13 May

LION WILL “IMPROVE A TON” FOR YORK RETURN

O’Brien assesses Derby favourite ahead of Al Basti Equiworld ,Dubai Dante Stakes bid 

TRAINER Aidan O’Brien is expecting The Lion In Winter to progress significantly from his intended 2025 return in the feature race of Thursday, the  Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Dante Stakes, at York.

The Sea The Stars colt was last seen in action in August, winning the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes in superb fashion on the Knavesmire.

Ballydoyle stablemates have impressed in a series of recent Derby trials, but The Lion In Winter remains at the head of the market for the most famous Classic of them all.

Now O’Brien has The Lion In Winter set to take his seasonal bow on the Knavesmire in this week’s £180,000 Group 2 – a renowned proving ground for potential Epsom horses, with eleven previous double winners.

O’Brien said: “We’re delighted that it looks like he’s going to make it. We weren’t sure he would – he’s been off a long time. But with the Derby in mind, it was the perfect prep. Obviously, it’s a very good Derby trial. 

“There’s two more two days to go, but it looks like he’s going to be fine. He’s going to improve a ton from whatever he does.

“Hopefully, he’s going to run well and that we’ve enough done with him to help him to run well. But I’m looking forward to it and to see what’s going to happen.

“It’s going to be very interesting. Hopefully, we have him in a good enough place to show what his potential could be.”

The Lion In Winter has not raced beyond seven furlongs before and Thursday’s extended 10-furlong race appears likely to indicate whether he will have the necessary stamina for the Derby 

O’Brien said: “You can never be sure. He doesn’t work like a mile and a half horse, really. He works like a miler. 

“I know most Sea The Stars do stay, but obviously we’re going to have to wait and see first before we can be really sure of anything.”

O’Brien is planning to send just one runner for the race, as is the case for Wednesday’s Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, for which he has declared Whirl.

She landed a Group 3 as a two-year-old before finishing sixth of nine when taking on her elders over a mile at The Curragh in the Park Express Stakes in the first half of April.

O’Brien said: “We had to give her time to get over that and then decide where we want to go and the Musidora looked the perfect race if she was going to be an Oaks filly. We always thought she wanted much further than a mile – always thought that she would stay.”

O’Brien also confirmed that Continuous is another intended Ballydoyle runner at York. He ran down the field in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in April and comes back in trip for the Group 2 Boodles Yorkshire Cup on Friday.

12 May

IN-FORM BURROWS TO BRING NAKHEEL AND GLITTERING SURF TO YORK

OWEN Burrows is hoping his string can maintain its flying form this week in which two of his leading lights line up at York.

Group 2-winner Nakheel will run in Thursday’s Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Middleton Fillies Stakes.

Connections have chosen the extended mile and a quarter option ahead of the four-year-old’s other Dante Festival entry in the Boodles Yorkshire Cup, to be staged 24 hours later.

And unbeaten filly, Glittering Surf, entered at Royal Ascot for the Group 1 Coronation Stakes, will seek to enhance her credentials on Friday in the Sky Bet Fillies Stakes (registered as the Michael Seely Memorial Stakes).

The pair are at the centre of an exciting week of action for Burrows, who currently has an incredible 45 per cent strike-rate for 2025.

Lambourn-based Burrows said: “I’ve never started like this. I think we’re nine from 20 – that’s crazy stats and I know it won’t continue like that.

“Going into this season, I felt we had a decent bunch of horses. I’m thrilled with how they have run – credit to my team, everybody is working hard. 

“This week, I’m looking forward to getting out Nakheel. I’ve got a one-time runner and winner last year – a Wootton Bassett filly (Sea Poetry) – running at Kempton on Thursday. I’ve got my first two-year-old runners this week, which is unheard of for me at this time of year! So that is exciting. It is going well and long may it continue.”  

Lightly-raced Nakheel, who triumphed in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, is kept to her own sex in the £150,000 Group 2 on the Knavesmire.

Burrows said: “She looks a bit sharper this year – we’ll give her a shot in the Middleton. 

“We may have to take the boys on at some stage, but I just didn’t feel I wanted to do that first-time up over near enough a mile and six in the Cup. 

“In an ideal world, I’d love York to have got a drop of rain. She does seem to appreciate a little bit of juice in the ground, but she goes on fast ground.

“Physically, she’s done very well through the winter – I’ve been very pleased with her. We need to get her season started.

“She’s a Group 2 winner, so we’d love to try and make her a Group 1 winner. I like the idea of the Champions Day Fillies and Mares. Normally always plenty of juice in the ground, a mile and a half round there (Ascot) would really suit her.” 

Burrows, who trains a string numbering in the mid-60s, also oversees a talented three-year-old filly in the shape of Glittering Surf.

She built on a Kempton maiden win with victory in a conditions stakes at the same course and is being primed for her first start on turf.

Burrows said: “She’s done nothing wrong. She didn’t learn a lot first time – she went out in front and made all. 

“I was keen for her to learn a bit last time and she certainly did. She does enough at home that you know she’s pretty decent, but I was pleasantly surprised. The speed she showed between three and a half to one and a half surprised me a bit, to be honest.   

“She’s in good form. Hopefully it will be nice safe fast ground – York does a very good job – because she is a big girl, she’s got a bit of knee action.” 

10 May

Nightwalker set for Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Dante tilt

Thursday is set to be a big day for Juddmonte with their distinctive green, pink and white colours set to be carried by Nightwalker in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Dante Stakes.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained three-year-old took third place in the Feilden Stakes, a nine-furlong Listed contest staged at Newmarket last month.

And he was one of 14 colts to remain in York’s £180,000 Group 2, a renowned Derby trial that has served as a stepping stone for eleven subsequent Epsom victors and plenty of classy types besides.

Mahon said: “I think he needed his first run this year in the Feilden. I think John and Thady concentrated on relaxing him over the winter and they felt after the race that maybe they switched him off a little bit too much. He raced very lazily and sleepily in the race and finished well, looking like an extra furlong would suit him. He’s come forward nicely for that run."

9 May

Burke primed with trio for Clipper 1895 Duke Of York Stakes

KARL Burke is targeting Wednesday’s Clipper 1895 Duke of York Stakes with three speedsters – including a colt he hopes can reach the top.

Middleham-based Burke believes Night Raider has all the attributes to make up into a Group 1 performer, noting that Mill Stream, winner of the 2024 renewal, made this step up.

The four-year-old son of Dark Angel certainly proved a progressive type in 2024, signing off with a Listed success at Newcastle.

And Burke now has Night Raider poised for his seasonal return in the £150,000 Group 2 staged over six furlongs at York.

Burke said: “I think he’s a Group 1 sprinter in the making. He’s got to prove that he does it on grass, but I have no doubt that he will.

“He’s a lovely, big scopey horse. He’s probably quick enough for five furlongs, but he obviously stays six and he’s actually won two small races over seven, so he’s got a lot going for him.”

Stable-mates Elite Status and Marshman are on course to join Night Raider on the Knavesmire.

Four-year-old Elite Status is ready for his first start of the season, in contrast to Marshman who has been running on the all-weather and also finished third in the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster.

Burke said: “Elite Status is another we’re hoping can develop into a Group 1 horse. He’s a very good horse, but he probably wouldn’t have the natural speed that Night Raider’s got, but he stays the six very strongly. It’s a shame they have to run against each other, but it looks like they will do.

“Marshman was a bit of a last-minute theme but, with the low entry, I would have thought he could well take his chance. He’s very fit, obviously. He probably prefers a little bit slower ground. He’s a good, solid Listed, Group 3 horse.”

On the same card, Burke has also entered promising filly Serving With Style in the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes.

She showed up well last autumn when taking second spot in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket.

Burke said: “She’s been ready to go for a while – she’s a good quality filly. I thought at the end of last season she’d definitely be staying a mile and a quarter-plus and she’s actually got a little bit quicker, I think, watching her work. But York’s a nice flat mile and a quarter. Her best form last season was with cut in the ground.”

The trainer appears to have another strong two-year-old team, including Love Olivia, a seven-and-half-length winner of a Wolverhampton maiden. She is being prepared for the Clipper EBF Marygate Stakes, a five-furlong Listed race for juvenile fillies on the Friday of this opening festival.

Burke said: “We could possibly have another entry in that, but it’s definitely Love Olivia’s target there.”      

9 May

Walker to bring talented improvers to 2025 Dante Festival at York

7 May

Godolphin on the Dante Trail

Following a truly memorable weekend for Team Godolphin, trainer Charlie Appleby indicated to ITV that they had further ambitions for one of their winners.

The unbeaten Alpine Trail is likely to be supplemented for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante, with the unbeaten colt hoping to step up again in quality after recent success at Listed level.

6 May

Improving duo target the Marygate

Trainer Michael Bell believes he may have a standout on his hands after Spicy Marg produced a commanding performance at Newmarket over Guineas weekend, scoring by 2¾ lengths.

The two-year-old filly marked herself out as “Something a little bit different” Bell said post-race, nominated the York Listed contest as her next outing.

Nearer to home and Saucy Jane clinched a fifth victory for upcoming handler, Jack Morland, as she took the prize at Beverley.

2 May

Clipper EBF Marygate on the agenda for Argentine Tango

Argentine Tango, the resilient two-year-old filly trained locally by Tim Easterby, is being targeted for Listed success in the Clipper EBF Marygate Stakes. “She’s as hard as nails and was very hard to break in… but there’s a lot of improvement to come.” Easterby claimed. 

23 April

Two Classics and a famous festival run?

Trainer James Owen has revealed that leading contender Guineas contender, Wimbledon Hawkeye, could line up at York between two Classics this season.

22 April

Going Racing in Yorkshire Again?

A recent addition to the ranks of Adrian Keatley’s yard, Romieu, cruised to an impressive three and a half-length victory at Redcar, securing his place at next month’s Dante Festival.

The Ryedale handler commented “He is a nice horse…looks unexposed…we’ll be aiming for a nice prize at the Dante Festival.”

14 April

The Lion In Winter set to reappear at the Dante Festival

The Aidan O’Brien trained The Lion In Winter, who is the ante-post favourite for The Epsom Derby is planning to return to action in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes on the Thursday of the Dante Festival.

The colt, who was last seen winning the very competitive Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival, is scheduled to return to the Knavesmire for his 3-y-o reappearance and put his Derby credentials to the test.