Wednesday, April 23, 2008

2008 IRISH NATIONAL HUNT FESTIVAL - PUNCHESTOWN - DAY TWO
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008

FESTIVAL FIRST FOR PIERCE

“She’s been a model of consistency and has never let us down,” said Pierce. “We thought she loved heavy ground but we have found out that she really likes good ground - she showed she had a bit of class today.

“It was a great ride by Alan, he knows her so well, and that’s it for the season now. She’s by my father’s stallion Rashar and will be going chasing next season and I hope she takes to fences.”


Got Attitude, who took the Osberstown Developments Novice Hurdle for trainer Jessica Harrington and jockey Barry Geraghty, is another who will be going over fences next season.

The five-year-old held off Home Hunter by a neck to take the three-mile event.

“Win, lose or draw here, we were always going to go chasing next season with him,” said Harrington. “The step up in trip and better ground helped him today.”


The Charles Byrnes-trained Solwhit was a well-backed 5/1 winner of the Evening Herald Hurdle when putting Davy Russell within five of Ruby Walsh in his battle to win this season’s jockeys’ championship in Ireland.

“He caught a lot of people’s eyes when he ran at Fairyhouse last time and I think he’s a fair horse,” said Byrnes. “He has a bit of speed and you could maybe see him on the Flat but there’s nothing definite decided.”

NEPTUNE TAKES GOLD AGAIN

The seven-year-old was always prominent before taking the lead six out and coming home seven lengths clear of Snowy Morning.

“I was a lot more confident beforehand than I was last year,” said Nicholls. “He’s a better horse this season as he showed when third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and this has always been his target - the track, ground and everything suited him here. This was his Gold Cup.

“His Cheltenham Gold Cup run shows how much he has improved, he was only six or seven lengths behind Denman.

“Neptune Collonges needs to be ridden positively and as long as he’s out in front he’s great. There is no point sitting out at the back door with him and getting beaten.

“We’re going to have to sit down and sort out where everything goes next season - he could start off at Down Royal or maybe in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

“He’s still only seven and he’ll run well in the Gold Cup next year but he’s going to have to improve to get near Denman, whose form just keeps getting better and better. But he’ll back here for this race next season.

“We’ve an amazing strike rate in Ireland this year and I enjoy coming here, everyone is so welcoming and they look after us very well.”

Walsh added: “Neptune Collonges kept going well over three and a quarter miles in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham so stamina was never going to be an issue here. He was the best horse in the race and I knew off the bend turning for home that he had his ears pricked and that he would win. In the main, he jumped well and his jumping was great when it needed to be. He’s improved no end from last year.”

Owner John Hales added: “We’ll definitely be back here next year to try and make it a hat-trick. The plan was to come from the front, particularly as there were no other front-runners to take us on.

“He’s probably 14lb better than when winning last year and Ruby gave him a brilliant ride. He’s a wonderful horse with a perfect temperament, nothing phases him.”

Trainer Willie Mullins was delighted with Snowy Morning’s run and said: “He had been showing his well being at home all the time since his third in the National, which took nothing out of him, and I was delighted with his run today.

“We’ll have to look at all the top races with him next season. If he couldn’t win the Grand National with 11st 1lb this year, he is not going to win with more weight next season.”

FAREWELL TO BEEF

“This was the hardest day in terms of him running - I just wanted him to come back safe and sound,” said his trainer Michael Hourigan. “He has meant everything, he has been a super horse for the yard and now you have to try and find another one.”

Beef Or Salmon will be ridden as a dressage horse by owner Joe Craig’s 15-year-old grandson Conor, while the 2005 Grand National winner Hedgehunter was also paraded at Punchestown having recently retired. He is heading to owner Trevor Hemmings’ home in the Isle of Man.

CROWD

VINNY MAKES HISTORY

Mullins’ son Patrick, who was in the saddle at Cheltenham, completed the double as his mount came home 10 lengths clear of Endless Intrigue.

“He looks to be a proper horse, he’s got gears and he stays,” said the winning trainer. “He schooled the other day and made such a shape over hurdles that he looks like he wants fences.

“He hadn’t totally fired on the gallops recently. He has done three bits of work since Cheltenham, the first two bits were average and we took him away from home for the next one and that just seemed to fire him up. We asked him a few questions and he responded well and I rang the owners to tell them we were on for Punchestown.

“I always thought he would like the good ground and he has shown he can go on anything. It was a very fast gallop today and he ran away from them well.”

The winner was quoted at 10/1 with both William Hill and Boylesports for next year’s Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices, Hurdle at Cheltenham and Mullins added: “I'm looking forward to him going hurdling and I think the plan would be to stick at two miles next season.”

Mullins completed a near 35/1 double when Freds Benefit took the concluding three.ie Novice Chase under Ruby Walsh, who was also landing a double and finished the day seven winners clear of championship rival Davy Russell.

“I keep thinking Freds Benefit is a three-mile horse, his pedigree is all stamina, and half-way down the back straight I thought I was right but they went a very fast pace and the front runners collapsed in the home straight,” said Mullins.

“He only got about six inches off the ground at first so he was probably lucky to get round. That’s it for this season and I’m not that much wiser whether he’s a two-miler or three-miler but I’m starting to think he wants the shorter trip.”


Meanwhile, the Arthur Moore-trained Notable D’Estruval finished with a wet sail to take the Ulster Bank Handicap Chase.

STIMULATION PLEASES MORRISON AHEAD OF THE stanjamesuk.com 2000 GUINEAS

RAYMI COYA AMONG 28 HOPEFULS FOR THE stanjamesuk.com 1000 GUINEAS

Stimulation, a 25/1 chance for the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas with the sponsor Stan James, clinched a thrilling victory in the final stride of the European Free Handicap over seven furlongs of The NatWest Rowley Mile at Newmarket last week, arriving late to defeat Fat Boy by a nose.

Morrison revealed this morning: "I was delighted with his win in the European Free Handicap and he will find some improvement for that run. He seems to have come out of the race really well and I’m very happy with him. It looks as if he has done himself rather well in the last week.

"We are realistic and, while I wouldn’t say that he needs to make a quantum leap, he does need to make a big step upwards on the form book, but plenty of horses have not run up to form as they should have done. Of those who have not run, it could be that they are as good as last year, but there is no guaranteeing it."

Morrison believes that his charge will handle the step up to a mile, despite being by a champion sprinter in Choisir. However, the Australian speedster also had form over a mile, finishing third of 16 in the Group One Caulfield Guineas as a three-year-old.

The East Ilsley handler continued: "Stimulation is very laid-back so I would think that he will get the mile. He is by Choisir but perhaps Choisir could have been a top miler. I remember he went very fast over sprint distances and burnt them off, but if he was held up maybe he would have got the mile.

"I think fast ground is what he wants, so hopefully the rain stays off and Newmarket will hold off the watering.

"I am as relaxed as I can be ahead of the race. We are not going there with a hot favourite, we are going to have a go and do the best we can."

The Jim Bolger-trained champion two-year-old New Approach is on course for the 200th running of the 2000 Guineas and remains the market leader at 9/4 with the sponsor Stan James.

Other leading contenders for the first Classic of the season include the Group Three banshahousestables.com Craven Stakes first and second Twice Over and Raven’s Pass, while Sir Michael Stoute could run the Saeed Suhail-owned Perfect Stride.

Godolphin’s trainer Saeed bin Suroor has a quintet of entries going forward, comprising of Group One winners Ibn Khaldun and Rio De La Plata plus Fast Company, McCartney and Il Waard, while Irish maestro Aidan O’Brien could rely on a quartet that includes unbeaten Group Three winner Jupiter Pluvius and Henrythenavigator.

Entries can still be made for the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas at the supplementary entry stage which closes at noon on Monday at a cost of £30,000 - the deadline for the five-day confirmations too. Paco Boy, winner of four of his five starts, is a possible supplementary entry.

Latest betting with Stan James for the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas
9/4 New Approach, 9/2 Raven’s Pass, 5/1 Twice Over, 7/1 Ibn Khaldun, 10/1 Jupiter Pluvius, 16/1 Henrythenavigator, Fast Company, 20/1 Perfect Stride, Rio De La Plata, 25/1 Fireside, Stimulation, Paco Boy, 33/1 bar - each-way one quarter 1,2,3 - non-runner no bet.

Chelsea FC’s Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro could have his first runner in an English Classic with Raymi Coya, who is among 28 fillies remaining in the £375,000 stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas, which takes place on Sunday, May 4, at the forfeit stage.

Raymi Coya, successful in the Group Three Finnforest Oh So Sharp Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket in October, has taken time to come to hand this spring, but trainer Marco Botti is hoping that a spell of warm weather will put the stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas firmly on the filly’s agenda.

Botti revealed this morning: "Her owner would like to see her in the Guineas - it is a dream for him and he is so excited, but we will see how she is.

"He is thrilled with the filly but she is just taking a little longer to come to hand than we expected and there is no reason to push her. She needs to be 100 per cent for a race like the Guineas.

"It is still 50/50 as to whether she goes for the stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas. She will work later this week and we will see how she is and consider the ground before committing her to the race.

"We want to keep an eye on the going - she won on good ground so I don’t think it would be ideal to run on too soft. If necessary, we could leave the Guineas and aim her for something else like the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"She is well and has definitely improved condition-wise. She has started to move forward with a bit warmer weather and we will just wait and see what happens."

The John Gosden-trained Infallible leapt to the head of the stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas betting market with an impressive triumph in the Group Three Leslie Harrison Memorial Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket last week - she is a 7/2 chance with sponsor Stan James.

Muthabara is another trial winner who remains on course for the first fillies’ Classic, having maintained her unbeaten record in the Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, while Pascal Bary could run Natagora, who impressed when winning over seven furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte on April 14.

The Ballydoyle contingent includes 14/1 shot Kitty Matcham, winner of the Group Two seriousquitters.co.uk Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket in October, as well as Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial runner-up Halfway To Heaven, Savethisdanceforme and Psalm.

Other leading contenders remaining after the forfeit stage include the Jim Bolger-trained Group One winner Saoirse Abu, Spacious from the James Fanshawe yard, the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Cape Amber and Godolphin’s Laureldean Gale.

There is a supplementary entry stage for the stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas as well on Monday, April 28, at a cost of £30,000.

Latest betting with Stan James for the stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas
7/2 Infallible, 4/1 Muthabara, 9/2 Natagora, 11/2 Spacious, 14/1 Kitty Matcham, Savethisdanceforme, 16/1 Laureldean Gale, Psalm, 20/1 Visit, Nahoodh 25/1 Lush Lashes, 33/1 bar - each-way one quarter 1,2,3 - non-runner no bet

Tickets are still available for both days at a 20 per cent discount from www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk

STANJAMESUK.COM 2000 GUINEAS

Form Horse Owner Trainer
315- ALFATHAA Hamdan Al Maktoum William Haggas
5 BAHAMIAN KID J D Graham Reg Hollinshead
463316- DREAM EATER (IRE) Jeff Smith Andrew Balding
112- FAST COMPANY (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
060121-2 FAT BOY (IRE) Maurice Sines Peter Chapple-Hyam
61- FIRESIDE Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (VCI) Peter Chapple-Hyam
1123- HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (USA) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
41111- IBN KHALDUN (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
616-(1) IL WARRD (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
11- JUPITER PLUVIUS (USA) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
31110- MCCARTNEY (GER) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
4-1 MOYENNE CORNICHE John Pearce Geoff Wragg
41- MOYNAHAN (USA) D S Lee Paul Cole
320-(0) MUT'AB (USA) Saeed Manana Clive Brittain
11111- NEW APPROACH (IRE) HRH Princess Haya of Jordan Jim Bolger IRE
(2)(2)(4)121- NOWNOWNOW (USA) Fab Oak Stable David Wachman IRE
3133-7 ONE GREAT CAT (USA) Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
12- PERFECT STRIDE Saeed Suhail Sir Michael Stoute
51- PLAN (USA) Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
1113-2 RAVEN'S PASS (USA) Stonerside Stable LLC John Gosden
311214- RIO DE LA PLATA (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
2110-6 ROCK OF ROCHELLE (USA) Her Diamond Necklace Farms FZE Andrew Kinsella IRE
143231-0 SCINTILLO White Beech Farm Richard Hannon
110-(1) SHARP NEPHEW Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar Brian Meehan
1410-0 SIR GERRY (USA) Mrs Gerry Galligan James Fanshawe
2- SKADRAK (USA) Iraj Parvizi Brian Meehan
122-1 STIMULATION (IRE) Michael Kerr-Dineen Hughie Morrison
310224-(5) STRIKE THE DEAL (USA) M Barber Jeremy Noseda
053213- STUBBS ART (IRE) Matthew Green David Elsworth
11-1 TWICE OVER Khalid Abdulla Henry Cecil

30 entries remain after forfeit stage
7 Irish-trained

THE FOLLOWING 62 HORSES WERE REMOVED AT THE FORFEIT STAGE:
ALEXANDER CASTLE (USA), ALEXANDROS, AMAAKIN (USA), ATLANTIC SPORT (USA), BEACON LODGE (IRE), BLUE EXIT (USA), BRAVE PROSPECTOR, BRUGES (IRE), CALMING INFLUENCE (IRE), CAPTAIN BRILLIANCE (USA), CHESTERTON (IRE), CHOOSE YOUR MOMENT, CITY LEADER (IRE), CONFRONT, DECLARATION OF WAR (IRE), EMPOWERED (IRE), EXCLAMATION, FAMOUS NAME, FATEH FIELD (USA), FR DOMINIC (USA), GENERAL ELIOTT (IRE), GLADIATORUS (USA), GOTHENBURG (UAE), GREAT BARRIER REEF (USA), GREAT RUMPUSCAT (USA), GREAT WAR EAGLE (USA), GREATWALLOFCHINA (USA), GREEK MYTHOLOGY (USA), HURRICANE HYMNBOOK (USA), IGUAZU FALLS (USA), KANDAHAR RUN, LUCIFER SAM (USA), LUCK MONEY (IRE), MASAALEK, MAZE (IRE), MYBOYCHARLIE (IRE), ORIENTALIST ART, OTAARED, PEGASUS AGAIN (USA), PHILARIO (IRE), QUEST FOR SUCCESS (IRE), RED EYE EXPRESS (IRE), REDOLENT (IRE), RIVER PROUD (USA), SHALLAL, SPEEDY DOLLAR (USA), SPIRIT OF SHARJAH (IRE), SWISS FRANC, TAMAYUZ, TARTAN BEARER (IRE), TAWAASH (USA), THREE ROCKS (IRE), THRONE OF POWER (USA), VIRTUAL, WESTERN ART (USA), WINGBEAT (USA), WINKER WATSON, YAHRAB (IRE), YANKADI (USA), YORKTOWN (FR), YOUNG PRETENDER (FR), ZULU CHIEF (USA)

STANJAMESUK.COM 1000 GUINEAS

Form Horse Owner Trainer
1- CAPE AMBER (IRE) Five Horses Ltd Peter Chapple-Hyam
11- CLASSIC LEGEND Moira McNamara Brian Meehan
(1)26-2 DREAM DAY Robert Barnett Richard Hannon
0451- FRANCESCA D'GORGIO (USA) Sir Robert Ogden Jeremy Noseda
21-2 HALFWAY TO HEAVEN (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
1-1 INFALLIBLE Cheveley Park Stud John Gosden
44011- KITTY MATCHAM (IRE) Diane Nagle & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
324121-3 LADY DEAUVILLE (FR) P J Hughes Developments Ltd Paul Blockley
120- LAURELDEAN GALE (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
1-0 LUSH LASHES Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE
1233- MAD ABOUT YOU (IRE) Moyglare Stud Farms Ltd Dermot Weld IRE
131- MAX ONE TWO THREE (IRE) Andrew Black Tom Dascombe
3 MISS BROWN TO YOU (IRE) Bill Gredley Michael Bell
11-1 MUTHABARA (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum John Dunlop
031-0 NAHOODH (IRE) Jaber Abdullah Mick Channon
111121-1 NATAGORA (FR) Stefan Friborg Pascal Bary FR
231-6 NIJOOM DUBAI Jaber Abdullah Mick Channon
5510- PRIMA LUCE (IRE) Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE
2-7 PSALM (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE
1331- RAYMI COYA (CAN) Claudio Pizarro Marco Botti
521143-3 ROYAL CONFIDENCE Derek James Barry Hills
253113-3 SAOIRSE ABU (USA) Ennistown Stud Jim Bolger IRE
340(1)41-2 SAVETHISDANCEFORME (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
11- SPACIOUS Cheveley Park Stud James Fanshawe
320311-5 SPINNING LUCY (IRE) Steve Jenkins Barry Hills
302233- TUSCAN EVENING (IRE) John Murphy John Murphy IRE
21D0- VISIT Khalid Abdulla Sir Michael Stoute
11-1 ZARKAVA (IRE) H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR

28 entries remain after forfeit stage
9 Irish-trained
2 French-trained

THE FOLLOWING 46 FILLIES WERE REMOVED AT THE FORFEIT STAGE:
ALBABILIA (IRE), ANOSTI, BASTAKIYA (IRE), BRAMAPUTRA (IRE), BROKEN APPLAUSE (IRE), CAMPFIRE GLOW (IRE), CHARLOTTE BRONTE, CHINESE WHITE (IRE), DESERT CHILL (USA), DON'T FORGET FAITH (USA), ELLETELLE (IRE), EVA'S REQUEST (IRE), FESTIVALE (IRE), FESTOSO (IRE), GAUDETE (USA), GIPSON DESSERT (USA), GULCH'S ROSE (USA), ICE QUEEN (IRE), JANINA, LA COVETA (IRE), LADDIES POKER TWO (IRE), LAUGHTER (IRE), LILLE IDA, LISTEN (IRE), LOVE OF DUBAI (USA), MAKAASEB (USA), MELODRAMATIC (IRE), MICHITA (USA), MISTRESS GREELEY (USA), MYSTICAL LADY (IRE), RED DUNE (IRE), RINTERVAL (IRE), ROSA GRACE, SALINGERS STAR (IRE), SAN SICHARIA (IRE), SCREEN STAR (IRE), SEFROUA (USA), SENSE OF JOY, SHABIBA (USA), SIYASA (USA), SOLAS NA GREINE (IRE), STEP SOFTLY, TOIRNEACH (USA), UNILATERAL (IRE), VERBA (FR), WEDGE (USA)

ROYAL ASCOT GROUP ONE ENTRIES REVEALED

NATIONAL COLOUR SET FOR KING’S STAND

SMART ENOUGH COULD CONTEST BOTH GROUP ONE SPRINTS

For the first time in Royal Ascot’s history, the five-day meeting will begin with three Group One contests on Tuesday, June 17, with the Queen Anne Stakes (2.30pm) followed by the upgraded King’s Stand Stakes (3.05pm) and the St James’s Palace Stakes (3.45pm). Each is worth £250,000.

With the last three renewals having been won by overseas-trained horses, it is no surprise that this year’s King’s Stand Stakes has again attracted a truly international entry, with 18 of the 47 potential participants hailing from outside Britain.

Last year Australia had three of the first four home in the five-furlong contest, including the winner, Miss Andretti, third-placed Magnus and the fourth Takeover Target, who triumphed in the race 12 months previously.

Trainer Joe Janiak looks set to send his star nine-year-old back to Royal Ascot for a third time and he could be joined by Magnus along with exciting three-year old sprinter Universal Ruler, who is trained by Darren McAuliffe.

New Zealand could have its first Royal Ascot runner courtesy of multiple Group One scorer Seachange, trained by Ralph Manning, while Hong Kong, successful in the 2005 Golden Jubilee Stakes with the David Oughton-trained Cape Of Good Hope, could be represented by Group One Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint victor Sacred Kingdom (formerly known as Jumbo Star in Australia).

South African trainer Sean Tarry is hoping to run his six-year-old National Colour in the race and is looking forward to seeing the former South African horse of the year return to action after an absence of over a year due to the mare chipping a bone in her knee.

Tarry explained: “We have entered National Colour in the King’s Stand Stakes. She’s already at Newmarket, having arrived on Monday and is staying at Geoff Wragg’s stables at the moment. I will be over-seeing her preparation for the race when I come over next month.

“She won three Group One races back to back in South Africa, the Computaform Sprint over 1000 metres, the SA Fillies Sprint over 1200 metres and the Mercury Sprint over 1200 metres, before going on to Dubai. She won her first race there like we expected but she needed knee surgery after her failure in the 2007 Group One Golden Shaheen on World Cup night.

“She’s very highly rated. We have taken our time with her and we are hoping that she will be right for the King’s Stand Stakes or, if not, the Coolmore Nunthorpe at York. She won her last start over five furlongs on turf, the Computaform Stakes, and I think she is brilliant over that trip. She does get six, but I would like to race her sparingly this season.

“Her ability is not going anywhere, but she needs four legs. Let’s hope that she comes back to her best.”

Maryland-based trainer John Fisher is also aiming his star sprinter Smart Enough at the King’s Stand Stakes and is hoping that the five-year-old gelding, who has won 10 of his 16 starts in the United States, will make an impact on his European debut.

Fisher said: “We have entered Smart Enough in both the King’s Stand and the Golden Jubilee Stakes. We are leaning towards the five-furlong race but we don’t want to preclude the fact that he might run very well and therefore take his chance four days later.

“He’s a very good shipper, putting on weight in most cases, and he comes out of his races well. He likes travelling around and we will aim to bring him over four or five days before the race, but the plans have yet to be finalised.

“He ran his first race for five months at Keeneland on April 13 and he got blocked and clipped heels coming round the turn, so he got shuffled back and still ran really well to finish second. John Velazquez rode him there for the first time because I want him to be on board at Ascot, but he just met bad luck on that occasion.

“There aren’t many Group One sprints around Maryland and I didn’t want to take him to California so we will go to Ascot instead. He’s won 10 races and the only time he finished out of the frame was when he threw a shoe coming into the turn and was pulled up.

“He holds five track records and we haven’t got to the bottom of him. He could even set a record at Ascot because he is such a legitimate and lovely horse.”

The home challenge looks set to be headed by last year’s runner up Dandy Man, now trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Group One Darley July Cup winner Sakhee’s Secret, Group One Prix de l’Abbaye scorer Benbaun, and Kingsgate Native, who triumphed as a juvenile in last season’s Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.

The King’s Stand Stakes is the second leg of the Global Sprint Challenge and 27 of those engaged in that race have also been entered in the Challenge’s third leg, the £375,000 Golden Jubilee Stakes (3.45pm) on Saturday, June 21, the final day of Royal Ascot. The six furlong contest has received an entry of 68, of whom 22 are trained overseas.

Smart Enough, Takeover Target, Magnus, Universal Ruler, Seachange and Sacred Kingdom are in the race, along with Benbaun, Sakhee’s Secret and Kingsgate Native. Godolphin has entered Dandy Man alongside the talented quartet of Diabolical, Elusive Warning, Greek Renaissance and Wingbeat.

The last two winners of the Golden Jubilee Stakes, Les Arcs and Soldier’s Tale, have been entered, while Aidan O’Brien, bidding to give the Irish their first victory since College Chapel in 1993, has a total of 10 horses, including last year’s Group Two Coventry Stakes scorer Henrythenavigator and Group Three Jersey Stakes runner-up US Ranger.

Nick Smith, Ascot’s Head of Public Relations, was pleased with the international quality of the entries for both the King’s Stand Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes and is looking forward to seeing some high quality sprinters in action at the Royal Meeting.

Smith explained: “We have witnessed some of the world’s superstars at Royal Ascot in recent times, especially in the sprint events where we have been treated to the likes of Choisir, Cape Of Good Hope and Miss Andretti.

“I am delighted that 2006 King’s Stand winner Takeover Target and last year’s third Magnus will return this summer having run so well here last year and I am also excited about the prospect of seeing the likes of Sacred Kingdom, Seachange and Smart Enough take on the best that Europe has to offer.

“It’s a shame that Daiwa Scarlett, probably the most exciting horse in Japan at the moment, has had a slight setback as she was to be entered for the Prince of Wales's Stakes. We will now concentrate on trying to entice her connections to the King George and the Juddmonte International. We are also talking to representatives of Roc De Cambs, Meisho Samsom, Matsurida Gogh and Asakusa King with the King George in mind as the July slot does generally suit them better than June.”

The Queen Anne Stakes returns to its traditional place as the first race of Royal Ascot for the first time since 2002 and this year’s superb entry of 35 looks certain to produce another fantastic contest following on from last year’s thrilling contest which saw a four-way photo-finish with the game Ramonti prevailing by a short-head from Jeremy, with Turtle Bowl and George Washington in close proximity.

The possible French challenge this year is headed by Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Darjina, who finished third in last season’s Coronation Stakes, while Ramonti spearheads the four-strong Godolphin challenge, which also includes Blue Ksar, Creachadoir and Diabolical. Their trainer Saeed bin Suroor is seeking a seventh victory in the mile event. South African trainer Mike de Kock has entered Bad Girl Runs.

77 entries have been received for the St James’s Palace Stakes, including 12 from the Aidan O’Brien stable, which has triumphed in the mile contest with Giant’s Causeway (2000), Black Minnaloushe (2001), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002) and Excellent Art (2007).

Henry Cecil has entered the impressive Group Three Craven Stakes winner Twice Over, while the famous Khalid Abdulla silks could also be represented by Cecil’s Timetable, Confront, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, and recent Leopardstown Group Three scorer Famous Name.

Godolphin, successful in the race with Sharmadal in 2005, has a dozen horses, including Group One Racing Post Trophy scorer Ibn Khaldun and Rio De La Plata. Saeed bin Suroor could also run Fast Company, who chased home Irish entry New Approach in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October.

The £375,000 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (3.45pm), highlight of the second day of the Royal Meeting on Wednesday, June 18, has attracted 45 entries, including Ramonti and Champion Stakes victor Literato, who are among the eight entries from Godolphin, victorious in the race with Dubai Millennium (2000), Fantastic Light (2001), and Grandera (2002).

The Mike de Kock-trained Sun Classique is set to make her European debut in the 10-furlong contest following an excellent win in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba on March 29, while the South African handler has also entered Archipenko, who finished a close third in the Group One Dubai Duty Free on the same card.

Archipenko’s former handler Aidan O’Brien could aim for his first Prince Of Wales’s Stakes victory with prolific Group One winning filly Peeping Fawn and last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes runner-up Duke Of Marmalade. He may also be represented by Group One Irish Derby victor Soldier Of Fortune and Haradasun, who has joined the Ballydoyle stable following two Group One triumphs in Australia.

Manduro defeated the subsequent Arc winner Dylan Thomas in Prince Of Wales’s Stakes last season, and the Andre Fabre-trained colt was judged by the world’s official handicappers to have put up the best performance of a horse anywhere in the world in 2007.

O’Brien also looks to have a strong hand in the £250,000 Gold Cup (3.45pm), run over two and a half miles on the third day of the Royal Meeting, Thursday, June 19, which has attracted 39 entries.

The champion trainer has entered five horses, including Yeats, who is set to bid to become the first horse since Sagaro to win three consecutive Gold Cups, as well as dual Group Two scorer Septimus and Melbourne Cup second Mahler, who scored in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last season.

The £250,000 Coronation Stakes (3.45pm), highlight of the fourth day of the Royal Meeting on Friday, June 20, was last year contested by the winners of the English, Irish, French and German 1,000 Guineas, and this season’s renewal will undoubtedly be another high-quality affair, with 65 fillies entered for the mile contest.

Alain de Royer-Dupre has engaged Zarkava, who was an impressive winner of the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp in October, while Pascal Bary could be represented by Group One Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Natagora.

John Gosden, successful in the race with Nannina in 2006, has entered recent impressive Group Three scorer Infallible and she could be joined by Muthabara, who took the Group Three Dubai Duty Free Stakes in eye-catching fashion at Newbury over the weekend.

Charles Barnett, Ascot’s Chief Executive, commented: “We are very pleased with the Group One entries for Royal Ascot. Nick’s hard work in talking to owners and trainers around the world has again been a great success with the King’s Stands Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes having very strong international representation.”

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