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Found A Fifty Wins Third Fortria Chase at Navan

Breandán Ó hUallacháin — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 16:05:17 +0000

The highlight of the opening day of the two-day Navan Racing Festival, the Bar 1 Betting Fortria Chase went to Found A Fifty (11/4) for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.

With Majborough a non-runner due to the going, the task of the former dual winner was somewhat easier, as he becomes only the second horse, along with Big Zeb, to take the two-mile race three times.

Found A Fifty completes the hat-trick in the Fortria Chase @NavanRacecourse

2026
2025
2024 https://t.co/r8LBzjQ3Ly

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 14, 2026

The nine-year-old son of Solskjaer, who seems to race better earlier in the season, had a length-and-a-half to spare at the finishing line over stable companion Touch Me Not (14/1), in the hands of Danny Gilligan. Only By Night (13/8 favourite), ridden by Keith Donoghue for Gavin Cromwell, was third home, a further length-and-a-half behind the runner-up.

Lismullen Hurdle success for Feet Of A Dancer

The Grade 2 Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle over two-and-a-half miles, went to 17/2 chance Feet Of A Dancer. Trained in Wexford by Paul Nolan and ridden by Seán O’Keeffe, the seven-year-old daughter of Authorized had eight lengths to spare over the front-running I’ll Sort That (7/2) and Declan Queally. Third place went to Casheldale Lad (11/2) for Danny Gilligan and Gordon Elliott.

Feet Of A Dancer readily lands the G2 Lismullen Hurdle @NavanRacecourse https://t.co/XsSPpxvLfs

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 14, 2026

Thinkitdonjinkit first part of Elliott treble

Thinkitdontjinxit (5/2) gave Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy their first win on day one of the Navan Racing Festival when impressing in taking the Grade 2 Bar 1 Betting ‘Download The App’ For Auction Novice Hurdle.

Impressive from Thinkitdontjinxit to land G3 honours @NavanRacecourse https://t.co/la4yu5KM7a

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 14, 2026

Elliott and Kennedy, who had an odds-on beaten favourite in the Saturday opener, saw the Gigginstown Stud-owned five-year-old son of Vadamos run out a six-length winner over State Pension (7/1) and Cian Quirke. Joe Cool (33/1), from the Noel Meade yard, was third under Donagh Meyler, two-and-a-quarter lengths behind the runner-up.

Outofafrika beats odds-on favourite in Maiden Hurdle

The opening Kilberry Pub & Kitchen Maiden Hurdle went to Outofafrika (4/1) and Keith Donoghue. The Gavin Cromwell-trained bay son of Shirocco stalked the race leader and favourite, Charismatic Kid (4/7), throughout the two-and-a-half mile journey, before staking his claim for the lead approaching the final hurdle. The Over The Sticks-owned runner got the better of the battle with the Gigginstown Stud runner up the hill, to claim a two-and-three-quarter length success from Charismatic Kid and Jack Kennedy, with Luxor Love (8/1), a further four-and-a-half lengths back in third.

A nice start over flights from Outofafrika https://t.co/mkDm33MrNw

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 14, 2026

Wins for Molloy & de Bromhead

Recent Limerick handicap hurdler winner Beckistine (7/2 joint-favourite) won the Lisadell Equine Hospital 110 Series Final Handicap Hurdle for birthday boy trainer Mark Molloy, and jockey Mark Walsh. The home-bred seven-year-old and topweight came on the stands’ side of the field to take a half-length win from Dairy Force (12/1) and Danny Gilligan, with 9/1 chance Private Policy, a further three-and-a-quarter lengths back in third place.

Seven-pound claimer Danny Power was in the winners’ enclosure with his victory on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Sommesky (10/1) in the Hotel Parl St Johann In Tirol Austria Handicap Hurdle.

The Jimmy & Sheila Owens Irish EBF Beginners Chase was reduced to just seven runners, with four withdrawals earlier in the day. Wingmen (11/4) and rider Sam Ewing took the win to give owners Bective Stud a Saturday double, and trainer Gordon Elliott, a treble.

The finale of an eight-race card, The Bar 1 Betting Best Odds Guaranteed Overnight Bumper saw race favourite, Uncle Pad, from the Gordon Elliott yard, withdrawn, as Noble Indulgence (16/1) won for Noel Meade and jockey Finn Tegetmeier.

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Meetmebythesea Gives J.P. McManus a First Paddy Power Gold Cup

Breandán Ó hUallacháin — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 15:15:59 +0000

Meetmebythesea (2/1 favourite) gave owner J.P. McManus a first success in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in front of a crowd of 32,618 at Cheltenham on Saturday afternoon.

The £160,000 two-and-a-half-mile Premier Handicap Chase is the first major prize of the National Hunt season in Britain, and is the highlight of The November Meeting at Prestbury Park.

Ridden by McManus’ retained rider, Harry Cobden, the six-year-old Meetmebythesea travelled comfortably throughout the contest, seeing off the challenge of Blueking D’Oroux (100/30) and Harry Skelton to take a two-and-a-half length victory. Torneo (12/1), who stayed on up the Cheltenham hill took third for handler, Jamie Snowden, two and thee-quarter lengths behind the runner-up.

The winning trainer, Ben Pauling, admitted post-race:

“He was really good. Harry wanted to ride him forward because not many are coming in from behind today and he jumped brilliantly, travelled really well.

“I don’t know what I see him as quite now. But he needed to do that today. I think he showed a lot more than we’ve seen from him so far because of the way he found. But he’s just really good. You don’t know what you’ve got underneath the bonnet until you go to the races like that. But that was cool. That was really cool.

The winning rider, Harry Cobden, who won the Grade 2 Schloer Chase aboard Jonbon yesterday, said of this afternoon’s success:

“These days don’t come along very often. To ride a horse like him in a race like that – you just have to pinch yourself to be in this position.

“He travelled well. These good horses handle any ground and are very straightforward. He is a wonderful little horse and the more you ask him, the more he gives you. I wasn’t sure if I had the measure of Harry Skelton turning in but he was so brave after the last two and stuck his little nose out.

“It is wonderful for the boss (JP McManus). He puts so much into racing and I am just the lucky man that is allowed to be a part of it.”

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Jonbon Wins Schloer Chase For Third Time

Breandán Ó hUallacháin — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 19:55:21 +0000

Jonbon (1/2 favourite) won the £100,000 Grade 2 Schloer Chase for a third time on Friday afternoon.

The J.P. McManus-owned gelding took his race record to 21 wins from 29 races in claiming the Cheltenham highlight.

The 10-year-old previously landed the two-mile contest in 2023 and 2024, while he was runner-up in the 2025 renewal.

Ridden by McManus’ new retained jockey, Harry Cobden, Jonbon made all, seeing off a challenge from Mighty Bandit after the last to score by two and a quarter lengths.

The winning trainer Nicky Henderson said:

“Some still say Cheltenham is not his favourite place, but he’s won this for the third time now. It’s lovely to see him back and I think he’s exactly where we want him to be as we’ve got three weeks now until the Tingle Creek (as Sandown Park). That’s the plan.

“I am very proud he has never been out of the first two. That’s going to be a hard one to hold on to. I think it’s a remarkable record, because they’ve nearly all been in Grade Ones or Grade Twos. He has been amazing and just keeps coming out year after year. Age doesn’t seem to be worrying him.”

Commenting on Jonbon, Harry Cobden stated:

“He is the most fantastic horse. I’ve spent the last five years following him round and I never thought I would get to ride him. He’s a wonderful horse, a brilliant jumper and incredibly intelligent. I am just the lucky man on his back.

“Today was obviously his first run back and historically all of Nicky’s horses improve a bit for the run, so I was a little bit conscious of that and didn’t want to send him on too much. But he’s done it well hasn’t he? He is the sort of horse at 10 years old that only does what he has to do and the further we went, the better.”

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Early Odds vs Starting Price in Horse Racing Explained

Paul Naughton — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 08:05:12 +0000

Horse racing odds can change considerably between the opening of betting markets and the start of a race. Bookmakers adjust their prices as new information emerges and betting activity develops. Understanding early odds vs starting price helps explain how these changes affect potential returns, why two bets on the same horse may pay differently, and why neither pricing method guarantees a better outcome.

QUICK EXPLANATION

Early odds are normally fixed when a bet is accepted, while Starting Price (SP) is determined at the beginning of the race. The better-paying option depends on whether the horse’s odds shorten or drift before the off, along with any applicable deductions or concessions.

What Are Early Odds in Horse Racing?

Early odds are fixed prices offered by bookmakers before a horse race begins. These prices may become available well before race day or appear in the morning markets ahead of an afternoon meeting.

When someone accepts early horse racing prices, the odds are generally locked in at the time the bet is placed. For example, a horse backed at 6/1 will normally retain that price even if its odds shorten to 4/1 before the race.

With horse race betting online, the bet slip normally shows the accepted price before the bet is confirmed, and the bookmaker’s settlement rules then determine the final return, including any deductions.

Early odds describe when prices are available rather than one universal set of settlement rules. Check whether the market uses ante-post terms or non-runner-no-bet terms, particularly when betting before final declarations.

What Is Starting Price (SP)?

Starting Price, commonly abbreviated to SP, is the official price returned for a horse when a race begins. Rather than accepting a fixed price beforehand, an SP bet is settled using the official starting price and the applicable settlement rules.

In Britain, the Starting Price Regulatory Commission (SPRC) oversees the system used to calculate official starting prices.

Under its rules, the SP is determined using a sample of qualifying bookmakers’ prices at the off. The system draws on prices from bookmakers that meet the SPRC’s qualifying criteria, and no SP is returned if prices from at least three bookmakers cannot be obtained.

The final price is therefore unknown when an SP bet is placed. Official SP should not be confused with tote dividends or exchange starting prices.

Early Odds vs Starting Price: Key Differences

The main difference between taking fixed odds and betting at SP is when the price becomes final.

Feature	Early Odds	Starting Price (SP)
Price determined	When the fixed-price bet is accepted	At the start of the race
Price certainty	Generally known when placing the bet	Unknown until the off
Market movement	Later changes normally leave accepted odds unchanged	Reflects prices near the race start
Potential returns	Based on accepted odds, subject to applicable rules	Based on official SP

For the same stake on a winning selection, an accepted early price pays more if it exceeds the official SP. An SP bet pays more if the official SP exceeds the accepted early price. This comparison assumes no deductions or concessions.

Neither option is consistently superior. The financial difference depends on the direction of the market movement and the applicable settlement conditions.

Why Do Horse Racing Odds Change Before a Race?

Changes in horse racing odds reflect changes in market demand, available information and bookmakers’ assessments of each runner’s chances.

Betting activity: Increased demand for a particular horse can contribute to its odds shortening, while weaker demand may accompany drifting prices.
Fitness and performance information: Updates about a horse’s preparation, recent form or expected performance can affect market expectations.
Track conditions: Rainfall, drying ground and changes in the official going can influence how a horse is assessed.
Jockey changes: A late change of rider may alter perceptions of a runner’s prospects.
Non-runners: Withdrawals change the composition of a race and can lead to revised prices for the remaining horses.

When odds shorten, new bets at the revised price offer lower potential returns for the same stake. Drifting odds offer higher potential returns on new bets, but neither movement normally changes an already accepted fixed price.

However, these movements reflect changing assessments rather than certainty about which horse will win.

How Early Prices and SP Affect Potential Returns

The difference between early odds and SP becomes clearer when comparing the potential returns from the same winning selection.

Consider a hypothetical £10 win bet placed on a horse at early odds of 6/1.

EARLY PRICE: 6/1
£70

£60 winnings plus the original £10 stake.

SP SHORTENS TO 4/1
£50

£40 winnings plus the original £10 stake.

SP DRIFTS TO 10/1
£110

£100 winnings plus the original £10 stake.

Important: These examples assume the horse wins and exclude deductions, concessions and other adjustments. If the horse loses, the £10 win stake is lost under either method.

They demonstrate how the same selection can generate different payouts depending on when the odds are determined.

Best Odds Guaranteed, Ante-Post Bets and Rule 4

Several additional betting rules can influence the relationship between early prices and starting price.

Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)

Best Odds Guaranteed is a bookmaker concession that can settle eligible winning fixed-odds bets at a higher official SP, subject to the offer’s terms and any applicable deductions.

Assuming no deductions, an eligible bet placed at 6/1 could be settled at 8/1 if the horse wins at that SP. If the SP shortens to 4/1, the original 6/1 would apply.

However, Best Odds Guaranteed is not universally available. Eligibility can depend on the bookmaker, race, market, time of placement and promotional conditions.

Rule 4 Deductions

Rule 4 deductions may apply when another runner is withdrawn after a fixed-price bet has been accepted. The deduction normally depends on the withdrawn horse’s price under the bookmaker’s rules and applies to winnings, not the returned stake.

Where Rule 4 applies to a Best Odds Guaranteed bet, check how the bookmaker compares the adjusted early-price return with SP.

For an explanation of the calculation, see Betfair’s Rule 4 guide.

Ante-Post Betting

Ante-post betting involves accepting odds before the final declaration stage, sometimes weeks or months ahead of a major race.

Unlike ordinary race-day bets, traditional ante-post wagers generally lose if the selection does not run, although specific concessions may provide exceptions.

Winning standard ante-post bets generally avoid Rule 4 deductions, subject to the operator’s stated exceptions.

Understanding these distinctions is essential because the quoted odds alone may not establish the final settlement amount.

What to Check Before Choosing a Price

Before choosing between an early price and SP, check several practical details.

Establish whether the wager uses accepted fixed odds or the official starting price.
Review recent market movements, remembering they cannot establish what the final SP will be.
Check whether Best Odds Guaranteed applies.
Consider whether withdrawals could result in Rule 4 deductions.
Check non-runner conditions, especially for ante-post bets.
Confirm that the bookmaker and market are legally available in the relevant jurisdiction.

Understanding these terms makes it easier to interpret quoted prices and potential payouts without assuming that any pricing method guarantees success.

Final Thoughts

Early odds generally preserve an accepted price, while SP uses the official price returned at the off. Check deductions, concessions and non-runner terms before placing a bet.

Responsible Gambling: Horse race betting in Great Britain is restricted to adults aged 18 and over. Set a spending limit and never gamble money you cannot afford to lose.

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Minnie Hauk wins Champions Fillies & Mares at Ascot

Breandán Ó hUallacháin — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 20:43:54 +0000

Minnie Hauk got back to winning ways in the Group 1 Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot on Saturday afternoon.

A top three-year-old last season, this year has not been as successful for the runner-up in the 2025 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Today, however, the daughter of Frankel was back to her best as she ran out a length-and-a-half winner over the Johnny Murtagh-trained Believed (16/1), with Lilt (6/1) third for William Haggas.

Minnie Hauk, ridden by Ryan Moore, was prominent throughout the one-and-a-half mile race and fought bravely in the closing stages to see off the Oisín Murphy-ridden Believed, carrying the colours of the race sponsor.

The prizemoney of £222,800 put Aidan O’Brien into the lead in the British Trainers’ Championship, ahead of Andrew Balding, who had led this morning.

Speaking after the race, the winning jockey, Ryan Moore, stated:

“The race was straightforward, but getting Minnie Hauk here has not been straightforward. She ran in the Arc 13 days ago and performed today the best she has done all year. Things have not gone right for her, but she was doing everything lovely. We were able to slide outside Sugar Island, did not go mad, and she just had more class than them today.”

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British Champions Day at Ascot

Breandán Ó hUallacháin — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 20:00:12 +0000

A top class day of racing as Ascot saw champions crowned in various divisions on Qatar Racing British Champions Day.

Ombudsman (5/4 favourite) took revenge on Calandagan for last season’s defeat in the race as the Godolphin-owned star won the Group 1 Qatar Racing Champion Stakes in terrific style for joint-trainers John and Thady Gosden.

It was the second part of a treble on the day for leading owners, Godolphin, who had earlier won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Talk Of New York (3/1) for trainer Charlie Appleby.

The Gosdens were responsible for the third Godolphin and William Buick win on today’s card when 22/1 chance Fifth Council won the concluding Balmoral Handicap.

Minnie Hauk gave Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore and the Coolmore partners their only victory on the day when winning the Group 1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes.

Andrew Balding had landed a blow early in the trainers’ championship when Mount Atlas caused a 33/1 shock in the Group 1 Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup. Balding’s lead was short lived as Minnie Hauk’s win and a runner-up spot for Queenstown in the Long Distance Cup held O’Brien take the title.

Almareq (11/10 favourite) was a narrow neck victor over Paborus in the Group 1 Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes as William Haggis and Tom Marquand for on the board on Champions Day.

The consistent Night In Vegas gave owners Kennet Valley Syndicate VI another big payday when winning the £250,000 Qatar Racing British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes for Charlie Bishop and Eve Johnson Houghton.

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Darkness Falls Wins Second G1 with Dewhurst Stakes Victory

Breandán Ó hUallacháin — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 17:38:05 +0000

Darkness Falls (6/4) won the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday and has his connections dreaming of further glory in 2027.

A son of Camelot, trained by Aidan O’Brien, Darkness Falls won the Group 1 Golden Fleece Stakes at Leopardstown during Irish Champions Weekend, but this afternoon came back from nine to seven furlongs to claim his second win at the highest level this season.

Ridden by Ryan Moore, the juvenile colt got the better of the race favourite Desert Castle (10/11), with William Buick in the saddle, and Darkness Falls has now overtaken the Godolphin-owned colt at the top of the betting market for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next May.

Great Barrier Reef (15/2), ridden by Wayne Lordan, finished in third place, with Gentle Hurricane (50/1) next home for Andrew Balding and James Doyle.

Earlier on the seven-race card, O’Brien, Moore and the Coolmore partners took the Group 3 Native Trail Zetland Stakes with Drumbeat (10/11 favourite) easily defeating Wykehurst Park (7/2) and Apulia Bay (5/1) respectively.

Alphone La Grande Wins Cesarewitch for Martin & McGettigan

Tony Martin and jockey Patrick McGettigan teamed up for success in the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap as Alphonse La Grande (18/1) became a two-time winner of the two-mile two-furlong heritage handicap.

Found-pound claimer McGettigan got his mount up on the line to deny the 4/1 race favourite Sea Lantern, with Joseph O’Brien’s J.P. McManus-owned nine-year-old Dawn Rising (6/1) coming home in third place in the hands of Ryan Moore.

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Musical Times Gives Appleby, Buick & Gololphin Fillies’ Mile Success

Breandán Ó hUallacháin — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 19:49:39 +0000

Musical Times (4/9 favourite) maintained her perfect racecourse record with victory in the Group 1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on Friday.

A daughter of Ballylinch Stud’s Lope de Vega, the juvenile filly is now four wins from four after her success over the Rowley Mile.

Ridden by William Buick, the Godolphin-bred and owned filly was a one-length winner over Aidan O’Brien’s big-priced Haven (28/1), the mount of Ryan Moore, with Forbidden Fire (8/1) three-and-a-half lengths further back in third for Oisín Murphy and Andrew Balding.

The winner, Musical Times, who looked green in running, stayed on well at the end, and her trainer Charlie Appleby stated post-raced that she was now likely to head straight for the 1000 Guineas over the same course and distance next May.

For Haven, who won a Dundalk maiden a few weeks back, her run was a major step-up in effort, and she will now be among the Ballydoyle mix for the 1000 Guineas in either Ireland, England or France next year.

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Video – Godolphin smash European record with 4.6m guineas Night Of Thunder colt at Tattersalls

JoeNa Connacht — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:07:21 +0000

Breaking • Horse Racing

Godolphin smash European record with 4.6m guineas Night Of Thunder colt at Tattersalls

Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation shattered the European record for a yearling colt on Tuesday after paying an extraordinary 4.6 million guineas for a son of Night Of Thunder at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

The headline-grabbing purchase came on the opening day of Book 1 at Park Paddocks in Newmarket, with Godolphin emerging victorious following a major bidding battle with Coolmore’s MV Magnier.

𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫… 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧

2026’s record price broken again at #TattsOctober Book 1, @godolphin coming out on top at 4,600,000gns for @NorelandsStud Night Of Thunder colt out of the Gr.1 placed My Astra. https://t.co/yfOjmZQylp

— Tattersalls (@Tattersalls1766) October 6, 2026

Record-breaking price

4.6 MILLION GUINEAS

Approximately £4.83 million — making Lot 130 the most expensive yearling colt ever sold in Europe.

At 4,600,000 guineas, the colt became the most expensive yearling colt ever sold in Europe and the highest-priced yearling sold anywhere in the world in 2026.

The price also makes him the second-most expensive yearling of either sex ever sold at Tattersalls.

The overall Tattersalls yearling record remains the five million guineas paid for the filly subsequently named Al Naamah in 2013.

Irish connection to record-breaking sale

There was a significant Irish element to the record-breaking transaction.

The colt was offered by Norelands Stud in Co Kilkenny, with the McCalmont family’s operation celebrating one of the biggest results in European bloodstock auction history.

By leading sire Night Of Thunder, the colt is out of the Lope De Vega mare My Astra, a three-time winner who finished runner-up at Group 1 level in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

Lot 130 at a glance

Sire: Night Of Thunder
Dam: My Astra
Damsire: Lope De Vega
Consignor: Norelands Stud, Co Kilkenny
Buyer: Godolphin
Price: 4,600,000gns

The combination of pedigree, physical appearance and future stallion potential prompted two of the biggest forces in world racing — Godolphin and Coolmore — to fight for him.

Godolphin’s Anthony Stroud eventually delivered the winning bid at 4.6 million guineas.

Stroud described the youngster as a “really beautiful colt” following the purchase, highlighting his pedigree, looks and potential future value as a stallion.

Godolphin dominate opening day

The remarkable purchase was only part of an extraordinary spending spree by Sheikh Mohammed’s operation.

Earlier in the session, Godolphin had temporarily set the world-high price for a yearling sold in 2026 when paying 3.8 million guineas for Lot 87, a colt by the late Wootton Bassett.

That colt, offered by Croom House Stud, is out of Listed winner Loch Lein.

Just a matter of hours later, Godolphin raised the bar by another 800,000 guineas when securing the record-breaking Night Of Thunder colt.

Godolphin also spent 1.8 million guineas on a Frankel colt out of Get Ahead, who is closely related to Classic winner Chaldean.

A Ghaiyyath colt out of Maria Christina cost another 1.3 million guineas, while Godolphin paid 1.1 million guineas for a Blue Point filly from the high-class family of Magical and Rhododendron.

Godolphin’s expenditure across the opening day reached approximately 15.7 million guineas on 11 lots, underlining the scale of Sheikh Mohammed’s investment in elite European bloodstock.

Night Of Thunder’s rise continues

The record price represents another significant achievement for Night Of Thunder.

The son of Dubawi was himself trained for Godolphin and famously defeated Kingman in the 2014 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket before establishing himself as one of Europe’s most sought-after stallions.

Now one of his sons has become the most expensive yearling colt ever auctioned in Europe.

For Godolphin, however, the attraction went beyond simply acquiring another well-bred racehorse.

With the colt combining Night Of Thunder with a high-class Lope De Vega mare and a powerful female family, his potential value as a future stallion was clearly an important consideration.

Godolphin and Coolmore go head-to-head

The sale also provided another chapter in one of racing’s great bloodstock rivalries.

Godolphin and Coolmore have competed for many of the world’s best horses and bloodlines over several decades, and Tuesday’s auction saw the two operations clash again at the very top of the market.

This time it was Sheikh Mohammed’s team who prevailed.

The 4.6 million-guinea price comfortably eclipsed the previous European record for a yearling colt and brought proceedings at Park Paddocks to a remarkable new level.

It capped an extraordinary opening session for Godolphin, who dominated the upper end of the market and secured several of the most sought-after yearlings in the catalogue.

The Tattersalls October Book 1 sale continues in Newmarket until Thursday, October 8. With two days of selling still to come, the question now is whether anything can come close to the 4.6 million-guinea benchmark established by Lot 130.

For Norelands Stud, Night Of Thunder and Godolphin, however, Tuesday has already secured a place in European bloodstock history.

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Rising Stars: John O’Donoghue’s Juveniles Continue to Impress on the Track

Declan Connor — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:04:08 +0000

The latest racing calendar has highlighted the exceptional progress being made by trainer John O’Donoghue’s juvenile string. Known for his keen eye and patient conditioning, O’Donoghue is seeing his young horses reward that careful handling with a series of standout performances.

As the racing season gathers momentum, juvenile campaigns often serve as the true litmus test for a stable’s future prospects. O’Donoghue’s current crop of two-year-olds is proving to be a formidable group, consistently competitive and catching the attention of racing enthusiasts and pundits alike.

Building for a Bright Future

Trainers often face the delicate balance of nurturing raw talent without asking too much too soon from immature athletes. O’Donoghue’s recent successes suggest his yard has struck the right chord, showcasing juveniles that demonstrate not only natural speed and ability, but also the temperament to handle the pressures of race day.

Key Highlights of the Juvenile Success:

Consistent Performance: The stable’s two-year-olds are frequently hitting the frame, showing commendable versatility across various tracks.
Strategic Development: O’Donoghue’s measured approach is paying dividends, allowing young horses to mature naturally through their races.
Pundit Praise: Industry insiders are increasingly taking note of the steady stream of winners emerging from the yard.

What Lies Ahead

With the juvenile division offering some of the most exciting action of the season, all eyes will be on John O’Donoghue’s yard to see how these promising young contenders are campaigned next. If their current trajectory is anything to go by, racing fans can expect to see these rising stars featuring prominently in bigger contests as they transition into their classic three-year-old season.

Stay tuned for more updates, race analysis, and comprehensive coverage of the Irish racing scene as O’Donoghue’s promising youngsters continue their march toward higher-tier competition.

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