Trained in Moone by Jessica Harrington, the four-year-old son of Too Darn Hot, was a recent winner at the highest level in Germany when winning over 1m 2f at Munich on 26 July.

For jockey Shane Foley, this afternoon’s win was the biggest of his career to date, as the Silverton Hill Partnership-owned bay colt held off the late challenge of the supplemented Deauville Group 3 winner Wimbledon Hawkeye (33/1) by a nose.

𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐳𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 (50/1) causes a HUGE shock by edging out Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Irish Champion Stakes!

The big guns have been spiked!@Jessica_Racing | @BahrainTurfClub | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/cTaLqmBitW

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 12, 2026

The Christophe Soumillon-ridden George Scott-handled runner-up was three-quarters-of-a-length ahead of the race favourite Constitution River (11/8 favourite) in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Almaqam (9/2), who finished ahead of the Aidan O’Brien-trained Constitution River in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York last month, was fourth to cross the winning line, one-and-a-quarter lengths further back.

The win was a 16th Group 1 success for veteran trainer Jessica Harrington, who stated post-race:

“We have always believed in this horse. It is so fantastic to win this. He is in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October and we will probably go there next.”

The post Hotazhell is 50/1 winner of Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Orandi, an eight-year-old son of Morandi, was third in the same contest last season, but went two places better tonight as he and rider Robbie Colgan saw off the Ado McGuinness-trained favourite, Pierre Royal (7/2) and Adam Caffrey by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

A neck behind the Lusk handler’s bay son of Blue Point was Jagged Edge (15/2), from the Stephen Thorne yard, in third in the hands of three-pound claimer Jack Kearney. Hardy Warrior (9/2), who had pattern race experience prior to this Premier Handicap finished fourth for Dylan Browne McMonagle and Joseph O’Brien, a further length-and-a-half back.

Lizzie Twigg takes Listed Novice Hurdle

Lizzie Twigg (5/2) gave Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy the opening Listed Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle. The five-year-old bumper winner, who is now unbeaten in three starts over obstacles, carried Elliott’s own colours to victory, coming home two-and-a-half lengths ahead of Fastnet Crystal (4/1), with the other Elliott-trained runner, Porcupine Bank (9/2) in third, one-and-a-quarter lengths in arrears of the Joseph O’Brien-handled runner-up.

White-hot 𝐋𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐢𝐞 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐠𝐠 brings up the hat-trick for @gelliott_racing and @jackkennedy15 in the Listed @ColmQuinn_bmw Novice Hurdle @Galway_Races pic.twitter.com/UX5QO92c96

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 28, 2026

Frankie John takes beginners’ chase

Frankie John (15/8), winner of a bumper at Galway last summer, returned successfully to Ballybrit on Tuesday when taking the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase over 2 miles 2 furlongs and 54 yards. The six-year-old grey son of Walk In The Park tracked the race leader Eclipse Chaser (28/1) and Danny Mullins for much of the race before coming to the stands’ side on entering the straight. The Denis Hogan inmate battled up the hill as he held off challenges from eventual second Bowensonfire (9/2), third-place finisher My Great Mate (7/1), and race favourite Love Me Tender (6/4f), who eventually finished in fourth.

𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 hangs tough in the Latin Quarter Beginners’ Chase @Galway_Races for @d_g_hogan and Dan King pic.twitter.com/UPd9HAhyir

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 28, 2026

Samnina wins for Harrington & Foley

Samnina (4/1), who ran fourth at odds of 50/1 to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Alpha at The Curragh last month, broke her maiden this evening when claiming the Colm Quinn BMW Irish EBF Maiden over seven furlongs. Ridden by Shane Foley, for Jessica Harrington, the juvenile Sea The Moon filly held off joint-favourite, Madam Secretary (3/1jf), by three-quarters-of-a-length, with Silver Kiss (9/2) the same distance further back in third place for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes.

Samnina (Sea The Moon) kicks on from an eyecatching Curragh debut to cooly lands the spoils for @Jessica_Racing in the @ColmQuinn_bmw @IrishEBF_ Fillies’ Maiden @Galway_Races pic.twitter.com/nTU7fBPxSb

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 28, 2026

McGuinness 1-2-4 in Handicap

Ado McGuinness completed a 1-2-4 in The caulfieldindustrial.com Handicap, race six on the card. Last week’s Naas winner, Eddie G (7/2 favourite) led the McGuinness Team, taking the win under Donegal jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle. His stable companion, Go Athletico (15/2) was second in the hands of 2026 Betfred Epsom Derby-winning rider Ronan Whelan, three-quarters-of-a-length behind at the finishing line. Denis Hogan, who earlier in the evening won the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase with Frankie John, took third in this handicap courtesy of Alfred Tennyson (18/1) and Joey Sheridan, while Goal Exceeded (11/2) – another McGuinness horse – was fourth with Adam Caffrey in the saddle.

Tell Us This (12/1), who was 0 from 7 runs over fences prior to today, won the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase for Andrew McNamara and Conor Stone-Walsh. A dual career hurdle winner, the seven-year-old bay Westerner gelding accounted for Herja (16/1) and Leave In Secret (11/1) by two-and-a-half lengths and the same in the 2 miles 2 furlongs and 54 yards race.

The Aga Khan Studs had a 1-2 in The Caulfield Industrial Irish EBF Maiden. The Johnny Murtagh-prepared Sindagan (9/4jf) and Ben Cohen got the better of Almeiyda (6/1) from the Dermot Weld stable, while the finale of Tuesday evening’s meeting, The Caulfield Industrial Handicap, went the way of Lady Arwen (12/1) for Conor O’Dwyer and Billy Lee.

The post Orandi gives Tony Martin & Robbie Colgan Mile Handicap appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Mr Percy (2/1) earned a place in the Sky Bet Ebor at York in August by winning the SkyBet Race To The Ebor Handicap over a mile and six furlongs.

Carrying bottom weight of 8 stone 7 pounds this evening, the Joseph O’Brien-trained son of Sir Percy had just a neck to spare at the line, under five-pound claimer, Wayne Hassett.

Jabbar (25/1), from the Ger O’Leary stable took the runner-up position, while the eight-year-old Helvic Dream (25/1) took third for Noel Meade and Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Sky Bet Handicap

The €50,000 Sky Bet Handicap (Premier Handicap) went to the Michael Grassick-handled Equiano filly Gazelle D’Or (14/1).

Ridden by Cork jockey Wayne Lordan, the Aidan Gleeson and Joseph Keeling-owned three-year-old had won three times previously from five to six furlongs.

Today, she held off Brigid’s Cloak (11/2) by a length, with Jorge Alvares (7/2 favourite) a neck further back in third for Ger Lyons and stable jockey Colin Keane.

Wootton Bassett Double

Two juvenile colts by Coolmore Stud’s sire of the moment, Wootton Bassett, won the first two maidens on the card.

Amadeus Mozart (10/11 favourite) took the opening SkyBet For The Fans Irish EBF Maiden for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore by half a length.

With three runners in the field from Ballydoyle, a Coolmore partners-owned horse filled the runner-up spot as well with the fast finishing grey Dorset (5/1) in the hand of Wayne Lordan.

The double was quickly completed in the next, the Businessplus.ie Irish EBF Maiden when Flushing Meadows (5/2) took the win.

The 80/1 outside The Piper’s Call, ridden by S T McCullagh, took the second post, one and a half-lengths behind the winner. North Coast (11/) and Dylan Browne McMonagle took third for Joseph O’Brien, while another Ballydoyle horse, Puerto Rico (10/1) claimed fourth.

Maiden winners for Harrington and O’Donoghue

The third maiden of the evening, The Spar Shop At The Curragh Maiden went to the Shane Foley-ridden Cold Hearted (5/1).

Placed in four of her seven previous starts, the Blue Point three-year-old filly got the better of a battle with race favourite Stella Alpina (10/11), by half a length, with the same distance back to Marlborough Place (7/2) in third.

The Gannon Interiors Fillies Maiden was won by It’s A Heartbeat (7/1) and Ronan Whelan, who has recently returned to action from injury.

Fourth on her racecourse debut at Naas in April, the daughter of Too Darn Hot was a two and a half-length winner for handler John O’Donoghue.

The second, Jannah Star (13/8 favourite), was another placing on the evening for the Dylan Browne McMonagle and Joseph O’Brien combination, while the well-fancied Tanoya (5/2) from the Paddy Twomey yard claimed third spot, a further two and half lengths behind.

The Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day went the way of Midnight Horizon (7/1) for handler Denis Hogan and rider Joey Sheridan.

The post Mr Percy takes Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The 5/4f was a half-length winner over the Aidan O’Brien-trained Toy (5/1), with Ryan Moore in the saddle. Cairde Go Deo (6/1) from the Ger Lyons stable took third under Colin Keane.

Magical Lagoon is all heart as she follows up her Ribblesdale victoy with a gutsy display to land the €500,000 G1 @JuddmonteFarms Irish Oaks at the @curraghrace for Shane Foley & @Jessica_Racing pic.twitter.com/3rerYVUPt9

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 16, 2022

Ladies Church (12/1) came late to win the Group 2 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes. Ridden by Ben Cohen for Johnny Murtagh, the daughter of Churchill came on the far side of last year’s winner and race favourite Mooniesta to get the verdict by   at the line.

Jack Davidson’s runner-up Mooniesta was game in second place under Colin Keane, while cross-channel challenger Equilateral took third for Charlie Hills and jockey Frankie Dettori.

Thrilling finish at the @curraghrace – Ladies Church chins Mooneista on the line to land the €120,000 G2 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes for @JohnnyMurtagh & @BenCoen2 pic.twitter.com/1DzTGbW7A1

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 16, 2022

The opening race, the Juddmonte Farms Expert Eye Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden went the way of the Aidan O’Brien-trained Hans Andersen (10/11f). The son of Frankel was a three-parts-of-a-length runner-up to La Dolce Vita on debut at Tipperary at the end of June. Today, however, the Ryan Moore mount ran out a comfortable one-and-three-quarter length winner from Al Riffa (17/2), with Jim Bolger’s New Ireland (7/1) two-and-a-quarter lengths further back in third.

Windsor Castle Stakes winner at Royal Ascot last month, Little Big Bear (2/5f), brought up a double for Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore and the Coolmore partners when taking the Group 3 Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey Stakes.

A two-year-old son of No Nay Never, the winner showed he had progressed from his win in England last month, as his claimed today’s Group 3 contest by four-and-three-quarter lengths. It was an O’Brien Family trifecta with Donnacha O’Brien’s runners Yosemite Valley (9/1) and Badb (6/1) filling the second and third spots.

Little Big Bear is brilliant in the Anglesey to complete a quickfire double for @Ballydoyle & Ryan Moore at the @curraghrace

Four runs
Three wins
G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Anglesey Stakes
Listed Windsor Castle Stakes
€320,000 purchase
Some prospect pic.twitter.com/2yK4aaHjSM

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 16, 2022

Mr Wayju (5/4jf) won the Paddy Power Scurry Handicap for raider John Quinn and Jason Hart. The Kidlare Village Ladies Derby sent the way of Sylvia and Pat O’Donnell as Extensio was a half-length winner. All Things Nice (9/4f) was the winner of the DMG Media Nursery Handicap for Joseph O’Brien and jockey Mikey Sheehy.

The post Magical Lagoon wins Juddmonte Irish Oaks appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle

Henry de Bromhead’s Honeysuckle faces five rivals in the feature race, the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.

The Rachael Blackmore-ridden unbeaten superstar will face three from the Willie Mullins stable. Triple Matheson Hurdle winner Sharjah heads Mullins’ team. The champion handler is also represented by Saint Roi and Saldier. Gordon Elliott saddles both Abacadabras and Petit Mouchoir. The latter horse won the 2017 Irish Champion Hurdle when trained by Henry de Bromhead.

Ladbroke’s Dublin Chase

Six horses line up in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase. Mullins will again have three in this race. Last year’s first and second, Chacun Pour Soi and Min, and Tornado Flyer will represent the Closutton handler.

The 2020 Arkle Novice Chase victor, Notebook, represents Henry de Bromhead in this contest. Jessica Harrington runs Sizing Pottsie and Joseph O’Brien saddles Fakir D’oudairies.

Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle

The first of Saturday’s Grade 1 races is the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle. Course winners Gaillard Du Mesnil and Stattler head Mullins’ strong team. Emmet Mullins runs another leading fancy in Cape Gentleman. Gavin Cromwell has Vanillier in the field. Mouse Morris will be represented by Gentlemansgame. Jessica Harrington’s Ashdale Bob and the Gordon Elliott-trained Fakiera are other notable runners in a field of 13.

Patrick Ward & Company Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase

Willie Mullins launches a strong challenge for the Patrick Ward & Company Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase. The champion trainer runs Energumene, Franco De Port, Unexcepted and Blackbow. Gavin Cromwell saddles Darver Star, while Henry de Bromhead runs Captain Guinness. Gordon Elliott’s Felix Desjy is another strong entry in the race.

The Matheson Handicap Chase

The Matheson Handicap Chase has a full field of 20. Epson Du Houx will be seeking a hat-trick. Emmet Mullins’ The Shunter, Aramax, trained by Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins’ pair, Pont Aven and Andalusa are likely to be some of the main players in the race.

Ladbroke’s Hurdle

Twenty two runners will line up for the Ladbrokes Hurdle. The Eddie Cawley-trained Golden Jewel was runner-up in the contest a year ago. Topping the weights is the Willie Mullins-trained Buildmeupbuttercup. Paul O’Flynn saddles West Cork Wildway. Eclair De Beaufeu is a likely strong challenger for the race, having won the Matheson Handicap Chase in 2020.  Noel Meade’s Hes A Hardy Bloke, the Gavin Cromwell-trained Gabynako, and the Charles Byrnes-trained Advanced Virgo could also be in the reckoning.

Goffs Future Stars INH Flat Race

The Goffs Future Stars INH Flat Race, won by Envoi Allen in 2019 and Appreciate It last year, will have ten runners. Gordon Elliott relies on Chemical Energy, Willie Mullins runs three. The Closutton team is Kilcruit, Whatdeawant and Ramillies. Gavin Cromwell’s Letsbeclearaboutit and the Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats are also included.

The first of a seven-race card is underway at 1.05pm. There will be TV coverage on RTÉ, ITV and Racing TV.

A free racecard for Saturday can be accessed here.

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Owned by the Slaneyville Syndicate, the 11-year-old was sixth in the race last year. He most recently finished runner-up to Al Boum Photo at Tramore on New Year’s Day.

Mullins has declared five runners and making up his team are the Munster National and Kerry National winner Cabaret Queen, last year’s runner-up Class Conti, Brahma Bull and Saturnas.

Five from Elliott’s Yard

Gordon Elliott’s team also numbers five. Leading fancies Coko Beach and Run Wild Fred will be joined by 2019 Thyestes runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux, Roaring Bull and Dounikos.

Former Troytown Chase winner Tout Est Permis carries the hopes of Noel Meade. Henry de Bromhead runs Spyglass Hill and Ted Walsh has Any Second Now. The Jessica Harrington-trained Discordantly, Philip Dempsey’s Ten Ten and the Pat Fahy-trained Dunvegan are other notable entries.

Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle

Willie Mullins won the 2020 Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle with Benie Des Dieux and he fields a team of four this year. Great White Shark, Bacardys, Burrows Saint and Scarpeta face tough opposition in the 10-runner field. The Edward Harty-trained Kilfenora, Noel Meade’s Sixshooter and Diol Ker and the Mouse Morris-trained Sams Profil stand their ground.

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The Michael Winters-trained Chatham Street Lad, winner of the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Cheltenham a month ago, heads the entries. The Emmet Mullins’ Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle winner The Shunter is also aiming for the race.

Joseph O’Brien has Front View, successful in a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse last month, among the current field. The Jessica Harrington-trained Impact Factor is also among the entries and will be bidding for a third Fairyhouse win.

Gordon Elliott has six horses still in the race, including Chosen Mate, winner of the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Willie Mullins has both Fan Des Blues and Pont Aven.

Quilixios among 17 entries in Hurdle

Saturday’s card will also feature the ITM Virtual Stallion Trail Hurdle for which Gordon Elliott has entered Quilixios. He was an impressive winner at both Punchestown and Down Royal and heads a list of 17 entries.

Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse, said:

“We are delighted to have another very exciting Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase on a great day’s racing at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Impact Factor was an impressive course and distance winner in the Easyfix Handicap Chase in November. Chatham Street Lad will be bidding to follow up on his Cheltenham win for the popular Cork trainer Mick Winters.”

The going is currently heavy at Fairyhouse.

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O’Brien, who has won the fillies’ Classic five times since 2006, will be represented by Epsom Oaks runner-up Ennistymon, together with Snow, Laburnum and Passion.

The recent Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes runner-up Cayenne Pepper will line up for Jessica Harrington, Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas-winning handler Ger Lyons will be doubly represented with Yaxeni and Even So, with Joseph O’Brien’s New York Girl the other runner in the 12-furlong feature race.

Seven two-year-olds will contest the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes at The Curragh on Saturday with Merchants Quay, Law Of Indices, Lucky Vega and To Glory among the contenders.

Joseph O’Brien’s Master Of Reality and Twilight Payment are among the six runners in the Group 2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup, along with his father Aidan’s Memorabilis, Camphor represents Jessica Harrington yard and the Luke Comer pair of Cypress Creek and Giuseppe Garibaldi complete the field.

In the Paddy Power Minstrel Stakes, Classic and Group 1 winner Romanised is one of seven declared runners, with Aidan O’Brien’s Lancaster House set to oppose the Ken Condon-trained horse who seeks to repeat last year’s victory in the Group 2 event.

A field of 17 runners go in the Kildare Village Ladies Derby, with the same number of runners in the Paddy Power Scurry. Nine two-year-olds will face the starter in the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden and 12 horses are declared for the Sentinel Ireland Equine Products Handicap.

A free interactive digital race card will be available to download at www.curragh.ie 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

RTÉ will televise four live races on Saturday, the Paddy Power Minstrel Stakes, GAIN Railway Stakes, Juddmonte Irish Oaks and Kildare Village Ladies Derby.

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Twenty-one-year-old Donnacha O’Brien, son of Irish champion flat trainer Aidan, and brother of former Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby-winning trainer, Joseph, had incredibly only three winners to his name before today’s win in France.

His filly, Fancy Blue, had finished an eye-catching runner-up behind his father’s Peaceful (11/4) in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh three weeks ago. With rivalry renewed in France today, the form was turned as Fancy Blue took the win, with Jessica Harrington’s Alpine Star (6/4f), winner of the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, taking second, ahead of Peaceful in third.

With Harrington’s filly making much of the running under Stéphane Pasquier, she was eventually worn down by Fancy Blue in the hands of Pierre-Charles Boudot, as Peaceful made her challenge on the outside for Séamie Heffernan. In a tight finish, a head separated the winner and runner-up, with a further head back to the third.

The winning trainer, speaking at Fairyhouse, said of his maiden Group 1 victory:

“I always knew she was a very good filly and we always thought the step up in trip would suit her. It definitely did. Pierre-Charles is a very good rider and I told him beforehand he should do what he wants. There was no pace early so he went forward on her and sat upsides the leader. It was exactly what I would have liked him to do. She quickened up well and stuck at it.”

French jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, who tracked the favourite Alpine Star throughout,  said:

“We didn’t go that fast so I took her up to just behind the leaders and it was pretty straightforward. She produced a sustained burst of acceleration and was really brave at the finish. There’s a lot that goes into the kind of run of big wins I’ve enjoyed in the last year, but mostly it’s a case of being lucky to get on these good horses.”

Donnacha O’Brien immediately hinted that the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh on 18th July might be the next target for his Classic-winning filly:

“We’ll get her home and see how she is tomorrow. We might have a look at the Irish Oaks at The Curragh.”

Trainer of the runner-up Jessica Harrington was pleased with her filly’s performance, coming just 15 days after her win at Royal Ascot, with the Moone-based handler admitting:

“She’s gone very close and it was a whisker either way. Maybe the ground was a bit too quick for her but that’s life. It’s quite a funny feeling to be disappointed after running second in a Group 1. She ran her heart out. She seems to stay and she did everything right and maybe the ground was probably a bit quick.”

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English King, the mount of Frankie Dettori, marked himself down as a live contender for the race with an impressive success in the Listed Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield Park on 5th June. Though 17 Investec Derby favourites have triumphed in the race since 1970, no horse has won from English King’s stall 1 since starting stalls were introduced for the race in 1967.

Trainer Ed Walker, ahead of his first runner in the Investec Derby, said:

“I am massively excited by English King and I would not swap him for anything else. I know that sounds mad with a Guineas winner [Kameko] in the field, but I wouldn’t. I always vowed that I would not run a horse in the Derby if he didn’t deserve his place. I think he will have learnt a lot at Lingfield and hopefully he can cruise round Tattenham Corner.”

English King’s chief danger according to the betting market is Qipco 2000 Guineas winner Kameko, the mount of Kerry-born Oisín Murphy. Similar to English King, Kameko is drawn in a stall (11) from which a horse has never won the Epsom Derby. The record of Qipco 2000 Guineas winners in the Investec Derby is mixed with only Sea The Stars (2009) and Camelot (2012) completing the Newmarket 2000 Guineas-Epsom Derby double in the last 30 years.

Aidan O’Brien is bidding for a record breaking eighth Investec Derby victory, with five of his seven wins in the race having come since 2012. The master of Ballydoyle has six horses in the field, with jockey Ryan Moore choosing to rider Mogul. The Irish-based jockeys will travel to England to ride for the first time this season, with Séamie Heffernan on Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes winner Russian Emperor, while former Epsom Derby-winning jockey Pádraig Beggy will take the mount on Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Vatican City. Mythical will be the mount of James Doyle, Curragh maiden winner Serpentine will have the assistance of Emmet McNamara in the saddle, while William Buick will ride Amhrán na Bhfiann. How ironic it is that both Godolphin jockeys, James Doyle and William Buick, are riding Coolmore-owned horses in the most prestigious flat race of the season.

Russian Emperor is one of three Royal Ascot winners in the field alongside William Muir’s Pyledriver (Martin Dwyer) and Highland Chief, a first ride in the race for Irish jockey Ben Curtis. Pyledriver had Mohican Heights (Andrea Atzeni) and Mogul behind him when landing the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes, while Highland Chief defied top weight to win the Golden Gates Handicap.

Kameko’s stablemate Khalifa Sat (Tom Marquand) and Emissary (Jim Crowley) meet again, after the pair were separated by a neck in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood on 14th June.

John Gosden, twice winner of the Investec Derby, saddles the once-raced Newbury maiden scorer Worthily (Martin Harley), a three-parts sibling to Lucarno, who was fourth in the 2007 Epsom Derby before going on to take the Doncaster St Leger.

The 16 runners are completed by Group 3 Zetland Stakes winner Max Vega (Harry Bentley) and Jessica Harrington’s Gold Maze (David Egan), who finished sixth in last weekend’s Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh.

The 241st Investec Derby (Group 1)

4.55pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday, 4 July, 2020. 1m 4f 6y. £500,000 Total Prize Fund.

Stalls number in brackets.

1) (5) Amhran Na Bhfiann (IRE) (Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 William Buick

2) (4) Emissary (Khalid Abdullah) Hugo Palmer 3-9-00 Jim Crowley

3) (1) English King (FR) (Bjorn Nielsen) Ed Walker 3-9-00 Frankie Dettori

4) (16) Gold Maze (The Long Wait Partnership) Jessica Harrington IRE 3-9-00 David Egan

5) (13) Highland Chief (IRE) (Fitri Hay) Paul & Oliver Cole 3-9-00 Ben Curtis

6) (11) Kameko (USA) (Qatar Racing Limited) Andrew Balding 3-9-00 Oisín Murphy

7) (14) Khalifa Sat (IRE) (Ahmad Al Shaikh) Andrew Balding 3-9-00 Tom Marquand

8) (7) Max Vega (IRE) (The Pickford Hill Partnership) Ralph Beckett 3-9-00 Harry Bentley

9) (2) Mogul (Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Ryan Moore

10) (15) Mohican Heights (IRE) (Sun Bloodstock SARL) David Simcock 3-9-00 Andrea Atzeni

11) (10) Mythical (FR) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 James Doyle

12) (3) Pyledriver (K & W Bloodstock Limited & Roger Devlin) William Muir 3-9-00 Martin Dwyer

13) (6) Russian Emperor (IRE) (Laurie Macri/Sue Magnier et al) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Séamie Heffernan

14) (12) Serpentine (IRE) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Emmet McNamara

15) (8) Vatican City (IRE) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Pádraig Beggy

16) (9) Worthily (USA) (George Strawbridge) John Gosden 3-9-00 Martin Harley

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