News

Sole & Slade among July Cup fifteen

King's Stand Stakes third Pearl Secret was the most notable absentee at the confirmation stage for Saturday's Darley July Cup at Newmarket. David Barron's lightly-raced four-year-old, who lost his unbeaten record in last summer's Nunthorpe Stakes, returned from a long absence at Royal Ascot and is likely to remain over five furlongs for the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. \"He wasn't confirmed,\" Barron told At The Races. \"It wasn't particularly the ground. He is quite a free-going horse, to test him on the July Course over six furlongs might have been something I didn't really relish and I think Jamie (Spencer) didn't relish it. We'll hang back and he'll go to Goodwood.\" Ante-post favourite Shea Shea is among 15 sprinters to stand their ground in the Group One feature. Mike de Kock's representative was narrowly outpointed by Sole Power in the King's Stand and the pair are set to lock horns again over an extra furlong. Clive Cox has engaged fifth-placed Reckless Abandon as well as his impressive Diamond Jubilee Stakes winner Lethal Force. There are a number of international raiders making another British appearance following Royal Ascot, with Australian Shamexpress, the American Havelock and Fawzi Nass's Bahraini star Krypton Factor also in the line-up. Sole Power's trainer Eddie Lynam has Slade Power in the field too, with Aidan O'Brien able to pick from Reply and his Jersey Stakes winner Gale Force Ten. James Fanshawe's Society Rock, the 2011 Jubilee hero who was second this time, is another notable inclusion while Michael Bell could step Sovereign Debt down in trip down from a mile. The colt was second to Farhh in the Lockinge but could not replicate the effort in the Queen Anne Stakes.

1.15PM

Double for Martin as Canal takes the last

Lagan Canal kept on best in the closing stages to win the McLoughlin Oil Flat Race, providing his trainer Tony Martin with a first and last race double (won the opener with Military Bowl).

6.49PM

Ted beats stable-mate in finale on the hill

Owner John Breslin and trainer Tony Martin were entitled to be well pleased with the outcome to the Eva-Tec Ltd (Q.R.) Race at Bellewstown as their pair, Ted Veale and Blackmail upstaged the odds-on favourite Pique Sous in the finale this evening on the Hill Of Crockafotha.

8.52PM

Danny Mullins in Bellewstown 'driving' ban

Jockey Danny Mullins was hit with a 14-day suspension by the stewards at Bellewstown for driving the ambulance back in after his mount Private Treasure was pulled up in the seventh race.

10.08PM