Talking Horses

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But there is no longer any such thing as a low-profile card at Cheltenham, this side of the Festival at least, and Saturday’s meeting at the home of jumping attracted a new record attendance for the day of 19,471. Wincanton 1.50 Knappers Hill promises to be a leading novice chaser this season and should get off the mark over the bigger obstacles here.

Sandown 1.50 Goshen is very difficult to catch right but his latest run at Lingfield was his best for a while and this return to Sandown, where he won impressively as a four-year-old, should suit. Royal Ascot’s racegoers – Eliza Doolittle excepted – are not generally given to roaring them home like they do at Cheltenham, but it would be no great surprise, after two years away, if they let themselves off the leash a little this week.

Arrest was six lengths in front of Adelaide River, Aidan O’Brien’s sole runner in the Vase, in Paris seven months ago and has nothing to fear from that rival on their juvenile form, but Hadrianus (3.15), a stable companion of Dubai Mile at the Charlie Johnston yard, could pose more of a challenge. Still in situ, for the moment at least, is the chief executive, Ian McMahon, whose CV when he joined in March 2022 included roles in football, rugby and golf, but no prior experience in racing. Amid the fallout from long-running inquiry which eventually saw Robbie Dunne banned for 18 months – which was reduced to 10 months on appeal – for bullying his fellow rider, Bryony Frost, and the PJA’s horribly ill-judged response to the decision, it was seen by some as a positive that McMahon arrived with a clean slate in racing terms. The BHA’s intervention suggests that it has listened to the riders’ concerns and will seek to amend the rules, while also maintaining its stance that it has tightened the overall regime to a point where it can remain for the foreseeable future. Ascot 1.30: Shishkin was beaten first time up last season but has several pounds in hand of this Grade Two field and should make a winning return.

This is a very serious injury and at this early time, it is not possible to predict the extent of long-term recovery.” Newmarket 3.50 Fast-improving Real Gain may be able to take the step up to Group Three company in his stride. Ylang Ylang gives O’Brien another milestone Sandown 1.15 All eight runners go to post with a chance but Rikoboy looks overpriced at around 6-1 after a promising return from a 10-month break last month. Whether he is a genuine 4-5 chance for Saturday’s race is a different question, however, as Protektorat (3.00) came up with the performance of his career to date under very similar conditions last year.

Newmarket 3.15 Possibly less to choose between Gasper De Lemos and Arabian Crown, the favourite, than the betting might suggest so Aidan O’Brien’s colt gets the nod at around 7-2. In the past few days, however, further representations have been made to the BHA, including some themes which were not raised as part of the initial consultation or technical discussions.

He had a very tough act to follow, however, as his predecessor, Paul Struthers, had been a shrewd and effective chief executive during a decade in the role. He also had plenty of experience of the cut-and-thrust – and occasional low blows – of racing politics from his time as head of PR for the British Horseracing Authority. Charlie Hills’s four-year-old was caught without cover on desperate ground at Goodwood but travelled well for much of the way until fading inside the final furlong. Orazio (3.35) was previously a creditable sixth at the royal meeting, still looks well handicapped on his earlier winning form at Ascot and Newmarket and a strongly run sprint with a little juice in the ground promises to be his ideal combination. The PJA caused controversy in December 2021 by attempting to say that Bryony Frost had only ‘felt’ bullied by Robbie Dunne (pictured), who was banned for 10 months. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA York 3.05 Maidens are not the most compelling events for betting purposes but Colorada Dancer does at least have some experience on his side.The rate at which the royal breeding operation declines, though, will be the best guide as to how much of her legacy in the sport will endure, and for how long. Mixed Showcase for Cheltenham It is right that those discussions are allowed to take place away from the glare of publicity, but we will look to provide an update as soon as possible in light of the existing timelines for the ‘soft launch’ of revised rules on 9 January 2023.”

Newmarket 2.00 Three months on from City Of Troy’s emphatic win in the Superlative Stakes, it remains the most impressive performance by a European juvenile this season and he should seal his status as the champion two-year-old here. Elliott has clearly been pointing Pied Piper towards Saturday’s race from a long way out. The same is true, however, of many of the 34 runners and there is little to choose between the market leader and several of his leading rivals on form, with Jesse Evans (2.40) possibly the best each-way option at around 12-1.Newbury 1.30 A 455-day absence has to be a slight concern about Sense Of Duty but William Haggas’s filly has looked highly talented in her limited career to date and will be tough to beat if anywhere close to her best. Wetherby 2.30 The betting implies a stroll for Ahoy Senor but Saint Palais has progressed with every start over fences, put up a new career-best last time and has a better chance than odds of 3-1 might suggest.