Hollie Doyle rode her 1000th UK winner Handle With Care trained by Marco Botti in the opening race from Lingfield. A nice way to start the week. Newmarket trainer Terry Kent had two winners on the card both ridden by Brandon Wilkie. At Wincanton Michael Nolan rode the last two winners, one for his boss’ Hobbs and White and the other for Carol Gray who has packed it in and re-emerged more times than I can remember. Wolverhampton saw a proper punt just denied when Our Planet was just held by Queen All Star by a neck. The runner up was bet from 10/1 in early exchanges and returned 85/40. Billy Loughnane rode a double on the card too.
Tuesday was pretty mundane stuff but worth a mention were a double for jockey Rex Dingle at Taunton including Mr Zee who was a welcome winner for trainer Michael Blake. Up at Hexham Halfway House Lad followed up his Newcastle victory under Charlie Price for trainer Maurice Barnes. The evening card from Newcastle saw a punt landed when Zephlyn won the two-mile handicap under Jason Hart. This Ewan Whillans trained gelding was available at double figures early doors and came home at 7/2.
Market Rasen on Wednesday had few runners but there was a nice introduction made in the closing bumper. On To The Rouge ridden by Brian Hughes and trained by Peter Niven took this race very easily. The four-year-old gelding looks to be above average and was found in the market earlier in the morning. At Kempton both divisions of the seven-furlong novice races went to Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding courtesy of Marvelman and White Crown Star. The feature handicap on the card went to Mount Ahos for the third time for James Tate and James Doyle.
Thursday at Warwick saw Holeshot follow up his Taunton victory last month in the two-mile handicap hurdle by eleven lengths. This one looks to improving for trainer Tim Vaughan and pilot Alan Johns. Up at Southwell Sean Bowen rode three winners including two for his boss Olly Murphy. At Wolverhampton Hector Crouch rode three winners, Billy Loughnane rode two winners and we also saw a 100/1 winner. The horse in question Devilwala, owned and trained by Derek Shaw and ridden by Joanne Mason. In it’s four previous outings in 2025 it had beaten only one horse home!!
Wetherby on Friday saw Olly Murphy train three winners while Pam Sly and jockey Paul O’Brien teamed up for two winners. Rumoursareflying and Mixedwave both won over the larger obstacles and were given lovely rides. Down at Fontwell the feature two and a half handicap chase was taken by Joe Cotton. Jeremy Scott trained the winner was ridden by Rex Dingle and continues the excellent form of the trainer. At Lingfield Rossa Ryan rode 2 winners but perhaps the nicest performance was in the last. Intervention made all in this seven-furlong handicap and kept on well under Ali Rawlinson for trainer Mick Appleby and owners The Horse Watchers. At the other all – weather meetings, Hector Crouch rode three winners and Tom Eaves rode a double at Southwell, while Colin Keane booted home four winners at Dundalk.
Doncaster opened the UK turf flat season as always. The first race on the card, The Brocklesby for two-year-olds was taken just by the Amo Racing owned Normans Cay. Trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by retained jockey David Egan the 60,000 guineas purchase held on to win a neck. The Listed Cammidge Trophy was won by Spycatcher for Karl Burke and James Doyle. Another Listed event the Doncaster Mile saw an impressive victory by the Roger Teal trained Dancing Gemini and ridden by Kieron Shoemark. The cavalry charge that is the Lincoln Handicap saw a terrific finish with Godwinson just prevailing for William Haggas and Cieron Fallon. Down at Kempton the Listed Snowdrop Fillies Stakes was taken by the Highclere owned Soprano for William Buick and trainer George Boughey. This victory made a great day for the owners who won up at Doncaster with Spycatcher. Over at the Curragh the Gladness Stakes was taken by Big Gossey under Billy Lee and trainer Charles O’Brien.
On Sunday the eight race from Doncaster was not of the same quality as the previous day but nevertheless very competitive fayre. The performance to take from this day was seven-furlong novice stakes won by Forty Years On who won readily for trainer George Scott and jockey Callum Shepherd.
Trials day at Leopardstown saw three Group 3s. The Red Rocks Stakes saw Henri Matisse take the prize for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. The Priory Belle Stakes for Fillies went to the Juddmonte owned Swelter trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Chris Hayes. The last Group 3, the Ballysax Stakes went to Aiden and Ryan too when Delacroix put the race to bed with the minimum of ease.