Ombudsman’s connections have a big call to make over the Breeders’ Cup after his Champions Day demolition job, while Aidan O’Brien unearthed another exciting prospect in Come What May at Leopardstown. Kings Hill gave the Gilligans a Munster National to remember, and attention now turns to a bumper weekend at Cheltenham and Doncaster.
Here is the racing news today, rounded up for Monday.
Ombudsman Breeders’ Cup Turf call looms
Ombudsman was imperious in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, turning the tables on Calandagan by three-and-three-quarter lengths as the well-backed 5/4 favourite. “It was a special performance from a special horse,” said John Gosden, who described the five-year-old as definitely the best mile-and-a-quarter horse he has trained.
The big question now is whether he races again. Gosden says the options are the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on Saturday week or retirement to stud, and that decision will be made with Sheikh Mohammed in the coming days. His Champion Stakes success earned him a fees-paid place in the $5 million race, but it would mean a step up to 1m4f just a fortnight after Ascot.
Come What May impresses at Leopardstown
O’Brien may have found another middle-distance star for next season in Come What May, who bolted up in the Listed Trigo Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday. The brother to 2022 Derby winner Desert Crown was sent off the 4/6 favourite under Wayne Lordan, leading approaching the straight before drawing clear to win easily by six lengths from Diego El Queso.
It was only the colt’s second start, having made a winning debut at the Curragh 22 days earlier, and Lordan believes he will appreciate a step up in trip. The win capped a memorable weekend for the jockey, who had teamed up with O’Brien for a six-timer at the Dublin track on Saturday.
Kings Hill lands Munster National for the Gilligans
Kings Hill provided Paul Gilligan and his son Danny with their first success together in Ireland when landing the Grade 3 Munster National at Limerick at 11/1. The seven-year-old tracked the leaders throughout and was locked in a duel with joint-favourite Anyway when that rival fell at the second-last, leaving Kings Hill clear to come home ten lengths in front of Littlefoot.
Kings Hill was not fluent at the second-last himself, but he stayed on strongly from there, with Iceberg Theory a further length and a quarter back in third. It was a thorough test for the 18 runners over three miles, and the Gilligans can now look forward to some valuable staying handicaps this winter.
Cheltenham and Doncaster take centre stage this weekend
Jumps fans have plenty to look forward to, as Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting runs on Friday and Saturday. The Grade 2 novices’ hurdle is Friday’s feature, with Nicky Henderson’s Planters Punch the early favourite and Dan Skelton’s Cooltobecareless among his rivals. Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead have entries on Friday too, while Saturday’s highlights include a £100,000 staying handicap chase and the first Pertemps qualifier of the season.
On the Flat, Doncaster stages the season’s final Group 1 on Saturday, the £275,000 Futurity Trophy. O’Brien moved back to the top of the trainers’ title race after Champions Day, and he has 18 of the 32 entries, including Beresford Stakes winner Noble Exhibit. Andrew Balding has two entries in Royal Quest and Gran Dia, so the Town Moor contest could well decide who is crowned champion trainer.
Racing today
Gowran Park — first race: 13:40 · last race: 17:10
Bath — first race: 13:47 · last race: 17:22
Pontefract — first race: 13:53 · last race: 16:55
Plumpton — first race: 14:00 · last race: 17:05
Wolverhampton — first race: 16:15 · last race: 20:15
Southwell — first race: 17:00 · last race: 20:30
[View today’s racecards] · [Latest non-runners] · [Today’s results]