Horse racing: Wesley Ward culls his team for this year’s Royal Ascot meeting

US trainer Wesley Ward, who broke new ground when winning two juvenile races at Royal Ascot last year, has scrapped plans to be mob handed at next weeks renewal and may only have one representative or even none at all.
A team of four youngsters were originally penned into plunder further booty at next weeks Berkshire bash but Ward changed plans to send them to Newmarket last Thursday at the last minute.
Ward may now send the unbeaten Metropolitan Man for the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes on Thursday week but even these plans are subject to change and flight plans later this week.
Twelve months ago, Ward landed the Queen Mary and Windsor Castle Stakes with Jealous Again and Strike the Tiger respectively.
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Adrian Beaumont, of the International Racing Bureau, said: ‘Wesley Ward pulled the plug on last weeks flight at the last minute and has no horses in Newmarket at present. One might still be coming,which may be Metropolitan Man, but I haven’t had that confirmed yet.’
Meanwhile Toby Coles has recently become one of the youngest ever trainers to hold a licence in Newmarket and the 25-year-old is hoping that Silken Promise can give him his first success at Folkestone on Monday.
A former assistant to Sir Mark Prescott and Ed Dunlop, Cole filled a similar role with Christophe Clement in the US before extending his global knowledge in Australia and New Zealand.
Cole has recently returned to Newmarket where he currently rents a barn from Rae Guest at his Chestnut Tree Stables base on the Hamilton Road.
The rookie trainer said: ‘I decided I had to have go myself at training as no one would employ me as an assistant anymore.I rent 14 boxes at Rae Guest’s and have 8 in at the moment. We have had four runners to date and it would be nice to get one on the board on Monday.’
As well as his training duties, Coles has been helping connections of Australian sprinting star Gold Trail prepare their speedster for Royal Ascot next week.
The handler traded his tweed cap for a skull cap at the weekend when putting the six year old through his paces on the Al Bahathri Polytrack.
Coles has booked Frankie Dettori for the ride on Silken Promise who faces ten rivals in the twelve furlong Joy Is Discovering Your Favourite Brands Handicap (4.15).
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Horse racing: GIVEN LOOKS TO ASCOT FOR DAN THE MAN

Dandino will head to Royal Ascot in search of a four-timer after rattling off the hat-trick in impressive fashion at Epsom on Derby Day.
James Given kept it low-key with his colt in previous starts, sending him to Redcar and Doncaster, but took on some smart three-year-olds in the Investec Vincent O’Brien Handicap.
Owned by the Elite Racing Club, Dandino (17-2) showed a striking turn of foot under Paul Mulrennan to settle the race very quickly.
"It has been such a frustrating couple of weeks as we have had a 30% runners to place ratio, but they have been running well without winning and to come off the cold list in that way is very pleasing," said Given.
"Paul rode with lots of confidence and he has done it in a tremendous manner.
"We will step up to a mile and a half now for the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot 2010."
Godolphin look to have discovered a useful older filly with German recruit Antara making a winning debut for Sheikh Mohammed’s operation in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
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Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "If she comes out of this OK she could possibly go to Royal Ascot 2010, where the Windsor Forest would be the obvious race."
Hardened Irish two-year-old High Award (7-1) took advantage of the slow early pace to dominate the Investec Woodcote Stakes under Johnny Murtagh.
"We worked him hard to win first time out, but I suppose we’ve been easy on him the last couple of times and those have put him right for today.
"He had plenty of experience and handled the track well," said Fozzy Stack, son and assistant to trainer Tommy.
Stuart Williams’ bottom-weight Bertoliver was third at the course in April but went off at 33-1 as he blitzed down the stands rail in the Investec Entrepreneurial Class ‘Dash’.
"We’ll think about Ascot now, where we have the Coventry, Norfolk and Windsor Castle as options."
It was a fine moment for winning jockey Jack Mitchell, son of local trainer Philip.
"He has been a disappointing horse since he won so well at Lingfield last year," said the Newmarket baronet.
Sir Mark Prescott’s continued his ridiculously hot form as Fortuni (9-1) turned the Investec Surefooted Challenge into a procession.
"I didn’t think he ran very well at York last time so we decided to change the tactics, make the running, and it worked."
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Wimbledon 2010: Andy Murray fancies his grand slam chances on Wimbledon’s grass

When the French Open began, there was a line on Murray’s profile page on the website for the men’s tour which suggested that his favourite surface was clay. That has since been changed to hard courts, and after his fourth-round defeat to Tomas Berdych at Roland Garros he will now begin his preparations for the grass, and many consider that it is on the lawns of London that he has his best chance of winning a first grand slam.
Only in the kitchen showrooms of Surrey, around Andy Murray’s home in Oxshott, would you hear a more animated debate about surfaces.

You know that summer is coming when Vogue are carrying an interview with a teenage British player it is in the July issue that Laura Robson makes the unfortunate suggestion that some of the other female players are “sluts” and when Murray is reacquainting himself with the low, shooting bounce of grass on a practice court ahead of the pre-Wimbledon tournament at Queen’s Club.
“I don’t feel terrible just now. I’ve got to get over it quickly because obviously it’s an important few weeks for me, with Queen’s and Wimbledon coming up, and I need to have all my energy focused on the tennis there.
Back in England, Murray needs to shake the clay dust from his racket bag and any negativity from his mind.
“I’ll start practising almost as soon as I get back, and I’ll get in the gym. I’ve got my hunger back, my appetite back for that, and after Wimbledon I’ll have a break but these next few weeks are very important for my year.
"My season so far has been very patchy, and the next few weeks will determine how the year is going to go.”
"It’s a pretty stressful period in terms of the stuff you’ve got to go through, so I had better get over it quickly or I’m not going to do well,” Murray said.
On the grass last season, he went through the draw at Queen’s without dropping a set, so becoming the first British champion in Kensington since Bunny Austin in 1938, and he went on to reach his first Wimbledon semi-final, where he lost to Andy Roddick.
In Paris, Murray was considered to be only an outsider for the title, but during the coming grass-court swing he will rightly be regarded as much more of a force.
"I lost last year to a guy who was playing arguably the best tennis of his life in the semis of Wimbledon and I still feel like I can improve, so I’ll try to work on my game in the next week or so before Queen’s. I do look forward to the grass. I think I have a chance of winning Wimbledon.”
While Murray’s game is best suited to hard courts, and his first grand slam final came at the 2008 US Open and his second at this year’s Australian Open, there are many players who would say that they produce their best tennis on that surface, and there is a smaller group who are comfortable on grass.
“The grass last year was very good,” Murray said. “I didn’t lose a set at Queen’s and was doing everything well. I feel like I’m hitting the ball well, I feel like I have got confidence in my game again, I just need to make sure I take that to the grass and do a few things a little bit better.
Last season, Murray won six titles, with tournament victories in Doha, Rotterdam, Miami, Queen’s, Montreal and Valencia. He has not retained the first three of those six, as he did not play in Doha and Rotterdam and he lost his opening match in Miami.
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Tennis: WTA to launch probe into Laura Robson’s controversial ‘slut’ comments

The WTA Tour issued a statement yesterday which suggested they will investigate what the former Wimbledon junior champion said during a fashion shoot.
Women’s tennis authorities have requested a transcript of the interview given by Laura Robson to Vogue magazine in which she was reported to have described some fellow players as ‘sluts’.
‘We understand that an actual transcript of her remarks exists and we will review it carefully as soon as we receive it.’
‘We are aware of Laura Robson’s reported comments to Vogue UK along with her statement that the comments were taken out of context,’ said WTA Tour spokesman Andrew Walker. 
The fuss could hardly have come at a worse time as Robson prepares for the grass-court season that leads into Wimbledon, where she is expected to play in both the main draw and the juniors.
According to WTA sources, there is virtually no prospect of the 16-year-old player being punished over the incident.
Among other comments, Robson is quoted as saying that some other players ‘go with every guy and make such a bad name for themselves’.
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Golf: Rhys Davies gives Colin Montgomerie Ryder Cup nudge

WELSHMAN Rhys Davies headed back to South Wales last night having given European captain Colin Montgomerie a timely nudge for October’s Ryder Cup in an epic Madrid Masters battle with Luke Donald at Real Sociedad Golf Club.
Though the Bridgend-based European Tour rookie still has a mountain to climb to make Monty’s Ryder Cup team, Davies has qualified for June’s US Open at Pebble Beach and the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews the following month with massive prize funds on offer.
Davies and Donald are all set to slug it out again this week when the duo headlines the Wales Open at the Celtic Manor.
And Hassan Trophy winner Davies has assured Welsh golf fans he’ll be going flat out to better his runner-up spot in Madrid.
“I’m having a couple of days off to recharge myself so I can go into the Wales Open feeling confident.
“I am in a position where I was selected as captain by the European Tour to try to win back the Ryder Cup. In these economic times it is very important for everybody that we do that.”
“I’m going to the Celtic Manor thinking I can win and my approach will be no different.
“In the past some captains have played up the underdog role, but I don’t have that advantage this time,” he said. “Because we are doing so well in the world rankings and playing at home we do start as favourites. I can’t deny that, and nor do I want to. We need to justify that favouritism by winning.
“If we don’t, and that means I’m the fall guy, I’ll take that. I will take every up and down that this captaincy gives. That’s why I’m in this position and enjoying it.”
Montgomerie reiterated his hope that Tiger Woods would have overcome his personal difficulties by the time the Ryder Cup 2010 is played in Newport. “We all hope he does play,” said Montgomerie. “It will be a bigger and better event if he does.”
“It will be even more special being backed home in a Wales. Hopefully I can perform well, my game feels good and hopefully I can go one better than Madrid.”
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Montgomerie to offer Faldo a truce in bid to learn Ryder Cup lessons

DESPITE the sour rel-ationship between the two men, Colin Montgomerie says he intends to seek advice from Nick Faldo ahead of this year’s Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
The two heavyweights of British golf have been trading punches for almost three years, but now Monty has signalled he would like a truce. Whether his offer is taken up by Faldo remains to be seen.
Montgomerie wants to speak to the last four Ryder Cup captains to see what he can learn from them, and will have no problems with Sam Torrance, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam. The Ryder Cup 2010 captain played under all three, contributing hugely to their victories, and in any event enjoys good relations with them.
That is not the case with Faldo, who not only failed to give the Scot a wild card pick ahead of the defeat at Valhalla two years ago but made no effort to spare his feelings. The two men had fallen out publicly a year earlier when Faldo criticised Montgomerie for effectively not acting like a good team player under him in the 2007 Seve Trophy, when Great Britain and Ireland played continental Europe.
That criticism was regarded as ironic given Montgomerie’s selfless contribution to the Ryder Cup cause and Faldo’s reputation for putting his own interests first throughout his career in golf.
It was this trait which many predicted would make Faldo an unsuccessful Ryder Cup captain, even if his fabulous
playing record, which included winning six Majors, meant he could not be overlooked for the honour.
In the event, Europe were trounced at Valhalla and Faldo’s performance as captain – which plumbed the depths at the opening ceremony during which he embarrassed some of his own players – was roundly criticised. Despite all this, Montgomerie made it clear at Gleneagles on Thursday that he wanted to learn from the American-based Faldo.
“I will be talking to Nick,” he said. “He will be over at the Open Championship in St Andrews commentating for television, so that will be an opportunity.
“I’m not doing it because I have to, but because I want to. Sam, Bernhard and Ian were all winning captains, but sometimes you can learn more from a defeat than you can from a win. If Nick can sit down with me, and we can talk openly and honestly about what he would have done differently in hindsight, we can learn from that for the sake of the European Tour.
Montgomerie may be offering a truce, but, in an encouraging sign for his captaincy at Celtic Manor in October, it is a shrewd gesture which leaves him in a win-win situation whatever happens. Even as he was holding out the olive branch he was
insinuating that Europe, 
under Faldo, had allowed America to gain confidence and momentum too readily in Valhalla.
If the Englishman turns down the chance for a chat, he will be perceived as snubbing not just Montgomerie but the European Tour – and even jeopardising the financial windfall which would accrue from regaining the Ryder Cup from the Americans.
On the other hand if Faldo plays ball, and talks “openly and honestly”, he will have to own up to his shortcomings at Valhalla and admit he could have handled some aspects differently. As Faldo is not a man who does confessionals willingly, that would be a difficult conversation for him. Whatever the outcome, he will not now be able to point at Montgomerie, in the event of a European defeat, and say, “Well, he should have asked me”.
Montgomerie was at 
Gleneagles to promote the Johnnie Walker Championship which will be the last ranking event before the selection of this year’s Ryder Cup side. When the last putt has been sunk on the PGA Centenary Course on August 29, Montgomerie will nominate his three wild card picks for Celtic Manor.
He acknowledged that whoever he selects, Europe will, unusually, go into the match as strong favourites.
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Colin Montgomerie: I’ll talk to Nick Faldo about Ryder Cup as you can sometimes learn more from a defeat

COLIN MONTGOMERIE has revealed he’ll pick flop Ryder Cup 2010 Captain Sir Nick Faldo’s brains this summer to learn from his failure.
Speaking at Gleneagles this week in his role as chairman of the Johnnie Walker Championship – the final qualifying event for this year’s Ryder Cup – Monty told MailSport: "I WILL be talking to Nick. He’s over for the Open Championship as a commentator.
"I’ll be talking to him, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance – the past four captains.
"It’s only right to learn from their experiences. I thought Sam was brilliant, not because he was Scottish, simply because he was.
"America sent over a much stronger team than we had in 2002 yet we won. How he got the four rookies through undefeated in the singles, how he made them believe they were part of it, that’s why we won.
"Bernhard and Ian Woosnam had so-called easier tasks because Europe were becoming stronger. And then of course you can learn from defeat, sometimes more than you do if you won.
"Learning from certain aspects of what Nick did, if he can sit down with me and we can talk openly and honestly about what he’d have done different in hindsight, we can learn from that for the sake of the European Tour."
Faldo blundered his way through to a disastrous five-point defeat to Paul Azinger’s Americans in Kentucky in 2008 – all the way from the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony.
At one point the Englishman crudely stereotyped Padraig Harrington by saying he had been "hitting more balls than potatoes have been dug in his homeland".
He also didn’t know which part of Ireland Graeme McDowell came from and then he told the world to "bring their waterproofs" for the next Ryder Cup when the Welsh tourist board had been trying to promote Celtic Manor all week.
And his decision to backload the singles draw with his star men on the Sunday proved the biggest disaster of the lot as he left Lee Westwood, Harrington and Ian Poulter all playing dead rubbers with the cup already lost.
Even some of his off-course activities left the players baffled, like borrowing two drum kits from Iron Maiden legend Nicko McBrain for the team room.
Monty, in his ever-acerbic style, said: "I have ideas about entertainment for the troops in the evening – but, ah, it won’t be drums…
"It’s an important relationship and I’ll make sure they’re fully involved. So they will be part of it and we’ll have some fun. It’ll be enjoyable because if you enjoy what you do you’re usually good at it."
One thing Monty doesn’t have going for him this time out is the siege mentality that comes with being an underdog.
He has seven of the world’s top 15, compared with the USA’s five right now, and he said: "I don’t have the advantage of playing up to the underdog role like some have had before me.
"The rankings, the talent, being the home side, the fact we are undefeated here since 1993, I can’t deny we’re favourites and I don’t want to. I want to prove why we are and win it.
"I don’t feel pressure. If I was sitting on a team less talented, maybe, but the talent we have is second to none. There’ll be no motivation required, they all want to be there and all of that takes the pressure away from me."

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Ryder Cup 2010: Colin Montgomerie to pick Nick Faldo’s brains

Colin Montgomerie has agreed to a sit down with Nick Faldo in the hope of learning from the mistakes of the unsuccessful 2008 European Ryder Cup team.
Given the history between the two men, one expects it could be something of a nose-holding exercise, but Montgomerie is adamant that he will leave no stone unturned in his prepatations for recapturing the trophy this October.
The European captain will meet his predecessor at Pebble Beach, where Faldo will be commentating on the US Open, to discuss what lessons can be learnt from the European defeat at Valhalla two years ago – provided, of course, that the pair can put their personal history behind them and Faldo feels comfortable to talk candidly about the failings of his side. After all, Montgomerie purred, it would be for the good of the European Tour.
"I will be talking to Nick," he said. "I will be talking to Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance. They are the last four captains. I’ll be talking to every one of them. Not because I have to, but because I want to. It is only right that you can learn from their experiences. Sam was a brilliant captain. America sent over a much stronger team than he had in 2002 and yet we won … because the four rookies in the singles never lost. How he got those rookies to believe that they were part of the team, to go out there believing in themselves – that is what I have to find out from Sam. What he said at the time or what was done.
"And, of course, you can learn from defeat – sometimes more than you do from a win. Learning from certain aspects of Nick, if he can sit down with me and talk openly and honestly about what he might have done differently in hindsight, then we can learn from it for the sake of the European Tour. There is a big opportunity here. I will definitely see him there."
Whether Faldo will be able to swallow his pride and admit to his shortcomings, especially in front of Montgomerie, is a moot point. And whether Monty listens is another: he has already dismissed one of the team-bonding tools of the Faldo regime, a set of drums in the team room, in favour of a more sober approach. He said, for example, that one thing he hopes to achieve this year is including the players’ caddies so that they feel more of the team.
"We will do things, but it won’t be drums," he said. "I’m going to involve the caddies a lot more than ever before. In this tournament, I’ve found, the caddies play a very important role. There are 24 of them out there, not just 12. I am going to involve them in our team, more than I have witnessed before."
He will also, no doubt, be intrigued to learn what was said and done in the wake of Bo Weekly’s exuberant celebrations when partnering Oliver Wilson, and why the Americans were allowed to impose themselves, mentally, so easily.
"The crowd reacted to them and they reacted to them," Montgomerie explained. "Bo is a great guy, his first time in that atmosphere and, hey, he did something and the crowd enjoyed it. I’m rather glad that Oliver Wilson didn’t, because he was walking ahead and didn’t see. So it was OK."
It is unlikely, given that the Cup will be played on home turf, at Celtic Manor, that anything similar would happen this time around. But as Montgomerie said, the European side must ensure the opportunity does not arise. "It comes with momentum, and it is our job to prevent that from happening."

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Royal Ascot target for blistering Beverley winner Boundless Spirit

Boundless Spirit booked his place on the Royal Ascot wagon with a blistering display in the Brian Yeardley Continental Two-Year-Old Trophy.
Bryan Smart won Saturday’s highlight at Beverley two years ago with Able Master, and looks to have unearthed yet another speedball from his capable batch of juveniles.
Already victorious at Hamilton this month, the Invincible Spirit colt soon stated his intentions under Royston Ffrench, who was deputising for the ailing Tom Eaves.
Smartly away from trap four, the 4-1 chance had far too much zip for four potentially high-class rivals to collect by a length.
Chiswick Bey finished a determined second, shaping as though he will be suited by another furlong, while On the High Tops also caught the eye in third.
For Boundless Spirit, the prospect of heading to next month’s Royal meeting is now a distinct possibility.
"Royston said he is a better horse than Able Master, and that will do for me," revealed Thirsk-based Smart.
"We’ll look for something like the Windsor Castle or the Norfolk Stakes at Ascot because we think he’s a very nice horse."
The unfortunate Eaves, who developed food poisoning earlier this week, also missed out on another big winner when Look Busy scorched a trail in the Brantingham Conditions Stakes.
Eaves’ loss was Paddy Mathers’ gain as the 7-4 favourite initiated a ramp in class when taking this race for the second time in three years.
Trainer Alan Berry said: "She’ll now go for the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh, which she won two years ago."
An afternoon teeming with potential also witnessed a star performance from Ladies Are Forever in the opening maiden.
Geoff Oldroyd saddled Hilary Needler runner-up Lady Royale last Wednesday, but this filly is reportedly in "a different class" to her esteemed stablemate.
General Tufto’s future targets will be considerably lower, of course, but that could not remove the gloss from his second course victory in the mile-and-a-half handicap.
Summer Dancer, meanwhile, was a misnomer given the overcast conditions, but he still shone brightly in the seven-furlong handicap – ending a frustrating run for Paul Midgley.
Owned by the Howarting’s Partnership, whose membership include two racegoers from Driffield, the 14-1 chance excelled under Micky Fenton in a pulse-chasing finish.
Shadowtime also nailed his second Westwood win in the one-mile handicap, while Ruth Carr will seek another moderate sprint for Chosen One after bringing up the hat-trick in the finale.
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Horse racing: Profound Beauty sinks Age Of Aquarius in Saval Beg Stakes

Dermot Weld spiked Ballydoyle’s big guns for the second week running when sending out Profound Beauty to take the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstownthis afternoon.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Age Of Aquarius was sent off the 2-5 favourite to build upon a promising return at Chester and book his place in the line-up for next month’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
But instead it was the 4-1 chance Profound Beauty who quickened past with a furlong to run and just held the sustained challenge of the market-leader by half a length to follow up Bethrah’s Irish 1,000 Guineas success last Sunday.
Weld, who remains the only European to have trained the winner of the Melbourne Cup, sent out Profound Beauty to finish fifth in the race back in 2008 and a repeat trip may be on the cards later this year.
"Profound Beauty is a very good racemare and she may finish her career in the Melbourne Cup in November," said Weld. "The ground today was beautiful and she loved the surface."
The winning rider, Pat Smullen, said: "I was a little bit worried as I knew Age Of Aquarius was going to be fit today and our filly was a little bit unfit, but she quickened up well.
"I probably went on a bit too soon with her. She got tired as soon as I let her go, but class always outs and she got me home.
"I think all of those staying races are open to her now. I think she’s even got a little quicker this year but she wouldn’t want firm ground and that’s the quandary for her with Melbourne."
The Luca Cumani-trained Contredanse won the Italian Oaks at San Siro. Kieren Fallon squeezed the daughter of Danehill Dancer home by a short head from Richard Hannon’s Middle Club to give British raiders a one-two in the Group Two contest.
Artificial watering is set to resume at Epsom today, after the racecourse dodged the worst of the weekend’s wet weather. Only four millimetres fell when up to 10 had been predicted and the forecast is for a generally dry week. The current going ahead of Saturday’s Derby is good, good to firm in places.
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