Siyouni should prove too steep a challenge for Cliffs at Royal Ascot

Siyouni looks to have slipped under the radar for his clash with Makfi and Canford Cliffs in next Tuesday’s St James’s Palace Stakes on the opening day at Royal Ascot 2010.
Christophe Lemaire’s mount can put a poor showing in the French Guineas and his rivals behind him next Tuesday
Few horses can have divided opinion as much this season as Canford Cliffs. Beaten at odds-on in the Greenham, some could not wait to write him off as a one-race wonder on the strength of that freakish display in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot 12 months ago. But those who kept the faith drew encouragement from his third behind Makfi and Dick Turpin at Newmarket, and then got paid out at the Curragh three weeks later when he bolted up in the Irish Guineas.
The problem for those who want to take Ladbrokes’ best offer of 6-4 about him maintaining the winning run next week is that Makfi is surely just as capable of improving upon his Guineas form given his progressive profile and the late start he made to his career.
The winner of the Grand Critérium last year, Siyouni was defeated on his comeback when he failed to reel back his pacemaker, which seemed to dent his reputation. But he got the better of a good scrap for second with Lope de Vega who on Sunday spreadeagled his rivals in the Prix du Jockey Club. Siyouni’s trainer Alain de Royer-Dupré took this race in 1999 with the Aga’s Sendawar.
However, at 8-1, it would be wrong to overlook the claims of Siyouni, for whom Christophe Lemaire must desert Makfi on account of his retainer for the Aga Khan. Siyouni trailed home a long way back when favourite for the French Guineas on his latest start, but Lemaire essentially gave up the ghost as soon as his mount’s winning chance was extinguished by trouble in running and that sympathetic treatment may now reap dividends.
The Royal Ascot horse racing festival has seemed to start with a whimper in recent years with the crowds lowest on the first of the five days and many racegoers appearing more interested in riding the escalators and bagging a good table for the rest of the week than in concentrating on the action on the track. But if ever there was an incentive for the racing purist to take a day off and get down to Ascot next week it is the three fascinating Group One contests, each offering punters a different puzzle, that get the action under way on Tuesday.
Paco Boy was an easy winner of the Queen Anne 12 months ago, but he had nothing of the calibre of Goldikova and Rip Van Winkle in opposition and looks vulnerable now, not least having finished well held behind those rivals in previous meetings. To me, he ought to be the clear outsider of the three.
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Makfi bonus for Olivier Peslier ahead of St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot

Olivier Peslier has picked up the prize ride on French colt Makfi in Tuesday’s St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot 2010.
Lemaire will be disappointed he cannot renew his partnership with Makfi, who won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May so brilliantly under his guidance. He has ridden the unbeaten colt on two of his three wins.
Peslier will take over from Christophe Lemaire, who will be required to partner Siyouni for his boss the Aga Khan in the Group One race. Georges Rimaud, the Aga Khan’s racing manager, said last night: ‘Siyouni will go to the St James’s Palace and Christophe Lemaire will ride him.’
Siyouni, meanwhile, will be looking to redeem himself after disappointing as a 2-1 favourite under Lemaire in the French equivalent behind Lope De Vega.
The Andre Fabre-trained winner boosted the form with success in Sunday’s French Derby at Chantilly.
A little gloss was rubbed off the Royal Ascot Horse racing Festival yesterday when hopes that the dual 1000 Guineas winner Special Duty would run were dashed.
Criquette Head-Maarek, whose filly won the English and French Classics in the stewards’ room after passing the post in second place in both, will divert her from the Coronation Stakes to Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes on July 7.
‘This will give her a little more time to recover after her Classic double.’
Head-Maarek said: ‘She’s looking beautiful and will now run in the Falmouth Stakes.
Luca Cumani is planning to run his globetrotting star Presvis in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot on Wednesday.
Kingsgate Native will run in the King’s Stand but it is rival Australian raider Nicconi, favourite for the race, who has been burning up the gallops.
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Horse racing: Prince Charles will miss Royal Ascot to recover from chest infection

The Prince of Wales will miss Royal Ascot 2010 next week on doctors’ orders, so he can recover from an ongoing illness.
He is to take three days off next week, cancelling all planned engagements, so he can try to shake off a persistent chest infection.
But the heir to the throne decided against rest and recuperation this week because he had so many important events to attend.
A spokesman for Clarence House said: “On doctor’s advice, The Prince of Wales will be taking three days off at the beginning of next week.
The Prince’s commitments this week include taking part in The Queen’s Birthday Parade, hosting two military receptions, visiting the Royal Cornwall Show and giving a lecture on Islam and the environment to mark the 25th anniversary of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.
“The Prince has been suffering from a persistent chest infection for over a month and doctors have advised him to find a number of consecutive days in which to have a complete rest.”
Instead of cancelling them, he will take three days off at the start of next week. The Prince will travel to Birkhall, his private home on the Queen’s Balmoral Estate in Scotland, with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall.
He will miss Royal Ascot 2010, the week-long race meeting and highlight of the social calendar that dates back to 1711.
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The Prince will also miss the Garter Service and Procession, which always takes place at Windsor Castle on the Monday of Royal Ascot week and which is traditionally attended by all senior members of the Royal family.
In her throne room, the Queen will formally invest new Companions of the Order of the Garter – the senior British Order of Chivalry, founded in 1348 – with the insignia.
Following lunch, there is a procession of the Knights to St George’s Chapel followed by an installation ceremony.
The Prince’s illness is not believed to be serious and he is scheduled to return to work on Thursday.
It is believed he has attended every Garter ceremony since 1989, and Ascot each year for most of the past decade.
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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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Horse racing: Overdose to miss Royal Ascot

Overdose, the legendary Hungarian horse dubbed the ‘Budapest Bullet’, will not run at Royal Ascot.
Although pencilled in to return at Bratislava on June 6, after which a trip to Berkshire beckoned, those plans have now been scrapped and owner Zoltan Mikoczy said: "Having seen the horse train and evaluated this, it was decided not to take part at Bratislava or Ascot."
The unbeaten sprinter was under consideration for either the Golden Jubilee Stakes or the King’s Stand Stakes, but is not yet at peak fitness from a protracted spell on the sidelines. Hee has been off the track since last April as he recovers from a foot injury.

Overdose is now back in his homeland after having spent time recuperating in Germany with former trainer Sandor Ribarszki. Ribarszki has since returned to Hungary but no longer has a licence to train in the country, according to Mikoczy, with Jozef Roszival now Overdose’s registered handler.
He added: "From a veterinary perspective he is completely healthy, but it is clear that his condition is not yet right. It would be a great honour to compete in the King’s Stand Stakes or Golden Jubilee Stakes, but also a great responsibility – this is why we can only let the horse race when he’s 100%."
The British-bred five-year-old has a devout cult following in his native land, having won all 12 of the races in which he has competed. He also landed the voided first running of the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp in 2008.
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Horse racing: Kieren fallon in fine form

KIEREN FALLON kept up his good run of form with three winners at Goodwood yesterday.
Kieren Fallon’s 13 wins in the last week include a four-timer at Ayr last Wednesday and the prestigious Italian Oaks on Contredanse for Luca Cumanion Sunday. Yesterday’s successes came on Belle Royale, Alfresco and Crown Prosecutor – the latter for Harry Findlay, who had been tipping his horse to his mates in recent days.
“Things hadn’t been going so well for a couple of weeks, but I have my confidence back now and I’m where I want to be,” said the former champ who is in fourth place in the jockeys’ title race.
“I am so pleased for the dog punters and for the horse.
“Everyone was asking me how Denman was and asking for tips so I told them I had a two-year-old running at Goodwood on Monday.
“I am so glad he has won because I went to the Greyhound Derby final on Saturday,” said Findlay.
“It has been an exciting few days with Galtymore Lad winning on Friday and both could run in the Coventry at Royal Ascot.”
“Epsom is one of my favourite tracks. I feel good there and I’m very confident on the track,” said Fallon. “Youmzain ran a great race there last year to be beaten a nose. It looks a slightly better race on Friday, but he’s going there in high spirits.”
Fallon is not assured of a mount in Saturday’s Derby but is looking forward to riding Bikini Babe in the Oaks and Youmzain in the Investec Coronation Cup.
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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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Horse racing: Lord Shanakill will feed Royal appetite at Haydock

HAYDOCK has shown itself to still be among the premier tracks in the country over the last week. Flat racing fans naturally look forward to next week’s Investec Derby meeting and the forthcoming five-day extravaganza at Royal Ascot.
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The fayre on offer at the Merseyside track last Saturday has whetted the appetite. This afternoon’s card is another of high quality.
Kingsgate Native booked his return to the Royal meeting with a classy display in last Saturday’s big race, the betfred.com Temple Stakes. Sir Michael Stoute’s sprinter may have been a failure at stud but the decision to send him back to the track has already provided some consolation.
The Temple was officially a Group Two, but with half the field having scored at the top level it was of the highest quality. The first five homes – Kingsgate Native, Equiano, Borderlescott, Spin Cycle and Total Gallery are sure to be involved at the business end of all this summer’s big sprints.
Stoute, who bids for a fifth Investec Derby win with Dante Stakes second Workforce next week, is eyeing a second big success at Haydock today.
The Timeform Jury Stakes better known as the John of Gaunt Stakes is a Group Three with another high-class field.
Stoute sends last year’s winner Main Aim in search of a repeat in the seven furlong contest. The five-year-old will improve on his seasonal return when third at York and step back up to seven furlongs should see him go close again. But among a competitive nine-runner line-up Henry Cecil’s Group One winner Lord Shanakill rates the one to beat.
A superb second to Paco Boy in the Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on his seasonal return, this drop back to seven furlongs should be fine and he too will have Ascot on his agenda.
Other Haydock winners last week Balducci, Awsaal and Novellen Lad are expected to head to Berkshire next month. And today’s opening race, the sports360.co.uk Achilles Stakes could also provide Royal pointers.
Warrington jockey Paul Hanagan highlighted the claims of Rose Blossom in his ECHO column on Thursday. On her latest win in a conditions event at York the Richard Fahey-trained three-year-old filly looks the most likely winner of the listed sprint.
But Willie Haggas will be hoping for a bold show from High Standing ahead of a tilt at the Golden Jubilee Stakes over a furlong further than today’s contest.
Some of the Newmarket’s trainer’s big hopes for the season – Penitent in the Lincoln and Triple Aspect at Windsor on Monday – have shown his charges can make a winning return. But last year’s Wokingham hero is sure to improve on whatever he does today as the five-year-old bids to continue his climb up the sprinting ladder.
Haggas said: “He’s fine, he just needs to have a race before Royal Ascot 2010.
Others to note are course and distance winner Barshiba in the EBF Joan Westbrook Pinnacle Stakes and Andrew Balding’s Fireback in the finale.
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