Royal Ascot 2017: Saturday 24th June

14:30: Chesham Stakes 7f

September was a most impressive winner of her maiden at Leopardstown just over two weeks ago and this incredibly bred daughter of Deep Impact and Peeping Fawn will be short odds to make it two from two. It will take an amazing performance to beat her.  Nyaleti ran on strongly when making a winning start over 6f at Salisbury and is another promising filly while Masar impressed with his attitude when overcoming trouble in-running to make a successful debut at Goodwood when Bartholomeu Dias was third. John Gosden’s Frankel colt Westerland got off the mark at the second time of asking at Leicester and he should have learnt plenty that day.

My Racing Story: Niall Slippers Madden

Last Autumn I took the difficult decision to leave home and move across the water to Harry Fry but it’s a choice that I’m glad I made and look forward to spending another winter over there, but beforehand I’ll be doing a bit of commuting over and back to Ireland.

On Tuesday evening I was back in Roscommon to ride for my Dad, Boots, and I’ll be back to England at the weekend but it’s always good to get home for a few days and see everyone. 

Royal Ascot 2017: Friday 23rd June

14:30: Albany Stakes (Group 3) 6f

A strong Irish raiding party here with Actress, Clemmie and Snowflakes leading the charge for Ballydoyle while Alpha Centauri and Whitefountainfairy represent Jessie Harrington. Ger Lyons also supplies Black Sails and of the sextet it’s Alpha Centauri that holds the strongest form claims. She has looked, by far, the best 2-yr-old filly in Ireland this season and can provide her trainer with a first Royal ascot winner. Jeremy Noseda has a good record in this race and Take Me With You is also one to watch while the selection’s stablemate Whitefountainfairy was running on strikingly when winning her maiden and can’t be dismissed.

Royal Ascot 2017: Thursday 22nd June

14:30: Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) 5f

Sioux Nation and True Blue Moon represent Aidan and Joseph O’Brien (respectively) but both will have to show a lot more than they already have done to take a hand in the finish. American trainer Wesley Ward looks like he has another likely type here in Mc Erin who was super impressive on debut at Keenland before just getting touched off in a better race at Churchill Downs. Santry won a division of the Brocklesby at Doncaster on debut and bettered that effort when defying a penalty in a novice event at York when beating subsequent Catterick winner Consequences and It Don’t Come Easy, who broke the two-year-old course record next time at Musselburgh. He rates a big danger.

Royal Ascot 2017: Wednesday 21st June

14:30: Jersey Stakes (Group 3) 7f

Whitecliffsofdover is best fancied of the Irish runners here, ahead of True Valour, Spirit of Valor and Glastonbury Song and on form, and ratings, should do best. He wears blinkers for the first time but they’ll all have to go some to contend with Andre Fabre’s Le Brivido. This colt was only beaten a short-head by Brametot last time out in a Group 1, form that has been well & truly franked, and the drop back to 7F should see him score here.

Royal Ascot 2017: Tuesday 20th June

The centrepiece of British flat racing takes place this week as all eyes turn to Royal Ascot. With eight Group One races, and eighteen Group races in total, there’s also £6.5m in prize money over five days.

Irish interest will be huge once again as runners from stables all over the country will battle to get their name on that prestigious roll of honour. We’ll take a daily look at the chances of the best that Ireland has to offer.

Lisa O’Neill – A Jockey In Form

Fresh from a win in last night’s finale at Leopardstown, on Denise Foster’s Miles To Memphis, we caught up with Lisa O’Neill – a jockey going from strength to strength – to get a flavour of how things are going.

David Casey – Life After The Weighing Room

David Casey has enjoyed an association with the Willie Mullins’ yard for nearly a quarter of a century, starting and finishing his career as a jockey in Closutton and now working in a more hands on position within the yard as a whole, assisting Willie on a day to day basis. A great career in the saddle saw David win some highly prestigious races including; The Irish Hennessy Gold Cup (twice), Thyestes Chase (twice), French Champion Hurdle (twice), The Galway Plate, The Galway Hurdle and the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

You had a brilliant career as a jockey, spanning 20 years and 776 winners in total, what was the highlight for you?

Belmont Stakes Weekend 2017

There’s plenty of Irish interest in New York this weekend as Willie Mullins continues his quest for global domination both over jumps, and on the flat. And it’s two of his better known jumpers – Wicklow Brave and Clondaw Warrior – who line up in the Belmont Stakes on Friday night in the hope of taking home some of the $400,000 on offer.

Of the two, Wicklow Brave looks to have the stronger claim. He’s a Group 1 winner on the flat (taking last year’s Irish St Leger at the Curragh) and also recently added a Grade 1 hurdles win at the Punchestown Festival. He has to concede weight all around though and his best for has been on Soft and Heavy ground – a world away from what he’ll encounter here.