Views from connections for Friday's big races from Newmarket and York
Get all the latest trainer quotes ahead of the feature action on Friday.
bet365 Fillies' Mile, 3.35 at Newmarket
Aidan O'Brien, Happily, Magical & September: "Happily only ran last week, but she seems to be in good form. Obviously she hasn't done much since, but seems in good form and we were absolutely delighted with her in France.
"Magical is in good form. She hasn't done much but seems to be in good form since France. The three are all closely enough matched and Seamie's (Heffernan) filly (September) was just in behind the other two at the Curragh. She's had a longer break and seems in good form. She has run on soft and seems to handle any type of ground, but her better form has been on better."
Charlie Appleby, Magic Lily: "Magic Lily is a filly we were confident would run a nice race on her first start, but she ended up winning very impressively and seeing out the one-mile trip really well. She did a nice piece of work on Saturday and that made our minds up to supplement her.
"She has worked together with my recent Prix Marcel Boussac winner, Wild Illusion, and worked well. But comparing the two is not really fair as Wild Illusion is not a renowned work horse, she only really brings out her 'A' game on race day. The Dubai Future Champions Festival is an important festival for the whole Godolphin team. I've been lucky to have winners there in the past and it's good to have a few live contenders, including Magic Lily, this year."
Karl Burke, Elthea & Laurens: "I've been away at the sales quite a bit in the last couple of weeks, but I saw Laurens canter this morning and she looks fantastic. I think it's probably the highest class two-year-old fillies race run so far this year, but Laurens is a high-class filly, we know that. Whatever she's achieved this year and achieves on Friday, we know she'll improve again next year.
Ellthea was supposedly heading to France after winning in Ireland but there was a late change of heart.
"The owners made the late change as they were keen to go for a Group One and I think she'll run well. Of my two she's definitely the more mature, she's very tough and she's on a steep upward curve. I think she'll have to improve on what she's done so far to finish in the first three, but I wouldn't rule it out."
Godolphin Stud And Stable Staff Awards Challenge Stakes, 3.00 at Newmarket
Henry Candy, Limato: "It has been infuriating to have a horse of Limato's calibre and not be able to do anything with him (because of unsuitable ground). But I am very happy with his condition at the moment and looking forward to running him on Friday.
"His defeat in the Lennox Stakes was 80 per cent down to the ground, which was riding soft. We talked ourselves into running him that day when we shouldn't have. At least it's been no problem keeping a lid on him at home without a race, as he is a very free worker and keeps himself pretty fit.
"This seven-furlong trip should be fine - I think he is capable of winning Group races at anything between six furlongs and a mile - and I don't see any problem with him handling the Rowley Mile as he is very light on his feet. This is likely to be his final start of the season and, although we are toying with the idea of trying him over a mile again next year, we will go wherever the ground is right."
Owen Burrows, Massaat: "He seems in good form and it's been a big team effort to get him back to form. The vibes I'm hearing are that he's going to stay in training next season so with that in mind we're running here rather than the QEII. The hope is we can then try and make him into a Group One winner next season."
Mick Halford, Rehana: "It is a step up in Grade to a Group Two for her but she won a Group Three earlier in the season. It looks a very competitive race but we are looking forward to a big run from her."
Charlie Hills, Dutch Connection: "Dutch Connection had to miss the Prix de la Foret earlier this month due to soft ground, but I couldn't be more pleased with him at home. He would have his best chance on quicker going and I am hoping that the weather stays dry."
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Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes, 2.25 at Newmarket
Simon Crisford, Dark Rose Angel: "She's very well and we've been very happy with her preparation for this race. She's just a very straightforward filly - a delight to train - and I've been very pleased with her. As she wasn't in the Fillies' Mile originally we were never really looking at that. She's dropping down a furlong from the May Hill, but I wouldn't have thought that would trouble her in the slightest."
Teddy Grimthorpe, Gavota: "I think she was a little unfortunate in the Rockfel a fortnight ago. Just when she needed to get out when the pace quickened, she was a little squeezed. Then she lost her action a bit in the dip before running on really strongly. When she met the rising ground she really lengthened, which was very promising, and we think she should run well again."
Charlie Appleby, Expressiy: "Expressiy went to France and found the experience a little bit too much, too soon for her. She didn’t see out the mile that day, but won nicely over seven furlongs last time out."
Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes, 1.50 at Newmarket
Declan Carroll, Abel Handy: "He's a cracking little horse. He's progressed each time he's gone to the racecourse and is a little belter. The plan was actually to take him to the Western Meeting at Ayr for the Listed Roses Stakes, that is why he hasn't run for a little while. This was the next suitable race for him after that was abandoned.
"We don't have much to find with the Godolphin horse (Sound And Silence) and he's had two runs since beating us, so we might be a little fresher. He's in good form and is training well, so we're looking forward to it."
Charlie Appleby, Sound And Silence: "Sound And Silence has run consistently well all season and his last performance on soft ground at Maisons-Laffitte was another step up compared to his previous form. We are coming back to five furlongs on a sounder surface, but he has ticked both of those boxes before when winning the Windsor Castle Stakes and Roses Stakes."
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— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) October 12, 2017
bet365 Old Rowley Cup, 4.10 at Newmarket
Rod Millman, Duke Of Bronte: "He’s had a perfect preparation for this race and I’m very pleased with him – he’s still a baby and is a horse for the future but he just keeps blossoming. He’s an unusual horse as he has won on firm ground at Newbury and on soft ground at Ascot but the likely good ground on Friday should be ideal. He’s got much more speed than his sister, Taws – I think he's fast enough to win over a mile and a quarter.
"I am very pleased to have a horse good enough to put into a race like this, it’s great to have something nice to aim at this late in the season. But I’ve only got one bullet in my gun whereas some of the big yards have got a full magazine! Both Duke Of Bronte and Taws will be coming up on Friday – they are owned by the same people – and we are hoping to have a bit of fun. I am looking forward to a big weekend."
Unibet Handicap, 3.55 at York
David Barron, Bolder Bob: "He’s a horse that has progressed all year. He has won twice over a mile and a half and he’s looking as though he’s crying out for a step up in trip. I would hope the race would suit him well. Easy ground helps him. As far as we’re concerned, we wouldn’t want the ground to dry out too much. He’s a back-end three-year-old that’s starting to improve. Thankfully, he has an owner that was quite happy to wait for him and be patient with him. So, it’s nice when it starts to come together."
William Haggas, The Grand Visir: "The Grand Visir ran a very good race in the Melrose. He hasn’t run since but he’s in good form and we’ve had this race in mind for a while."
Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte, 1.10 at Maisons-Laffite
Ken Condon, Romanised: "I've been very happy with him since Sandown. He's always trained like a very talented colt which is why we've run him in the races we have. The Solario winner (Masar) has since run well in a Group One, so his form stacks up.
"The only time he was a bit below form was on fast ground, so I don't think he'll mind a bit of dig and soft ground will make it more of a test for the others. I'm not worried about the trip, I don't think it's an issue. He was well entered up in all the nice races, but this looks a good option."
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