Denis Coakley's latest news...

• CARIBOU heads for Chantilly and the listed Prix Herod on Wednesday

  

  16 November 2020

  Early tomorrow morning Nasir Askar's colt Caribou sets off for the journey to the prestigious course north of Paris for the valuable seven furlong Prix Herod. Denis has engaged superstar jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot for the ride, and the anticipated going is just as Caribou has experienced in his wins at Goodwood and at Newbury. Currently there are nine expected runners and the race time is Wednesday noon French time - 11am GMT - and fingers are crossed for a fine run.

• Three runners in the past week

  16 November 2020

  At Huntingdon last week Givepeaceachance ran in the first division of a novice hurdle over an extended two and a half miles. She pulled quite a bit through the first part of the race as the pace was very pedestrian, but jockey Daryl Jacob steered the shortest way round and had her hurdling quite fluently to move forward after half way. Turning in for home Givepeaceachance was disputing the lead at the last two obstacles, and was just a little outpaced in the run for home to finish less than three lengths back in fifth place. Two of the two year olds took their places in all weather seven furlong events, with Bobby Kennedy racing a little wide at Kempton and fading after five furlongs and Patroon finishing last of a dozen and beaten as many lengths in what looked like a fair maiden featuring several of the top yards.

• SECOND WIN for Tony Killoran's PARTY ISLAND

  

  

  03 November 2020

  Very different race outcomes for the two horses pictured here in their cantering work last week : Waterloo Sunset went to Newmarket on Saturday and, not only having to race on very difficult ground, his race coincided with the very worst of the day's weather, with driving rain across the Heath. He simply did not get racing for Charlie Bishop from the outset, and he was well detached from most of the field for the entire race. Whatever he faces next time conditions are bound to allow him to show his talent on the track. After his Windsor experience on terrible ground last time out, Party Island was always going to relish the switch to Kempton Park and jockey George Bass reported that he skipped across the surface very well. Tony Killoran's gelding had an all weather mark of just 60, and George's claim put him into the race off a very low weight. Despite a wide draw Party Island was eased into a midfield position and then moved forward between horses from the three furlong mark. By the two pole he was five wide up the straight and entering the final furlong he was then able to challenge the race favourite with a strong run, taking him into the lead by half a length through the last hundred yards. Having been reluctant to go readily into the stalls, Party Island was eyecatching and convincing in gaining his second race win and, by outpointing the well supported favourite, there is the promise of more to come from him on the all weather this winter.

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