No More Heroes Injury Too Severe

No More Heroes had to be put down on Wednesday night after suffering a tendon injury in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old had scored twice at Grade One level this term and was sent off as the second favourite for the three-mile affair.

However, it soon emerged after he had faded into fourth that all was not well as jockey Bryan Cooper dismounted and a veterinary officer later reported the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding had struck into himself on his left fore.

Connections had hoped he could be saved, but Gigginstown confirmed on Thursday morning that his injury had proved too severe.

A statement on Thurday morning read: "Unfortunately the injury to No More Heroes, having struck into himself and damaged a tendon yesterday, proved to be too significant to save him.

"Having consulted with the vets at the equine hospital, and after extensive care and assessment, it was considered that it would be in the horse's best interest that he be humanely put down, and this was carried out late last night."

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O'Brien Enjoys Breeders Magic

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Ryan Moore rode Aidan O'Brien's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner to victory at Santa Anita after John Gosden's The Fugue appeared to have the race won.

"I had him in a lovely rhythm, nice and relaxed," said Moore. "He must be one of the best horses I've ever ridden."

Moore had another winner on Dank in the Filly & Mare Turf while Gary Stevens, 50, brought Mucho Macho Man home first in the Classic.

The victory for Dank, trained in Newmarket by Sir Michael Stoute, brought Great Britain's winning total to four at the 2013 meeting after triumphs for London Bridge, Chriselliam and Outstrip on Friday.

Magician gave O'Brien his fourth victory in the race but at first it looked like The Fugue would take the honours when William Buick hit the front from last year's winner Little Mike.

But Moore had other ideas and timed his charge to perfection, winning by half a length.

The Coolmore colt had not run since Royal Ascot, where he disappointed following an injury where he was spooked by a bird that flew into an equine spa, and was moved up from a mile to a mile and a half.

O'Brien, who hopes Magician can return next year, said: "Ryan gave him a wonderful ride - a big 'well done' to everyone involved, and especially to the lads for letting me move him up to this trip.

"The week before Ascot he knocked a hind leg in the stable and the trainer had the great idea to put him in the spa. He'd almost gone through his full swim when a sparrow flew in the door and between his ears, which caused him to jump out and bruise both his front legs.

"I probably shouldn't have run him at Ascot [St James's Palace Stakes], it was one of those freak things, but when Camelot had a setback a couple of weeks ago we were able to reroute Magician to this race off his long break."

Buick, who was unlucky on The Fugue in the Filly & Mare last year, was visibly upset after the race when the horse was led back in by owner Lady Lloyd Webber.

Moore's victory on Dank in the Filly and Mare gave Sir Michael Stoute his sixth Breeders' Cup win and a second success in this race after Islington in 2003, also at Santa Anita.

Andre Fabre's Romantica came second, half a length behind to make it a European one-two in a race run in record time.

Stoute said: "We came here with very high hopes and coming second or third wouldn't have been very good - in fact I think she should be unbeaten and if I am allowed to keep her next year she will show how good she is."

Mucho Macho Man hung on to give Stevens, 50, his first win in the Classic - America's richest race.

Stevens only returned to racing this year after retirement in which he took up acting and punditry roles.

He held off Will Take Charge, with O'Brien's Declaration Of War a close third.

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Tributes at Sir Henry Cecil Memorial

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Tributes have been paid to racehorse trainer Sir Henry Cecil at a memorial service in Cambridgeshire.

The Newmarket-based 10-time champion Flat trainer died aged 70, on 11 June, after a long battle with cancer.

More than 1,000 guests were at Ely Cathedral, including former BBC horse racing correspondent, Jim McGrath.

He said: "I'll remember Sir Henry as a unique man. He was a man who had green fingers when it came to horses. He just had a feel for it."

The service to celebrate the life of Sir Henry was arranged by his wife, Lady Cecil, after what she described as an "overwhelming" response from friends and members of the public to the news of his death.

Lady Cecil said: "He touched so many people's lives, something that was made very clear by all the wonderful correspondence we received after he died."

During his four-decade career in horse racing, Sir Henry had 75 winners at Royal Ascot and 25 British Classic winners.

But perhaps his greatest success was with Frankel, who retired last year as the top-rated racehorse in the world.

Mr McGrath said: "Frankel was the piece de resistance. It was unbelievable.

"His handling of Frankel just summed him up as a trainer.

"He was very patient with [the horse] and allowed him to find his feet and to mature."

The front of the memorial order of service for Sir Henry read: "Think deeply, speak gently. Love much, laugh often. Work hard, give freely and be kind."

Frankel Farewell Seven at Ascot

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Frankel will face a maximum of seven rivals for his expected farewell in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Sir Henry Cecil's unbeaten four-year-old, the world's top-rated racehorse, will seek his 14th-straight victory.

Potential opponents include last year's winner, Cirrus Des Aigles, and the talented colt Nathaniel.

Frankel's stablemate Bullet Train, Declaration Of War, Master of Hounds, Ridasiyna and Pastorius complete the entries for the £1.3m contest.

The going at the Berkshire course on Monday was described as soft and the final field will be confirmed 48 hours before the race.

Frankel is considered one of the best racehorses of all time and his probable swansong, before being retired for a breeding career, has helped attract a sell-out crowd of 32,000.

He is likely to be a strong odds-on favourite, although further rain could improve the chances of his rivals causing an upset.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "It's all systems go. This is his biggest test to date."

French challenger Cirrus Des Aigles won the Prix Dollar at Longchamp last time out by nine lengths in heavy ground.

Nathaniel, who missed the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe earlier in the month with a setback, finished a half-length second to Frankel when the pair made their racecourse debuts at Newmarket in August 2010 - the closest any horse has finished to the champion.

The Champion Stakes is Europe's most valuable mile-and-a-quarter race and the highlight of British Champions Day - the richest day in British racing.

Other races include the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, for which Excelebration is the odds-on favourite. The Queen will be at the course to cheer on her runner Carlton House.

Fame and Glory and Colour Vision are leading contenders in the Long Distance Cup, while Starspangledbanner and Society Rock are in the Sprint Stakes.

Last year's Oaks winner, Dancing Rain, remains on course to defend her Fillies' and Mares' Stakes title.

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Nathaniel Wins King George VI

Defending champion Nathaniel was denied victory by a nose as Danedream won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in dramatic fashion.

“The last race (the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud) there was no pace, but today it was there. It's very important for German racing.”Peter Schiergen

The 9-1 shot, ridden by Andrasch Starke and trained by Peter Schiergen, pipped Nathaniel in the final stride.

It was a return to form for last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, who became the first German horse to triumph at the Group One feature.

Aidan O'Brien's St Nicholas Abbey finished well to claim third.

Nathaniel, who won the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown just two weeks ago, had looked set for victory when quickening into the lead in the home straight but Danedream had sufficient momentum to snatch victory on the line.

She became the first filly to win the race since Time Charter struck as a four-year-old in 1983.

Starke told BBC Sport: "It was close - it was very tight - but I had a good feeling. She fought hard and it's definitely the biggest moment in my life."

KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES, Ascot

1 Danedream 9-1

2. Nathaniel 5-2

3 St Nicholas Abbey 5-1

4 Reliable Man 20-1

5 Sea Moon 6 Dunaden 7 Brown Panther 8 Deep Brilliante 9 Masked Marvel 10 Robin Hood

Carlton House Moves to Mile

Connections of Carlton House are hopeful that dropping The Queen's colt back to a mile at Ascot on Saturday could lead to bigger and better things.

The four-year-old has proved himself over middle distances with wins in the Dante Stakes and the Brigadier Gerard Stakes as well being placed in the Investec Derby.

He posted another creditable performance when chasing home So You Think in the Prince of Wales's Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Royal Ascot.

However, Sir Michael Stoute's charge has been showing so much speed on the Newmarket gallops that they are giving him the chance to demonstrate it in a race when he lines-up for the Transformers & Rectifiers Summer Mile.

It is the first time he has competed at that distance since his two-year-old days but should he impress in this Group Two, it would open up a whole new programme.

Major races as the Prix Jacques le Marois, the Prix du Moulin and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes have already been mentioned as possible targets later in the year.

"He's in very good form and Ryan Moore has ridden him in all his starts and I think he's very optimistic this mile will suit him very well," The Queen's racing manager John Warren toldAt The Races.

"We're still on a learning mission but when he was second to So You Think at Royal Ascot, he gave it a good rattle just over one out and looked very dangerous then and I think he should run a very big race.

"Ryan Moore has been very consistent with what Sir Michael Stoute sees on the gallops in the morning.

"They have always felt this horse has tremendous speed and it's very exciting if he can be brought back to a mile and it would open up a few more avenues for him.

"Anything between a mile to a mile and a quarter is obviously going to suit well and there would be some nice things to look forward to if he was a genuine miler. We have options in France over a mile.

"There's the Prix Jacques le Marois first in August, then we've got the Prix du Moulin in the beginning of September and the QEII at Ascot in October, so he's got lots of options open to him.

"In his two races so far this year he was somewhat free-going and the pace over a mile will suit him all the better to help him settle into that rhythm and we'll learn a lot.

"He's fairly clear on the ratings on Saturday but on the day that means nothing when you are going over a different trip.

"I wouldn't be too fussed about the ground. When he won his maiden by half the track at Newbury as a two-year-old that was very soft ground so we're not particularly bothered about it."

Andrew Balding has expressed his satisfaction with the progress made by Tullius since he took over the handling of the Le Vie Dei Colori gelding when Peter Winkworth retired.

The four-year-old has won all his three starts for the Kingsclere trainer and has successfully graduated from handicaps to Listed company.

This race presents his biggest test to date, but Balding has been encouraged by the horse's home work.

"He worked really well on Wednesday morning and I couldn't be happier with him," he said.

"He's improving and seems to have improved all the time. The way he worked would suggest he's better than he's ever been.

"The slightly bigger field than he had at York will probably suit him better and we're looking forward to it."

Richard Hannon is expecting Cai Shen to be competitive especially after two good recent efforts in the Royal Hunt Cup and the Listed Gala Stakes.

"He ran a blinder from a bad draw in the Hunt Cup, but he will be just as happy on the round course, and he ran really well to finish third to Afsare at Sandown last time," the Herridge trainer told www.richardhannonracing.co.uk.

"We were wrong at the weights with the first two in that Listed race, yet Hughesie (Richard Hughes) came stands side and they had the principals worried for a while.

"They are talking of the Arlington Million for the winner, so it is good form, though obviously Carlton House is going to be hard to beat."

Hughie Morrison admits pitching Pastoral Player over a mile is "a bit of an experiment".

The five-year-old is a Group three winner over seven furlongs and took a valuable handicap over that distance at this track last October, but he has yet to travel as far as this.

"We're having a go at a mile with him," said the East Ilsley trainer.

"When he's won over seven furlongs, he's looked like he would get a mile, but it doesn't work like that. It's a bit of an experiment."

Photo of the Day - Frankie Dettori

Frankie Dettori riding Colour Vision celebrates winning The Gold Cup during Ladies Day at Royal Ascot at Ascot racecourse on June 21, 2012 in Ascot, England.

(June 20, 2012 - Source: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe) 

Frankie Colour Vision at Ascot

Colour Vision and Frankie Dettori survived a stewards' inquiry as they held off fellow Godolphin runner Opinion Poll to take top honours in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

The Italian rider had to choose between the pair earlier this week and many saw it as a surprise when he sided with Saeed bin Suroor's Colour Vision over the more established Opinion Poll.

Dettori settled the 6-1 chance on the heels of the leaders for much of the two-and-a-half-mile journey and quickened up well in the straight to take the lead.

Opinion Poll came from further back with a big challenge under Mickael Barzalona, but former Mark Johnston inmate Colour Vision held on by half a length.

The front two did come close together, but although the stewards immediately called an inquiry, the placings remained unaltered.

But while Aidan O'Brien's odds-on shot travelled nicely into the straight, he could not pick up from further back and was ultimately well beaten.

Formerly with Mark Johnston, Colour Vision had made an impressive debut for Bin Suroor in the rearranged Sagaro Stakes on the all-weather at Kempton, and Dettori clearly felt he was open to more progress than Opinion Poll, who was second in the race 12 months ago.

A further neck away from the Godolphin duo in third was the John Oxx-trained Saddler's Rock.

Like the winner, he ran an excellent race for a four-year-old, especially considering how hard he pulled in the early stages.

Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the Godolphin operation, was delighted to claim a one-two.

He said: "Whatever happened, they are two very good horses that finished first and second and that's a good thing.

"You have to wait a year to prepare your horse to come here and even the second horse ran a great race."

Of Dettori and Barzalona, he said: "They are two good jockeys. Frankie is great and Mikael is coming up this year."

So You Think Ascot's a Winner

So You Think was a fantastic winner of the 150th Anniversary Of Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.

The High Chaparral horse was winning his fifth Group One in Europe since joining Ballydoyle and he did it in great style, seeing off the Queen's Carlton House with a thrilling late burst.

Joseph O'Brien was always going well just tracking his pacemaker Robin Hood and was noticeably on the bridle in the straight as the rest of the field were under pressure.

Ryan Moore switched Carlton House to the rail and hit the front momentarily before O'Brien really asked the 4-5 favourite to go and win his race.

That he did, by two and a quarter lengths, with Carlton House (7-2) holding on to second from the fast-finishing Farhh (6-1).

O'Brien snr said: "We expected a big run today, we felt like we had him in a place that he was never in before with us, which is incredible.

"I think we've had him a year and a half and it's taken me that long to learn how to train him.

"We went back and listened to what everybody was saying about him, listened to what Bart (Cummings, former trainer) was saying and telling us what to do and what not to do. We listened at the end.

"We felt he was in a place today he's never been in before.

"I was delighted to hear what Bart had to say as he was speaking from the heart and I was probably over-working the horse and galloping the speed out of him instead of letting him be natural.

"Everyone was of the opinion before we got him that he was all speed but I started off on the wrong leg with him and tried to make him stay a mile and a half and did too much with him.

"We knew we only had a few runs left (before retiring to stud), maybe today and Sandown (Eclipse) to get him back, so we listened to them and Joseph and the lads were confident it was going to come.

"It will be the boys decision when he goes to stud, but Sandown is in our head as a cut-off point. We'll be pleading hard now that we have him in this place but it's a business decision.

"We're just delighted to get him back and all I can say is sorry it took me so long to get him back to where everyone in Australia said he was. If he wasn't such a great horse I'd have made a right mess of him.

"He's one of those special horses that can travel and has class.

"We were delighted with the ride he got, Joseph knew what he wanted to do."

Winning rider O'Brien jnr said: "My horse relaxed lovely and quickened up very well.

"Ryan (Moore, on Carlton House) got a split on the inside and I just had to come around Johnny (Murtagh, on Big Blue Kitten) but once he could see the horse on his inside he was never going to be beat.

"I just wanted to get him into a rhythm and get him relaxed, he has loads of class and can quicken and when things work out he's an exceptional horse.

"It's been a great season and I'm very lucky to get to ride some exceptional horse. I owe a big thanks to Mr and Mrs Magnier, Mr and Mrs Tabor and Mr and Mrs Smith for giving me some nice opportunities."

Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Carlton House, said: "He couldn't get enough cover as he was a bit off the fence but he was second best, it's as simple as that.

"Ryan gave him a great ride, he had every chance but he just found one too good."

Saeed bin Suroor said of Farhh: "We are delighted with him, he had been physically weak which is why he hasn't had many runs, but he's much stronger this year and when he won easily at Thirsk we thought he would be up to running in Group One races.

"He has shown today he is good enough for those races between 10 and 12 furlongs. We might look at the King George for him."

Alain de Royer-Dupre said of fourth home Reliable Man: "The horse has now come back to what he was last year. He needs races with lots of pace and we'll go for other top 10-furlong races now - we'll probably go for the Juddmonte at York."

Fantastic Frankel at Ascot

Frankel extended his unbeaten run to 11 when winning the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Sir Henry Cecil's superstar and the highest rated horse in the world was winning his seventh Group One from just 11 career starts, a tally which is just over half of that achieved by the second highest rated horse, Black Caviar, who is due to line up on the final day of the Royal Meeting.

The brilliant colt's brother, Bullet Train, adopted his usual front-running role, which jockey Ian Mongan again performed to perfection, with his illustrious sibling travelling strongly in his slipstream with market rival Excelebration alongside.

Tom Queally eased the son of Galileo out into the clear with around three furlongs to run and was motionless in the saddle as his mount opened up.

Push quickly came to shove for Excelebration, who was having his fifth crack at his old rival, and he had no answer to the gears of this remarkable performer.

Eleven lengths was the scarcely believable margin at the line, with Aidan O'Brien's four year old narrowly holding on for second from a fast finishing Side Glance having run his heart out in defeat.

German raider Indomito finished fourth in a race where very few got involved.

Cecil said: "It's relief, I'm not surprised but relieved. "There's no such thing as a certainty. He is a great horse and you've seen him for yourself so everybody can form their own opinion.

"He did exactly what I thought but he's still improving, Tom said he's still improving. He looks as if he'll stay a mile and a quarter so we'll leave our options open.

"He's in the Eclipse, he's in the Sussex, he's in the Juddmonte and the two races at the end of the year. He'll tell me what to do next, I don't tell him.

"It's very unlikely he'll go to the Breeders' Cup."

Queally added: "It was basically what everyone expected, so it's great that he did it.

"It looks like he's improving. He settled, he travelled, he got everything else off the bridle when I was still sitting there - he's amazing.

"That's his best performance. He ticked all the boxes, he did everything right. From my point of view he's been flawless in the past but I couldn't have asked for anything more.

"He had the perfect prep for it, Henry had no complications and we were able to do it nicely."

O'Brien said of the runner-up: "We were delighted with our horse but Frankel is unbelievable. We'll look at the entries we've made, see how he is and then have a talk about it."

Andrew Balding added of Side Glance: "I'm very pleased with our horse but I hope Frankel steps up in distance later in the season and if he does we'll come back here for QEII."

Black Caviar a Few Furlongs To Fly

Black Caviar boarded a plane heading towards Britain on Wednesday afternoon for her hugely-anticipated appearance in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Peter Moody's mare has become one of the all-time greats in Australian racing after her remorseless rise through the sprinting division, and will be looking for her 22nd victory from as many starts on June 23.

Moody has taken no chances as Black Caviar makes her first overseas trip, fitting her with a special compression suit for a journey of more than 30 hours with several stopovers.

Racing Victoria's Twitter feed said: "Black Caviar has emerged from her float at Melb Airport decked out in her famous compression suit. UK here she comes!"

Adding: "Singapore Airlines SQ7297 about to taxi out with Black Caviar aboard. Cargo includes A380 engine and fruit & veggies! First stop Singapore."

Black Caviar should arrive at her quarters in Newmarket on Friday and will be accompanied by her vet, exercise rider and the stable foreman.

Such is her dominance, and lack of likely opposition, Coral make the colossal mare the 4-9 favourite to win, and just 6-1 to score by five lengths or more.

"Confirmed challengers to Black Caviar in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes look few and far between at this stage, and we can envisage her blowing the opposition away on her first start outside of Australia," said Coral's David Stevens.

"Sprinters from Down Under have proved their worth in Britain in recent years, but Black Caviar brings with her form that is far superior to the likes of Choisir, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Scenic Blast, and as far as we're concerned it's not if she wins, but a question of how far she wins by."

Frankel Best in 25 Years

Frankel has been ranked as the world's best horse for at least the last 25 years by British Horseracing Authority handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill.

Victory in Saturday's JLT Lockinge Stakesat Newbury saw Frankel's rating increased to 138 pounds.

The ranking of Prince Khalid Abdullah's unbeaten, 10-time winner is only bettered by the same owner's Dancing Brave, which ranked 141 in 1986.

"I do think he can go even higher," Gardiner-Hill said.

"I do suspect he can be a 140-horse, it just depends if he gets the opportunity."

The World Thoroughbred Rankings scale has been lowered slightly since 1986, meaning Frankel could be ranked similar to Dancing Brave.

His rating, which still has to be ratified by Gardiner-Hill's international colleagues, is two pounds higher than last year, moving him above Peintre Celebre and Generous on 137 and Sea The Stars on 136.

Trainer Sir Henry Cecil wants Frankel's next outing to be the Queen Anne at Ascot and told his official website: "Over the last two seasons he has come on a good deal from his first race and hopefully he will do the same this season."

Frankel's wins

13 Aug 2010 at Newmarket - bt Nathaniel by 1/2 length

10 Sep 2010 at Doncaster - bt Rainbow Springs by 13 lengths

25 Sep 2010 at Ascot Royal Lodge Stakes- bt Klammer by 10 lengths

16 Oct 2010 at Newmarket Dewhurst Stakes - bt Roderic O'Connor by 2¼ lengths

16 Apr 2011 at Newbury Greenham Stakes- bt Excelebration by 4 lengths

30 Apr 2011 at Newmarket 2000 Guineas - bt Dubawi Gold by 6 lengths

14 Jun 2011 at Ascot St James's Palace Stakes - bt Zoffany by ¾ length

27 Jul 2011 at Goodwood Sussex Stakes - bt Canford Cliffs by 5 lengths

15 Oct 2011 at Ascot Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - bt Excelebration by 4 lengths

19 May 2012 at Newbury JLT Lockinge Stakes - bt Excelebration by 5 lengths.

Somersby Wins Victor Chandler

Somersby dug deep for rider Dominic Elsworth to beat Finian's Rainbow and win the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

The 9-2 chance, saddled by Best Mate's trainer Henrietta Knight, stayed on well for a first Grade One success.

Al Ferof was third and Gauvain fell as last year's runner-up triumphed in the 25th anniversary of the race.

According to Pete (9-1) won the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock while trainer Donald McCain and jockey Jason Maguire enjoyed a four-timer.

Wearing cheekpieces for the first time, Somersby went one better than his narrow defeat by Master Minded in 2011.

The eight-year-old, who was fourth behind winner Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, had previously finished second in two Grade One and three Grade One chases during his career.

Somersby overhauled Finian's Rainbow in the run-in to claim victory by a length-and-a-quarter and provide Knight with her first top-level success since 2005.

Her partner Terry Biddlecombe, the former champion jockey who is recovering from a recent stroke, was on hand to see the triumph.

Henrietta Knight hailed a 'dream' win for Somersby. It was good to see Best Mate's trainer with a Grade One success after a fallow time

"I got so excited, I had a nosebleed," he said.

Elsworth said of Somersby: "I'm delighted for the horse. He's been a bit of a bridesmaid, but he's done it nicely. I always knew he was going to stay on towards the end."

Knight indicated the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March would be his target, although the Queen Mother Champion Chase is an alternative.

At Haydock, the 11-year-old According To Pete saw off younger rivals for a stamina-laden success.

Celestial Halo (6-5 favourite) continued his revival by winning the Champion Hurdle Trial for trainer Paul Nicholls.

Meanwhile, McCain and Maguire chalked up victories with Cinders and Ashes, Our Mick, Reindeer Dippin and Real Milan.