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."

No Bonfire in Camelot Victory Tale

Aidan O'Brien's Camelot was a brilliant winner of the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday.

The 8-13 favourite was held up in the early stages by the trainer's son Joseph, as stablemate Astrology took them along at a sensible gallop with Thought Worthy keeping him company.

For a moment in the straight it looked as though Astrology might've nicked it under Ryan Moore, but Camelot came with a withering late run to land the spoils.

He was five lengths ahead of the staying-on Main Sequence (9-1) at the line, with Astrology (13-2) a short head back in third.

Special

The winning jockey said: "I was a bit worried as he didn't come down the hill at all. He didn't handle the track that well, so he did well to win.

"He's a very special horse and I'm just very fortunate to be on his back. I owe a big thanks to the owners and everyone in the yard."

Anne-Marie O'Brien, wife of the trainer and Joseph's mother, said: "I can't believe it, it's amazing.

"I met Lester Piggott last weekend and he said to tell Joseph not to be in any hurry (in the race).

"I'm really thrilled, it's incredible."

Camelot could now bid to become the first horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to land the Triple Crown with victory in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster in September.

Part-owner Derrick Smith, seeing his colours carried to a first Epsom Derby win, said: "This is the one everyone wants in racing. To win the Epsom Derby is a dream come true.

"What a horse, what a ride. You could see from the three pole it was all over.

"It (the Triple Crown) must be (on the agenda), mustn't it, we might get pressurised into it, but we will talk with Aidan and make the right decision."

Coolmore supremo John Magnier said: "It (Camelot's brilliance) is there for everyone to see and we are fortunate to have anything to do with him, and it's particularly important in the year his father (Montjeu) died.

"We are going to have to take it race by race and give it lots of thought.

"Wouldn't anybody (be tempted by the Triple Crown)? These things get to mean more as you get older, if you had asked me 30 years ago I might have looked the other way, but we will have to see what Derrick (Smith) and Michael (Tabor) say about it."

O'Brien senior said: "You can't even dream of days like this. "I was always happy, I know his (Joseph's) body language by now and he looked confident.

"No-one can describe the feeling, things like this don't happen.

"We'll give the Triple Crown a lot of thought and the boys will make a decision and do whatever is best for the horse.

"The Triple Crown would be incredible."

Lanigan said of Main Sequence: "He's run a great race and to come second in a Derby with my first runner is amazing.

"It's been a long lead up but he settled well and did everything right.

"I don't know where he'll go next, I'll see what Ted (Durcan, jockey) and the owners say."

Astrology was ridden by Ryan Moore, who said: "He's run a good race but just got tired in the last 150 yards."

William Buick was fourth on Thought Worthy for John Gosden and said: "I was very happy with him, he'll make a lovely Leger horse."

Gosden said: "He ran how I thought he might. He's finished fourth like his brother (Lucarno) and he'll do like his brother and head for the Leger."

Paul Hanagan was fifth on the Richard Fahey-trained Mickdaam and said: "He came home really well but didn't handle the track and didn't have the pace early in the race."

Fahey said: "He could be a Leger horse, but on the day he wasn't good enough. He needs a break."

The much-fancied Bonfire was sixth and his trainer Andrew Balding said: "He didn't handle the track and he came down the hill on one leg. He might not have stayed, either. He's in the Eclipse and could go there."

Duchess Lends GB Hockey Support

The Duchess of Cambridge lent her support to Great Britain women's team hockey team by taking part in a training session at the Olympics venue in Stratford, east London, and even smashed home a goal.

Kate got stuck straight in after changing into a grey Team GB sweatshirt and Adidas trainers when she took to the pitch to showcase her skills. The 30-year-old looked nervous as she joined the Great Britain Olympic team at the London 2012 Olympic Park.

But her nerves were quickly dispelled as Kate - who captained Marlborough College first XI as a teenager - wowed the crowds with her skills.

Addressing the women’s team, she said: 'I really hoped to be here, I would love to see you play in the Games.

'Now I have seen the set-up and got to see behind the scenes it would be really exciting to come back and see everyone in action. Good luck with everything.

'I was really looking forward to coming here but now I am here and have discovered I have to play, I am not feeling so confident.

'The colour of the pitch is, well, eye-catching. My trousers really clash. The last time I played was 2005, maybe. It feels like I haven’t held a stick for 10 years.

Her nerves were quickly dispelled as Kate wowed the crowds with her skills

Hopes are high for Team GB in this summer’s Olympic Games, with both women’s and men’s teams ranked 4th in the world and expected to be medal winners.

The Duchess specifically asked to meet the hockey squad as part of her role as Team GB and Paralympics GB 2012 ambassador.

She was said to be 'very excited' about the visit, her first to the Olympic Park, as she chatted with physios, coaches and members of the first team squad, whom she questioned on training methods.

After changing, she nervously looked on as she saw the watching crowd.

'Oh please don't tell me I have to do it in front of all these people,' she laughed. 'I don’t want anyone to watch.'

Kate, who arrived wearing the official Team GB supporters’ scarf, added: 'I used to play at school and I remember my muscles at the beginning of the season were agony.

'Do you still get bananas and oranges at half-time? I don’t know if that was purely a school thing?

'I was striker so you had to get the timing exactly right, well, that was the idea. I played on the left wing. I really enjoyed it and it is great to be here.

'I haven’t played since I stopped so I am really nervous now.'

Kate arrived at the blue and fluorescent pink pitch at 10.30am in a minibus after a brief tour of the park. She was playing with captains Kate Walsh, 31, and Barry Middleton, 28, plus Emily Maguire, 24, and Niall Stott, 31.

Meeting Mr Middleton, she joked: 'Well we have something in common.' He replied: 'Yes I get asked about that a lot, whether we are related.'

She took three shots from the left hand side of the goalmouth and missed, before moving to the centre where she scored first time to loud applause. As she came off she said: 'Wow, that was no pressure then. I was determined to keep on going until I scored.'

She was handed a white sleeveless team top with Cambridge 1 on the back and a polo-style shirt for husband Prince William. She thanked the team for 'a great experience', adding it was 'nerve wracking but great. I really miss playing'.

Performance director David Faulkner, who was a member of the 1988 Olympic gold medal squad, said: 'We are six weeks away from team selection and are going into the Olympics in a really strong place.

'We are delighted that the Duchess has asked to visit us. It’s a real boost to morale and has caused a real buzz within the squad.'

Speaking afterwards, Kate Walsh said: 'Actually she was really good.

'She told me that she missed playing as part of a team. She also told me that she used to hit the penalty corners and you could see that. She got low and her shots were really sweet.

'We put her too far out to the left on goal but we were determined to keep going until she got one in. It takes a bit of getting used to after such a long time away from the game.'

The Duchess was wearing eye-catching skin tight coral three quarter length jeans, blue heels and a smart blue blazer with an official Team GB supporters' scarf

Kate also met with the physios and coaches and chatted knowledgeably about training methods

Usain Bolt Beaten in Kingston Sprint

Prince Harry has taken part in a "race" with Olympic 100m champion Usain Bolt during his visit to Jamaica.

Prince Harry sprinted down the track after a false start at the University of the West Indies stadium in Kingston as Mr Bolt jogged after him - laughing.

The prince then lunched with republican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who greeted him with a hug.

Prince Harry is in Jamaica after visits to Belize and the Bahamas to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

After racing the-third-in-line to the throne, Mr Bolt, 25, immediately called for a rematch.

The sprinter said: "He cheated, I said we would have a rematch in London 2012 and Harry said 'I'm busy.'"

He went on to praise the prince saying: "He's cool, very down to earth. When you meet dignitaries you think it will be difficult but he just wanted to laugh - it was an honour and a pleasure to meet him.

"I'm still the fastest man in the world so he has a long way to go."

At Prince Harry's request, Mr Bolt signed a photo of a racehorse the prince has a stake in - named Usain Colt. The horse is owned by Ascot Racecourse and Prince Harry is believed to have joined is Birdcage Racing Club, paying a membership fee for a share of Usain Colt's winnings.

It was a rare occasion for a royal to be questioned in public and Prince Harry told reporters: "I was told I wasn't allowed to talk and nobody would ask me any questions - it's going quite well."

Asked what he thought about Jamaica's world standing, the prince highlighted the country's brain drain to the United States.

"This is a very small country, but it doesn't matter how big you are, if you've got talent use it. Don't go running off to America if you've got a clear talent your country needs."

Prince Harry kissed the prime minister on both cheeks after she gave him a hug on the steps of Devon House, a national heritage site. They then held hands to pose for photos under a portrait of the Queen.'Take our destiny'

The prime minister has said it is time for her country to "take full charge of our destiny" and replace the Queen as head of state.

The prince responded to the prime minister's hug by kissing both cheeks

The island achieved independence from Britain in 1962 but Ms Simpson Miller has suggested in a BBC interview that it is time for the Queen to be replaced by a home-grown head of state.

In her interview, the prime minister said her nation had come on a long journey out of slavery and now was the time to take full charge of their destiny and achieve full independence.

She first announced her desire for the Queen to be replaced as Jamaica's head of state with a Jamaican president during her swearing-in ceremony in January.

After lunching with the prime minister, Prince Harry visited Bustamente children's Hospital in Kingston and met Jamaican singing star Shaggy, who has raised £500,000 for the hospital with his Shaggy Makes A Difference Foundation.

Prince Harry's arrival in the capital, Kingston, on Monday was greeted with a 21-gun salute by the Jamaican Defence Force.

The prince inspected a military guard of honour before being introduced to lawmakers and diplomats on the tarmac.

He was then driven in a motorcade to the residence of the governor general, the Queen's representative on the island.

His tour is one of several being made by members of the royal family in 2012 as part of celebrations marking 60 years of his grandmother's reign as monarch.

The prince has written thank you letters to the governor generals of Belize and the Bahamas expressing his enjoyment of the tour so far.

To Belize's Sir Colville Norbert Young, he said: "In only 23 hours, I feel as though I have seen so much of Belize through the thousands of people who lined the way. I am hugely grateful for the very happy memories, and I'm very sad to leave."

Prince Harry referred to the friendliness of the Bahamians and beauty of their islands in a separate message to Sir Arthur Foulkes.

"Sharing Monday morning with 10,000 children and young people was a real treat - thank you for being so much fun and making me smile for two full hours," he said.

Dickie Bird in Honours List

Former cricket umpire Dickie Bird is appointed an OBE for all his services to charity.

Golfers Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy have received awards for their 2011 success in the New Year Honours list.

Open winner Clarke becomes an OBE while fellow Northern Irishman McIlroy is appointed an MBE for his US Open win.

Taekwondo world champion Sarah Stevenson and rugby union players Chris Paterson of Scotland and Wales' Martyn Williams all become MBEs.

Ex-Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis is made a knight.

 while former cricket umpire Dickie Bird is appointed an OBE.

Former Formula 1 driver Nigel Mansell also becomes a CBE for services to young people as President of UK Youth, while veteran BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall receives an OBE.

Aside from his well-documented story of triumph in the wake of family tragedy, Darren Clarke is a significant golfing figure off the course as well. He has done great work in inspiring and mentoring young Northern Irish golfing talent. Rory McIlroy's record-breaking US Open triumph was one of the greatest UK sporting achievements of 2011. His eight-shot victory in America's national championship was confirmation of a colossal talent

Clarke, 42, fired a final-round 70 at Royal St George's in July to finish five under par and hold off Americans Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson.

"It is a great honour and a fantastic way to end a great year. I am very proud for me and my family," said Clarke.

McIlroy, 22, won the US Open in Washington in June and climbed to number three in the world rankings.

He became the youngest US Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923, who was just 21, and the youngest major winner since Tiger Woods triumphed at the Masters in 1997 while 21.

McIlroy was "humbled" to be on the list and said: "Many people on the honours list have made huge personal sacrifices and contributed significantly to society during their lives. I feel very fortunate to be in their company."

It is such a huge honour to receive an MBE and it's fantastic to be recognised for the hard work I have put into Taekwondo for the past 21 yearsSarah Stevenson

Clarke and McIlroy were both nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, with Clarke coming second to cyclist Mark Cavendish.

Stevenson, 28, won gold at the Taekwondo World Championship in Korea in May just months after both parents had died of cancer. She was also named Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year for 2011.

"It is such a huge honour to receive an MBE and it's fantastic to be recognised for the hard work I have put into taekwondo for the past 21 years," she said.

"I know my parents would have been so proud of this award."

Paterson, 33, quit rugby in December after a glorious career in which he became Scotland's record cap holder with 109, record points scorer with 809, and appeared in four Rugby World Cups.

"To be recognised in this way for doing something you love to do is a wee bit strange but it will be a nice reminder of what I've achieved in both club and international rugby," he said.

Williams is the most capped forward in Wales history but is stuck on 99 after a broken arm ruled him out the the World Cup in November.

Jamie Peacock, the 34-year-old England Rugby League captain and Grand Final-winning Leeds Rhinos prop forward becomes an MBE.

Also appointed CBEs are professor Sarah Springman for services to triathlon, and Giles Clarke, chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Candidates linked to the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics have also been recognised with knighthoods for Charles Allen and John Armitt, who are both on the organising committee.

And Graham Henry, the former Wales coach who led New Zealand to victory in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the sport.