John Musker Listed Stakes Preview (Wed 16th September 2025 )

 The John Musker Fillies' Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Great Yarmouth, over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 23 yards (2,033 metres) and it is scheduled to take place each year in September. It was first run in 1993. The race is named after John Musker (died 1926), a racehorse breeder from Norfolk.^[1]

Leading trainer (6 wins):

• John Gosden – Saafeya (1998), Dance Partner (2006), So Mi Dar (2016), Fanny Logan (2019), Majestic Noor (2020), Shaara (2022)

race conditions  £55,000 guaranteed For  3yo+ fillies & mares, which are EBF eligible, which have not won a Group 1 or Group 2 Pattern race after March 31st, 2025 Weights  3yo 8st 13lb; 4yo+ 9st 4lb Penalties  after March 31st, 2025, a winner of a Listed race 3lb; of a Group 3 race 5lb Weight for age  3yo from 4yo+ 5lb Entries  19 pay £275 Penalty value  1st  £30,921.00 2nd  £11,770.00 3rd  £5,890.50 4th  £2,937.00 5th  £1,474.00 6th  £742.50 7th  £368.50

Great Yarmouth's feature race of the season .The 32nd running of  £55,000 John Musker Fillies Stakes over 10 furlongs on ground described as Good/Soft .

KEY STAT : Three-year-olds have won the race (24 out 31 ) (77% strike rate ) 

John & Thady Gosden have three runners in the race (Running Lion ) (Life Is Beautiful ) (Rainbows Edge) , including the likely favourite RUNNING  LION , who is top rated in the race on official BHA ratings of 110 , though has got plenty to prove on this years form , including finishing (last of 5 in G1 Nassau Stakes )& (last of 8 in G1 Falmouth Stakes) Takes big drop in class here into listed company, though is only (1 out 3) (221) in listed company, first time blinkers may help and does have winning form on soft ground, though not for me at around 5-2

The Night Ot Thunder three-year-old filly LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, looks interesting after finishing creditable second in G3 company at Deauville last time , that was decent effort, finishing under lengh behind decent French filly Cankoura ,who had previously finished third in G1 Prix de Diane.Unraced on soft ground, though has real soft ground pedigree (Night Of Thunder ) ( 2 out 2 ) on soft, the dam (Beautiful Morning ) winning this race back in 2017 on soft ground. Looks open to further improvement and three-year-olds have excellent record in race.Odds 4-1 or bigger look solid each-way value .

Of the others BEAUTIFUL LOVE   has to be respected on pick of her form , including finishing distant second in G2 Middleton Stakes at York behind See The Fire in May , had also finished good fourth in last years G1 Breeders Cup Filly's and Mares turf at Del Mar, only beaten lengh , been slightly disappointing this season, though does take drop in class.However all winning form has been on quick ground.

York listed winner CHARLOTTES WEB is very consistent filly, looks sure be in mix ,though won't find it easy under 3lb listed penalty.

The Royal runner RAINBOWS EDGE  will be suited returning to 10 furlongs, having appeared not to stay 12 furlongs at York last time , can't be ruled out if handling this easier ground .

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RECOMMENDED BET :

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL 4.00 YARMOUTH JOHN MUSKER  LISTED STAKES 

1PT EACH-WAY @ 4-1 WILLIAM HILLS .888SPORT 

(UNPLACED SP 3-1 LOSS 2.00 PTS )

RESULT : (1ST RUNNING LION 9-2 ) (2ND ANNA SWAN 14-1) (3RD RAINBOW EDGE 10-3)

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Irish Champion Stakes Preview (Sat 13th September 2025 )

The Irish Champion Stakes (Irish: Curadh-Dhuais na hÉireann) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

The event was established in 1976, and it was initially held at Leopardstown as the Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes. It was named in memory of Joe McGrath (1887–1966), the founder of the Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake and a successful racehorse owner.

The race was transferred to Phoenix Park and renamed the Phoenix Champion Stakes in 1984. Its present title was introduced in 1991, when the event returned to Leopardstown after the closure of its former venue.

The Irish Champion Stakes became part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2009. The winner now earns an automatic invitation to compete in the same year's Breeders' Cup Turf.^[1]

race conditions  €1,250,000 guaranteed For  3yo+ Weights  3yo 9st 3lbs; 4yo+ 9st 9lbs Weight for age  3yo from 4yo+ 6lb Allowances  fillies & mares 3lbs Penalty value  1st  €712,500.00 2nd  €237,500.00 3rd  €112,500.00 4th  €50,000.00 5th  €25,000.00 6th  €12,500.00 

8 runners declared for Irish Champion Stakes over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown on soft ground .

2024 Ascot Champion stakes winner ANMAAT  should go well with ground conditions in his favour.Lightly raced this season , though finished excellent second in Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot in June ,behind the top class Ombudsman on ground that would been too quick. Goes well fresh and has excellent record on soft ground .Odds 4-1 look solid each-way value in this eight runner race .

Eclipse winner DELACROIX  looks the main danger ,after finishing good second in Juddmonte International at York last month , though not match for impressive winner Ombudsman on the day, that was still fair effort in messy race .Has to be respected back at Leopardstown, though is unproven on ground this soft. 

Of the others soft ground specialist WHITE BIRCH  can't be ruled out on pick last seasons form , including winning the G1 Tattersals Gold Cup .Also Goes well fresh ,each-way claims .

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Recommended Bet :

ANMAAT 5.30 LEOPARDSTOWN IRISH CHAMPION STAKES 

1PT EACH-WAY @ 4-1 LADBROKES 

(SECOND SP 4-1 LOSS 0.20 PTS )