Headlines

Jockey bans riling people up once again, with Kielan Woods being handed a huge 42-day suspension, while Jonjo O’Neill Jr, Marco Ghiani and Paula Muir were given 21, 25 and 35-day bans - that’s a combined 123 days!

Champion jockey Colin Keane is also due to miss the Irish Derby Festival at the Curragh at the beginning of next month after being slapped with a seven-day ban for improper riding at Leopardstown yesterday.

Arrest looks like he could be set to make an appearance at Royal Ascot after forecasted rain for next week resulted in him being entered in the Queen’s Vase on day two. The King Edward VII Stakes on Friday is the preferred option, but the longer Queen’s Vase could set him up for a crack at the St Leger.

The Gosdens’ Al Asifah is also on course for Ascot. The exciting filly was supplemented for the Ribblesdale Stakes after her eye-catching run in the Listed Agnes Keyser Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood last weekend.

Epsom officials have paid the connections of the four horses involved in the Dash stalls controversy earlier this month a goodwill gesture of £500.

Blue Yonder

As already mentioned, Blue Yonder’s run was a big disappointment yesterday. I am yet to receive a post-race report on what went wrong, but the pre-race update said there would be a change of tactics and it looked like that didn’t go to plan. Sitting back in the rear with a slow pace in the field early on didn’t suit him one bit.

He looked like he was going to be there or there about in the final couple of furlongs when in touch with the leaders, but he ultimately weakened in the closing stages and ended up coming home in 7th. When I know what’s next on the agenda for him, I’ll give you all an update.

Ones to watch

There are two horses on my ones-to-watch list today. The first is an Aidan O’Brien debutant in the opener at Cork (4:15) — Brilliant (11/4). She’s sired by British and Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Gleneagles and was a huge 650,000gns yearling. She is a half-sister to four winners, including Alcohol Free. She’s second favourite to Mysteries, who made a nice debut when third at the Curragh last month.

The other comes from Sandown, where the expensive Inner City is set to appear for the second time for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin in the 2:40. The well-bred Dubawi colt was a 1,100,000gns yearling, but could fare no better than fourth on debut at Yarmouth. There was less than a length in it that day though and he could come on from that race. Royal entry Crown Estate, who was also fourth on debut, for the Gosdens could be the main danger.

Twitter NAP

Newsletter exclusive tips

We’ve had at least one winner in the exclusive tips section every day since Tuesday, so let’s keep that run going as we end the week.

The first selection is Whats In The Bag (5/2) in the 14:05 at Sandown. The unexposed four-year-old ran well for second on reappearance at Windsor last month and can go one better than that today.

The other is Matty Too (13/8) in the 16:35 at Chepstow. The Ed Dunlop horse won well at Yarmouth earlier this month to win by three lengths under Hollie Doyle and he’s the one to beat under a 5lb penalty again today. Claimer Billy Loughnane takes 3lb off.

You know what? It’s Friday, so I’m going all out and giving you a third exclusive!

It’s back to Sandown for Zoukster (15/8) in the 16:25. He avoids a penalty for his recent win under Billy at Goodwood last week and the Ed Walker horse is 6lb well in for his hattrick attempt under Tom Marquand today.