East heads south: Deauville mission next for Kevin Ryan's star filly

Another trip to France is on the cards for East after she passed up the opportunity to take part at Newmarket's July meeting this week.

Trainer Kevin Ryan has decided to send the Frankel filly to Deauville for the Prix Rothschild Stakes on July 28 – when she could face impressive Coronation Stakes winner Watch Me – in preference to Friday's Falmouth Stakes.

A winner at Group 3 level at Saint-Cloud as a juvenile, East was an excellent third in the French 1,000 Guineas at Longchamp on testing ground before disappointing in the Irish equivalent on good to firm going at the Curragh.

East on the turf track at Churchill Downs last NovemberCredit: Edward Whitaker

The ground was on the fast side at Newmarket and Ryan is hoping for more favourable conditions in France when she tackles the mile Group 1 contest.

"The filly is fine and in good shape and we've decided to go for the Prix Rothschild," said Ryan. "That's the plan now just as long as we get some nice ground there."

Open Weekend to celebrate life of Sir Henry Cecil

Newmarket's Open Weekend has been renamed the 'Henry Cecil Open Weekend' to celebrate the life of the much-loved and missed trainer.

The venture is supported by some of Cecil's former owners in a bid to raise money for local charities as well as continuing to support Racing Welfare.

Since the event's return to Newmarket in 2012, over £250,000 has been raised for local and racing charities.

Charlie Fellowes, chairman of the Henry Cecil Open Weekend, said "We're thrilled to have the support and to be associated with such an iconic figure in racing.

"The Henry Cecil Open Weekend is about celebrating his life, raising money for some very worthwhile local causes, and offering racing fans the opportunity to see behind the scenes. We're very much looking forward to welcoming visitors here in September."

Tickets will be available to buy next week, with prices starting at £15 per person for a Sunday-only ticket. Children aged 12 and under go free all weekend.

Parliamentary dinner raises £22,000 for Racing To School

The sport's educational charity, Racing To School, has benefited to the tune of more than £22,000 thanks to money raised at a House of Commons dinner.

People from across racing attended the All Party Parliamentary Group on Racing and Bloodstock's annual dinner, the highlight of which was a charity auction conducted by Richard Phillips.

More than £22,000 was raised for Racing To School at a House of Commons charity dinner hosted by the All Party Parliamentary GroupCredit: Racingtoschool.co.uk

The top lot of an all-expenses paid trip to the Longines Hong Kong International Races in December was secured with a winning bid of £5,200, while the evening was bookended by speeches from two of racing's most ardent supporters in parliament, Laurence Robertson MP and Conor McGinn MP.

Racing To School chief executive Jon Blake said: "For a small charity to be associated with such a prestigious event was a privilege, so too an opportunity to communicate our vision to work with our partners in racing to make the sport even more accessible to the younger generation."

The funds raised through the All Party dinner will be used to deliver around 25 educational events, which will provide curriculum-enriched learning within the unique context of racing and its venues for approximately 1,000 young people.

Betting ring regular Steve Conway dies age 64

Steve Conway, a regular and popular member of the northern betting ring for more than 40 years, passed away last Tuesday at the age of 64.

After trying his hand at bookmakers in the seventies, he worked for top rails bookmaker Michael Geraghty for many years, then became a tic tac and more recently worked for Ronnie Postlewaite who trades as Matt Foster.

He said: "Steve was one of the most liked if not the most liked people in the ring and worked for me for 17 years. Sadly he became ill about five years ago and passed away last week."

His funeral will take place at Rose Hill, Crematorium, Cantley, Doncaster DN4 6HE at 10am on Monday July 22.

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com