Amo support a boost for the Brocklesby - plus the names to take from informative cards at Doncaster and Leopardstown

Brocklesby profile on the up

The Brocklesby feels like it matters again and that is a good thing. At the back end of the last decade, the first two-year-old race of the year in Britain felt unloved. It was often buried on the card and rarely attracted precocious juveniles who might go on to better things, perhaps unsurprisingly given winning connections were only getting rewarded with roughly £6,000 to £7,000.

Fast forward a few years and it feels like a race worth watching with interest. Chipotle and Persian Force (the 2021 and 2023 winners) went on to better things, reminding us a good one can appear here. 

Norman's Cay edges out Son Of Sarabi to win the opening race of the new turf Flat season at DoncasterCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The race has been restored to the opening spot on Lincoln day, giving it greater exposure, and this year's winning connections took home £20,616 following a sizeable jump in the purse in 2023.

And then there is the Amo factor. Norman's Cay provided Kia Joorabchian's powerful operation with a second win in four in the Brocklesby and Amo are clearly targeting the race, providing the last four favourites. Richard Hannon doesn't know where Norman's Cay will end up, but Amo's interest in the starting point of the Flat turf season is definitely helping the Brocklesby's profile. Long may it continue.
Matt Butler

Dancing Gemini a standout at Doncaster

The Flat season might be in its embryonic stages, but there was one display in particular on the curtain-raising Lincoln card which would have set tongues wagging and given many a horse to follow throughout the summer.

Dancing Gemini was winless during his three-year-old season having been pitched into very deep waters – he finished sixth in City Of Troy's Derby and came home last in the Eclipse – but he wasted no time in opening his account as a four-year-old at Doncaster on Saturday.

Dancing Gemini; impressive performance in the Doncaster MileCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

He showed a blistering turn of foot under Kieran Shoemark to streak clear of some useful rivals, including Liberty Lane, and land the Listed Doncaster Mile with a powerful, authoritative display.

Trainer Roger Teal was effusive in his praise of Dancing Gemini afterwards, and he could now follow in the footsteps of last year's Mile winner Charyn and be campaigned towards the Lockinge at Newbury.

Charyn also went winless at three before going on to enjoy an outstanding four-year-old season, and Saturday's victory could prove the springboard for Dancing Gemini to do the same.
Patrick Madden

Delacroix looks a straightforward Derby type

Leopardstown hosted three Classic trials on Sunday and the name most will take away from the meeting will surely be Delacroix, rather than Henri Matisse or Swelter.

Aidan O'Brien's team have been running well without necessarily winning, perhaps often needing the run, so Delacroix's assertive win in the Ballysax under Ryan Moore can arguably be marked up for that reason alone. He looks very straightforward.

He improved with each run of his juvenile season, peaking with a close second to Hotazhell in the Futurity, and further progress can be realistically expected with that profile. The bookmakers seem to agree, cutting him to 10-1 for the Derby, and the son of Dubawi and brilliant US miler Tepin looks highly likely to be a strong Epsom candidate for Ballydoyle. The only thing more certain is there will probably be others to emerge from the same team.
Matt Butler

David Power Jockeys' Cup standings (ITV races)

Harry Skelton 378 points
Harry Cobden 304
Nico de Boinville 296
Sam Twiston-Davies 260
Sean Bowen 222

British jump jockeys' ­championship

Sean Bowen 162
Harry Skelton 131
Sam Twiston-Davies 100
Harry Cobden 99
Gavin Sheehan 95

British jumps trainers' ­championship

Dan Skelton £2,786,340
Paul Nicholls £1,996,253
Nicky Henderson £1,931,534
Willie Mullins £1,433,491
Olly Murphy £1,408,002

Irish jump ­jockeys' ­championship

Paul Townend 100
Sam Ewing 64
Keith Donoghue 62
Darragh O'Keeffe 55
Danny Mullins 43

Irish jumps trainers' championship 

Willie Mullins €4,092,570
Gordon Elliott €3,438,075
Gavin Cromwell €1,869,365
Henry de Bromhead €1,391,780
Joseph O'Brien €980,725

Read these next:

Hannon and Amo a force in the Brocklesby again as Norman's Cay claims narrow win 

'We said we'll follow in Charyn's footsteps and that was brilliant' - Roger Teal to target Lockinge for impressive Dancing Gemini  

Delacroix cut to 10-1 for the Derby after an all-the-way success in the Ballysax Stakes 

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