At The Races

David Grening, Daily Racing Form The Triple Crown may not be done going through changes. While the general belief is the Belmont Stakes will move back to its traditional 1 1/2-mile distance in 2027 when it returns to Belmont Park, that may not be the case after all. Acknowledging the current landscape in the breeding industry, New York Racing Association president and CEO Dave O’Rourke indicated running the Belmont at 1 1/4 miles is something that will be considered.

Raaheeb will miss the rest of the season after being found to be lame following his disappointing run at Windsor on Monday. The highly-regarded full-brother to both the imperious Baaeed and trainer Owen Burrows’ former Group One star Hukum was seen as a Classic contender when creating a serious buzz with a winning return at Sandown back in April.

Commanche Run will forever be remembered for providing a lasting reminder of the brilliance of Lester Piggott in the saddle but the 1984 St Leger also demonstrated the legendary jockey’s ruthlessness out of it. Piggott’s unique ability undoubtedly played a huge part in landing the final Classic of the 1984 season for Newmarket trainer Luca Cumani, the jockey delivering on the horse with a winning blend of pace judgement, rhythm and power to deny Baynoun and Steve Cauthen by a head.

Tom Clover will not rush the unbeaten Crown And Two out again this season if he does not get his preferred good ground. The two-year-old gelding made all to come home three and a half lengths clear of the field in a Newmarket novice last month. It was a poignant success, as the owning Crown & Two syndicate is made up of over 40 members of industry colleagues, friends and family of the late Tony Sweeney, who sadly died in December last year.

Caballo De Mar and Queenstown are among eight runners declared for the Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup on Friday. George Scott’s Caballo De Mar won the Prix du Cadran at the end of last season and enjoyed an excellent start to the new campaign, finishing second in the Dubai Gold Cup and the Sagaro Stakes before doubling his Group One tally on his return to Paris for the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in May.

Fresh from big-race success in America, Sir Mark Prescott is now eyeing a prestigious prize closer to home when Consent bids to go one better than 12 months ago in the Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes. The daughter of Lope De Vega found just Santorini Star too good in this Group Two event last season, before gaining revenge on her old foe at ParisLongchamp to claim the Prix de Royallieu.

Richard Hannon believes Alderman can prove his Derby run was no fluke in the Betfred St Leger on Saturday, if the heavens open on Town Moor between now and the big race. The Study Of Man colt produced a huge effort at Epsom behind Christmas Day on rain-softened ground, storming home in fifth at 100-1 under Pat Dobbs and beaten just over seven lengths.

Ben Pauling and Harry Redknapp’s King George VI Chase winner The Jukebox Man has been ruled out of the first half of the National Hunt season after picking up an injury. The eight-year-old came out on top in a thrilling four-way finish at Kempton on Boxing Day last year, sparking jubilant scenes from both Pauling and the horse’s owner, the former Premier League manager more used to spending the day after Christmas in the dugout.

Manchester City and England ace Phil Foden will now be a part of racing folklore after Wreck It Ronnie’s shock Goodwood victory meant Najidi Storm became the shortest-priced loser in the history of British racing.

Najidi Storm became the shortest-priced loser in the history of British racing when he was beaten into second in the Cleansing Service Group Novice Stakes at Goodwood at odds of 1-33. Charlie Pike’s aptly-named Wreck It Ronnie, beaten a combined 22 and a half lengths in his only two previous outings, made virtually all in the hands of Kieren Fox and Lewis Edmunds could not reel him in on the Harry Charlton-trained favourite, who is a brother to 2019 St Leger hero Logician.