Clear favourite Petrol Head scratched from Galway Hurdle after failed doping test | Horse racing

The Galway Hurdle, a highlight of this week’s Galway Festival, faced controversy yesterday when Petrol Head, who was heavily backed from 16-1 to 5-1 favorite for the €270,000 (£228,000) handicap, was scratched on the directive of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) following a failed drug test after a victory at Bellewstown last month.

Petrol Head was set to compete for trainer Katy Brown on Thursday, but he was formerly owned and trained by Ronan McNally, who is currently involved in a disciplinary case that resulted in a 12-year ban from racing in 2023 for severely damaging the interests of horse racing in Ireland.

In a statement on Thursday, the IHRB confirmed that it had received notification “at 11am … of a prohibited substance found in the sample [collected from Petrol Head] at Bellewstown [on July 6]. Consequently, and after an investigation, the directors of the IHRB have decided to withdraw Petrol Head from the Galway Hurdle per the Rules of Racing.”

Paddy Power reported a surge of interest in Petrol Head throughout the morning, even though he was only 8-1 overnight. “We witnessed substantial betting on the horse, making him the most backed entrant in the race prior to the withdrawal,” said a representative.

McNally received one of the most severe bans in Irish racing history in January 2023 after being found to have shown “a consistent pattern of improvement in the form of horses that was previously unfamiliar to seasoned handicapping officials.”

He was also discovered to have colluded with fellow trainer David Dunne to hide his ownership of three horses – including Petrol Head – at Dunne’s training facility, and to have exchanged insider information for betting purposes.

Petrol Head is now owned by the Orchard Garden Syndicate, and Brown later mentioned to the Racing Post that there is “no connection” between the horse and McNally. She also asserted that she had not given any prohibited substances to Petrol Head before his run at Bellewstown.

With Petrol Head out of the race, Joseph O’Brien’s Nurburgring, priced at 13-2, claimed a noteworthy victory in the day’s premier race under JJ Slevin.

At Goodwood, a masterful front-running performance by Ryan Moore led Opera Singer, last year’s champion juvenile filly, to notch her first win of the season in the prestigious Group One Nassau Stakes. Moore quickly had Opera Singer, the 9-4 second-favourite, perfectly positioned at the lead and left her competitors struggling after making a decisive move two furlongs out.

Thursday’s 10-furlong event was Opera Singer’s first race beyond a mile, and she is now considered one of the favorites for the prestigious 12-furlong Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.

“When Ryan dismounted her after the Boussac [at Longchamp last October], he predicted that this filly would return to win the Arc,” Aidan O’Brien, the filly’s trainer, stated. “There’s every chance she can handle a mile and a half, and she’s exceptionally talented. Being by Justify, they are built to keep going.”

Temporize, last year’s winner of the two-and-a-half-mile handicap kicking off Friday’s card at Goodwood, will run under trainer Tony Charlton’s name this year, as his previous trainer, Syd Hosie, submitted his license on Thursday for undisclosed reasons.

The British Horseracing Authority confirmed on Thursday that Charlton “has been granted a temporary license to train from the yard in Sherborne, Dorset, where Mr. Syd Hosie has most recently operated. Mr. Charlton’s license comes with conditions that will not be disclosed, and horses declared earlier this week from the yard will be allowed to fulfill their engagements.”

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The official Group One races at Glorious Goodwood have concluded for another year, but Friday’s highlight, the Group Two King George Stakes, is expected to be as elite and competitive as any race at the festival.

The field consists of four past Group One victors – Big Evs, Live In The Dream, Moss Tucker, and Asfoora, the Australian-trained winner of the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot – while Believing has already showcased potential for a Group One victory several times this year.

Opera Singer is not the only high-potential sprinter in the lineup, as Jack Channon’s Desperate Hero (3.35) is another intriguing competitor. He delivered an exceptional sprint handicap performance at Hamilton in June, achieving a Group-class time figure and seems perfectly suited for Friday’s speed challenge on one of the quickest five-furlong tracks in the world.

Desperate Hero fell short of his Hamilton form when moving up to Group competition at Sandown last time, but that was on soft ground, and a fast surface is crucial for his chances. Considerable rain at Goodwood would significantly dampen enthusiasm, but if the anticipated thunderstorms spare the track, he should be a major contender at around 16-1.

Goodwood 1.50 presents a unique annual challenge over two-and-a-half miles, with the last two winners – Temporize and Master Milliner – returning for another attempt. Slight preference is for Emma Lavelle’s gelding, who has raced lightly since his 2022 victory and returns on a 3lb lower mark.

Goodwood 2.25 In a noteworthy progression, Al Musmak took a significant step forward to win at Newmarket last month and still holds potential for further improvement with only seven starts to his name.

Goodwood 3.00 David O’Meara has claimed two of the last four runnings of the Golden Mile and holds a strong hand again here, including Blue For You, Orbaan – the 2022 winner – and Darkness. The latter, finishing a close fourth from a high draw, has a 3lb higher mark from last year and offers great value at around 14-1 from stall eight.