Setback not ideal for Palace Pier

John Gosden says Palace Pier's recent blood disorder was a blow but the trainer is still confident his charge will put in a strong showing at Deauville on Sunday. 

The four-year-old has racked up three straight victories this year, triumphing at Sandown, Newbury and Ascot, but he was forced to miss the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood because of a blood disorder. 

Having now recovered from that setback, Palace Pier will attempt to defend his Group One Prix Jacques le Marois title at Deauville against an elite field and Gosden is feeling optimistic ahead of the French outing. 

He said: "You could do without those sort of things happening in the middle of the season. It wasn't ideal, but he seems fine and we have the late summer and autumn to look forward to. 

"He has taken hit time to get over it. We're just finding our way back, but he's worked well towards the race." 

Snowfall remains on course for the Oaks

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Snowfall is still in contention to make history after being confirmed as one of 10 entries for the Group1 Yorkshire Oaks at York's Ebor Festival on Thursday. 

If the three-year-old takes the spoils in that feature race, she would become just the second horse in the last five years to complete the English, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks clean sweep. 

Snowfall, who has won all of her three outings this year at York, Epsom and the Curragh, will be going up against Love, Divinely and La Joconde, who are all from O'Brien's stable. 

Ralph Beckett's Albaflora, Sir Mark Prescott's Alpinista and Peter Chapple-Hyam's Bharani Star are also confirmed, while David Menuisier's Wonderful Tonight, Roger Varian's Eshaada and John and Thady Gosden's Loving Dream make up the field. 

Dascombe hoping for rain

Tom Dascombe would not mind some rain for his two charges running in Saturday's Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon. 

Initially, the Cheshire trainer only thought he would have one runner in the field — top-weight Brad The Brief — but Lincoln Park has also made the cut. 

Speaking about his two challengers, Dascombe revealed some give in the ground would help the chances of success. 

He said: "I was expecting Lincoln Park not to get in the main race but as it turns out we've got two very good claimers on.

"They're both solid handicappers, solid horses, and they both want a bit of ease in the ground. We'll have to see what happens. Any rain wouldn't hurt them."

Walsh opens up on Irish restrictions

Chief executive officer of the Association of Irish Racecourses, Paddy Walsh, is frustrated there are still only a limited number of people who can attend race meetings in Ireland. 

British racecourse are getting back to some kind of normality as social restrictions have been removed or almost removed but the same cannot be said in Ireland with attendances still capped at 500. 

Exemptions were made to allow 1,000 spectators at the Irish Derby meeting, plus the seven days of the Galway Festival, but Walsh could not hide his frustration when asked about the situation. 

He said: "Although we appreciate that navigating the reopening of society and easing of restrictions is an onerous task, our members are frustrated. 

"They have done everything that has been asked of them, facilities have been turned inside out to ensure that protocols and guidelines have been meticulously adhered to at tracks nationwide. 

"While the association fully respects public health, restrictions have eased considerably in other sectors and sports and we would like to see more progress in this regard for our members and the wider horse racing industry."