Hurricane Lane leads St Leger entries

Hurricane Lane will be Godolphin's sole entry into next month's St Leger and headlines a list of 18 after the latest forfeit stage. 

The Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris winner was expected to go up against stablemate Adayar but the Epsom Derby hero is one of 14 candidates to have been withdrawn for the final Classic of the season on September 11. 

Adayar is now likely to be aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but Hurricane Lane is unlikely to have it all his way with Johnny Murtagh's Gordon Stakes winner Ottoman Emperor left in the field, while Martyn Meade's Irish Derby runner-up Lone Eagle also stands. 

The duo of Sir Lamorak and Sir Lucan lead a team of eight horses for Aidan O'Brien, with the Ballydoyle supremo targetting a seventh St Leger triumph. 

Johnson excited by Legends challenge

Former champion jockey Richard Johnson admits he found it impossible to reject the chance to ride again in this year's Mondialiste Leger Legends Classified Stakes at Doncaster. 

The 44-year-old retired in April following a career that had seen him claim 3,819 winners, a record bettered only by Tony McCoy. 

However, he will be back in the saddle on Town Moor next month for the now-annual Legends race that forms part of the St Leger Festival and raises money for racing charities. 

Barry Geraghty is another set to appear and Johnson concedes that he is excited by the prospect of getting back on board. 

Johnson said: "I think I had a phone call from Andrew Thornton (former jockey and one of the organisers) a couple of minutes after I announced my retirement (back in April) at Newton Abbot!.

"It has only been five months but it is amazing how quickly your fitness leaves a bit to be desired. Hopefully I won't make a fool of myself." 

Delight for returning Dennis at Bangor

David Dennis admitted it was a "great effort" from Flying Verse after the gelding grabbed his trainer's first victory since returning to the training ranks. 

Dennis stepped away from solo handling in March 2020, spending time with Tom Symonds and Matt Shepherd, but sent out point-to-point runners in the spring and recently decided to go it alone again. 

Hahadi's run at Newton Abbot on Saturday marked his return and he was back in the winners' circle on Tuesday as Flying Verse claimed a 3m handicap chase at Bangor. 

The Edgecote handler conceded things could not have gone any better in north Wales, praising jockey Brian Hughes for the way he guided the nine-year-old. 

He said: "It was a great effort. He was second in the Norfolk National in May so I said to Brian [Hughes] to race as prominently as you like because he clearly stays further than three miles. He's won at the track before and dropped to a nice handy mark - he did it well." 

Dream come true for O'Brien

Finally, and Tom O'Brien has admitted he never expected to enjoy such success after claiming his 1,000th winner as a jump jockey on Sunday. 

O'Brien guided home Head On on Sunday to become only the seventh active jockey to reach the milestone. O'Brien has spent much of his career playing second fiddle to the aforementioned Johnson at Philip Hobbs' Sandhill Stables but has quietly gone about his business to cement himself as one of the most consistent jockeys around. 

He admits he has been surprised by the plaudits that have come his way in that seminal triumph at Worcester, adding that he was not expecting such a heartfelt reaction to his success. 

O'Brien told Sky Sports Racing: "I'm very proud.

"I thought it'd just be my wife and I going for a steak dinner after to celebrate, I didn't realise that it'd make headlines. 

"It's all I've ever dreamed of to be a jump jockey and I'm delighted to reach that landmark."