Illustrating bidding for Longchamp gold

Fresh from a two-and-three-quarter-length victory in the British Stallion Studs Alice Keppel EBF Fillies' Conditions Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, Illustrating is eyeing further glory at ParisLongchamp today. 

She was set to follow up her Goodwood triumph with a tilt at the Group Two Lowther Stakes at York last month but a late setback forced connections to withdraw her.

The Group Three Prix d'Arenberg is next up for the exciting two-year-old and trainer Karl Burke has high hopes for his charge. 

Burke said: "She kicked herself and knocked her elbow, which was very frustrating. She's great now. 

"The extra travelling and things is never ideal with two-year-olds, but fingers crossed she arrives there in good form - if she does, she goes there with a great chance." 

Bolger waiting on conditions

Jim Bolger is hoping to take Poetic Flare back to France for the Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp on Sunday — but it very much depends on the going. 

Poetic Flare has attracted a huge amount of attention this season, picking up three wins and three second-place finishes from seven outings. 

He topped the field in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and Bolger reports his charge is in good form ahead of the Group One contest on Sunday. 

With the potential to head to Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Stakes the following Saturday, Bolger admits it will come down to the conditions. 

He said: "It will all depend on what the going is like at Longchamp and Leopardstown. We'll be keeping an eye on the going at both tracks, and no decision will be made until Friday." 

Cobden hits 500 milestone

Jockey Harry Cobden has reached the career milestone of 500 British jumps winners after steering Vision Des Flos to victory at Uttoxeter. 

The stable jockey for multiple champion trainer Paul Nicholls claimed his 500th triumph at the age of 22 after making his maiden outing in 2015 when he picked up two winners and a runner-up in his first three trips. 

He led from the early stages in the Bresbet Foundation Handicap Chase on Wednesday and eased to a two-and-a-quarter-length win over Zoffee. 

Nicholls' assistant Harry Derham tweeted: "A brilliant achievement for a man as young as Harry to have ridden his 500th winner of his career at Uttoxeter today, I have no doubt there will be many many more to come." 

Mitchell expecting grandstand finish

Team talkSPORT rider Jack Mitchell believes the Racing League title race will go down to the wire at Newcastle this evening. 

He trails ThoroughBid's Hayley Turner and Louis Steward of Goat Racing, who both have 207 points, by seven in the jockey standings, while Martin Dwyer, representing ODDSbible, is fourth on 186 and Team Swish's Saffie Osbourne is five further back. 

Mitchell has six rides at Newcastle and could hold the best chance to end the night on top with Steward banned and Turner restricted to four contests. 

He said: "It's going to be competitive. There are enough points on offer. I've got six [rides], Saffie Osborne has six and Hayley has four. 

"There are plenty of chances and points to go around. It's all going to come down to the final race and how many doors get shut on which jockeys."