Snowfall completes Oaks double

Aidan O'Brien's Snowfall proved her class once again as she produced another blistering performance to become the 15th filly to win the English/Irish Oaks double at the Curragh. 

The three-year-old made it three wins on the bounce for connections this year as she followed up her Epsom success in Ireland. 

O'Brien's charge was the 2/7 favourite going into the race and she did not disappoint backers, with Ryan Moore guiding her home to an eight-length win. 

Speaking after the race, O'Brien confirmed the plan is to head to the Yorkshire Oaks next time out, while bookies are already pricing her up for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. 

He told reporters: "We purposely let her down a little bit from Epsom because the season is going to roll on and it was soft ground at Epsom. 

"The plan was to come here, go on to the Yorkshire Oaks and then she'd be ready for the autumn. 

"I'm delighted with her and she's done very well from Epsom physically — she's got very big and strong. We'll go one race at a time now, the Yorkshire Oaks first." 

Blackmore undergoes surgery

Grand National-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore was reportedly in "good spirits" after undergoing surgery following a fall at Killarney on Friday afternoon. 

The 32-year-old was attended to on track by medics after falling from Merry Poppins in a handicap hurdle race. Blackmore was taken to hospital and scans confirmed she suffered a fractured ankle and a hip injury. 

Blackmore, who became the first woman to ride the winner of the Grand National in April, is set for a spell on the sidelines but senior medical officer Dr Jennfier Pugh confirmed the surgery went well. 

In a tweet on the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Twitter feed, she said: "Rachael Blackmore sustained a fractured ankle and hip injury following her fall in Killarney on Friday evening. 

"She has had surgery overnight and is in good spirits this morning." 

Happy Romance lands Newbury spoils

Owner Ray McMurray was left delighted as Happy Romance ended a run of three races without a victory by winning the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury. 

The former Super Sprint winner was only narrowly beaten at Sandown last time out but connections were still confident she could deliver in one of the feature races at Newbury. 

Happy Romance repaid that faith as she looked backed to her best on the quicker ground, with Sean Levey guiding her home. 

Speaking after her win, McMurray admitted a trip to Goodwood could be on the agenda. 

He said: "Richard always said she's trained on but he actually said the worry might be crowds as none of last year's two-year-olds had ever seen one. 

"She had to prove it today and now we might go to Goodwood and take on Battaash — I think she deserves to." 

Hannon gains ground after Gubbass success

Trainer Richard Hannon is following in his father's footsteps as he secured his fourth victory in the Weatherbys Super Sprint, with Gubbass keeping his rivals at bay at Newbury. 

Richard Snr retired with seven victories to his name and his son is now on track to beat that achievement, with Gubbass sailing home with Levey on board. 

Gubbass has now won both of his races as a two-year-old and Hannon could have another smart juvenile on his hands.