Moore on Happily

RYAN MOORE has opted for Happily rather than stablemates September or Magical in tomorrow’s Bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.

Aidan O’Brien’s three head the betting for the Group One feature, one of seven races on ITV4.

PJ McDonald’s mount, Laurens, is the first non-Aidan O’Brien-trained contender in Coral’s betting at 13-2 and it is 7-1 bar.

“Aidan is long odds-on to win the Fillies’ Mile as he chases down Bobby Frankel’s record of Group One wins in a year,” said Coral’s David Stevens. “Ryan may have chosen to partner the favourite Happily, but Magical has also shortened in the betting.” Moore, inset, had a winner at Nottingham on yesterday’s card but, as is so often the case, it was Sylvester De Sousa who bashed the bookies the hardest. The champ won on all three of his mounts, kicking off with Alwasmiya (11-4) before winning on Merlin Magic (8-1) and Ship Of The Fen (15-8), then flying off to Kempton for four mounts.

Neither Moore nor De Sousa plan to be at Ayr today, which is just as well. The track needs to pass an inspection at 8am before the meeting can go ahead. The heavy ground can not take much more rain, which is forecast.

OBRYAN COOPER’S first two rides as Alan Potts’ retained rider in England were readily forgettable, unless you were unfortunate enough to put money on them.

Cooper went to Ludlow, only to be unseated from Mick Thonic three fences from the finish in the Vera Davies Memorial Chase, an hour after coming last on Exxaro in the Rowles Fine Art Handicap Chase.

Potts’ trainer, Colin Tizzard, did not leave the Shropshire track empty-handed, though – Harry Cobden won on Tempestatefloresco.