Never placed in Irish Guineas, and Sheikh Fahad joins charity series
Now Or Never matched Blue De Vega when finishing third in a Classic race at the weekend.
The Michael O'Callaghan-trained stablemates each took third in the Tattersalls-sponsored Irish Guineas Blue De Vega chased home Awtaad and Galileo Gold in the 2000 Guineas on Saturday, and yesterday Now Or Never crossed the line in the 1000 Guineas behind Jet Setting and Minding.
Top-class sprinter Strath Burn returns to action this evening at Windsor for the stable of Charlie Hills. Owned in partnership with Ronnie Bartlett's Meikle Ben Racing, Strath Burn proved himself among Europe's top sprinters when beaten a short head in last year's Gr.1 Betfred Sprint Cup.
Today he faces nine rivals in the Listed Weatherbys Bank Private Leisure Stakes (19.15) when Oisin Murphy will be in the saddle.
Opal Tiara, a winner last season and runner-up in Doncaster's Gr.2 May Hill Stakes, is another making her season's debut today trained by Mick Channon for Qatar Racing and The Sweet Partnership, she tackles a fillies' conditions race (16.30).
Sheikh Fahad (pictured below) is to take part in a three-race series of charity races in aid of Irish Injured Jockeys. Known as the 'Corinthian Challenge', it kicks off at Naas on Sunday week (May 29th).
A total of 12 riders have signed up for the series which should see over €100,000 raised joining Sheikh Fahad will be Tracy Piggott, Niall Cronin, Killian McCarthy, Sally Ann Grassick, Eamonn Egan, Jamie Morris, Sophie Candy, Neil Corkery, Suzy Quirke, Alice Kavanagh and Chris Byrne.
The Naas race is over a mile. The second race will be over the Irish Derby distance on Oaks weekend at the Curragh, and the final leg is a 10-furlong race at Leopardstown in the autumn. Information on how to donate to each of the riders will be available online.
Picture of Sheikh Fahad: Laurence Squire