Sheikh Fahad hoping for another sublime result

Sheikh Fahad is back in Pearl Bloodstock racing silks today, bidding to follow up last week's victory in Newmarket's Town Plate.

He rides at the Curragh in leg two of the Corinthian Challenge Charity Race (17.55) which is raising funds for Irish Injured Jockeys. A field of 14 is set to go to post.

Trainer Gordon Elliott has supplied Sheik Fahad with the ride on six-year-old gelding Beau Et Sublime, who won a chase at Down Royal on his most recent start last month. Earlier in his career he was placed in a couple of bumpers, so should have the pace for today's test over one and a half miles.

Sheikh Fahad will also be taking a keen interest in the card's opening maiden race (14.00) in which Qatar Racing's Velveteen makes her second racecourse appearance.

She ran a fine race when a close sixth on debut at Naas in April for Ger Lyons' stable, and the winner, Roly Poly, won last week's Gr.2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.

Lyons says of Velveteen: ‚"She has come on a good deal from her first run, and the time given to her following that has stood her in good stead.‚"

Velveteen's stablemate, Lightening Fast, became a first runner in Ireland for Frankel when running at the Curragh yesterday, but he was slowly away from the stalls and finished unplaced, but Beast, who is also owned by Qatar Racing, ran well on debut to take fourth.

At Maisons-Laffitte today the Francois Rohaut-trained Mr Owen lines up in the Gr.3 Prix Messidor (16.50 local time, 15.50 in UK). He faces just four rivals, but they include Vadamos, who finished ahead of Mr Owen two starts ago better ground and a handy weight concession could see the Qatar Racing runner get closer today.