Racing Centre

STAN JAMES GUINEAS FESTIVAL NEWS ROUND-UP - Friday, May 4, 2007

NEWMARKET ALL SET FOR ITS BIGGEST WEEKEND OF RACING

FINSCEAL BEO FACES 22 RIVALS IN STAN JAMES 1000 GUINEAS

Going Good-To-Firm (Watering)

Europe's champion filly, Finsceal Beo, who is a red hot 11-8 favourite with the sponsors, will face 22 opponents in the Stan James 1000 Guineas (Group 1) on the NatWest Rowley Mile on Sunday following the final declarations this morning. It is the joint second biggest field for the fillies' Classic since the war.

Finsceal Beo, who was immensely impressive in winning the Rockfel Stakes on the NatWest Rowley Mile back in October, will be bidding to provide recompense for her trainer, Jim Bolger, who had the ante-post favourite for tomorrow's Stan James 2000 Guineas, Teofilo, ruled out by injury yesterday morning.

The Criquette Head-trained Magic America faced similar heartbreak on the gallops this morning and was one of only two fillies confirmed for the Stan James 1000 Guineas on Monday not to have been declared to run today. The other was Wait Watcher.

Local trainer Jeremy Noseda saddles two, the Shadwell Nell Gwyn runner-up, Sander Camillo, and last year's Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile winner, Simply Perfect, while other highly rated Newmarket-trained challengers including the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Kaseema and the Michael Jarvis-trained Yaqeen.

In addition to Finsceal Beo, three other fillies will be making the journey from Ireland - the John Oxx-trained Arch Swing, Kevin Prendergast's Miss Beatrix and Aidan O'Brien's challenger, Theann.

In Sunday's other big race, the StanJamesUK.com Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2), last year's St Leger winner, Sixties Icon, will face a thorough examination on his seasonal reappearance. Only five may have been declared, but they include last year's King Edward VII Stakes winner, Papal Bull (Sir Michael Stoute), last year's Lingfield Derby Trial winner, Linda's Lad (Andre Fabre), and last year's Geoffrey Freer winner, Admiral's Cruise (Brian Meehan).

Watering was completed on the NatWest Rowley Mile and the going remains Good-To-Firm.

"We have a cracking line-up for both Guineas this year with strong supporting cards on both days - we couldn't have asked for more," enthused Director of Racing, Michael Prosser, this morning. "The weather forecast is very good - we're now forecast some very light drizzle on Sunday morning, but otherwise dry, warm weather with temperatures between 18C and 20C.

"Newmarket Heath will be reverberating to the sound of big crowds and the thunder of hooves over the weekend as another chapter is written in the history of the Rowley Mile, arguably the most historic stretch of turf in the entire world of sport."

PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL ON THE BIG SCREEN

Both crucial games in the race for the Premiership title will be shown live on a big screen on the Hyperion Lawn in the Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure (also accessible to Premier Enclosure racegoers):

Saturday - 12.45pm Manchester City vs Manchester United

Sunday - 4.00pm Arsenal vs Chelsea

JAMIE SPENCER WILL BE THE "MASTERCLASS" STAR ON SUNDAY

There will be a "Masterclass" interview, conducted by Lorna Bradburne and illustrated on the big screen, before racing on each day of the Stan James Guineas Festival. The interviews will take place in the Parade Ring approximately 45 minutes before racing:

Saturday – Peter Webbon, Chief Executive of the Animal Health Trust

Sunday – Michael Caulfield and Jamie Spencer will talk about sports psychology

BRISTOW AND DELLER STAR IN STAN JAMES PRO-AM DARTS TOURNAMENT

Five times darts world champion Eric Bristow and the man who in 1983 became the youngest darts world champion, Keith Deller, are two of the stars taking part in a pro-am darts tournament on Stan James 1000 Guineas Day at Newmarket this Sunday (May 6). The winning amateur will win an all-expenses-paid weekend for four in Blackpool for the Stan James World Matchplay darts semi-final and final in July.

On Stan James 2000 Guineas Day tomorrow, the two former champions will play a demonstration match during the afternoon, while at 12 noon the Channel 4 Racing team will join them to throw darts for charity. John McCririck, John Francome, Jim McGrath, Tanya Stevenson and the other Channel 4 presenters will have the opportunity to throw six darts each, as will the pros. Stan James will double the total number of points scored and convert that to pounds to present to the charity of Channel 4 Racing's choice.

In Sunday's pro-am competition, in which another former world champion, Bob Anderson, and dual British open winner, Cliff Lazarenko, will also compete, the four racegoers who can register the highest score with six darts will go through to a best of five leg semi-final where they will each team up with one of the darts’ stars. The amateur in the team which wins the final will scoop the big prize, which also includes £400 spending money and a £500 free bet on the Stan James World Matchplay tournament. Championship referee, Russ Bray, will be at Newmarket to take charge of the competition, so racegoers can look forward to hearing his inimitable roar of "one hundred and eighty" during the afternoon!

The darts will take place in the Stan James Guineas Festival Marquee on the Hyperion Lawn in the Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure (also accessible to Premier Enclosure racegoers).

FANTASTIC SUNDAY LUNCH OFFERS

"Sunday Lunch at the Guineas" is the theme for Stan James 1000 Guineas Day and though "Frankie’s" restaurant and the Rous Enclosure marquee are both sold out, great value traditional Sunday lunch offers will be available in The Bistro (no advance booking – first come, first served for two and three course meals) and the Devil’s Dyke restaurant.

STAN JAMES GUINEAS FESTIVAL ADMISSION DETAILS

(note: the prices are the same for each of the two days)

Premier Enclosure - £36.00

Grandstand & Paddock - £22.00

Rowley Enclosure - £8.00

NOTE: all accompanied children aged under 16 will be admitted FREE to all Enclosures

There are 1,200 Premier Enclosure badges left to sell for Saturday which, based on last year’s on-the-day sales, will come very close to selling out. There will be capacity in the other two Enclosures, however, and in all three on Sunday.

More information at www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk or ring 01638 675 500.