Jesse Evans owners Tom and Jack Singleton dreaming of Galway Success 

The owners of Jesse Evans are gearing up for another trip to the Galway Races next month with their ‘dream horse’, who is set to run at his fifth successive festival after winning the Grimes Hurdle last week at Tipperary. 

Trained by Noel Meade, the nine-year-old has landed ten of his 43 starts, including a bumper, three Flat races, five hurdles and a beginners' chase, earning more than £300,000 in prize-money, and has twice finished runner-up in the Galway Hurdle for the Singleton family and friends.

Co-owner Jack Singleton told the racing media: "The first Galway Hurdle, we were delighted to be second but we were sickened to be beaten in the second one. 

"He's a dream horse for a small owner. We always had horses with Eugene O'Sullivan, just point-to- pointers mainly. His daughter, Maxine, rode Jesse Evans in a bumper for Noel on his first start. 

"She said she couldn't hold him as he pulled so hard and he still finished third, so she rang my father, Tommy, and said if you're going to buy a horse, buy this one. 

"He's brought us everywhere. We went to Royal Ascot a few weeks ago and it didn't matter that he was beaten as we went over just to enjoy it."

Jesse Evans landed a beginners' chase at Galway in September and has excelled at the festival without getting his head in front. 

He finished fourth on his first crack at the Galway Hurdle in 2021 before chasing home Tudor City the following year and filled the same spot again behind Zarak The Brave in 2023 when beaten by a head. 

Jesse Evans will hold a number of entries and is certainly a horse to keep on your side at Galway.

Elsewhere, there was another blockbuster finish to a Group 1 as Ryan Moore and Delacroix produced one of the best finishing bursts witnessed for many a year in the Coral-Eclipse as they stormed home to win the Sandown last Saturday.

Delacroix was the beaten favourite in the Epsom Derby last month after getting shuffled back through the field but he bounced back in spectacular fashion at Sandown in a Group 1 contest. 

This race is always a fascinating contest and is often a clash of the generations. 

The battle of the generations didn’t disappoint as Delacroix ran down Royal Ascot winner Ombudsman in spectacular fashion late on.

This was another phenomenal training performance from Aidan O’Brien who boasts a brilliant record in the race. 

Delacroix’s victory was a third in succession in the Sandown feature race for trainer O'Brien and his ninth in total, following on from the likes of Giant's Causeway, Hawk Wing Oratorio , Mount Nelson , So You Think , St Mark's Basilica, Paddington and City of Troy.

Delacroix was sent off the 3/1 second-favourite, with last month's Prince Of Wales's Stakes winner Ombudsman heading the betting for the all-conquering John and Thady Gosden, William Buick and Godolphin team. 

Delacroix and Moore, travelling widest after being held up and looking a hugely unlikely winner with a furlong and a half to run, powered home on the outside and got up a neck up in the final 50 yards or so for the most breath-taking of wins.

Aidan O’Brien said: “I thought Ryan was going to make the running but obviously you don't tell him what to do. 

"I didn't know what to make of it when I saw it all changing. Ryan said this week that he thinks Delacroix is a miler, whereas I always thought this was his trip, so that kept ringing in my head."

His trainer paid tribute to the rider's judgement and said he is a jockey that trusts his own racing brain and remains capable of executing a winning ride, even when he has to change tactics mid-race.

O’Brien added: "Ryan stuck to his judgement. He kept calm and had one go at it. What a ride he gave him. It's incredible to have somebody riding with the power and confidence.” 

Leading Irish jockey Colin Keane is set to miss the Qatar Goodwood Festival after being suspended for 14 days for using his whip over the permitted level at Sandown last week. 

Keane has just taken over for Juddmonte as their first choice jockey and was aboard their colt Windlord when he won the Gala Stakes on Friday.

Speaking at Sandown on Saturday Keane said: “I’m so used to the rules at home, I just have to abide by the rules here. 

"That’s the only way I can put it, I know the amount over here but when I was in a ding-dong battle, I suppose it just went out of my head unfortunately.

"It’s unfortunate but it’s my own fault.”