The team brings you all the news from around the racing world on Wednesday.
British racing unites to protest betting tax changes
No racing took place in Britain on Wednesday as the sport united to protest against proposed betting tax changes.
All four of the scheduled meetings were cancelled and rescheduled with participants of the sport downing tools for the day in a bid to urge the UK government not to raise the levels of taxation of betting.
Many of the sport's major participants and leaders were present at Westminster in London to show their support for the 'Axe the Racing Tax' campaign, with high-profile trainers, jockeys and MPs coming together as attempts to rally against the proposed tax changes.
An independent model commissioned by the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) has forecast a £330 million loss in revenue over the next five years should the Treasury go ahead and raise the rate of tax on horserace betting from 15% to 21%, therefore moving it in line with the current level for online gaming and casino slots.
Jim Mullen, CEO of the Jockey Club, said: "What's being proposed here is a tax against horse race betting online and the industry just cannot afford that.
"What we are basically saying, in the event of that happening, then it will have a significant impact, not only in communities, but on the net tax revenue income on the government.
"We're just saying, stop and think through the details, look at those specifics and you will see that this doesn't make sense."
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy, Hollie Doyle and her husband Tom Marquand were among the jockeys standing outside of Westminster Abbey on Wednesday afternoon, while the BHA chair Lord Allen labelled the proposed tax increase as "nothing short of an existential threat for our sport."
Racing will resume on Thursday as normal, with Doncaster's three-day St Leger meeting heading the action live on ITV Racing.
Sweet William to face seven rivals in Doncaster defence
Last year's Doncaster Cup winner Sweet William will take on seven rivals as he bids to defend his crown on the Town Moor this Friday.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained contender has failed to score since but has run well in defeat on multiple occasions this season, finishing fourth in the Ascot Gold Cup at
the Royal meeting before third and second place finishes in both the Goodwood and Lonsdale Cup.
The enigmatic son of Sea The Stars is a general 11/8 chance to get back to winning ways in the hands of Robert Havlin.
"I rode him yesterday (Tuesday), I gave him a spin on the grass, and he was bucking and kicking on the way home – he feels in real good nick," said Havlin on Sky Sports Racing.
"It's probably the easiest assignment he's had all year, and he's shown a liking for Doncaster, having won twice there. He obviously won the Doncaster Cup last year and possibly could have won it if I'd tracked Trueshan the year before.
"It does look the easiest assignment he's had this year, so we're hoping for a big run."
Sweet William's main rivals include the David Menuisier-trained Sunway, who finished one spot behind him in the Goodwood Cup before a luckless effort in France, and Willie Mullins' Ebor sixth Hipop De Loire.
Lady Iman back in two-year-old company
Gery Lyons' classy two-year-old Lady Iman will return to racing against her own age group in the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster on Friday.
Gery Lyons' filly struggled when taking on her elders in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York but had shown some high-class form prior, winning both the Blackbear Fillies' Stakes and Molecomb Stakes.
The daughter of Starman will make up a three-pronged Irish attack on the Group 2 prize, with Aidan O'Brien responsible for saddling the hat-trick-chasing Mission Central and Kansas.
Cox eyeing Lagardere prize with Solario scorer
Clive Cox has revealed that a trip to Paris for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day looks likely for his hardy two-year-old A Bit Of Spirit.
Owned by Paul and Clare Rooney, the Clive Cox-trained juvenile showed a tremendous attitude to fend off the challenge Royal Ascot scorer Humidity, Oceans Four and Pacific Avenue when coming out on top in the Group 3 BetMGM Solario Stakes at a rain-sodden Sandown last time out.
A winner of three of his five outings to date, Clive Cox's improving son of Palace Pier will now head to France for a first step into Group 1 company.
