Sport

Moore for Toormore

RYAN Moore has been booked to ride Toormore in the St James's Palace stakes at Royal ascot on Tuesday.

Owners Middleham Park Racing and James Pak moved swiftly to secure the three-times champion jockey for the Richard hannontrained colt after stable jockey Richard hughes opted to partner Night Of Thunder. Kieren Fallon had also been in the frame.

Toormore could only finish seventh behind his stablemate in the Qipco 2000 Guineas, but connections hope last year's champion two-year-old can put that disappointing effort behind him. He had won the Craven stakes over the Rowley Mile in great style with Moore in the saddle before his Guineas run, beating subsequent French Derby hero The Grey Gatsby by two lengths.

"We got confirmation this afternoon Ryan Moore will definitely ride Toormore, which we're delighted about," said Middleham Park's racing manager Tim Palin.

"Ryan got on particularly well with Toormore in the Craven. We respect Richard hughes' decision to ride Night Of Thunder. He's always liked that horse, it won the Guineas.