Last week brought concern for the most famous jockey of the modern era, as Frankie Dettori found himself in hospital following a car crash near Newmarket. The first week in July also saw the sport bid farewell to Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider Graham Bradley and 2005 Epsom Derby hero Motivator.
Turning to the action on the track, Aidan O’Brien once again stole the show as Constitution River extended his winning streak with a brilliant display in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
Dettori’s Chicken Run Ends in Hospital
Only days after announcing his one-off return to the saddle in the Legends race at the Doncaster St Leger Festival, Frankie Dettori was sending social media messages from Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
The incident that landed Dettori in a hospital bed occurred on the A1304 near Six Mile Bottom in Cambridgeshire at 7 pm on Wednesday, 1 July. While out driving to get some chicken, Frankie’s vehicle was struck on the rear passenger side, causing his car to spin and flip over onto its roof. Frankie and the driver of the other vehicle were taken to hospital, where the former champion jockey was found to have suffered four broken ribs and a broken thumb.
Remaining in hospital on Thursday, Frankie was discharged on Friday to continue his recovery at the home of his mother-in-law near Newmarket. While stating he is currently “very sore”, Frankie remained optimistic about making the Leger Legends race in 10 weeks. Having thanked his many well-wishers, the 55-year-old stated, “Time heals everything, and hopefully I can still make Doncaster. I’m committed to it, I said I would do it and if I can I will.”
Group 1 Winners Continue to Flow as River Lands Eclipse
Heading into the weekend with 11 Group 1 wins already in 2026, Aidan O’Brien was fully expected to make it a round dozen in the Coral-Eclipse. The decision to run Hawk Mountain alongside the hot favourite Constitution River surprised many but, in the end, the race went as the market suggested it might. Too good for the field in the Dee Stakes and the Prix du Jockey Club, Constitution River once again proved to be a class apart.
Having won two of three juvenile starts, Constitution River hinted at superstar status when scoring by seven lengths at Chester on his seasonal return. Sent to Chantilly on the back of that effort, the son of Wootton Bassett overcame a talented field and a terrible draw to break his Group 1 duck in the Prix du Jockey Club.
Sent off as the 8/11 favourite for the Coral-Eclipse, Constitution River briefly looked trapped as the field turned into the straight. However, once switched around runners, it was clear he was a notch above his rivals. Surging ahead under Ryan Moore, he scored by three lengths from the Donnacha O’Brien-trained A Boy Named Susie, with stablemate Hawk Mountain back in third.
This success represented another instalment on the 2026 Aidan O’Brien highlights reel. Winning the race for a record-extending 10th time, O’Brien became the first trainer to win four successive editions of the Sandown showpiece. When reflecting on this success, O’Brien stated, “Ryan said he doesn’t think he’s ever ridden a better horse.” That’s quite the statement considering the stellar cast to have emerged from O’Brien’s County Tipperary yard over the years.
With the Juddmonte International being the next 1m2f Group 1 on the domestic calendar, this latest win sets up a mouthwatering Constitution River versus Ombudsman clash on the Knavesmire.
Graham Bradley Dies at 65
Thursday, 2 July, brought news that Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle-winning rider Graham Bradley had passed away. Diagnosed with semantic dementia in 2022, the proud Yorkshireman lost his brave battle with the neurodegenerative disease at the age of 65.
Everyone at Cheltenham Racecourse is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Graham Bradley.
One of Jump Racing’s true greats, he rode more than 700 winners, including The Cheltenham Gold Cup on Bregawn in 1983 and the Champion Hurdle with Collier Bay in 1996. pic.twitter.com/lAvPCLRUKG
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) July 2, 2026
A brilliant horseman, Bradley’s most famous win came in the 1983 edition of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, when leading home a Michael Dickinson 1-2-3-4-5 on Bregawn. Further memorable victories came aboard Collier Bay (1986 Champion Hurdle), Suny Bay (1997 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup), Rhyme ‘N’ Reason (1985 Irish Grand National), and Morley Street (1993 Aintree Hurdle). He retired from the saddle in 1999 with almost 700 winners to his name.
Remaining in the sport, Bradley enjoyed success as a bloodstock agent and a brief training career. While much loved in the weighing room, he then made the headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2002. Found guilty of passing on privileged information to a convicted drug smuggler, he was banned from racing for eight years, later reduced to five years following appeal.
Despite this transgression, Bradley remained hugely popular with his fellow riders, many of whom were quick to pay tribute following his death. A P McCoy stated, “I don’t think I have ever met a better judge of a horse than Brad,” while Peter Niven said, “It’s very sad. He was great fun in the weighing room and a very generous man. I can only say good things about him, and he was obviously a brilliant jockey.”
Motivator
Following a long career at stud, 2005 Derby winner Motivator passed away at the age of 24 on Friday evening. The son of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Montjeu died of a suspected heart attack at his Haras du Hoguenet home in Normandy, France, bringing an end to a successful career on the track and at stud.
The cheapest of three Montjeu colts bought by John Warren, Motivator raced in the colours of the Royal Ascot Racing Club. A six-length winner on debut at Newmarket, he followed up with an impressive success in the 2004 edition of the Racing Post Trophy.
Confirming his status as a legitimate Derby contender with a comfortable win in the Dante Stakes, Motivator started as the 3/1 favourite in the Epsom showpiece. What followed was one of the most impressive Derby wins of the modern era. Travelling supremely well on the turn for home, Motivator quickened up in style to score by five lengths from Walk In The Park, with Dubawi back in third – two horses that would go on to spectacular careers at stud. His famous victory was followed by the unforgettable sight of the vast throngs of the Royal Ascot Racing Club attempting to squeeze into the Epsom winners’ enclosure. Motivator never won again but had already done enough to secure his future as a stallion.
While not able to match the exploits of Dubawi, Motivator enjoyed success of his own in the breeding shed. The clear pick of his progeny was the wonderful mare Treve, who won back-to-back editions of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2013 and 2014.
Reflecting on the death of the Classic-winning star, former trainer Michael Bell said, “My very best racing memories are with him. I was extremely lucky that Motivator was sent to me having been very well bought by John Warren.”
Motivator’s memory lives on in bronze thanks to a life-size statue by the Ascot pre-parade ring.
