afternoon,fellas!after a nice week on holiday in spain with my sister,i am back in the game today.here are my first two selections for today: listowel,1 45: barring accidents,this should normally only concern WINNER TAKESITALL and bronaghs belle.the latter gets automatic respect,given her connections,but ive the feel,the former has a bit stronger form,and ran a good race on his hurdling debut recently.looks a sure-fire improver for his high-profile yard,and has a big shout here. donny,1 50: a highly competitive handicap,and plenty of chances here,but at least,i managed to take two out of the field,A MOMENTOFMADNESS and bielsa.kevin ryans 4 year old is progressing at a rate of knots at present,and what makes him even more interesting,is the fact,he won on handicap debut,which takes a bit of doing,and against older horses.but my choice,last years winner,might be a bit more streetwise than his rival,and is 4lbr lower today than 12 months ago.is also reunited with william buick,and though not so good so far this season,should go well again.
well,yes,but at least a placer. donny,2 25: well,i ll keep it simple here,as SHINE SO BRIGHT plainly has the best form on offer,and opposed to some others,is tactically versatile,so he wont be fazed by a lack of pace..
Hard to see past Threat and 11/8 looks good value. 3.00 Doncaster Threat 11/8 to pay for the Champagne
Threat again not helping himself like at Goodwood, worked up pre race and refusing to settle early with a much slower pace than hes used to, class just got him home but hes not a miler on that evidence, he looks a sprinter.
I have never thought Threat would be a miler and the Gimcrack is usually poison unless your horse is called Rock Of Gibraltar. 12/1 quotes for the 2000 Guineas are of no appeal to me. Threat has won today despite plenty not going as you would wish for. I thought he would win more easily than he did in the end because I thought he had plenty in hand despite the step up in trip and 3 lbs penalty. Royal Crusade has got close today but he's probably been flattered and will be clobbered with a rating that may be misleading. Juan Elcano was runner up in the Superlative Stakes but that is a race working out awfully subsequently. Obviously delighted that he won today but this was probably the nail in the coffin of his Guineas prospects today. He's had a good season though and cashed in on the fact that this was probably a Champagne Stakes lacking any depth.
Whoever is responsible for playing that execrable music in the background on ITV should be shot - as should whoever is responsible for producing it in the first place. Utter sacrilege
14/1 about Threat for the Commonwealth looks better value than the same price for the Guineas, ive already got 50/1 for the Guineas so hope he runs and drops back sprinting like this years Commonwealth winner. He ought to be unbeaten and hes one of the best 2yos in England with plenty of room for improvement mentally, obviously everyone is still some way off Pinatubo at the minute but I dont see Pinatubo turning up in the Commonwealth.
I'm with you there Dan .... I fail to understand why they feel the need to add a music track underneath the commentary when they are showing archive races. It makes it very difficult to make out the names of the horses that are mentioned, including the winner sometimes Logician - impossible to back (or not back) so SRP ew
Magical will take a bit of beating in the Irish Champion, her form is bombproof and she runs 120+ every time, Headman on paper has a mountain to climb and should probably be double the price he is, Elarqam was possibly flattered in the Juddmonte and I cant see him being able to give her 3 pounds. Madhmoon is likely the one to give her most to do at a trip that should prove ideal for him but he needs a career best to beat her. 15/8 seems a very fair price to me.
Don't think Threat acted at all on this going. Looked like he was putting his feet down onto hot coals. Not sure what he is but you wouldn't want to get excited based on that.
