About as impressive as it can get, 3 Ascot Gold Cups, what an achievement! Stradivarius and Frankie, poetry in motion, and in far from ideal conditions.
That looked a PB for Stradivarius. Huge performance on a mediocre day and I can't see that being bettered this week. Battleground did it nicely earlier and yet another Galileo is down the field on debut before stepping up a ton next time. Not sure it was much of a renewal but it probably won't stop Battleground being ante-post favourite in any 2000 Guineas book formed early. Rank outsider Seattle Rock tempers enthusiasm for the form. Last of 3 in a Chelmsford Maiden first time up, a boil over looked on the cards but she flashed her tail several times and drifted right across, losing her chance. Still beat some of them home in third place and if they can iron out the temperament problems she might land something. Nayef Road was a winner for me last time but I couldn't back him today against the Champ. If Stradivarius had not lined up we would have seen Nayef Road being a stunning 8 length winner of the Gold Cup and he would be hailed as the next staying star, so a good effort from Johnston's horse there. King Leonidas was hugely disappointing today, I thought he would have run a lot better than that. He had won on soft before but I didn't think he looked like winning from quite a fair way out today. Monarch Of Egypt was much better today after never picking up from a similar position in the Irish Guineas but he did run his best race behind Siskin when it was soft and that seems his surface looking at today's race. Molatham was not one I fancied but he won fair and square in a race where a few were disappointing. Final Song had been raised 9 lbs for her 1000 Guineas run but that looked ripe for being an over rating and she didn't run anywhere near a 107 rated filly today. On official figures she was 5 lbs ahead of Molatham, yet she was more than 10 lengths behind him today. The Handicapper needs to press the rewind button on her mark.
Khaloosy is going places judged by that performance. The Fav ran well too and has clearly improved since wind surgery. Just bumped into one today and hard to imagine Khaloosy being on a feasible mark for Handicaps now, if at all eligible. That looked the classic Group horse in a Handicap scenario, only this time it was true!
African Dream is due to go up to 96 after giving Stylistique a fright last time. While that is probably worth taking with a pinch of salt, the fact that she runs here from a mark of 80 looks hard to get away from. Varian is on fire so Waliyak is another potentially well handicapped runner. Soffika was runner up in a Group race behind West End Girl but that filly has not exactly advertised the form and Soffika looks crucified in comparison on a mark of 97. African Dream at 2/1 is not exactly a great price but if she can't win here from 80 God help her off 96 going forward. 4.40 African Dream 2/1
I think African Dream broke down there. It didn't look good anyway. I fear the worst looking at that.
Sorry, my bad. I have Galileo on the brain here. At least I managed to call the Guineas bit correctly. Battleground is 20/1 Favourite for the 2000 Guineas next year.
I didn't see any Derby odds yet. You wouldn't be looking for a War Front to last home in the Derby I would think. Aidan was full of lavish praise, calling the colt an "Unbelievable Specimen" but did say that they hoped he would develop into a "Very good miler" Paddy Power went 10/1 for the 2000 Guineas but people taking those odds should really be seeking medical help. This looked a sub standard Chesham and plenty of colts will be appearing over the next few months.
War Front by trip in listed and above Distance in Furlongs Runners Winners Win S/R 5 42 6 14.29 6 90 14 15.56 7 76 9 11.84 8 79 6 7.59 9 6 0 0 10 18 5 27.78 11 2 0 0 12 1 0 0 13 1 0 0 Very good record at 10 furlongs, and given the breeding of the mare, I would say that 10 furlongs and 12 furlongs wouldn't be too much of an issue. I'd rather be on for the Derby than the Guineas, as I am guessing the odds are at least 25/1.
African Dream apparently walked into the horse ambulance. An Ascot spokesperson said she had sustained a pelvic injury. Hope she makes a recovery.
33/1 is a minimum for a race like that at this stage. Mind you, in this most paranoid and underpriced Epsom Derby ever, any horse with four legs is getting shortened. Al Aasy flopped in the Newmarket Stakes but he was cut to as low as 16/1 for the Epsom Derby for winning a Class 5 Novice race today from a horse rated 67 on RPR, Yes he did win by ten 10 lengths but he had 20 lbs in hand on ratings. One of the horses in the five runner field had run to 9 (Yes nine) on RPR last time. If you like Battleground and don't want to wait until NEXT year, check out William Hill because they introduced Battleground into the betting for THIS year's Derby at 25/1. F**king ridiculous and embarrassing. Old Willie Hill would be revolving in his grave.
