Keiran Burke has this happy knack of improving horses that come to his yard. The star in the yard of course being Hunt Ball. Recent import from the Charlie Mann yard in the form of WHISPERING JACK 9-1 runs in the 5.15 Ascot tomorrow and he looks more than capable of adding to the trainers growing reputation. His form with Kasbadli gives him a really big shout and although he has not one off a mark this high he is more than capable of doing so.
Harking back to yesterday, Monterosso must be a far better horse than Frankel- to have won like that, with his jockey doing 'handstands.' April Fool! PS. Monterosso, winner of the world's richest race. I wonder how Aidan O'Brien would answer that one when asked about it..... "Aidan, you must be a little disappointed with the run of So You Think, especially since you had him spot on for the race." "Obviously, but you just never know, do you?" " Do you mean 'obviously' you are disappointed with his run or that you thought you had him spot on for the race?" " Obviously I'm disappointed he didn't win, but I may not have given him enough work. He ran pretty well until lack of condition told. And the winner must be one hell of a horse to win like that." " But he's never won a Group One, and was winning off 78 on the all-weather a couple of years ago. what do you think of that?" "God only knows!" "What are your plans for So you Think now?" " You know me. Always keep your options open." " But you must have a provisional campaign mapped out for him, or some idea what you're going to do next." Aidan mutters under his breath....." Sell the bastard, probably!" "One final question, Aidan. Is Camelot only a 'possible' or indeed a 'probable' for the 2000 Guineas?" " Look, I'll make a decision today...or ask King Arthur. April fool to you too!"
Did we actually witness a rather exotic "plot" landed by Godolphin yesterday? Send their best horses to Mark Johnston as 2YOs and have him instill toughness in them by running them in class 5 maidens at Wolverhampton and Lingfield in the depths of winter. Forget the early season classics, targetting instead a good northern handicap at Ripon or Pontefract to instill a battling spirit in the horse. Then step him up to group racing and hey presto - you have the ultimate combination of toughness and class. Once that's done, off to the desert with him so that you can win back your own prize money and prove that, actually, you do have the best breeding operation in the world. Now if they can just think of a way to win the Derby or Arc more often ...............
Fix The Rib must hold a massive chance today at 4.05, he loves Ascot, is dropped to 129 (plus Joshua Moore's 5lbs claim omes off) by the assessor and underfoot conditions will be right up his street. He's been showing signs of a return to form this season and I think he will go very close today, in what is a tight little handicap.
Be careful if you are betting EW in the listed race at Doncaster today, MPR are not sure whether Penitent will run and may withdraw him after the first couple of races depending on the ground. That would remove the dead eight.
My only bet of the day is Nasri in the 3.20. I have had a look at the race and I think they will come down the stands side, with Nasri, Star Rover and Fitz Flyer all capable of going a right old rattle from the get go. Therefore I think Nasri is perfectly drawn to get a good early position and I think he is a capable performer (look at his Stewards Cup run) who could out run this field from a fair starting handicap mark for this season. 12/1 is a fair price and I have backed him EW. The two I fear are his new stablemate Swilly Ferry and Ancient Cross of the Easterby clan. The former might have to weave a path in running whilst the latter could prove dangerous off a mark he went close off over CD last season. Tough days racing, but its Nasri for me today. Also interesting to see Fallon back in the UK today, does he think he is on a winner?
Dunno, but if Planteur had trapped a bit better he might have given that winner something to think about in the DWC? (I just got nosed out for a decent e/w bet yesterday with Dreambrook Lady , but the whiff of burnt pockets in yesterday's DT was just awesome? . Mine were slightly burnt too, but not too bad). Wish everyone better luck today!
I thought we had plenty of winners yesterday on the thread, more wins than my lads have had all season in fact!
Guess I was just taking a few individual examples, e.g. SYT? Nothing new here, there was too much hype with this horse. The comment that middle-distance horses in downunder are rubbish, was a rubbish comment in itself. It is only recently that European horses have started to assert in this event, before that, and since Vintage Crop's victory, our record was pretty so-so?
If anyone bets seriously in the Dubai World Cup, then I am shocked, as I stated yesterday evening, its one of those races that has to be taken with a major pinch of salt. The way the track turns so quickly means that at least half the field will be hampered in their run, and probably another few will not act on the black tapeta surface. So You Think ran a gallant race when you take into account the fitness advantage that the Godolphin pair had and Planteur ran a fair race too. Its a bonkers race. I have a few issues with So You Think, but not particularly in regards his talents, I just don't think the yard have truly worked him out. They managed to find the key to Starspangledbanner and they need to do the same with this lad, otherwise he will be just a Southern Hemisphere sire (or even worse, a NH sire!) for Coolmore.
Nass: I agree. World Cup is a misnomer as is the World Series? Think what they mean is that horses from all over the globe are Ãnvited, therefore they call it the World Cup. Trouble is, as you say, there are fitness problems, and also many of these animals are just not the best middle-distance performers around? Say one thing for SYT, he always seems to run his heart out. That effort of his in finishing third in the Melbourne Cup at such a young age, in adverse ground conditions, was an amazing performance.
Right I've managed to cobble together a Lucky 31 (mostly shorties so win only): 2.35 Limerick Musawama 2.55 Ascot Prince Of Pirates 3.30 Ascot Lexi's Boy 4.05 Ascot Fix The Rib 5.20 Limerick Summer Star The bumper at Limerick being about as close as I'll get to flat racing today.
Why does everyone care about SYT? He's massively overrated, massively over bet and loads of value in lay markets. Isn't that what we want in dodgy favourites? I don't have a problem with O'Brien talking his horses up. They're a breeding operation worth billions who've spent a fortune buying him from Oz. Why wouldn't they talk the damn thing up? If you bought a painting for £1m and wanted to sell it for £2m would you achieve that by slagging your painting off or by singing it's praises?
I landed a set of good bets on Knocklong last time out and he's running again this afternoon in the bumper. The front two that day were way better than the field and only a nose separated them. However, the penalty may be tough to overcome. I'm going to monitor Sizing Jo'Bourg in the market. I like his pedigree, the trainer does well in this sphere and I might be tempted later on for an each wayer. Talking about the listed bumper.
Quel: Could he have been occasionally mismanaged from the word go? For example, his previous connections ran him in the MC, when he was barely three (?), in which he ran his heart out to finish third. This could well have soured him for the rest of his career, but thankfully it did not. I don't even know how to lay a horse, but I see your point. I think he's a brave horse, not quite as good as we once thought, but has always given his all. Good points on O'Brien btw.
Whats this. Quel sticking up for AOB and Coolmore + talking about paintings. Are you John Magnier in disguise Quel
