Nathaniel can win this Saturday's King George, and once again prove what a class act he is. He has great course and distance form, having won the King Edward and last years King George. His Eclipse run was a cracking effort on seasonal debut, and that should put him at the peak of his powers for this.* I do like Sea Moon aswell and I see him as the biggest threat, after his cracking effort in the hardwicke, though I still feel he will come up just short. Why on earth is St Nicholas Abbey the favourite? I really don't get it. Yes he's a very good horse, but is his Epsom form really that strong, he beat Red Cadeaux by no further than Sea Moon did at Ascot, and he will no doubt be lumbered with JOB on his back. Buick, Moore or JOB? I know which one I wouldn't be choosing. You also have to factor in SNAs poor effort at Ascot last year, in what can be a specialists track. He is a major lay for me.* I don't see any reason why Dunaden should reverse form with Sea Moon, and I wouldn't touch Danedream after her last effort.* So it's Nathaniel for me. Thoughts? *
A lot depends on how they race these things. If they jog trot through the first 5 furlongs anything can happen.
Nathaniel has plenty of tactical speed, and he stays strongly, so I wouldn't be concerned about the pace for him.* A slow pace wouldn't suit many of the others though, in particular SNA and Danedream *
I'd have to agree on Nathaniel. SNA doesn't go on anything softer than good, Nathaniel will love the ground. Though SNA is nearly a stone better off in the weights than when finishing 4 lengths behind Nathaniel in this race a year ago, this ground will be softer and more in Nathaniels favour. Sea moon was beaten by SNA on better terms than he will go off at and his form on Red Cadeaux has taken a knock after his run at newmarket.
Or my old mate Dunaden who needs a nice solid pace. It's been the lack of early speed that's bought him undone in the recent past.
Good little race. Wanted Imperial Monarch or Camelot to represent the three year olds but its a high quality field. Sea Moon and Nathaniel on soft ground are the two for me. Love SNA but I prefrr him on quick ground. Nathaniel will improve up in trip to his optimum but I remember the destruction job Sea Moon did at York with a bit of give and fancy he might be the big star 4 year old this weekend. He will have to be though to see these off.
Hmm i'm not sure how much you can read into that race. Very weak race. SNA the only horse still running out of that lot apart from one other who is now running over hurdles
If someone held a gun to my head, although Iâm sure that no-one would ever want to do that, then Iâd nominate St Nicholas Abbey as the most likely winner. However, I do think that those bookie chappies have got the heat about right and, at this stage, canât see myself getting involved in the contest from a punting perspective.
Looks like the forum is leaning towards the credentials of Nathaniel, and i also think he can win this weekend... Hope im not jinxing his chances as i seem to be jinxing a lot at the moment...
I heard an interesting theory the other day that maybe SNA does not like going right handed......if someone would be really kind as to look at his record RH as opposed to LH I would be most grateful. I can see Dunaden running another big race, and I can definitely see him reversing the form with Sea Moon!
Nathaniel on the current ground, but SNA is the best horse in the race for me and on good would win with something in hand.
David Johnson, Timeform Flat Racing Editor, tweeted a week or so ago . . . "Interesting Timeform ratings for St Nicholas Abbey when split l/h and r/h at 4/5 yrs. L/H = 130/126/127/126/126, R/H = 114+/124/118/120/99" Make of that what you will.
If they all turn up it's the best race of the season I think. SNA has two pace makers in there but remember a pace maker doesn't mean breakneck speed. Sea Moon at 3/1 - awful value.
