Hi all, with Cheltenham finished, does anyone have any good winter tips for the new flat season or horses to watch/follow? Any early bets for the derby/guineas?
I have never been particularly interested in flat racing to be honest (doesn't thrill me the way NH racing does) but I would like start taking an interest so any pointers would be appreciated by myself too!!
Every year I tell myself not to bother with the flat until Royal Ascot, which is the first big meeting where you've go a bit of form to work with. For me the first 4 classics of the season are often lotteries, particualrly the Guineas. Years ago you could pretty much guarantee the winner would have won one of the notable early season trials (Craven / Greenham for the 2000GNS and the Nell Gwynn / Fred Darling for the 1000GNS, plus of course the top Irish trials - apologies their names excape me at the moment) but there has been a bit of a trend in recent years for the big yards to send their hopes straight to the race (Camelot and Sea The Stars being recent examples) so you are left pondering whether the top 2YOs have trained on, whether they have improved, whether their chief rivals have improved, whether they are race fit etc etc etc. As a serious betting proposition the flat season, IMHO, is best swerved until Royal Ascot. Just my opinion of course. There will be others who will have no qualms about lumping on the Lincoln
Early season races are all a lottery unless you have contacts in the right place(s). Last year's form is worthless. Best to wait until we have settled ground conditions and current form. Very risky backing 3yos first time out as so many have not trained on/ have improved leaps and bounds/are not fit/have been hard trained to win early as that's the only chance they have of winning. The latter comment applies equally to 2yos.
Who will be the trainer for the 3rd yard? Haven't really been paying much attention to the flat story's during the jump season
Only kidding Shergs...although it wouldn't be a total surprise given the continual failure of the other two. If at first you don't succeeed...just spend more money owed to Dubai World investors and try and monopolise the sport even more!
I always prefer the flat and I think it's for a few different reasons. I think I like to watch the sheer exceleration of a horse going at it's fastest, going through gaps with the complexion of the race changing fast. I also find that not many days out can compete with a day out at the races in warm sunshine, whilst an evening meeting as the sun begins to think about setting is quite a spectacle at many of the really beautiful courses we have in the UK, and speaking of the summer, the sound of the hooves of a big field on good to firm going in the final furlong is something you never get tired of or forget. I also really hate to see horses fall and break down which of course does happen on the flat, but not on a daily basis fortunately. I do have to admit however the big meetings over the jumps are hard to match for atmosphere which was made very clear at Cheltenham last week. I will say also that Punting is far easier on the flat in my opinion for obvious reasons. It is best not to worry about the first few weeks and as is often said the flat really begins with the craven meeting at Newmarket. Any early season success will likely come from market watching rather than the form book and it's always best to have the discipline to scale right back when there is a significant change in going as the recent form book becomes useless. It's worth watching for certain trainers at certain courses such as Mark Johnston at Goodwood, Hills at Chester and Richard Hannon at Windsor. It's usually possible to forget Sir Mark early on but follow him come the summer, and if talking certain trainers I usually have real success with James Fanshawe and Ed Dunlop for some reason and expect John Gosden to have a decent Craven meeting.
Al Zarooni isn't to bad it's Bin Suroor who's the problem. I also feel they've struggled breeding wise to compete with the likes of Coolmoore, though now they have New Approach at there disposal I can see them doing better in the coming years
Totally agree...he is a cracking sire but another example of Sheikh Mo saving face by holding out on his Coolmore boycott yet buying their stock by proxy.
I am nominating TORONADO as one to follow for Richard Hannon this season. He has been the best High Chapparal colt I have seen come through the UK ranks since I began watching racing around 3 years ago. He will relish every yard of the Guineas, he is powerful, has a long stride, but also proved he had a turn of foot when winning off a slow pace at Ascot and from the front at Doncaster, seeing off the smart Dundonnell in the process. I always wondered if he might end up in the Derby as well because he is very strong at the end of his races. He is more in the Dawn Approach mould than the fleet footed Olympic Glory. He is my only antepost bet. I have no other interest in the flat this season to be honest- last year put me off with such a farcical Derby and also a hugely disappointing Arc.
The jumps bores me ****less so will be glad to see the flat back, hopefully will get a drier summer this year so we get plenty of fast ground which is much easier for punting.
....... and also that donkey what's his name - Farnlek, Farklen, Larfnek, Narkfel. Can't remember now. please log in to view this image
Speaking for a number of posters on the horse racing forum here, your input is welcome on the board but perhaps you could find a different nom de plume?
Hooray, the swear filter is functioning again. Let me just test it. ****, ****, arse, bastard. Oh dear it half works please log in to view this image Bollocks
