7 Flat meetings today with the highlight being the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes ran over 1 mile 2 furlongs at Sandown 3:50p.m. Sea The Stars 2009 Eclipse Stakes Winner Sandown 7 Races 1:30-5:00p.m. Haydock 7 Races 1:45-5:15p.m. Beverley 7 Races 1:55-5:25p.m. Leicester 7 Races 2:15-5:35p.m. Carlisle(E) 7 Races 5:40-8:40p.m. Nottingham(E) 7 Races 6:00-9:00p.m. Bellewstown(IRE)(E) 7 Races 5:20-8:20p.m. Good Luck
NIGHT OF THUNDER 9/2 Forget the rubbish, focus on Group 1 racing and a really solid formline. NOT has the ideal pedigree for 10f, the cruising speed to cause Kingston Hill major problems, and the inconsistent/infrequent winner The Fugue to beat, receiving weight as a 3 Y O. His form is advertised very well, he will stay 10f, and is versatile with regards to ground. 9/2 looks very good value. Every race he has run he has been good at the finish in each of his 3 starts this year. A lot of things in his favour except trainer/jockey record in middle distance races. However, this might be the turn of a new page for Hannon Jr and middle distance horses. His damside is stromger stamina than Toronados and I rate NOT very highly so this looks like a bet to me. I am off to Yorks Juddmonte next month so I may pop on here for a tip (horses and pubs please)!
I'm also quite tempted by Night Of Thunder. Mainly because of the strength of the Guineas form, which coupled with the weight allowance makes 5/1 an e/w steal.
Best meeting of the year for me that Toppy, Wednesday an Thursday on the agenda this year. Went last year and found Living Rooms is a decent shout straight after racing but does get chocka as its the first one you come to. Banyons was a good find as well if you want a bit more decorum.
The big question mark overshadowing the Eclipse Stakes is the participation (or not) of Kingston Hill. Ante post punters have no worries but non-runner no-bet punters could be stung with a Rule 4 deduction if there is not enough rain. If the rain that has hit East Yorkshire makes it down to Surrey there is a good chance he will run. Personally I think the owners will be wasting their entry money until September unless they go overseas. This is our first genuine opportunity to gauge the merits of the Classic generation against the older horses, whoever wins. The form horse is clearly the favourite The Fugue and the chief rivals are the 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder, who I think will stay and will improve for the step up in trip; and American import Verrazano, who is also an unknown at the trip (has won over nine furlongs on dirt). Mukhadram hopes to go two better than last year whilst the three-year-old True Story wants the rain to stay away in his first time visor and it is hard to see the trip helping War Command reverse form (twice) with the Guineas winner. It is difficult to see the drop in trip being the key to Trading Leather, so I think The Fugue will have the race set up for her unless significant rain arrives. Here’s hoping she does not blow it like last year by pulling too hard. The Coral Charge is quite a competitive race on paper and the betting is wide open, but Ollie Stevens principal contender Extortionist looks worth another chance at this level after being headed by Fountain Of Youth at The Curragh when stepping up from handicap company. Looking at his collateral form, Ahtoug has a good chance at this level but has spent most of his career as a “nearly” horse and Stepper Point – in front of him at Ascot – is another to which that applies. On that score let us not mention Kingsgate Native, who was a “nearly” horse at stud too! Whiplash Willie, third to Brown Panther over course and distance a little more than a month ago, looks very obvious in the Coral Marathon, so he is bound to get turned over by Mr Henderson’s mare.
Eclipse - Night of Thunder and Kingston Hill HAYDOCK 2:20 - Annunciation 2:55 - Sultanina 3:30 - Mighty Yar BEVERLEY 3:40 - Angelito LEICESTER 4:00 - Showboating
2.05 Sandown -Shamshon- 10/1ew A big price considering he is a course-and-distance winner, he has good draw in two and can definitely run in to a place at the very least. 2.55 Haydock- Talent-5/1 Is the class horse in the field by someway. What a price for her tomorrow. Has dropped down in grade and if anywhere near back to her st lever or oaks form she will blitz this field. Was disappointing lot but she will definitely come on for that run and is a huge price
Pricewise: Lyn Valley 2:40 Seal Of Approval 2:55 Quiz Mistress 3:30 Dashing Star 3:30 Kingston Hill 3:55
Pricewise > Sandown 2.40 Lyn Valley, 3.50 Kingston Hill > Haydock 2.55 Seal Of Approval, 3.30 Quiz Mistress + Dashing Star
Get the **** on Talent Scout tomorrow, 16/1 currently. Extorniost also expected to win tomorrow before being put away until the winter when it's going to try it's luck over jumps.
I'm keeping it simple and sticking with The Fugue in the eclipse. The only proven Group 1 class horse over this distance in the line up and she has the best form on offer. As long as there isnt too much rain then the ground will be perfect also.
Wouldn't surprise me if Ollys other horse in the extorniost race Green Door also ran really well at 33s though and even won, on form is much better than pretty much all of them and Extorniost although he's a good horse is pretty weak in a finish and hasn't got much bottle so side by side Green Door would do him. But Olly does expect Extorn to win before being put away for the rest of the season Reverse-forecast saver and single @ 33s
I can't wait for the 5f sprinter Extorsionist to be put over jumps in the winter, that will be some spectacle.It will need more than luck, it will need two spare lungs. Very good chance tomorrow however.
