Against a field of jumpers (plodders) over 2 miles, how long would a decent 7 furlong horse last in front? Remembering that he'd be getting along at a pace that would for him, be merely a Sunday stroll.
The Coral-Eclipse looks a cracker of a race on paper, and I'm sure it'll pan out that way. It looks a race in three I suppose, some will say, just the two, The Fugue and Night of Thunder, but I think Kingston Hill is outstanding value at the odds on offer. 4s with Billies. An outstanding winner of the G1 Racing Post Trophy over a mile at the end of last season. Sure he was a more immature type at the time, building towards a middle distance career, but the win was super impressive. Then came the run in the Guineas where he was run off his feet early, but did his best work late. However, his Derby run was a cracker. When he and Australia singled out to fight for the glory, they showed themselves to be well above the rest. He was always near the pace in the Derby but I think was a bit slow to find top gear when it counted the most, but once there, he was all class. It's a pity he had to run into Australia, an animal for which AOB has a heap of respect. I swear, the Sandown course looks a bloody horror to me. Nothing wrong with the track, it's the long, torrid run in that I think will sort the men from the boys, and sheilas. Imagine how a rider must feel if he leads into the straight. If it was me, I'd fairly crap myself. I think the knock 'em down, drag 'em out effect of the race might just play into the hands of the battle hardened Kingston Hill. It's going to be one hell of a race though.
I live a long way from it now, Cyc, but, in my early years, Sandown was my local track (along with Kempton and the now defunct Hurst Park) and you will be surprised to know that front-runners have a good record on this course. Very often a good one will run those behind off their feet early on so that they have very little left for the uphill finish. Beautiful course, natural amphitheatre, my favourite. Real racegoers go to this venue too, which is another plus. P.S. Kingston Hill really does need cut in the ground to give his best. Doesn't mean he won't win, but if it's fast then he's up against it.
Must admit, from what I've seen of the place Swanny, I like the track. I had a look at last year's race and was amazed at how hard it was for them to get up that straight. Not a course for a horse with a heart the size of a pea.
No, it certainly isn't, Cyc. Distant and fond memories, I was at Sandown in 1963 when Khalkis won the Eclipse. Ridden by the one-and-only Garnet Bougoure and brought with a superbly timed run to stick the horse's head in front right on the post. Good racehorse, great jockey. Garnie won it the next year too on Ragusa.
Bondi Beach Boy is being well punted this morning 5's into 11/4 in places. Back down to a mark of 77 which is his last winning mark and George Chaloner takes a further 3lb off his back so look's like they think today is the day perhaps. Runs in the 3.40 @ Beverly.
Few i like today. 2:05 Sandown - Steps 9/2. Has improved all season and was far from disgraced in the kings stand(6th). As always in these sprints you need luck. But stall 1 is an advantage and the stiff track should play to his closing strengths. 3:15 Sandown - Queen Catrine 7/4. Maybe should have w0n at Ascot. A reproduction of that should be enough here. 3:50 Sandown - The Fugue 9/4. There is an opinion that she is a bookie horse, but she has won half her races. Won 2 group 1's in a short space of time last year, so i'm not worried about Ascot leaving it's mark. She is undoubtedly better the quicker the ground, but as long as it doesn't hammer it down she will be ok imo. 2:55 Haydock - Talent 11/2. Love this horse. Was way to fresh at epsom. Pulled to much and never found as much as she threatened to. That was her first run however against top class opposition. So should come on for the race and be thereabouts. 3:30 Haydock - Havana Cooler 4/1. Good draw if getting out well enough and has the stamina to win this.
Bear with me...this is just a piece of self-indulgence, and it won't take long. My uncle Ted (b.1883) whom I'm sure I've mentioned before, must have been one of the very few people to be present at both the 1903 and 1968 Eclipses. The 1903 race (1902 Derby winner Ard Patrick beat the great mare Sceptre a neck, with the '03 Derby winner Rock Sand in third) was generally accepted to be the best race ever run in (then) living memory. The 1968 race, (previous year's Derby winner Royal Palace beat Taj Dewan about a millimetre with the '68 Derby winner Sir Ivor in third) would be the best race I ever expect to see. Uncle Ted - a good judge, despite advancing years and a great fondness for Bushmills whiskey - was adamant that the 1903 race was better, and thought that Sceptre would have won it if the jockeys had been reversed (Otto Madden rode the winner). I can't confirm that, obviously, but he wasn't often wrong. Interestingly - hang in, there's not much more - 3yo runners got a stone from older horses in 1968, which has now been reduced to 11 lb. I was quite surprised to see Kingston Hill here, because the classic generation in recent years has tended to bypass the Eclipse in favour of the York International and/or the Irish Champion, and that's due at least in part to a belief held by many trainers that 11 lb just isn't enough and older horses have an 'unfair' advantage. Can't comment on that either, but I'd take mild issue with Archers Road (whom I privately revere); I don't think the weight-for-age terms particularly favour three year olds in this race, and I wouldn't regard an 11 lb allowance as a plus-factor in deciding whether or not to bet. Which I won't be - too difficult.
Costa Rica 13/2 to beat Holland seems to me a more realistic upset to happen than Colombia to beat Brazil that got everyone so excited yesterday
Afternoon All. Today's lucky 15. 2-40,Sandown Park.Russian Realm. 2-55,Haydock Park.Pomology. 3-15,Sandown Park.Belle D'or. 3-50,Sandown Park.The Fugue.(Nap) Good luck to all.
Afternoon all, my 5 for today are: 3.15 Queen catrine 7/4 1.45 War Spirit 9/4 2.55 Seal of Approval 6/4 3.40 Bondi Beach Boy 5/2 4.50 Miss Lucy Jane 2/1 Good luck
Been off with no internet and therefore haven't had time to look at the cards. I fully expect The Fugue to win today, with the going remaining good to firm but I won't be surprised to see good runs from War Command and True Story
Quite like Stepper Point in this next at Sandown, thought about backing it this morning and at odds of 11/2 still tempted but think I'm going to fight temptation this time.
