Excluding handicaps, the next race has got to be the most competitive race of the meeting. Hootenanny could be in a different league but I'd rather back a horse with proven form on this side of the Atlantic. Ryan Moore could end up having at least three winners today with Hootenanny, Found and Aloft.
Congratulations to David Simcock on winning at Royal Ascot with Balios, but I do not think too much faith will be had in the form of the race. The pace was moderate and it looked to me like the plan with Mr Singh was clearly to try and steal the race from the home turn. That did not work out but was worth a try. Before the race the ratings suggested this was not a great renewal. The proximity of the disappointing Ol’ Man River also bothers me. If they run him again, I expect head gear of some sort to be tried (blinkers or visor) because he just does not seem to put in much effort at the business end – and it was not O’Brien’s son on him, it was the form jockey. He might have a great pedigree (like everything else at Ballydoyle) but he will be running at the Dubai Carnival for Mike De Kock next year at this rate.
I've often said beefy, the Grade is not that relevant. It's the performance that matters. Many Grade 1 races are G1 in name only and winning them doesn't necessarily put the horse on a pedestal. In this case the race was a G3 in name only (admittedly not too often one gets that, but it happens). What Timeform are saying is that Time Test's performance was better than the others have achieved; not that Time Test is necessarily superior to them. As I said yesterday, surely he would give Golden Horn a race. a little surprised that they have rated him above Treve but not surprised he's been placed above Solow. I doubt the last 3 you mention would beat Time Test who is still improving. Free Eagle's race was 2 secs slower than Time Test, carrying the same weight. I think I know which one I would back, especially in a WFA.
Looking at later tonight anyone that watched Libbard's last race will see how tenderly he was ridden by Hughes and tonight surelu compensation awaits: 720 GOODWOOD
How wrong was I! Muhaarar turned it into a procession! Won last season's Gimcrack and the Greenham on it's seasonal debut, pulled too hard in the French 2,000 Guineas, well done to whoever backed him.
The top-rated horse in the race Muhaarar collects but the owner’s jockey had deserted the Poule d’Essai Des Poulains failure for William Haggas’ Haydock winner Adaay. It is starting to look like another good day to be a bookie. They even appear to be taking on Ryan Moore in the Coronation Stakes – Found out to 15/8 – after Hootenanny’s failure in the Commonwealth Cup.
Crikey, that winner's form got overlooked for sure. Won the Gimcrack last year, won the Greenham this year breaking the track record. Btn about8l in the French Gns on slower ground (incidentally just one place behind yesterday's winner War Envoy)
If a claimers has 7lb claim is that deducted off of the weight on the racing post or has that already been done?
I have a really strong fancy for one tonight at Goodwood. Royal Ascot is all looking a bit tricky at the moment but some good opportunities elsewhere. Goodwood 7.50 William of Orange 5-2 Will definitely go close and I will be surprised if this one does not win nicely.
Cant agree Ron, whilst I appreciate your Timeform knowledge greatly exceeds mine! By definition Grade 1 races contain the best horses. Many horses win/excel at Grade 2/3 level and can look imperious in doing so. Put the same horse into a Grade 1 and they can often struggle. Tomorrow's runner Telescope being a good example, a Grade 2 winner last day visually impressive, but visually impressive against animals not of Grade 1 class. Its easy to put in a spellbinding performance in a lower grade race, against inferior opposition. Times, in my view, mean very little. Small fields usually produce slower times with less pace in them, handicaps having bigger fields often produce quicker times than higher class fields. For example we often see the Champion Hurdle run slower than the Supremes, its usually a smaller field after all. I find it amusing when people infer that the Supreme winner could therefore have won the Champion! I'd like to think the vast majority of Champion Hurdlers would have won the earlier Supreme regardless of times! If not, we should really be seeing novices run in the Champion Hurdle every year shouldn't we...
The weight shown on the race card is the official weight. If the claimer is allowed seven pounds then that is deducted from the official weight (assuming that the claimer can actually ride that light). If the claimer was stuck in traffic and a jockey with no claim took over the ride, he would carry the official weight.
I wouldn't disagree with any of that beefy, other than to qualify one statement ie "by definition G1 races should (and usually do) contain the best horses". Many/most of the supposedly spell binding victories are run in slow times and therefore won by the horse with the best burst of acceleration - which can make them look impressive. If the spell binding performance was run in exceptionally fast time it does add a different perspective. I have as much disrespect for times in NH races as you beefy
Great finish to the Coronation with Ervedya getting the better of Found. When Found took the lead, alarm bells started ringing when her tongue was hanging out. But the best horse won on the day.
**** me. Pipped on the post ... AGAIN I think Moore has won on every horse I haven't picked and lost on the ones I have.
Whoever slagged off Manning on here yesterday was proven right in the Coronation Stakes. It was obvious that Arabian Queen had gone off too quick and that the winner was going to come from behind but why did the useless moron sit stone last thinking that he was going to pass the whole field (a complete change of tactics)? Could he not see the French filly right in front of him going just as well? Then he bumped into Sperry in the straight just to make sure he did not get a strong run and arrived too late at the post. Well done to anybody that chanced Ervedya on her first run on quick ground. That is two losers this week down to brain dead jockeyship, making it a losing Royal meeting as tomorrow is a no bet.
I'm a bit like that too! Can't complain though. Better horse won, but the best horse didn't. 'Round the houses Manning' again on Lucida twice in a row he's got her beat though in fairness the draw there didn't help.
Great close-up slow-motion shot of the finish of the Coronation Stakes on Channel 4 just now. Man, that Soumillon can ride when he wants to!
Placed £5 E.W. bet on Igider in the 5.00 at Royal Ascot, ridden by one of my favourite flat jockeys Graham Lee. But something tells me I should've placed it on Mark Johnston trained Watersmeet as he's in a rich vein of form.
