Disappointing with a capital D. Apparently the poor love will not be risked on the prevailing "good to soft". This is really all becoming a little childish.
I hope their endeavour will be handsomely rewarded. John Kettley has forecast a light breeze with the chance of a scattered shower so expect Golden Horn to be pulled out of the race.
Say what you like about the Cheltenham Festival but at least connections don't chicken out because of the ground.
Totally agree. I got a mild(ish) rebuke from our good leader last year for questioning Gosden prevaricating about running Kingman, ironically because the ground was maybe too firm in that case. I understand that horse well being is paramount and firm ground could be disastrous for a soft ground horse but is there such a risk of injury if the ground is on the easy side? Kingman won Group1s on ground ranging from good to firm to soft so maybe Gosden fusses too much.
That's because they are worthless farm yard animals. I'm sure you'd be the same if you where trying to protect a horses reputation so that you can maximise it's fee as a stallion. We seen how much of a struggle it was for Gleneagles in the Irish Guineas on tacky ground, so to put him up against a proven mud lark like Solow on soft ground would be a stupid decision. I do think he'd beat Solow on good to firm, but soft he'd have no chance
I doubt it's got anything to do with money. The owner is seriously wealthy. If it is I pity them all. Must be a very shallow existence.
I loved old boy Oppenheim’s quote on Saturday after he had pontificated about how much they had to look after The Golden Horn and how his well being was all that mattered. Nick ‘Lucky’ Luck then asked him if his star colt had handled the trip from Newmarket to Ascot well and if he was A-OK in the stables. To which old boy Oppenheim replied, ‘Haven’t a clue!’ Priceless...
Turkey breast with Mediterranean veggies, plus the classic curry-house-combo of half rice / half chips. 7/10.
Lasagne, roast potatoes and runner beans. I usually suspect that on a Monday we are fed the leftovers from the week before but even if that is the case this offering was most pleasant. 8/10.
Haddock fillet and potato rosti ... a light bite indeed .. now the SBC .. give us a clue re the county set gamble @ shhhhhhh 'Glorious' Goodwod ... ?
Ekbalco, he runs on Wednesday. Oddy, I note that they have managed to get ‘Qatar’ into the official title of the ‘Sussex Stakes’ not once but twice!
Rumour has it they are renaming all the runners so they have a prefix Qatar.... which is the reason that they pulled Gleneagles. In the same way, the boys in blue won't be having any runners, well, because they buy lots of rubbish and can't get a good horse.
What will the Qatari cognoscenti make of the fact that Mick Channon's runner "Bossy Guest" is an anagram of "Boys Gusset" The mind boggles.
Tough opening card at Galway so small stakes: 5 45-Beckwith Star Ew 8s 6.50 Whiteout/Estiaal Ew both 9s 7.20 Tedanny win 7/2
Nice little drift there with ITTIRAD out to 7/2. Nearly done the double on the earlier winner of Fergusons but I have done a double with him on ZAMA ZAMA.
What odds on a Wednesday morning racing headline of 'Qatar Solow'? Anyone ever been to Galway? They reckon its a cracker of a meeting. I fancy one in the big 6.50pm handicap there for the shrewd Jonny Murtagh- Eye Of The Tiger 20/1, steered by Jane Mangan. I like Neverrushacon e/w in the opener there with doubts around the form of the Mullins runner. In the 5.45, Utmost Zeal could hit the frame for Gigginstown at rewarding odds with his prominent style potentially lending itself way to the track if he can time the kick for home well. e/w singles/doubles/treble.