Wednesday's Meetings Carlisle Flat 8 Races 1:45-5:45p.m. York Flat 6 Races 1:55-4:55p.m. Ffos Las Flat 7 Races 2:10-5:40p.m. Worcester (E) N/H 7 Races 5:00-8:00p.m. Killarney (E) Flat 7 Races 5:20-8:20p.m. Kempton (E) A/W 6 Races 6:40-9:10p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Several of the higher echelons of the county set are off to York tomorrow to watch Wiltshire’s number 1 run in the big ‘un. I’ve declined though. I said to the Chairman of the said organisation, ‘Old boy’, I said, ‘Old boy. I’d follow the county set to hell and back. But I draw the line at Yorkshire. You follow.’ In conclusion then I’ll sum tomorrow up in 2 words, TIME TEST, I say, TIME TEST. ‘Nuff said.
Old boy, Time Test is certainly an improving sort but the horses he's beaten are far from what he'll encounter tomorrow. Mustadeem the third from his last starts been beaten out of sight on his next 2 runs. The second, Peacock hasn't run since. On Time Test's previous start Dissolution has been soundly beaten twice since and the third hasn't done much either for the form. There are several more cases to suggest he looked very good against modest opposition. I'm one who can overlook solid form and side for flashy types in the correct circumstances, but I feel he's up against a rock solid favourite whose swept all before him with no question marks and an underestimated second favourite trained by a genius. I'll happily doff my cap to you if I'm wrong but I would frankly be surprised should Mr Charltons charge get within 4l of winning tomorrow.
Here in East Yorkshire, it has been raining steadily for the last four hours. There are large puddles in the street and the lunchtime BBC weather forecast showed that this weather is being repeated thirty-odd miles west of here in York. On their official website, York Racecourse reports the going as “Good, Good to Firm in places” and they have had 4mm of rain to 12:30pm on Tuesday. Their forecast says “overcast with light rain 20 degrees”. The TurfTrax going map shows that the “Good to Firm” parts are the two bends. So if you are paying the rip-off £31 to go to tomorrow’s six race card for the Gleneagles v Golden Horn showdown, expect an announcement five minutes before the first race that one or other of them is a non-runner if the word “Soft” is in the going report tomorrow morning. Just like the Toff Rogues at Ascot withheld the information on King George day to avoid lost ticket sales, the Tyke Rogues will do the same.
The York going is now “Good” all round as of 3:30pm Tuesday – 8mm of rain today. I would suggest that you check here before making selections. If the ground has changed to “Good to Soft”, Gleneagles will definitely be withdrawn as he scrambled home in the Irish 2000 Guineas on Good to Yielding ground so Coolmore do not want a real stamina test. I think that Golden Horn will stand his ground as I cannot see it getting any worse than that.
Still raining though QM and set to continue until the early hours. I'll be amazed if they both turn up and think they both may pull out
I got an email from York Racecourse advertising the Ebor Festival and the picture at the top is entitled “A Classic match-up?” Perhaps not... I note that they have moved the running rail on the bend so that races over ten furlongs or further are now 42 yards shorter. Is it just cynical me that thinks they have done that for Gleneagles sake? Later in the week they will move the rail back out to use fresh ground, of course.
Off topic but a massive opportunity to make money this week I believe. SERENA WILLIAMS is going for history next week. The Serena Slam. 4 majors in the same year. Has she any interest in winning the Cincinatti Masters this week? NO. Does she want to win a couple of matches and then rest up when she feels she has had enough match practice? YES. She is 1/10 to win her first round match on Wednesday but her opponents from round 2 onwards just have to be backed at very generous odds. Looks a good strategy to me.
Surely Storm The Stars has to be bet of the day tomorrow @7/2 (best priced) placed in a Derby and Irish Derby the form is rock solid and although disappointed over at France lto this is a drop down in grade with the form of others abit of a question and is the one to beat and will be very hard the only one I can see giving him a race is Tashaa who on his last performance showed he is improving at a rapid rate and has earnt himself at this level but still has bit to find!
race of the season but they all have a mountain to climb with the fav on form, hope they all make it down to the start, not my type of bet but The Grey Gatsby to place looks the value
I put this horse up on Monday and had backed it in a manner I do only 3 or 4 times a year, for me it was the best 5-2 bet all season. However that was to win a Monday evening Windsor maiden, whilst tomorrows is a highly competitive York nursery. The price reflects this however and so I must put it up again. I really think this horse has yet to show it's ability and will reach a mark between 10-15lb higher than it's current mark by the end of the season. However there are likely 4 or 5 others to which that remark could apply. York 4.55 Sir Roger Moore 12-1 EW I wont put the comments I put up on Monday or the link to it's last race but will simply say... This horse is good.
Surely Gleneagles won't run now given they have said all along he wants fast ground. Personally I'm not convinced it was a problem for him in the Irish Guineas- he got caught in traffic and when the gaps came he went, and stayed on well. What a real shame if he gets taken out. Racing is **** really isn't it- maybe one day we'll get some owners interested in the sport and not the stud $$$. It's not like it's a bog and Golden Horn was removed from a King George for the same reason- stop ****ting yourselves and go for glory.
Doesn't look like Gleneagles will run now. If they turned down good ground at Goodwood I'd suggest it's very long odds on they'll skip an extended mile and a quarter on good/soft. Ah well, another non event then, but it's another day closer to the proper stuff I guess!
Just watched his Curragh run again when he 'wasn't at his best' on slower ground. Caught on the heels of the leading pack and then steered through a gap like a bullet and stays on lovely. If I were them I'd call Golden Horns bluff and take him on. I think Gleneagles is top, top class and it would be a right clash. I can't have Storm The Stars in the Great Voltigeur tomorrow- I quite like Tashaar at 9/2 but I'd prefer if he wasn't trained by Hannon. Won his two starts like a nice staying prospect.
Yeah but can you imagine O'Briens tripe if he did win...Now listen, the lads were really sporting to run him in that tacky ground against a proven stayer, but listen, he's all class and courage, listen it was really all down to the horse, he's shown himself better then sliced bread. Listen, he's the best we've ever had. The bread couldn't even get him off the bridle on the gallops....
What stuns me is people 'listen' to his quotes...EVERY fecking year, it's the same. But he's only playing the tunes the lads want to hear. I actually don't think they're THAT wrong not to run on good/soft. Of course as spectators we want to see it but remember he's stepping up a quarter of a mile into the unknown, against an unbeaten c&d winner. The Horn missing the King George was a bigger duck, as he was proven at the trip.
