Currently yielding to soft with more rain on the way. This bleeding weather is playing havoc with my primary focus today at the not too far away K Club, the venue for the Irish Open. Play is presently suspended there due to 'threat of lightning'. Rory looking to at last win it.
Typical day I suppose, non runner on DENINGRY but should have realised that the shortest priced odds on shot is the only one to get beat.
Fair enough, Beefy. I was going to complain because Air Force Blue won twice at The Curragh on Good to Yielding as a two year old, but if it is getting really soft they could give it a miss and head for the St James’s Palace to conclusively prove that he is another War Front that has not trained on.
O'Brien said they would run him to see if he can handle a mile. If he doesn't he will go back sprinting and The Gurka will go to the St James. If he wins he'll go to the St James and The Gurka will go to some 10 furlong race in France. Either way it sounds like The Gurka ain't going to Epsom.
That would be the Prix Du Jockey Club (for which he holds an entry). It would be £75k cheaper than going to Epsom.
"Now then Stratford racecourse, you are on ATR and so is the Curragh. Your first race, a 3 1/2 mile handicap chase is due off at 5.30 and the Irish 2000 Guineas is due off at 5.40. As your race is likely to take a while, please make every effort to get started on time so that we have a few minutes build-up for the 2000 Guineas." Off at 5.33 (near enough)
Looks like Air Force Blue will be dropping back to sprinting then, or retiring to stud... Bit of a nail in the coffin of the 2000 Guineas form, though.
Congrats to kevin Prendegast,great servant to Irish racing. Thought Showreel was gona get up there but will take 12s ew all the same
Air Force Poo clearly another War Front who didn't train on. The Guineas form is taking a right old battering isn't it. Watching Galileo Gold you'd be thinking he'd need further, but they've taken him out of the Derby haven't they
I don't see anything in his performances so far this season that indicate he is a sprinter. To me it just looks like he doesn't like racing anymore. I guess he is worth one more chance and although connections may feel it beneath the horse I think dropping him back to 7f for the Jersey stakes at Royal Ascot would be the race, the drop back a furlong may help as well as the reduced class.This would be a chance to see if he retains ability and a chance to rebuild confidence and zest for racing as he will not be up against Group 1 animals as he would in the St James Palace. The far more likely scenario is that now he is given up on that some injury which has evaded detection will be found and he will be retired with the injury stated as the reason he did not train on, but I hope they will give him another chance
