That has to be a massive boost for the French filly, the 3yos from this side just got delivered a knockout blow there really the first time they have been tested, we were starting to worry about the form and both our Oaks and Derby winners well beaten. And Almanzor is not even the stables Arc horse, being by Wotton Basset, he looks a 10f specialist and id be surprised if they dont stick to the original plan of Irish Champion then Champion despite his prominence in the arc betting now. The filly has Postponed and possibly the Japanese horse to beat.
It certainly was a great prep run for Found heading towards the Arc. She's got Postponed to beat by the look of it. I had Minding backed today, thought she ran a nice race and lost nothing in defeat. Harzand was another kettle of fish, was struggling a good bit out so interesting to hear what those reasons were.
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What a great fighter GGG is...complete mismatch to be honest but Kell Brook lives to fight again in his league/division.
Brook was blue on oddschecker at one stage today and people backing him at 5's and 9/2...dear oh dear..
Irish Champion thankfully lived up to its billing as race of the season and produced a great finish. The French Derby winner proving everyone wrong in believing it was a pish race and Found again running a monster race in her usual consistent way. What a tough filly she is, her best run since slaying Golden Horn. Minding obviously didn't get the clearest runs, and got more than a few knocks. You'd also probably have to conclude the inside rail isn't the place to be there, as the Grade Ones showed with Alice Springs and the front two in the Champion rattled down the middle of the track so there could be a tiny track bias but she wasn't quite good enough today. The run of Highland Reel would worry Postponed backers imo. His strongest form in his defeat of Found was a right messy race, wasn't her true running, barely beating the pacemaker. Today's strong gallop let her prove her class. Seventh Heaven could be a moral if she lines up Alice Springs showed some GEARS in destroying them, the French filly getting beat as easily has to leave a question mark against La Cressionaire. The fact she's not running in the trials tells me they feel she mightn't stay either. Today's winner looks the French trainers Arc No. 1. His form's in a totally different league to the filly's after todays performance.
The Irish Champions has thrown a spanner in works for the Arc. Lets start by saying it was a strongly run race and suited the hold up horses. Almanzor was really impressive in how he finished and it should be said the race worked out perfectly for him and Found. Neither had to work hard to get to the front when coming into the straight. He out fought Found in the finish and looks to hold her rather easily. Harzand was very disappointing to say the least. He couldnt go the pace and it should be said he didn't finish the race well either so its hard to say the trip caught him out. Maybe the form of Derby's isn't quite up to the standard of the older horses or he needs a strongly run mile and a half. Minding did okay to finish third, she wasn't helped by being behind Harzand when he was going backwards. She went through the gap up the rail quiet nicely but the front two had already gone. I think the one to take out of the race is New Bay. He was the only one who was handy that finished the race out. He finished fourth in the end which is a good achievement as the rest of the handy horses faded badly. Highland Reel dropped out pretty tamely. He did race handily but his run compared to New Bay was disappointing. His run would have to be a worry for the form of Postponed as he is usually a consistent horse. I think you have to take into account how the race was run more so than who finished where. As I said those at the back found it very easy to get to the front, too easy infact. I wouldn't rule out Minding or New Bay for the Arc just because they didn't win today. The Arc may not be run at the same pace as this was. I would be slightly more inclined to look at this race for an Arc winner than towards one of the easier Arc trails tomorrow or towards any horse who isn't having a prep run.
Great post, making excuses for Minding but not Qemah who had a much worse trip, Minding had absolutely no excuses, Harzand maybe. You do realise Alice Springs is another victim of La Cressonniere? 4L victim no less. Founds best runs have both been in the Irish Champion, at Keeneland it was a strange end of season race with the front runner and Golden Horn finished 1L in front of 7yo's Slumber and Big Blue Kitten, horses who would have been beaten 10+ at Longchamp, the form is worthless in European terms. We will leave it to Rouget to decide who number 1 is "We have La Cressonniere who is a great filly and is unbeaten in eight races and will run in the Arc.”
Hype job mate. Whats the great horses shes beaten, and please dont cite Alice Springs as she was pounds below her best in France as we've seen on Saturday.
The horses she has beat have won 8 Group 1s, Harzand for comparison, has beaten the winners of 1 US G1, she is the opposite of a hype job, has been underrated all season. No one says the form is special on paper, Almanzors wasnt either but she is sitting on the same type of improvement as him, shes been trained perfectly to run her career best in the Arc and she has all the tools for the race. Half the challengers knocked out over the weekend and she never left the yard. Physically and visually, her last run was the best ive seen her, she is improving and peaking at the right time.
will leave it at that then if thats the level of debate, im happy ive got a good bet in the race whatever happens, im on the right side of the market
