Daily Racing Thread Thursday 13th. May 2021

Gosden said he needed to grow up. I thought Frankie was looking behind him as if something had gone wrong. False alarm thankfully

 

Depends who's in it Oddy and what the ground is like

 

Winless for nigh on two years, Queen Power didn't half break her cherry with an 8 length demolition job today. To be fair, she did hold a favourite's chance today but not many could have expected that show.

Earlier on I had checked that Tim Easterby was 1 from his last 20 runners and Copper Knight of course won straight away for the trainer. Down to 85 in the handicap he finally cashed in after having been 3rd from the same mark last time. His was rated 106 when he last won, in a Listed race, so he's fallen a fair way before getting back on track.

 

he might get the cruelest cut if he keeps running like that.

 

Ah, was he running on 5 legs?

 

Not particularly but he wasn't being professional either.

 

The Dante was very slightly sower than the 5yo mare who won by 8l an hour earlier

 

The filly won like a proper 5f horse.

 

Dexter Belle could not go the early pace today and I would expect to see her back at 6F from now on. Perhaps she is also short of this class. Winter Power came out like a rocket and was never challenged. Any thoughts that she might need the race were quickly expelled and she looks a good prospect. The Kings Stand was mooted as a possible target and on today's showing she would be no forlorn hope.

At least mine beat the favourite home. Acklam Express had looked a bit dubious on collateral form and he was rubbish today, tailed off in last place. Atalis Bay ran well enough, although no match for the winner and probably ran to his mark bearing in mind he was on favourable terms with the filly today.

 

Lucky last, Law Of Gold won.

 

Gear Up was disappointing in the Dante. Perhaps he needs mud to be at his best and although Mark Johnston said he would improve on whatever he did today when he tackles 12F it was hard to get enthused about his hopes at Epsom.

Mark Johnston seems to have the knack of failing year after year when it comes to the classics and I rarely manage to catch his horses at the right time. He runs plenty and you know he will get plenty winners but where and when continues to be mystery to the punter and perhaps to the man himself because he has said he knows as little about when they will win as the average punter does, adding "How can you know?"

I thought coming in that Hurricane Lane and High Definition might need further than today and it panned out like that with both colts taking a good bit of time to reel in the pacemaker. Once again Frankie proved to be on the wrong one, as Megallan outran my expectations in finishing second. The Kingman colt had seemed pretty exposed and I feel his run and that of the 89 rated pacemaker cast a shadow over the form. I think the assessors will have to get creative with the ratings to try to make this look a good Dante.

Hurricane Lane has done nothing wrong and deserves his place at Epsom but I think he's too short at 6/1 for the Derby. High Definition was said by his trainer to have a huge stride and he hardly got the best of that asset in dawdling about well off the pace at a track that does not play to that strength. He exceeded my expectations today and on only his third start he has gone down 2 lengths looking like an increase in trip is sure to suit. I can't help thinking he should be more aggressively ridden and in any case he is entitled to come on a lot from today. I felt he was the one to take from the race and it's a pity he missed the Lingfield Derby Trial, as I am sure that would have suited him far better.

 

Good call, the winner and 3rd both stayed on strongly today.