I felt that DG was coming with a challenging run, when a gap closed and he lost momentum. A tad unlucky imo
Both horses need a bit of juice I think, particularly Dakota Gold. I recall the trainer bemoaning the lack of soft enough ground for him previously and he explained that the horse seems to have a second kick on soft ground that just isn't there when the going is faster. It looked too fast for Judicial as well today, he did start a run but just couldn't go with them. Tis Marvellous seemed to relish the conditions today and if you take him out, I think Judicial has run a good race conceding 3lbs and only 3/4 of a length behind the runner up. Over at Navan Straight Talking ran a so-so race on debut, just not fast enough to go on when asked. I got the bad favourite bit right with Windsor Pass, who was only 4th but it was Ger Lyons horse who burst away to win. Too short for me at 5/2 but not a bad winner in a mediocre looking maiden. Lavenders Blue chinned Benbatl for a rare win. She has not been very consistent in her career but today was a going day. I couldn't buy into Chindit today and it looked a lousy race Mutasaabeq won last time. I passed on the contest myself. Pretty hard day for punting and well done anyone who landed winners today, you've earned yourselves a pint tonight. Off to have a look at tomorrow's cards now. Just noticed Michael Dods' Stable Tour on ATR and for Dakota Gold the summary was:- "He definitely needs cut in the ground - he ran alright at York but it was quick enough. He is in the Beverley Bullet on Saturday, and we will see what the ground is like - he comes into his own when he gets proper soft ground. There is a race for him at York in which he finished second to Starman last year and he will follow a similar route to last year".
Rob Hornby made a bit of a dog’s dinner of my two year old filly staying on for third and then goes and chins my banker in the big race. Can somebody go and change the Jason Weaver broken record? Today it was Chindit that “deserves to win a big race”. Rubbish. It won an ordinary Greenham Stakes and has been soundly beaten in three Group 1 races since.
When I looked at the race, my problems with Tinderbox were that she had a middle distance pedigree and that she was quite a generous price for a Dettori/Gosden runner, which did not suggest any expectation. Once she clearly had no prospect of finishing in the places, Frankie just let her cost home. I was not surprised to see Value Theory go off in front as that is quite a common Johnston ploy (especially at Goodwood). I felt that Daneh just did nothing in front and it always looked from a furlong out that she would get reeled in by the winner. Clearly Mis En Scene will be one to watch for as she is now 2-2.
Thanks, Grendel, very informative. Certainly did not do enough research on the Beverley Bullet! Will watch out for both DG and Judicial NTO when I hope there will be some cut in the ground. Both are damn good sprinters, especially in favoured ground conditions.
I was discouraged when the commentary team mentioned that Tinderbox had fancy Group race entries. That suggested to me that expectations were not that high. Physically she failed to impress. Perhaps it is just my imagination but I don't think Gosden does so well with Godolphin owned horses. I tend not to see too much success with the Ballydoyle owned ones either. Inspiral and Sacred Bridge are the 2YO fillies who have impressed me most this season.
