Sunday's Meetings Leopardstown Flat 8 Races 1:10-5:15p.m. Killarney N/H 8 Races 1:20-5:25p.m. Plumpton N/H 7 Races 1:20-4:50p.m. Ludlow N/H 6 Races 2:05-5:00p.m. Newcastle(E) A/W 8 Races 2:50-6:45p.m Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Longchamp today Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Henri Matisse at 5/2 and Detain 16/1 ew Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. I was initially drawn to Zarigana, probably due to the name which reminded me of Zarkava and then saw Zarkava and Frankel in the pedigree. That was enough for me but 11/8 doesn't look much of a price considering the form. So I switched to the unbeaten Mandanaba at 6/1 ew
A fair few runners in that race, Ron, I’ll take Henri’s pal Camille Pessaro at 12-1, Soumillon on board.
Those French Guineas names sound like dishes you'd find at an expensive French restaurant. "I'll start with the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and we'll have a bottle of Meursault. Can we get some ketchup too please"
You can tell the wealthy members on our forum! Mersault wine, Oddy? Can you do me good H.P. terms so I can buy a bottle?
17:45 Newcastle - Zip e/w Class-3 Handicap over 7f on the Tapeta surface. Rank outsider in this at big odds. Bit of a veteran nowadays. Ran well in quite a few races without much luck. Apprentice jockey, Warren Fentiman (5) rides for the Richard Fahey yard. Wears usual headgear. 20/1 best price on the ATR site, at time of writing.
I did not have time to look at the “French Guineas” card this morning, so just a cursory look at the form. I knew that Zarigana (granddaughter of Zarkava) would be a short price with the British bookies; and she may be odds-on for punters on the PMU as the French do not back the British/Irish horses. If she is going to be beaten in the Pouliches (4.05) it will probably be Exactly from the Aidan O’Brien barn. All of the horses that O’Brien took out of the 2000 Guineas now line up for the Poulains (3.25). I wonder if that is something to do with Henri Matisse being a Wootton Bassett and preferring some juice in the ground. As it was I contemplated trying to get back the money I lost on my ante post on Jonquil for Newmarket but the race was off before I could login so I saved some money as the Ballydoyle colt won.
On a prestigious afternoon of International Group 1 racing, as viewers it is superseded by egg and spoon racing at Plumpton., As a side note, what a spot by Coolmoore in picking up Wootton Bassett.
What on earth is Barzalona doing by objecting? He lost his whip and then came late (as usual) . What a tosser he is! If that objection is sustained, then you can throw French Racing into the Seine.
That’s the French for you! Disqualified a horse for the second stage knock on effect of the winner drifting left, even though no horse received a physical bump. Bloody ridiculous! Does anyone really believe that, if the Aga Khan owned She’s Perfect, then she would have been disqualified? Non,non.non.non!
The interview with Graffard the trainer was embarrassing. He apologised to the connections of She's Perfect saying 'this is not how we would like to win'... and then apologised agin at the end of the interview. I agree that if it had been any other owner other than AK studs it would have stood. I think we have to appreciate, they do not have a strong ownership model like Godolphin and Coolmore other then Aga Khan Studs. I suppose they have to maintain a French identity that keeps the public interested. When you have all manner of nations coming and creaming away your classic races and Group 1's because you dont have the horse power, this is the only way they can fight.
There’s been a few of these jumps meetings in the first 2 weeks of the new season with multiple 3/4/5 runner races. It would suggest there’s far too much of it. Imagine having to flog that to racegoers.
Wow, Zip really ran a cracker and lost 2nd by just 1¼--lengths in a hard-fought finish. 16/1 SP so decent e/w wager. He's certainly not done with yet by any means!
