Thursday's Meetings Salisbury Flat 7 Races 1:55-5:15p.m. York Flat 7 Races 2:10-5:25p.m. Perth N/H 6 Races 2:18-5:02p.m. Clonmel(E) N/H 7 Races 5:10-8:18p.m. Fontwell(E) N/H 6 Races 5:35-8:10p.m. Kempton(E) Flat 7 Races 6:00-9:00p.m Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Today's Dante looks weak. Lion In Winter probably has plenty in hand if anything near fit and needs to put these to the sword in good style bearing in mind how near the Derby is. He needs to step up in trip here and again at Epsom. Not many Derby contenders have only gone 7f this close to the big day and there will be Guineas winner in wait. Most of Aidans Derby candidates thus far look a bit on the slow side and I feel it is little surprise Lion In Winter is the one bullet in the operation otherwise relying on a blunderbus. I'll leave hi at todays odds. Sea The Fire and Beautiful Love are both rated 113 on official figures. The former is 10/11 and the latter 12/1. I don't see a lot between their profiles so had a small bet on the Appleby/Buick runner. 313 York Beautiful Love 12/1 If the other filly wins fair play to her.
Interesting that Balding doesn't mention 12f for her. She obviously loves firmer ground which probably reflects her breeding/conformation. As far as I can see
Sea The Fire was mighty impressive, a lifetime best by a mile. At least I picked the forecast filly but she had no chance with the winner.
I wouldn't have any of those Dante runners for the Derby Will be interesting to see where See the Fire goes next. Not quoted for the Arc
Not sure why you say that Ron. The winner and even the 2nd stand out as easily ahead of the rest of the field with the winner showing real acceleration in the last furlong. For a horse running only his second start you've got to like him. I think only the Delacroix trial is of similar merit.
Regarding See The Fire they were saying on Racing UK (don't ask me how I watch that in Germany) that the Juddmonte International would be a logical target as she seems to love York (and he mum won it)
The Lion In Winter bubble burst but but he's only 6/1 for the Derby and I doubt he will run. I suspect they will give him more time. 5/1 for today's winner is a joke. Yes he's open to improvement but he's beaten a Gosden colt that I see as more of a Leger horse and Wimbledon Hawkeye finished only a neck in front of an 80/1 shot rated 100. 2nd Fav Alpine Star was stone last and was 14lbs lower rated than the Fav coming in anyway. Can't believe how quickly ITV went from Lion In Winter being the second coming and immediately heaped it all onto today's winner. Delacroix 2/1 for the Derby. Good luck anyone thinking there is value there, he has contracted on the failure of others. The Dante is not really the trial it used to be for the Derby either.
I think O'brien was trying to take the positives. He sounded to me like the horse will come on a lot, yet did not say when and where the next race might be. I thought he was emphasising that they would not be shy of tackling 10f again but didn't say the horse's future lay at a mile and a half. I would not take 6/1 on him running in the Epsom Derby. Tactical setback in training and ruling out of Epsom perhaps. Comeback for Juddmonte at Ebor meeting?
