So we have our 1st classic of the summer although the weather and ground is more like mid december! GL to all especially with those with same picks as me lol 14.30 Newmarket- Dunaden - 6/1 The winner of the Melbourne Cup in November, followed up in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase in December. He's also won four times on soft ground over this trip so conditions won't be a problem at HQ and Mikel Delzangles' globe-trotting six-year-old can make his first appearance in the UK a winning one! 15.10 Newmarket- Power 11/1 & Boomerang Bob 100/1 e/w I put up Boomerang Bob a few days ago- 100/1 is a massive price for this young colt- Has grown massivley from last year runner up at royal ascot and second to Caspar Netscher in the Greenham on his return- will like the ground- he wont win but is defintely well within a shout for a place. Now for the winner POWER- although supposable second string to Camelot, he won the National Stakes at the Curragh on soft going and was an unlucky second in proven Guineas trial the Dewhurst here subsequently. He had Bronterre, Trumpet Major and Red Duke behind that day and there appears no reason why any of that trio should reverse the form so the son of Oasis Dream, who has done absolutely nothing wrong so far, gets the nod in the season's first classic. 15.45 Newmarket- Margot Did 8/1 A good filly who likes soft ground, may well be the answer to this tricky race with alot of contenders. She didn't get the luck of the draw in a couple of runs in Dubai but has an outstanding chance on last year's efforts which included a defeat of recent Musselburgh winner Hamish McGonagall in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York- Is tongue tied for the first time so am goinng to leave my be-loved Eton Rifles (who will need further than this 5F) and give Margot & Hayley a chance!
15.35 Uttoxeter- Arbour Supreme- 12/1 Bit of a speculative one here- was a top class chaser for Mullins in his prime who would have eaten this field for breakfast! He hasnt won for over 3 years but am going to follow Ceriums win the other week so hopefully the trend of GN entrants will continue! lol Has the blinkers on and the champ on board who will literally carry him round so with that and he will love the ground am going to to put small e/w wager on him
Morning all. Is it morning? I'm pissed. Anyway, one got the guineas tomorrow. BORN TO SEA - 10/1 BOG. Can't be arsed writing up but I'm having 50 ew on this and it's my main bet in the leagues comp. more interested in the footy, couldn't get a ticket but I'll be in the pub watchin. COME ON REDS!
I can't see Power winning at Newmarket on soft going. I feel the French Guineas would have been the best for that horse and see him more as a sprinter. Born To Sea is an interesting runner. He did finish second last time out but was found to be lame so could be anything. My selection though has to be CAMELOT who is by mudlark Montjeu, gets the mile and will be staying on better that any other at the end.
Peter - fellow red here - hope we beat the chelski chav scum tomorrow !!!! My fancies for the guineas are Abtaal / Power / and one other to decide on ????
His sire Monteju has an awful record in the race- thanks to PN for the stats Montjeu's Guineas runners: SOLENT 16 of 19 in 2005 2000 Guineas DRUMBEAT 6 of 9 in 2009 Irish 2000 Guineas HAIL CAESAR 7 of 9 in 2009 Irish 2000 Guineas ST NICHOLAS ABBEY 6 of 19 in 2010 2000 Guineas ENCOMPASING 13 of 13 in 2010 Irish 2000 Guineas
Three bets for tomorrow: 14.30 newmarket meandre 2/1 ( classy horse, trainer has a great record when venturing over the channel). 15.10 newmarket born to sea 8/1 (bred to be a champion and has all the potential in the world) 15.45 newmarket: Temple meads 14/1 (high class 2yo old and is a horse to keep on the right side of this season, i just hope he is fit enough on his return)
Born To Sea for me - PP if second to Camelot, bets refunded - seems like a good call Like Swifty I'm intrigued by Temple Meads and have got him ew - also I was impressed with Memory Cloth last week and is probably still ahead of the handicapper.
2.30 FIORENTE 4/1 Looked a typical Stoute improver and was always going to be a 4 year old to follow. Will probably stay even further and should have few problems on good to soft ground. To be honest 4/1 is a far better price than expected and though Stoute horses usually come on for a run, I think this is a potential Group 1 winner. 99 3.10 BORN TO SEA 9/1 (only bet) The ultimate Guineas pedigree full of speed, stamina, and class and on debut it must be said the horse looked a group performer. The 3 year old ought to be a development of his second year and well done John Oxx for being homest 4.55 - MICHAELANGELO 7/1 Frankly so beauifully bred that this is real potential top notch over a mile and a quarter brother, tell.Kie!
4.20 Newmarket Al Khan 10/1 NAP Very confident Peter Chapple-Hyam's 3 year old can go extremely close today on his handicap debut and think he's extremely overpriced. Al Khan made his a successful debut in a maiden last July at Doncaster in impressive fashion and he immediately went into my notebook as one to follow. Over the 6f trip, Al Khan travelled into the race pretty nicely before asserting under the urgings of Jimmy Fortune to score going away by 2.25L. Although the 2nd, 3rd and 5th all won on their next starts, the form isn't fantastic but Al Khan was much better than his rivals and I am not too concerned. For his 2nd start, Al Khan was stepped into Group 3 company when upped to 7f at York where he performed admirably to finish 5th. He travelled into the race powerfully and with about 1.5f left he looked to hold every chance before he weakened and was eased slightly by Fortune when it was clear that a chance of a place was lost. However, he didn't lose much in defeat in my eyes as the front 4 all rated in the 100s. On his last start, Al Khan ran in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September and in hindsight it was a race full of Group 1 standard horses. The 4 rivals he faced that day were 2000 Guineas hopefuls Trumpet Major and Red Duke as well as Entifaadha and Daddy Long Legs, the former a real class animal who will run in the Kentucky Derby later tonight. In the small field, Al Khan again travelled into the race really nicely and came with what looked a serious challenge and he probably just about hit the front with about 1.5f to go before he was swallowed by his classy rivals before being eased by Frankie Dettori and allowed to come home in his own time. His forays into Group company were probably slightly out of his depth but his entrance into a Class 2 handicap off a mark of 93 looks a much, much easier task. Al Khan makes his seasonal reappearance and debut as a 3 year old today and the break since September should pose no concern considering he was successful on debut. Although there's always a concern that 2 year olds don't train on, its something you've just got to hope has happened and not really concern yourself with. I'm very happy he's dropped back to 6f for today's race as he may not have gotten home in his Group races over 7f as he looked a real player both times after about 5f. William Buick takes the ride today and he seems a very solid jockey booking. His debut win on good to firm but I don't envisage too many problems with the ground at the moment either. He's clearly a well thought of animal to be stepped into Group company for his 2nd and 3rd starts and his opening mark of 93 looks pretty lenient if I am honest and I'll be pretty surprised if he isn't good enough to exploit this mark at some stage in his career. Its a big race with 20 rivals but he successfully navigated a field of 15 on debut so its not much of a concern to me. The draw in stall 7 should be ok but we'll find out fairly early whether or not that is the case but at 10/1 with 4 places paid I'm very confident he'll at least make the frame if getting a clear passage.
4 more for me. I'll try get some write ups done at some stage 2.00 Newmarket Memory Cloth 13/2 3.20 Thirsk Mon Brav 11/1 4.30 Thirsk Hot Rod Mamma 33/1 (small bet) 6.05 Thirsk Pelmanism 12/1
TRUMPET MAJOR for me in the guineas as you just cant keep Hughsie out of the spotlight right now. The run under his belt is a big factor for me and he will handle conditions. Honeyball runs one on the flat at Donny this evening that the dogs are barking at so take note!
Oh dear, I can't even remember posting that last night. Ooops. Well I'm slightly rough, that's what going out with the young uns from work does to you! Still fancy Born to sea strongly, ground drying out which is a huge plus. Predicting a 2-1 Chelsea win although I hope I'm wrong! GL to all today.
2000 Guineas Two horses I backed ante-post a few weeks ago for the race are Born To Sea and Abtaal - they remain the ones who I think have the best chance of winning. Abtaal has the best chance of winning out of the French trained runners IMO, but with the ground drying out I really hope Sea The Star's half brother Born To Sea wins - he tore a muscle and returned lame when 2nd in his last race at Leopardstown. I'm not prepared to go as far as laying Camelot on the exchanges but I simply cannot back him - he could well turn out to be a superstar but I'd rather back stablemate Power each-way than Camelot.
Wooley, they were all rags apart from St Nic who allegedly injured himself in the 2000. Solent was 100/1,Encompassing a 33/1 pacemaker,Hail Caesar a 20/1 stable fourth string. Not sure these stats are that illuminating.
My only bet today will be chucking a tenner in the direction of Born To Sea, and possibly one other if anything catches the eye in the paddock. This early season stuff is a Nightmare with a capital 'N' and I will be waving Sir Barney's 'No Bet Banner' with that one exception. Why I am making that one exception I don't know but I feel I ought to get in the spirit of things. I must confess to struggling to get to excited about the flat as yet. I suppose things will kick into top gear this weekend, and then Chester, York and Frankel's return to look forward to. It isn't Cheltenham and Aintree though is it?!
