St Nicholas Abbey 10/11 Midday 13/8 Dandino 13/2 Clowance 20/1 Indian Days 20/1 A desperately disappointing turnout for the Coronation Cup. St Nicholas Abbey has a huge reputation, but Midday has the form in the book and she definitely acts on the course. I know which one I'd rather be on.
That offers no value at all...I was expecting about a dozen runners and steam into Midday at about 4/1 e/w. (I know a lot aren't keen on each ways at 4s but to me it's all about minimising potential loss and if beaten into second you don't lose out) Would agree with you though, SNA has to be taken on at the expected odds on. Interesting connections are taking on the colts with Midday as, of course they have Workforce, but I think that shows they believe she's up to it. I'll be wishing her well anyways, though unless that price increases it may be without a financial interest. Surely that is the proverbial two-horse race, you'd spend an awful long time convincing me the remainder have any place prospects against those two.
Pretty much all has been said - really poor turnout but I guess connections have one eye on Ascot? Comes down to if SNA has improved since his return at Chester and how well Midday goes against the colts! Remember a big run from Look Here a couple of seasons ago in a blanket finish against the colts so hopefully it'll be a good match up! Big step up for the other three and barring anything going amiss with the SNA or Midday I can't see them being up to this!
I have been changing my mind all week as I've thought about this clash in my head, first of all we have SNA, who last time out beat a G3 performer 9 lenghs, or we have Midday who has won many G1s but only against fillies, and she carried a penalty to victory in a G2 last time! Personally I'd like to see the mare pull it off and she has a fair chance, but I'm not convinced either are worth a punt! If someone put a gun to my head and asked me to pick between the pair I think I may just go for Midday, so perhaps she is value at odds against. To put things into persective on SNAs price in last seasons Coronation Cup I got 11/10 Fame And Glory, and I think you will all agree *** was far more accomplished over the 12f than SNA is, he was also taking on a mare in Sariska, a mare who on form, you could argue is the equal of Midday, so SNA is a little to short
Certainly not a betting race for me Shergar. SNA & Midday both have the things to prove that have already mentioned. I have a sneaky fancy for Midday too - SNA was really impressive how he won at Chester but against nothing too good. Midday never seems to run a bad race but on form (when she decided to race!) Sariska seemed to have her measure - were the standings 3-0 to Sariska? The line up I'd hoped to see in this during the winter and even after Chester was SNA v Workforce - last seasons Derby winner vs the Ante-post favourite! Unsure what will come next for Workforce now though!!
SNA still has it all to prove for me, that's not to say he won't in this race and/or future races but to date he has beaten what, erm Harris Tweed....so never an odds on shot. I'll take my chances with Midday who consistantly performs well and has the form in the book.
Flyingbolt....Fair point, Sariska beat Midday in the Oaks by a neck, and she beat her in the Irish Oaks on bottomless ground easily enough, but I do believe Midday improved quite abit from 3-4, and she only lost to Sariska at York by just over a lengh conceeding 5 pounds, so I'd say they were pretty evenly matched as 4 year olds, based on that form, and Midday may have got the better of her at level weights! Midday is now 5, and from what I seen at Yorn she may have improved further, for me middle distance flat horses are at there ultimate peak at 5 years old, so for me she is a better horse than Sariska was 12 months ago, and I think *** was a far more proven horse than SNA is now 12 months ago
I'm a big fan of Midday and I think she'll win, but I'm not as confident as I was at the beginning of the week. A mare hasn't won the Coronation Cup since 1991 (In The Groove) and Kieren Fallon is very bullish about the chances of St Nicholas Abbey.
I think the value in this race lies with Midday but I still don't really see a great deal of value there. SNA still has it all to prove but in time I do believe he will show what a class animal he still is. I'm not sure whether SNA will be best over 12F or whether he'll need further in the future. The further they went the better he looked at Chester and if there is no pace on then maybe Midday might catch him for a bit of toe. The race offers very little betting opportunity in my opinion.
Its a very poor race for a Group 1 and for all the moaning about prize money in British Racing this is a pitiful turnout. Fair play to James Given for putting 2 in and he will get some well deserved place money. I would love to see Dandino win it but he just lacks the class for me and I'm sure it will be between the front 2.
I'm suprised SMS isn't running Workforce in the Coronation Cup, surely this would have been the ideal starting point for him! I'd agree it is a very poor turn out, it's just a match between Midday and SNA, I'd be amazed if anything prevented those 2 finishing 1-2 in the race
