That is a very good point Ron and the race will be very different to Chester and this is why I think Squire is not out of it, when you look at RVR however you cannot help but think he is a top handicapper if not a listed horse. This is also a higher calibre of opponent that RVR has faced so far. http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/results/30-05-2015/chester/result/674028/coca-cola-handicap/video This brings to mind Newcastle United who have just sacked John Carver and employed Steve McLaren. I am amazed Olly Stevens is still training to be fair as to have as much ammunition as he has and to produce so little is quite poor. I am obviously not sure of box numbers but give those horses to Roger Varian and see what he would do with them. If he does not manage anything with Hydrogen there will be nothing left but to call in the really big guns.............Marcus Treggoning. I know I am probably behind with the news but just read King of Rooks has been bought by Sheikh Al Thani as well - very disappointed as I hate it when these operations buy up other peoples work and have their colours in the winners enclosure, it should feel so hollow to them. King of Rooks was the horse I was most looking forward to at Royal Ascot, I had not backed him yet as the price was too short, kind of hope he loses now.
Just a few observations from the flat so far Hughsie does not seem at his best so far lately - I am not sure if his mind as already left now his bags are packed but he just does not seem as good as he usually is. Now even when he is off his game he is still better than most as he is a proper horseman, but I hope he will see out this final season in the style that such a brilliant jockey and good man deserves. Frankie however has been buoyed by getting on some good horses and is riding as well as ever. Samantha Bell looks to be a decent amateur who is getting chances primarily with the Fahey yard and is taking them, still early days but she looks calm and relaxed and not phased by it all, good luck to her. Ryan Moore - as good as ever A trainer of note is the old fetlock tugger Simon Crisford - I note he has landed a couple of well placed gambles lately, not least on Oaks day. As much as I hate to say it, for me that is the sign of a good trainer as it is a measurement you can use across the spectrum. You cannot really use the measurement of winners as not all trainers are as patronised as others, and the same goes for prize money, but when you see a trainer at any level put the money down and collect it tells you they understood the horses ability, pitched him in at the right level and got him spot on for that day. Simon Crisford may be one to note when the money is down. Luca Cumani and Adam Kirby looking a good match - a trainer and a jockey who both know what they are doing. Horses that have most impressed so far Gleneagles, Golden Hawn and King of Rooks
Good luck Stick/Don. I quite like Kastini in that race so will play that and Squire with reverse forecast
ATR speed ratings agree!!!! Sandown 3-50 Handicap (Class 3) 10f Horse Best Lto 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Squire 96 77 96 (82) 91 (52) (82) Kastini 93 60 93 (78) (91) -- -- I'm Fraam Govan 93 93 (52) (94) (78) (96) 86 Rembrandt Van Rijn 88 88 (--) (68) (--) (55) -- LTO Speed: I'm Fraam Govan 93 Rembrandt Van Rijn 88 Perfect Cracker 79 SQUIRE did well to finish a running-on second to Forgotten Hero in a ten furlong handicap at Newmarket last month, as he had to battle against a pace that appeared to be just on the fast side of even. Successful in a lower grade contest over the same course and distance on his previous outing, it is clear the gelding is going the right way, and we already know that he can handle fast turf. Sandown's stiff uphill finish will also play to his strengths today.
All the best with Squire, Squires James back from France to win on Kings Grey 19.50 Aintree Toomey on The Morning Line in the Morning Stay Frosty
Good luck with Squire. Looks useful that he can handle firmish ground, hopefully those Sandown clods won't serve up false ground again.
I say racehorse ownership isn’t everything its cracked up to be, is it?!? You Squire lads might have to share the paddock with that terrible old rogue Alex ‘Fergie’ Ferguson. Cor blimey rather you than me. The best of luck with him today though – Squire that is not Alex ‘Fergie’ Ferguson.
well good luck to all connections but the views of the forum have me thinking we'll have a blanket finish!! hopefully Squire will stick his nose out. By the way Stick, doesn't young Havlin usually take the ride?
No surprise that the Friday offerings are no great shakes this week with Royal Ascot next week. Nothing stands out sufficiently at York to risk how the race is going to be run; and I do not expect that the bookies will be giving anything away on the Saturday card with easy Newmarket winner Twilight Son sure to be short in the sprint. Two races are of interest at Sandown: In the 2:40, Roger Charlton’s ROYAL SILK can maintain her unbeaten record this season in a race where I expect Black Cherry to try and make all the running for last year’s victorious yard but the main danger appears to be Deep Blue Sea, runner-up on both her 2015 starts. Obviously the 3:50 will be of most interest on this forum. The race has been won twice before by Chain Of Events but he does not come here in great form this term; and last time finished behind Kastini, who has been raised 4lb for finishing third. The topweight Rembrandt Van Rijn is up 8lb for his easy win at Chester last time and has sound claims on form if the quicker ground is not an issue (8th of 16 last run on fast ground). Solo Hunter comes here in excellent form but the ground may be his undoing as all his wins have come on going that includes the word ‘soft’ and at lower grade, which may be why they have booked a claimer to offset the 4lb he has been raised for finishing second at Windsor last time. I must be missing something with Field Of Fame because all he has to boast from three career starts is a heavy ground maiden win as a two year old. That does lead us to SQUIRE, in receipt of nearly a stone from the favourite. If David Lanigan’s charge is a group horse, he may win this on the bit but he is opposable in a race where the only definite pacesetter is a non runner.
One for me today in the 5.05 Newton Abbot - Party Palace 12/1 B355. Going back to 2013 won 3 times over course and distance, respectable 3rd on reappearance at this venue last month and I think has a great each way chance.
The 3yr old race next at sandown is one hell of a tight race but I will have a small ew on theydonbois at 22/1 the claimer rosie looks responsible fo the odds fingers crossed
So much for Royal Silk at Sandown: travelled well enough but then emptied out quickly at the business end of the race. The winner changed tactics (perhaps concerned about stamina doubt – made all over 7 furlongs last time) and sat behind the leader and when it faded and rolled off the rail, Hughes shot through and settled the race in a matter of strides. Clearly Black Cherry is better than a handicapper.
squire a great 3rd for the ew thieves !! Battling performance against a good fiel - well done stick /dom N !!
