Jack Hobbs probably should have still been good enough to win today, though I'm far from ignoring the draw which made him work a lot harder than a lot of the others early on. 4 wide going into the turn, and he had to work hard just to ensure he was only trapped 1 wide. I know many won't agree with me but I don't give a **** to be honest. A Low draw and I feel he'd of won easily, as he'd of reserved energy early on. Rather than going for it like he was forced to. Imagine being in stall 1 or 2 for example? Slowly away and not having to worry about things early on. It's alot more tricky when your drawn wide. And the fools who are stupid enough to believe they are not at an advantage really want their heads testing
This draw thing just won't let me go....................... had a look at the draw effect in the last 11 runnings of the Prince Of Wales Stakes (same course and distance as the Champion Stakes). It paints a very clear picture (albiet these are facts, not laced with conjecture ): 2015 Free Eagle drawn 4 of 9 2014 The Fugue drawn 7 of 8 2013 Al Kazeem drawn 9 of 11 2012 So You Think drawn 7 of 11 2011 Rewilding drawn 6 of 7 2010 Byword drawn 8 of 12 2009 Vision d’Etat drawn 7 of 8 2008 Duke Of Marmalade drawn 13 of 13 (NR from stall 4) 2007 Manduro drawn 4 of 7 2006 Ouija Board drawn 5 of 7 2005 – race ran at York 2004 Rakti drawn 10 of 10 The stats here actually showing the high draw has the advantage I rest my case your honour.
In that case do we think Gosden made too much of the draw effect and that caused Buick to want to race to far forward to get in
Yep, still fixated by Frankie's ride at Longchamp and probably deep down knew JH does not have the speed and gears to be a 10F champion, hence tried to make it a real stamina test, leaving him vulnerable to a finisher. But they got the draw excuse in early so many will simply buy into that
Which is surprising as he ran a great race in the Dante over 10f, either way he clearly wasn't good enough yesterday
I take into account the prince of Wales stakes stats, though I still feel travelling further from a wide draw is a disadvantage. That's why I didn't invest any money on him yesterday. I don't agree that he lacks gears for 10 furlongs, the reason he was beaten yesterday is because they made far to much use of him early on which played into the hands of the hold up horses. Maybe they should have just dropped him in out the back, though it's easy to say in hindsight. I remember John Gosdens horse Nathaniel getting stuffed in this race from a tricky high draw and employing similar tactics, and he still went on win an Eclipse at 10 furlongs the following year. And I think Jack Hobbs will be the same, he'll win G1s at 10 furlongs, I'm certain of that. He's a horse with lots of speed
Is he definitely staying in training as a 4YO? It would be good to see him try and prove he does have the speed and gears for 10F as I agree he is better than he showed yesterday.
Rugby Union is a minority sport in Britain (most people only watch the Six Nations). Horse Racing is a minority sport in Britain (most people only watch the Grand National and possibly The Derby). So why did the idiots that run Horse Racing insist on moving the start time for their Champions’ Day forward to avoid a conflict with the Rugby World Cup? The sponsors from Qatar have no interest in Rugby Union (yet – probably looking to buy the World Cup) so they just want as many Horse Racing fans as possible. Most of the people who prefer Rugby Union to Horse Racing had bought their tickets months ago. The casual spectators who might have been attracted to Ascot for the event were probably put off by the early start meaning that those outside the South East bubble were faced with a very early start to get there. Horse Racing in Britain is a sport rushing headlong to oblivion. My calendar for next year currently has just four days on it – three at Newmarket, one at Sandown – far and away the lowest in 30 years following the game.
I did not have the actual ‘dates’ but I had the meetings pencilled in and that included at least eight days at York, four or five at Doncaster, a couple of days on the Newmarket July course – all victims of changes at the racecourses and Racing For Change fixture fiddling. Now I am down to the Guineas meeting, the Eclipse and the Dewhurst. At the moment I have got nothing in France next year because Longchamp is closed for redevelopment although I am thinking of possibly trying to do the Prix Du Jockey Club at Chantilly and the French ‘Guineas’ at Deauville.
I have been there three times in August and I expect that in May it will be almost deserted as it is a holiday town. Might be a make or break year for me in 2016. Granted there is nothing that the authorities can do about the weather, but another crap summer like the last three might see me stop going altogether and stop betting (no Levy contributions from my miniscule betting turnover). They could stop turning the taps on at every opportunity – the false ground is one of the reasons that I scarcely ever bet in France and it keeps my money out of the bookies here too. The total incompetence of the people that run British racing over the last decade has been significant. Clearly they are so desperate to attract youngsters to throw their money away that us time-served followers are expendable. Are they getting their wish?
My local course Newcastle have/are ripping up a superb grass track for the sand and weekend night meetings to pack the drinkers/hen do/stag do in for their cash.These people do not even watch a race and for the most part never set eyes on a horse whilst there. I won;t be back and went to most of the meets.
Just back from a great w-end and enjoyed the Ascot experience. Backed 2 winners Muharaar and Solow which payed the drinks bill ! That was some roar when Jack Hobbs broke for the border but it wasn't to be. Would like to try the opposite scale to Ascot with a small course that has good atmosphere and is fairly close to an airport. Don't care if the racing is ****e, it's just to get a homely vibe and a bit of craic. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Not sure where you are flying from, but Chester's May meeting was always brilliant when I used to go there in the 1990s. Not too far from Manchester Airport and some really decent racing
Thanks for that O.D. Was in Chester August of last year and had a ball. Stayed in the Holiday Inn and couldn't believe how close it was to the course. You could have kicked a ball from the hotel car park and landed it on the course !!! One of the best atmospheres i ever experienced at a meeting. Flew from Dublin b.t.w.
I didn't watch any of it. Waste of a meeting. From the Channel 4 viewing figures, it seems many agree. The trouble is the racing industry just look at the whole of British racing with rose tinted glasses and constantly pat themselves on the back. There always seems to be an excuse when it comes to viewing figures. Ok Channel 4's coverage is poor but the sport isn't attracting interest. It is not just viewing figures that are down either. So is betting and plenty of bookmakers have warned British racing about this decline. Yes, racecourse attendances are up but for me that is more to do with hospitality and entertainment at racecourses rather than the horse racing. There seems far too many drunk parties at courses now. Ascot may have attracted a big crowd on Saturday but then so did the Shergar Cup. The standard of Chumpions Day has been constantly poor too. Frankel aside. This years' Champion Stakes was never a Group 1. It was a Group 3 event at best. Only Ribbons had won a weight-for-age race before. Compare that with 8 from the 2010 equivalent at Newmarket. Since Champions Day started in 2011, out of 25 races, only five times has the horse leading a race category ran in that race and on two occassions that was Frankel. I have even seen tweets and comments saying the 'world's best horses' had ran at Ascot on Saturday. Well I must have missed Golden Horn, Legitissimo, Treve, New Bay, Order Of St George, Free Eagle, The Grey Gatsby, Postponed, Limato, Undrafted, Time Test, Night Of Thunder... The Ascot Gold Cup winner turned up.
