What did you make of Saddlers Rock? Personally I was delighted. I'm hoping it puts people off backing it at Ascot because I think he was strongest at the line and he will be sound on better ground at Ascot. I think he'll go close there should he run. By the way ROTO I caught that Qarabaas performance just now, blimey it hacked up.
Was chuffed but bookies have shortened him after that which I was hoping they wouldn't. Still 6/1 best priced but I can't see him any shorter on the day so will hold off until then.
I didnt fancy him before tonight's race, and I certainly don't fancy him now. For me Fame and Glory and Opinion Poll are along way ahead of him
See I disagree Shergar, first run back in a 4 runner race held up with no pace when you are a stamina horse is a nightmare. I think he did very well to get so close and I can easily see him being one of the 2 or 3 to stay on and power away from the pack at Royal Ascot over an extra 4 furlongs. I admire Opinion Poll massively but he will never quite be Gold Cup winner standard but will run his race, he's been super. Fame And Glory is a rightful favourite but he does worry me over these trips, I sometimes wonder if it is just pure class that gets him through because he has not been at his best. In is favour though, he seems to be excellent at Ascot. I'd be happy to take a chance on Sadlers Rock though I think. Fame & Glory, Opinion Poll & Sadlers Rock wouldnt be a bad little tricast I should think.
Extra 6 furlongs Toppy on top of tonights trip. Badly needed that reappearance on ground that didn't suit. May be wrong but I think he'll walk all over F&G
I just keep thinking Yeats, everytime I think of Fame And Glory. AOB has so many top class middle distance horses that he can step up to the plodders division. Look what *** achieved over 12fs, he is a completely different class of horse to the rest of the staying division, just as Yeats was. Il personally be very surprised if he doesn't win the Gold Cup again*
I agree. Up until now he is a completely different class of horse to the rest of the staying division. BUT the young pretender is going to take away his crown
Will be interesting to watch. Fame and Glory would likely have had a multitude of top class Group 1s to his name over middle distance but for Sea The Stars. Fame is a league above most of the staying division but I genuinely think Saddlers Rock is a bit of a staying gem waiting to happen. Oxx won't waste a trip over here if he didnt think he'd belong in that sort of class. They are very closely matched on a line through Unaccompanied and it is hard to say who had run of the race- did F&G have the run of the race LTO, and is it fair to say that Saddlers Rock did not have anywhere near the idea sort of race? That course form does build a strong case for F&G though whatever me may think, and Ascot does have a habit of track specialism.
F&G will have needed his outing as well he will win at Ascot. If he is beaten it will not be by Saddlers Rock. No danger at all
The conditions were completely different to be taking a line through Unacompied, it was bottomless ground at leapardstown tonight, and Pat Smullen didn't give her a tough race, knowing the ground was against her. Where as against *** it was good to firm and he thrashed the **** out of her, yet she still couldn't get past ***
