Even by Newmarket standards, this was the coldest Guineas meeting that I have ever attended. What will definitely stick in the memory is the way that the drizzle started at about 3:30 on Sunday afternoon whilst awaiting the delayed start to the 1000 Guineas and never stopped; yet driving home West along the A14 the cloud disappeared after Cambridge and the journey was unbroken sunshine until it set.
Just a few notes on some of the horses that I looked at, which may (or may not) be of interest to readers. Please note that I am considered (by some) to be totally anti Aidan O'Brien so offering him the best of luck with Maybe in the Oaks was a totally cynical move on my part (but he did shake my hand, so no hard feelings).
Masked Marvel (J Gosden) - I am not suire that he was entirely wound up (this will sound like a repeat by the end of this piece about Gosden's horses) but it is hard to say how good the race will turn out to be as it oozed quality on paper but was an unsatisfactory race in reality.
Abtaal (J-C Rouget) - arguably the form pick in the Guineas but did not look happy to be over here. Having not seen him before, perhaps he is always like that. Will probably hose up at Longchamp now!
Camelot (A O'Brien) - did not look very big, which perhaps means that he is still growing and there is better to come. His Derby backers will hope so!
Fencing (J Gosden) - I thought about backing him each way in the Guineas until I saw him. He was another Gosden horse that looked like something had been left to work on. Will he head for the Dante? Lots of questions here.
French Fifteen (N Clement) - the chestnut looked the best of the three French contenders before the race (and turned out that way in the race). Only time will tell if appearances are deceptive.
Top Offer (R Charlton) - is this definitely a three-year-old? Physically there is plenty of scope for improvement so perhaps he was pitched in at the deep end on his second start.
Noble Mission (Sir H Cecil) - I am sure there is some reason for the hood (I am just ignorant about what it would be) but he did not seem anything like his brother except in the race itself.
Izzi Top (J Gosden) - somebody tell Mr Gosden that he needs to pay me to never back his filly. She wins when I pass her over and she looked like she would need the race so I left her alone. She only loses when my money is on (two third places last year) so what should I do if she contests the Middleton at York?
Khawlah (S bin Suroor) - definitely one to avoid. She looked like a scrawny two-year-old, not a four-year-old and she got very warm along her neck despite it being cold and damp (unlike the Dubai weather that she last won in). She ran like she looked.
Primevere (R Charlton) - looked fantastic and deservedly won best turned out, but the way she ran says she does not like soft ground (not encountered it before).
Lightening Pearl (G Lyons) - looked great before the race, so no excuses there; but after cruising for seven furlongs I think she did not stay (and would not have caught the winner anyway).
Homecoming Queen (A O'Brien) - did not look like a potential Guineas winner beforehand so I guess that shows what I know! She could have been the lead pony cantering the favourite to the start! Terrific pedigree so they'll be ecstatic with the best black type going!
Hazel Lavery (C Hills) - would have been the pick on appearance but difficult to judge in the rain. Finishing a remote second may mean that the winner is great or the ground was everything.
Arsaadi (W Haggas) - there was plenty of money for her but I do not know why as she did not catch the eye in the paddock. When I saw the betting I had to look in the racecard!
Just a few notes on some of the horses that I looked at, which may (or may not) be of interest to readers. Please note that I am considered (by some) to be totally anti Aidan O'Brien so offering him the best of luck with Maybe in the Oaks was a totally cynical move on my part (but he did shake my hand, so no hard feelings).
Masked Marvel (J Gosden) - I am not suire that he was entirely wound up (this will sound like a repeat by the end of this piece about Gosden's horses) but it is hard to say how good the race will turn out to be as it oozed quality on paper but was an unsatisfactory race in reality.
Abtaal (J-C Rouget) - arguably the form pick in the Guineas but did not look happy to be over here. Having not seen him before, perhaps he is always like that. Will probably hose up at Longchamp now!
Camelot (A O'Brien) - did not look very big, which perhaps means that he is still growing and there is better to come. His Derby backers will hope so!
Fencing (J Gosden) - I thought about backing him each way in the Guineas until I saw him. He was another Gosden horse that looked like something had been left to work on. Will he head for the Dante? Lots of questions here.
French Fifteen (N Clement) - the chestnut looked the best of the three French contenders before the race (and turned out that way in the race). Only time will tell if appearances are deceptive.
Top Offer (R Charlton) - is this definitely a three-year-old? Physically there is plenty of scope for improvement so perhaps he was pitched in at the deep end on his second start.
Noble Mission (Sir H Cecil) - I am sure there is some reason for the hood (I am just ignorant about what it would be) but he did not seem anything like his brother except in the race itself.
Izzi Top (J Gosden) - somebody tell Mr Gosden that he needs to pay me to never back his filly. She wins when I pass her over and she looked like she would need the race so I left her alone. She only loses when my money is on (two third places last year) so what should I do if she contests the Middleton at York?
Khawlah (S bin Suroor) - definitely one to avoid. She looked like a scrawny two-year-old, not a four-year-old and she got very warm along her neck despite it being cold and damp (unlike the Dubai weather that she last won in). She ran like she looked.
Primevere (R Charlton) - looked fantastic and deservedly won best turned out, but the way she ran says she does not like soft ground (not encountered it before).
Lightening Pearl (G Lyons) - looked great before the race, so no excuses there; but after cruising for seven furlongs I think she did not stay (and would not have caught the winner anyway).
Homecoming Queen (A O'Brien) - did not look like a potential Guineas winner beforehand so I guess that shows what I know! She could have been the lead pony cantering the favourite to the start! Terrific pedigree so they'll be ecstatic with the best black type going!
Hazel Lavery (C Hills) - would have been the pick on appearance but difficult to judge in the rain. Finishing a remote second may mean that the winner is great or the ground was everything.
Arsaadi (W Haggas) - there was plenty of money for her but I do not know why as she did not catch the eye in the paddock. When I saw the betting I had to look in the racecard!
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