We're a week away from the biggest flat meeting of the year and I thought it might be handy to have a thread to have a chat about the festival. I'm not a big flat man so could be helped along by those that put more effort into the Summer version of the sport. One I'll be getting stuck into is Mars who I am led to believe by the RP will be running in a group 3 over 1mile 2f. That'll be my biggest bet of the week unless I get taken by something between now and then. I hope they let Stubbs run in the Coventry. I was veer taken by his performance LTO when heavily backed. What are the forum's thoughts?
Animal Kingdom is the big talking point of the Royal meeting this season, and I really would love to take him on, but on the formbook his only rival has already been announced as being lame. I wouldn't want to back Animal Kingdom, but does anyone think he has anything to beat?
No, he doesn't really have much competition without Cityscape and Farhh. His connections are quite shrewd I think. They have sized up European mile racing and decided there's nothing there after Frankel so have brought him over to sweep up these group ones. Clever operation.
All the talk has been about Animal Kingdom but that is only the first race of the meeting. I think that he is opposable running on grass over a mile. I would have been happier if they had run him in the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes as I think he is more of a ten furlong horse, but that race is much more competitive these days. Certainly if all the ‘home’ team big names show up for the Prince Of Wales show up it may turn out to be the race of the meeting. Al Kazeem and Camelot could meet Farhh and Snow Fairy. As there does not appear to be much prospect of Dawn Approach turning up for the St James’ Palace Stakes, I am expecting Magician to throw his hat into the champion miler ring; although I would rather see him aimed at ten furlong races like the Eclipse. When Just The Judge and Sky Lantern meet again, I think there is every chance that the Newmarket runner-up will reverse the placings as she lost my ante post bet in the 1000 Guineas and will probably turn out to be one of those fillies that only wins when I do not back it. Curious that the sprints are not getting much attention this year, as the Aussies have not shipped any big names over, but my bet of the week may end up being Society Rock. What the whole meeting really needs is good weather for the next ten days. If it turns up soft, the whole meeting will be a no bet for me.
I always forgive a horse one bad run, especially if it's too bad to be true. I interpreted Cityscape as the horse with the best form in the Lockinge and I'll be taking another chance on him if he turns up in the Queen Anne, especially if he's near his current price.
I like Just The Judge as well and would be keen to take a bigger price about Magician than DA will be. Garswood over 7f also interesting.
Bag of ****e: Small field Group 1s Unfathomable Handicaps ("Heritage Handicaps" ) 24-runner 2YO races Toffs and snobbery Chavs Apart from that it's great Rite Of Passage for the Gold Cup is probably the only bet I'll be having
Anything that ma boy Wesley Ward sends over, he's not over here for a holiday. He's here to run riot.
Yep Bob and how many proper group 1 horses are in the older miling division? Haven't seen anything re Cityscape Nass? Farhh is.
Not many which is why I wrote about the Animal Kingdom team bringing him here this year. Cityscape is a group 2 animal. His connections are intelligent race planners.
Snow Fairy if she runs in the POW. Love that mare. She's been incredibly consistent at the highest level over 3 seasons.
