Looking at the Racing Post ratings for Chester Vase horses that hold a Derby entry, Hans Holbein is rated 122 (the same as Best Of Times), Storm The Stars is rated 118 and Proposed is rated 108. Amongst the Derby favourites Golden Horn is rated 136, Zawraq 126, Elm Park 132, Jack Hobbs 130, Giovanni Canaletto 105, Kilimanjaro 121, Aloft 126, Epicuris 126, Highland Reel 124 and Christophermarlowe 123. Interestingly, Found (rated 130) is in a couple of ante post lists – do they think that if she wins the Irish 1000 Guineas easily she could take on the colts? She is the top-rated Ballydoyle horse except Gleneagles (137).
Toppy I respect your opinion and will take this onboard, but I seem to remember ruler of the world going to Epsom unfancied after a good win at Chester. It wouldn't be the first time an o'brien second or third string wins a classic.
Shergs all I'm saying is ill not dismiss this form out of hand. Btw who do you think Ryan Moore will ride in the Derby.
Probably Hans Holbein unless Giovanni Canoletto puts in a decent performance over the weekend. Which is far from guarenteed
I guess Sandro Botticelli could be a "left field" player? Although he doesn't currently hold a Derby entry. Hope we don't have to put up the old "Cancelled due to lack of a quality 3YO colt" sign
Surely Gleneagles is worth backing for the Derby at 3/1 NRNB just to lay back on the day. If he runs he'll surely go off a lot shorter. Even Dawn Approach with his major stamina concerns went off 5/4. Punters like backing Guineas winners in the Derby, especially when they're trained by the trainer of the last 3 derbys. He'll be a 6/4 shot if he runs
It's highly unlikely he'll run, but you get your money back anyways so nothing lost. I'm far from convinced either that he's AOBs best miler. Rock Of Gibralter, George Washington and Henrythenavigator where all pretty good aswell. I'd probably say Henrythenavigator was his best, taking into consideration the competition he faced
I never take any notice of the likes of AOB, everything he says is just to promote them as a stallion for when they retire. He lost all credibility when he tried to claim Camelot was his best
I don't dislike O'Brien as a person but he really does come out with some Grade A ****e to keep his paymasters happy I suppose we all do, well not a professional gambler like you Shergy, but us mere mortals sometimes must
It could well be that Gleneagles will not run in the Derby.Everyone tells me this so it must be right. However I stick with my statement that he is the best chance AOB has of winning the Derby. Let's see what happens today.
AOB's best miler? All about opinions but it would have to be Rock Of Gibraltar for me. Look at the acceleration he shows here in the Grand Criterium:
Gleneagles has some way to go to be Aidan O’Brien’s best miler – ignoring anything that the trainer says himself. He clearly was not seen at his best in the Irish 2000 Guineas as it appeared to be a performance inferior to his Newmarket victory. If he goes to Royal Ascot they will be hoping for quick ground. Rock Of Gibraltar was rated 133 by Timeform. George Washington was rated 129, Henrythenavigator was rated 126. Currently Gleneagles is rated 126, which makes him the top three-year-old in Europe.
Rock Of Gibralter definately had the best race record of all of them. He didn't face the same level of competition Henrytyenavigator faced though. HTN faced a golden generation of 3yo colts with the likes of New Approach and Ravens Pass in his Guineas, and the form of those 3yos was endorsed when Ravens Pass and HTN stepped up in trip and finished 1-2 in the Breeders Cup classic, Americas biggest race, that was after dominating the European mile division between them. Not to mention New Approach smashing Newmarkets 10 furlong track record, in the Champion Stakes. 3 super talented colts! Nothing Rock Of Gibraltar faced was even close to the class of what HTN was taking on
I'm sorry to say but time form are complete idiots. Anyone who thinks HTN was behind the likes of Canford Cliffs has no clue about horses. 126 rating is a joke!
