3.05 Ascot DISEGNO 8/1 The very solid staying on 3rd when behind Derby winner GOLDEN HORN means that Disegno can go close at an each-way price on Thursday. Looks a typical Stoute horse who will improve as he goes on. I just think this might be the sort of race the horse will thrive on- a nice field and a good gallop to aim at. I respect Time Test that Sir Barney likes. 3.45 GRETCHEN 9/1 Looks like a real 3 Y O improver for John Gosden. Won on debut at Newmarket just 34 days ago and Gosden said she had been working nicely on the bridle at home. That's an important consideration as she is related to real stayers like Duncan and Samuel. If this filly has the cruising speed for high quality 1m 4f races then she could have a very nice season indeed, because she will not lack for stamina. Considering that Wedding Vow is nice but still a maiden, and that the Irish 2000 form looks like crumbling a little bit, this Gosden/Buick horse might just be one that improves past a reasonably even matched bunch of 3 Y O fillies. 4.20 MIZZOU 5/1 Just looks a stayer. Really nice form coming into this, no issues with the ground, and the trainer really does like him. His victory over Vent De Force reads well and I think he can land the spoils. Forgotten Rules has tonnes of potential but I'd say they are concerned about this fast ground. The outside flutters look like AJAYA 20/1 in the opener, pulling well clear of the field when an unlucky 2nd on debut and pitched in by Haggas who holds this in some regard it seems (sent off very well backed on debut). The winner has won again since- again oulling clear of a field with another rival- whilst the 4th from Ajays debut went on to win cosily at York also. I just got the impression that was a nice horse and any step forward should see it in the frame. This looks like going off at a mad mans gallop and those who can travel strongly off that pace might have it set up for them, and Ajaya struck me as a live proposition. I think the King George V race can go the way of DARTMOUTH, who can land this for the Queen after a solid effort when hampered at Sandown behind Jack Hobbs, and the extra emphasis on stamina to be right up his street. (Dubawi out of a Galileo mare), keeping on strongly at the line at Sandown.
Why run them both in this race, I know it's different owners but surely they could have swayed either party elsewhere unless it really is that close between them
I really like PEACOCK tomorrow. Solid form in listed company this season and only horse to beat him this year was the Derby winner GOLDEN HORN. Looking friendless on oddschecker this evening but surely that form is at least the equal of anything TIME TEST has offered up!
I am amazed that Hannon is running what looks to be two exceptional horses in the first race. It is a very difficult situation to call as they appear to be each others main opposition, yet if I were confident that either could land the prize I would not waste the other when I could be running it elsewhere in the week. I have seen nothing more impressive than King of the Rooks this season and so cannot desert him at the last minute. I have not backed him in a single as too short for me but I have him doubles, trebles and accas with various others, if he wins these bets look good, if he loses most will be down the pan. most likely treble King of Rooks - Time Test - Spiriting (Leics)
My only other bet today will be Make It Up in the 5pm at Royal Ascot. Little doubt for me about stamina (Halling won some major races upwards of a mile) and if, as I expect, he improves by the step up in trip, I think he'll take some beating. 16/1 e/w.
MMmmmm............. not by a long way Dexter. There's another horse he owned that some would say was better than Pebbles. As it is Timeform rate Petingo the equal of Pebbles. I wouldn't like to choose. Racing is an up and down business. Ballymacoll lost their best mare two months ago when Highland Gift died after foaling. This week they signalled the loss of another mare, Olympienne, the dam of Patkai who won the Queen's Vase and was second in the Gold Cup. She has no yearling or foal but her 3yo daughter Moruadh runs an hour before sunset at Leicester tonight. She's now a valuable filly and a win in a tricky race will cement her future at stud. The mare does have a 2yo colt and given the way things happen he'll probably turn out useful. Superyacht is a well-named Fastnet Rock full-brother to Moruadh.
Had me a nibble at the 1st round leader market on the exchanges- Jason Day 70/1, Adam Scott 40/1, and Billy Horschel at 84/1. Looks a tough course but we will see!
Don't get fooled by that, his best friends a pro gambler, say no more. Double your stakes on the jolly now I've joined the county set on TIME TEST 5/2 as well, looks a big old price to me. I think he's a Group 1 horse (as per SBC's implications) in the making and today's a Group 3. Should win nicely and the party's on at Chuckle Towers again!
I'm on King of Rooks Beefy, will drift to 5/4 on the back of those comments though Backing Time Test also and a double Will probably also back Dissolution in the last who finished 2nd to Time Test last time out but that will depend on how Time Test runs
the way i see the opener is this : is it better for a 2 year old to come into Royal Ascot having 3 runs or just the 1? toss of a coin job really but I am slightly leaning towards King of Rooks atm if only because the value has now also gone on Log Out Island.
After Wednesday – one favourite lucky to win a race and one favourite throwing away a race – every expectation that the taps have been on in preparation for the Gold Cup. That Gok Wan will be out of control as it is Ladies’ Day. Get well soon Jimmy Fortune: the course quack sent him to the hospital and they found he had fractured vertebrae from his fall. I was right about Dettori getting his 50 in the last but did not have a penny on it. He will probably get to 51 today but not carrying my cash: Norfolk Stakes: King Of Rooks (no bet, do not touch two-year-olds at this meeting + 20/1 bar two is a joke) Tercentenary Stakes: BOCCA BACIATA Ribblesdale Stakes: Pleascach (no bet, do not bet odds on) Gold Cup: Mizzou (no bet) Britannia Stakes: Sahaafy (no bet, do not do many handicaps here) King George V: Dissolution (no bet, do not do many handicaps here)
I know Sir Barney and others are very sweet on Time Test but I keep getting drawn back to Bocca Baciata's comfortable defeat of Pleascach & Diamondsandrubies over 10f as the outstanding piece of form to date. She travelled well but was done for toe in the Irish 1000 guineas, back over 10f today I think she has a big chance
Am I missing something about Pleascach that makes her such a heavy favourite? By all means make her favourite but surely she's never an odds on shot? To me there's a few other horses that look like the longer trip with suit them much better, Pamona and Curvy being the main ones. Then you also have likely improvers in Gretchen and Pandora to factor in. To me Curvy is the value bet, will love the trip and worth taking on Pleascach. In such a wide open race I just couldn't be having the favourite at those odds.
With Forgotten Rules a confirmed runner The Gold Cup has become a no bet race for me, if he handles the ground I expect him to win well but it's a big IF and at the current price I'm happy to leave well alone
There are negatives about the principals stallions at Royal Ascot, Halling 2-40, Azamour 0-16, Teofilio 0-16, Duke Of Marmalade 0-5. Records of the stallions in Group 1 and 2 are interesting too; Duke Of Marmalade 0-15 whilst Azamour is 1-31. At Royal Ascot in Group 1 or 2, records of the stallions read Teofilio 0-9, Halling 1-15.
