Agree about The Classics, retirement may be looming.
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How long has it been since a top class 2yo went on to great things. Air Force Blue and Too Darn Hot were both superb and were so flat as 3yo. Still time for Pinatubo but that’ll be the last time I take one of his ilk for the Guineas again.
Gleneagles is the only semi credible candidate I can think of off the top of my head in the last few years. Even then he tailed off in his 3 year old season. Frankel won the Royal Lodge and the Dewhurst at 2 and trained on well but he's unlikely to be remembered for his 2 year old campaign.
Good winner of the 1000 Guineas, Love is 7/4 for the Oaks. I thought the favourite, Quadrilateral, was too free but definitely looks like she would stay the mile and a half, so still worth keeping an eye on.
Even though there's no crowd, quite enjoying watching some live sport again.
O'Brien had one runner in the race, that should have been a tip in itself. No, I didn't back her.
Quadrilateral looks an Oaks horse, stayed on nicely. The one that caught my eye was Romsey in 5th. 200/1 but stayed nicely, been campaigned at 6f to a mile. I think she could be competitive over a bit further
Guys, I know it's been said before, but NEVER, NEVER, cash out. If you lose, please take the hit and move on. Lesson well and truly learned today. £5 five race acca, returning £560. I cashed out for just £50 after three races. Fourth horse won, then Siskin went and won the Irish 2000 Guineas. Over £500 down the cludgie because I bottled it. Feels like I've been mugged on the street.
Siskin was a very good winner there. The Coolmore tactic was quite clearly to box him in and obstruct him the whole way. Keane stayed calm and the turn of foot inside the final furlong when the gap appeared was impressive.
Vatican City was an eye catcher in 2nd, I'll be taking another look at him for the derby.
Crossfirehurricane was very good in the previous race, a Group 3. Had £20 on him as single, as well as part of the acca, as 5/1 looked good. He was 7/1 by post. Good patient ride, holding him up at the back before letting him go in the last couple of furlongs. Comfortable in the end, he remains unbeaten and could be destined for better. Mythical, as favourite, ran a stinker.
Siskin's a great wee horse, was really chuffed to see him win. I've never thought he's got the credit he deserves even though he was fav for the race, so now more people will take him seriously.
Start of Royal Ascot today. Good race the first one, won by Circus Maximus.
Two days in a row there's been 1 person waiting on the 7th race to scoop the ITV7 pot. Rollover to £200k for tomorrow. Had the first 4 winners on day 1 but hopeless since then.
Liam Treadwell, of Mon Mome 100/1 fame, found dead this morning. It reads like he took his own life, 34 years old.
What a tragedy.
Obviously very tragic news regarding Liam Treadwell. The mental strain placed on jockeys is something that isn't discussed that regularly, probably partly due to the belief that they all make far more than we do. The truth is very different from that, and the pressure placed on them is phenomenal. Treadwell was a good jockey who had some terrible injuries in the course of his short career, but he always managed to come back somehow. R.I.P.
I feel sorry for Tom Marquand who rode the Derby fav English King to 2 victories including a really impressive win in the Lingfield Derby Trial. He's been jocked off and surprise surprise Dettori's been given it. Owner's prerogative I suppose but it still leaves a bit of a sour taste.
NEVER NEVER is too sweeping a statement. Cash out is all about timing, change to going, new information learned after the bet is on...a whole list of possibles. It's a valuable tool which I'll admit the bookies love or they wouldn't offer it but used sensibly it's good for the punter too.
Thoughts on the Derby? It looks a pretty poor running, Jamie Spencer described it as no better than a Group 2 or 3 race.
I'll have a couple of pound on Vatican City who looked quite eye catching in 2nd in the Irish Guineas. It didn't look like the often misleading passing a few tired horses who were going backwards scenario either. He's ran on a couple of times, my gut is he is going to be a 1m2f horse but I can easily see him running into a place today.
I agree it doesn't look anything special this year. I'm on Mogul at 12's. Hopeful he will strip a bit fitter than Ascot, but if I wasn't already on I wouldn't have a bet on the Derby today.
Small bet on English King as he looks the most likely to stay. The 2nd in the Lingfield Derby Trial finished 2nd to The Irish Derby winner at Ascot so, the form looks solid enough. I'm trying hard not to get involved with the gee gees but, it's The Derby so, would be rude not to. ☺
Great ride by Emmet McNamara.
Carbon copy of the race before won by William Buick. Get a lead, break the field apart and trust the horse to stay. Huge miscalculation by the other jockeys, particularly those from about 2nd to 6th.
Love was extremely impressive in the Oaks. Just as impressive as she was in the 1000 Guineas. Very good horse. 11/10 was a really good price if you had a bet.
I was on Love, and she was superb. Glad I didn't get involved in The Derby; it was wide open and turned out very like last year's Irish Derby, in that a big priced horse was given a big lead and just kept going. Serpentine was a unique winner, doing it in such a facile way, devoid of any rival. Very strange race.
Whilst I'm unsure if Enable is a gimme tomorrow, I'm definitely going to back her.