2000 Guineas 2017

thanks for correcting me ld73
Saeed bin Suroor whos number one jock willie carson having trouble keeping up

LostSoldier3 wrote:

Frustrating race – no pace and Lancaster Bomber played the role of spoiler. I suspect there would have been a different winner if someone had supplied a pacemaker.

Churchill was perfectly placed and had the benefit of running in a straight line while others were forced to circumnavigate the Bomber and come from behind off a slow gallop. The way Ballydoyle set today’s race up suggests they’re very nervous about Churchill’s stamina even at a mile, so it seems doubtful he’ll be lining up at Epsom. O’Brien has a handful of other good contenders for that race anyway.

Al Wukair and Barney Roy come out with their reputations enhanced and I’m sure both will fancy their chances of reversing the result in the St James’ Palace. Certainly didn’t look like Al Wukair needed the visor the trainer was threatening.

As for Lancaster Bomber, it speaks volumes for his inferiority that he was a well held fourth despite having all the tactical advantages. He’ll have little business in this company going forward.

I expected a furious race and a fast time but it never happened.

Mind you, the times in general were nothing special today at Newmarket.

Looking at it again, it’s a funny old race. At one stage it looks like Churchill won’t catch Lancaster Bomber but entering the final furlong it then seems Churchill win go and win it by two or three lengths. In the end he does have enough to spare but personally speaking I don’t see him getting a mile and a half at all. William Hill are having a laugh at the 7/4 odds quoted when I looked earlier.

Barney Roy seemed to run a bit green. He hung across Eminent a bit, who, in turn, went mighty near to Al Wukair and I thought the French colt was slightly intimidated by a huge horse looming close to him. I am not sure if Al Wukair really needed to be taken as wide as he was, having looked in a far worse position to strike from in the Djebel. Whatever the reason, he seemed to spend more of the race going sideways than anything else in the field.

It was a race that left as many questions as answers and opinion will be well spread.

Indeed, 7/4 from WH was silly. I understand they’ve cleared out most of their trading team and started from scratch in recent weeks so perhaps they’re all finding their feet with this sort of thing. We initially went 5/1 expecting that to be on the cautious side but it was certainly popular!

Maybe the rush was just people thinking they were getting some sort of palp because of BetVictor and WH’s crazy reactions. Who knows?

Yes Dream Castle looked good at the finish and I’d watch out for him again. Not sure about Eminent- he didn’t seem to get into a nice rhythm. I wonder how he will cope with the Derby.

I agree today was an excellently executed tactical race by the Old Firm using SOV and LB to close ranks and act as spoilers. There was no superhorse good enough to get round them, get into his stride and make his own race, and Churchill got the job done efficiently.

I have no idea who would have won if SOV and LB had set a fast pace, or hadn’t been in the race. It would have been so completely different that it’s impossible to tell. I was looking forward to a fast and furious fabulous race but it turned out to be a bit dull.

Nathan Hughes wrote:

Barney Roy would have benefited from a fast pace today but now Churchill has that run under his belt it wouldn’t make much difference to either both very good milers and both could be better at 10f imo

Jason Weaver said before the race that Churchill looked as fit as he could be for the first run of the year. He stated that, unlike some of Aidan’s other horses who are just out for a run, the ones aimed at the Guineas are trained to be ready for the Classic, they don’t go in half-baked when it’s the 2000 Guineas and a potential future stallion.

I don’t think Churchill has needed to run beyond his form from last year’s Dewhurst. I read David Lawrence on ATR stating that Churchill had to improve on last year’s form to win this but I don’t think he did.

Looking at the Craven, it didn’t look great really. Larchmont Lad was poor that day and was the same today. Rivet ran 10 lbs below his Racing Post Trophy effort and wasn’t thought worth coming to the Guineas. I feel time will tell it was a poor Craven that Eminent won.

The Greenham was better represented by Barney Roy and Dream Castle. They looked the only two going into that Newbury race and they both ran with great credit today.

As to the quality of the race today, the Racing Post gave Churchill and Lancaster Bomber running exactly to their Dewhurst marks today. Al Wukair was spot on his Djebel mark according to RPR, Barney Roy and Dream Castle both went up 4lbs and Eminent was 2 lbs below his Craven run, given 111.

Larchmont Lad was today’s big disappointment, down 12 lbs in scrambling in for second last from a 100/1 shot. His run on 98 was woeful for a classic contender. Not trained on on that evidence today.

Well done Darren. Great tipping.

I made it clear before the race that this wasn’t a race for me to go big at. But I’m very confident that on a different track, softer ground and faster pace to aim at – like the st james palace at Royal Ascot – al Wukair will be a big winner for me.

I very much fancy him for the SJP now assuming he goes there

From Triptych

Somehow been locked out of posting on TRF at the moment but wanted to say well done to all who backed Churchill today and to Judge who kept the faith, he won the race like the true professional that he is and it looks like we may have now seen the Derby winner.
Eminent very disappointing today he did look a bit lethargic in the paddock and wouldn’t be surprised to hear that all was not right today, the spark wasn’t there and he failed to quicken just running one paced the whole race, but no excuses the best horse won and Barney Roy is a horse going places what a great run from him today he is a fabulous looking horse he just didn’t handle the dip and uphill finish as well as Churchill did.
Al Wakair EW backers were rewarded I know Steve was very keen on him so well done Mr Caution.
Hope to get back on again soon as not being allowed to reply to topics is a bit of a pain.
Away from tomorrow until 17th so hopefully it will resolve before I get back.
Thanks to Nathan for posting this for me…Jac :)

Barney Roy 4/1 for the St James’ Palace looks more than fair. If Churchill’s sights are set on Epsom then Hannon’s colt will surely start nearer even-money.

Personally though, I think the horse is ideal candidate for the Eclipse – he just looks like the race will really suit.