‘A KINGS RANSOM’

[The Ante-Post King]

Thank goodness racing can take us out of ourselves for a while.

Never a truer word spoken Grimes,having said that I was supposed to have been down Nottingham Races last night for what we call our annual ‘Rat Pack’ but instead I was in the beautiful town of Harrogate visiting my mother who decided to take another overdose on Saturday morning!! Incredibly and thats the understatement of the year she gets admitted last Wednesday at Derby,I get a phone call to collect her the following evening saying she is OK to go home, on leaving the Staff nurse checks her for ‘Sharps’ as they say but gives her back a bloody great bag containing all her pills that the Paramedics removed from her house the night before!! Surprise, surprise she only goes and takes another Overdose! Straight back to Derby and then for some reason sent 90 miles north to a psychiatric hospital in Harrogate where I delivered her a suitcase of clothes last night,just to Piss me off even further my Father starts his Palliative care tomorrow and we all know what that means so I’ll be heading up the great North rd (A1) again to Scotland on Friday with my 3yo daughter who he absolutely dotes on,such is life Grimes as you yourself know only too well! Cheers!

PS,my 34 inch waist would struggle to squeeze into a ‘Ninja’ Suit these days and as for running across rooftops in the middle of the night with my Sword unleashed? Perish the thought,I’m getting a touch of vertigo thinkin about it!

[The Ante-Post King]

Gord just to wish your dad gets better i do.

Since you been gone gord a few things i like to get your thoughts on
what you think of THE FUGUE in nassau stakes. I thought she was a impressive winner also a few people say 1m2 is her best trip rather than a 1m4. but with the lack of top 3yo middle distance horses i think she do well in the arc. when you think of record that 3yos have in it what you say and with Gosden running more than one horse in last few big races. would not shock me on good ground come on the day of arc she could be there with NATHANIEL.

Any thoughts on the Nunthorpe as well i know you mention win by Inixile last week but for me the 2nd NOCTURNAL AFFAIR Could win the big race at York.6 weeks ago got a tweet back from David Marane when i asked about this horse he said he use tipperary as a prep race with nunthorpe main race.So i think NA was 70percent last week on ground he hated will put him spot on for this race now and with the race always run fast they go mad up front this hold up horse can finish very well.And if you look at past nunthorpe winners they been horses who won group one races in the nunthorpe.Don’t think
Sole Power,Margot Did won group one races before there nunthorpe wins.25/1 he is

And heard rumours that MARS will take on DAWN APPROACH in Futurity stakes gord so could see the current faves for derby and 2000 guineas clash.In the end Gord i see MARS as number one horse for AOB 2000 next year.With AFONSO DE SOUSA a decent 2nd string on fast ground.

Darren,you know me so when I say I thought

The Fugue

was a bloody certainty you know I would have backed her at 4/1! Nope I sat and watched her win kicking myself,never mind mate it still does your confidence good just to pick a winner. I’m on

Nathaniel

at 20/1 for the Arc and still only see

Sea Moon

as the danger,not ‘The Fugues’ race, she will go Champion Stakes route mate now as she has the ‘Musidora’ speed for sure these days!

Mars

can try all he likes to beat

Dawn Approach

but I cant see anything to touch him this year,he really has got everything including a gritty determination when he needs it,I just hope the Newmarket trainers haven’t got a secret weapon waiting in the wings,mind you it will have to be a pretty exceptional colt to get past mine come Dewhurst time!
As for

Nocturnal Affair

,I wouldn’t put you off as we know just what a fine line there is between top sprint handicappers and Group 1 Sprinters! I would like to see both

Prohibit

and

Hoof It

bounce back to their best,I dont know what to say about

Margot Did

though! Retire her! Good Luck

[Nathan Hughes]

My bank balance can testify that Margot Did has indeed retired.

What a nightmare you are going through Gord with your parents, I really feel for you mate……..

Charles Darwin to conquer the World

[darren83]

Gord did you see winning debut by ASHDAN trained by Gosden win at
Newmarket he looks a smart horse. same trainer had another debut winner at Sandown as well forget name of that horse i have now but both look intresting prospects.

[The Ante-Post King]

Cheers Nath but we all know things could be a lot worse you only have to think about whole families being wiped out by War and the wickedness humans can inflict on one another,its my way of dealing with things by telling myself some poor bugger is worse off than me!
Darren,yes I’ve seen this

Ashdan

and most unlike me I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place as far as trip goes with this superbly bred colt,his Maiden victory at Newmarket was slowly run which doesn’t do him any favours but he ran in snatches,showed Greeness by wandering around particularly with his head but he certainly wasn’t stopping at the end,in fact I got the impression he was only just letting the penny drop.I wish the Prince had let this ‘French’ Colt get trained in France as he’s got a look about him.early days but I’d like to see him in a Group race over a mile personally,33/1 for the 2000gns looks generous as I said to myself 20’s would seem nearer the mark. 50’s for the Derby might seem about right as I’m not so sure he’ll stay a 11/2m,I backed his Dam for the Oaks at 16/1 once though!

[stevecaution]

Gord did you see winning debut by ASHDAN trained by Gosden win at
Newmarket he looks a smart horse. same trainer had another debut winner at Sandown as well forget name of that horse i have now but both look intresting prospects.

Was that Excess Knowledge you are thinking about? He won half a length from a stable companion over a mile. I note that he is entered at Newbury on Saturday in the race over 7f (Frankie is booked to ride) that was once the Washington Singer stakes. He also holds a Royal Lodge entry. Mark Johnston’s Steeler is also entered on Saturday but I don’t see a jockey for him.

Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.

[darren83]

Yes that is the horse it is one i was thinking about.What you think of this horse

Also gord just seen entries for racingpost trophy and i see there is no THE UNITED STATES which is a shame as i know you liked him for this race.

[stevecaution]

Yes that is the horse it is one i was thinking about.What you think of this horse

I haven’t seen the race yet, just read the report. I am a little surprised that they would start off at a mile and then drop back to 7f. I would have thought that he would be more of a stayer than a miler next year. Will watch him next time for sure.

Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.

[darren83]

Did any of you guys see performance of Brother of Saddlers Rock tonight he flew the further he went very taking performance.

Any tips for weekend so far mine are

BROWN PANTHER
STRONG SUIT

CRACKERJACK KING.Arlington million

[darren83]

STRONG SUIT
BROWN PANTHER

MAPPIN TIME
BERTIEWHITTLE

CRACKERJACK KING
DADDY LONG LEGS

My bets today how about you guys.

[The Ante-Post King]

[attachment=0:j0fgxdpm]161i5g6.jpg[/attachment:j0fgxdpm]

Being up in Scotland yesterday to visit my Father I thought I’d pop over to St Andrews to see what is probably the most famous Golf Course in the world,legends have crossed the Swilken Bridge and yesterday it was my turn,I timed it right to have lunch in Anstruther and then back to my Fathers where we watched what will probably be our last race together,(The Great St Wilfred) I thought fate and Destiny or whatever else you might call it would shine down on us at this poignant moment as we had a score e/w on

Tax Free

at 20/1 but as bloody usual he runs a gallant place,No complaints but it would have meant so much to have gone out with a bang on a horse we have followed religiously!

[The Ante-Post King]

Its just over 2 years ago the Greatest Miler ever made his debut at Newmarket against the best 11/2m horse in training at the moment,

Frankel

beat

Nathaniel

by half a length that day. Wednesdays Juddmonte will see the rematch which will either confirm Frankel as a very special horse by finally proving he gets at least a bit further than just 8f…………..Or his bubble will burst with such a bang that he’ll make the 6 O clock news.For this race to actually confirm Frankels brilliance it would certainly help to see both ‘Nathaniel’ and ‘St Nicholas Abbey’ turn up and let ‘Windsor Place’ cut out a searching gallop,I cant understand for the life of me why ‘Twice Over’is running surely King Henry isn’t doubting the wonder horses stamina?? No I’m afraid without any serious opposition the race will prove nothing and we’ll never know just how good this ‘Wonder’ horse really was!Imagine if

Nathaniel

was to get the better of him by 3/4l?? I bet ‘Jonibake’ is a little more nervous than he dare admit! Lets hope they all run for sure because I’d love to see ‘Frankel’ Kick on by 3 lengths at the mile pole and watch ‘Nathaniel’ slowly cut him down to a neck then it comes to a battle,if that happens I’ll be cheering the ‘Wonder’ horse on to battle back and show the world he can win with both class and guts! 13 unlucky for some, I hope not!

[darren83]

Any thoughts on 1st day of york i like

AFONSO DE SOUSA
THOMAS CHIPPENDALE
SNA

Did you see Galieo Rock that last furlong remind me of Workforce when he won maiden at goodwood any thoughts.

[The Ante-Post King]

I’ll no doubt contribute to the

Tax Free

revenue fund Darren! There’s no way ‘Mister Manannan’ is a 5lb better horse than the old boy and so long as the ground stays fast he’ll run his race,hopefully at an e/w price.I like

Noble Mission

and we’ll see if this ‘Thomas Chippendale’ has improved again as ‘Frankels’ brother is a reliable yardstick and the step up in trip will suit.I hope

Frankel

gets the trip stood on his head then runs in the Arc and that way proves he is the best horse in the world!

Not just the best Miler!!

[Jonibake]

Hi Gord! Still waiting for that bubble to burst hey?! Well you never know I suppose but mate i am SUPER confident about Wednesday. Darren – how CAN you fancy SNA against the wonderhorse!!!

Such a shame JG has ducked the race with Nathaniel but he is not stupid and he knows he would have been running for second especially on the likely fast ground. He will win the Irish Champ hopefully en route to the Arc.

I was going to wait to post this on my own thread but Gord and I have had some great battles over this horse during the last three years so I think it more appropriate to post it here.

Here is how I see the race.

First up it is a major blow to the chances of SNA that Nathaniel isnt running. Ballydoyle have made their intentions clear by declaring two pacemakers and they are obviously going to set a searching gallop and try to draw the sting out of the wonderhorse. There is a small problem however. Neither pacemaker are good enough to go hard enough for long enough. They will tear off but TQ will let them go knowing that he has that lovely long straight to reel them in. IF Nathaniel had run TQ might have had something to worry about as he would have been ridden closer to the pace and would have taken it up entering the straight as he did at Ascot and galloped all the way to the line. This is where a fast finishing SNA might have had something to say.

As it is Frankel will sit in behind Bullet Train whether he is leading or not and let BT take him into the race down the straight. Frankel will saunter up to the pacemakers giggling and pulling faces. TQ will take a long look around and then unleash the beast at the 2 pole. SNA will fly past the whole field in the final furlong but to his dismay will see in the far far distance the backside of the greatest horse of all time. Twice Over will run on for third with Farhh not really handling the fast ground in fourth. The rest will be nowhere.

Simples.

"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"

[darren83]

Gord what you think of GALIEO ROCK stop race at 6f he finish 7th but further he went the better he look what you think of the performance

Jon i think SNA can beat Frankel also can’t have a bet on fav for race so i gone for 2nd fav.

[The Ante-Post King]

Darren there’s something about

Gaileo Rocks

action I dont like! He’s no Derby winner! Gold Cup horse? Yes!
Joni,I’ve gone past the ‘I will find something to beat Frankel’ malarkey as I’ve tried and failed near on a dozen bloody times I’m tempted to go up and cheer him on actually! What will suit his style is the long Flat straight,Tom could actually get him to take off if he put a pair of wings on him! I bet the butterflys are twitchin though mate eh? Admit it now just a bit??

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