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It sounds bit mental to say I was very keen on a 150/1 shot, but he impressed me
a lot in his 2 runs. TTM I’m in full agreement about his run behind the Godolphin
horse, I mentioned “he ran 1/2L 2nd to the very useful looking Godolphin horse Monobo,
the pair pulling 8 lengths clear in the last furlong. Monobo cruised to victory
under hands and heels next time out in a fast time. I reckon both Monobo
and Mojo Star are worth the watching.Ginge I like Hannon’s comments about Mojo Star, Mojo Star has always been the most
gorgeous horse we’ve had at our place for a long time. He travelled like a really good horse.
He didn’t handle the undulations, and we’ve got enough money now to throw at some fancy entries
– Richard Hannon, trainer.
I get where you’re coming from if the door had been kept shut on Adayar, but the best horse on
the day won and like everyone else I’m delighted for Kirby
To me only the front two were comfortable with the ground. The rest never looked at ease on it. I’d wait until they run again but the fact that no major tipster had him as the winner says it all. With snowfalls amazing win and the derby result so hard to predict how the rest of the season goes. I’m sure Mac Swiney and Bolshoi ballet will drop in trip and hurricane lane head to the ledger. Hopefully the winner and the second go to the curragh so we can see if yesterday was a one off or not.
“but the fact that no major tipster had him as the winner says it all.”
Er, Pricewise,
…Me.
The odd thing is Tom Segal put it up at 20/1 AP but didn’t advise again yesterday when 50/1 although he mentioned on Friday evening at 66/1.My apologies ss. Didn’t see pricewise either but I listened to loads of preview shows and not one person tipped the winner. Well done you for getting it right.
Thanks Mickyjp.
To be fair my main bet was the Bolger horse each way with Hurricane lane win and the winner each way.Let me put up the first conspiracy theory too.
Ballydoyle introduced a super horse called Prittiest at Navan the other week a product of Dubawi and Alice Springs (Galileo.)
Was the mass withdrawal of their derby horses part of the trade off?
Godolphin got the Derby.
Bookies got all the ante post money
Ballydoyle got the next Superhorse.
Had Frankie waited a little longer he might well have got the ride too.AP yea we,ll see how the season goes. Snowfall winning Oaks by so far somethings not right for me, watering then rain on top, well done Epsom.
The likes of Jim Bolger don’t help. Quoted this week as saying that every course should be aiming to have no mention of the word ‘firm’ in the going description. He is a high profile man to be stating such rubbish. Its summer, flat racing.
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I remember when I was looking after the cricket square at Bradfield down in Berkshire we were advised that if we watered we should ensure that water soaks in to a depth of 6 inches to ensure sound grass growth. I’m not sure that courses achieve that when watering ‘to maintain’ and suspect that means that the surface tends to be loose, particularly if you get rain following a dry period when you have been watering.
It seems to me that French courses tend to get softer ground on the whole, and this may have something to do with deeper watering. Whether this is a good or bad thing is up for debate.
Presumably Jim Bolger isn’t normally too worried in his home country as Ireland’s bountiful natural water supply from the sky doesn’t make ‘firm’ a problem too often?
Presumably so Rob, but I didn’t like the comment. Good to firm ground for summer flat racing should not be discouraged, surely.
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I just do not get this aversion to firm being in the going description. What is wrong with summer fast ground?
I can certainly recall racing going ahead on firm ground, not just good to firm.
And – Jim Bolger look away now – I can even remember racing taking place on hard ground at the likes of Bath, Brighton and Carlisle. Although I doubt Mr Bolger would have had any runners.
I’ve heard it suggested that the Saddlers Wells line has been over-bred, and they are traditionally reasonably ‘front-heavy’, and not particularly suited to firm ground. Bolgers are generally all from that lineage.
I am not educated or qualified on the topic enough to know if there is any truth in that.
I agree with your points generally CAS. Feels a bit like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ racing. Henderson always whinging about winter jumping ground being too soft, and Bolger stating all summer flat races should be ran on good ground at best. Bizarre times.
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I think the theory may well be:
Problem (as they probably see it) of aiming for “good-firm” isn’t proper good-firm in itself.
Problem is it is not an exact science; sometimes (quite often) a clerk would aim for good-firm and end up with proper “firm” ground… which will be more dangerous to the top class racehorses involved.Where as if aiming for “good” going it might end up proper good-firm (which is fine) but not firm.
What imo they should be aiming for is somewhere between good and good-firm… which still allows them some leeway without as much chance of what should have an official description of “loose on top”.
In this particular case I do have a little sympathy with Epsom. I believe the rain was meant to be localised; possible it would miss them entirely. Epsom could’ve been left with not just good-firm but firm ground if not watering and missing the rain. However, even so do think they overdid it.
Loose on top is imo different to normal “good-soft” or even “good” ground. Fewer horses truly act on such a strange surface meaning longer winning distances.
Normally a great believer in race times giving the best evidence of true ground conditions. However, in my experience time analysis becomes suspect when the going is loose on top. Although times might suggest it’s good ground, in reality sound surface horses seldom act on it. Even some soft ground horses struggle probably because it’s so difficult to remain balanced.
Value Is EverythingAgree the officials at Epsom were in a difficult position re the weather forecast. I do not blame them for watering and any issue with the ground was not really their fault.
But I still think some trainers are getting silly about ground with firm in the going description. I remember reading Richard Hughes’s page in the Post when he said there is nothing wrong with fast ground and some tracks have been ruined by too much watering.
Agreed. Maybe Count Bolger and Hendo should swap positions and they’ll both be happy.
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I thought it was a good Derby line up
only thing missing was Wordsworth..
Blackbeard to conquer the World
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