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Won’t be shorter that’s for sure. Can’t be much between him and AOB’s on some of their form and normally his horses are made fav just for turning up.
Naaqoos arleady beat him and can see no reason why he can’t again.
When he won that complete bollocks of a Dewhurst he beat Lord Shanakill a short head. He really franked that form whe he finished a furlong behind our guineas winner
Plus Bolger said in the past he thinks he’s more of a Derby horse.No more a 7/2 shot than flying in the air IMO
I always thought Shaweel was the type to improve and take a race like this but even he is only 9/2.
I would wait mate as when Ladbrokes Hills PP Stan James and Corals open up the betting could look a lot different
The Dewhurst does look a mess – but you can’t use it to crab Intense Focus on a line through Lord Shanakill any more than you can use it to rate him higher on a line through the 5th in that race, Delegator.
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I just did
I thought at the time it was just one of those races where nothing seems to have run up to form.
When you get results like that you are most often best to look only at the nearest horses to the winner and ignore those directly behind them. In this case outseiders Lord Shanakill 20/1 and Finjaan 12/1.
I think time has shown that the finishing positions of Delegator and Rip Van Winkle were best ignored.
I wouldn’t think it is coincidence that both Finjaan 9th and Lord Shanakill 12th ran poorly in the Guineas. It ismore likely the form isn’t worth much at all.
Take that race away and Intense Focus showed very litttle all season to suggest he’s a likely Classic winner.
I think he is one dodgy bet.
I agree – Bolger knows the time of day and obviously didn’t fancy his chances much in the English Guineas, preferring to run one who he knew for sure needed further.
The Dewhurst still baffles me, i agree its best ignored completely.
I’ll forgive Narqoos his poor run, he looks like the most likely winner IMO.
Wasn’t long ago he was vying for favouritism for the English Guineas.
I was planning to give myself (and you) a couple of weeks’ rest from posting, but isn’t it obvious that Finjaan, and perhaps Lord Shanakill, are more like sprinter types – which explains how they can finish close up in a messily run Dewhurst, and down the field in the Guineas. (Lord Shanakill is a bit problematic, as he can stay a mile plus from the bottom half of his pedigree, but is by a champion sprinter, who probably can stay further.)
At the Arc meeting, there seemed to be a bit of a buzz about Naaqoos, with seemingly all the French folk backing him. I don’t know whether there will be a similar feeling behind him, or whether it has taken a big knock with the Djebel.
(I am probably a snob, because I am a little bit disappointed that both the Poulains and Pouliches have been referred to as the French . .Guineas.)
didn’t Lord Shanakil pick up a slight injury in the Guineas? trainer thought he would have been placed.
(I am probably a snob, because I am a little bit disappointed that both the Poulains and Pouliches have been referred to as the French . .Guineas.)
We had a thread on this last year – I’m still sticking with my Guinea Fowl theory!
didn’t Lord Shanakil pick up a slight injury in the Guineas?
I didn’t hear that. I thought he just didn’t settle, which I am blaming on the fact that Karl Burke couldn’t get a run into him as he wanted so the horse was too fresh on the day. I think he will run well next time out.
Field for the Test of the Hen (of Colts).
1. Naaqoos (F. Head)
2. Le Havre (J-C. Rouget)
3. Handsome Maestro (D. Smaga)
4. Silver Frost (Y. de Nicolay)
5. Roi Des Sables (B. de Montzey)
6. Shaweel (S. bin Suroor)
7. Westphalia (AP. O’Brien)
8. Born To Be King (AP. O’Brien)
9. Intense Focus (J. Bolger)
10. Vocalised (J. Bolger)
11. Coat Of Arms (AP. O’Brien)
12. Diableside (Y. Durepaire)
13. Oiseau De Feu (J-C. Rouget)- Total Posts 17716
I hope someone took notice and never backed Intense Focus. Bolger has puled him out and left Vocalised in.
A good advertisement for French racing and the Poulains trials as Silver Frost has done (via the Prix de Fontainebleu).
But I think we cannot underestimate Le Havre any longer. He’s now beaten Naaqoos twice this season, and I reckon he has a decent profile to be a Jersey Stakes contender.
On the other hand, it’s wait and see for Silver Frost. Another very strong gallop results in an "impressive" turn-of-foot victory by the winner. It reminds me of Falco last year, who flopped afterwards when the racing was run much steadier.
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I think Vocalised, a substitute, who has only ever won on soft or softish ground, setting of favourite, speaks volumes about the standard of these French Colts.
Granted he was the first beaten but that came no surprise and I doubt if any of those who ran today will be be bothering our best colts in the future.
Plus Bolger said in the past he thinks he’s more of a Derby horse.
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