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Nice of the sponsors to provide the pacemakers for Ballydoyle, I think the race was setup for Rip. If Tom Queally could ride that race again he would, I thought Twice Over pulled himself up when he went past Byword. I reckon O’Brien should rethink his arc plans, Rip should be given another chance at 12f, he did run so well in the Derby last year.
JohnJ
I didn’t think the race was run that quick over the first half mile (it certainly didn’t look quick) and I thought that helped his cause today.
I think a true run 1m4f race is way too far for Rip Van Winkle at the very top level.
His performance in the Derby last year would suggest that he would be worth another shot.
JohnJ
Knowing what the ground is likely to be at Longchamp in October. I would say it would not play to Rips strengths. A bit like Dick Turpin today, if the ground was faster he’d have a better chance of staying.
Still, Rip ran well enough in the Derby didn’t he? He was moving forward the most at the line (STS excepted)
I backed TWICE OVER e/w and I’m glad he was an each way price as I would have backed him at plenty shorter today. I made him favourite and was reasonably confident he would reverse Ascot form with Byword and only had Rip to deal with. There’s a horse I can’t figure out. After STS retired he was timeforms highest rated horse in the world … Not Ireland or Europe , The World. So when he came out in the Queen Anne , I expected more. Goldikova is top class , Paco Boy under rated , yes yes , all well and good but Rip is the best horse in the world right? Before Ascot Ballydoyle said he would need it .. You can’t blame me for viewing press releases/statements with some scepticism, however with a couple of months hindsight I guess he was undercooked at Ascot. I thought he was better as a miler and with the Prince of Wales being more prestigous than the Queen Anne and the Sussex Stakes to follow , I just thought today would stretch him. Add to that , he did seem to be finding one or two too good a bit too often. He mugged me today though , properly mugged me on the line ….still at least I have a chance to get him right in the future , he looked to me like he got going late on , really late on to be fair , he’s a good Gp1 horse so he looked like he’s staying well and maybe that’s why he keeps getting turned over at a mile. You’d think today that he would get further wouldn’t you? ….."Will you step him up in trip Aiden?" ……"Ah , no need to step him up , listen , this horse has bags of speed you know" no , I don’t know, not really Aiden , I haven’t got a clue !!!! I wouldn’t have a clue if he was going to run better in the QE2 , the Champion , the Irish Champion , the Arc or the Irish St Leger .
Rip was "fat" in the Queen Anne.
Although much better, still (to my eye) had something to work on in the Sussex.
To be honest I was a little disappointed in the way he won yesterday. Seemed to outstay them and did not run to his best form rating to do so.
Rip does have brittle feet (or something like that) and is difficult to train for long periods. Also, when horses get older it takes more to get them fit. Suspect a combination of these two factors have caused problems in Rip’s training regime this term.
If he can be kept sound until the end of the season, I expect a better performance than yesterday. Although he isn’t that big an individual, so it’s possible he won’t make the needed physical "improvement" from three to four, to remain as good as he was at three.Value Is EverythingSaid after Sussex Stakes, Rip won’t lose another race.
Got him at 450’s on the machine’s for him for the Arc, he stayed on so well needing all 10f, come on Aidan, send him to Longchamp!
What a ride from Murtagh too!
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