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Sean, Mark Johnston thought there was something different with the grass, see story from RP site :
Johnston unhappy with state of Chester ground
Mark Johnston: voiced his disapproval of the racing surface at Chester’s meeting
by David LawrenceMARK JOHNSTON on Saturday voiced his disapproval of the racing surface at Chester’s meeting, following confirmation that his filly Majounes Song suffered a career-ending pelvis fracture in the Huxley Stakes on Thursday.
Johnston did not blame the track for the four-year-old’s injury, but said: “The ground was officially described as good to firm, good in places, but when I walked it I was able to get my foot in hoofprints – that is just not consistent with the description.
“I was disappointed with the track and this is a problem that’s not exclusive to Chester – I’ve noted similar inconsistencies at Ripon and Newmarket this season. I’m sure it’s due tothe general watering policy being pursued.â€
Were my ears deceiving me yesterday? Was the winner of the Oaks Trial the half sister of Katchit?
If so, that would be quite a double – Champion Hurdle and Oaks winners!!Yes, Miracle Seeker & Katchit are both out of a dam named Miracle.
Miracle Seeker can’t win at Epsom though- 3 year-olds don’t win the Oaks.
Surprised by some of the comment on here on which horse to take out of the race/kingdom of rome unlucky etc.
The winner was full of run at the line, had his ears pricked and is imho by far the best of the horses on show yesterday.
Ballydoyle may want to have a go with Henry’ (doubt they will in the end) but if they do they will want to have a proper 12f horse in the field also.
Washington Irving looks an unlikely candidate after today, that leaves only Alessandro Volta or the as yet untested Kingdom Of Naples as that horse.
If Casual Contest is really going to the Curragh as well as New Approach it is bonkers to aim Alessandro at anything other than the Epsom Derby…trip fine, versatile as to ground, improvement certain (will be better held up off a strong pace) and looks hard to pass also. In addition it looks the lesser race re competitiveness.
He didn’t handle the bend as well as you would like but that could have been down to greenness as much as his abilty round a bend.
….a rethink surely?The times of yesterdays races don’t suggest firm ground they suggest Good to firm.
Flash I would take yesterdays race times with a pinch of salt – especially in the classic trials – if you look at a) the overall pace of the races b) the doubt as to how many of teh runners really got teh distance and c) the way both the winners actually ran you would immediately ignore them for form purposes.
I agree on the face of it the times suggest good to firm rather than firm but in the context of the way the races were run the times will tend to be on the slower side.
But that’s just my personal opinion from my reading of the race.
Didn’t Johnny Murtagh, when interviewed immediately after the race, say that Alessandro Volta would be aimed at Epsom? I must have been hearing things if he didn’t, but if he did it’s certainly something the C4 team failed to pick up on (I can’t see why connections would travel over to Lingfield in the first place if they didn’t fancy a crack at Epsom).
They were possibly just testing the water for bigger fisjh LGR but I’d expect them to send AV to Epsom.
I’m disappointed the Derrinstown winner is apparently not going to be at Epsom. I’m not sure Dermot Weld is a big fan of the race but picking up a consolation prize in Ireland is hardly the same is it?
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