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Just took some 20s Eagle Top for Eclipse and had a bet on him tonight (having just watched Hughesie ride a lovely race from the front on the 7.15 winner)
Nice race there, Western Hymn was well overpriced at 9/2 earlier, a horse that won previously at Sandown beating a horse who finished next time a very close 3rd in a good group 1 race.
Also, just before the race Mr Gosden gave his view that Eagle Top will be needing the race and that he chose Frankie to ride him to get him perfect for Royal Ascot.
He intimated that he was in fact a 12f horse, but didn’t go as far as saying he wouldn’t run over 10f again.Another nice ride by the Doyler; Frankie must be getting sick of picking wrong ‘uns
Frankie didn’t have the choice according to Gosden beforehand Joe. They’re hoping for very good things in future about Eagle Top and wanted Frankie to get used to him.
Value Is EverythingJust took some 20s Eagle Top for Eclipse and had a bet on him tonight (having just watched Hughesie ride a lovely race from the front on the 7.15 winner)
I was a bit disappointed by Eagle Top but the lack of run was a concern this evening.
Western Hymn seemed friendless in the build up but the money came for him.
Tryster was relatively weak in the betting and was a total disappointment. It’s a lot easier looking good at 1/2 on the all-weather than it is in better company on turf.
Earlier on Steady Pace became yet another good looking first time winner for Godolphin to go off favourite next time and be tipped with the comment that they are “sure to improve”. I expected King Of Rooks to turn the form around tonight and he did so with consummate ease. I don’t trust Godolphin to progress their juveniles.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
I might have misheard his previous quoteage as he has just now stated that the Prince Of Wales is definitely on the agenda for Eagle Top.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>steeplechasing wrote:</div>
Another nice ride by the Doyler; Frankie must be getting sick of picking wrong ‘unsFrankie didn’t have the choice according to Gosden beforehand Joe. They’re hoping for very good things in future about Eagle Top and wanted Frankie to get used to him.
Ahh, missed that. RP Spotlight writer did too. The ride certainly looked like one where his life wasn’t on the line
The way Consort finished that race was excellent and Ryan Moore did a great job there. Met trouble in running, looked fairly green at times and I can see him progressing a tonne from that run. Not sure what class he belongs in come Ascot time, but that was promising.
I might have misheard his previous quoteage as he has just now stated that the Prince Of Wales is definitely on the agenda for Eagle Top.
I heard that Eagle Top was going for the Hardwicke and Western Hymn for the Prince Of Wales.
Western Hymn was cut for the Prince Of Wales, whereas Eagle Top was pushed out. Eagle Top was cut for the Hardwicke, in to 7/1.
I don’t want to worry Joe but I suspect he may have done his dough on Eagle Top for the Eclipse. Western Hymn was talked of as a potential for that race and was duly cut. I just wonder with Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs also in the Eclipse, whether Gosden my be overloaded for options in that race. Hardwicke and then back for another go at the Diamonds would seem sensible for Eagle Top.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
Also on the card the race for two year olds, The National Stakes sees an interesting line up with several last time out winners.
The Kevin Ryan colt Areen got good reviews for his sole run and win but runner up Ravenhoe let the form down when favourite at Ponty next time.
Case Key could well be decent for Charlie Hills and the stable is finally getting a few winners now after a very lean spell.
Tawdeef won well for Brian Meehan on debut but it was a Bath maiden and I am not a fan of that track for form.
I think it will boil down to the rematch between Godolphin’s Steady Pace and Hannon’s King Of Rooks. Betting has them 9/4 joint favourites here.
Steady Pace won the first match up comfortably and you would think he was sure to hold the Hannon horse as he had more than three lengths in hand that day over 5f at Ascot. The Hannon horse was the more fancied that day but cpuldn;t match the speed of the Appleby trained runner. The trouble I have with Godolphin is the number of these good first time up winners they have, who then get labelled, “can only improve” but then manage to get beaten, usually as favourite, on their next start.
King Of Rooks put his first experience to good use when hosing in by six lengths on his next start at Newbury. Even dropped back to 5f here, I feel he is the more likely colt to progress and I think he is the call in the race, based on my previous observation of Godolphin youngsters in similar scenarios. Maybe I’ll be proved Raven Mad though
I thought King Of Rooks had Royal Ascot written all over him this evening. It might be worth bearing in mind that the winner of tonight’s race was none other than Tiggy Wiggy last year. King Of Rooks has clearly come a long way since his first run and now won by eleven lengths in two starts. He has won at 6f and 5f so options are available to him.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
I’ve got myself in a right muddle with what Gosden was saying as he was talking about both horses pretty much at the same time. He indeed said Eagle Top will run over 12f and that he will enjoy a bigger field where he can drop in and get cover. As for Western Hymn, he is around 14’s for the POW stakes, its the obvious next step for him and he is deserving of that chance.
No worries, Steve. I thought AP’s summary of his entries made for a very convincing argument that he’d stick to 10f and further assumed Gosden was getting some track experience into ET for Eclipse. Didn’t have much on – very rarely do with Flat bets.
It was clear from the interview Gosden gave on RUK as the runners arrived at the start, that Eagle Top was just there for the exercise as a prep for Royal Ascot. He more or less said he’d have gone elsewhere if the opportunity had been available, but as this was the only suitable race three weeks before Ascot, he had been forced to run both horses. Might as well have put (NT) after his name on the racecard.
Having heard that, I’d assume that the Coronation Cup was ignored because he knew the horse wouldn’t be ready in time – and quite likely that the owner likes her day out at Ascot.
Impressed by Consort last night, have eagerly awaited his return and was the most interesting 2yo of the year last year for me. Still learning on the job he looks a work in progress and potential to be high classed. Once he got the hang of it late on last night he was going away with every stride in the final stages and will only get better for the run.
The Brigadier Gerard was a bit of a muddle for me. Niceofyoutotellme finishing up their backsides doesn’t inspire classy form. No doubt Western Hymn is a better horse this year and can fulfill potential, but with Eagle Top taking things easy on his first run back racing at his shortest trip ever before he steps back up in distance, Tryster patently failing to run any type of race and Arab Spring racing under less than optimum racing conditions, I would air on the side of caution as rating any runners up for this.
In a way, Gosden’s frankness with ET is admirable; it’s the fact he left it so late that must have proved costly for many punters. I think most long-time horse players accept that some horses cannot be got fully fit at home due to their characters. I’ve no doubt ET ran on his merits, but he was not fully fit and there were other tactics at play for his long term plans. It was a classic ‘stay prominent and with them as long as you can but don’t do him any harm’, ride with a horse who, as JG apparently suggested, will probably be held up in the future.
Perhaps trainers should be encouraged/compelled to be open with their thoughts/plans at the final dec stage. Of course, the odd one will backfire and win and there would be accusations of being put away, but, given the choice, I think the majority of punters would rather have the early opportunity to make up their own minds.
You have pretty much pinpointed why they aren’t so open on what the horse is there for. A trainer cant always tell what a horse will do come race time even if there for a prep run and also has to take account of the opposition on the day.
Yesterday was a slight bit different because Western Hymn was also there, but it can be frustrating if a trainer says a horse needs the run and then proceeds to bolt in.
There’s plenty of racing to go round, so its really up to the punter how they want to play it.
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