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The horse won a 2YO maiden over a mile but has done all her suqsequent winning over further. I don’t know the form too well, but I am wondering if the mile is going to be on the sharp side for her if the ground continues to dry out ?
Fresh from collecting on Notnowcato; the Each-Way thieves will be out to play on this one I’d imagine.
Malih Al-Basti owned Fantastic View who was trained by Richard Hannon and came second in the RP Trophy behind American Post. I don’t know who he is, but he’s obviously got a few quid.
There’s only one Falbrav 2YO in Europe…Falcativ, who is owned by Falbrav’s owners and in training with Luca Cumani. The owner sent the mare to Japan to be covered by Falbrav when he was over there (so says Steve Taplin’s "Two Year Olds of 2007").
I was there all week working; but can’t say I enjoyed it that much.
The grandstand might be a fabulous structure but it just doesn’t offer anything to the ordinary racegoer. I would regard an ‘ordinary’ racegoer as someone who can’t afford a box and someone who doesn’t want to get totally wasted on overpriced alcohol.
You can walk around the entire Tatts enclosure in five minutes..nothing takes your attention and actually stops you walking. Going to Ascot racecourse must be like eating a prawn sandwich at Old Trafford. I pray for a backlash but it won’t happen. Corporate corporate corporate.
It’s just an inoffensive slot for the "casual" racing fan. Don’t think her tipping success rate is anything to really get wound up about is it ?
On the subject of the picture rights, my local shop (Stan James) is deserted since the picture war broke out. I gave-up on it having been unable to hear the "away" audio horse commentary over the excitable dogs coverage on screen. Can anyone working in the shops, confirm whether it’s having a significant impact on revenue ?
It’s sad that the powers that be are shooting themselves in the foot like this. Surely the BHB or whoever must realise how much it’s all damaging the sport ?
There’s the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot…won by Young Mick last season. Only worth about £40k though I think.
Let’s hope he’s not upsides going over the last. I don’t think Rose Davidson will win any prizes for her ability to ride a finish; and that’s not being unkind to her, I just don’t think she’s particularly strong.
Septimus may have won on the likely ground (a poor Dante), but he’s dissapointed over course and distance.
I will be very interested to see how he runs in comparison with Maraahel.
Is Septimus really 4/1 ??
What has he done to justify being half the price of Maraahel ? or am I reading the form wrong ?
Zorro..Two questions…Why did the Racing Post not knock out their "Horses of 2006" annual this year ? I really enjoyed the previous ones and am rather peeved that they have been discontinued. Don’t tell me…lack of sales.
Second, how would YOU like to improve the Racing Post ?
Black Sam Bellamy:
I’m afraid Horses of 2006 didn’t make it because Horses of 2005 just didn’t make money. Sad, because it was an excellent publication, but true.
I think the Racing Post is an excellent publication too (would you expect me to say anything else?) but nothing is beyond improvement. I’ve never wanted to be editor, and certainly no-one has ever wanted me to edit, but if some rich nutter took it over and said ‘Go on Paul, do what you like for a few months’, I would take the following measures.
1. Slap around (metaphorically) the people who have come to regard and even refer to the paper as a ‘product’. A biscuit or a sausage is a product, and has to be designed with no other thought in mind than to give the consumer what he wants. A newspaper, a decent one anyway, has to have commitment to objective truth, over and above what’s assumed to be best for it economically. That makes it something bigger than just a product. I’m not saying the Post doesn’t have that commitment – it does – but the use of the word ‘product’ to describe it seems to me as though it could be the thin end of a dangerous wedge.
2. Make it less of a cheerleading parish newssheet (see above) and more a campaigning paper. I would like to see it in the forefront of the campaign to keep racing clean rather than just a reporter of the HRA’s attempts to do so.
3. In order to do this it would be necessary to break the cosy relationship that exists between hacks and racing’s stars. I would like to see professionals criticised for poor performances just as other sportsmen are criticised, and would particularly like to see more attention drawn to any that arouse suspicion of wrongdoing (within the laws of libel obviously).<br> The perception that in doing this we’d be ‘driving down trade’ by putting people off racing is a false one. If you make a paper too bland – and there is a danger of this even if we are some way away from it – you don’t gain readers, you lose them eventually. If the public doesn’t see the main racing paper as a watchdog for the sport, the popularity of the sport will suffer, and so will the paper’s profitability.<br> In general I think the paper at the moment is a bit too anxious to be loved by racing’s insiders. To be honest I’d rather it was feared. Our monopoly position should give us the courage for that.
4. I’d like to introduce drastic rationing on superlatives. If you use them up on every trainer who lands a handicap, or every jockey who wins a race he shouldn’t have lost, you devalue the currency and you’ve got nothing left for truly memorable races like this year’s Oaks and Derby.
5. Having said that, I think there are some really talented and clever people writing for it now (life was a lot easier for people like me in the old days) and that they’re all genuine enthusiasts. Considering that you can’t punt without it – internet form study doesn’t quite work yet as you can’t look at it anywhere you like and do need to see the markets while you’re studying – it is fantastic value at £1.50. (Its US counterpart, which is less good, costs nearly twice as much)
OK, it’s 2001 and it’s not Rule155 but I lend my support to Madman’s sentiments….with so much racing taking place these days, I think we can afford ourselves the luxury of disegarding any race featuring a steed from B Curley esq.
"BARNEY CURLEY was found in breach of the Jockey Club instruction relating to schooling in public yesterday, writes Andrew Scutts. After the stewards had inquired into the running and riding of the Newmarket trainer’s Malakal in the maiden hurdle, Curley was fined pounds 1,200, his amateur jockey Richard Young suspended for seven days, and Malakal banned from racing for 30 days.<br>The gelding, who had been pulled up on his two previous starts over hurdles, finished sixth, beaten approximately 34 lengths, and was deemed to have been tenderly ridden throughout."
There’s nothing worse than a grandly named Coolmore steed turning out to be a pup. Nell Gwyn and Flying Cheetah sound better than they run.
Perhaps they should follow the lead of the Sheikhs. If the horse is no good, then name it something instantly forgetable…Haasem for example – full brother to Sakhee; but evidently a slow-boat based on yesterday’s debut.
I think Tanya has improved as time has passed. She looked nervous when she first appeared on our screens but she’s a lot more assured these days. I think she does a good job.
