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According to Sir Michael Stoute to Oli Bell on ITV4….Crystal Ocean DOES NOT run in the Derby. More to follow….
Based on what JG said yesterday and the subsequent rainfall I dont think Cracksman will line up. Frankie said that Shutter Speed hated the conditions yesterday so not sure theyll bother risking Cracksman.
Im holding a ticket at 25s for the Derby but the negative vibes from the Gosden/Oppenheimer camp are somewhat unsettling.
Unfortunately the weather is ruining a good midweek festival.
Lots of history….
In answer to Troy111’s question
I was there yesterday ran really well a d looked like he could probably handle a bit further too. Well done if you were on at 7s as 7/2 was more realistic if not shorter!
Arrogate has been given the green light for the DWC
Lets hope he can stay injury free!
Cheers Kentucky. I am hoping that Arrogate turns up as it would be brilliant to see him live. Ive also had a few quid each way on Mubtaahij, who was second in the World Cup last year, at 20/1. Seemed too big at the time. Onviously not guaranteed that he turns up but his form figures at the track are 11211542. Hes trained but Mike De Kock and came 2nd to only Chrome last year who was unstoppable.
The racing in Meydan is fantastic and ive seen so many great horses in the last three years I have attended.
I hope to see Arrogate line up but who knows what could happen from now until theb.
As I say, youd me mad not to. Especially if you are out there anyway!
BWTS I think kicks off at 6.30am/7.30 am so plenty of time for golf. In fact, there is a golf course at the track, as well as tennis, it literally offers everything you need my friend.
Enjoy!
Tickets in the past were 450AED but this year they done an early bird special for 350AED. Im not sure when the deadline was though, so its worth going on the Meydan website. Yes, im pretty sure the tickets include paddock but cant be certain. Im fair skinned so we tend to get there early and grab a seat under the grandstand. That way youre protected from the sun!
Its full of Brits, Aussies and Americans so you wont be out of place.
Before the World Cup, on the Tuesday or Wednesday I think, they run an event called Breakfast with the Stars where you can tour the track and see the stars in person, as well as get the trainers views. I havent been before, as normally only arrive for the DWC but this year we get out there early and are definitely heading to BWTS.
The website will give you a lot of info as well as Trip Advisor. Thats what I used on our first visit.
Let me know if you need anything else
Best decision I have ever made and this will be the third and possibly last time I attend.
Always been in the Apron Views and the views are perfect – no need to spend top dollar on the most expensive seat.
In the past I have done my bets in advance but most of the local Brits/Americans do them on their phones. I asked them how they did it and they just turn the location setting off their phones and there you go, job done!
Drinking is not an issue either just make sure you can walk at the end!
All in all a cracking day and youd be mad not to!
Playing devil’s advocate, Annie Power was 0/2 at the Festival until she smashed the field last year.
After her withdrawal this year, I personally wouldnt be writing many horses off, especially if Faugheen doesnt make an impression on Sunday.
I wrote this piece last night but cant stop thinking that it may have been a waste of time…….haha…….maybe I knew something was on the cards…….
THE MACHINE OR THE POWER?
The Cheltenham Festival is fast approaching and although we are only at the tail end of January there is a fair amount of uncertainty regarding the Champion Hurdle in March for the Willie Mullins/Rich Ricci camp. The Irish invasion continues as the Closutton team aim to retain the prestigious title and make it three wins in a row for the famous pink and green silks.
The problem they face is what horses they send forward for battle. It’s no secret that Willie and Rich like to keep their stable stars apart as much as possible but surely they have a duty to allow their two previous Champion Hurdle winners to decide who is number one.
In the red corner, Faugheen (the ‘Machine’), the winner of the Cheltenham Hurdle in 2015, who has been injured since he took the Grade 1 BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January 2016.
Interestingly, his seasonal reappearance is in that same race this coming Sunday where he aims to maintain his crown. The gelding, originally planned to run at Christmas before a further setback, is the current ante-post favourite for the showpiece at a best priced 15/8 but one would feel he must dust down the cobwebs and show some of his previous razzmatazz during his comeback race in order to make the festival line up.
In the blue corner his stablemate and current reigning Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner, Annie Power. In 2016 Annie deputised remarkably for the sidelined Faugheen when she became the first mare to win the race since Flakey Dove back in 1994. She managed to thrash the boys and justify her odds of 5/2 favourite.
The reigning champion can be backed at a best priced 6/1 with Coral for the festival but like her stable companion, the chestnut has been injured and has not been seen on track since winning the Grade 1 Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle in April 2016, where her hurdling winnings increased to a total of £447,912.
It would be a colossal clash but I am not convinced that the Ricci’s will allow their two galácticos to go nostril to nostril in such a well anticipated duel. Rich has said on record that Annie Power is a horse that his wife Susannah adores and that retirement is imminent, whereas if the ‘Machine’ turns up 100% fit and produces a similar display as he did in 2015, he must have a fantastic chance of reclaiming the honours.
It is a tough decision for any owner and trainer to have to make but certainly a nice dilemma to have. If they were my horses I definitely would be letting them battle it out (on the basis they were fully fit). Faugheen is a brilliant hurdler, oozes so much class and deserves his chance of glory again; Annie Power is a truly remarkable mare, who stepped up to fill Faugheen’s absent hoofs and deserves the chance to retain her crown, especially with the seven pound allowance.
Hi. I like the idea but personally I dont believe it will be possible to have jumping at Chelmsford.
The track itself is in the middle of no where in regards to location i.e. not close to a train station/bus route etc. for racegoers travelling without cars.
In addition the viewing of races is difficult because you cant see the whole track from one viewing point like you can with most other tracks.
What i mean by that is, the bar, dining, parade ring etc. are all situated in the middle of the racetrack, as opposed to by the back.
Therefore, say you are stood by the winning post, your only live view (besides the big screen) is from about the 3f pole, which doesnt give you that real buzz that say Newbury, Cheltenham, Kempton, Sandown or Ascot does.I personally just dont feel that Chelmsford has the necessary facilities to host jumps racing.
It does however do a good job of the AW but as I say its a shame about the viewing facilities.
