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He will be aimed for the Arc, and rightly so. I fear that Minding wont be back and HR will be their best chance as I don’t think much about the 3 year old colts at middle distance
However, this result (and I am thrilled, backed him) will only add hype to the morons in Australia who clearly think any auld sh*te on a shovel is great, and will waffle on about Winx. Would love to see an older Highland Reel take her on again in Oz and silence her (not sure he would but…) There is no chance that Winx is coming to Europe next season with her, he has already made his excuses and even if he comes he will chicken out by going to the Queen Anne
Canford Cliffs is being sent packing to South Africa. Surprised that no other studs like Tally Ho etc did not try and buy him and give him a chance .
Someone tell that hairdresser clown how to tie a tie properly (the waun with the peaky blinder blond boffin). Good grief. Ghastly . A child would do better
Apparently no one told Francisca that Highland Reel won a Group 1 at 10 furlongs (claiming that he never won @10f , jesus it is not like she was on the spot when she considered what to say ) , or that he won a 7 f group 2 at 2. Any 10 f race that he was in last year was often as second string
How many times has Chamberlain mentioned the No 1 car park today? Better question is why, and also how long must we put up with this dull presenter who takes all of the excitement away from the sport.
Come back Nick, all is forgotten (I liked him anyway. Too many people were put off by him being posh)
They’d have to drain the reservoirs dry to water the English jumps tracks all summer! Nature does it for us here in the Emerald Isle- it was lashing it down yesterday afternoon.
Ah yes, while the English will swan around in their lovely hats and summer suits at Goodwood in glorious sun, us poor souls will be ducking for cover and rain in Galway
But not as bad as “Laurel and Hardy” – who are not funny and, sadly, not silent either
You Matt and Brian? Ah, they are all right
How many more times those that clown Chamberlain have to remind us how HRM The Queen “Loves” her horses. ? Why doesn’t Chamberlain nip off for an ice cream while the fashionistas babble on? Or go looking for interviews and play them later. He added nothing to take piece bar keep telling the audience that HRM loves horses.
It is not like she is being dragged to something she does not like, put up in crap place to enjoy the racing or even have to spend a penny. Mother of good, 25 minutes of babble about what she wears. I know all of this is tradition, and that is great, but film the whole procession from gate to paddock?
Completely agree Ginger. Instead of all this fawning over Lady Aurelia and Wesley Ward it should be pointed out that Ward has an advantage over his rivals. Sport is supposed to be played on a level playing field. Never mind being able to gallop his horses at Ascot, that pales into significance when compared with the advantages that drugs give.
A question I would like to ask is how does Ward rate in the USA? Is he the top trainer over there, or are there other trainers who are considered his superior? I suspect that other trainers could have the same success if sending their charges over.
Anyway as punters you can take advantage of these lax rules and I have done so by backing Nookta sound in the last
Ward in America, NOT EVEN CLOSE! Just another decent enough trainer, does little on the dirt (hey, some US trainers made their success primarily on turf)
Chad Brown and to a lesser extent William Mott are the main lads for turf races. Keiran McLaughlin does well for Shadwell and Godolpin . The English man, Graham Motion, has had some very notable success with Niarchos/Flaxman horses
Ward does get some Coolmore horses, who, surprisingly, even with their sires like Giant Causeway who led the Champion Sires division for one or two years, are no where near remotely dominant in Turf races unless O’Brien send B team horses to the Mid summer races.
Ward wins races alright, and in fairness he does not run as many horses compared to the big boys, but alot of races are allowances and small grade stuff. In fairness to the man, those horses that do win big in the US eg Hootenanny , Undrafted, Acalupuco (many of whom are at some point owned by Coolmore or bought by Coolmore) , are sent over to Royal Ascot where compared to Americans prize money, is peanuts.(I note Ascot have upped the prizemoney in many races)
http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=People&searchType=T&eID=1978
This is the list of his graded US wins, which , looks rather average considering they have so many graded races (have a look at someone like Chad Brown and what he does in a year, and he ain’t that long as a trainer)
http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=StakesListing&searchType=T&eID=1978&rbt=TB
So basically he’s nothing special over there and when he comes over here he dominates. Probably tells us everything we need to know
Just very clever placing.A little like Dermot Weld (okay, great for getting lower grade winners in Ireland, not so much once they go to Group 1 level bar Fascinating Rock and Free Eagle and of course Harzand) (every 5-8 years
) when he spots a winnable race eg Belmont Stakes, Belmont Turf Derby (Winchester) Melbourne Cups and his recent Belmont win .It is not like Britain and Ireland (or France) are renowned for serious hopefuls in International Sprints like Hong Kong on International Night, Singapore International or Breeders Cup Sprints (preferring to chance the mile instead eg Oasis Dream, Limato , Moonlight Cloud) or in Dubai (well, in the early years, okay, but now the Yanks are going back over) Eddie Lynam with Sole Power is one of the few who have had much joy over seas (and Tom Hogan in Australia with Gordon Lord Byron but that race was on a swamp)
Anyway, Ward concentrates on 2 year old’s. Sure, what our horses do at 2 is nice but not vital, we want them to perform at 3 and as a bonus at 4,5,6. He did alright with Undrafted, didn’t he win a Breeders Cup?
It is funny how we fawn over Ward though, but still, at least he tries to find somewhere else to raid.Why not Ascot eh? International exposure etc. Kenneth and Sue Ramsey (major breeder owners in the US) are threatening all sorts on their trainers to find them a horse to win a race at Royal Ascot, even if it is a listed race
Ulysses
Highland Reel‘s top class, but his level of ability is well established. Wins average quality Group 1s, does not win the best of the best.Yeah, because the Breeders Cup Turf of 2016 was an average edition.
there is a weakness against the very top. Multiple Group 1 winner, however fact he hasn’t won a 10f Group 1 must be a negative…
Technically, that is incorrect. He won a Secretariat Stakes in the US in 2015. Granted, the form of the other horses was and continues to be horrendous
Jack Hobbs has not won a Group 1 at 10 furlongs either , as you alluded to
Other than that, you are probably right. Stoute has two decent horses in this race. Could be a good day for the French too.
Completely agree Ginger. Instead of all this fawning over Lady Aurelia and Wesley Ward it should be pointed out that Ward has an advantage over his rivals. Sport is supposed to be played on a level playing field. Never mind being able to gallop his horses at Ascot, that pales into significance when compared with the advantages that drugs give.
A question I would like to ask is how does Ward rate in the USA? Is he the top trainer over there, or are there other trainers who are considered his superior? I suspect that other trainers could have the same success if sending their charges over.
Anyway as punters you can take advantage of these lax rules and I have done so by backing Nookta sound in the last
Ward in America, NOT EVEN CLOSE! Just another decent enough trainer, does little on the dirt (hey, some US trainers made their success primarily on turf)
Chad Brown and to a lesser extent William Mott are the main lads for turf races. Keiran McLaughlin does well for Shadwell and Godolpin . The English man, Graham Motion, has had some very notable success with Niarchos/Flaxman horses
Ward does get some Coolmore horses, who, surprisingly, even with their sires like Giant Causeway who led the Champion Sires division for one or two years, are no where near remotely dominant in Turf races unless O’Brien send B team horses to the Mid summer races.
Ward wins races alright, and in fairness he does not run as many horses compared to the big boys, but alot of races are allowances and small grade stuff. In fairness to the man, those horses that do win big in the US eg Hootenanny , Undrafted, Acalupuco (many of whom are at some point owned by Coolmore or bought by Coolmore) , are sent over to Royal Ascot where compared to Americans prize money, is peanuts.(I note Ascot have upped the prizemoney in many races)
http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=People&searchType=T&eID=1978
This is the list of his graded US wins, which , looks rather average considering they have so many graded races (have a look at someone like Chad Brown and what he does in a year, and he ain’t that long as a trainer)
http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=StakesListing&searchType=T&eID=1978&rbt=TB
Well done ITV. There was a steward’s inquiry, the announcement was made while those two fashion morons started yapping about complete irrelevancy. Cop on would have meant yer man would stop talking, listen to the announcer and tell the audience that the placings remained the same and then smoothly go waffling about his fashion.
If Churchill wins well today, he will murder Ribchester on good ground
This seems like a natural progression but it will end up being another benefit for the Mullins & Gigginstown brigade to gorge on
Maybe, but never a reason to try something new , for the future. The last time Willie Mullins won the Irish Gold Cup was 2013. That is a long time
2014 was the last time a Gigginstown horse won beating none other than Tidal BaySure those two groups did well enough in England in the last 2 years…………….
as I don’t see this attracting that many more overseas visitors (not sure how many English challengers they have had down the years at the corresponding meeting).
Over the years, Nicholls and Henderson brought over some of their best horses to Ireland for these races (mostly Christmas ones though) If there is money to be won, and they have good enough horses, they will come. Who cares about Sandown in February or Ascot in January ?
Remember during January/February time there are a lot of trials races
Irish Gold Cup and the Irish Champion Hurdle is not a “trial” race anymore than the King George isMore than likely that this will ensure that the majority of any Irish hopefuls that would be looking to come over here during that period will now probably stay in Ireland for a bigger prize and also not have to worry about the hassle/expense of travelling to England.
Over the years, the only reason that Irish horses went over to the likes of the King George of St Stephens (Boxing Day) or the Group 2 trials at Cheltenham or Group 1s at Ascot were either (a) suitable ground conditions (b) test the horse(s) at Chelteham eg Hardy Eustace (c) They were chasing British Trainers Championships (d) Prize money, and belief that the English field was ripe for raiding
If horses don’t get their suitable ground they ain’t going to run. If the fields are too competitive in Ireland or it is too early to put their horse up against Mullins and co (I am referring to Irish trained horses) they will continue to try out handy enough races like the Group 1 at Newcastle or the odd run at Sandown (eg Special Tiara )
Firstly, while the Christmas Festival gets all the hype and credit , and rightly so , great few days of racing (what a great week of sport if you are not working, football and racing and the odd gem of a film like Die Hard on the telly – love Christmas
) , my favourite event to go to is the Irish Gold Cup day in February. Great racing and the weather often begins to improve, ya can see the sun shining through the trees in the lovely parade ring at Leoppy. Ya know that Spring has arrived (even if it is still cold) and of course, it is the last big meeting before Cheltenham.This is a great idea, to a period that is already relatively rock solid card and the Irish Champion Hurdle a few weeks before that
Saying that, the Irish Gold Cup, despite producing a great winner, was not a great race despite Don Poli being in it. Horrendous pace in the race. You could imagine that a track like Leopardstown would be kind to any horse that would go to Kempton .It is well placed in February where there isn’t that much top top top class racing going on in the divisions that the Irish meeting cater for. Add a few big money handicaps, the likes of JJ O’Neill would be mad to miss it. Henderson and Nicholls (well, in his pomp, sure he boasted about being Irish Trainers Champion after a few good wins in Galway and his good record at Royal Down) have often done well when they came over.
This is really for Steve Caution. Have you seen this bloody horse that we both followed for a while in France is now an unbeaten Group 1 winner in the States? Seeming to relish the fast ground. Knew that horse had something!!!!
I couldnt agree more. I was out in France on Arc day when he was well beaten by Ballydoyle in the Prix Marcel Boussac race. He picked up an injury which seemingly made him fade into the distance but im pretty sure that day he was odds on in the French betting.
I saw he was running the other day but didnt think id bother but of course he wins nicely against the rail.
He’ll definitely win group ones out there no bother. A great horse, if he can stay fit.
One thing that frustrates me, that I dont know the answer to, is there a horse finder equivalent for when horses run stateside?
I know people are hit and miss with US racing but i quite enjoy it and i thibk that comes from my trips to Meydan, where you see them race. The one thing I cam never find is a horse tracker for the US to keep tabs on them. Usually its just a general stroll through Sky Bet and getting lucky.
SHE
Bloodhorse and Equdibase are the places to go
US racing is handy enough for getting a winner , tip wise. Odds aren’t as bad either as it is slightly more competitive
) when he spots a winnable race eg Belmont Stakes, Belmont Turf Derby (Winchester) Melbourne Cups and his recent Belmont win .
2014 was the last time a Gigginstown horse won beating none other than Tidal Bay
) , my favourite event to go to is the Irish Gold Cup day in February. Great racing and the weather often begins to improve, ya can see the sun shining through the trees in the lovely parade ring at Leoppy. Ya know that Spring has arrived (even if it is still cold) and of course, it is the last big meeting before Cheltenham.