Ante-Post

    It's been very quiet on the betting front recently but I've been watching a fair amount of flat racing and two or three horses have gone into the old notebook. I'm looking forward to the weekend and am hopeful that Toormore can go close in the Guineas but Kingman will be hard to beat. I do have a theory with trials though and that is that some horses go into them in an effort to establish themselves and some to confirm what is pretty much already been established. We saw an example of this last year in the Nell Gwyn when Hot Snap looked very impressive in beating Sky Lantern. But whereas prior to that race Hot Snap was a once raced maiden winner Sky Lantern had already been successful in Group 1 company. And so I felt at the time (or more accurately when I was studying the odds for the 1000) that there were grounds for thinking Hot Snap was forward enough to do herself justice that day whereas Sky Lantern was just tuning up for Guineas weekend. In short I reckoned Sky Lantern would reverse placings in the 1000 Guineas. And so she did.

    Kingman didn't go to Newbury for the Greenham with as low a profile as Hot Snap the year before but he had suffered an injury towards the end of his 2yo campaign and so was in essence hoping to put himself firmly in the picture for this Saturday. He did that in no uncertain terms of course and maybe I'm clutching at straws but there is a possibility he left some of what connections hope he'll show at Newmarket on the track in Berkshire that day. Toormore wasn't as impressive in his trial but he didn't need to be. He was last season's champion 2yo and a Group 1 winner to boot. Roll on Saturday.

     I don't normally get involved at Punchestown but the action today was terrific. I was so pleased to see Sizing Europe win his final race but the highlight was Faugheen's victory in the Grade 1 Novice over two miles. He was deeply impressive and would be of interest if he was aimed at the Champion Hurdle next season. For the sake of my Arkle bet I hope he doesn't go chasing.




2000 Guineas:
Toormore £30w @ 8/1

Derby:
Berkshire £10w @ 25/1

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Arkle:
Josses Hill £10w @ 12/1

Gold Cup:
Champagne Fever £10w @ 20/1