Rapidly Becoming Technophobic...
Hello from Weymouth, dear reader, as I continue my ongoing battle with technology, notably the heap of steaming excrement known also as Windows Vista.
That poxy operating system has stuffed up my laptop to such a degree now that I can only use my own wifi connection (itself enjoying a break from me caning it with requests for data transfer) with it. Even though I am the administrator for my pc, it will not allow me to change any settings. I despair! This post is written from a nice little internet cafe in Weymouth: Portland really is a place to get away from it all, including dial up and mobile phone signals. I can't get either up there!!!
Enough already. After a typically quiet Monday, racing explodes into life today with the start of the York Ebor meeting.
The undoubted highlight of the day, and one of the races of the season, is the Juddmonte International Stakes.
This race pitches the Derby winner (Authorized) against the Eclipse winner (Notnowcato) against the King George winner (Dylan Thomas). Chuck in the sand monster Asiatic Boy and the perennial Group 1 scrapper, Duke of Marmalade, and its a race short in numbers but titanium strong in class.
Authorized looked the most impressive Derby winner for a few years, but we mustn't forget that Derby winners' subsequent record (especially against older horses) is pretty atrocious. The last few have failed to win another race post-Epsom.
I don't think Authorized will struggle to get his nose in front again, but he may do today.
The race here is over a mile and a quarter, and he was beaten by Notnowcato in the Eclipse over this trip. Indeed, 'cato was ridden tactically superbly that day by Ryan Moore but, in case you think it might have been a fluke, remember that he also won the Eclipse the previous year.
Sir Michael Stoute can learn little from any other living soul when it comes to training older horses, and 'cato may come out on top again.
Dylan Thomas is another horse who has improved into his post-Classic year, and was unequivocal in despatching a sub-standard King George field last time out.
This is a sterner examination, and I also believe he is better over slightly further.
The Duke (Of Marmalade) has been competing with credit in top races this season, and will likely enjoy the ten furlong trip today, but I don't feel he has quite the penchant for this distance that 'cato does.
Asiatic Boy is a class horse. On sand. He ran as well as could be expected in the Sussex Stakes, but a point to note about top sand horses (indeed all sand horses) is that they appreciate an end to end gallop. Despite the presence of a pacemaker in here, I expect this to develop into a three furlong sprint, and the Boy to beat only the 'bunny' home. He will return on dirt and win at a nice price before the season is out - indeed, I'd love to back him in the Breeders Cup Classic where he'd beat any of today's rivals.
So I'm quite strong on Notnowcato today, and will happily lay Asiatic Boy for a place until the cows come home (and they're a loooooooooong way from home, like me, right now!).
It's a very tough looking card indeed, but one I fancy at a decent price in the Acomb Stakes is Clive Brittain's Mut'Ab. He's quick, and has been running with a lot of credit in two decent maidens (just behind Campanologist last time). At around 20/1, he's worth a small interest.
Good luck with your Eboracum wagers.
Matt
That poxy operating system has stuffed up my laptop to such a degree now that I can only use my own wifi connection (itself enjoying a break from me caning it with requests for data transfer) with it. Even though I am the administrator for my pc, it will not allow me to change any settings. I despair! This post is written from a nice little internet cafe in Weymouth: Portland really is a place to get away from it all, including dial up and mobile phone signals. I can't get either up there!!!
Enough already. After a typically quiet Monday, racing explodes into life today with the start of the York Ebor meeting.
The undoubted highlight of the day, and one of the races of the season, is the Juddmonte International Stakes.
This race pitches the Derby winner (Authorized) against the Eclipse winner (Notnowcato) against the King George winner (Dylan Thomas). Chuck in the sand monster Asiatic Boy and the perennial Group 1 scrapper, Duke of Marmalade, and its a race short in numbers but titanium strong in class.
Authorized looked the most impressive Derby winner for a few years, but we mustn't forget that Derby winners' subsequent record (especially against older horses) is pretty atrocious. The last few have failed to win another race post-Epsom.
I don't think Authorized will struggle to get his nose in front again, but he may do today.
The race here is over a mile and a quarter, and he was beaten by Notnowcato in the Eclipse over this trip. Indeed, 'cato was ridden tactically superbly that day by Ryan Moore but, in case you think it might have been a fluke, remember that he also won the Eclipse the previous year.
Sir Michael Stoute can learn little from any other living soul when it comes to training older horses, and 'cato may come out on top again.
Dylan Thomas is another horse who has improved into his post-Classic year, and was unequivocal in despatching a sub-standard King George field last time out.
This is a sterner examination, and I also believe he is better over slightly further.
The Duke (Of Marmalade) has been competing with credit in top races this season, and will likely enjoy the ten furlong trip today, but I don't feel he has quite the penchant for this distance that 'cato does.
Asiatic Boy is a class horse. On sand. He ran as well as could be expected in the Sussex Stakes, but a point to note about top sand horses (indeed all sand horses) is that they appreciate an end to end gallop. Despite the presence of a pacemaker in here, I expect this to develop into a three furlong sprint, and the Boy to beat only the 'bunny' home. He will return on dirt and win at a nice price before the season is out - indeed, I'd love to back him in the Breeders Cup Classic where he'd beat any of today's rivals.
So I'm quite strong on Notnowcato today, and will happily lay Asiatic Boy for a place until the cows come home (and they're a loooooooooong way from home, like me, right now!).
It's a very tough looking card indeed, but one I fancy at a decent price in the Acomb Stakes is Clive Brittain's Mut'Ab. He's quick, and has been running with a lot of credit in two decent maidens (just behind Campanologist last time). At around 20/1, he's worth a small interest.
Good luck with your Eboracum wagers.
Matt
posted by Matt at
11:35
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