Classics 2016
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04 Apr 11
19:21
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05 Jan 10
So fill your boots and thank me later. I dont think he'll win the Derby or even The Mecca Dante. A mile is his limit...imo.
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You must tire of being wrong then..
however the race when you thrashed Beacon Light (The Arkle) was an amazing effort - well done. |
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can we not thanks u now instead of later?
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Nope wait till next month. I backed the horse everytime it ran and i know H.Cecil trained 900 more classic winners then i did but i backed more classic winners then he did and i know by looking at the horse so uch 1 mile is his limit.
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rainbow view written all over this fellow
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Roderic and Zoffany will be the first two home!
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William Hill Dante shirley?
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Exclaiming Frankel will win the guineas, is like saying Man scum Utd will
win the premiership. However, at a better value price, I think Wooten Bassett at 14/1 is a cracking eachway alternative. |
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Me too! he's much better value and that coming from me is something as I never think value. Only value is backing winners or is the case of Wooten Bassett backing him without Frankel.
I do think Frankel will run him down but I can see the pair of them finishing a good few lengths in front of the rest. In a normal year I wouldn't hesitate to get stuck right into Wooten Basset he's a much better horse than anything Frankel has faced so far but Frankel is a very special animal in my book. |
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I told you he would win the Guineas at the beginning of last September.
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soldieroffortune - Zoffany aint running mate. Frankel 1st, Strong Suit 2nd, Roderic O'Connor 3rd
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mayweather, frankel has not won the guineas yet, also, he might not be quick enough to win the guineas, lets wait and see shall we. dont want you going nap on frankel in the same way you have gone nap on uncle mo in america. wish we were all as good as you mayweather, id love to find an odds on shot to sing about.
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Not settling, will run out of gas up the hill!
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wins pulling cartwheelS springs to mind, best Ive seen since dancing brave and surely only injury stops him - A BEAST
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'pulling' cartwheels, thats a knew won!
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Somehow or other i dont think Wotton Basset will sparkle all that well tuesday or wednesday after that awsome preformance from Frankel
I've been a lot happier with Wootton Bassett in recent days and his next gallop, either on Tuesday or Wednesday next week, will tell us if he runs in the 2000 Guineas. In the piece of work he had the other day he got a bit tardy and had a good blow, but we've been a lot happier with him at home since. Put it like this, the gallop had the desired effect. It seems to have woken him up again but the problem is he's missed ground work which is vital. If it wasn't the Guineas coming up I wouldn't have given him a racecourse gallop the other day, I'd have taken it slowly and got him ready two weeks later. But if he's going to run in it he's got to work. We'll take him away again Tuesday or Wednesday and we'll make a decision then. I'm very happy with his demeanour at the moment - the gallop has done him a bit of good. I'd say he's still 50-50 to make the Guineas. The thing is I want to be there 100%, I don't want to get there only 90%. We're not far off it but the next gallop will be vital. |
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Frankel could start as short as 2-5 for Guineas
By Tom Boyle & Lewis Porteous 2011 BOOKMAKERS fear that the raw power of Frankel's Totesport.com Greenham Stakes win could have his Qipco 2,000 Guineas rivals running scared and onSaturday predicted that the unbeaten colt could go off as short as 2-5 for the first Classic of the season. Before Saturday's demolition job the son of Galileo was a best priced 5-6 for Guineas glory butfollowing his impressive four-length win Victor Chandler cut Henry Cecil's unbeaten star to as short as 4-9 for Newmarket glory. Ladbrokes went 1-2 (from 5-6) about Frankel for the Guineas and spokesman David Williams said: "I hope it's not the case, but it is not beyond the realms of possibilities that we could have single figures running in the Guineas. "Before Frankel won impressively some might have thought, We'll shoot for the moon. Now many trainers, owners and connections might think, Let's go to Paris, let's go to the Curragh. "Based on a small field Frankel could go off as short as 2-5. We are happy to lay Frankel for the Derby but we want to be with him for the Guineas." Victor Chandler's Charlie McCann said: "We've gone 4-9 because we want to stay on the right side of him. We are that price because of we've taken a £550,000 bet at 10-11." Kate Miller of William Hill, who go 4-7 (from 4-5) said: "It all depends how the field cuts up, there could be quite a few that come out - if that happens he could go off 4-9." Before Saturday the form of the Henry Cecil stable had been called into question but those fears were firmly put to bed with Cecil leaving Newbury with not one, but two legitimate Classic contenders. Cecil's World Domination, who like Frankel is owned by Khalid Abdullah, has been something of a talking horse following glorious gallop reports in recent weeks, yet he was allowed to go off at 3-1 for his debut in the 1m3f maiden on Newbury's card. The son of Empire Maker, out of Cecil's Oaks winner Reams Of Verse, crushed his 13 rivals to earn quotes of 8-1 with the majority of bookmakers for the Investec Derby (from 16), although Totesport offer a standout 10-1. The same firm make Frankel their 3-1 favourite. Charlie McCann added: "We now know one of the talking horses of the winter, World Domination, is no morning glory and, whilst we will now more about his realistic Epsom credentials after his next race - likely to be the Dante - we have cut the Cecil colt to 8-1." |
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Frankel unlikely to have pacemaker
Connections of odds-on Qipco 2000 Guineas favourite Frankel have all but ruled out the possibility of supplementing a pacemaker for the Classic. Trainer Henry Cecil ran Derby prospect Picture Editor in the hope of setting a good gallop for the unbeaten colt in the Greenham, but by halfway Frankel had cruised upsides. Owner Khalid Abdullah still has the likes of Dux Scholar and Rerouted engaged, but they are trained by Sir Michael Stoute and Barry Hills respectively. "I've spoken to Henry and he's come out of the race really well and the race went pretty much according to plan," said Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe. "I don't think I was worried at any stage. He seems to be pulling but he has such a tremendous stride which helps him dominate his races. "We wouldn't supplement a pacemaker, I don't think. We'll see how the race looks like shaping up and discuss with Henry what might be the best plan - all these things are up for discussion. "I think we've always been excited about him, ever since he's been a young horse. I would hope we'll see a better Frankel in the Guineas - Henry said he'd left a bit to work on and he should come on a good deal. "I wouldn't want to be too dogmatic at the moment regarding the Derby." |
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Frankel could start an even shorter priced favourite for the 2,000 Guineas than the great Nijinsky in 1970 after winning Saturday's Greenham Stakes at Newbury.
Just like Tudor Minstrel in 1947, Nijinsky won the first colts' Classic at odds of 4-7. Ladbrokes already quote Henry Cecil's unbeaten colt at 2-5 and fear evaporating opposition will prevent a race-day drift of those odds. David Williams of Ladbrokes said: 'There must be a big chance the race is going to fall apart. If ever there was a year to consider running in the French or Irish Guineas, this would seem to be it.' Ed Dunlop seems keen to take on Frankel with Craven Stakes winner Native Khan but doubts surround the participation of both Dream Ahead and Wootton Bassett. Ultimately, the biggest problem at Newbury for Frankel's jockey Tom Queally was pulling up. Stablemate Picture Editor struggled to go fast enough in his pacemaking role so which horse, if any, plays the hare at Newmarket on April 30 will be discussed. Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Frankel's owner Khaled Abdullah, said: 'We'll have to see how the Guineas shapes up.' However, two Abdullah-owned entries who could be candidates are Sir Michael Stoute's Dux Scholar and Barry Hills' Free Handicap second Rerouted. |
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Dubai Prince has suffered a setback in training and will miss both the Qipco 2000 Guineas and the Investec Derby.
One of the big hopes for Godolphin this season after winning both his starts at two for Dermot Weld, Dubai Prince has reportedly been diagnosed with a hairline fracture of his right ilial wing and will require time off. Racing manager Simon Crisford told www.godolphin.com: "It is a big shame as he had been shaping up nicely this spring. He will now need a few weeks off but he should be fine for later in the season." |
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I TOLD YOU ALL ABOUT FRANKEL LAST AUGUST - NOW WAIT UNTIL THE GUINEAS, HE WILL HACK UP! £2000 WIN AT 25/1, 5/4, 11/10
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Mayweather, give it a rest, your making yourself look even more of a tit than you are.
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FRANKEL took his unbeaten record to five in the Greenham Stakes on Saturday, but that string of dazzling victories will count for little unless he can maintain the dominance into next month and beyond.
History doesn't remember great two-year-olds like it does Classic winners. Champion juveniles are a one-a-year phenomenon. Most have identical profiles (three or four wins from maiden to Dewhurst) and the fact Frankel has also now bagged a Greenham adds little to the equation. A future superstar he may be, but on what he has done so far he could be forgotten as quickly as any other champion juvenile who loses the Guineas, left in the shadows of the next big thing. He might have looked devastatingly impressive in each of his wins to date, but so was Nijinsky and no one remembers him for his juvenile campaign, while Celtic Swing is remember as much for his flop at three as for his outstanding form at two. Real legends are made in the Classic arena and the 2,000 Guineas offers budding starlets their first substantial test - one which often finds out the previous year's champion juvenile. The Guineas is often so strong that even finishing in the frame is no bad start for a potential champion, as Giant's Causeway, Raven's Pass and New Approach have all proved, but for Henry Cecil and his legion of followers it's a win they are looking for with Frankel. As the best two-year-old this century by RPRs, Frankel theoretically holds a better chance of winning the Guineas than the many other smart juveniles who have failed in recent times. Not training on has been an issue for previous contenders, but the way he won the Greenham, stretching away by four lengths despite running free early, gave at least some indication that he has returned as good ashe was last term and Cecil suggested he would improve a fair amount for the outing. Unlike with recent 2,000 Guineas failures, Frankel doesn't have any glaring hole in his armoury, but he does have a potent weapon, which gives him an edge in all areas of the race. It is his superb long stride which allows him to cover the ground with ease in the early stages, where he moves effortlessly, conserving energy. Later in the race that same stride allows him both tactical mid-race acceleration and a turn of toe, which never disappoints. A suggestion could be made that history is against him in the Guineas, since 16 of the last 17 favourites have been overturned, including two at odds-on and an even-money poke last year, but a mathematician would smack your legs for suggesting that has any bearing on the chances of this individual horse in this individual race. Long term, perhaps the race is one in which to take a cautious view of flimsy favourites, but this favourite is far from flimsy. There is little more he could have done to prove he is something special in the making. He probably will win the Guineas - and that isnot based solely on his ability, consistency, his smart trial win and top-class course form, but the fact that with Henry Cecil in charge of his preparation you can guarantee no stone will go unturned. Odds-on ante-post, however, is never appealing. The Guineas often proves a turning point for leading juveniles and whether Frankel becomes another St Nicholas Abbey or another Wollow may well be determined on that day at HQ in two week's time. Let's hope it is the beginning rather than the end of his legacy. He posted a provisional RPR of 119+ in the Greenham, but still holds a healthy advantage over his potential rivals judged on last season's 127. In America, the Classic division remains wide-open after the latest round of trials. On this year's form Dialed In leads the way with an RPR of 119, while Uncle Mo still holdsthe biggest figure of 124 from last season, although his best this term is 116. Archarcharch posted the biggest RPR of the Kentucky Derby hopefuls this weekend with a 118 for his Arkansas Derby success. Perhaps more eyecatching, however, was the runner-up Nehro (116+), who finished the 1m1f contest with gusto and was in front a stride after the line. He also ran a smart trial when second in the Louisiana Derby last month, losing momentum with some trouble turning in before staying on well to finish a close second. He still has a fairway to go to match the rating of an average Kentucky Derby winner, but in a race this open it may be worth siding with the horse on a rapid upward curve, especially with the step up in trip likely to suit. TOP OF THE CLASS: Frankel 119+ Henry Cecil (GB) (Greenham Stakes, 7f, Newbury, April 16) Overall World Top Ten 1 Black Caviar (Aus) Newmarket Handicap 133T 2 Hay List (Aus) TJ Smith Stakes 125T J J The Jet Plane (SAF) Meydan Hcap 125T 4 Rocket Man (Sing) Golden Shaheen 124A Sacred Kingdom (HK) Sha Tin G3 Handicap 124T To The Glory (****) Nikkei Sho 124T Victoire Pisa (****) Nakayama Kinen 124T 8 Big Drama (US)Mr Prospector Stakes 123D Presvis (GB) Dubai Duty Free 123T Twice Over (GB) Al Maktoum Challenge R3 123A Whobegotyou (Aus) Futurity Stakes 123T Top Turf Performers 1 Black Caviar (Aus) Newmarket Handicap 133 2 Hay List (Aus) TJ Smith Stakes 125 J J The Jet Plane (SAF) Meydan Hcap 125 4 Sacred Kingdom (HK) Sha Tin G3 Hcap 124 To The Glory (****) Nikkei Sho 124 Victoire Pisa (****) Nakayama Kinen 124 7 Presvis (GB) Dubai Duty Free 123 Whobegotyou (Aus) Futurity Stakes 123 9 Rewilding (UAE) Dubai Sheema Classic 122 10 Ambitious Dragon (HK) Hong Kong Classic Cup 121 Heart Of Dreams (Aus)CF Orr Stakes 121 More Joyous (Aus) Futurity Stakes 121 Rose Kingdom (****) Nikei Shinshun Hai/ Nikkei Sho 121 Rulership (****) Nikei Shinshun Hai 121 Top Dirt Performers 1 Big Drama (US) Mr Prospector Stakes 123 2 Dialed In (US) Florida Derby 119 Espoir City (****) Nagoya Daishoten 119 Giant Oak (US) Donn Handicap 119 5 Archarcharch (US) Arkansas Derby 118 Shackleford (US) Florida Derby 118 Smiling Tiger (US) Count Fleet Hcap 118 8 Always A Princess (US) La Canada 117 Furioso (****) Kawasaki Kinen 117 Morning Line (US) Carter Handicap 117 Tackleberry (US) Gulfstream Park Hcap 117 Top AW Performers 1 Rocket Man (Sing) Golden Shaheen 124 2 Twice Over (GB) Al Maktoum Challenge R3 123 3 Victoire Pisa (****) Dubai World Cup 120 4 Bold Silvano (SAF) Al Maktoum Challenge R2 119 Transcend (****) Dubai World Cup 119 6 Cape Blanco (Ire) Dubai World Cup 118 Monterosso (UAE) Dubai World Cup 118 Musir (SAF) Al Maktoum Challenge R3 118 Skysurfers (UAE) Godolphin Mile 118 10 Euroears (US) Golden Shaheen 117 Gitano Hernando (GB) Al Maktoum Challenge R 117 Mendip (UAE) Al Maktoum Challenge R1 117 Mufarrh (UAE) Godolphin Mile 117 |
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Essexguy - your the wally that was telling me Big Bucks could not win the World Hurdle so be quiet. You are the loser here! I am the winner, I won the World Hurdle, duh!
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Mayweather, my dear friend, please can you show me where I said Big bucks could not win the world hurdle.I would love to see it, because if i was silly enough to make a satement like that, I would really be in your class, and of that, i am not proud.
So come on mayweather, please show me and everyone else, where and when i made that silly statement. Thats like saying big bucks will win the world hurdle. As you say mayweather, you are a winner, in your own eyes. keep saying it enough and you might find a few idiots start agree with you. But I dont think you have that much time life on this earth. You must be say 10 or 11, you might make 85/ 95, nope you havnt got long enough. But i predict one day you will pass away. Now thats what I call agood bet. |
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Essexguy - I tell you what's a good bet, you have less money in your pocket now than I do. Why? Becuase I do!
Essexyguy - I am the man, I am the main man and I will predict you will go skint within the next year if you continue to lay me nice prices on the likes on Hurricane Fly, Big Bucks, Long Run etc. I already won your money and I want more. |
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Mayweather, i take it you couldnt find the post where i said big bucks could not win the world hurdle. thought you wouldnt.
how much will you win if frankel wins the derby? |
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Ive got a feeling Frankel could be turned over come the big day.
not done anything wrong but then again i dont think he has been running against anything primed for a race yet. think a suprise could be in Fury or one of o'briens. |
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ZOFFANY and Strong Suit, as short as 14-1 and 20-1 respectively for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, will not run in the Newmarket Classic as potential challengers to odds-on favourite Frankel continue to fall by the wayside.
The pair failed to feature among 19 horses left in the Guineas at the latest forfeit stage, while Glor Na Mara, a 25-1 chance, was also withdrawn by trainer Jim Bolger. At the same point last year, 27 horses remained in contention for the 1m Group 1, but the aforementioned trio join the likes of Wootton Bassett and Dubai Prince as big-name absentees. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Zoffany, who was on Wednesday entered in the King's Stand and Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, won five of his seven starts as a two-year-old, while Strong Suit failed to fire against Frankel in the Totesport.com Greenham Stakes on Saturday, finishing 13 lengths behind the Galileo superstar, who could go off the shortest-priced Guineas favourite in 27 years. Richard Hannon: disappointed PICTURE: Edward Whitaker Richard Hannon, who trains Strong Suit, said on Wednesday: "We were very unhappy with how he performed in the Greenham and on that run there is no way we could run him in the Guineas." The 1,000 Guineas, also sponsored by Qipco, has a more competitive look to it, with 30 fillies left in the race on May 1. Theyskens' Theory, 16-1 in the ante-post betting, will not run, nor will Banimpire or Handassa, general 25-1 chances. Jessica Harrington, who is set to saddle joint second-favourite Pathfork in the 2,000 Guineas, will be represented by Laughing Lashes in the 1,000. "I'm happy with her progress," Harrington said on Wednesday. "She had very good form last year and I couldn't ask for any more. I would like rain for her." |
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It’s a quiet weekend for me, I have a few rides at Nottingham on Saturday, but I guess it’s all about the following weekend.
Frankel will go to the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday week as a red-hot favourite on the back of a very satisfying performance at Newbury last weekend. Some have questioned the strength and manner of the performance, which I find strange. He has beaten every animal put in front of him and the opposition seem to be dropping like flies – so it can’t have been that inconclusive a trial. He was by no means fully fit at Newbury so he will kick on from there, and we have a pacemaker now, so I think all boxes are ticked. You can never be over-confident when it comes to any race, even if you’re on a 1-10 shot. I will, as always, never underestimate the opposition, especially as it’s a Classic, and will be keeping an eye on the principals, but all that considered, we are exactly where we want to be. It was a great day for the yard on Saturday as World Domination justified the hype in some style. I said in the blog that he had a massive chance but I wasn’t over-confident as a few of ours had run a little below-par at Newmarket. So with that in mind, I was pleasantly surprised at the manner of his victory. I always thought he had a big future, but to do it so convincingly was very encouraging. I haven’t spoken to Henry but I imagine he will go for a key trial now like the Dante, which will tell us if he’s ready for the Derby. I did give our stablemate Solar Sky, who was a fast-finishing second in the same race, a good mention also in the blog. He’s not as mentally forward as World Domination, but you’d imagine he will win his maiden and then maybe take in a race like the King Edward VII Stakes, but again Henry hasn’t spoken to me about any concrete plans. There’s so much to look forward to this season, and two of the stars from last year are progressing well. Twice Over is absolutely bouncing and the whole Dubai experience certainly hasn’t left a mark. He takes his racing so well and is one of the most consistent horses I’ve ever sat on. I think he’s earmarked for the Lockinge, a race he was a good third in two years ago. He’s probably best over 10 furlongs, but won’t let us down over a mile, and then he’ll try and go one better that 12 months ago in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Midday is also pleasing us at home and she is set to run in the Middleton Stakes at York next month. I was part of a Racing UK Flat season preview panel, alongside Andrew Balding, Nick Luck and Eddie Fremantle, at Epsom on Wednesday, and it was good fun and I hope informative and entertaining for the 125 people who had bought tickets. I was asked for two darker horses to follow, and I put up Timepiece and Midsummer Sun. The former had a huge reputation last year, which she never quite managed to live up to, although she did win at Royal Ascot. We gave her time the summer off as she needed more time and Henry is a master of training fillies as everyone knows. She will certainly be a more forward filly this year, both mentally and physically, and I’d follow her closely. Midsummer Sun was disappointing to come only fifth in his maiden at Newmarket, but you should definitely not write him off. He was as working as well as of our nicer horses and his half-sister Midday took a couple of runs to find her form. With a bit of cut in the ground and more experience, he will be a different horse. Before I sign off, someone told me that Henry was 3-1 to be champion trainer this season. This could look terrific value come next weekend. Fingers crossed and have a good Easter. Check back on April 28 for Tom's next blog. www.racinguk.com |
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HOT favourite Frankel will face a maximum of 14 rivals in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, with Dream Ahead the most notable absentee at the five-day declaration stage.
Casamento, last year's Racing Post Trophy winner, has been left in by Godolphin, while Roderic O'Connor is one of three possibles for Aidan O'Brien. No supplementary entries were made for the first British Classic and Frankelremains a best-priced 8-15 favourite. The Jessica Harrington-trained Pathfork is next-best at 5-1. Dream Ahead's withdrawal was widely expected after trainer David Simcock voiced concern about the prospect of fast ground for the Middle Park winner, who had been a 16-1 chance for the Guineas. |
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MASTER of HOUNDS WILL SAVE BOOKMAKERS
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He's not called Master Of The Hounds for nothing..woof woof
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ESSEXGUY - FRANKEL IS COMING! HE IS COMING TO WIN THE 2000 GUINEAS AND HE'S GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EGG ON YOUR FACE, MUPPET BOY!
I TOLD YOU LAST SEPTEMBER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AND IN 4 DAYS TIME IT WILL HAPPEN. I AM ON TO WIN £3000 IF HE WINS THE CLASSICS, JUST OVER £1000 IF HE WINS THE GUINEAS. I'M HAVING £5000 ON HIM AT ROYAL ASCOT IF HE MISSES THE DERBY. |
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Mayweather, let me get this right, if frankel wins the 2000 guineas you stand to win £1000, and if he wins the derby, an additional £2000???
Is that correct?? Bugger me, your a kid, thats a gamble, thats a kid betting with his pocket money. Now do me a favour boy, fukc off and play with the other little boys. |
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His daddy Sadler's Wells is after passing away..No better tribute then his son Feankel winning the Guineas
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Frankel will win but surprised why the Goldolphin runners are such big prices. Cassamento may need further but surely he is better than a 20-1 shot and forget the last run of Saammid and he looked good prior to that. I'm sure they'd be shorter if trained by Stoute / AOB
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Greg Woods:
Even when his horse is 2-1 on, Henry Cecil is seldom any more than cautiously optimistic, so the quiet confidence with which he discussed Frankel, the favourite for the 2,000 Guineas, here will be taken as a positive sign by the colt's many supporters. Cecil seemed certain that Frankel has made significant progress since winning this month's Greenham Stakes and if that is the case it will take an exceptional performance to beat him on the Rowley Mile this weekend. Frankel has been favourite for the first Classic of the season since confirming himself the champion juvenile of 2010 with victory in the Dewhurst Stakes last October. For more than half a year, his trainer has been focused on Saturday's race and, while Cecil still cannot relax, there does not seem to have been a day that has not passed to plan. "There's a certain amount of pressure and you always worry a little bit that things might go wrong coming into the last week," Cecil said, "but unless you have a little bit of butterflies then it's not worth doing it. I'm getting used to it, but I'll never get completely used to it. "At Newbury he was ready for a race. Some people criticised the way that he won, and said that he got upset, which he didn't, he was a fresh horse first time out. He hadn't been on the grass since last year. I've trained him for the Guineas and I'd like to think that he'll be a much better horse on Saturday." It has been a traditional preparation, too, overseen by arguably the finest British trainer of the past 50 years. These days, the Flat season stretches off towards the Breeders' Cup in November, but Cecil still prefers to give a Classic horse a run. "I do admire people who go to Newmarket first time out on Guineas day and win it," he said. "I've never really had the confidence to do that. I always feel that you have to work them that little bit harder at home, which I don't like doing, and I feel that after a long winter horses benefit from a race, and a race is probably worth two or three pieces of work." Credible opponents to Frankel in Saturday's race have been dropping away in recent weeks, but the strength of the field lined up against him could improve significantly with the news that Godolphin's Casamento – like Frankel, a Group One winner last year – is now a "strong possibility" for the Guineas. "We've always thought a mile and a half would be his best trip and we think he would have a good chance in the Derby," Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager, said. "But sometimes you just need to let them run and he's going very well, so it will be either the Guineas or the Dante [at York in May]." Casamento is generally a 16-1 chance for Saturday's Classic, with Frankel top-priced at 8-15. Cecil was speaking at the official launch of the new British Champion Series of races, which starts with Saturday's 2,000 Guineas and is sponsored, like the weekend's Classic, by Qipco. The BCS points towards the new Champions Day at Ascot in mid-October, which will be the richest card in British history. In all, the series comprises 35 races at 10 different courses, divided into five categories: Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies and Mares. Each category has a "finale" event on Champions Day at Ascot, while the trainer and jockey with the most winners over the series will each win £25,000 for a charity of their choice. The creation of the new event remains controversial, not least in Newmarket, which had been the home of the Champion Stakes for more than a century before the race was switched to form the centrepiece of the Champions Day card. However, John Gosden, one of Newmarket's most successful trainers, is adamant that the move was vital for British racing as it competes with other major racing nations in an increasingly globalised sport. "We'd come to a stage where there was an amorphous mass of races," Gosden said. "The National Hunt season has a very clear structure which points through to Cheltenham [but] the Flat season starts with the Guineas, and then you go to some nice festivals, like Chester and York, and Royal Ascot, then suddenly you've run four of the [five] Classics and all of Royal Ascot by the official end of spring racing. "The French, very shrewdly, moved all of their Group Ones to create a European Breeders' Cup [on Arc weekend at Longchamp in early October]. We in England have basically stuck to our traditional structure and got a little bit outmanoeuvered and outdated. The purists might want to leave it that way, but for me, it was just going down one path." Fears that the loss of the Champion Stakes might lead to a sharp drop in membership at Newmarket also appear to have been misplaced. "It's reality now, it's happening," Stephen Wallis, the track's managing director, said. "I think people understand more about what's going on. We anticipated that we might lose 10% [of annual badge holders] but we're actually 31 badges behind last year on a total in excess of 2,000 and we know that we usually sell 50 on Guineas day anyway. We're very encouraged by those figures |
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Frankel stars in final 13 for 2,000 Guineas
FRANKEL will face a maximum 12 rivals in Saturday's Qipco 2,000 Guineas after Aidan O'Brien removed Master Of Hounds and Alexander Pope from the Classic on Thursday. As short as 4-9 favourite for the Guineas with Victor Chandler, Frankel heads to Newmarket unbeaten after an authoritative comeback win in the Totesport.com Greenham Stakes at Newbury. Among Frankel's opponents is Dubawi Gold, the winner of two Listed races since being switched to Richard Hannon's stable this season. Hannon's son and assistant Richard Hannon jnr believes Dubawi Gold has a good chance of being placed, but will find Frankel difficult to beat. "I think we're all running for places aren't we? I don't see anything to beat him - I don't even see anything to really race against him," he said on At The Races. "Dubawi Gold is maturing and settling better as we didn't think he'd get a mile because he kept taking off. If things go right for him, and I mean getting a bit of cover in the race, then I can definitely see him being in the four." Frankel faces two challengers from Ireland in the form of Pathfork and Roderic O'Connor and one from France in the shape of Broox, whose trainer Eoghan O'Neill sent of Vital Equine to be second in the 2007 2,000 Guineas. |
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NEWMARKET clerk of the course Michael Prosser is expecting the action to take place down the centre of the track when Frankel and his dozen rivals contest the Qipco 2,000 Guineas on Saturday.
The stalls will be placed in the centre of the track for both Saturday's Classic and Sunday's 1,000 Guineas as well as the races over 1m4f at the meeting, while they will be placed on the stands' side for the remaining races. Prosser said on Thursday afternoon: "The Guineas ground has not been raced on since October and I think it is very even. I think that the middle of the track is where it will unfold and I think the middle is as good as anywhere on the track. "The going is good to firm, good in places with a GoingStick reading of 9.2. It was 8.8 yesterday and that change is what you would expect in 24 hours of non-irrigation. The plan is to irrigate tomorrow but we will gauge how much after speaking with the meteorologists in the morning." Regarding the forecast, Prosser added: "There has been no real change in the forecast, which is dry today and largely overcast with temperatures of 15C but blustery. "The forecast for Friday is showers, but the likelihood is if we get any of consequence it will be 2 -3 millimetres in the afternoon. Saturday is expected to be warmer, around 18C with pleasant sunny breaks and Sunday is likely to stay dry |