wootton bassett sprint cup

I really like Wooten Bassett. On his best 2yo form he would go extremely close, especially with the favourite out of the race.

However I am bit doubtful that he has maybe trained on. I know the trainer has struggled to get a clear run with one niggle after another, but this looks a very tall order, with Bated Breath, Hoof It and Dream Ahead all capable of running well into the 120's.

I will be with you as I could not stand him winning without a bean on him, but to me the classiest horse in the filed is Dream Ahead and if you could find out a decent reason why he flopped last time, there would be every reason to see him as a champion sprinter.

Bewitched looks the best outsider to me.

Unless it comes up soft, its a race id leave alone, too many guesses to be made imo

Dream ahead is too short for me now with Deacon Blues defection.  To be honest there are a few at bigger prices trained by the bigger stables that I have my eye on. I think Varian's could improve and Delegator, if he's going could see them all off. Frankie has screwed me over at Haydock plenty times before though.

CRY, this is purely MY OPINION, but a lot of jockeys seem to have become complacent especially when riding a horse which they believe to be superior to others in their particular race, DREAM AHEAD dwelt and consequently got slowly away, Buick decided that he could pick them up at any stage, but then he was confronted with a wall of horses in front, out of the corner of his eye he saw IMMORTAL VERSE making her run just as he decided to make his, her speed left him in a quandary and through hesitation the race was lost.
I repeat this is opinion, not fact.
Look at DETTORI'S rides on BLUE BUNTING, it's cruel how he gives her so much to do, yet she is so genuine she gives her all.

I think delegator is exposed to some extent and now with the benefit of hindsight the drop to sprinting smacks of desperation. I don't think he's really a sprinter, he's a 7 furlong horse but the problem is there are no group ones (or very few) over 7. Also at best he's a poor group one/strong group two horse anyway.

Elzaam is another who can be depended on to run his race, but you wonder if he lacks that brilliance.

the ground should be perfect for wootton bassett. he didn't seem to get home last time over 7 but six should be his perfect distance, where he recorded his most impressive run last year at york. but you wonder if the same can be said of dream ahead.

Personally I don't buy into this whole "training on" thing. I think it's just one of those cliches perpetuated by the racing media. How many horse's genuinely fail to train on? probably very few, I would think.

mythical
i do recall Wooten Bassett having a problem with 7 furlongs in a  group 1 as a 2yo. I hope you're right though as I will have to have at least a saver on him. He is at least one horse that could be the best in the race, but its many Ifs and buts for me. his form this year has been pretty poor. he is bred for a mile and I am not sure his lack of stamina is the reason.

Regards horses that do not train on;

just off the top of my head from memory:

Cry Of Truth
Appalachee
Gorytus
Try My Best
Diesis
Crowded House
Huntingdale
Dunbeath
Amaranda
Tromos
Nagwa
Hi Estate

I am sure there are many more other could easily add to the list


All of these never trained on, admittedly some worse than others. of course Cry Of Truth, having won about 6 in a row including the thrashing of an unbeaten irish horse in the Cheveley Park Stakes was the most disappointing, she flopped once or twice as a 3yo before being retired.

Johannesburg, Arazi and Long Row.
There have been many down the years.

well true but I suppose it depends on the percentages... and I also think it greatly depends on the size and the scope of the horse. Wootton bassett doesn't fit into the typical type of animal that fails to come on from it's two year old career, ie one that's small and lacking in scope.

celtic swing, alhaarth, xaar, hold that tiger, lyric fantasy, rainbow view, tenby are a few others that didn't exactly hit the heights past their two year old stage.

maybe I was talking bollox after all

You'll need rain for him to run

In fact scrap that. They've went from "If they don't get enough rain then he'll go straight to Doncaster", to " he won't run if it's fast ground"

A lot of trainers seem to be using a lawyers proviso, "horse will not run unless the going is suitable".
Does not tell the punter what type of going IS required, just like a lawyer.

I looked at all the winners today at Haydock.

I watched the racing too.

There wants a single horse that won which needs fast ground.

The horses were kicking out a a lot of of stuff too. I reckon without resort to going sticks or even times, that the ground is good with false patches. If your hose needs fast ground (what a shock) don't go to Haydock.

There is plenty enough give for those that hate fast going.

Suggestions

Owners of top class horses that need fast ground, given the current state of the watering policy in Britain.

move your horse abroad.

come on wootton my son

Mythical, Paul hanagans blog worth a read if you fancy this one today.

considering Hannagan said he was looking forward to WB about a month ago in the Liverpool Echo and that he hoped they had a clear run at the race, training wise. I would agree it is the best outsider at 20/1 or so on here but just worry he may not have quite enough to win. E/W....with win being the bonus imo. gl.

I also like WB, and will have a small bet at his price. I've not been betting recently so i'm looking forward to it. I find these sprints to be pretty damn hopeless at times. Using collateral form is tough. In this race there are quite a few horses that i'd back at another time and place. I think Dream Ahead has a good chance, as well as Bewitched and Sole Power. I could back anyone of those 4 and still get it wtrong, but i'll plunge for WB as i think he needs this trip.

Very poor. Led and had every chance but faded tamely. Last chance for me.

Otherwise a great race.

Betting for 58 years and noticed that some horses missed out after a good 2yo season but came good again as 4yo.
Others which were brilliant 2yo never won another race.