Champions Sprint Ascot (15th)

But Limato could run, according to Henry Candy, if the ground suits - at the moment it is good/good to firm; Limato is best price 3/1 (Hil**) but as short as 7/4 with 'Paddies', and he is 5lbs better off with Quiet Reflection.

An interesting outsider could be Donjuan Triumphant. If he takes his chance he will be 3lb and a run better off with Quiet Reflection when compared to his comeback run.
His form has not been much since but last year he only came to form at the back-end.
40/1 in places. Speculative but tempting.

Indeed, Donjuan Triumphant is 3lbs better off with Quiet Reflection and he was 7/1 last time they met so 40/1 is massively overpriced. However, I think if the ground is no worse than good Limato will be much shorter than 5/2 and extremely difficult to beat.

I have no need of confirmation of it from you Silly Arse.

Touchy, and goodbye!!!!!!!!!!!

Have taken the 3/1 on LImato. Weather forecast looks set fair all week, and on these tersm, everything looks in his favour.

Would be slightly concerned if Shalaa runs.

Until Limato was aimed here I was really keen on The Tin Man e/w @ 8/1 if the rain stayed away. Hard to see Limato getting beat if he is on his 'A game' but still might take the chance if it remains on the fast side,

I think if it is genuinely good/good to firm ground Limato will be nearer 'even' money given the weight pull over the others, and the extra furlong is added 'security' for backers.

On juvenile form, Shalaa would need to improve at least 8lb to photo-finish with Limato, all things being equal.

Did anyone get 8/1 for Limato just after the interview with his trainer by Gina Harding on Champions Day 5 day entries with top connections eg Gosden, Candy, Buckley, Simcock, etc? Thanks to Ok Koral I managed to £20 on him.

That's one for the aftertiming thread if ever I saw one - especially as you gave up betting on the horses after Found won the Arc.

Regards Found, I knew I was going to eat humble pie for my vociferous negativity abut her. Maybe, Found backers have me to thank for her win as everything went right for her including assistance from the connections of Postponed eg position and too pacey too early.

I have donated £50 to a local charity, but not given up horse racing (yet).

Maybe, Found backers have me to thank for her win

impossible123
11 Oct 16 20:10
Joined: 07 Sep 15
| Topic/replies: 2,211 | Blogger: impossible123's blog
Regards Found, I knew I was going to eat humble pie for my vociferous negativity abut her. Maybe, Found backers have me to thank for her win as everything went right for her including assistance from the connections of Postponed eg position and too pacey too early.

comedy gold that one...wac

is Meccas Angel a likely runner? the trip is a doubt but the horse is usually finishing well over 5fg

According to the weather forecast, there's showers around Friday and Saturday. It won't take much for Limato to be withdrawn. I'd want 6/4 him even turning up.

Impoosible123 you are impossible-

Regards Found, I knew I was going to eat humble pie for my vociferous negativity abut her. Maybe, Found backers have me to thank for her win as everything went right for her including assistance from the connections of Postponed eg position and too pacey too early.

You have to stop this scratching your bollocks after-timing musing as you are hurting my stomach with your posts!

At the moment the only precipitation (slight) forecast is from 12pm to 3pm saturday and the days prior (even friday) are dry but cloudy. And knowing the British weather this could change in the blink of an eye.

Limato not declared (nor Washington DC nor Jimmy Two Times  apparently)

B0llocks

Just been confirmed by ATR Limato has not been declared for this race. This is another kick-in-the-teeth by connections, why withdraw him so early? The last time he withdrew his charges too early leaving no runner in the race despite ground was suitable for at one.

Commiseration to Limato backers.

Exactly what I thought impossible. Don't think they've been totally honest here.

Its only Good, Good to Soft in places. We know Ascot dries quickly, its warm for the time of year, and it could well be perfectly Good ground by race time.

MECCA's. ANGEL 10/1 really ???- I'd have him over QUIET REFLECTION anyday.....

I won't be backing either but have to strongly disagree with that train of thought IDB.

Meccas is a mare for one thing.

The connections of Limato (and Twilight Son) have been all over the shop regarding their plans all season. Proactive owner wants his own jockey (Bentley), horse needs time between his races, horse no longer needs time between his races, Limato was going to run in the Haydock Sprint Cup despite it being more likely that conditions would suit Twilight Son who was withdrawn at the final declaration stage despite being 100% according to his trainer who said the Sprint Cup plan was made according to the wishes of both owners.

Then it rained, ground went soft, so Limato did n't run in the Sprint Cup - if he really was 100% the owners of Twilight Son would surely have been unimpressed.

Limato wins Foret, owner wants to go for Breeders Cup Sprint, trainer wants to go for Breeders Cup Mile then they talk about running in this race.Personally think it would be asking a lot to take in the Foret, Champion Sprint and a Breeders Cup race. The cynic in me wonders if they were ever serious about running here and if there is an agreement with the owners of Twilight Son to allow him a free run at this one after the Haydock debacle. It's difficult to take what they say at face value which is a shame because Candy comes across as very likeable - perhaps it's difficult to manage the requirements of two Group One sprinters with separate owners (though their different ground requirements should make it straightforward enough).

Anyway Washington DC dos n't run either, so Ryan Moore is reunited with Twilight Son, I expect a big run.

Like most I was not expecting Limato to run here but instead headed straight to America and neither were the bookies. However, in that interview with Gina Harding, Henry Candy was categoric the gelding would run if the ground was good and Limato would be left in at the 'Confirmation Stage' on thursday (today), and a decision made as late as possible.

I used to have utmost respect for Henry Candy especially his handling of the fabulous filly, Time Charter, but his recent handling of the running plans for Limato has made me think otherwise despite his personable performance on TV.

Mecca's Angel would be my automatic selection over 5f but this is 6f, a saviour bet perhaps.

hey uncle - I suffer from calling mares and fillies - him ...
So annoying!

However if it rained enough still think there won't be much between them two...if it doesn't rain then I wouldn't be confident on either of them....

But at this stage 11-4 vs 10/1 shot will win every time considering they have quite similar profiles ...

But good luck anyway ...

I love Meccas and her two Nunthorpe wins were fabulous but she ran terribly at Ascot in June and there is no evidence to suggest 6f will suit her.
It's a very competitive race so I couldn't  back her with counterfeit and might place lay her if the odds are short enough

The Tin Man as long as the ground doesn't get any worse....

The ground could be good all round come tomorrow, according to clerk of the course, as little or no rain is expected tonight. If so, egg-on-face for connections of Limato (again), and costly to backers who backed the gelding post 'that' interview.

egg on their faces?

not if they wanted to run in the BC.

youd be mad not to have a pop at that imo.
may ever get another chance.

Henry may just be happy enough with Twilight Son. I think Limato deserves a crack at the bc anyway. He has nothing more to prove.

To run in the Breeders Cup has always been the target for Limato but for Mr Candy to state with intent Limato would run if the ground was good, and be left in at the 'Confirmation Stage' ie thursday, in that interview with Gina Harding was wholly misleading if he intended to withdraw Limato on thursday, which he did.

The ground is officially good all round at the moment. Unless the weather forecast for tonight and up to the race tomorrow are incorrect the backers of Limato would have been deprived of a great chance of winning this race, in my opinion; Limato is a gelding and this race is worth £340k to the winner.

Brexit makes the race more valuable. Anyway, maybe they want to go over for the occasion, and why not ?

in other news, Karl Burke stable in poor form 0-18 in two weeks before today - 4 runners today as far as I can see, all beaten with only one running competitively.

Twilight Son the one to be on

Mecca's Angel is obviously the best of this field but even though she hasn't been tested over 6f enough to confidently rule her out she has looked a 5f specialist so far, plus she comes here after a sub par effort. The best of the rest is Quiet Reflection who I have running a career peak last time with an improvement of 6lbs on her previous Haydock win. I'm not sure how much give there will be in the ground today but I made it closer to good to firm ground when she won the Haydock Gp2 and don't believe she necessarily requires a lot of cut in the ground. She's had quite a busy year and we're at the stage of the season when earlier form can get turned around but she'll be very hard to beat if she can maintain her latest level. It's encouraging that Burke has revealed that she put on 5lbs between Ascot and Haydock and she's gained another 2lbs since. Her price looks much too big here and she's a bet.

Can`t desert Quiet Reflection so will back her and Shalaa each way.

I've backed Brando ew at 14/1 - progressive, can't see too many negatives and biggish price.

Ground has put me off Twilight Son a bit. Famous last words. Good luck, all.

Get In.

Well done uncle. I said earlier form can get turned around but still wouldn't have fancied The Tin Man to turn it around with QR. Those who had misgivings about the form of the Burke yard were right as she went out like a light after travelling well.

Good call uncle.

I mntioned in the Haydock Cup thread that The Tin Man should be marked up as he was racing on the worst part of the track (away from the rail) and didn't like the soft ground either.

to be fair, Figgis I recall Burke saying some of them had been coughing earlier in the season and she bolted up (might have been lto at Haydock) - I think his stats were a bit better at that time though.

First winner I've had for ages so I'm still not much better than a mug punter.

yep, it's a good call uncle, horse deserves it too, been knocking on the door for a while...

Yes good call there...

Not sure what to make of the race though.. with Growl, Brando and Don't Touch taking the places - Ayr Gold Cup horses!... for me its suggests that horses like Quiet Reflection, Meccas Angel, Librisa Breeze, Shalaa didn't really turn up...

If I can honestly say The Tin man best horse in the race ? probably not... but The Tin Man was shrewdly prepared for this race... and others were not...

but does prove that Champion Sprint is an afterthought for some trainers... even though prize money is considerably more than most Group 1 sprints in Europe...

I think you can explain most of it - Mecca's Angel best over 5f with a bit of cut, she is being retired so they had nothing to lose by having a go at this, Quiet Reflection - the stable is in shocking form, she'll come again next year assuming she stays in training, Librisa Breeze was dropping back in trip and has n't even been placed in a pattern race yet, Shalaa surely bounced following his comeback run just 2 weeks previously.

Brando won the Ayr Gold Cup off 110 and had previously won a Group 3 at Sandown showing blinding speed, I thought he traveled really well yesterday and can honestly see him winning a Group 1 sprint next year. I struggle a bit more to explain Growl and Don't Touch admittedly.

that's a fair comment Reaseheath... still not convinced on what to make for the quality of this race...

This is what Karl Burke, trainer of Quiet Reflection said about his star filly post this race: "It was just an end-of-season run. Our horses have not been in form."

We could have told him so (there was coughing in his yard). But, did he not dismiss that suggestion when asked? Hopefully, Quiet Reflection could pick up where she left off next year.