Haggas and Classics

The Jumps Binocular are now confined to the shed until the Charlie Hall….so all focus now on the flat!

Today I’ll be backing Skardu. I see he has a few fans on here. So why?:
•    Haggas is running him, and William isn’t one to run a horse in a classic because he fancies a nice day out seeing his mates in the parade ring. He must fancy the horse’s chance.
•    He’s won over course and distance. Fair enough that was in the Craven and the record of that trial ‘aint great. But this looks a weak renewal and Skardu won from off the pace on a track that favours horses up with the pace. And he has a visual turn of foot.
•    The draw. I think the pace will be low, and we could see a split (beneficial to a hold up horse imo) and with Ten Sovereigns in there we should see 6f pace from about 3f out. Just what Skardu will want
•    The jockey. I’ve found Doyle a tad frustrating in the past, but over the past year he’s looked a decent jockey.

As is the norm with big races these days the bookies are offering ‘generous’ e/w places. Hills going 5 places in this case.

I’m not one for single e/w bets, so to kick start a bit of season long e/w acca interest I’ll be adding the following to Skardu:

Paula Muir – Female Flat Jockeys Handicap +30….just worried Georgie Dobie (+40) could win it without riding a winner all season! But Paula gets horses from Michael Dods amongst others, and that’ll be useful for her

Ben Curtis – Flat Jockeys Handicap +60. He could do well up north, whilst the guys down south take one another on…and he shouldn’t have the distraction of too many foreign assignments

Norway – St Leger: won the Zetland last year (Kew Gardens won the year before), so he must be atop of AOB’s thoughts for the race at this stage.

I’d have lobbed this on the main 2000 Guineas thread….but I can’t edit it!!