Ascot Day 2

Finally we get to see if Love has progressed as a 4yo. I know people have crabbed her form, but, for me she put up the joint best Oaks winning performance in years, matching Enable's performance. IF she can make normal progress from 3 to 4 I think she'll probably be the best filly I've seen. Because as good as good as  3yo Enable was as a 3yo, I'm not sure she would've had the speed to match what Love did in the Guineas. Also I don't think Enable made a huge amount of improvement from 3 to 4. I have her only improving 7lbs in real terms, whereas she was receiving double that when winning the King George.

The question is if you've got a filly as good as that and all is well, would you sidestep some extremely weak looking Group races because of soft ground? Maybe Coolmore would, but it leaves a nagging doubt as to how she's been progressing. Nevertheless, now that Lord North has been withdrawn, I have her so far ahead of this field on her form last year she doesn't need to improve to take this. Her form will have to severely nosedive for her to get beat, or one of the others will need to run the race of its career. Timeform comments say Armory has a "small amount to find", but on his very best run I have him needing to find 11lbs against the filly's allowance.

Playing a short priced horse on its first run of the year is something I'm usually reluctant to do, however, I think even with that risk any odds against Love here has to be value so she's my only bet today.

as good as Enable was as a 3yo. To correct the previous gibberish.

thought Armory looked good when winning @ Chester.
I think Love's form is debateable,meself.
   GL

Wd figgis and felt

Another race to prove the fillies allowance has to go, not that the colts were up to much today but they had even less chance with the allowance

wd
   GL

Ground given as GtF but the Post says all times slower than standard

Cheers. I've got it as bang on good to firm. Well I can't say that was impressive from Love, but it has to be taken into account that the pace was slow. I don't just mean slow as in a moderate early pace that impacts the final time a bit, I mean so slow that it led to a time performance more in keeping with a 0-70 handicap at Brighton. It was very unlikely we'd get a runaway victory in that situation. The form gets compressed and margins of superiority are reduced. People can make their own minds up about what they saw, but personally I doubt the second would get anywhere near as close in a truly run race.

As to whether Love has improved in line with wfa from 3 to 4, the jury is still out. There didn't appear to be the confident vibes (or cash) you'd expect from the yard when they know they have a top notcher ready to perform. Maybe we'll see more of that next time with a run under her belt. I'll remain in the believe it when I see it camp before I'd take a short price against top company.

Glad to see her win - I'm all for connections being rewarded when they keep top class 3yos in training