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unclepuncle
30 Jun 25 16:14
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Date Joined: 16 Feb 03
| Topic/replies: 7,003 | Blogger: unclepuncle's blog
A good set of entries but with the ground going to be like a road there will surely only be about 5-7 runners.
Ombudsman was very impressive at Ascot and is a worthy favourite but too short for me to have a bet.
I don’t like Sosie on the ground, also not sure her French firm is all that.

White Birch and Almaqam will surely swerve it if past history is anything to go by.

Judging from the market on here Ruling Court looks a doubtful starter.

The market also suggests that Camille Pissaro is the Ballydoyle number one. Done nothing wrong this year but got a dream run in the French Derby and not sure about him on very fast ground.
I prefer the claims of Delacroix who lost all chance in the Derby when badly squeezed up after two furlongs. This looks his trip and ground but 12/1 on here makes me worry he won’t show up.

The other three year olds are Hotazhell, but he might be doubtful given what the trainer said about not wanting fast ground last week, and Stanhope Garden who ran well in the Derby and is by a fast ground Eclipse winner and has shown a liking for quick conditions.
I had a tiny bet on here at 33/1 on Sunday and will go in again at 25/1 each way 1/5 1,2,3.
Pause Switch to Standard View Eclipse - Sandown July 5th
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Report Delashay June 30, 2025 5:45 PM BST
Looks like a great race full of intrigue as the generations do battle.
Report Delashay June 30, 2025 5:53 PM BST
Can see the angle on Stanhope through Tornado Alert ;)
Report Delashay July 1, 2025 9:44 AM BST
Re: Sosie and the ground, he wants it good not soft, it’s why they are making hay. His targets have changed somewhat to what it was after last years Arc.

Fabre after the Arc:

“All three are fine after the race. It was probably the ground which stopped Sosie,” said Fabre.
“He lost his action at the end but he ran OK. We knew he might not like the ground.
“He will stay in training as a four-year-old and we’ll concentrate on the big summer races such as …

He’s bagged the two G1’s in France earlier this season and surprised them by having the pace to do so.
Report Delashay July 1, 2025 9:49 AM BST
His comments re ground going into the Arc:

"He’s very good at Longchamp but I think this horse would be very good anywhere, it’s just that the races we have chosen have been at Longchamp and it seems to suit him very well.

"Obviously, the course and distance form is very important when you are going for a race like the Arc."

Fabre was of the opinion earlier in the season that good ground was crucial to Sosie but as the colt has strengthened up, he now believes he can cope with softer ground better.

He said: "He is bred for a mile and a half, so we were working backwards from those races earlier in the season.

"I didn’t have him 100% fit for the Prix du Jockey Club, as he was a bit backwards, but it is no surprise he has improved as he has stepped up in trip.

"I do think he is a better horse on good ground but as horses get older and mature, they are able to cope with softer ground better, but like everyone I would prefer a good surface. You never know with Longchamp, last year it was quick ground for the Arc.

"I think it’s a very open race and I think he deserves to be in the first three. Whether he can win is another question. I think the generation of three-year-olds is not exceptional this year."

So it seems they were happy to take their chance and hope for the best.
Report Delashay July 1, 2025 6:05 PM BST
Also found this re: Sosie

"The Wertheimer brothers were keen to run him in the Eclipse, so we had to test him over the shorter distance, so the option was the Ispahan," said trainer Andre Fabre. "I was delighted. For a horse that is able to run a mile-and-a-half and over, to have speed enough to beat those nice horses, it's the best we could expect."

The owners' racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau added: "We had that slight worry about whether he has enough natural speed for this and 1,850 meters (between 1 1/8 miles and 1 3/16 miles) is a different game to when he won the Grand Prix de Paris over 2,400 meters (1 1/2 miles) last year or even the Ganay the other day.

"Maxime rode him quite forward and set about the leaders early enough because he's a horse that needs to be wound up, but he's just a very good horse.

"He's a magnificent horse to look at who is now physically mature and, while it's a middle-distance family, his dam won over a mile."

Seven Ganay winners had run in the Prix d'Ispahan previously this century, and only Cirrus Des Aigles in 2014 had completed the double.

He’s being campaigned like Fabres best, they run over a mile and or a mile and half. Think of Persian, King, Intello, Manduro…

His form is being partly being downgraded by the run of Map Of Stars but he wasn’t far behind Ombudsman when they met at Longchamp 1 L 3/4

Supercooled trained by Fabre even closer.
Report paulo47 July 2, 2025 7:57 AM BST
Was there for the great one in 1968 , Royal Palace chinned Taj Dewan (ridden by Frankie's dad ) with Sir Ivor in third getting going too late .
Report Delashay July 2, 2025 4:36 PM BST
Any thoughts on this years race?
Report Fashion Fever July 2, 2025 5:36 PM BST
Camille looks very weak on here think because Aidan says Ryan likely ride Delacroix
Report Delashay July 2, 2025 5:36 PM BST
Here we go waiting for Ryan …. ‘Zzzzzzz
Report Delashay July 2, 2025 6:02 PM BST
ponchoslament’s Fancy for the Eclipse IS………….
Report FOYLESWAR July 2, 2025 8:02 PM BST
hopefully it wont cut up too much!
Report layingisthewayforward July 2, 2025 8:56 PM BST
Want to do Stanhope gardens e/w 3 places as it's deffo going to cut up but do we know if it's a definite runner ?
Report Delashay July 3, 2025 11:06 AM BST
Confirmed runners and riders for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday with six going to post

Coral-Eclipse runners and riders

Ombudsman William Buick
Sosie Maxime Guyon
Camille Pissarro tbc
Delacroix tbc
Hotazhell Shane Foley
Ruling Court Oisin Murphy
Report elisjohn July 3, 2025 11:27 AM BST
surely jockeys should be confirmed by final decleration, this is ridicilousn ,
Report Delashay July 3, 2025 11:46 AM BST
I’m wondering if Soumi will come in for the ride aboard Camille? Has played a big part in this horses development and as he just wins by a little he may be underestimated.
Report Delashay July 3, 2025 11:49 AM BST
If he does it adds further intrigue and you’d wonder if you can rely on Moores pick. Soumi rode Vedini much like the way Camille is played so is an obvious pick for me.

Delacroix was never put in the Derby, talk of being bulked was BS!

They say the truth comes to light, just needs time.
Report Delashay July 3, 2025 3:02 PM BST
Confirmed runners and riders for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday as Ryan Moore's ride is revealed
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2hrs
Britain

Coral-Eclipse runners and riders

Ombudsman William Buick
Sosie Maxime Guyon
Camille Pissarro Christophe Soumillon
Delacroix Ryan Moore
Hotazhell Shane Foley
Ruling Court Oisin Murphy

Sing it Cilla - Surprise Surprise! Grin

From same article:
“Ryan Moore chose to ride Delacroix in the Derby and is staying loyal with the Dubawi colt, with Christophe Soumillon booked for Camille Pissarro.”

So he’ll go forwards as @ Leopardstown (with Rulling Court also likely) with Soumi tracking them all…
Report Delashay July 4, 2025 9:16 AM BST
There’s an article on the post this morning entitled Why This Horse Can win….

They select 5 of the 6 runners! Laugh

Can you believe it?! Head in hands man!

“I was looking forward to seeing Almaqam, but Ed Walker didn't declare him on Thursday morning due to the quick ground and I'm now looking elsewhere.”

I find that when you do that it normally doesn’t pan out good as you’re looking for looking sake.

Just heard lots of rain forecast! Shocked
Report Delashay July 4, 2025 9:52 AM BST
The three horses in the Eclipse line-up who can give Ombudsman plenty to think about
Robbie Wilders helps you steal a march ahead of the weekend's big race

Published on 1 July 2025

That’s helped narrow it down! Laugh

Some Ante post selection(s) for a race on the 5th! Grin
Report impossible123 July 4, 2025 6:43 PM BST
I was unaware rain is expected. If rain did materialise the shortie and Camille Pissaro for me.
Report brandyontherocks July 4, 2025 6:53 PM BST
A small Possibility of light rain.
Should not impact the going much.
Report elisjohn July 4, 2025 8:00 PM BST
will india declare even with a lead of 500plus ?, gill wouldnt risk losing this one, , if india get bowled out for 300 or less, forget the draw imo, will rain interrupt, in simple i havent a clue how this is going, , i reckon eng will trade shorter, india longer ,( and draw longer and shorter_ LaughLaugh,   i m going draw with some rain interuptions
Report elisjohn July 4, 2025 9:27 PM BST
haha oops that was suppose to be on ceicket forum WhoopsWhoopsLaugh
Report unclepuncle July 5, 2025 8:47 AM BST
Annoying that Stanhope Gardens isn’t running so had to take a fresh look at it.

I expect Moore is on Delacroix with a view to try to lead and make it very slow as that will maximise both his and Camille Pissaros chance. At the current odds I’d rather back CP.
Ombudsman benefitted from coming off a suicidal pace in the PoW so might be vulnerable to such a scenario.
Likewise Sosie wants a well run race and maybe they will try to make all, though I still don’t think he’s top class.

Ruling Court was very disappointing at Ascot, similar to his run at York last year, never looking happy before or during the race.
He is bred for 10f so if in the right mood he could be dangerous.
And that leaves Hotazhel who is the rank outsider but has similar form credentials to the other three year olds and it is interesting that Jessie chooses to run here.

So for an interest I’ve dutched the three outsiders.Crazy
Report Delashay July 5, 2025 8:52 AM BST

Jul 4, 2025 -- 9:27PM, elisjohn wrote:


haha oops that was suppose to be on ceicket forum


Laugh that made me laugh! Cheers! The English obsession with the weather still runs strong!

Report impossible123 July 5, 2025 9:12 AM BST
There's been money for Ruling Court (10/1 -> 13/2), but Camille Pissaro has taken a walk into the wilderness.
Report Delashay July 5, 2025 9:18 AM BST
He was always going to Impossible with Moore on the other.

Ruling Court opened at 20/1
Report Delashay July 5, 2025 9:19 AM BST
There’s a reason for why he’s being backed
Report A_T July 5, 2025 12:31 PM BST
fancy Delacroix from the front - to me looked like they went too fast as royal ascot and Ombudsman was flattered
Report A_T July 5, 2025 12:33 PM BST
Sosie the best horse but ground too fast never heard of a french horse liking it rattling
Report Delashay July 5, 2025 12:38 PM BST
Vision D’Etat to name one of many that loved it.
Report Sandown July 5, 2025 2:11 PM BST
The market is a little strange with the weakness of the favourite, as a result of which most of the others have tightened up, with no one horse being favoured.

At the current price on Ombudsman of 2.68 and with ratings giving it around 5lbs edge, this warrants a value bet on the most likely winner. This may be a case of punters just looking to take on the favourite in a big race which is too short for most people. If there is something amiss I don't know what that might be  other than the horse not having fully recovered from Ascot but I trust that the Gosdens wouldn't run him if he hadn't. Strictly on form he is an odds on chance for me.
Report Delashay July 5, 2025 2:21 PM BST
Seems from looking at Gosden on track with a jock that he doesn’t look happy with the ground. Lots of gesticulating and stick prodding! Even looked like he said - how is that? in between pokes….

Only had 1 .5 mil of rain but Chapman says they’re calling it good in the straight.
Report Sandown July 5, 2025 2:30 PM BST
Yes it could be the ground factor but it was very fast at Ascot and it is an uphill finish too which helps offset effect of firm ground. Its a massive prize so a big decision either way.
Report Delashay July 5, 2025 2:37 PM BST
Funny Soumi walking the track with AOB alone… wearing a rainbow on his cuff! Can sport not be immune to politics?

I think he believes water has been put on Sandown.
Report Figgis July 5, 2025 3:06 PM BST
Delacroix was my Derby bet. He obviously ran well below form on the day. I said he ran a strange race at the time but I hadn't noticed the interference, referred to by O'Brien, where he was definitely squeezed out. That said, I didn't see enough from him later in the race to blame that alone. On reflection, I had got carried away with the impressive finish he showed in his trial, but that was off a slow pace. I had been underwhelmed with the other trials and was guilty of seeing what I wanted to see, a possibility I mentioned before the race. It may come back to bite me but I won't be backing him here.

I have to admit that Sosie could be a horse where I haven't got a true handle on his ability this year, due to the way his races have been run, slow early, fast late, but the bare form leaves him a fair bit to find.

I read that the RP have rated Ombudsman better than any POW winner of the last 10 years. Must say I find it baffling that beating Anmaat by 2 lengths puts him ahead of the likes of Poet's Word and Crystal Ocean, but each to their own, etc. That said, I reckon the talk of him being flattered by a pace collapse has been greatly exaggerated. It's true some did go too fast but Anmaat didn't and he beat him decisively. Ombudsman wasn't just staying on past trees at the finish, and, even though horses are often flattered when it appears they were going away at the finish after not getting a clear run, I think it's pretty likely Ombudsman would've won by further with a clear run.

I'm with Sandown here in believing that Ombudsman has an odds on chance so I've backed him.
Report Delashay July 5, 2025 4:12 PM BST
Unlucky Figgis and Sandown, not the greatest ride by Buick and might have just come too soon. That hill has got him twice now.

Nothing went as planned in terms of who I’d thought go forwards, even more so seeing how the races were won earlier.

Strange that AoB is back to saying they’re all milers again! Laugh

Thought he’d given up that shat talk of oooohh they have sooo much speed! Plain

Conversely Gosden felt the best horse that stayed won.

Goyen said Sosie didn’t handle the track, ground wasn’t an excuse, he stumbled early I noticed.
Report Figgis July 5, 2025 6:53 PM BST
Bite me it did. Delacroix looked every bit as good today as he did in his trial. Although, in truth, I was never going to back him today after the Derby effort, but very annoying for him to be the one to spoil the bet. As often with the O'Brien yard, the market move indicated he had very worked well going into this. The race wasn't evenly run, but, in my view, unlike the Guineas, it wasn't unevenly enough to affect the result. The best horse on the day won, particularly as Ombudsman had first run on Delacroix but the latter finished better. Although at the same time it has to be noted that even when horses have equal ability one of them might be more suited to a sprint finish than the other. Delacroix had already proved he could quicken impressively off a slow early pace in the Derby Trial.

I have Ombudsman 2lbs lower than at Ascot, but basically he ran his race. I don't expect horses to run exactly to the pound. I can't rate today's Eclipse up with the better renewals, as, for me, despite the RP going high on him I still don't have Ombudsman yet running to a benchmark Gp1 figure. It's a grey area whether the form would've been higher given a faster run race. Possibly Delacroix would've won by further, but we also might have seen a better version of Ombudsman. At the moment I'm keeping an open mind but sticking to taking the race at face value. A good performance from the winner but not up with the really top 3yo winners of this great race.
Report Delashay July 6, 2025 9:50 AM BST
There’s some very interesting comments via a different news source.

“I couldn't believe what was happening,” confessed Aidan O'Brien. Delacroix traced an extraordinary straight line to catch Ombudsman in the very last strides, before edging him by a neck at the post. "Ryan's (Moore, his jockey) plan was to animate, since he always thought it was a miler, but obviously others had the same idea. He told me he had to change his plan four times during the race.

If Ryan Moore changed his plan, it was because Maxime Guyon had had the same idea as him and had placed himself in the lead with Sosie to set the pace. Hotazhell also sought a position at the front, while Christophe Soumillon, riding Camille Pissarro, was content to wait in the second half of the field.

In the straight, all the starters apart from Delacroix looked capable of playing a role at the finish, which makes his victory all the more impressive. “It really wasn't simple,” explained an unusually smiling Ryan Moore on his return to the scales. "I wanted to go to the front, then I thought if I went, everyone else would go too, so I took it back. Then I found myself very far away and stuck. I had to wait before I unhitched him, and then he produced a very fine burst of speed. He's a son of Dubawi and he doesn't like Epsom. Today, the race was won on his speed. It wasn't until 100 metres from the post that I thought I was going to win." The son of Dubawi and Tepin, who finally signs his first Group I, didn't like Epsom, while last-placed Sosie didn't appreciate the undulations of the Sandown track. “The track is very hilly and he was never balanced,” explained his very disappointed jockey Maxime Guyon. Christophe Soumillon was also disappointed, but for different reasons: “He lost his iron going into the straight and that cost me the win”, he said. Trainer Charlie Appleby, on the other hand, was delighted with third place for Ruling Court, who will now set his sights on the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (Gr. II) at Deauville on August 16.

Lots of different opinions and insights into a wild race.
Report Delashay July 6, 2025 9:56 AM BST
Even Soumi thought he could win had it not been shedding the shoe and until 100 meters out Ryan didn’t think that he’d win.

Makes for an eagerly awaited spectacle going onto York.

Anyone fancy how Field of Gold would have ran yesterday? Because that’s got to be of consideration as 6/4 Fav with a race yet to be run in between.

Noted Hannon mentioned Goodwood and Deauville yesterday for Rosellion. Most likely will avoid FOG.
Report impossible123 July 6, 2025 12:59 PM BST
FoG will be held up as usual in the International, assuming he runs. He'll be produced late to strike. I'm not perturbed if Keane is suspended and Mr Murphy or Marquand rides. I think he'll win. I think Ombudsman might be down in trip eg 9f.
Report Figgis July 6, 2025 3:15 PM BST
I see the RP have Ombudsman 7lbs lower yesterday than for the POW. The problem for them was they just went way too high on the POW form, but glad they haven't tried to double down and make the Eclipse seem better than it actually was.
Report Delashay July 6, 2025 6:01 PM BST
It was a totally different race, track and the way that it was run. Yet he still showed himself to be top class amongst the horses around.
POW winners didn’t have a good record in the Eclipse and he almost bulked that trend from an out of form stable.

Once again AOB spaced races right and bought the right horse for the trip that day.
Report Delashay July 6, 2025 6:05 PM BST
But let’s remember that he bought two horses and doubled his chances.

I’ve asked how to post a photo but no one has helped.

Have a look at the two alongside on the line. It was a mighty performance to give such a big horse 10lb.
Report Figgis July 6, 2025 6:09 PM BST
Well if Ombudsman is top class he hasn't shown it on the clock yet. He's about 4lbs short of an average (average as in typically decent) POW winner. Maybe he will show he is up to scratch in a fast run race where he gets a clear run, but after yesterday's Eclipse performance I'll wait until I see it. As for the Post rating him above the likes of Stoute's Crystal Ocean, I'd say he's more like Telescope.
Report Delashay July 6, 2025 6:21 PM BST
I’m not sure I’d use Crystal Ocean as a benchmark regardless of the ratings.

What we have is what’s around now and within that pool I’d say that he’s top clsss, the (ratings aside) his effort to back up his Ascot run and almost become the 3rd horse to do the POW Eclipse double is something that’s rare.
Report impossible123 July 6, 2025 6:24 PM BST
I think the performance of Ombudsman in the PoW was over-rated; Los Angeles and Facteur were both given an injudicious ride; the turnaround of just over 17 days could be another reason why Ombudsman seemed to tire up the Sandown hill.

Delacroix is being aimed at the Juddmonte Int also the probable race of FoG. Very possibly Ruling Court and Ombudsman too.
Report Figgis July 6, 2025 6:24 PM BST
Normally I'd accept the closeness of the POW to the Eclipse as being a possible negative, but that's when a horse runs a really fast figure in the POW and has quite a hard race. Ombudsman did neither of those things. As said, his time performance was about 4lbs (2 lengths) short, and because of the trouble in running his delayed effort meant he didn't have as hard a race as if he'd kicked on over a furlong out. He ran the final furlong in under 12 sec. No excuse on that score, in my view.
Report Delashay July 6, 2025 6:32 PM BST
I’d asked you if he benefited from a pace collapse in your opinion at Ascot and you’d said no.

As said I’m not a ratings or time buff and every season we get this is this good and that is that level. We have different approaches and I’d like to be more involved as you are in times but I take what we have in the now as ratings aren’t always right as we know.

You only have to look at Timeforms top three picks to steer clear!

You’re a ratings purist, like Sandown, have seen more and I respect what you both say.
Report Delashay July 6, 2025 6:36 PM BST
In short I enjoy the racing and get tired with comparing because I think it’s false to try judge over the years and circumstances.

It’s like comparing boxers.

Sandown I recall your posts about Deep Impact and the journo who’d bigged him up in the post all year before the Arc.

Since then even though I was on ew @ 7/1 I never follow what people or ratings say, there’s always a different angke to what’s on paper.
Report Figgis July 6, 2025 6:36 PM BST
If we don't put a horse's ability into a historical context then there's no point. Calling horses top class just because they're beating a load of current third raters is nonsense.
Report Delashay July 6, 2025 6:39 PM BST
I understand that but we’ve both said that the French crop didn’t seem good and yet they won a G1 today, beating two one time favs.

A Guineas runner upper to the second top rated -  and wonder horse Lion where you been?!
Report Figgis July 6, 2025 6:42 PM BST
And I'm not talking about who is the best in any race fan's opinion. That is their opinion and there can be different criteria applied. A horse who ran four 139 performances in its career could be considered better than one which ran 140 once and then a load of moderate efforts. As could a horse considered to be more versatile trip wise. I'm talking about handicapping. Beating Anmaat by 2 lengths should not merit being handicapped as the best POW of the last 10 years.
Report Figgis July 6, 2025 6:45 PM BST
they won a G1 today, beating two one time favs

They did, but take a look at the level of performance. A half a length between the first 4. Whether using time or form that race couldn't be called top class. A Gp1 in name only, the winning performance was Gp3, at best.
Report Delashay July 6, 2025 6:48 PM BST
I can see your point but to me Amnat is a great consistent horse who gives his best. I look back at what Frankel beat and bedsides an ageing Cirrus it wasn’t much.
He never travelled either and for me racing is international and we want to see the best of the best compete.

Agree like the PDJC was a bunched finish, like the Dante and you’re most likely right in the grade that you give it.

But as punters we care more about winners than history and where the last winner sits amongst in general.
Report Delashay July 6, 2025 6:49 PM BST
*Amongst them
Report Delashay July 6, 2025 6:51 PM BST
I enjoy the convo Figgis.
Report Figgis July 6, 2025 7:02 PM BST
But as punters we care more about winners than history and where the last winner sits amongst in general

That's fair enough, as long as it doesn't stretch to hyperbole about sub-par Gp1 winners. In today's Prix Jean Prat a punter could easily have taken the view beforehand that it probably might not require a Gp1 performance if Shadow Of Light and TLIW underperformed again. SOL was the only horse to have previously put up anything like a genuine Gp1 effort when winning the Middle Park, but that seems a long time ago now. People got carried away with his Guineas effort but off that slow early pace it proved nothing. I started to feel a bit sick watching the race as I had considered backing Maranoa Charlie but decided against, and for a moment I thought he might win.
Report Delashay July 7, 2025 8:38 AM BST
I understand that and maybe it’s why I’m not into the ratings side of things as it’s the media hype or hyperbole as you say that doesn’t interest me.
I’d written on the Horseracing thread that Head has said he’s the best he’s had, more hype and included an interview with the jockey. I’ve said before that he’s not my fav as he always gets into or find trouble.
From a ratings perspective the race might not be great, but from a for perspective it worked out. Both he and Woodshauna had beaten each other over different trips. I thought Marona had the edge over 7f.

It’s another G1 for Graffard.
Report Delashay July 7, 2025 8:38 AM BST
*From a form
Report Delashay July 7, 2025 9:10 AM BST
For me the ratings and form real,y take on another dimension when horses travel. I don’t have an idea of how he’s rated but I’d call Romantic Warrior a proper horse. In that he left his back yard where he was dominant and transferred his form onto the Dirt (I know that they train on it at Sha Tin).
I was against him in the Dubai turf because of the hard race that he’d had previously. The form can be crabbed but for me he’s still a yardstick to a level.
Report Figgis July 7, 2025 10:24 AM BST
I'd say Woodshauna is highly unlikely to even come close to winning another Gp1, even in a poor year like this.
Report Delashay July 7, 2025 10:37 AM BST
I wouldn’t disagree but that ship has now sailed. How about any of the others from the race?
Report Delashay July 7, 2025 10:39 AM BST
These are from the horse racing forum :

Delashay • July 7, 2025 8:49 AM BST
You can add the likes of Dancing Gemini into that for knocking on the G1 door.

The Jean Prat was always a weak consolation G1 for milers from ours and their Guineas to take in.

They kept the status but changed the distance and the track, more emphasis on speed, as you had to stay to win when at Chantilly.

Shadow of Lights season has fallen apart from what was a great run first time up in the Guineas. Anyone think it’s odd that he’d pull Ruling Court from the Derby because of the ground.
Yet, run Shadow of Light on ground that they said was too quick at Ascot? Surely they knew he’d not like?

One horse cotton wool wrapped, the other not.
Report Delashay July 7, 2025 10:41 AM BST
Delashay • July 7, 2025 9:04 AM BST
Top of the morning to you Impossible. You might be right just seems weird he’s a great trainer but I’m seeing a pattern where he has them geared up from Dubai they run their races then it’s sort of a scrambling to get their season back on track.
In a way I was surprised that they brought him back out so soon. If you think he’s a sprinter there’s the Maurice De Gheest short of yesterday’s race, or the Marois as you know.
Should they be running or fact finding at this stage of his career? Confused
Report Figgis July 7, 2025 11:16 AM BST
How about any of the others from the race?

Shadow Of Light is the only one who has put up a Gp1 figure, that was in the Middle Park. The market confidence against the fav that day told that he'd been working better than ever going into that. He duly put up a performance much improved on everything he'd done before, even allowing for the fav below form. He won the Dewhurst shortly after but that was a poor affair and I have him 8lbs below the Middle Park effort. People got carried away with his Guineas run but I actually have that a further pound below his Dewhurst win. The slow pace suited him and proved nothing regarding him training on or not.

TLIW put up what I'd call a Gp2 miler figure when winning the Acomb. Although it's a figure that would've comfortably won this year's Derby if he'd repeated it on the day. I wouldn't say he won the Acomb in a comfortable manner, looked hard fought to me, and he had a setback afterwards. Yesterday's performance was obviously his best this season but I have it 8lbs short of his York win. It's anybody's guess whether he will be right back to form next time and even the yard won't know yet. As usual with that outfit a strong market move will be the only true indicator of how he's been working. The RP say Maranoa Charlie put up a career peak yesterday, but I have it 2lbs below his previous race. He's just not a Gp1 horse, well not in a normal year anyway.
Report Delashay July 7, 2025 11:26 AM BST
Thanks Figgis, I feel that the talent is there regarding Shadow Of Light (he needs cut to show it and the right trip) but as shown am confused by their decision making. The season is getting on and I wonder if Ruling Court hadn’t been redirected if they’d of gone a different path?

Lion of Winter was always backed against Ruling Court for that one win over him as a 2 year old. I always thought that to be a tad bit presumptuous that it’d work out the same this season.

The Forret looks like being a big field this year.

Just seen that Notable Speech has been given a July Cup entry, more confusion or scratching from the stable? He’ll probably go piss it now! Laugh
Report Figgis July 7, 2025 11:40 AM BST
Just looking at the Falmouth. It might end up a deeper race than some years but the quality of years gone by is severely lacking. Let's hope something improves on the day, because on paper it looks crap.
Report Delashay July 7, 2025 11:56 AM BST
Laugh I’ve not seen them!

But saw this Delacroix leapfrogs Derby-winning stablemate into second in this year's three-year-old rankings after Eclipse win
Report Figgis July 7, 2025 12:05 PM BST
I rate them equally, although I would probably put the small p next to Delacroix, as he possibly could improve again, but I wouldn't bank on it. That Eclipse win was still nothing special, however, even if it was exciting and dramatic to watch. I'd say Paddington was a very good winner of the race, not outstanding like Sea The Stars, but well up to scratch. At the moment I have Delacroix 7lbs below the winning performance Paddington put up.
Report Delashay July 7, 2025 12:31 PM BST
Must admit I had to look up the result for that, not one that stayed with me Figgis. He was on a real roll at the time.
Report Figgis July 7, 2025 12:38 PM BST
Actually I'm not sure how he was rated by the firms but I think generally he was underrated. Might've been different if he'd gone out on a high, but he was unsurprisingly burned out by the time of his final race.
Report Figgis July 7, 2025 12:40 PM BST
I also believe Paddington was a few pounds better at a mile than 10f, but can't blame them for wanting the 10f races.
Report Sandown July 7, 2025 3:53 PM BST
I noticed that the WFA scale used for the Eclipse was 10lb and not 12lb as the 2017 WFA revision has it. I asked AI to explain why so and apparently this happens sometimes when the authorities look at longterm outcomes for elite races. The RPRs show a 3lb higher rating for the winner than the  neck difference would normally provide. Yet for the distance to the third horse of 1.75L they have allocated just 1lb difference in RPR. On TS ratings, those given show ratings of 95, 96, 91 for 1,2,3.So, on RPR's they have Delacroix superior to Ombudsman by 3lbs but inferior on time by 1lb. Confusing?

I would agree with Figgis that the POW rating was somewhat high, but in my view D benefitted by coming so late that Buick had no time to respond although  the result may have been the other way round if Ombusman had been held onto for longer before taking it up, as at Ascot. Personally, I see Ombudsman bbeing better at 12f and Delacroix being perhaps better at 8f.  At 10f there clearly isn't anything between them.

Will we see Gosden's horse in the KG?
Report Delashay July 7, 2025 4:58 PM BST
Figgis I remember him more in his mile races, the firm was franked the next year.

Good spot Sandown, I’d thought that it was more than 10lbs. Delacroix upsides shadowed Ombudsman and I’d love to know how much he’s grown and strengthened weight wise since the beginning of the season.

Also you’re taking a stance with their future targets, I’d shared the comments about him being a miler in Moores eyes all along, those were met with raised eyebrows.
See today that Linfoot from SL is expecting to see him over the mile. Slightly makes me laugh, the narrative of the season.

You really think that Ombudsman wants to go up in trip? I didn’t think that Buick had given him the best ride but on the other side it looked like Delacroix was done at the time he made his move, which he’d of thought was a winning one.
Report Delashay November 1, 2025 10:36 PM GMT
Delashay • July 7, 2025 9:10 AM BST
For me the ratings and form real,y take on another dimension when horses travel. I don’t have an idea of how he’s rated but I’d call Romantic Warrior a proper horse. In that he left his back yard where he was dominant and transferred his form onto the Dirt (I know that they train on it at Sha Tin).
I was against him in the Dubai turf because of the hard race that he’d had previously. The form can be crabbed but for me he’s still a yardstick to a level.
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Keep surfing the form lines Laugh
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