Oisin and the Drifters

I think Oisin has returned in great form, more likely down to Ben Pauling 0-35 flat.

Good name for a band...

Saint George drifted from 8 to 10 on here (I know, I took the 8) but still won as most Andrew Balding 3yo maidens have done in the last month or two. Money for old rope. He is still a class act. Don't be surprised if he rides at least 3 winners at Newcastle.

Pound for pound Murphy is the best

Ben E King was much better imo.

Better than any at Godolphin….fact….and certainly on par ..or better imo….than smiler

His last two horses last night Drifted like barges and given no assistance from rider. Big difference with a drifter winning and a drifter being "minded"
Have a look at Funty TOO.s race   

sorry FUNKY TOO

First ride heavily backed and disappointing. Second one drifted, then shortened, then drifted again and hacked up. 4 more to come and all have decent chances.

brutal deduction from the non runner though.

Three out of five not bad. By my calculation, that takes Balding well top of the trainers champs for 2023. Just one to come at Lingfield for today.

To say that Arabian Storm was disappointing is an understatement. It was pathetic. Only caught up with the 'excuse' later. Murphy said something along the lines of the horse not being able to respond to horses around him. One of weirdest/daftest excuses I have ever heard. Connections had described the horse as a potential classic hope. After that effort you could hardly have had any confidence in the subsequent runners. And what happens? The same connections cash in with an outsider.

I said a while ago that Balding is the Johnston of the south, and no reason to change that view. Totally different animal to his father who was far more selective in his approach.

They are not machines and the horse had only won a maiden at 1/4 previously. It ran to just about where the RP ratings said it should but like many others, I was sucked in by the promise of improvement. It was only disappointing because it was favourite, not based on any form or logic. You could say the same about Desert Cop but that one improved a lot. I find it a very easy stable to follow. Most need at least a run for experience, most win their second or third race as a maiden and then some progress further while others get sold with just the maiden win. If you want to single out one that was backed for no apparent reason it was Notre Belle Bete which had not won for a while and seemed to be going nowhere. The step up to 10 furlongs will no doubt be used to explain an improvement of 10lb at the age of 5. Midweek the lesser lights run in maidens and novice races but on big money days, the big guns are primed to the minute.