Ballydoyle and Aidan

Ah, he changed his policy years ago now. They improve bundles for their debuts now. Even Australia was only out for a gallop first time up.

But that doesn't hide that he has no decent 3 year old apart from Gleneagles.

callit is right ,think hes bringing there fitness on later now..had anice winner yesterday on debut.

Who's their Coventry Horse this year?

you have me there!

Valid point Chelt, there is usually one or two that would roll of the tongue for that assignment now.

I suppose Air Force Blue has to be given credit for managing to win on debut, when the market suggested he would like the rest of the team, come on for the run. Though he will need to.

Years ago, they used to bring their best 2 year olds to Ascot, and especially the Coventry. I don't think that is the case anymore.

I know Old Man River and JFK flopped this year, but they were their main hopes for the classic generation, along with Gleneagles. None of them were ever going anywhere near Ascot.

Years ago, the likes of Rock of Gibraltar were ready and raring to go come mid June. I think around the time of Rip Van Winkle was when they changed their approach towards to more softly softly type. Probably coincided with the real emergence of Montjeu as a sire.

Just checked AFB form out there,Both the 2nd and 3rd have won since and the fact he actually managed to win fto would probably enhance his prospects again,I suppose what im getting at really is 2 or 3 years ago ye wouldn't wanna be laying these sorts,Nowadays ye wouldn't be frightened laying them.

Their speed sires particularly War Front struggle to win Group 1s

They may be going through a bit of a lull at the moment new sire wise alright. War Front is not really producing.

Probably a poor Coventry this year, and Round Two will be a deserving fav. Not a huge fan of Ascot juvenile form going forward. There are far bigger and better targets(development wise) to be aiming your star two year old at later in the year.

Some trainers have always been of the more patient variety. DKW and John Oxx have rarely, if ever had anything for the Coventry. Though I may be wrong going back in time. Richard Hannon always had the more precocious type, and struck while he had an edge. APOB maybe now is following his Irish compatriots.

Will be interesting to see come Irish Derby day if APOB has a talking horse for next year by then. The alarm bells may be ringing if he is still looking for one.

War Front is standing for gazillions now so hopefully the best is to come, he had that tough horse Declaration of War but a lot of the others in Europe seemed to either not train on or have a hole in them. His best books are yet to race, though.

Danehill Dancer is horse that got relatively precocious fast horses that they struggling to replace I think.

In hindsight. DOW may have benefitted from whatever he was on when he was racing in the US.