Apologies for the quiet couple of weeks but what a couple of weeks it has been in the thoroughbred world! I was at Sandown a couple of weeks ago for the jumps season finale but before that I attended the decent Friday card. The first race was won by Jack Channon's filly Queen All Star (5 furlong 3 YO handicap) and she looked a picture in the parade ring. Connections should be looking at stepping this filly into better company as the season goes on and she starts filling into her frame but the horse to take out of the race was the 4th placed favourite Zayer (Archie Watson). It's worth noting that the 3rd placed horse has won since at Chester. Holly Doyle didn't have any luck in the race and this good looking son of Sparspangledbanner will have a race in him this year. The Gosden's Godolphin 3 year old gelding, Fifth Column, won the Esher Cup and I think that was a decent renewal. He should be respected wherever he goes next but keep an eye on The Lost King who finished 3rd here. He's a lovely son of Kingman who looked in need of his seasonal debut and he should step up on this effort. It looked like a very good renewal of the Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3) but it turned up a surprise as admirable 8 year old gelding Al Aasy rolled back the years to run out a nice winner but I was left with the strong opinion that Almaqam will improve past all of these as the year goes on. He looked well in the parade ring, if a little ring rusty, but the race didn't pan out at all well as he was stuck behind horses and penned in by the winner up the home straight. He'll win a nice pot this year. I was very taken with Roger Teal's Dancing Gemini in the Bet365 Mile (Group 3). He's improving all the time and I suspect he'll go for the Lockinge at Newbury in a week's time. He was a bit overfaced last year so I hope connections don't go to the well too often with this classy son of Camelot who did look as though a step up to 10 furlongs would be within reach later in the summer. Tamfana put up a huge effort under a penalty to finish 2nd on seasonal debut and I think she's in for a big season but both Haatem and Lead Artist were disappointing and the way they folded suggested a leap of faith is needed wherever they go next. The Classic Trial (Group 3) didn't look the strongest renewal and I was left with that impression after the race as well. Coolmore's Swagman looked nice in the prelims and was a commanding winner. I don't think he needs to go up further in trip. He's not got a Derby entry so maybe he'll go to Royal Ascot.
The Saturday card was a bit of a broken record as Willie Mullins once again dominated and took home the trainers title. When you have the ammunition he does, I can't help but thinking it would be more of a surprise if he didn't win the title every year than if he did! Give It To Me OJ defied top weight in the opening handicap hurdle but one to take note of for next year is Alan King's Mythical Moon. He's physically improved a lot over the winter and should be a horse to follow next year when he steps up in trip. Gaelic Warrior didn't need to run to anywhere near his mark to win the Oaksey Chase as main competition Pic D'orhy pulled up early. I wonder if connections of the winner will take in the King George next season? It was talked about after the race and he would surely go off favourite if they go that way. The Select Hurdle produced a welcome winner for Paul Nicholls and I suspect they will go chasing with him next year and will be kept away from soft conditions. Lucky Place was disappointing but perhaps he has had too hard a season and I imagine he will be a novice chaser to keep an eye on next year. Jonbon's defeat was a bit of a balloon popper on the afternoon but he looked very much like a horse who was had a long hard winter and I don't think this was his true running. The winner, Il Etait Temps, looked very classy but he's clearly had his problems and I would hold fire on backing him for next year's Champion Chase. The Bet365 Gold Cup produced a power packed finish and Sean Bowen (the new McCoy?) got the well backed 9/2 shot Resplendent Grey home in front. I wonder if they will go for something like the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November as he looked to travel much better this day and should cope with a slight drop in trip. Although it could all be about Aintree next Spring.
With the national hunt season over, I travelled up to Newmarket for the Guineas meeting last weekend. The Chaloner Stakes (Listed) for fillies produced a surprise as Henry Candy's Tiger Bay won for the first time since April 2023. I don't think this was a strong renewal and the well beaten favourite, Unequal Love, now has questions to answer. She may head back to the Wokingham next, a race she won last year. The big 6 furlong handicap of the day was won by More Thunder for the Haggas and Marquand combination. He needed every single yard of this to get up on the line and it is surely only a matter of time before connections step him up in trip. I feel he's got more to come though and I suspect the Wokingham will come under strong consideration while the colt is in such fine fettle. I would be keeping him onside for that as the bigger the field the better for this lad I reckon. Rumstar won well in the Palace House Stakes (Group 3) for Johnny Portman and connections are aiming him at the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot. He's improving all of the time so I don't think that is tilting at windmills. The 2000 Guineas (Group 1) itself was a strange race. Field Of Gold towered over his opposition in the prelims and looked like a much stronger horse than last year. He couldn't run down the winner, Ruling Court, however and it was a ride that ultimately cost Kieran Shoemark dearly. Ruling Court looked every inch a Derby horse after this and I think he must go there with a huge shout, especially given his breeding. Should he be successful at Epsom it sounded like his powerful connections would go in search of the St Leger and the Triple Crown. Field Of Gold should head towards the St James' Palace and I really do think he will take plenty of beating there no matter who rides him. Connections fancy he's a 10 furlong horse in time, which I can believe, and it wouldn't surprise me if he went the rest of the year unbeaten. As for Shadow Of Light, well you couldn't say he didn't stay as he's finished clear of the 4th but connections were talking about the Commonwealth Cup immediately afterwards. I'd be keen to give him another crack at a mile, especially on a flatter track. I don't think there was much in behind the front 3, although Jessica Harrington's Green Impact will improve over further.
The Sunday card was pretty ordinary and I ended up leaving Newmarket after 4 of the 7 races. However, Falakeyah won the Pretty Polly Stakes (Listed) very well and I thought she was the horse to take out of the whole weekend. Owen Burrows' daughter of French Derby winner New Bay looked outstanding in the parade ring and reminded me a lot of the owner's Oaks winner Taghrooda. I hope this filly goes to Epsom as she's very exciting. As for the 1000 Guineas (Group 1), well I thought it was packed with potential. The winner, Desert Flower, looked well in the prelims and battled to victory in the manner of a filly that could take in the Oaks. She must have a bit chance there. Lake Victoria, however, didn't look anywhere near fit in the parade ring and I though she ran a big race to finish so close to the winner given the circumstances. She apparently goes for the Irish equivalent next and will take plenty of beating there. The 2 to take out of the race at bigger prices were Elwateen and Chantilly Lace. Both were having only their 2nd starts after winning maidens at the back end of 2024 and have both grown well over the winter. I expect both to go on to better things now they have this experience under their belts.
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