Monday 20 April 2015 15:46, UK
Matt Brocklebank, Ben Linfoot and Ian Ogg try to answer the big questions from the last week while trying to find Gold at Sandown.
Ian Ogg: Kool Kompany deserves plenty of credit but I can't help but feel underwhelmed by the fact that he and Osaila came out on top at Newmarket. I thought Jellicle Ball ran well in second in the Fred Darling but John Gosden described Royal Ascot as 'the big plan' so I'll take the second home in the Greenham. I've been a fan of Estidhkaar ever since I clapped eyes on him in the paddock at Newmarket on debut; he's an uncomplicated sort who shapes as though he could relish the extra furlong next month and he's a live each-way player.
Ben Linfoot: Bar a day trip to Ripon with my three-year-old daughter I barely saw a race last week, so I'm coming into this review completely fresh. Having just watched the video replays without pre-race or post-race analysis it strikes me that Greenham winner Muhaarar has been underestimated as he won a strong renewal of a good trial in the style of a horse with more to offer. Having mentioned this to a colleague he did say that the French Guineas was mooted as a possible target in the aftermath but surely connections have to have a rethink given his trial win? Perhaps not looking at his price on the exchanges, but I find that baffling to be honest.
Matt Brocklebank: There was real depth to the Greenham and recent seasons tell us that being beaten at Newbury in April is anything but the end of the world. I'd agree with IO that Estidhkaar is the one to take from it in terms of the 2000 Guineas, but fourth home Dick Whittington ran a very reasonable race in fourth and is likely to be much sharper next time we see him. He's a massive price for Newmarket and may not even go there but he beat Kool Kompany in the Phoenix Stakes last August and perhaps he's one to be interested in when returned to the Curragh.
IO: It was hard not to be taken with Roger Varian's maiden winner Intilaaq but the 10 furlong fillies' maiden on Friday has been a decent guide to the Oaks in recent seasons and the winner of the first division, Victoria Pollard, did extremely well to come from off the pace. Connections described her as almost unrideable so it remains to be seen how and if she progresses but she's by a Derby winner and from a family that the Baldings know well and there could be any amount of improvement to come now that the penny has apparently dropped.
BL: I haven't backed anything for the Classics on the back of last week's races but I thought that Beautiful Romance ran a perfectly good trial in the Nell Gwyn. She travelled like the best filly and looks sure to improve for the step up to a mile, so I can envisage her reversing the form with the fillies that finished in front of her on Wednesday. Whether that will be good enough to win a Guineas is open to debate and her odds of 20/1 haven't inspired me to run to the bookies.
MB: Nell Gwyn sixth Lady Correspondent is still in the Oaks and although Wednesday's performance suggests she still has a long way to go, I can see her improving as she gains more experience. This was only her second public appearance and it really showed as she was a shade keen early on and then didn't seem to handle the Dip too well at all. She might have her sights lowered before going back up in grade and a confidence-building victory would do her the world of good. She's certainly a filly I'll be keeping a close eye on in the coming months.
IO: Faydhan would be at the top of my list as I thought he made a really pleasing return even if he didn't justify his market position. I'd struggle a little more with the others although we've seen so many Ballydoyle runners improve significantly from a run as this time of year in recent seasons. I thought Ivawood travelled well up to a point but the strength in the market before the race didn't really seem to tally with the post-race comments, I'll have to see if I can dig out some comments from the paddock watchers. I couldn't take any positives from Belardo's performance.
BL: The way Aidan O'Brien improves his horses throughout the year gives hope to John F Kennedy who should also be seen to better effect on faster ground. However, his reputation was severely dented in the Ballysax and I can't imagine he's ever going to be a big enough price to tempt me in. Faydhan needs time and if he's forgotten about (not likely!) come Royal Ascot time perhaps I could back him, while Ivawood strikes me as a horse that might struggle to win as a three-year-old. Even with the hood back on, I can't see myself backing Belardo anytime soon.
MB: An interesting poser and Ivawood probably edges this one in my view. He was disappointing on the face of it but still ran with some credit despite being sent off 13/8 jolly. A Guineas horse he is not, but the Hannons were keen to stress he's a big bulky horse who will strip fitter and there was mention of Royal Ascot's new three-year-old Group One contest post-race. Depending on his next race target, I could certainly be tempted in, but it could pay to hang fire until June with him.
IO: The last race at Newmarket invariably throws up a Group race performer or some top-class handicappers at the very least and I thought Dissolution did well from an unpromising position but it was the win of Salt Island in the finale on Wednesday that really caught the imagination. He can kiss goodbye to his handicap mark but looked a seriously exciting sprinter in quickening clear from what looked a competitive field.
BL: David O'Meara rattled in a treble at Ripon on Thursday and two of them were sprinters picked up from other yards. Intisaab came from Dermot Weld's and he travelled well over seven furlongs at Doncaster on his debut for O'Meara before finding nothing. The drop to six suited him and the handicapper shouldn't be too harsh after a neck victory. His stablemate Signore Piccolo won very easily over five furlongs later on the card and though he might need a little bit of give in the ground to be at his best, he could be the type to rack up a winning sequence.
MB: Laurence will presumably be sent down the handicap route following his promising comeback third at Newbury on Saturday and I won't be able to let him go unbacked if stepped up in trip, although I wait with bated breath to see how the official handicapper sees it. At a lower level, Galileano looks a filly worth following having opened her account over a mile and three quarters at Nottingham. She has plenty of options now having proved herself over this far and won't go up too much in the ratings having been pushed out to a length victory over Richard Fahey's Cosmic Statesman.
IO: It's difficult to look beyond Coneygree - you'd have a hard heart not to be moved by that remarkable story. As for a winner look no further than Le Reve in the bet365 Gold Cup. This has been his target since he won at Sandown and a good showing behind Rocky Creek off his new mark at Kempton was higly promising with this race in mind.
BL: Vautour's spine-tingling thrashing of the Jewson field at Cheltenham for pure breathtaking brilliance, although there were several novices who can be filed in the same drawer. The future looks bright, on the track at least. The bet365 Gold Cup is the only race I've looked at for the Sandown finale and I hope Grand Jesture comes over from Ireland for Henry de Bromhead. The way he tanked through The Druids Nephew's race when second at Cheltenham was impressive and off just a 1lb higher mark he could do some damage.
MB: Faugheen's Champion Hurdle win will live long in the memory and he promises to provide us with plenty more thrilling performances over the coming seasons. As for Saturday, Bobs Worth is a very interesting contender for the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown but The Package looked on great terms with himself when bolting up at Cheltenham and he looks capable of going close off 10lb higher here.
