Road to Royal Ascot, 2023

The Godolphin thing that beat Massai Maura? That was a 4 runner affair at Kempton and MM seemed to improve a lot to beat Westerton (who was unsuited by the crawl) at Ascot. MM started 13/2 in that race, quite big for a Gosden in a smallish field 3yo handicap.

Wonder Legend destroyed Westerton at Donny.
 
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It did indeed but it got a 14lb rise for it.

I have a completely open mind about the race but Charlie Johnston has seven entries so there's a fair chance one of his wil be involved at the finish.

Plenty of good stuff before that, though.
 
Anyone know how much rain they've had in the area today?
I'm interested for Windsor tomorrow & Ascot Tuesday,please.
 
Lusail Queen Anne.
33/1 4pl B365
Might seem a daft bet with 3.5l to find on Modern Games, but that horse sat off a strong pace in the Lockinge while Lusail was up there forcing it.
You'd also imagine RM would have the pick of the Hannon horses,yet his stablemate is less than half his price.
Same in the Lockinge, but I suspect that was a prep run.
 
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reet hard said:
Same in the Lockinge, but I suspect that was a prep run.
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Interesting...

I get dog's abuse on here when I suggest horses have prep runs in G1s :)

Coincidentally, I agree about the pace in the Lockinge - the sectionals tell me :p - so am giving Mutasaabeq a big chance to run Inspiral very close if not beat her.
 
Re Inspiral. It wouldn't surprise me if she started favourite tomorrow - connections, Dettori, goes well fresh etc. I have to ask though, what's the best horse she's beaten..Light Infantry?
 
Euronymous said:
Re Inspiral. It wouldn't surprise me if she started favourite tomorrow - connections, Dettori, goes well fresh etc. I have to ask though, what's the best horse she's beaten..Light Infantry?
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Light Infantry is no mug on a going day but Inspiral's best form is first time up last season here in the Coronation when she beat the American filly Spendarella, currently rated 120 on turf, Discoveries (then 110 OR) and Tenebrism (114 OR) by nearly five lengths (over 11lbs) going away impressively. So she's a bare minimum 121, plus she'll get 3lbs from the males and I'd have to ask what is the best they've beaten, Chindit?
 
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Modern Games beat Alcohol Free and Kinross amongst others last season. Native Trail beat Luxembourg in the Guineas. The ratings are meaningless to me.
 
Euronymous said:
Re Inspiral. It wouldn't surprise me if she started favourite tomorrow - connections, Dettori, goes well fresh etc. I have to ask though, what's the best horse she's beaten..Light Infantry?
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Agree with all of that, plus I reckon she's vulnerabe on fast ground against top class colts.
 
reet hard said:
Lusail Queen Anne.
33/1 4pl B365
Might seem a daft bet with 3.5l to find on Modern Games, but that horse sat off a strong pace in the Lockinge while Lusail was up there forcing it.
You'd also imagine RM would have the pick of the Hannon horses,yet his stablemate is less than half his price.
Same in the Lockinge, but I suspect that was a prep run.
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Don't think that's daft, Reet. I think Lusail can run a big race here.

Our problem is...only a few days ago Hannon was shouting Chindit from the rooftops, and the thoughts were Lusail had been getting caught flat-footed and running a bit lazily. They were actually considering blinkers in the Queen Anne, though don't appear to be declared.

Either way, both want it fast so let's hope any rain stays away for at least the next 24 hours+
 
Euronymous said:
The ratings are meaningless to me.
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In certain circumstances, yes, but ratings are a numerical expression of relative ability and help students of form understand the tasks to hand. Why have them at all if they're meaningless?

Once form - or ability - is established the ratings give us a pecking order so we can see the task facing each contender.

It's only if the ratings are flawed, as they sometimes can be, that they can be rendered meaningless.

I'd say 90-95% of selections I share on this forum are derived from ratings and 90% of them are my own, so I know they can be flawed, but they serve me very well.

And you seem to be glossing over the fact that Modern Games was behind Tenebrism and Light Infantry last summer.
 
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He had a stamina test when he couldn't beat Bayside Boy (rated 111) last backend.

It's all opinions, you know that.

In my own opinion, the Lockinge fell into his lap because he was one of the few held up off the over-fast pace.
 
It's possible Dessie. I've backed Native Trail anyway so I guess I'm as much against MG as Inspiral - I think it's a more open race than the betting suggests.
 
I'd oppose Inspiral on grounds of speed, not stamina.
In 1m Gp1's on fast ground she has won just the one - against her own sex.
 
chaumi said:
Don't think that's daft, Reet. I think Lusail can run a big race here.

Our problem is...only a few days ago Hannon was shouting Chindit from the rooftops, and the thoughts were Lusail had been getting caught flat-footed and running a bit lazily. They were actually considering blinkers in the Queen Anne, though don't appear to be declared.

Either way, both want it fast so let's hope any rain stays away for at least the next 24 hours+
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You may well be right,Chaumi,but I'll take my chance,at the prices.
 
Desert Orchid said:
Yes, I think it's substandard, which is probably why I'm quite keen on Inspiral on her best form.
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Oh! How very dare you! Sub-standard, indeed. On rough and ready reading of direct and co-lateral form Modern Games has the beating of all these except for Triple Time (who beat MG on his debut run as a 2yo) and possibly Pogo depending on which bit of his up and down form with Lusail you take.

I think Modern Games is a very solid favourite, but both Native Trail and Triple Time have had their problems and wouldn’t make it easy for him if they were over them and back to their best.
 
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