Colin Phillips
At the Start
In an attempt to get into Tout Seul's good books I'm starting a thread on The Dash, a Class 2 handicap over Epsom's breakneck five furlongs immediately before the build up to The Derby.
I'm not really into trends but this is one race that one or two trainers seem to target, if in very different ways.
David Nicholls has run 13 horses in the last three runnings of the event winning only the once with Indian Trail, with Strike Up the Band just behind in third, in 2009.
The 'blessed' Stuart Williams prepares just the one each year, his return, a win from Bertoliver last year and a fourth with Hogmaneigh in 2008. Hogmaneigh being the winner in 2007.
Dandy has three that are at the front of the betting this year; FALASTEEN (12/1) winner of the dress rehearsal for the race in April, disappointed on his second run at Chester but back to form with a second at York; FATHOM FIVE (14/1)who only came to him during the close season and showed little on his seasonal debut; CRIMEA (16/1) hasn't run since July.
Stuart (who I had the pleasure of working for a very short time about 10 years ago) has BERTOLIVER (18/1), last year's winner running again. Bert didn't show a lot in his first two runs but there were signs of hope in his fourth at Newmarket last time.
I think it is fair to say that with Dandy and Stuart recent form isn't always too significant.
Others at the head of the market are CAPTAIN DUNNE (7/1) trained by Tim Easterby, ran second to Dandy's Indian Trail in 2009 and probably put in his best ever performance when running second, at Longchamp, to Dandy's Inxile in a Group 3 earlier this month.
MASAMAH (10/1), Kevin Ryan, is in good form and won from Doctor Parkes at York.
AHTOUG (12/1), Al Zarooni, was a very impressive winner from what had become a very poor position in a race at Chester early this month.
BEAT THE BELL (16/1), David Barron, was the runner-up to Falasteen in that race at Epsom in April but has disappointed since.
DUBAI MEDIA (16/1), Ed Dunlop, has yet to race over the minimum trip, rather surprised at her position in the market.
OLDJOESAID (16/1), Kevin Ryan, finished fourth in this race in 2009 and finished tenth in 2010. In and out form this season.
PERFECT BLOSSOM (16/1), Kevin Ryan, won a minor race over the course and distance in July and has yet to run this season.
The draw will probably have an effect on the result. Of the 12 places up for grabs in the last three runnings only three have been from single figure stalls and of those three there was an 8 and a 9 from where it would be possible to race stand side. OLDJOESAID, who ran fourth from stall 1 in 2009 seems an exceptional overcoming of a poor draw.
Right what's going to win?
Haven't a clue but I'm hoping that BERTOLIVER will at least claim a place providing he gets a reasonable draw.
I'm not really into trends but this is one race that one or two trainers seem to target, if in very different ways.
David Nicholls has run 13 horses in the last three runnings of the event winning only the once with Indian Trail, with Strike Up the Band just behind in third, in 2009.
The 'blessed' Stuart Williams prepares just the one each year, his return, a win from Bertoliver last year and a fourth with Hogmaneigh in 2008. Hogmaneigh being the winner in 2007.
Dandy has three that are at the front of the betting this year; FALASTEEN (12/1) winner of the dress rehearsal for the race in April, disappointed on his second run at Chester but back to form with a second at York; FATHOM FIVE (14/1)who only came to him during the close season and showed little on his seasonal debut; CRIMEA (16/1) hasn't run since July.
Stuart (who I had the pleasure of working for a very short time about 10 years ago) has BERTOLIVER (18/1), last year's winner running again. Bert didn't show a lot in his first two runs but there were signs of hope in his fourth at Newmarket last time.
I think it is fair to say that with Dandy and Stuart recent form isn't always too significant.
Others at the head of the market are CAPTAIN DUNNE (7/1) trained by Tim Easterby, ran second to Dandy's Indian Trail in 2009 and probably put in his best ever performance when running second, at Longchamp, to Dandy's Inxile in a Group 3 earlier this month.
MASAMAH (10/1), Kevin Ryan, is in good form and won from Doctor Parkes at York.
AHTOUG (12/1), Al Zarooni, was a very impressive winner from what had become a very poor position in a race at Chester early this month.
BEAT THE BELL (16/1), David Barron, was the runner-up to Falasteen in that race at Epsom in April but has disappointed since.
DUBAI MEDIA (16/1), Ed Dunlop, has yet to race over the minimum trip, rather surprised at her position in the market.
OLDJOESAID (16/1), Kevin Ryan, finished fourth in this race in 2009 and finished tenth in 2010. In and out form this season.
PERFECT BLOSSOM (16/1), Kevin Ryan, won a minor race over the course and distance in July and has yet to run this season.
The draw will probably have an effect on the result. Of the 12 places up for grabs in the last three runnings only three have been from single figure stalls and of those three there was an 8 and a 9 from where it would be possible to race stand side. OLDJOESAID, who ran fourth from stall 1 in 2009 seems an exceptional overcoming of a poor draw.
Right what's going to win?
Haven't a clue but I'm hoping that BERTOLIVER will at least claim a place providing he gets a reasonable draw.
