Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2005
- Messages
- 25,024
I've taken the three favourites in the last three handicaps at Ascot.
It's very unlike me to be backing favourites but the truth is that I don't look at the betting until after I've done the form.
All three strike me as good favourites.
Royal Regatta has clearly had his issues but is on a winnable mark having beaten Kylemore Lough at levels in the Stella race at this meeting two years ago. He has a King George entry which suggests he’s not disappointing at home.
Minella Daddy was my main bet in the Whitbread and this race is a long way off that level. Whatever happened at Sandown I don't know but he was never going.
Chatez has a similar advantage over the field as Speedo Boy did at the weekend based on his Flat ability. He just needs to prove he can translate it back over hurdles.
That was difficult viewing but it at least reminded me of why I don't usually bet on non-TV races.
Roddy might tell us otherwise but it looked to me like Minella Daddy ran similarly to the Whitbread, never seemingly enjoying it and I wonder if he dislikes being on the inside of other horses. On top of that, the number of times Bowen never asked him to find a stride was shocking. His future engagements will be interesting.
Regal Regatta was only there for the exercise after all. Lots of tell-tale signs that he wasn't there to win long before he lost his place. No doubt he'll be a much bigger price next time as a result of this.
Chatez was a big disappointment. Jolly's Cracked it had the winning of the race on his best form but nowhere near the prospects of Chatez's recent Flat figures. Had Chatez not been in the race I could have fancied JCI in the same way that I fancied Royal Regatta but these illustrate the chances you take backing horses coming back after absences.
Not a good day.