3rd time the charm for English Channel..?
 

OR have all 5 of his G1 wins come against weak fields..?..?....?

at best a weak g1 talent... lanesend is so proud $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Tough to say. Have to see how the field shapes up. Didn't exactly see a tough field the last two times out.

Judging by the grammar displayed in the title to this thread, it would have been more appropriate if this horse was named English As A Second Language Channel...

If EC isn't put into the race earlier in the BC than his last two, he's got little chance to win. I don't think he can trip out like he did in his last on the bigger course and get a clean straight shot with just one (pretty modest) horse to pass late.

english channel set a record at monmouth a year ago, and then broke it this year when he successfully defended his UN handicap win. whether he gets a course to his liking, and can handle an extra 1/8th are two questions he will answer.
the third is what kind of competition wil lhe face? for all his 'weak' wins, he is the top turf stayer in america.

This thread has been up for nearly 12 hours and no Kev. Dude must be beyond whipped.

For the record, no the third time will not be the charm for EC. He seems to have changed his running style over the last couple races and that style requires a good trip in a huge BC field so he'll be up against it.

Im here...already have read it. My stance on EC is quite obvious:cool: :D

Bigs....I did like to see the way that EC was more relaxed in the Hirsch than he has been in the past.

Yes he was more relaxed but I like his chances better up near the front on what could be a very hard turf course (see Belmont lately), if the rains don't start falling in the next couple weeks.

If he relaxes and makes one run, he'll have to beat the Euros at their own game and I don't know if he can outquicken (probably not a word, but you get the point) them.

See....I think he can outquicken them at Monmouth with the short 1 1/2 furlong finish after turning for home. I think that plays into his hands.

when he has his way he has a brilliant finish. One of the best in the world. He usually demolishes most of his local competition the instant he kicks in gear. At the high class level their are three animals and three men fighting for two paths. He hasn't responded well to that.

I think he will give a good effort and display a good kick here. A win would be surprising but is possible, a top 5 finish more likely. He will also be a slight underlay.

he looked determined squeezing thru a space too small for him the other day. i couldn't believe they made it thru.

He sure was. Those were lesser animals that managed to successfully race-ride him and still got trounced. Imagine how their actual ability lines up. There is no doubt that Pletcher has this one's late kick at a brilliant level. The horse itself always has to pass the class test as well in the world class races.

Don't get me wrong, i like English Channel and against the American turf horses he is usually in a different league...... BUT if any of our half decent turf horses come over to Monmouth (which they more than likely will), English Channel will be in for a serious beating again.

He has been facing weak fields of late in my opinion, and can do nothing more than beat them fairly easily.

He won't be winning the BC turf though. Red Rocks wasn't exactly a superstar (far from it) and he made English Channel look like a claimer last year.

thats the dumb ass statement of the year...

The two horses that were running second to last and last for the majority of the race finished 1st and 2nd. The race set up perfectly for closers. Of all the horses on or near the lead last year EC was the ONLY one to finish well at all when he finished 3rd.

Much sharper turns and shorter run for home will be the Euro's undoing this year.

His G1 on derby day in the woodford reserve was against a decent field. I' ve always like EC and his running style usually provides a perfect trip. I don't think he can beat BTN at monmouth with a fast pace in the breeders cup. He isn't a 12 furlong horse. 9 or 10 is his best distance.

:D and you said my post was the dumb ass statement of the year. You quickly took the crown off me.

If the likes of Dylan Thomas come over the BC turf, your horses have not got a chance around any track. Much sharper turns and run for home is a very poor argument. Most of out horses that will be pin pointed there have the speed to win over 10 furlongs, too. A sharp track won't bother them. If only Manduro didn't injure himself, he would have blown everything away.

That's just ridiculous. Sharper turns do matter, especially if the turf is firm.

Out-running Stream of Gold to the wire is not nearly as difficult as out-running the worlds best.

Jay...he may have. You know how foolishly stubborn I am when it comes to EC. I was more suprised than anyone last year that EC even finished 3rd and ran on well towards the end like he did. If I remember right, and I usually do when it comes to his races, EC was 3-4 wide the entire race last year. I remember being at the OTB and yelling at J.V.

Not when most of our horses have the speed to win over trips varying between a mile and 12 furlongs this year.

Something like Red Rocks wouldn't be suited, granted. But he isn't even that good anyway, not compared with something like Dylan Thomas.

I hope Dylan will travel out there, whatever happens with the Arc on Sunday. He needs firm ground to be at his best, and when he's at his best he is almost unbeatable.
This fella has plenty of speed, so the sharper turns won't matter to him.

It really shouldn't make much of a difference.

Especially when Stream Of Gold wasn't good enough to win even a moderate group race over here.

So you are saying that Red Rocks DIDN'T trip out last year with that win?:D

you and 1,000 other members on here...


its ok though...I deserve it:cool:

Red Rocks could have galloped around that track again probably. He is a very stout stayer in my opinion. Although he did manage to win over 10 furlongs earlier this year (that's just off the top of my head).

We shall have to wait and see what sort of horses we send over there. It might be a case where we send over a very weak bunch, but i doubt it considering the pennies the good horses are racing for over here.

As i said, most of our good 12 furlong horses this year have shown more than enough speed when winning over 10 furlongs to suggest a sharp track won't be an issue for them.

I could have galloped around that track again with the same trip Red Rocks got..:D

I'd pay to see you try :D

you would love the odds:eek:

You would come up short in my opinion.
Then make as many excuses as Godolphin have with Discreet Kitten

He's obviously one of the better ones we've got to send to the BC, but it's pretty obvious that he'll need a less-than-stellar showing by the Euros to take home the top prize.

I suppose those rooting for him can hope for huge misfires from every Euro contender, a la last year's BC Mile.

Araafa was slightly disappointing, granted...... but in all honesty, the others weren't that good.

Most people over here thought Aragorn was a certainty last year.

you stay out of this....

if we do send our A-Team over I think EC should go to the Mile instead.. I think a very quick mile would suit him.. My idea of the BC Turf winner this year is Duke Of Marmalade, but they probably wont send him to it.