So much for all the talk of Bushman swerving this...
Obviously CC is out.
Big fan of Rip but ummm... I hope Bushman wins this one. Doubtful but...
Saturday September 25 2010
Ascot 16:15
Queen Elizabeth Ii Stakes (sponsored By Sony) (group 1) (rnd)
£250000.00 added, 3yo plus, 1m, Class 1, £151860.00 penalty
8 runners
Going: Good
Surface: Turf
No. Form Horse Age Wt Trainer Jockey OR NagMe Bet
1 (6) 93-1129 Bushman 39 6 9-3 D Simcock T P Queally 110 SP SP
SP
2 (1) 10-6212 Rip Van Winkle (IRE) 21 4 9-3 A P O'Brien J P Murtagh 126 SP SP
SP
3 (5) 401106 Air Chief Marshal (IRE) 13 3 8-13 A P O'Brien J P Spencer 110 SP SP
SP
4 (7) 16-6414 Beethoven (IRE) 21 3 8-13 v A P O'Brien R L Moore 117 SP SP
SP
5 (8) 11-0345 Hearts of Fire 44 3 8-13 Pat Eddery R Winston 117 SP SP
SP
6 (3) 1-1171 Makfi 41 3 8-13 M Delzangles C Soumillon SP SP
SP
7 (2) 14-8921 Poet's Voice 28 3 8-13 t Saeed Suroor L Dettori 115 SP SP
SP
8 (4) 822285 Red Jazz (USA) 36 3 8-13 B W Hills M Hills 113 SP SP
SP
Last Winner Year Horse Trainer Jockey SP Age Wt Draw
2009 Rip Van Winkle (IRE) A P O'Brien J P Murtagh 8/13F 3 8-13 1
Betting Forecast: 8/11 Makfi, 9/4 Rip Van Winkle, 8/1 Poet's Voice, 14/1 Hearts of Fire, 20/1 Beethoven, 50/1 Bushman, 50/1 Red Jazz, 100/1 Air Chief Marshal
Verdict
RIP VAN WINKLE can retain his crown, seeing off Makfi in what might become a tactical race. Although last-year's four-runner affair was a farce, this time around he faces a sterner challenge. A battling Juddemonte International win underlined his class, and the race next time in the Irish Champion Stakes was on unsuitable ground and not run to suit. With Air Chief Marshall in the race connections will be hopeful of pinching the prize, although stablemate Beethoven is certainly no back-number now back over a mile. Makfi is the obvious threat as the best miler around at present. He was superb when beating Goldikova last month, and his sole flop when seventh here in the St James's Palace Stakes came with a valid excuse, however he isn't blessed with a startling turn of foot and the worry might be that he is out-sprinted late on. Poet's Voice, the Celebration Mile winner, and Hearts Of Fire, are no chumps, however the more experienced Rip Van Winkle looks the bet.
FORMWATCH
Bushman 66-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders on outside, took keen hold, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and no impression 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 23l behind Rip Van Winkle (9-5) at York 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.Rip Van Winkle (IRE) 8-11fav (9-7) Held up in 5th, progress early straight, moderate 4th over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Cape Blanco (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf.Air Chief Marshal (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Prominent, 2nd halfway, challenged under 2f out, no extra entering final furlong, 6th of 10, 6l behind Bewitched (8-12) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 (1) sft.Beethoven (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 4th 3f out, some progress into moderate 3rd over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 6l behind Cape Blanco (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf.Hearts of Fire 5-2fav (8-7) Dropped out and switched right start, mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon pressing leaders, held well inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Sea Lord (8-7) at Salisbury 1m Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.Makfi 7-1 (8-11) won at Deauville(FR) 1m Grp 1 (1) sft in Aug beating Goldikova (9-1) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.Poet's Voice 2-1 (8-9) Held up 4th and last, tracked leading pair over 3f out, switched outside 2f out, edged right, led over 1f out, driven clear inside final furlong, readily, won at Goodwood 1m Grp 2 (1) sft in Aug beating Main Aim (9-1) by 4 1/2l, 4 ran.Red Jazz (USA) 4-1fav (9-0) With leader, led 5f out, ridden and joined over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Yaa Wayl (8-9) at York 7f Listed stks (1) gf in Aug.
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