Let the classics begin

[NoChanceToDance]

Guineas weekend here in Newmarket next weekend, which usually means top class racing, lots of alcohol and plenty of punches thrown afterwards. Due to a head injury, I will be staying away from the last two options.

So, is New Approach the best thing since sliced bread? I believe he probably is. Jim Bolger has been quite bullish (for him) over recent days, and that speaks volumes for this exceptional colt.

Fast Company has been transferred to the big blue bin, and since that he hasn't been sparkling in his work unlike he used to for Brian Meehan.

Raven's Pass looked like he didn't see the stiff mile out in the Craven, and that must be a concern for his fans.

Ibn Khaldun made massive strides last year and looked impressive, but his overall form is below that of New Approach and Fast Company. His price looks skinny enough to me.

Jupiter Pluvius still could be anything and is the interesting horse of the race. He still has plenty to prove, but I couldn't rule out a massive improvement in him this year. He is of the same mould as Footstepsinthesand so it seems.

Rio De La Plata surely won't be anywhere near good enough if he takes his chance, he has a fair amount to find with New Approach.

I cannot see anything else getting into it.

The 1,000 Guineas looks very tough to work out.

Infalliable was oh so impressive in the trial the other week, but it was a poor renewal and we couldn't really tell a lot from that. She has class, but does she have the class to win the Guineas? Would love to see her win, as I used to look after her dam, but on the face of it, she is going to have to improve a great deal.

Muthabara has been the talking horse in recent weeks. She won well the other day at Newbury and certainly has class, but for me, she doesn't have Guineas winner written all over her. Not quite sure why that is.

I will stick my neck out here and say that if Natagora stays, she will win. She has by far the best form on show. She has so much speed, it worries me that she might not see out a stiff mile. She has ticks in all the other boxes, however.

Back on fast ground, I could see Lush Lashes running a nice race at a big price for the Bolger camp.

[brockguy]

In the Irish Field, Jim Bolger was extremely bullish, very very confident and to be honest he should be. If it is very quick Id give Raven's Pass a squeak..

I do really like the look of Ibn Kaldoun. He improved so much in each race last year and could be a real star.. He seems to be the best Godolphin horse and they would (should!!) know where they stand in relation to NA as they also have Rio de La Plata and Fast Company...

[NoChanceToDance]

He did keep improving no end last year, but even his racing post trophy win leaves him with plenty to find with the likes of Raven's Pass and even more to find with Fast Company and New Approach. That's not to say he won't find that improvement, but with the others likely to have improved over the winter, too, it's a tough ask.

Usually a Racing Post trophy winner needs more of a stamina test at three, also.

I tend to completely forget about the Godolphin horses at this meeting. They were only shipped back over here about two weeks ago, and that just isn't long enough for them to acclimatise.

[NoChanceToDance]

What do you think of Natagora? Do you think she will see out the trip? That is my only concern. Her form is head and shoulders above anything else in my opinion.

[brockguy]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

What do you think of Natagora? Do you think she will see out the trip? That is my only concern. Her form is head and shoulders above anything else in my opinion.

she's looked good, i wouldnt know too much at this stage about the fillies, but I think she wont quite stay the mile, but it might still be enough.. That Gosden filly beat absolute rubbish the other day and is way over hyped, the Shiekh Hamdam filly looks tough and keeps finding a bit more so Id have her as the main danger to the french filly.

[NoChanceToDance]

From Racing Post......

by Keith Hamer


GODOLPHIN hope to have two runners in the Stanjamesuk.com 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday but are in no hurry to decide which of their three possibles will represent them.

Ibn Khaldun, Rio De La Plata and Fast Company were among 19 left in the Classic at the five-day confirmation stage.

"They are all in good form, but there's no decision yet about the three runners. We will decide soon, there's plenty of time," said trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.

The trio are reported to be fit and well after spending the winter in Dubai and have only been back in Newmarket for a few days.

Racing Post Trophy winner Ibn Khaldun is the shortest of the three in the ante-post market behind hot favourite New Approach, who had the former Brian Meehan-trained Fast Company and Rio De La Plata back in second and fourth places respectively when winning the Dewhurst Stakes.

"Fast Company worked today and we are happy with him," BinSuroor went on.

"Since he joined Godolphin in November he has never shown a lot in the morning. Ibn Khaldun and Rio De La Plata have shown a turn of foot and plenty of speed.

"We are happy with all three of them, they are sound and healthy and willhave a blow-out later in the week."

Connections of Fireside hope the colt can overcome his relative inexperience when he steps up to Group 1 company.

Peter Chapple-Hyam's charge had just two runs as a two-year-old and was unable to have a prep run in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury.

"He's in very good form. We were very disappointed we couldn't run him in the Greenham at Newbury," said Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.
"He took a test beforehandand we found he had some muck in his throat. Obviously we couldn't run him with that so we missed the trial which was annoying because he's a horse that is going very well at home.

"There's been a lot of support for him in recent weeks but he's just lacking that bit of experience. An extra race would have put him spot on experience-wise. He's fit enough, that is not an issue, but I would have loved him to have had another race.

"However, Peter's thrilled with him. He worked very well on Saturday with a couple of older horses at level weights, including a Listed horse that's rated in the 90s. He went clear of him which is very good form.

"We know he's a very good horse - whether he's good enough we need to find out and it looks like being a hell of a Guineas.

"We are thrilled with this horse and he's always shown an awful lot."

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Perfect Stride was put through his paces ahead of a possible tilt at the colts' classic.

"He worked this morning and I think Sir Michael is pretty pleased with him," said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.

"I can't say he's a definite runner yet, but obviously working this morning he's heading in that direction, we think."

It had been hoped to run the twice-raced son of Oasis Dream in the Craven Stakes over the course and distance but he suffered a slight setback.

"He missed the Craven because he bumped his hock. He was a bit sore on it, but he's OK again now," added Raymond.

"He's done extremely well over the winter and is a much stronger horse this year."