lunes, 10 de octubre de 2011

THINK HEADS QUALITY CHAMPION FIELD


So You Think leads a three-pronged Ballydoyle entry in Saturday's QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Aidan O'Brien's Antipodean import was last seen running on into fourth in the Arc, and could be joined by potential pacemaker Windsor Palace and Hardwicke Stakes winner Await The Dawn.

The last-named was beaten into third by Twice Over in the Juddmonte International at York, and Sir Henry Cecil's star is on target to lock horns once again.

The well-fancied Nathaniel, winner of the King George at Ascot, is set to represent John Gosden, whilst other leading three-year-old's engaged include the Godolphin duo Casamento and Dubai Prince, along with the French-trained Reliable Man and Jim Bolger's Banimpire.

Top-class older fillies Midday and Snow Fairy are also amongst the six-day entries, whilst other notable runners include the William Haggas-trained Green Destiny, prolific French raider Cirrus Des Aigles and Michael Bell's globetrotter Wigmore Hall.

In total 17 horses have been entered for the Group One contest.

TIMEFORM: FRANKEL CLEAR OF RIVALS


Timeform have Frankel 12 pounds clear of his QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes rivals.

Winner of all eight starts at an average winning margin of more than five lengths, Frankel was rated 142 by Timeform after his runaway win in Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas in April, which makes him the highest-rated horse since the 1970s and the best horse in the world by seven pounds from Black Caviar.

He is also 12lb clear of his main form rival Immortal Verse at the weekend.

Simon Rowlands, Head of Handicapping at Timeform, said: "Frankel's lofty rating and remarkably dominant performances have invited comparisons with champions of yesteryear, such as the 144-rated Brigadier Gerard, who won the Guineas in 1971 and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 1971 and 1972.

"While Frankel has proved impossible to beat so far, and has many pounds in hand of his rivals in Saturday's race , it is worth remembering that even the all-time greats usually get turned over once or twice in their careers.

"Brigadier Gerard was famously beaten once in 18 starts, at long odds-on by Roberto at York.

"And it would be a shock of similar proportions if Frankel were to come unstuck on Saturday at a distance and on a course at which he has been so superior to everything put up against him."

Timeform Queen Elizabeth II Stakes ratings (weight adjusted) :

152 Frankel, 140 Immortal Verse, 138 Excelebratio, Dick Turpin, 137 Cityscape, 133 Dubawi Gold, 132 Rio de la Plata, 128 Poet's Voice, 127 Side Glance, 124 Bullet Train.

FRANKEL TOPS ASCOT TEN


Frankel tops ten acceptors for Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, sponsored by QIPCO, and as expected is joined by stablemate Bullet Train.

He will act as pacemaker for Sir Henry Cecil's brilliant miler who is unbeaten to date.

His main rivals on Saturday are star French filly Immortal Verse, winner of the Coronation Stakes and Prix Jacques Le Marois on her last two starts, and the exciting Excelebration.

Godolphin have left in Poet's Voice and Rio De La Plata while Richard Hannon has a strong hand with Dick Turpin and Dubawi Gold.

Cityscape and Side Glance complete the ten-strong field.

HOOF IT ABSENT FROM SPRINT ENTRIES


Hoof It is absent as Deacon Blues tops 18 entries for Saturday's QIPCO British Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot.

Mick Easterby's star will swerve a clash with Roger Charlton's Bated Breath, who finished one place ahead of him in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Mick Easterby's four-year-old lost a shoe three weeks ago which prevented him from doing any serious work for a week.

Connections are still not satisfied with his progress.

David Easterby, the trainer's son and assistant, said: "It's still the same problem it was before, and we're working through it.

"The overseas races are still options but we haven't made any decisions yet, we're concentrating on getting the horse sound.

"All our efforts are going into doing what is right by the horse as there is always next year."

James Fanshawe has two runners engaged, with the wildly progressive ante-post favourite Deacon Blues set to be joined in the Group Two sprint by stablemate, and Ascot specialist, Society Rock.

Owner George Strawbridge could be doubly represented, with Freddie Head's filly Moonlight Cloud set to drop in trip and join Andrew Balding's Night Carnation in the race.

Other fillies entered at the six-day stage include Abbaye fifth Wizz Kid and Sir Mark Prescott's Hooray.

A battalion of older sprinters including Genki, Jimmy Style, Prime Defender and Royal Rock, as well as former Abbaye winner Total Gallery, are also amonst the 18-strong field.

FAME AND GLORY IN ASCOT RETURN


Ascot Gold Cup winner Fame And Glory is set to return to the Berkshire track on Saturday for the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.

Aidan O'Brien's charge is looking to bounce back from a lacklustre run in the Irish St Leger last time and is joined in the field by stablemate Regent Street.

13 horses were left in at Monday's acceptance stage including the Godolphin trio of Cavalryman, Darley Sun and Opinion Poll.

Meeznah is set to step up in trip for the race while Chiberta King, Nehaam, Times Up, Motrice, Polly's Mark, Colour Vision and Eternal Heart complete the field.

DANCING RAIN HEADS QUALITY FIELD



Investec Oaks winner Dancing Rain features among the 14 acceptors for the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Johnny Murtagh will be reunited with William Haggas' charge and faces a quality field which includes Ribblesdale heroine Banimpire.

Sir Michael Stoute's Crystal Capella will be among the leading fancies while Jessica Harrington could run Bible Belt while Miss Crissy is a potential runner from France.

Sea Of Heartbreak holds an entry from the Roger Charlton stable though is likely to head to Canada for an engagement in the EP Taylor Stakes.

Meeznah also has the option of facing Fame And Glory in the big staying race on the card while Bolivia, Brushing, Ceilidh House, Cill Rialaig, Ferdoos, Gertrude Bell and Vita Nota complete the declarations.

PADY PRIMED FOR PUNCHESTOWN


Forpadydeplasterer is set to make his eagerly-anticipated return to action in the Star "Best For Racing Coverage" Chase at Punchestown on Thursday.

After winning the 2009 Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham, the nine-year-old filled the runner-up spot on his next seven starts, running with huge credit in races like the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Melling Chase at Aintree.

He was pulled up on his first try at three miles in last season's King George VI Chase at Kempton and has not been seen since having returned to Ireland a sick horse.

He makes his seasonal reappearance over just a furlong shorter than three miles at Punchestown, but Cooper does not expect a lack of stamina to be a problem.

"Everything is fine with him and all going well he'll run on Thursday," said Cooper.

"We'll see how he gets on over the trip, but I think he'll be fine with it.

"He's in good form and while he'll improve for the run, I think he's fit enough to do himself justice - I wouldn't be running him otherwise.

"Hopefully he'll run well."

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More

 
Design by Free WordPress Themes | Bloggerized by Thbanned - Free Blogger Templates