Flat season is underway.

I am sure magic is glad.

Less than a month to the Kentucky Derby, in the UK we have the 1000/2000 gns, on the 3rd and 2nd of May, then the Oaks and Derby in June.

Have posted pics of the early ante-post favs on the home page, post your views on the Classics?

The 1000/2000 gns Oaks/Derby and St Ledger.

good punting!

I have no idea why some idiot keeps clicking on this thread?
However enjoy, is it not time you found a better hobby.

come on dave.. he is just excited about the new season

Lord Shanakill value for Guineas, says Burke


KARL BURKE believes Lord Shanakill, who is set to reappear in the Greenham Stakes on April 18, is a "huge price" at 33-1 for next month's stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The consistent colt secured a deserved Group-race victory in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury and was beaten only a short head by Intense Focus in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on his latest outing.


"I'm delighted with him as he has pleased us all winter and worked very nicely this morning," said Burke.

"He'll probably have an entry in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket next week, but he gets a Group 2 penalty in that.

"All being well, he will run in the Greenham at Newbury next Saturday, where he doesn't get that penalty.

"The Greenham is also over seven furlongs, while the Craven is over a mile - the Greenham is the main target if the ground is decent.

"Most of it crosses with the horses that are right up there in the betting for the Guineas and, for me, our horse is a huge price at 33-1."

Cityscape, like Lord Shanakill, could have his 2,000 Guineas prep in the Greenham. Roger Charlton's colt is a 25-1 chance for the Classic with the sponsors after running Jukebox Jury veryclose in the Royal Lodge at Ascot.

"He's good. He might run in the Greenham," said Charlton.

Naaqoos cut for Guineas ahead of reappearance


NAAQOOS will become the first major contender in the betting for the Stan James 2,000 Guineas to race as a three-year-old when he heads to Maisons-Laffitte on Friday and, in anticipation of a good showing there, on Tuesday Paddy Power and Victor Chandler both cut the Freddie Head-trained colt a point into 6-1 for Newmarket on May 2.


Crowded House was another who had his price trimmed on Tuesday for a Classic, the Racing Post Trophy winner is now 6-1 favourite for the Derby with both Boylesports and Paddy Power.

Still at Epsom, Mooakada has proven popular in the betting for the Oaks. The John Gosden-trained Newmarket maiden winner was cut to 16-1 (from 20) by Coral, and 20-1 (from 25) by William Hill.

Drumcovis has been cut to 12-1 (from 16) by Boylesports, Paddy Power and William Hill for next Monday's Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National. Others to come in for support for Fairyhouse are Casey Jones (16-1 from 20) and Battle Axe (66-1 from 200), both of whom were cut by Stan James.

Gosden upbeat about Rainbow View's progress


JOHN GOSDEN is exuding confidence that he can harness the energies of Rainbow View, the "wildest" filly he has trained, when she attempts to justify favouritism in the Stan James 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3.


The unbeaten daughter of Dynaformer will take a trip to her local course in Newmarket next week to "take some of the gas out of her" but Gosden has no qualms that the winner of the Group 1 Fillies' Mile has trained on from two to three as she bids to give the trainer a second success in the Classic he won with Lahan in 2000.

"It's that natural energy which make her so good and of the all the fillies I have trained she would be a long way the wildest," said Gosden during a press trip tohis Clarehaven Stables on Wednesday.

"She takes some riding and can throw some shapes for no reason, but that's what makes her so special and luckily I have a real good lad in Zahoor Ahmed to ride her.

"She's in very good form and is coming nicely in her coat and I'm pleased with her - she got through the cold spell well and is a bonny filly.

"I 've been around a lot of good fillies and I don't think size is an issue but she is a solid, medium-sized filly."

Mastercraftsman now clear Guineas favourite


MASTERCRAFTSMAN is now clear favourite in the ante-post lists for next month's Stan James-sponsored 2,000 Guineas following the shock defeat of Naaqoos on his seasonal reappearance at Maisons-Laffitte on Friday.


Both Mastercraftsman and Naaqoos were trading as 5-1 joint market leaders with Ladbrokes on Friday morning, but after Naaqoos could manage only second, prompting trainer Freddie Head to say he was "doubtful" for Newmarket, he was taken out of the market by Ladbrokes. The firm left Mastercraftsman unchanged at 5-1 but cut both Rip Van Winkle and Delegator to 8-1 (from 10) and Arazan to 10-1 (from 14).

Rip Van Winkle, who had spent much of the winter vying for favouritism in the Guineas market, was also trimmed by Paddy Power and Sky Bet, the pair going 8-1 (from 9).

Pricewise selection Sea The Stars also proved popular, with Victor Chandler going 16-1 (from 25). Chandler also saw cash for Tom Segal's pick in the 1,000 Guineas, Nashmiah, going 25-1 (from 40).

More immediately, Pomme Tiepy, the choice of Ruby Walsh for the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National, disposed Wichita Lineman as favourite for Monday'srace with Victor Chandler, who go 8-1 (from 10). In the same race, Paddy Power saw support for Casey Jones and are now 11-1 (from 14)

Black Bear Island out of luck in Prix La Force
Report: France, Sunday

Longchamp: Prix La Force (Group 3) 1m2f, 3yo

BALLYDOYLE Derby hope Black Bear Island could finish only third behind On Est Bien after a muddling race on his seasonal debut in France on Sunday.

Johnny Murtagh settled the much-vaunted brother to High Chaparral in the middle of a six-runner field for the Prix La Force, in which War Power set a pedestrian gallop up front until an injection of pace about half a mile out.

At this point, Naas maiden winner Black Bear Island - a major market mover for Epsom after shining in a racecourse spin at The Curragh last month - looked to be going as well as anything.

But Murtagh could not find room after they entered the straight and the son of Sadler’s Wells was bottled up as the Elie Lellouche-trained On Est Bien flew down the outside under Anthony Crastus.

With two races already under his belt this term, On Est Bien scored readily by two and a half lengths over Topclas, who was also produced from the rear.

Both horses found running room long before Black Bear Island was able to engage his full stride, and he finished a further two lengths back in third.

Smullen to ride Serious Attitude in Guineas

ANOTHER piece of the stanjames.com 1,000 Guineas jigsaw puzzle was pressed into place on Sunday afternoon when Pat Smullen was confirmed by trainer Rae Guest as the man who will partner second-favourite Serious Attitude in the big race on May 3.

Guest had been keen to find a rider who would be available to link up with his filly for her planned racecourse gallop before racing on the Rowley Mile on Wednesday and also able to guarantee his availability for the Classic.


That man turned out to be the five-times Irish champion, who has favourable history with the filly's co-owners, Guest and commercial motor dealer Derek Willis.

Guest said: "We've had Pat in mind for a while and I first spoke to him about the ride a couple of weeks ago, thinking he might be more available than some of the big English jockeys, but we needed him to confirm he would be able to ride her on Wednesday and in the Classic, as we didn't want to be chopping and changing."

Crowded House Guineas bid decision this week

BRIAN MEEHAN has revealed that a decision on the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas participation of Racing Post Trophy winner Crowded House will be made this week.


Although as short as 9-1 for the Guineas, Crowded House is also favourite for the Derby, and connections have the option of heading to Epsom via York's Dante Stakes.



Meehan, who plans to run recent Guineas gamble Delegator at Newmarket, said on his website: "Crowded House, like Delegator, has taken his work very well and we are more than happy with him.

"I will be having a chat with the owners in the first half of this week and will then make a decision on which of the two races we go for."

Ah yes. Some real racing at last, contested by horses that will influence the future of the breed. How can you honestly compare that to a bunch of old geldings risking their necks in slow motion races that take longer to run than the Comrades marathon...??

make no mistake also enjoy the flat and the build up to the Classics.