I'd be happy to see him win it, ed, and I think the odds on him are a little nuts.
He should be closer to Starspangledbanner and Equino cause chances are it's one of the three.
Good luck to Ms. P Filly, who like I said won't win, and to Mister Hughie... a Channon runner (hooray!) who was a beautiful 4th last out and a few before that one had fallen poor guy.
It's an ambitious spot for him but I hope he can be 3rd or 4th.
Friday August 20 2010
York 15:25
Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (group 1)
£240000.00 added, 2yo plus, 5f, Class 1, £136248.00 penalty
13 runners
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
Surface: Turf
No. Form Horse Age Wt Trainer Jockey OR NagMe Naps Bet
1 (7) 0-23331 Borderlescott 22 8 9-11 R Bastiman N Callan 112 1 SP SP
11/1
2 (3) 0-11212 Equiano (FR) 42 5 9-11 B W Hills M Hills 120 2 SP SP
7/2
3 (1) 016-164 Kingsgate Native (IRE) 42 5 9-11 Sir Michael Stoute K Fallon 116 SP SP
7/1
4 (8) 411905 Prime Defender 12 6 9-11 B W Hills R Winston 110 SP SP
50/1
5 (6) 1-74755 Spin Cycle (IRE) 22 4 9-11 v B Smart R Mullen 107 SP SP
40/1
6 (13) 413511 Starspangledbanner (AUS) 42 4 9-11 A P O'Brien J P Murtagh 3 SP SP
2/1
7 (10) 23F794 Mister Hughie (IRE) 22 3 9-9 M R Channon A Munro 105 1 SP SP
33/1
8 (11) 4-14565 Sole Power 14 3 9-9 E Lynam W M Lordan 106 SP SP
100/1
9 (4) 1227-45 Fleeting Spirit (IRE) 42 5 9-8 J Noseda L Dettori 114 1 SP SP
8/1
10 (2) 1160-24 Piccadilly Filly (IRE) 54 3 9-6 E J Creighton E Creighton 106 SP SP
80/1
11 (9) 4-01261 Rose Blossom 42 3 9-6 v1 R A Fahey P Hanagan 103 SP SP
16/1
12 (5) 116 Dinkum Diamond (IRE) 64 2 8-1 H Candy J F McDonald 101 1 SP SP
20/1
13 (12) 2442 Stone Of Folca 24 2 8-1 J R Best J Quinn 101 2 SP SP
10/1
Last Winner Year Horse Trainer Jockey SP Age Wt Draw
2009 Borderlescott R Bastiman N Callan 9/1 7 9-11 2
Betting Forecast: 2/1 Starspangledbanner (AUS), 11/4 Equiano (FR), 6/1 Kingsgate Native (IRE), 7/1 Fleeting Spirit (IRE), 10/1 Borderlescott, 10/1 Stone Of Folca, 16/1 Rose Blossom, 25/1 Dinkum Diamond (IRE), 33/1 Prime Defender, 33/1 Spin Cycle (IRE), 33/1 Mister Hughie (IRE), 50/1 Piccadilly Filly (IRE), 66/1 Sole PowerVerdict
Kingsgate Native won this in 2007 and beat EQUIANO on his return this year, but Barry Hills' charge has since re-found his best form and should finish ahead of the Stoute runner, as he has the last twice. The dual-King's Stand winner suffered defeat at the hands of fellow Royal Ascot scorer Starspangledbanner in the July Cup at Newmarket but he ran a fine race to rally when headed and, while he acts well over six, five furlongs is surely his optimum trip. Aidan O'Brien's runner is of course respected as a double-Group One winner who has speed in abundance but he's been beaten on his last two starts over the trip and may once again find top-level success over the minimum distance eluding him. He has the beating of Fleeting Spirit on both recent wins, so those searching for value could, with Kinggate Native's juvenile-winning performance in mind, turn to the two-year-olds. Stone Of Folca isn't far from the top of the juvenile tree and travels well so this big field could suit while Dinkum Diamond is highly regarded and the form of his Royal Ascot effort has been franked; in receipt of weight, the pair need considering. Others to mention include Goodwood hero Borderlescott and the visored Rose Blossom, both of whom have each-way claims.
FORMWATCH
Borderlescott 9-2fav (9-0) Held up in touch centre, switched right inside final 2f, strong run over 1f out, ran on to lead final 100 yards, won at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jul beating Group Therapy (9-0) by 1/2l, 15 ran.Equiano (FR) 12-1 (9-5) Raced center, overall leader, joined far side group and still led over 2f out, soon ridden headed well inside final furlong, rallied close home, 2nd of 14, nk behind Starspangledbanner (9-5) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul.Kingsgate Native (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Raced far side, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 1 3/4l behind Starspangledbanner (9-5) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul.Prime Defender 33-1 (9-2) 5th of 15, 5l behind Regal Parade (9-2) at Deauville(FR) 6f Grp 1 (1) gs.Spin Cycle (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) With leaders centre, ridden to lead 1f out, headed final 100 yards, weakened and lost places towards finish, 5th of 15, 1 1/4l behind Borderlescott (9-0) at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jul.Starspangledbanner (AUS) 2-1fav (9-5) Switched to race far side soon after start, led that group, chased leader over 2f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, ran on gamely, won at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul beating Equiano (9-5) by nk, 14 ran.Mister Hughie (IRE) 66-1 (8-10) Started slowly, outpaced in rear in centre, switched right over 1f out, rapid headway inside final furlong, finished strongly, not able to reach leaders, 4th of 15, 3/4l behind Borderlescott (9-0) at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jul.Sole Power 4-1 (9-1) Prominent, close 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd 1f out, no extra final furlong, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Invincible Ash (9-1) at Tipperary 5f Listed stks (1) gd.Fleeting Spirit (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Raced far side, in touch, ridden 2f out, not pace to challenge, 5th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Starspangledbanner (9-5) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul.Piccadilly Filly (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden from 2f out, dropped to 3rd 1f out, no extra, 4th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Glamorous Spirit (9-2) at Curragh 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.Rose Blossom 8-1 (8-10) Made all, ridden and hard pressed over 1f out, stayed on gamely inside final furlong, held on, won at York 6f flls Group 3 stks (1) gf in Jul beating Tropical Treat (8-10) by nk, 10 ran.Dinkum Diamond (IRE) 11-4fav (9-1) Held up in touch, ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to trouble leaders, 6th of 12, 3l behind Approve (9-1) at Royal Ascot 5f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.Stone Of Folca 4-1 (9-0) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden to challenge final furlong, every chance well inside final furlong, went 2nd but not pace of winner close home, 2nd of 12, nk behind Zebedee (9-0) at Goodwood 5f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Jul.
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