Hadn't bothered with the horses since lumping on SNA on Derby day at 1/2, been poor stuff til today.
Been working this week too so not had a good look at Ascot but whacked a few bets on at bait time, sorry for aftertiming the next bit... lol.
Had 30 on Declaration of War with Paddy, as I was certain his Lockinge run was too bad to be true when he indeed cost me a few quid. Woulda been fuming if Joseph done a Hughesie and didn't get through that gap. Always nervous when something is going powerfully but behind a wall of horses. As soon as Joey muscled through the gap I was sure he would get there. Didn't really buy into the Animal Kingdom hype at all tbh and it was lunacy the price he was considering he hadn't ran over here on or on a track like Ascot before. I think a lot was made of the fact he beat Excelebration back in the States, even though Excel seemed over the top by that point. Packed off to stud now with a blotted copybook. Although there are plenty of smart marketers in the racing industry, an 'injury' will come to light and he will be marketed on his KD and DWC wins.
Had a tenner on Magician with Victor Chandler, due to the fact Hughesie was on a live chance and they are doing the free bet refund is you lose and Hughes is placed. Credit to Dawn Approach, Kevin Manning and Jim Bolger. Manning was as strong as an Ox in the finish, Dawn settled well in front and battled his heart out, and Bolger for running him as he would've been slammed had the horse bombed out. Fair play to Hughes too, rode a peach on Toronado - a horse fitted with a new bit and also coming back from a poor effort last time out. Two top class jockeys and horses fighting out a finish, superb stuff. As for Magician, he's certainly better than that and likely just had a bad day at the office. Got my tenner back as a free bet though so gonna have a look at tomorrow now.
Think that race also confirmed Dundonnell is a 7f horse. Can't blame them for missing the hustle and bustle of the Jersey Stakes, a race where he would also have had a penalty, and finding out once and for all whether he is a competitive horse over a mile at this level. The fact he got outpaced for a few strides over 7f before finishing well last time out indicates that he wouldn't quite have the toe to win a race like the July Cup, so surely his targets should be the Hungerford and then have a shot at the Foret. Given his pedigree, they could do worse than looking at sending him to a flat American oval.
Mars ran on well at the end again in eyecatching fashion - now step him back up in trip Aidan FFS, lol.
Also had the two doubled, only a fiver but the return woulda been around £135 which would've meant I had made closer to £400 profit today, but never mind I'm still over £200 up today and have a free bet credit to play with too.
