Henry Yesnomaybe
May 30th 2008 08:22
With Henrythenavigator winning the English 2,000 Guineas of 2008, once again the English Triple Crown is safe from being worn by a new champion. After weeks of speculation, with Henrythenavigator one moment not starting because of being deemed too brilliant, to the next moment running when his staying pedigree and racing style led to a likely start, Henrythenavigator now appears most unlikely to take his place in the field.
After two inches of rain at Epsom since last Sunday, with little prospect now of good or (the preferred) firm ground, Aidan O'Brien now appears certain to recommend that his brilliant miler does not take his place in the Epsom Derby. There had been howls of protest from the connections of New Approach about the very firm (fast) track prepared at the Curragh where Henrythenavigator relished conditions to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas. New Approach jarred up and raced ungenerously, unable this time to draw close to his rival.
The tracks in England are typically prepared to have more give in the ground than their Irish counterparts. Even with no rain forecast the likelihood is that the Epsom track will be watered to produce a surface we would consider at least dead. Henrythenavigator relishes fast track conditions.
Some bookmakers still have Henrythenavigator near favouritism in their markets, but the recent comments from Aidan O'Brien would indicate that he won't take his place in the field.
Or he could change his mind. Again.
The impressive winner of The Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown, Casual Conquest (trained by Dermot Weld), is now Epsom Derby favourite.
Latest betting on the Epsom Derby - Betfair: 7/2 Casual Conquest, 13/2 Tajaaweed, 7/1 Curtain Call, Tartan Bearer, 10/1 Doctor Fremantle, 13/1 Frozen Fire, 20/1 Rio De La Plata, Alessandro Volta, Henrythenavigator, 25/1 Kandahar Run, 35/1 Bronze Cannon.
The term Triple Crown actually originated in England with the horse West Australian winning the 2,000 Guineas (1600m); the Epsom Derby (2,423m); and the St Leger Stakes (2,937m). This has proven a hard task for any horse to reproduce as the St Leger comes as an extreme test, especially for any horse brilliant enough to win the 2,000 Guineas over the mile. The last horse to achieve the UK Triple Crown is the great Nijinsky in 1970, ridden by Lester Piggott and trained by Vincent O'Brien. Previous winners are so distant that they date back to Barham in 1935, and Gainsborough in 1918. There have been only 15 winners, and only one winner since the end of World War 11. So daunting is the task that the last horse to have won the first two legs (2,000 Guineas & Epsom Derby), and then even go on to contest the St Leger, is Reference Point in 1987. The St Leger at Doncaster was first run in 1776, making it the oldest racing classic in the world. It will remain a stumbling block.
The question now remains as to when the next horse will come along who is blessed with the speed of a miler, and the stamina and endurance to win over a marathon course. It appears a very daunting task.
Casual Conquest winning Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown:
After two inches of rain at Epsom since last Sunday, with little prospect now of good or (the preferred) firm ground, Aidan O'Brien now appears certain to recommend that his brilliant miler does not take his place in the Epsom Derby. There had been howls of protest from the connections of New Approach about the very firm (fast) track prepared at the Curragh where Henrythenavigator relished conditions to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas. New Approach jarred up and raced ungenerously, unable this time to draw close to his rival.
The tracks in England are typically prepared to have more give in the ground than their Irish counterparts. Even with no rain forecast the likelihood is that the Epsom track will be watered to produce a surface we would consider at least dead. Henrythenavigator relishes fast track conditions.
Some bookmakers still have Henrythenavigator near favouritism in their markets, but the recent comments from Aidan O'Brien would indicate that he won't take his place in the field.
Or he could change his mind. Again.
The impressive winner of The Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown, Casual Conquest (trained by Dermot Weld), is now Epsom Derby favourite.
Epsom Derby favourite Casual Conquest
Latest betting on the Epsom Derby - Betfair: 7/2 Casual Conquest, 13/2 Tajaaweed, 7/1 Curtain Call, Tartan Bearer, 10/1 Doctor Fremantle, 13/1 Frozen Fire, 20/1 Rio De La Plata, Alessandro Volta, Henrythenavigator, 25/1 Kandahar Run, 35/1 Bronze Cannon.
The term Triple Crown actually originated in England with the horse West Australian winning the 2,000 Guineas (1600m); the Epsom Derby (2,423m); and the St Leger Stakes (2,937m). This has proven a hard task for any horse to reproduce as the St Leger comes as an extreme test, especially for any horse brilliant enough to win the 2,000 Guineas over the mile. The last horse to achieve the UK Triple Crown is the great Nijinsky in 1970, ridden by Lester Piggott and trained by Vincent O'Brien. Previous winners are so distant that they date back to Barham in 1935, and Gainsborough in 1918. There have been only 15 winners, and only one winner since the end of World War 11. So daunting is the task that the last horse to have won the first two legs (2,000 Guineas & Epsom Derby), and then even go on to contest the St Leger, is Reference Point in 1987. The St Leger at Doncaster was first run in 1776, making it the oldest racing classic in the world. It will remain a stumbling block.
The question now remains as to when the next horse will come along who is blessed with the speed of a miler, and the stamina and endurance to win over a marathon course. It appears a very daunting task.
Casual Conquest winning Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown:
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