I have neglected this blog for quite some time while other demands have been taking up my time but have been inspired to put fingertips to keypad (pen to paper is so last century!) on this day that Camelot is vying to win the St Leger and become the first Triple Crown winner since Nijinsky back in 1970.
Nijinsky was trained by Aiden namesake and previous Ballydoyle occupant, indeed founder Vincent O'Brien (no relation to Aiden) and was ridden by an equally long jockey, Lester Piggott. My son (borderline autistic when it comes to working out relationships!) has pointed out that Nijinsky is Camelot's great uncle. As a point of interest, the name Camelot was registered by Coolmore for ten years before they found the right horse to fit the name.
Aiden has been quoted as saying "We've kept things simple since his Irish Derby win. Joseph will just let him relax and see what unfolds." Upon reading this, I was quoted as saying "Poppycock! No Way! Cojones!" (or at least the English version). His preparation may have been simple but I cannot believe there is any way on this earth that Joseph will leave stall seven off without having been given riding instructions detailed to the last exact and precise inch!
The usually reserved and restrained chaps at Timeform have pronounced Camelot to be a "certainty" (brave words there chaps!) and the bookies are offering no more than 1/2. Johnny Murtagh believes he has a chance aboard Ursa Major (Johnny owns the stables that the trainer Thomas Carmoody operates from) but from the other runners' connections, you'll hear nothing more positive than "maybe", "perhaps", "with luck we might possibly manage a place".
If (when?) he wins the Leger, Camelot's worth as a stallion will reach dizzy "fee private" heights and a visit with him may well become the Holy Grail for breeders.
*insert collective groan here*
So the challenge I see for the St Leger this year is in selecting the forecast and I have a liking for both Ursa Major who has proven himself over this distance and has a group win under his belt, and also Main Sequence who looked to be crying out for the extra distance when second to Thought Worthy last time out. I shall be watching with mere pennies invested though.
UPDATE: My heart goes out to Joseph O'Brien. I have been hard on him in the past but I don't think today's defeat was jockey error alone - Camelot just didn't pick up as expected. Seeing how things unfold obviously doesn't work!
Away from Doncaster, there is some good racing at Chester. I was looking at all the races late last night when I received an email from a friend of my daughter who asked if I had any loss prevention advice. I gave him the heads up on Dr Marwan Koukash - although with 17 runners there today (this total may be down a tad due to a NRs) picking his winners today will be a bit more difficult - but winners he will surely have.
The low draw is widely known to be a huge advantage at Chester but there are some distances where this really doesn't make quite the vast difference that is generally percieved (5f 110y and 7f 122y). Franny Norton at Chester is worth about 7lb in my mind and he rides Storm Moon from the outside stall 8. This means that the price is a tasty but fearless 9/1.
Below is a Racing Post summary of the last runner that Franny Norton rode to victory from an outside stall at Chester......
So there you have it! Franny Norton is a magician......we shall rename him Merlin for the day.
Since today is the last time we will see Camelot race, I make no apology for putting up this video for the third time this year (it's brilliant!):
