congrats on your first winner of the season mate and well done to all other winners and placers.

just the 1 runner for me today.

R23 Grand Canyon (11th) - has weakened in the closing stages over 6f twice now, so will drop back to the minimum trip nto.

Gold Cup looks a good race but id be wary of the Chester form. Be a very different race at Ascot, as will the Derby and Oaks and Epsom. Chester is tight irl but in the game its dominated by front runners.


As for mine over the last couple of days:

Smash Up did it well enough and will next be seen in the POW at Ascot

Mr Bond and Nio Incept are disappointing, but my sprinters have never been strong.

Sir Luke won the Dante, mainly due to getting first run in an averagely run race. Goes to Epsom with place chances. Sky Train didn't have such luck in the Musidora being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kentucky Derby next, isn't it a bit late in the season?

Megastar ran ok in a slow Yorkshire Cup. Needs 2m2 or 2m at Ascot so happy enough with him. Well done to the winner getting first Group winner.

Bits N Bobs ran well in the Lockinge and would've got up in another few strides. But great run from the winner. Set a decent pace and was never headed in the soft. Queen Anne looks exciting.

Rapid Hedway ran them into the ground the in the 2m handicap. Wasn't sure if he'd get home or not but he did it well. Sure to go go up for that, Northumberland Plate next stop.

Group 1 winner for me in Sword Play. Led form start to finish. Was a bit worried before the season seeing the times people post but it seems to make no difference. I'm way off the mile times, yet Sword Play looks very useful and will win again I'm sure

fast time are pretty much turning out to be meaningless
its more about consistency

Times aren't meaningless at all, they still hold the key to improvement and picking your team. There are many factors which go to producing the times in your own trials. Pace, how many runners, which track/s, ground, wind, luck in running etc. Thats why someone who is going faster in his trials, in say the Derby, wont necessarily win the Derby because other trainers trials will be more accurate and reflect league races, rather than who go can the quickest off a suicidal pace. Some of mine still seem quite good yet they were bred in 2012 and Spring 2013. Barely played the game since then.

Its about how you run your trials. The guides from SO4 still apply, but now the tracks play a bigger part as well.

Only 3 runners for me today

R21 - Makhfar (2nd) 5f is a 1f to short but ran ok next up for him Temple next week then the Kings Stand, then will go up in trip when i get another 5f horse
R22 - Mezmaar (7th) Soft ground never suited him never in the race (Well done Leon)
R23 - Mutaraadif (1st) Soft ground needs good ground had top weight got the job done but is a bit short of group class so maybe go in the window or just go for listed races.

Well done to all winners & placers
Thanks to the team for running the races this week

Montreal (13th) - Outclassed, need to find a handicap
Playmate (6th) - Decent run, really needs another furlong
Table One (2nd) - Again runner up in the small field stayer race
Plug Me In (10th) - Agitated before the race and chance had gone
Nivelles (5th) - Didn't quite stay the trip

Thanks to the team for running the races this week

One runner one winner.

Then Again won well. Royal ascot next.

I'm most proud of my two year olds, it gives me most pleasure over the rest of my flat team or jumps.

I thought u were going to dominate the mile races because of the times u milers were running. I wish I kept a horse called Halling who was a miler who couldn't run the fast times but was outstanding in slow run races.

there was a few trainers who had horses fractionally quicker than mine
i think Jamie had a few quicker too going on his post in project -137 thread
i thought they would have done alot better
they needed alot of early pace in races by the looks how they have done

Flat ratings updated ahead of Week 5.

I think u know early on in a race if u horse is near the back and there's no pace in the race that u got no chance. I had my derby and oaks runners yesterday last in the races and there was no pace and I knew it was not going to be a good day for either horse.

I think it's even worse for jumps game, the results can be wild. U can finish last one day and yet win like frankel the next.

Thanks Duke. It would make things easier if each week there was an "ratings updated" post or thread.


As for my runners this week - a 2nd and some minor placings. If I end this season with one win - a group one - that would be bizarre. I predicted another losing streak after that win and sure enough it's happening. Patience young Grasshopper.

Yes I thought this hence why making the post. Will attempt to make this a more regular occurrence moving forward.

Thanks for comment.

I've just had a look at this weeks group 1's and apart from Andy's front runner in the derby it looks like a lot of them have no pace in them. I think there's going to be a lot of frustrated trainers next week.