BALTHAZAR KING another winner for the blog

The 357th edition of the Wayward Lad blog.

A good day for the blog yesterday with a good winner in BATHAZAR KING at an SP of 11/4 (advised at 7/2). The selection looked very leniently treated on OR136 based on his run at this meeting last year when 3rd to Chicago Grey (Balthazar King was 14lb better-off, for a 6-length beating) and he probably would have been only beaten a length or two when they met at level weights last November and Chicago Grey fell at the 2nd-last fence. I rate BATHAZAR KING at 146 on last season’s form, and he won like a 146 horse running-off OR136 today – he had a lot in-hand.

EDGEBRIAR, my other selection, was a disappointment. He was very keen early-on and basically ran out of energy so that, by the top of the hill on the 2nd circuit, when the leader Billie Magern quickened-up the pace EDGEBRIAR had nothing left in the tank and quickly folded. Not sure what to make of this; was the horse fit enough? He should have been, so perhaps there was another reason. As for Billie Magern, he was the horse I considered the “danger” to my selection and perhaps I should have advised a split-stake and had ½pt on both – but it is always easier in hindsight!

ONE FOR JOULES was running a big race till falling at the final flight. She would not have won, but I am sure she would have been 2nd, albeit well beaten by the impressive winner Kalaan.

Onto Ascot, and how Fame And Glory was sent off at odds of 3/1 when he was sent off to win the Ascot Gold Cup in June – just 4 months ago – as the 11/8 fav, is beyond me. Yes, he had looked disappointing in his latest run in the Irish St Leger, but he was proven on this course and on this going and was no worse off at the weights than at Royal Ascot in June. It was a lost opportunity.

FRANKEL was duly crowned the best racehorse in training in the World following his victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Apparently, Timeform have rated him at 143, and Racing Post Ratings at 139 (their highest ever rating since inception in 1988). Me? If 2nd-placed Excelebration ran to his OR126 rating (and I don’t think he did) then FRANKEL would be rated OR134. FRANKEL went into the race with a rating of OR135, and I don’t think he had to beat that to win today, nor did he look like he had a few pounds up his sleeve.

Thanks for reading this blog to all new visitors.

The blog takes a lot of effort to maintain and I hope that readers of the blog get enjoyment from it too. If you have had a successful wager on the back of what you’ve read here, then please make a contribution as an expression of thanks. Feel free to tell those who you think may find the blog of interest and value and, if you are a regular visitor, please add the blog to your list of favourites.

Remember!
Betting on horseracing should be a pleasurable experience - never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Thanks from Wayward Lad.