Weekend Review

You can't keep a good man down for long with normal service resumed for Aidan O'Brien and the Ballydoyle outfit. Following the disappointing performances in the Guineas at Newmarket last weekend, Ireland's champion trainer cleaned up at Chester with 4 winners from only 6 runners, including all the Classic trials, and then did likewise at Lingfield on Saturday (2 winners from 3 runners). Twenty four hours later, Henri Matisse provided O'Brien with his sixth win in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp. The Wootton Bassett colt, who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last year, just got the better of the Andrew Balding trained Jonquil in a thrilling finish. A head winner, he is likely to head to Royal Ascot for the St James's Palace Stakes next month. Then, just for good measure, the stable enjoyed a treble at Leopardstown with Delacroix providing the highlight with a near three lengths victory in the Group 3 Derby Trial. Narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Doncaster last backend, the Dubawi colt is a triple Group 3 winner now and looks set to play a leading role at Epsom in early June. The Lion In Winter has been touted as the Ballydoyle number one, as far as the Epsom Derby is concerned, and we get to see the unbeaten son of Sea The Stars in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York on Thursday. During the last fortnight, Aidan O'Brien has sent out 18 winners from 48 runners. 

It never rains but it pours as far as Kieran Shoemark is concerned. Eight days after Field of Gold's agonising defeat in the 2000 Guineas, Shoemark 'won' the French 1000 Guineas aboard Shes Perfect only to be demoted after a stewards' enquiry. The race was awarded to the beautifully bred Zarigana, who is highlighted in the Appendix in Ahead On The Flat. The decision appeared harsh but not surprising given the winning margin was a nose, plus the rules in France. A neck had separated the pair when they met in the Group 3 Prix de La Grotte over the same C&D in April and it is possible round 3 will come in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

I am very much looking forward to the Dante meeting at York this week with the Group 2 Duke of York and Group 3 Musidora Stakes kicking off proceedings on Wednesday. I have always been a fan of Chester's May meeting but struggled to gain any enthusiasm this time around. The prevailing fast ground isn't helping, in terms of field sizes, but one couldn't help feeling there was a distinct lack of class on show. Plus, of course, a good draw is essential - the opening Lily Agnes Stakes summed up the meeting with the first two home being berthed in stalls one and two. The Guineas meeting at Newmarket featured a host of top class performances but three days at Chester offered very little to get excited about. Expect three days on the Knavesmire to reignite the Flat season.

Finally, while no one can predict the weather, especially in the UK, and it is nobody's fault that we are currently enduring a prolonged dry spell. However, surely it is time to rethink the start of the jumps season. The field sizes during the last few days aren't doing the sport any favours. There were 25 runners (6 races) at Ludlow and 41 runners (7 races) at Plumpton on Sunday, 25 runners (6 races) at Warwick on Saturday evening, and 26 runners (6 races) at Hereford on Friday.