How many international winners at the BC?

[NoChanceToDance]

Predictions.

How many international winners do YOU think there will be at Monmouth on Friday and Saturday, and who will they be?

(yes, you may include Discreet Kitty as an international runner)

My prediction is two.

Dylan Thomas. He looks very solid in the turf, and it will take a monster performance from one of the others in the field to take him down.

Excellent Art. Although he hasn't been given a great draw, he is very adaptable as far as race tactics are concerned. As a 2yo he ran most of his races from the front, but this year he has shown great form when closing. If he breaks well, expect him to sit handy, but if he misses the kick expect Murtagh to drop him in and come fast and late. He is the best horse in the field, i just hope the draw hasn't got him beaten before the race has started.

[brockguy]

or who gets more, Europe or Pletcher??
We'll get 3 over the 2 days I feel. We'll win the Turf, Mile and juvi turf..

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by brockguy

or who gets more, Europe or Pletcher??
We'll get 3 over the 2 days I feel. We'll win the Turf, Mile and juvi turf..

Really?

I didn't think we had a hope in that. Prussian would be one of the best bets over the two days in my opinion.

[brockguy]

id take a horse thats beaten a G1 winner than Prussian.... i think we'll kill them in the juvi turf.. id say we run 1-2..

[NoChanceToDance]

I'm just not sure if Achill Island will be quick enough, and i doubt he will handle firm conditions, nor will Domestic Fund.

Strike The Deal will handle it firm, but i don't think he will stay the trip.

Prussian is still my bet in the race.

[brockguy]

the two sadlers wells will be grand with the ground... they could be jarred up after, but they'll run well on it..

[NoChanceToDance]

I'm not sure if Dylan Thomas is a certain starter anymore. If the heavens do open and there is a fair amount of rainfall, connections won't think twice about scratching him. He has more to lose than he has to gain.

If i was Aidan, there would already be a doubt in my mind whether to run him or not.

[NoChanceToDance]

80% chance of rain every hour on Saturday, with a likelyhood of sharp showers on friday.

I don't think Dylan will even run.

[NoChanceToDance]

This rain will be helping Achill Island today, though. Quite like his chances now.

Jeremy Noseda isn't keen on Strike The Deal now the ground has turned. He said it is genuine Good to Soft (as we would call it) and with more rain likely i quite think it will be 'european soft' tomorrow, maybe worse.

[brockguy]

achill wins tonight easy i think

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by brockguy

achill wins tonight easy i think

Starting agree with you. Not only will the softer conditions suit him, it will also slow some of the others down. I doubt he will be the quickest but he should see out the trip well. Sharp track shouldn't bother him, he's won around Tipp and (correct me if i'm wrong) that is a sharp track, too.

[brockguy]

yeah tipp has a tight turn onto the straight and many horses blow it completely.. O'Brien has said that many of his juvis have started to sparkle in the last few weeks.. If this guy improves a fraction from the Royal Lodge (where he was still quite immature!), he'll start the weekend off in Great Fashion!! Im taking the view here that the US Turf horses are awful, the racingpost takes that view and says all the US horses are slow, whereas Thorograph says all the Euros are slow and need to improve to win. Interesting opinions.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by brockguy

yeah tipp has a tight turn onto the straight and many horses blow it completely.. O'Brien has said that many of his juvis have started to sparkle in the last few weeks.. If this guy improves a fraction from the Royal Lodge (where he was still quite immature!), he'll start the weekend off in Great Fashion!! Im taking the view here that the US Turf horses are awful, the racingpost takes that view and says all the US horses are slow, whereas Thorograph says all the Euros are slow and need to improve to win. Interesting opinions.

I don't know a great deal about the American's in this but what i do know is that Prussian certainly isn't slow and handles the turf well. The worry would be the softer ground for him, which is why i have changed my mind.

On firm turf, i don't think our horses would be good enough. Well Strike The Deal, maybe, but he is more of a sprinting type to me.

Achill Island will be a middle distance horse next year. Maybe he will just stay on far too late? That would be my only concern.

[NoChanceToDance]

I'm on Achill Island at 11/2. I thought that was a fairly nice price. I will be surprised if he is allowed to go off any bigger than 4/1.