Heavens can make it hot for Camelot in Leger
It now looks just about set in stone that Camelot is going to tackle a mile and six and a half furlongs, so it will be a case of much to lose and little to gain for the son of Montjeu.
Certainly, if the ground were to ride on the soft side at Doncaster - far from a remote possibility - then John Gosden’s daughter of Galileo would have to be regarded as a serious threat.
She revelled in the testing conditions at the Curragh, producing what can only be described as an extraordinary performance.
It is only when you sit down and watch the race again that one can fully appreciate what she did.
She really was locked away for much of the contest and in real trouble for a lot of the straight.
But once getting into the clear, Great Heavens exploded and to have three lengths in hand of Shirocco Star at the line was seriously impressive.
Great Heavens saw out the stiff 12 furlongs standing on her head and there are surely few worries about the filly staying an extra two and a half furlongs at Doncaster.
You would have to say trainer Gosden is an imposing individual. There is just a style and swagger about the man that is impressive.
There was a delicious moment in the winner’s enclosure on Sunday when he and President, Michael D Higgins, engaged in conversation.
When they were finished Gosden turned to the assembled press and muttered the words “charming man.’ It was a nice touch.
Anyway, Gosden seems determined that whatever else happens Camelot won’t have to just turn up to win the Leger and will help to ensure that September 15 is going to be a sell-out at Doncaster.
One of the reasons, you suspect, that off-course layers don’t appear to worry too much about getting morning prices completely wrong is they have no notion of laying them to any great extent anyway.
Take Dougal Philps at Ballinrobe on Monday night. To my way of thinking he looked a certain odds-on shot. The only possible danger was an Aidan O’Brien-trained newcomer called Skyphos.
Now he was bred to land a Derby, being by Gaileo out of Tarascon, who won the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
But this was a somewhat belated debut for the three-year-old and if he were actually any good would hardly be heading west to Ballinrobe.
Ladbrokes, in their infinite wisdom, decided that Skyphos should be favourite and made Dougal Philps an astonishing 9-4 shot.
The 9-4 disappeared, naturally, but I’ll bet all it cost them was buttons. A press-room colleague, not exactly built for speed, but capable of producing a rare turn of foot when there’s a few quid involved, was determined to have some of the action.
He parked outside a Ladbrokes shop up country, even before it opened. When he did gain entry, not too far after 10.20, to his horror the price had contacted to 6-4. Said scribbler wheeled away in disgust, made his way to Boylesports and availed of the 7-4 — very generous as well — which was on offer.
Meanwhile down in deepest Waterford a punter, who had no expectation of grabbing 9-4, still thought 6-4 was value and decided to give Ladbrokes some of his custom.
So he chanced €600 at 6-4 and awaited developments, hoping for the best, but fearing the worst.
They were having none of it and he was offered just a paltry €200 at the price. He took it, on the basis that a slice of bread was at least better than having to starve.
Dougal Philips, of course, ended up a 4-6 shot and won by an easy four and a quarter lengths.
Oh, and Skyphos. Well, he looked a candidate for one of the worst horses to ever leave Ballydoyle, trailing in seventh of eight, beaten 26 lengths.
Tipperary on Tuesday was rather a desolate spot, with just a handful of punters on site to do battle with 15 bookmakers.
The Ferryman, trained by Aidan O’Brien, and having a second outing, was probably the most interesting winner of the day.
He did run well when second to his much-publicised stable companion, Mars, at Dundalk and you’d have thought would have gone off at odds-on,
But none of the faces wanted to back him and the bad word about the horse ranged from “he was no good’ to “wouldn’t handle the ground.’
An alarming drifter in the market, The Ferryman scored doing handstands, despite drifting across the track. Queue long faces all round.
