Masar withdrawal opens Ranger’s way
Coral-eclipse favourite ‘sore’ following exercise Frost taken to hospital after being kicked in fall
Masar, favourite for today’s Coraleclipse at Sandown, was withdrawn from the race last night after returning to Charlie Appleby’s Newmarket yard “sore” after routine exercise yesterday.
In his absence it means the Dante winner, Roaring Lion, can stamp authority on the Classic generation but, with the three-year-olds looking much of a muchness at the moment, it may well be that the Richard Fahey-trained four-year-old Forest Ranger has his day in the sun.
The first run post-epsom of the Derby winner is always a much awaited event and the Eclipse lost some of its appeal with Masar’s departure. His absence leaves the Derby third, Roaring Lion, and fourth, Saxon Warrior, set for another head to head – their third encounter – over a mile and a quarter, arguably the optimum trip for both horses.
John Gosden’s Roaring Lion took a while to warm up this season but put the Dante, over 10 furlongs, to bed in a few strides in May. He did not quite see out the mile and a half at Epsom, but still had the measure of Saxon Warrior, who remains a bit of a mystery. A smooth winner of the Guineas, he has looked a bit one-paced at Epsom and The Curragh, both over 12 furlongs, but it is uncharacteristic of Aidan O’brien to run a horse of this calibre back so quickly. One wonders if they are running out of ideas.
Last season Forest Ranger was all legs and arms. The biggest horse at Fahey’s Musley Bank yard, he filled his frame over the winter and has appeared much improved winning the Earl of Sefton and Huxley Stakes this season. This has been the target all summer and Fahey will have him cherry ripe.
This is a terrific chance for jockey Tony Hamilton, a part of the furniture in Fahey’s set-up since 2004, to win a first Group One.
“He’s definitely getting better,” said the Hartlepool-born jockey, who started riding out jumpers for trainer Chris Grant aged 12. “I felt he really quickened up for the first time at Chester. It’s a very warm race even if there are a few question marks about the three-year-olds. He is a big horse and though he will have no problem carrying weight, the question is can he give 10lb to
Aiming high: Richard Fahey runs his smart colt Forest Ranger in the Coral-eclipse the three-year-olds? We go in hope rather than confidence.”
Either way the season’s first major clash of the generations is intriguing.
It is too early to say what the prognosis is for Masar. Last year’s Derby winner, Wings Of Eagles, only ran one other race and it would be a huge shame if we have seen the last of Masar. He has an inflamed off-fore and is suspected of knocking himself at exercise.
Jump jockey Bryony Frost was taken to Torbay Hospital last night for scans and further assessment after complaining of soreness in her abdomen after being kicked during a fall from Billy My Boy in the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot.
Her father, trainer Jimmy Frost, said: “Her stomach was stepped on and it hurt quite badly, so she’s having it checked.”