Westover (GB) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Westover Camp Mulling Spring Targets

Juddmonte's 2022 Classic hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), second in Saturday's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, is pointing to either the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the end of May, or the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom, one week later for trainer Ralph Beckett.

Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said, “We were a little nervous going into Saturday, but luckily it all worked out well and he ran a blinding race and that should settle him down and set him up for what will hopefully be a good season.

“The Tattersalls Gold Cup might come a bit soon for him, but we'll see. I'd imagine he'll get an entry in the Coronation, too.

“A couple of weeks later you have the [G1] Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud as well, so all those races are going to be under consideration and it just depends which one he's peaking for at the time.”

After winning the G3 Classic Trial last April and running third in the G1 Derby in June, the bay won the G1 Irish Derby in impressive fashion later that month. Fifth in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. a month later and sixth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October, the 4-year-old was 3 1/2 lengths behind Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the Sheema.

He added, “I think he definitely has enough speed for 10 furlongs, so I think mix it up through the year between 10 and 12 and hopefully we can win another Group 1 or a couple of them if we're lucky.”

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Classic Winner Westover To Stay In Training At Four

Classic winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will remain in training at four, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. The Juddmonte homebred ran sixth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) on Sunday. The G3 bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown went his way in April and was then a running-on third in the G1 Derby in June. The bay blitzed the G1 Irish Derby field by seven lengths at the Curragh later that month and was fifth in Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire})'s G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot on July 23.

“Yes, that looks like happening,” Beckett confirmed on his star's pending 4-year-old campaign.

“I thought he ran close to his Irish Derby run, if not his Derby run, on ground which perhaps didn't play to his strengths, and it was great to get him back on track and that close to what his best is.

“He's a big horse, he's been growing through the year as well and he should improve from three to four. He's come out of the race really well, I'm really pleased with him and the way he's come out of it. We haven't made any plans yet, but I'm sure we will.”

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Westover On Course For The Arc

Classic winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is pleasing connections ahead of a bid in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 2. The colt is headed to the ParisLongchamp showpiece after running a last out fifth in the G1 King George Vi And Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot in July. He follows in the hoofprints of another Juddmonte luminary, 2010 Arc hero Workforce (GB) (King's Best), who also did not win the King George, but bounced back in fine style in France.

Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon said, “I think Ralph [Beckett] is happy with him, he worked well on Saturday morning and will probably work again tomorrow [Wednesday]. I haven't heard any negatives, so we're still on track at the minute anyway.

“Taking on Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) would have been very scary obviously, but I think the connections are doing the right thing with him–going a mile and a quarter makes more sense than turning up in France for a mile and a half on heavy ground for his last start.

“The Arc will still be a very tough race, as it always is. We've done it before with Workforce and we're hoping lightning can strike twice.”

Westover started his season with a narrow victory in the G3 Classic Trial S. at Sandown in April and then ran an encouraging third in the G1 Cazoo Derby on June 4, both under Rob Hornby. For his last two starts he has been ridden by Colin Keane–in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on June 25, and the King George.

“It's actually something we haven't even talked about,” Mahon added, of a rider decision for Westover. “We'll probably have to start discussing it next week and see what the family would like to do.”

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Westover To Have ‘A Good Rest’ Before Coming Back In The Autumn

Classic hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the end of June, will be freshened after his unplaced run in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. on Saturday. A winner of the G3 bet365 Classic Trial in his seasonal debut in April, the Juddmonte colourbearer ran third in the G1 Cazoo Derby for trainer Ralph Beckett. The bay set a contested pace in the King George.

“I think it just wasn't our day,” said Barry Mahon, general manager for Juddmonte. “As we had said prior to the race, we were a little nervous coming into it on the back of being to Epsom and the Curragh and it was a tight enough timescale with such a horse.

“He got a bit warm in the prelims and a little excited and then in the parade ring he got in behind Emily Upjohn (GB (Sea The Stars {Ire}), which wasn't ideal.

“Then the race just didn't pan out in our favour. There wasn't a lot of pace and Westover was a little bit keen so we got left in front. It just wasn't ideal and wasn't our day.

“He'll have a good rest now, I spoke to Ralph this morning and the horse has come out of it fine. He has a couple of little overreaches on his hind leg where maybe in the first furlong or two when he crossed over to the rail something caught him from behind, but all just superficial.”

A G1 St Leger bid at Doncaster is under consideration, as well as possible appearances in the G2 Prix Niel and G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Tromphe, but connections will take a patient approach.

“That's [the St Leger is] definitely on the agenda,” Mahon continued. “And also all the other middle-distance races such as the Prix Niel and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and whatever else, but the horse is going to tell us where and when.

“We'll give him a good rest now and freshen him up for the autumn. We probably won't even talk about a race for probably a month until we've seen how he is and then we'll start working towards something at that stage.

“He's trained great all season and one of his biggest attributes has been his calm, relaxed nature and we saw on Saturday that we'd probably just pushed him far enough and he was beginning to get warm beforehand, he just needs a rest now and we'll regroup for the autumn.”

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