ONE well-respected pundit and form analyst offered the excuse after the 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean had been well beaten in France on his last run in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat that he might have been feeling the effects of a busy spring.

That eminent bear after whom the top three-year-old colt of the season is named might have doffed his hat and muttered, Pardon?

Chaldean’s Newmarket and Ascot efforts pale into the distance compared to Paddington’s six outings and then four Group 1s since May 27th.

Having gone off at 3/1 second favourite for the Irish 2000 Guineas, he followed another great star of recent seasons, an angel unawares similar to Enable sent off at 6/1 for her Oaks at Epsom.

Where next for the season’s star colt? Ballydoyle’s need for rehabilitation with Auguste Rodin will no doubt be a factor, while the Juddmonte and the Irish Champion Stakes are very desirable Ballydoyle prizes, could Paddington do the two? That would be six Group 1s in a row?

With little opposition this season on the colts’ Group 1 front from Godolphin, it seems a Ballydoyle versus Shadwell contest for the big end-of-season prizes is teeing up.

The three French three-year-old colts - Ace Impact, Big Rock and Feed The Flame - have still to fit fully into the whole scene in taking on wider opposition. Timeform have Paddington 130p to Ace Impact 125p.

Hukum is Arc-bound and, on likely favourable conditions, he stands out there, and impressive Royal Ascot winner Mostahdaf has York as his target. Although Giant’s Causeway did the progression from Goodwood to York and Leopardstown, it’s a rarer ask these times. Ascot King George third place finisher King Of Steel was mentioned as a possible Leopardstown challenger and back over 10 furlongs. Ridden as in the Derby, he would be a worthy foe.

Whip woes linger on

AFTER the result of the King George and the subsequent hefty whip ban and fine for Jim Crowley, are we a step closer to having the winner of a big race disqualified for breaking the whip rules?

That’s what we want? Punters, owners, trainers, riders, race fans? If that becomes the case, it will fit into that old Sad, Mad, Bad headline. Sad because such a heroic effort by the horse was wasted. Mad because who was offended by the rider’s efforts to win?

And bad because there is no turning back. No one had any issues with the rules as they were before the new sanctions came in this season. Yes, there is the argument jockeys should count but in the heat of a contest, could a boxer remember how many punches were thrown?

The Goodwood Cup and the Nassau Stakes showed how riders have to be alert to what their rivals are doing and how easily simple errors loose a race.

The BHA spokesperson who said there was “very little justification” for the use of the whip by Crowley in the closing stages of the King George and that hefty penalties were needed to “safeguard the perception of the sport [and] maintain fairness in close finishes”, isn’t watching the same sport as the rest of us.

THEY say jumping is the name of the game and on a tight, turning track that should make a huge difference, but isn’t it surprising - with such a long run from the last fence at Galway - just how well prominent racers have fared in the Galway Plate in recent years.

With no obstacles for over two furlongs, and a hill to climb, you would imagine someone would be able to make use of the long run on the flat.

But recent years suggest it’s not so likely when you consider these in-running comments:

Clarcam - led after 4th, left clear at 9th and extended advantage 3 out

Royal Rendezvous – led 4th, good jump and went clear 3 out

Hewick - disputing lead after 5 out, led 4 out, pushed along home turn, ridden clear

Ash Tree Meadow - Made all, jumped well, and went clear inside final furlong

Better off not looking for a hold-up horse.

IT’s coming up to the time last season when it was suggested the Ballydoyle two-year-olds were not up to scratch.

On the various strands of form this week, one had better stay shtum on this year’s crop.

City Of Troy has been the most impressive and he had his form boosted at Goodwood by the Richmond winner Haatem, who had also been two and three-quarter lengths behind Ballydoyle’s River Tiber in the Coventry.

Mythology boosted his Curragh conqueror, the well touted Henry Longfelllow by winning well in Galway this week.

And remember, at this stage last year, we had yet to see Paddington on a racecourse.

THE randomest of things can be the funniest.

Who would have thought you would have two cleverly named horses running on the same day this week as the Jane Chapple Hyam-trained Sandown Wednesday winner Prenup (Profitable-Intimacy) who won two hours before the Linda Rice-trained Postnup (Declaration Of War-I’m Engaged) ran in Saratoga.

The Prenup is better than the Postnup!