Leicester 30-Jan-13 C: Heavy (Soft in places) Racing goes ahead 6.2
2:30 Novices’ Chase 2m
I wasn’t overly impressed with the performance of Module on first glance, but I think once you take into account Tom George’s comments, you begin to look at the race in a different light:
“He jumped well but he switched off today which was good. He´s got the speed for two miles and I think one day you´ll see him over 3m. There´s no decisions made on what we do, he´s going the right way.
When you watch the race back you see that Paddy Brennan is struggling to keep hold of him as they go past the winning post and working to get him to settle off a lead. Down the back he’s widest of all, again Paddy at pains to give him a lead. Fluent at his fences he deserves a crack at either the Arkle or, more likely, the Jewson. A few may question what does he find for pressure, but I go back to his hurdles run off 130 at Trials Day in 2012, and see him power away for a couple of smacks after the last. You also notice his cruising speed that sees him get back to travelling comfortably off the lead approaching the last after jumping the second last big and losing four places as a result. One question I would like to know the answer too would be why the tongue tie on his fourth career start,.
Ludlow 30-Jan-13 Soft (Heavy in places) 6.3
2:10 Novices’ Chase 2m
We’ve seen the form of this race already franked by the third horse home, Big News, winning at Ludlow over 3m on the 6th February, but I’m drawn to Sustainability who could still be well treated off a mark of 122. Over hurdles last season he racked up a 4 timer, starting the run rated 91 and finishing the season rated 116. This year he opened up with a good second to Milarrow at Exeter at a meeting where 4 fences were omitted. He followed this run with a 5th at Sandown to Johns Spirit on handicap debut;
Chased leader, pecked 1st, mistake 2nd and lost place, well in touch after, mistake 13th, ridden after 4 out, faded from 2 out (tchd 10-3)
Next up was Newbury over 2m2f and he jumped with far more fluency here, only a mistake halfway down the back, and fiddly at a couple up the straight when Robbie Dunne was being safe. Here at Ludlow he again failed to fire in the jumping department;
Prominent, often lacked fluency, hard driven from 8th, left 2nd 3 out, 2 lengths down last, kept on but always held (op 2-1)
To his credit he rallied well after the last and was gaining at the finish to a horse that had been ridden with restraint off a fair gallop. I expect a return to a left handed track will help his jumping, and also a step up in trip, or a more galloping track would aid further. There’s a 0-130 Novices’ Handicap Chase back over the C&D of his win at Newbury on the 2nd March which would be ideal.
4:10 Maiden Hurdle 2m 5f
A good Maiden for the track, with Hobbs sending a point winner here, Sausalito Sunrise, just done on the line by a nice staying son of Heron Island in Heronshaw to give Henry Daly an across the card double. But I thought the run from Stony Road in third was worthy of note too.
Stony Road was having his debut over timber here after some eventful runs in bumpers. First time up, Taunton on Good to Firm was never going to suit this full brother to a 3m+ heavy ground chaser in Huckleberry, and at Ffos Las he was a bit of a character;
Reared and unseated rider down at start, led 4f, stayed prominent until lost place 4f out, rallied under pressure 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, stayed on well but no chance with easy winner (op 16-1)
Final bumper start was at Uttoxeter, and after a dawdle, he lost position when quickening. Similar story here, he put in a slow one down the back, Rhys Flint wasn’t overly urgent to get him back into things, and also took his time in finding the route he wanted to take coming into the straight, but once doing so he was a clear third best. Likely to be one for 0-110/0-120 handicaps at Chepstow/Ffos Las over 3m, be interesting to see if they drop him back in trip for his next two runs for handicap purposes.
Catterick 01-Feb-13 Soft (Good to Soft in places) 6.9
3:20 European Breeders’ Fund ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier)
This was one of the better Novices’ Hurdles of the week, and I expect it to throw up plenty of winners.
Get Back In Line was the subject of tender handling on debut at Plumpton behind stablemate Mr Watson. Maurice Linehan was pulled in by the stewards for questioning that day, he stated that his instructions were to settle in halfway and finish the best that he could. He added that the gelding was very green in the early stages of the race and ran slightly too free. He further added that his mount had taken time to settle and made a mistake at the second-last when staying on. Here McCoy did have a struggle in settling him, and was keen throughout. He made his move halfway up the straight and had enough in hand to account for two very solid markers in King Of The Wolds and Morning Royalty. Get Back In Line is not entered in any of the novice races at Cheltenham, and he’d be another of the JP brigade that I have marked up as a possibility for the EBF Final in March.
King Of The Wolds was found out behind Eduard on Good ground at Newcastle earlier in the season, which is no disgrace given what we have seen him do since. At Wetherby he was given an easy time of it up top, and relatively so here too as the 2nd and 3rd were up there throughout. Malcolm Jefferson sees him as a future top of the ground chaser, and after his win at Wetherby the Grade 2 at Kelso was mentioned. Given that Eduard is likely to go there next, I can’t see him taking him on again but off 128 he could have a fair handicap in him. Morning Royalty looks a two miler and under a double penalty wasn’t disgraced.
One further down the field that deserves closer attention is Robin’s Command. Now had the three runs under the belt he’s rated 92, and you can see from his runs that he’s a very lively animal; green, ran in snatches, pulls hard. Today he travelled and settled well, he wasn’t given much chance with the way the race panned out. In a lowly handicap he shouldn’t have any trouble stepping up considerably on what we have seen so far.
Ffos Las 02-Feb-13 Heavy 5.2
1:30 Novices’ Hurdle 2m
Top Gamble had it all his own way up front, and won this comfortably on hurdles debut. He had finished second to a good sort in O’Faolains Boy on racecourse debut, he ran away with a Ffos Las bumper on his previous start. Foot perfect at nigh on all flights connections see him as a 3m chaser in the making, but the way he put daylight between himself and the rest of the field coming into the straight suggest they will have a fair bit of fun with him as they step him up in time.
David Pipe had four in this race, and as well as the winner he had the 3rd 4th and 5th home, the 3rd and 4th being the most intriguing. Unique De Cotte was running here under a penalty due to win in April back in France, and there was a lot to like about his performance. Clearly well thought of he has entries for the Supreme and Neptune Hurdle, but you’d think that handicaps over 2m4f+ will be the making of him in time.
Edmund Kean was held up well out of the firing line, and was getting the rowing boat treatment as they came into the straight. A point to point winner in Ireland he was purchased privately from Warren Ewing. Pedigree has the look of a 2m4f+ horse and he’s another to keep on the right side of.
Light Well is a very well bred son of Saddlers Wells, out of a placed Irish Oaks and Breeders Cup Filly & Mare dam in L’Ancresse. He’s bound to come into his own when encountering good ground, but showed more than enough here to suggest he has taken to hurdling well enough. This was his first run for 478 days.
Wetherby 02-Feb-13 Soft (Heavy in places) 5.5
3:20 Towton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 3m 1f
A fair renewal of the Towton and I’m definitely interested to see how this race works out.
Goulanes has shown battling qualities previously, and he was coming into this on the back of two nk victories, walked away here with a hd. He’s a very game sort, for a chase debut in a Grade 2 this was a fair display of jumping also, only fiddly at one in the straight. He looked to be all over Super Duty after the last, and I think it was a case of Tom easing up on him slightly which saw Super Duty get within a head of him at the line. He started the season with a Handicap hurdle win off 126, and following this he’s been given a mark of 136. With time running out to get another couple of runs into him to qualify for a Handicap, the NH Chase looks the most likely option unless something happens to Dynaste.
Fentara has improved for the application of cheekpieces, and travelled well throughout this steadily run affair. Bang there until the last, she found that one all wrong, and whatever chance she had was gone. The handicapper has dropped her to 126, and with fiddily mistakes now seemingly eradicated by the cheekpieces she is bound to go close in the EBF Mares Chase at Newbury later in the season.
<bFourjacks has been left at 140. Half brother to Old Benny it’ll be no surprise to see him competing in the likes of The Tommy Whittle next season, and races of that nature look ideal for him.
Musselburgh 03-Feb-13 Good to Soft 6.5
1:30 Novices’ Hurdle 3m 110y
Smooth effort from Superior Quality, however I feel that the best horse in the race will end up being the second, Lord Wishes. Half brother to Williams Wishes, he’s highly regarded at home by James Ewart:
This boy goes by the stable name of Porsche, his dam; “Strong Wishes” was placed four times in National Hunt flat races and twice over Hurdles. Lord Wishes is by good sire; “Milan” a Group 1 winner, whose are 28% winners to runners over the jumps. Porsche came highly regarded by leading hotelier and bloodstock agent; Bryan Murphy.
Lord Wishes is the half brother of “Williams Wishes” who was 16/1 at The Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last year, ith six wins from twelve starts and three wins from three starts over fences.
Lord Wishes is a high quality five years old; he has an eye catching top black type pedigree and is very muscular, correct, sharp and scopey.
Lord Wishes has now achieved the highest rating of any Bumper horse we have trained with a RPR of 128 from two starts and two wins. The quality of his results was shown in the two different rounds that he ran on at Ayr – heavy and Haydock – good, good to firm in places. This shows his class and adaptability. Whatever he does he will be a great deal better when he goes over Hurdles as he has already done a lot of work with Yogi Breisner. He has summered well and should be a top northern Novice Hurdler who could well earn the chance to go south.
Bryan just allowed Superior Quality to get first run on him between 3 and 2 out, and after that he was always playing catch up. Fair to the horse, he scrambled well and was closing as they approached the line. He does hold Cheltenham entries in both the Neptune and Albert Bartlett, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him skip it and go for the 3m Novice Hurdle at Aintree where the long straight would suit him down to the ground.
2:00 Novices’ Chase 2m 4f
This race has handicappers to follow stamped all over it. Starting with the winner, Viva Colonia, he has now seemingly booked his place in the Grand Annual. Travelling with ease, and jumping well, you can see why they want to run him in that race. He has course form also with a never nearer 5th to his name in last years Greatwood. Switched to Ellison following a disappointing chase debut at Wetherby, he is now 2 from 2, has the required 3 runs over fences, and rated 135 he’s going to be one to be on the right side of come March.
No surprise to see Attaglance leave his form behind when he got conditions that suited. He was given an easy time of it up top, but I thought he was given a slightly easy time of it in the straight with Harry Haynes not really going for him at any point. He was in receipt of weight all round here and connections will now be looking at handicaps for him given the exploits of last season at Cheltenham and Aintree, then anything sub 135 will be a gift.
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