Tracker Tuesday

Morning all,

The start of a new month and its less than two months to the start of the new flat season.  I know we have plenty of good racing before the Lincoln Meeting but it will soon be with us.

I can’t let my look back at the weekend’s action pass without a few words on the sad fate of Midnight Shadow at Doncaster on Saturday. Midnight Shadow, trained by Sue Smith, won a Scottish Champion Hurdle, a Relkeel Hurdle, a Dipper Novice Chase, and a Paddy Power Gold Cup during his career.

Inside today’s main piece. I look at the issue of water jumps and their continued use in jumps racing. Plus, I have two horses for the tracker and a selection from Limerick.

Midnight Shadow

It was only in November when Midnight Shadow gained his biggest chase success in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. The feeling of elation that I had when he held on for a heart stopping success will live long in the memory. With that in mind. It was gut wrenching to see him suffering a life ending injury at the water jump in Saturday’s Sky Bet Chase.

Coming less than a week after seeing Master Tommytucker also suffering a life ending fall at Lingfield. All in all. It’s been a terrible week for the sport.

Water Jumps: Time to Get Rid.

Midnight Shadows death shed a light on the continued use of water jumps in NH racing. Can there be any justification for these obstacles?  One of the arguments is that they add to the spectacle of the sport. I can see that might be the case if they are opposite the stands. However, water jumps situated like the one at Doncaster make no sense at all.  

Over the years there have been some horrific injuries caused by water jumps. They are not used in Ireland so I’m not sure why we still use them this side of the Irish Sea.

Personally, I don’t think they add to the spectacle and are dangerous to the horses.  It would make good PR for the sport for them to be dispensed with.

If Midnight Shadow had fallen at any other fence, he would likely have been walking back to his stable box on Saturday evening.

It’s time to get rid of those awful water jumps!

Tracker Time

Not the busiest of weeks on the tracker front and there are just two today. The first comes from Thursday’s Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park.

Thyestes Chase

I put up Longhouse Poet for the tracker after his reappearance run at Limerick over Christmas and then missed the big ante post prices available about him for last week’s Thyestes Chase. Of course, he ran out a decisive winner of the race on Thursday.

Jumping well from the off. The 8-year-old found plenty for pressure to hold of Franco De Port on the run-in.  Still unexposed over fences. He should stay further than 3m 1f and the softer the ground the better for him.  He will go up in the weights after this success but must have an excellent chance in the Irish Grand National which looks to be his target.

Back in third was the admirably consistent Mister Fogpatches. He’s developing a good record in these valuable staying handicap chases. Having also finished third in a Cork National and Troytown Chase this season. As well as finishing 3^rd of 22 in last season’s Scottish Grand National. The ground would have been soft enough for the 8-year-old and 3m 1f would have been on the short side for him. A goodish ground Irish Grand National or a return to Ayr for the Scottish version could see him gain a well-deserved success.

Escaria Ten – Gordon Elliott

Escaria Ten put in an excellent effort last season when a 3-length 3rd of 12 to stablemate Galvin in National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He then pulled up in the Irish Grand National on his next start but that race probably came to quick after such a big effort at Cheltenham.

Off for ten months. He looked rusty but ran well for a long way. Before the lack of a recent run took its toll in the latter stages of the race. He will be sharper for this run and should drop a pound or two after this effort. A case of job done. The 8-year-old looks an ideal type for an Aintree Grand National, albeit he’s only had six starts over fences.

Saturday

I was expecting to find more eyecatchers from Saturday’s action. However, it wasn’t to be the case.

Firstly, an honourable mention for Imperial Alcazar after his win in the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. A three-time winner over hurdles, including a Pertemps Series Qualifier at Warwick (3m 1f) last January. Runner-up on both starts over fences this season. The 8-year-old put in a dominant display of jumping to win Saturday’s race despite the drop back to 2m 4 ½. He’s open to further progress and given he showed he jumps the Cheltenham fences well, he’ll be a leading fancy for a race like Paddy Power Plate back here in March. He’s a best priced 14/1 for that race which seems fine to me.

At Doncaster Cap Du Nord has been dropping down the weights and back on a sounder surface he was expected to go well in the Sky Bet Chase. He bounced back from a poor run at Kempton and up to point ran well in finishing a 19 ¼ length 3^rd of 16. Doing best of those held up. However, he was never nearer at the finish and given his jumping continues to lack fluency he did well to finish as close as he did.  When he puts it altogether, he’s back down to a winnable mark.

I haven’t been keeping record of the tracker horses I put up but I suspect you would be in front backing them.

The Real Whacker – Ann Duffield

I don’t normally look for eyecatchers outside of handicap races.  Today I’m making an exception.

The Real Whacker is trained by Anne Duffield, more known for training on the flat. However, I notice she has had a few over jumps of late.

The 6-year-old had put in an impressive display when comfortably beating four rivals in a Carlisle maiden hurdle (3m 1f) last month. Up in class in Doncaster’s Grade 2 Albert Bartlett River Don Novices' Hurdle. He ran a cracker in finishing a 2-length 2^nd of 7 with the first two pulling nicely clear of the third. A mistake two out didn’t help his cause and his inexperience was evident when he hung left in the final half furlough.  

An entry in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the festival looks ambitious. However, he’s got plenty of ability, looks a strong stayer and will surely win more races. I think there will be worse 66/1 pokes at the festival.

Tuesday Racing

There are jumps cards this afternoon at Newcastle, Limerick and Ffos Las. Followed by an all-weather fixture this evening at Wolverhampton.

You can tell what sort of day it is when I’m off to Limerick for a selection.

Limerick

2:10 – Rock Of Tuskar a winner of handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan in June off 5lb lower. Not disgraced when a 10 ¾ length 9th of 18 over C&D l35-days ago. Usually held up in his races and would have preferred a stronger gallop. The first-time blinkers he wore last time are replaced by the first time cheekpieces and if the change in headgear has the desired effect he can get in to the money

Selection: Rock Of Tuskar.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John