Hi all,
Today’s main piece covers the weekend’s top jumps action, but let’s first take a quick look back at the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.
Breeders' Cup 2024
After a few lean Breeders' Cups, this year I came good in style. Three winners and three placers over the weekend made it a cracking meeting. The winners? Lake Victoria (evens), Moira (7/1), and More Than Looks (18/1) in the Turf Mile. Lake Victoria wasn’t a fancy price, but when the bookies offered evens, it was value. She looked 10lb ahead of her rivals—a classic case of value, even at short odds.
City Of Troy couldn’t handle the dirt in the Classic. A slow start didn’t help, and he found himself out back. However, Sierra Leone was with him in the early part of the race and still won comfortably. Dirt and turf are worlds apart. For a top performance on dirt, horses need a quick break, a good position, and resilience against kickback—traits less essential in European turf races.
Aidan O’Brien may call City of Troy the best he’s trained, but he’s not staying in training at four. If he was that outstanding, he’d be back next season. Retiring him now leaves room for hype to continue, but in my book, he narrowly edges the best three-year-old European turf horse this year—nothing more.
One more Breeders' Cup highlight? Ralph Beckett’s great season rolled on as Starlust, brilliantly guided by Rossa Ryan, took the Grade 1 Turf Sprint. You can relive his ride here. Ryan’s now proving himself at the top, and is right up there with Oisin Murphy for me.
Saturday’s Jumps Action
Saturday’s jumps action showed why a cautious approach early in the season is wise. I hit on Our Champ (20/1) at Ascot, but I got involved in races and horses I shouldn’t.
The Real Whacker won the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. He has race fitness on his side and he goes well on good ground. His trainer ruled out the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, with the King George likely up next. I suspect this will turn out to be his Gold Cup.
Runner-up Bravemansgame ran OK and will be sharper next time and could possibly be tried in headgear. However, he remains a horse on the wane, and I can’t see him regaining the King George Crown he won in 2022.
In Down Royal’s Grade 1 Champion Chase, Gerri Colombe was a well-backed favourite but never fired. He’ll be sharper for this run and can bounce back at a more galloping track. He just doesn’t come away quickly enough from his fences and remains a doubtful Gold Cup winner for me.
Meanwhile, Envoi Allen proved his Down Royal form once more, bouncing back with a great run after two soft-ground disappointments in the spring. Envoi Allen now 5-6 at Down Royal and his only defeat came when touched off in last year’s race.
Hewick ran another cracker to get within ½ length of Envoi Allen at the line. He caused a shock to win last year’s King George and won’t be far away again this year’s race.
Ascot’s handicap chases delivered wins for autumn trainers Kim Bailey (Chianti Classico) and Venetia Williams (Martator).
Chianti Classico Remains a Chaser on the Up
Chianti Classico made a strong start to his second season chasing winning the Sodexo Live Gold Cup. He remains progressive and a possible contender for Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup. He’s best priced 8/1 for the Coral Gold Cup but just 5/1 with the sponsors. He looks an ideal type for the Newbury race, but depending on the handicapper he could be upped in class and head for the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock.
Martator who completed a four timer on his return to action, has been well placed by his trainer. He produced a nice change of gear on the run in to win Saturday’s race. It will be interesting to see how the handicapper reacts to this success. If he's not too harsh Martator could go in again. Unusually for a Venetia trained horse he’s very effective on a sound surface.
Future Winners
Master Chewy’s reappearance at Ascot was solid despite finishing fourth to Martator. He was well supported in the pre-race betting and should gain further success this winter. Issar d'Airy, runner-up in the same race, will improve back on softer ground.
Over at Wetherby, Kateira would have won the Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle but for a blunder two out and has more to give over three miles.
Two For the Tracker:
Secret Squirrel – Hughie Morrison
Secret Squirrel did best of the hold-up horses when third to Our Champ in the Lavazza Handicap Hurdle at Ascot. He was returning from a six-month layoff on Saturday and remains with potential for handicap hurdles this season.
Colonel Harry – Jamie Snowden
Colonel Harry made an encouraging return to action when a 3 ¾ length 2nd of 4 to Marble Sands in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle on Sunday. He can do better back on softer ground and for going left-handed. He may head to Newbury for the Coral Gold Cup, a race his trainer won last year. The track should suit him but his stamina for 3m 2f would be a worry. If 3m 2f does prove beyond his stamina range, he can win more races on testing ground.
In tomorrow's column I will look ahead to the weekend's big race action. The jumpers could so with some rain but it doesn't look like they will see any before the weekend. We could be looking at some disappointing field sizes at Aintree and Wincanton unless there's plenty of watering between now and Saturday.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets!
John