Hi all,
It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time to look back at last week’s racing and flag up a few future winners. There’s plenty to like this week.
Victor Notebook
Thurles – Sunday 18th January
Espresso Milan (Willie Mullins)
A Punchestown winner last month, Espresso Milan took a big step up in trip when landing a Thurles novice over 2m6f. His jumping still needs polishing, but the further they went the better he looked. He shapes like a stayer, should get three miles, and has the look of a future chaser.
That said, he would be of real interest if Mullins opted for the Albert Bartlett, where his stablemate Doctor Steinberg heads the ante post market. The Navan form of that horse was boosted again by Thedeviluno at Doncaster on Saturday.
Gowran Park – Thursday 22nd January
I mentioned last Friday that a couple of horses caught my eye in the Thyestes.
Quai De Bourbon (Willie Mullins)
Aside from a couple of mistakes on the far side, he was still on the heels of the leaders three out before weakening and pulling up. Third in last year’s Irish Grand National, the 7yo looks the type Mullins could be lining up for a big staying handicap chase in the spring possibly even the Grand National.
Jordans (Joseph O’Brien)
Runner-up to Caldwell Potter in last season’s Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree, he was another to pull up. This slog in the mud didn’t suit at all. He remains well handicapped and should be of interest back on better ground.
Cheltenham Trials Day – Saturday 24th January
I covered the shambles in yesterday’s column. The more important question is what comes out of the meeting with the future in mind.
Matt Tombs pointed out on the Racing TV website that the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase is historically the strongest Festival trial of the season. Saturday’s renewal looked no different.
I’d want to keep the first four Jordans Cross, Quebecois, Scorsese and Kdeux Saint Fray firmly on side.
Jagwar will go up again after his narrow defeat to Donnacha in the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase. He’s taken plenty of stick online, but I thought he ran well. He won at last year’s Festival and could be worth a try over three miles with the Ultima making plenty of sense.
Ma Shantou announced himself as a proper Stayers’ Hurdle contender with his Cleeve success. A best-priced 8/1 (bet365 & William Hill). He’s now a three-time course winner, stays strongly, and handled the soft ground better than I expected. I haven’t backed him yet, but he’s high on the shortlist.
Doncaster – Saturday 24th January
Grand Geste was clearly not right when pulled up in the Great Yorkshire Chase. I’m happy to forgive that run entirely.
Country Code (Ruth Jefferson) ran a fine race when second to Thedeviluno in the Grade 2 River Don Novices’ Hurdle. He’s a future novice chaser, but there’s probably a decent hurdle pot in him first. This looked a hard race, so Aintree or Ayr on better ground in the spring may better than the Cheltenham Festival.
Newton Tornado returned to winning ways in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase. His chase figures now read F1P1, with both wins coming on soft or heavy. He thrives in testing conditions and will be worth following in stronger handicaps. I’m annoyed I missed him as he was in my Racing Post tracker and I didn’t check it.
Naas – Sunday 25th January
Shuttle Diplomacy (Thomas Cooper)
Third in last year’s Champion Bumper, he got off the mark at the fourth attempt over hurdles with a comfortable maiden win over 2m2½f. He’s open to further improvement for stepping up to 2m4f.
Connections look set to aim him at the Turners. It’s a shame he isn’t qualified for the Martin Pipe (needs another run over hurdle), because that would have looked tailor-made for the 6yo. One for the tracker though.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John