Haldon Gold Cup

Good morning all,

Couple of notices before we get stuck into today’s piece.

First of all, I’m now going to be doing Friday’s bulletins from this week. As a result, I’ll be dropping Monday’s bulletins as the racing at the beginning of the week tends to be pretty dreadful, and there’s often not much to say about it.

Second, I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing Jim Crowley and Freddy Tylicki a speedy recovery after the dreadful events of Kempton yesterday. I know we as followers of the sport never forget how dangerous racing is, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t still shocked when injuries like those Freddy and Jim suffered yesterday occur.

With that, here’s today’s piece, with a review of Wetherby and today’s selection.

Saturday’s Wetherby card saw some cracking races, starting with the 2m Novices Chase at 1.35. Nothing looked poor in the paddock but favourite Double W’s was fittest, as you’d probably expect, and put in another improved effort to see off Fou Et Sage and Holly Bush Henry, who both looked threats two out. Holly Bush Henry’s effort flattened out a bit after the last and it was interesting to hear trainer Graeme MacPherson say afterwards that he thought he had HBH straight enough to win first time up and was only “satisfied” with his effort. I thought it was a decent effort, giving weight to the front pair, and he will be winning before long.

Stephanie Frances took her tally to two in Listed events with victory in the OLBG Mares Hurdle and would have won with a bit more comfort than half a length had she not ploughed through the last, losing a length. Thankfully it didn’t stop her impetus and although all out, held on well from Midnight Jazz and Miss Crick, the last named putting in possibly her best performance to date. The winner will have one more run before being put away for the winter, quite possibly back over fences again.

Pass The Time finished fourth, not beaten far in the end, and will revert to 2m4f for her next start according to connections afterwards.

Silsol took the West Yorkshire Hurdle at 2.45 but it was Ballyoptic getting to his feet some ten minutes after a crashing fall at the last that got the biggest cheer from the crowd. There was some debate after as to whether Ballyoptic would have won or not had he not fallen, as he had 2 lengths to make up but was staying on stoutly after being outpaced. For my money he would just about have got there, but let’s take nothing away from the winner who was scoring in Grade 2 company for the first time.

Native River was the subject of a huge on-course gamble, forcing him to go off a well-backed 5-2 second favourite. He’s the Terminator of horses as he just keeps coming back and doesn’t give up – he looked third or fourth best as the challengers came at him from three out but stuck on doggedly to grab second again after the last. This effort may well persuade connections to keep trying him over hurdles this season rather than revert back to fences, bad news for those with ante-post Gold Cup vouchers (yep, that’ll be me then).

Lil Rockerfeller was weak in the market but ran a cracker in finishing third, giving weight to the front pair, and on this showing he will be a major contender for all the big staying hurdles this term. The race itself will have done him good too, as he looked to need it, and he is one to follow closely this term.

And so to the Charlie Hall, which asks as many questions as it answered. The biggest of which being where we stand with Cue Card at the moment. One thing for sure – he wasn’t given the best of rides here, with Paddy Brennan using up a lot of the petrol mid-race (Tizzard has come out and shouldered the blame for those tactics yesterday) and leaving little for the finish. Still, he’s been beaten at level weights by Menorah here, and I’m struggling to put too much of a positive spin on it. He will come on for this, as he did last year, and after the Betfair we’ll have a much better idea of what to expect for the rest of the season, in my opinion.

Winner Irish Cavalier proved his staying power here, which was previously open to question, but the fact he was race fit and getting a bit of weight from the front two definitely helped his cause. The Betfair also looks on the agenda for him, and a win there means he becomes a bona-fide candidate for top staying honours this term.

Menorah stuck to the task and was coming back at them at the finish, indeed he looked the winner for a few strides as the mid-race pace started to take it’s toll on the leaders. But he was never quite getting there after the last, and targets for him will be thin on the ground after this.

Dynaste looked fittest in the paddock and connections were clearly out to make good use of that, gunning him out early and attacking fences. But once Cue Card joined him at halfway, he made a dreadful mistake 6 out and that was his goose cooked. He doesn't need to drop much more in the weights to get into Veterans Chases, and he would be interesting in those when conditions are right. 

Blaklion loomed up looking a threat in the straight but his effort rather petered out, finishing a well beaten fourth. He looked plenty fit enough and the money suggested a big run was in order, so this goes down as slightly disappointing. Again, another for whom it’s difficult to pin down exactly what he’s going to be capable of this year – this wasn’t a disaster, but neither was it great.

Later on the card, Micky Hammond’s Wishing Well caught the eye in the Novice Hurdle somewhat. Whilst probably a bit flattered to get so close (held up off strongish pace, kept on through beaten horses) she caught the eye in the paddock as one that might have a bit of size and scope to do okay at the hurdling game. She should get a low mark from which to work from and there could be a weak handicap or two to be picked up with her.

For the selection I’m going for Sir Valentino in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter (2.20). This is a classy affair, with Dodging Bullets heading the weights and Garde La Victoire heading the market, but getting a bit of weight from that pair Tom George’s 7-y-o makes some appeal at the prices. Most of his best form comes right-handed and on decent ground, both of which he gets here, and he takes little getting ready after a break – he won first time up this season after a three and a half month absence. There’s no breakneck pace here either, which should suit him, and he can cause an upset by taking this good prize.

Good luck with all your bets today,

David.