Evening all,

It’s jumps chat all the way today as I look back at the weekend’s action from Cheltenham, Kelso and Aintree. There’s also my first NH eyecatchers of the winter campaign. Plus, there’s a Tuesday selection from Chepstow.

Cheltenham Showcase Meeting

The rain arrived at Cheltenham on Friday. However, the going was still being described as good to firm for day one of Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting. It’s a good job the rain did arrive in greater amounts than forecast as the going would have been very quick.

Apparently, there was 19,471 in attendance on Saturday which is slightly up on last years crowd. Mind you it did include 5,000 students. At £7.50 for a pint, I’m not sure many of these 5,000 potential new racing fans will be back though.  Looking at the price for a pint that’s just ‘rip off’ territory especially given the poor beer most racecourses serve. Add in some poor quality food, at top end prices and you realise racecourses are taking the proverbial.

It was business as usual On Saturday with the Irish winning five of the seven races. There were only three runners in the 3m ½ f novice chase won by Chemical Energy and all three were trained in Ireland. It’s not good a sign for British racing that home based trainer had a horse suitable to run in a race worth £13,000 to the winner.

Highlights of the two days. Well not that many. Mind you it’s the Showcase Meeting so I don’t set my expectations to high. The November meeting, now that’s a different story.

Piper powers to victory

Pied Piper and Knight’s Salute had provided Aintree racegoers with a thrilling finish when dead heating in the Anniversary Hurdle at Aintree in April. The pair clashed again in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle. Knight’s Salute was weak in the betting despite looking the more forward of the pair.

The market got it spot on though with Pied Piper finishing 2 ¾ lengths in front of his old rival at the finish. They went no pace in the early stages and the winner was keen. Coming to the last four of the five runners were still in with a chance.  The winner took it up jumping the last and simply had much pace for his rivals inside the final 110yds.

Pied Piper looks to have improved over the summer. It’s a bit early to be describing the 4-year-old as a Champion Hurdler winner but there was plenty to like about the way he won a slowly run race and he will improve for the run.

After the race trainer Gordon Elliott said he will be trained for the Champion Hurdle. He’ll need to improve plenty over the coming months to beat the likes of Constitution Hill & Honeysuckle but he’s started the season off on a good note and there’s better to come from him.

Kelso

There was an excellent card at Kelso on Saturday, and they got good sized fields. The pick of the card was the Edinburgh Gin Chase Limited Handicap (3m 2f) which attracted a field of ten staying chasers. The Kim Bailey trained Does He Know was bumped by a rival and fell at the first. Go all that way and to not get beyond the first must be frustrating for connections.

The Ann Hamilton trained Bavington Boy was expected to come on for disappointing Perth seasonal return, but he was being driven along early in the race and probably needs some headgear.

Hill Sixteen unseated his rider four out in the Scottish Grand National when last seen in action in April, ran a cracker to finish third on his seasonal return.  There’s a staying handicap chase over 3m 2f + to be won with the 9-year-old this season.

That left Sounds Russian and Aye Right to fight out the finish. The latter had made most of the running but Sounds Russian just had his measure jumping the last and pulled clear on the run in to win by 4 ½ lengths. An improving handicap chaser last season who ended last season with a ½ length 2^nd of 8 useful Dusrat at Ayr in April. The winner made it 4-6 since going over fences and posted a career best on RPR’s on Saturday. The further he went the better he looked, and his improvement hasn’t ended just yet. The runner-up ran a cracker from the front and his jumping was as sound as ever. He doesn’t hold any secrets from the handicapper and was unable to give 6lb to an improving chaser.

Aintree

The going at Aintree was good to soft, good in places on Sunday.  There was a good card for racegoers and ITV4 viewers to enjoy.  The card also provided one of the week’s eyecatchers and the race of the day the Grade 2 Jewson Old Roan Handicap Chase.

Riders Onthe Storm and top-weight Hitman fought out the finish of the weekend. With the former just getting the verdict by a head. The winner, a Grade 1 winner for his previous yard back in 2020, didn’t build on a promising seasonal/trainer debut over C&D last December.  However, it transpires the yard had a virus which explains his subsequent poor starts last season. The handicapper had given him a chance, as he was 11lb lower than 12 months ago, and he took advantage of it here. He’s best fresh so don’t expect to see the 9-year-old out too quickly.

I thought Hitman, who was slightly outpaced 2 out, was coming with a winning run jumping the last. He just found giving 18lb to the winner too much close home. It was another good effort by this consistent 6-year-old. He’s tended to be a weak finisher in the past and was back from a wind-op here. Paul Nicholls believes he can win at Grade 1 level over fences this season but I'm still not convinced.

Eyecatchers

After a short break the Tuesday eyecatchers segment is back. And with it the first jumps horses of the winter campaign for the tracker.  

I haven’t put up Saturday’s Kelso winner Sounds Russian although he remains a staying chaser to keep onside. The two to take out of the Old Roan Chase are the Jeremy Snowden pair of Ga Law & Soldier Of Destiny.

Both this week’s tracker horses ran on Sunday the first of them at Aintree.

Aintree

Petit Tonnerre – Jonjo O’Neill

Last seen pulling up in the Grade 1 Anniversary Hurdle at Aintree in April. The 4-year-old was back to form when finishing a 1 ¼ length 3^rd of 11 to Peking Rose on handicap hurdle debut.  A more strongly run race would have seen him to better effect but at least he showed he stayed 2m 4f here. Capable of further improvement and goes well on softer ground. Looks set to win more races in the coming weeks.

It could pay to keep the fifth Bridge North onside too. The 6-year-old came in for good market support (5/1) on his seasonal return. However, he found this too much of a speed test dropped back to 2m 4f. Softer ground and a return to 3m will suit this future chaser.

Ffos Las

Current Mood – Evan Williams

Time could well prove that that the mare was taking on a useful sort when finishing an 8 ¼ length 3^rd of 12 to The Changing Man.  Keeping on under a considerate ride in the closing stages. This was an encouraging return to action after a 225-day break and this run was probably just needed. The 7-year-old’s yard has yet to hit top gear, but they should find an opportunity for her, possibly in races against her own sex.

Tuesday Racing

Yikes, 32 races today and just one with over £10,000 on offer to the winner. That’s the Inscapes Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (3:45) at Chepstow. Seven have been declared but unlike the race at Ayr on Monday it’s a mix of horses with chase experience and those having their first start over the larger obstacles.

Chepstow

3:45 – Stepney Causeway is the most experienced of these over fences (0-6) and was set to score when falling two out at Southwell in April.  Back from a 5 month absence when a fair 4 ¾ length third of 4 to Aucunrisque back at the Midlands venue 23-days ago.

Useful handicap hurdler Cap Du Mathan makes his chase debut, for Paul Nicholls and must be respected. As does another chase debutant Young Butler. The Emma Lavelle trained 6-year-old won twice over hurdles last season and is bred to be a better chaser than a hurdler. Margaret's Legacy is interesting on her French hurdle and chase form on her debut for Tim Vaughan.

Fern Hill has arguably the best form over fences he finished runner-up on three of his four starts over fences. He seemed to take well to the larger obstacles proving a sound jumper. He’s a winnable mark on his seasonal return although his best form has come over further than 2m 3f.

Verdict: Unexposed chase debutants Cap Du Mathan and Young Butler must be respected, particularly the latter. However, a chance is taken with the more experienced Fern Hill who did well over fences last season and can put his experience to good use.

Tuesday Selection:

Chepstow

3:45 – Fern Hill – 5/1 @ Bet365.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John