Evening all,

Inside today’s main piece I conclude my look back at the weekend’s big performances and there are a couple of horses for the tracker.

Last Week's Notebook

The going at Newbury on Friday was officially described as good but looking at the times it was closer to good to firm.

Friday

Jet Powered won the 2m ½ f maiden hurdle that opened Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup meeting on Friday. Trainer Nicky Henderson has now won the race six times since 2015. Buveur D'Air won it in 2015 and Jonbon won it last year. Henderson looks like he another smart prospect in the winner who was making his hurdle debut. He jumped a bit to his right at his hurdles but jumped nicely and has a big future in the game.

Jet Powered is at the beginning of his career but Friday’s feature race the Grade 2 Coral Long Distance Hurdle went the way of another Henderson horse in the twilight of his career. Champ as ever travelled powerfully through the race. Coming to the last it looked like he would go onto win comfortably but he only managed to hold off another veteran Paisley Park by a neck at the finish. Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle which Champ won last year is firmly once again in his sights. Mind you he’s likely to face Paisley Park once more at Ascot and there was plenty to like about the runner-up’s performance. Proschema impressive when winning at Wetherby last time failed to build on that performance but ran as if something was amiss.

It says something about the British staying hurdlers that two 10-year-old’s remain at the top of the tree.

Stay Away Fay made a winning debut under rules in the 2m 4 ½ f novices’ hurdle. Trainer Paul Nicholls had won the previous two running's of the race with Stage Star (2021) and Bravemansgame (2020) and he’s got another useful sort in the winner who will go onto better things.

Saturday

As with Friday the going was described as good, but my times suggest it was closer to good to firm on Saturday.

Luccia produced a commanding performance to win the Listed Mares’ Hurdle that opened Saturday’s card. She travelled well, jumped fine, and produced a smart performance in a quick time. Given it was the mares’ hurdles debut it was expected she would show some greenness and she did. There will be plenty more to come and it will take a good horse to lower her colours this season.

McFabulous gave Paul Nicholls an 11^th win in the Grade 2 Coral John Francome Novices' Chase. He wasn’t the favourite though that was Thyme Hill who had won on chase debut at Exeter. The winner was quicker over fences and had too much pace for the runner-up.  McFabulous was cut to as short as 7/1 by Unibet for the Brown Advisory Novices Chase after his win.  They should hang their head in shame. It’s a ridiculous price given the winner has never convinced that he’s a Cheltenham horse. As for Thyme Hill connections have a dilemma. Do they keep him over fences or go back over hurdles? For me the choice is obvious.

Nicky Henderson has a strong hand of high class hurdlers and First Street can be added to them after his win in the Gerry Fielden Intermediate Handicap Hurdle on Saturday. The 5-year-old is now 4-8 over hurdles and could represent the yard in next month’s Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham. Strong at the finish on Saturday he’s still well behind the likes of Constitution Hill and Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle pecking order. However, he has an improver and should make an exciting 2m chaser next season.

Sunday

There were a few notable performances at Navan and Carlisle on Sunday.

Navan

The feature race of the day the valuable Troytown Handicap Chase went the way of The Big Dog.  An 8lb rise in the weight for winning the Limerick National didn’t stop him as he put in a career best in winning the Troytown. The 9-year-old is very likeable staying handicap chaser. He deserves a tilt at the Grand National although he does prefer soft ground.  Runner-up Lifetime Ambition made a bold bid from the front and was only headed at the last. The ground would have been soft enough for the 7-year-old who’s getting better with racing over fences. He’s another who will have Aintree in his sights.

Fil Dor who had finished runner-up to Vauban at Cheltenham & Punchestown last season made a winning chase debut in what looked a strong beginners’ chase (2m 1f). A smart juvenile hurdler last season he’s bred to make a better chaser and looks set for a good season.  He seems likely to head to the Leopardstown Christmas Festival for the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase.

Carlisle

Bass Rock, a three time winner over hurdles was expected to make up into better chaser. However, I doubt connections expected him to make such an impressive debut over the larger obstacles. Always in a prominent position he took it three out and jumped clear of his rivals. The 6-year-old’s jumping was excellent for a novice, and he should hold his own in much better company.

Two For the Tracker

I think there will be plenty of future winners to come out of the Newbury & Newcastle cards. Both Happygolucky & Into Overdrive can win more races.

I was also taken with the performance of Malinello in winning the Betfair Daily Rewards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Newcastle. His jumping was excellent for a novice on chase debut who was having his first start for 686-days. He will more races for the inform Ben Pauliing. Ben Pauling is having a fantastic season with his handicap chasers. By the end of Saturday, he had 23 winners from 48 runners 48% + 32 placed 67%.

There are races to be won with Corach Rambler & Annsam going forward. Corach Rambler needs more of a stamina test and Annsam needs to go right handed.

This week’s tracker horses come from Newbury and Navan.

Newbury

Java Point – Tom George

Java Point had made it 3-6 over fences when winning at Newbury over 1f further in April. The 7-year-old mad a promising enough return to action when a 13 ¼ length 3^rd of 10 to the well handicapped Zanza. The drop back in trip didn’t really suit. He won’t be inconvenienced by softer ground and should find further improvement return to 3m and could stay further. There’s a race to be won with him.  

In the same race Dublin Four was making headway when making a bad mistake three out. He was well backed before the off which suggests connections think he’s on a winnable mark. Going forward he does come with risks though. His jumping isn’t the best and he does prefer Saturday’s ground.

Navan

I was taken by the win of Fil Dor in the beginners’ chase and its that race that provides this week’s final eyecatcher.

Percy Warner – Henry De Bromhead

Percy Warner 2-2 over hurdles when trained by Gordon Elliott was ultimately beaten 35 lengths by the winner. However, there was plenty to be taken from the 6-year-old’s performance going forward. He was having his first start for 684-days. The 2m 1f trip would have been short enough for him but he wasn’t subjected to hard race. It was nice introduction to chasing and if they can keep him sound, he should improve plenty.

Tuesday Racing

Plenty of racing, a mix of jumps and all-weather, but its moderate stuff. Not one race this side of the Irish Sea is worth £10,000 to the winner which tells its own story.  I got involved in races I shouldn’t yesterday.

Southwell

There’s plenty of ‘shorties’ at Southwell.

I wouldn’t put anyone of Ile De Jersey in the mares’ novices’ handicap chase (12:25). The 4-year-old had looked set for the win when falling at the last at Taunton 19-days ago. Provided her confidence hasn’t been hit by that mishap she can gain compensation.

Thirty five minutes later you can make a case for the Venetia Williams trained Gemirande (1:00). The 6-year-old should be sharper for his 9 length 2^nd of 8 at Hereford three weeks ago.

Biowavego (3:05) improved for the step up to 2m 7f when beating nine rivals at Worcester last month. There should be more to come from the 5-year-old on just his third start in handicap company.

Ayr

12:35 – Gentleman De Mai returned from a 13 month lay off with a promising enough effort when a 8 ½ length 5th of 13 at Kelso 24-days ago. A course winner on hurdles debut the 6-year-old has the most potential of these going forward. However, he faces a tough rival in the consistent mare Charm Offensive. Dual course winner including C&D the 8-year-old was beaten just a neck over C&D on seasonal return 20-days ago.

Lingfield

2:20 – I’m going to try to avoid the all-weather, if I can help it but Dinoo 3^rd of 12 over C&D 10-days ago is of interest. The 4-year-old had a wide trip here last time and can go close here.  

None of the above are today’s selection though. For that I’m off across the Irish Sea to Punchestown.

Tuesday Selection

Punchestown

12:15 – The hat trick seeking Sanibel Island won’t be far away if in the same form as when winning at Downpatrick 53-days ago. However. I’m going to take him on with Exciting Oscar. A winning 3m hurdler here 2-years ago. The 9-year-old won’t be far away if reproducing his 9 length 2^nd of 16 at Fairyhouse in January, off 4lb higher. No show over hurdles here 10-days ago but back over fences can hopefully give us a run for our money. I have to say I was hoping for double figure odds but the bookies seem to be taking no chances with his price as he’s generally priced at 6/1.

Exciting Oscar – 6/1 – Gen.

Good luck with our Tuesday bets.

John