Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I’m reviewing the weekend’ action from Navan and Cork. Plus, there a couple of future winners from last week’s action.
Apart from the return of El Fabiolo in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday. The racing in Ireland over the weekend won't last long in the memory banks.
It was testing ground across Britain & Ireland over the weekend. Plenty of horses just didn’t handle it and it will pay to draw a line under plenty of performances. Winners may not reproduce their form on better ground. Whilst those who ran well may need plenty of time to get over their weekend exertions.
Navan
Slade Steel Shows Resilience on Testing Ground
Slade Steel won the Grade 2 Tote Navan Novice Hurdle (2m 4f). He’s now 2-2 over hurdles and clearly goes well on testing ground. On heavy ground he produced a nice change of gear between the final two furlongs. However, he still had enough left in the tank to hold of Lecky Watson.
The winner was cut into as short as 10/1 with Paddy Power, 16/1 with Coral, for the Ballymore Hurdle. Whether he can win a Grade 1 over 2m 5f on better ground, I’m not sure but he’s certainly a novice hurdler going places.
Stellar Story back in third looks need of 3m. If anyone has backed him for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, I wouldn’t tear up your tickets just yet. He’s capable of better when getting a serious stamina test.
Indiana Dream Impresses on Chase Debut
You had to be impressed with Indiana Dream’s win on chase debut in the beginners chase (2m 4 ½ f). It was his first start for 342 days when he won a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle on stable debut for Willie Mullins. He ran out an easy 13 length winner but did well to survive a bad mistake at the 4th.
Connections haven’t wasted any time in sending Indiana Dream over fences and there’s no doubt he’s an exciting recruit to the chasing game. Davis Jennings (Racing Post) got excited by his win and it could be that he ends up being the next superstar from the Willie Mullins yard. However, I wouldn’t want to be getting to carried away. He’s been raced sparingly, so may not be the easiest to keep sound, and he’s also yet to race on ground better than soft.
Cork
El Fabiolo Shines in Winning Return:
El Fabiolo one of the real stars of the Irish NH scene made a winning return in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase. Travelling powerfully through the race. He took it up three out and only needed to be pushed out for a decisive success from Fil Dor to justify his 1/5 odds. The runner-up who had race fitness on his side kept the winner honest but isn’t in his class.
The third home Maskada ran better than she had on seasonal return at Clonmel. She’s back on track and could be up to this level back against her own sex.
El Fabiolo still tends to get low at the odd fence which will always give his backers the wobbles However, I thought his jumping, in the main, was good. Now a perfect 5-5 over fences it will take a big performance to beat him this season.
It was a case of job done and all roads lead to Cheltenham and another clash with Jonbon in the Champion Chase. Before March British racegoers could get see the 6-year-old in action at Ascot in the Clarence House Chase.
Silent Approach Springs 33/1 Surprise in Grade 2 Novice Chase: Impressive Jumping Sets Cheltenham Dreams Alight
In the Grade 2 Novice Chase (2m ½ f) Silent Approach caused a major shock to win at odds of 33/1. The mare is now 2-2 over fences and she jumped better than the well fancied Harmonya Maker and Zenta.Impervious won this race on route to taking the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Her jumping of a fence is sound and that’s always positive in these sorts of race. So connections are entitled to dream of Cheltenham after this success.
Runner-up Harmonya Maker didn’t help her cause by jumping to the left. She can probably improve again when going left handed.
Aintree Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle winner Zenta was getting 6lb from the winner and the runner-up but shaped with promise on chase debut. Thrown in the deep end here. She should strip fitter for this run and improvement in her jumping can see her take a high rank in the mares novice chase ranks.
Future Winners
Before this week’s eyecatchers a few that didn’t quite make the cut this week.
Sandown
I tend to swerve last time out winners when it comes to the tracker but Spirit D'Aunou almost went in. The 4-year-old made it 5-7 over hurdles when winning Saturday’s 2m handicap hurdle at Sandown. He’s got an entry in the Betfair Exchange Trophy (Handicap Hurdle) at Ascot on the December 23rd. And would look nicely treated under his 4lb penalty if Saturday's race hasn't left its mark.
Beauport was back in form after a low key return to action at Ascot when a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 7 in Saturday’s London National. He proved his stamina for 3m 5f here and looks like he'll stay further.
Navan
Over at Navan Canal End and Shantreussewere both close to inclusion.
Canal End is a thorough stayer as he showed when a staying on 7 ¾ length 3rd of 16 in the 3m 1f handicap hurdle on Saturday. He’s only had six career starts and can land one of the staying handicap hurdles before the season is out.
Shantreusse was well backed (4/1 fav) before finishing a 9 length 2nd of 11 in the Listed Foxrock Handicap Chase. He stays further than 2m 4f and the market support he received suggests he’s on a winning mark off 132.
Fortescue – Henry Daly
Fortescue made a promising return to action when a 6 ½ length 4th of 10 to Nassalam in the Coral Welsh Grand National Trial at Chepstow on Saturday. The 9-year-old has won his fair share of races over fences – 6 wins from 20 runs +24.5, 11 placed. All six of those wins have come in field sizes 9 or less and at 3m/3m ½ f with a form line of 121121121. You must go back to February 2022 for his last success (Ascot, soft) but he’s 4lb below his last winning mark and can pop up in a handicap chase this season.
Nassalam exhibited impeccable jumping skills, securing a comfortable victory in the mentioned race. With his successful performance, he is now widely priced at 10/1 for the upcoming Coral Welsh Grand National. Demonstrating proficiency on both the track and heavy ground, his chances of following up over Christmas look good.
Gustavian – Anthony Honeyball
The 8-year-old secured a commendable 2nd position, finishing 14 lengths behind the advancing Richmond Lake at Aintree on Saturday. Ultimately well beaten by the winner but he’s now not finished out the first two in eight starts he has completed on heavy ground. He stays further than 2m 4f and isn’t badly handicapped on the best of novice chase form. He might need a bit of time to recover from this attritional run. It's worth noting he’s a perfect 4-4 when returning from a 31 to 60 day layoff in January and February.
Tuesday Preview
Fontwell and Ffos Las are subjected to precautionary inspections in the morning to assess to see if they can race. Despite a less than thrilling day of sport I have a selection from Wincanton.
Wincanton
2:15 – Three of Ede'iffs Elton’s chases successes have come here including C&D. There was plenty to like about the 9-year-old’s seasonal return 13 length 4th of 12 over an inadequate 2m 4f here last month. He’s on a handy mark and the cheekpieces return.
Ede'iffs Elton – 5/1 @ Bet365.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John