Hi all,
I’m not sure whether it was a case of the January blues, the Baltic weather, or the growing fear that the forecast milder spell won’t arrive in time to save next Saturday’s jumps racing, but I was underwhelmed to be left with just Sandown on Saturday. I had a few strong fancies at Wincanton, but that card failed three Saturday morning inspections.
At Sandown, the Veterans’ Chase Final was the highlight of a seven-race card. As mentioned on Saturday, it was third time lucky for the track after losing this meeting to the weather in each of the last two years. It was also the first running since the Tolworth Hurdle was switched to Aintree’s Boxing Day fixture, and the meeting is poorer for its absence.
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on the Sandown action.
Nocte Volatus Wins the Veterans’ Chase Final at Sandown
Nine went to post for the Unibet sponsored Veterans’ Chase Final and they brought a combined total of 60 career wins with them. Despite all that experience, some of the jumping was scrappy.
Annsam and Gustavian helped set a strong gallop, though neither jumped with much fluency. Annsam fell three out, which left Gustavian in front, but he was headed at the last and weakened on the run-in to finish fourth.
The well-backed Nocte Volatus travelled best throughout and was always well positioned just behind the leaders. He was produced to lead at the last and found enough up the hill to hold off Le Milos and the strong-finishing Gabbys Cross.
Nocte Volatus, a winner of a series qualifier on his previous start, was still unexposed over three miles and, as the RaceIQ data showed, jumped best of the nine. After the race, winning trainer Tom Lacey told Oli Bell on ITV Racing that he was already training Pounding Poet with next year’s final in mind.
Le Milos crept into contention and had every chance at the last, but the winner always holding him on the run-in.
Gabbys Cross, a useful horse a couple of seasons ago for Henry de Bromhead, stepped forward from his chase debut at Warwick when well behind the winner. This was only his second start for rookie trainer Nick Scholfield. The switch of yard looks to have had the desired effect. He lost his position briefly approaching two out but stayed on strongly and would have been in front in another few strides. If he has turned a corner, then he’s a winner in waiting over a bit further.
Skelton Nurses Susan Home
Nurse Susan came from the rear to outstay Jubilee Alpha in the Listed Unibet Mares’ Hurdle. She followed up her Cheltenham handicap success and confirmed she remains firmly in form. Despite being nine, she has only 12 career starts. That lack of mileage suggests there could still be more to come, possibly at a higher level.
Jubilee Alpha continues to frustrate. She didn’t find as much as Nurse Susan once headed and was beaten fair and square on the run-in. That’s now three defeats at short odds. She’s not one to take a short price about, and a switch to fences may yet prove the making of her.
That’ll Do Moss wasn’t as quick as the front two but finished strongly. She was doing her best work late and would have gone close to second in a couple more strides. Easier ground may suit better, and she looks well worth a try beyond 2m4f.
Vanderpoel Firmly One to Keep on Side
Vanderpoel was a good winner of the 1m7½f handicap chase earlier on the Sandown card. Highly regarded by Ben Pauling, he has taken a big step forward on his last two starts and looks a novice handicap chaser on the up.
His jumping is improving with every run and he’s one to keep onside. He’s now 4 from 4 going right-handed, compared to 0 from 3 left-handed. That bias is worth noting. However, if he’s as effective the other way around, he could be a serious player in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival. A strongly run two miles would play right into his strengths.
All In You Delivers at Sandown After Cool Ride from Bowen
I liked two in the concluding 2m handicap hurdle, Hot Fuss and All In You, but backed the wrong one.
All In You had looked a winner waiting to happen when runner-up at Ascot on his stable debut last month. He confirmed that view here. James Bowen gave him a cool, patient ride. Settled in rear, he travelled strongly and made smooth headway to challenge at the last. He ran on well to win with more in hand than the official 1½-length margin suggests. He’ll go up 5lb or 6lb for this win but he’ll remain nicely treated.
Dance And Glance, who had finished a head in front of the winner last time, ran another solid race in second.
Hot Fuss set a good gallop from the front. However, he was headed two out and, although he rallied, his jumping over the final two hurdles wasn’t as fluent as earlier. He faded into fourth on the run-in. A move away from front-running could suit as I don’t think he needs to lead. Either that or carrying 11-11 on a stiff track was too much for the 5yo. He’s on a winnable mark but I really want to see him ridden differently.
The Reverend Makes a Winning Mullins Switch
Finally, a quick note before wrapping up the weekend’s action. The Reverend made a successful hurdle and stable debut when landing the maiden hurdle (2m1f) at Cork. Formerly a smart staying handicapper for William Haggas, he signed off on the Flat by winning Haydock’s Old Borough Cup and now begins a new chapter with Willie Mullins.
He probably didn’t beat much, and his classy Flat form (OR 102) made him the clear standout. Still, he could only beat what was in front of him and he did so comfortably. A stronger pace would have suited the 5yo better and, while its early days, he has the look of a potential Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contender.
You don’t often see quality Flat stayers switching to hurdling these days. In that sense, The Reverend feels like a throwback to another era – and it’s one I’d love to see more of.
Only Wolverhampton’s all-weather card looks likely to beat the freeze on Monday. Even then, a precautionary morning inspection is planned due to the threat of snow.
I was due to head to Catterick on Thursday for the North Yorkshire Grand National meeting. However, that trip now looks unlikely. The track is frozen in places, and the forecast warming won’t arrive in time for racing to take place.
In tomorrow’s column, I’ll dive into the notebook to uncover some future winners from last week’s action.
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John