Hi all,
Today I’m delving into Victor’s notebook as I complete my look back at last week’s action. Yesterday I covered a blockbuster Saturday. Today the focus shifts to Friday’s card at Sandown and the key races from Cork and Huntingdon on Sunday.
Sandown (Friday)
There was real quality on show on day one of the Tingle Creek meeting.
Macktoad, a bumper winner in France, made an impressive British debut in the Introductory Hurdle. The Moore team won this race with Goshen back in 2019, and this lad looks another high-class juvenile.
No Drama This End had no trouble defying his 5lb penalty in the Grade 2 Winter Novices' Hurdle. An easy winner at Cheltenham on his previous start, he looked even better here and is now clear favourite for the Turners at Cheltenham. The Challow Hurdle looks next – a race Paul Nicholls loves – last year’s winner The New Lion went on to win the Turners.
Salver completed the middle leg of a Gary & Josh Moore treble when landing the Grade 2 Esher Novices' Chase. I had doubts about him staying 3m and ground that was closer to good than good to soft, but he answered both concerns emphatically. His jumping still needs tidying up, but he’s a good novice chase prospect.
Sandown Eyecatchers
In d’Or (Fergal O’Brien)
A promising debut for the new yard. A progressive novice chaser around 3m last season for Venetia Williams, he shaped well when a 2-length third behind Welcom To Cartries in the 3m handicap chase. Further will suit, and he can be placed to win soon.
Afadil (Paul Nicholls)
Slowly away but back to form when an 8-length third behind the in-form Go Dante in Saturday’s 2m handicap hurdle. He does his winning in January/February (3 wins from 7 runs whereas his record between October & December is 0 wins from 8 runs, 1 place) and is now 4lb below his last winning mark. One for a handicap hurdle early next year.
Handicap Chase Conundrum
Long-term readers will know I love field handicap chases – especially the staying variety – but this season they’ve been my Achilles heel. Handicap hurdles feel more straightforward; chases, less so, and I can’t put my finger on why.
Yes, I found a couple at the weekend (O’Connell in the London National and U Cant Be Serious at Exeter), but overall, I’m still not happy. So next week I’m stripping it back to basics – the same approach that sorted the handicap hurdles.
U Cant Be Serious and O’Connell were winners because they ticked the simple boxes: in form, race fit, proven at the track. Hard to argue with that. U Cant Be Serious had to dig deep but did so, just as he had on chase debut at the course. Given his attitude should keep going the right way over fences. Donnacha was only half a length behind in second. Back to form, he’s solid jumper, and he’ll pick up a handicap chase on soft/heavy ground given he goes well in the mud.
Navan (Saturday)
Predators Gold won what looked a strong beginners’ chase over 2m4½f. Returning from 582 days off, he showed he retains plenty of ability and is a good novice chase prospect.
Slade Steel, the 2024 Supreme winner, was back from almost a year off and finished runner-up again over 2m4f a trip he’s now filled second in three chase starts. A return to 2m might see him in a better light.
The one to take from the race could be Karl Des Tourelles in fourth. A useful staying handicap hurdler, he was well beaten here but shaped like a horse being trained with handicap chases in mind.
Sunday (Cork & Huntingdon)
The main events were the Hilly Way Chase at Cork and the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.
Majborough’s jumping again let him down, and he found a race-fit Found A Fifty too strong in the Hilly Way. To get within 1½ lengths despite the errors tells you how much engine he has, but until he sorts his jumping out winning Grade 1s over two miles in open company will be a stretch. Maybe further or even a return to hurdles is the answer.
Found A Fifty, a wonderfully consistent 8-year-old, is now 8 from 14 over fences. His rock-solid jumping won him the race.
Energumene, now 11, ran OK in third but seems to be on the downgrade. Age and injuries have likely caught up with him.
Banbridge needed the run, just as he did last season, and the ground was softer than ideal. This should tee him up nicely for a King George defence. The race will be deeper this year, but he’ll be spot-on for the day.
At Huntingdon, Djelo continued his ascent with an easy win in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase. It helps that Saint Sam downed tools when headed, but Djelo still impressed. He’s another heading to the King George, stays 3m, and is very effective going right-handed. Whether he’s truly Grade 1 class we’ll find out on Boxing Day, but he’s not one to dismiss.
A reminder that the old saying still rings true: stable form means nothing when it comes to a yard’s best horses.
Tuesday Racing
Ayr has already been lost to waterlogging and Punchestown faces a morning inspection. Fingers crossed they get the go-ahead.
If they do race, I’m hoping Chosen Comrade a point, bumper and novice hurdle winner can keep her unbeaten record intact in the Listed Mares Novice Hurdle (1:20). She looked a nice prospect when winning a Limerick novice hurdle 51 days ago and the step up to 2m3f should bring out more improvement.
Tomorrow I'll be previewing Saturday's December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John