Evening all,

There was so much good action this weekend that I’m going to divide the weekend’s review into two parts. Inside today’s main piece It’s a case of looking back at the performances of Constitution Hill and L'Homme Presse at Newcastle and there’s also look back at Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup.

Contrary to what some people may think. I don’t have a problem with jumps tracks watering. If you want competitive races and decent sized fields, you need easier ground. All I ask is punters are told how much water has been dumped on track via the sprinklers. Given its set to be mostly dry week our jump racecourses are going to need all the help they can get and if that means some watering so be it.

It’s the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown next Saturday and both Shishkin & Edwardstone could run. The bad news is that Sandown going was being described as good, good to soft in places, with a forecast dry week ahead. There’s a big chance that neither horse will run and we could even have another chapter of the “will they, won’t they run” playbook on Saturday morning.

It’s funny how the universe works isn’t it. If it hadn’t been for the quick ground at Ascot last Saturday Newcastle racegoers wouldn’t have seen Constitution Hill in action in Saturday’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle. Nor would they have seen L'Homme Presse carry top-weight to success in the Rehearsal Handicap Chase.

What A Constitution

Constitution Hill made his long waited seasonal return on Saturday. Sent off the 1/4 favourite. He was quickly sent off in front with the stablemate Epatante in his slip stream and Not So Sleepy keen with no cover on the outside. He opened coming to the second last and quickened clear from Epatante. Slick over his final two hurdles he ran out a 12 length winner from Epatante.  The race ended up being a procession as he romped home to an easy success.

Constitution Hill is quick over his hurdles and a Champion Hurdler in waiting. Matt Chapman says he’s the best hurdler, he’s seen. I don’t think he’s wrong. I saw Night Nurse as a lad, and he remains the best hurdler I have seen so far. Well Constitution Hill is getting close to him. The Triple Crown of Hurdling is now in reach.  Provided the 5-year-old stays sound, there’s no reason he shouldn’t, then his Champion Hurdler in waiting.

L'Homme Presse Lays Down Gold Cup Marker

It might be sacrilege to say it given the history of what’s now known as the Coral Gold Cup but Newcastle’s Rehearsal Handicap Chase was a better race quality wise.

Grade 1 Cheltenham Novice Chase winner L'Homme Presse was another due to run at Ascot the previous Saturday. Well Ascot’s loss was Newcastle’s gain.  And top-weight L'Homme Presse put up a great weight carrying performance to win under 12-0. Ridden like he was the best horse in the race out in front. He was challenged by Happygolucky four out but looked in control over the final three fences. To my eye he was idling a bit close to home which allowed Into Overdrive to get within a length of him at the finish.

There were no fitness flaws with the winner who is likely to improve plenty for the run and he has now put down a Gold Cup marker after this success. The class horse of the race came out on top, and the right horses finished behind him.

The progressive Into Overdrive was getting 26lb from the winner. He found himself slightly outpaced 4 out but he rallied and stayed on to take second close home. It was a career best by the runner-up who might not have stopped improving just yet. The Kim Muir handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival could be an ideal race for the 7-year-old.  Given his long absence from the track it was an excellent effort from the third Happygolucky. He was the only one able to go with the winner in the straight and that ultimately meant he lost out for second. He’s returned from injury in good shape, and he can land a good handicap chase this winter.

Coral Gold Cup

It wasn’t the best renewal quality wise given the races rich history, but it was an open betting heat. The race went the way of the well backed 9/2 favourite Le Milos.

There was drama at the start of the race as Threeunderthrufive unseated his rider at the first. The loose horse played his part in the race, and he might have aided the winner in the closing stages

Busselton and Annsam help set a good pace which suited the strong travelling favourite who took it up three out. The winner was challenged at the last by last year’s unlucky horse Remastered but he found plenty for pressure to hold off that one on the run in.  Remastered would have preferred softer ground and can land a nice pot. His stablemate Gericault Roque remains a maiden over fences but ran a cracker to finish third. He’s another who deserves to land a nice race.

As I thought Corach Rambler found himself to far back in the early stages of the race but stayed on to take fourth. He would have finished closer but for nodding on landing three out. He needs more of stamina test and softer ground than he got on Saturday to be seen at his best.

Annsam ran well for a long way in sixth. He tended to jump to his right at his fences and is better going the other way around. There will be other days over fences for the 7-year-old at around 3m at Sandown or Ascot.

Dan’s The Man

I mentioned last week that Dan Skelton is one of the best target trainers in the business. He showed it again on Saturday with Le Milos. The 7-year-old enhanced his likeable profile over fences to make it 5-9 over the larger obstacles. I have to say I wondered if the winner would prefer more juice in the ground, but he showed he didn’t. Dan Skelton wasn’t concerned about the ground as I was and that’s why he’s a top target trainer and I’m not.

Thankfully the sun wasn’t to be seen at either Newbury & Newcastle. After last Saturday’s debacle the winter jumps season needed Saturday’s big performances and it got them.

Japan Cup

There was an usually slow early pace in the Japan Cup which meant there plenty of the field was in with a chance coming into the straight. However, that didn’t stop Ryan Moore showed us one more, if we didn’t already know, that he’s the jockey for a big race.  He waited for a gap to come to get up close to home on Vela Azul.

My selection Onesto got no sort of run on the rail in the straight and could only finish 7^th.  What had appeared to be a good draw in stall 2 turned out to be the opposite. Onesto was going as well as the winner but couldn’t open-up.  He would have gone close with a clear run.

German challenger Tunnes wasn’t seen to be effect for a prominent racer after a slow start. He’s one to watch out for next season especially when he gets easier ground than he got on Sunday.

Monday Racing

Monday’s are always a let-down after the weekend big race action, and nothing changes on that score today. We have a jumps fixture at Catterick and one on the all-weather at Kempton this afternoon. The day’s action is completed by a teatime card at Wolverhampton. Not much to go at today. There’s nothing at Catterick that interests me. At Wolverhampton Hooflepuff bids for a course hat trick and should go close in the 4:45. The filly Cailin Saoirse is also bidding for a course hat trick after her C&D win on Saturday and will be tough to beat under her 6lb penalty in the 8:25.

Kempton

3:15 – Dashing Rat remains a maiden after 16 starts which is a slight concern. However, he was in the process of running a big race in the first time blinkers but hung right and was hampered 1f out, eventually finishing a 3 ¾ length 5^th of 13. He doesn’t look totally straight forward but he’s got enough ability to win a race like this.

4:45 – Nap Hand produced a career best on RPR’s on his handicap debut over C&D 12-days ago. Given his running style he’ll prefer a better run race last time which he isn’t certain to get here either. He’s on a workable mark though and should be able to win a race like this.

5:45 – Previous C&D winner Prince Abu looks to be working his way back to winning ways after his 4 length 3^rd of 13 at Southwell 12-days ago. That performance came over 1m 4f and his best four RPR’s have come at around 2m. If he gets an even gallop, he's my idea of the winner.

Monday Selection:

Kempton

5:45 – Prince Abu – 5/1 @ Bet365.

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John