Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece. I look back at the highlights from Saturday’s action at Kempton and Warwick.
Kempton
We don’t often see as testing ground at Kempton as we did on Saturday. And it was a day when some horses handled the ground, but most didn’t. According to the official going description it was soft all over. However, looking at the times it was soft on the chase course but heavy on the hurdles course. The times are actually in sync with the going stick readings for both tracks.
Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle
It was the deepest renewal of the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle that I can remember. An old fashioned big field, quality handicap hurdle with 20 runners. It’s the sort of race we don’t seem to see much of these days. A race which was a gruelling test of stamina with just four finishers.
As anticipated, we also got a truly run race which was won by one of the novices in the field West Balboa. The mare looked like she would win more comfortably than she did coming to the last. However, a mistake there handed the initiative back to Red Risk. However, to the mares credit she battled on well on the run in to get up by a short head on the line.
Up For Parol, sixth in last year’s race was back from a 276-day absence and ran a cracker in third. He was bang there at the last and you have to think that a lack of race fitness just cost him in the closing stages.
Pic D'Orhy outclasses Conti rivals
Pic D'Orhy outclassed his rivals in the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase. Making all, he jumped well out in front, and he handled the testing ground well. Getting better with racing over fences. The 8-year-old is progressing into a solid Grade 2 performer. Whether he can dominate a Grade 1 field like he did on Saturday is open to question. That said he’ll be worth his place in a Grade 1 next time especially on flat track.
Annsam goes the right way
Annsam jumped his six rivals into submission in the 3m handicap chase. Quickly sent to the front he got into a good jumping rhythm from the off and wasn’t for catching. The key to 8-year-old is going right handed and being able to get into a jumping rhythm out in front. He had his optimum conditions on Saturday which he won’t always get. He’ll now head to next month’s valuable Coral Trophy Handicap Chase over C&D. It’s a race he ran poorly in last year but on this sort of ground he’ll always have a chance. However, he probably won’t get his own way out in front next time.
Warwick
It was heavy at Warwick’s for its biggest day of the year. I wouldn’t quibble to much with official going description. Although the times on the chase course suggest it was probably closer to what the Irish would describe as soft to heavy.
I thought it looked like Skelton versus Nicholls in the two Grade 2’s on the card. Well, it ended 2-0 to Skelton as he landed both races at his local track.
The mare Galia Des Liteaux took a weak Hampton Novices' Chase. So impressive on her Bangor chase debut. The 7-year-old quickly brushed aside a poor run at Kempton over Christmas and proved far too strong at the finish for her three rivals. Heavy ground really suits her, it hadn’t been as soft as the going description suggested at Kempton, and she seemed to relish Saturday’s stamina test.
Grey Dawning gave the Skelton’s a Grade 2 double 35 minutes later in the Ballymore Leamington Novices' Hurdle. It’s not often the bookies go 3/1 the field in these sorts of races but they did here. Givega came in for good support before the race and was sent off favourite. However, he was a beaten horse three out and ran well below market expectations.
It was stamina that won it for Grey Dawning. As the 6-year-old stayed the stamina sapping 2m 5f more strongly than his rivals. I like the way he went through a gap between Ginny’s Destiny & Knowsley Road two out, always the sign of a horse with a willing attitude.
The winner is all heart and will now come under consideration for the 3m Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Although for me his best chance of Grade 1 success could come at Aintree.
Iwilldoit Takes Classic
Iwilldoit back for the first time since winning last season’s Welsh Grand National ran out a good winner of Warwick’s Classic Chase. The 10-year-old put in a solid round of jumping to defy 11-10 to win by 2 ¾ lengths from the staying on Mr Incredible with Notachance a further length back in third.
I didn’t fancy the Willie Mullins trained Mr Incredible at all. And although he never looked like winning, he ran well to take second on the longer than normal run in.
2021 winner Notachance was back to form in third. The well backed Guetapan Collonges ran a commendable race in fourth. He just lacked the experience of the three that finished in front of him but can win more races.
Four time course winner Volcano ran well out in front for a long way before merely plugging on for fifth. Given he was 10lb out of the handicap this was fine effort at track that really suits the 9-year-old.
Threeunderthrufive was another to run well for a long way but carrying 12-0 on this ground proved too much coming to the last for the 8-year-old.
A fine training performance from Sam Thomas. The winner clearly goes well on soft ground, as it slows the others down and you can see him going well in a Grand National. However, he’s only had five starts over fences which means he’s not yet qualified for the Aintree race. If connections aim to run him in this year’s race, he’ll need another start over the larger obstacles before February 1st.
I know why they bought in the rule but it’s crazy that a horse like Iwilldoit who’s now won two big field handicap chases could miss out.
Saturday Verdict:
I’m kicking myself for not having Iwilldoit onside in the Classic Chase. Instead, I went for Lord Du Mesnil & Commodore and added Grumpy Charley rather than the winner. I thought Lord Du Mesnil was a disappointing maybe he’ll do better back at Haydock. As for Commodore he couldn’t get to the front and seemed to sulk afterwards. I feared that this race might come to quick for Grumpy Charley and I think that proved correct.
It was a tough Saturday on the punting front for me. However, one of the few things I got right was not to look at Warwick’s Pertemps Qualifier. Why they are still bothering with this series is beyond me. I had three winners on the day at short prices but failed miserably in the big ITV handicaps. There’s always next week.
Monday Racing
There are jumps fixtures at Punchestown, Hereford and Fontwell and Wolverhampton’s evening card completes the day’s action. After an odds-on winning selection on Sunday, I’m going big price hunting for today’s.
Carey Street has struggled to find his form on three starts since returning from a short break back in October. All of which means the 7-year-old is now 4lb below his last winning mark which came in March over C&D. Hollie Doyle who rode him that day is back in the saddle and the pace of the race or lack of it could be key to better performance from the selection. Granted his drawn out widest in stall 10 but if Hollie can get him across to take up a prominent position like she did from the same draw in March then he could get into the frame at big odds.
Wolverhampton
7:30 – Carey Street – 25/1 @ Coral (each way).
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John