Hi all,
My Saturday review is the main feature of Monday’s article. Plus, there’s a look at the best of Monday’s racing at Ayr.
Challenges and Controversies: A Weekend in Jumps Racing
This weekend showcased the importance of adaptability over sheer ability. Aintree faced extreme conditions, almost reaching the point of being unraceable, particularly with the heavy ground. Had it not been a Saturday fixture, I think it would have been called off.
The scenes at Aintree didn’t make good viewing, with exhausted horses and a low completion rate.
Thirty years ago, such challenges were more accepted. I can remember Earth Summit winning the Grand National in a bog with just four finishers—a true testament to survival of the fittest.
While the jockeys deserve credit for responsibly pulling up tired mounts, it raises questions in today's era.
Critics may argue that racing in such conditions is exploitative, a sentiment amplified by the Aintree card. The debate lingers: Should they have raced on Saturday? It's a nuanced question, as part of me leans towards yes, yet there's a lingering concern that the jumps game can ill-afford more meetings like Aintree's.
Meanwhile, at Sandown, despite heavy ground on the hurdles course, the chase course remained soft, offering a different, less strenuous spectacle. Yes, horses knew they had a race, but they weren’t finishing legless.
Sandown presented a distressing scene witnessed by hundreds of thousands of TV viewers. Iceo suffered a broken leg just before attempting the fifth fence in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase, resulting in a heartbreaking sight as the horse navigated the obstacle on three legs. Describing the incident is challenging and it made for a horrible watch.
Not So Sleepy Stuns as Oldest Winner in Fighting Fifth
In the rescheduled Fighting Fifth, unexpected outsider Not So Sleepy, at 11 years old, claimed victory, becoming the oldest winner in the race's history. Thriving on the heavy ground, this quirky yet talented horse showcased his remaining ability on Saturday.
With Constitution Hill a non-runner, the race looked between Love Envoi and You Wear It Well but mares’ underperformed, with the former needing more than 2m and the latter struggling with the heavy conditions. Goshen, too, failed to make a significant impact and ran like Goshen.
I think punters missed a trick here, I know I certainly did. It was always likely Nicky Henderson would pull Constitution Hill out of the race so you could have backed all his rivals at big ante post prices and made a tasty profit on the race.
Le Patron Springs 16/1 Surprise in Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase
In a notable upset, Le Patron, secured victory in the Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase. The winner made it 3-3 since going over the larger obstacles. He jumped better than his six rivals at key stages in the race, in particular two out, where the well fancied JPR One made a serious mistake.
La Patron was idling or tiring on the run in and that enabled favourite Colonel Harry to finish closer to the winner than had seemed likely.
Whilst it may not have been the strongest renewals of the race. Le Patron's fence-jumping prowess suggests potential for races like the Arkle, though beating the best of the Irish remains uncertain.
The runner-up needs further than 2m, and the fourth, Petit Tonnerre also needs a return to 2m 4f, and may find better opportunities in larger field handicap chases.
JPR One, whilst a good novice chaser, looks like he might fall short at Grade 1 level.
Jonbon Triumphs in Gritty Tingle Creek Victory
Jonbon showcased his toughness with a Grade 1 Tingle Creek triumph following a successful Cheltenham seasonal return. It wasn’t pretty and it was Jonbon's class that secured the win. He’s fine on soft ground but I think he jumps better out of better ground.
He wasn’t cut for the Champion Chase on the back of this success but remains firmly on track for the Cheltenham Festival and another mouthwatering clash with El Fabiolo.
Edwardstone, runner-up to Jonbon at Cheltenham, replicated his position here and, narrowing the gap to Jonbon. A commendable effort from the 9-year-old, but a step up in trip to 2m 4f looks necessary as he can’t beat Jonbon or El Fabiolo over 2m.
Haddex Des Obeaux, produced a career best effort from the front in finishing third. He finished within 5 lengths of Jonbon. He was on a mark of 150 coming into Saturday’s race and is likely to find himself on 162 after this effort. He’s now clearly blown what was a good handicap mark.
Nube Negra dislikes soft ground but he did earn connections £9,327.50 for his fourth place finish.
Chambard Springs Surprise in Aintree's Becher Handicap Chase in Gruelling Conditions
Last year’s winner Ashtown Lad was friendless in the pre-race betting, and he could never get into the race after a bad mistake at the second. i suspect he won't have found any new friends after this performance.
That left Chambard (18/1) to plough through the mud for a thoroughly deserved success where less than half of the runners finished. Credit to winning jockey Lucy Turner who really gets on well with the 11-year-old. She got the winner in to a good jumping rhythm, staying out of trouble and taking up the running at exactly right time.
Top weight Coko Beach was given good ride from Danny Gilligan and put in a very commendable performance in second.
Percussion who just loves the Aintree fences finished a respectable if well beaten third. He handles heavy ground but is better on less testing ground.
Celebre D'Allen was smuggled into the race by Brian Hughes. He seemed to be travelling better than anything coming to two out. However, his stamina quickly emptied and was legless on the run in.
My pick Highland Hunter was prominent when unseating is rider at the 6th. Given it was stamina that won the day he would likely have given the winner a race.
The Big Breakaway came in for plenty of pre-race support, returned 11/2 favourite, but never looks like he would get competitive and was pulled up. He’s now failed to complete on three starts at Aintree including two races over the National fences.
In tomorrow's column, I'll delve into the weekend's events at Navan and Cork, providing insights and featuring two horses for the tracker.
Monday Preview:
There’s a decent card at Ayr on Monday afternoon with 85 runners declared for an eight race card.
1:20 – Ned Tanner was coming with what looked a winning run when hampered by a faller two out at Kelso last month. He’s just 1lb higher here and should go close back at 3m.
Readysteadybeau was well backed (9/4 fav) prior to unseating his rider at the 9th at Wetherby 23 days ago. He’s on a good mark if none the worse for his last time out mishap.
I think Marown might well be capable of better over fences and he’s 2lb lower than when a 1 ¾ length 2nd of 6 Elvis Mail here (2m 4 ½ f) on last season’s seasonal return.
1:50 – Dunnet Head improved to win on his handicap hurdle/seasonal debut at Carlisle (2m 1f) last month. Today’s 2m 4 ½ f distance should suit the 5-year-old who’s only 4lb higher than at Carlisle and capable of more improvement.
Top weight Rafferty’s Return missed a valuable handicap hurdle at Aintree due to heavy ground. He was a 7 length third of 10 at Wetherby 23 days ago. A bit of a Wetherby specialist, he seems to be building towards a win and is now 1lb below his last winning mark.
2:50 – Euchen Falls, twice a winner over hurdles earlier in the year including here in March, made an encouraging chase debut when a 3 length 4th of 13 at Musselburgh on chasing debut last month. He still held a winning chance when hampered on the run in that day. Nudged up 2lb and up a notch in class but remains capable of better over the larger obstacles.
Monday Selection:
I was going to go with Euchen Falls (2:50) as Monday’s selection butthe 7/2 is a bit short now.
The step up to 2m 4f should really suit Dunnet Head in the 1:50. He’s the one to beat but that isn’t stopping me from putting up Rafferty’s Return from the inform Rebecca Menzies yard. I put the 8-year-old up each way for Victor Value subscribers in a better race at Aintree on Saturday (non-runner). Yes, there’s a possibility that he’s been aimed at a handicap hurdle at Wetherby at Christmas that he won last year but I think he’ll give his backers a good run for their money today and I will be disappointed if he can't finish in the first three.
Ayr
1:50 – Rafferty's Return – 13/2 @ Bet365.
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John