Morning all,
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on the weekend’s more interesting performances. Plus, you’ll find a selection from this afternoon’s big race at Huntingdon.
Weekend jumping notes
More and more of the big names of the winter game are returning to action. On Sunday it was the turn of Chantry House who comfortably saw off The Big Breakaway to win the Listed Intermediate Chase at Sandown on Sunday. We didn’t learn anything from this success and bigger tests await. It looks like the 7-year-old will be heading to Kempton for the King George on Boxing Day and looks set for a big season. He’s a best priced 6/1 for the King George which look fair given he’s a progressive second season chaser and an attractive 12/1 for next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Notebook, returned from a 212-day absence to see off Samcro in the Group 2 Fortria Chase at Navan on Saturday. He jumped well and although Samcro seemed to be going better of the pair coming to two out, Notebook jumped the second last better and ran out a decisive winner. He’s probably not going to win a Grade 1 at the Spring festivals but his form figures between Oct & January are now 2211111121. His good jumping will continue to hold him in good stead in the top 2m chases in the coming weeks and he could well land one of them.
The David Pipe trained Remastered ran well when a 1 ¼ length 3rd of 11 in the Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier at Aintree on Saturday. A very useful novice chaser last season winning the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot. The 8-year-old was having his first start since finishing 5th of 12 to Galvin in National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. It was an excellent seasonal reappearance and he now heads back over fences for the Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury. He’s a best priced 14/1 for that race but probably needs soft ground if he’s to win.
Final flat thoughts
Charlie Appleby & William Buick
What a season it’s been for Charlie Appleby. A Derby win, an Irish Derby success, and a St Leger win. He crowned a fantastic 2021 on the world stage with three winners at the Breeders’ Cup at the weekend.
All three winners were ridden by William Buick and given his lack of experience of the De Mar track it was a notable riding performance. I think he’s the best jockey and Appleby the best trainer in Europe at present. A jockey’s championship can’t be far away for Buick. All the signs are the pair will have an equally good 2022 with three of the leading fancies for next year’s 2.000 Guineas.
Keep Sisfahan onside
Finally, a word on the German trained Sisfahan who I really fancied for the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Saturday. The 3-year-old finished a 5 ¾ length 7th of 14. He didn’t get the best of runs when making headway two out and found the firm ground not to his liking. Given it was only the colt’s 7th career start, he’s one to keep an eye on next season as he’s open to further progress as a 4-year-old.
Farhan lands November Handicap
The curtain finally descended on the British flat season on Saturday and Farhan landed some nice bets in winning Saturday’s November Handicap at Doncaster. I put up both the winner and First Light to Victor Value subscribers on Friday and many of them got on at the 10/1 advised. As I mentioned in Wednesday’s race preview, a low draw turned out to be a negative with the first four home coming from a stall no lower than 13.
The winner had run well against a potential Group horse in Siskany in the Old Rowley Cup on his previous start and although he was taking on older handicappers for the first time, he stayed on too strongly for his 22 rivals to register a decisive 1 ½ length success. Once again the winner showed a liking for some ease in the ground. He should stay further than 1m 4f as a 4-year-old but will probably need juice in the ground to land another big pot.
Three for the Tracker
This week’s eyecatchers are from Exeter, Aintree and Wincanton.
Run To Milan – Victor Dartnell
Run To Milan returned from an 8-month absence in the 3m handicap chase at Exeter on Tuesday, running just as well as he had done when easily winning over C&D in March. Quickly sent to the front, he had jumped soundly through the race until making a bad mistake at the last. He travelled through the race like he remains on a competitive mark and should be able to win a staying chase this winter.
Gunsight Ridge – Olly Murphy
Bred to do better over fences than hurdles. Gunsight Ridge made a promising chasing debut when a 4 ¼ length 3rd of 8 to Darling Du Large in the 2m handicap chase at Aintree on Saturday. Only beaten by a couple of more experienced chasers on the day. This was a highly promising debut over the larger obstacles by the 6-year-old. He should strip fitter for his first run for 8 months and can win races in the sphere this season.
Cap Du Nord – Christian Williams
Cap Du Nord finished a 9 ¼ length 4th of 13 in Saturday’s Badger Beers Handicap Chase at Wincanton. As ever patiently ridden he got into contention four out but didn’t have the pace to go with the three that finished in front of him over the final two fences. Strong in the market, returned the 9/2 joint favourite, he looks more than capable of being competitive in staying handicap chases in the coming weeks.
Tuesday racing
A low-key Tuesday of racing but the quality does improve each day in the lead up to Cheltenham’s three-day November meeting which starts on Friday. There are jump cards this afternoon at Lingfield, Hereford, Huntingdon. Plus, a teatime all-weather fixture at Newcastle.
Tuesday best race is the Class 3 Michaelmas Handicap Hurdle (1:30) at Huntingdon. Sadly, the 2m contest has only attracted six runners.
Huntingdon
1:30 – Michaelmas Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 2m
Despite the small field it looks a competitive contest and three of the six declared runners are previous C&D winners. It’s those three that interest me most.
Takeit Easy showed he has returned to action in good form when winning a handicap hurdle at Wetherby last month. Up just 2lb for that success and Jack Andrews takes off a handy 5lb which negates the weight rise. He goes well on a sound surface and looks to have a favourites chance.
Onemorefortheroad has also returned to action in winning form. Making it 3 wins from 6 runs over hurdles when winning at Stratford 12-days ago. The 6-year-old is only 1lb higher here and is aonther who goes well on quick ground.
Ajero a winner over C&D, off 1lb lower, in March. Off for seven months the 6-year-old shaped like he was need of the run when pulling up in a listed handicap hurdle won by Soaring Glory at Ascot 10-days ago. Takes a drop-in class here and he could easily bounce back to winning ways.
Verdict: There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of pace in the race. Cabot Cliffs will make the running with Ajero likely better positioned than Takeit Easy. At the prices I’m just going with Ajero but there’s not much between him and Takeit Easy.
Ajero – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John