Hi all,
After the big pre-Christmas weekends in November and December, January is often lazily labelled a quiet month. That’s only partly true. Last Saturday was weak, no doubt, but from here on the depth improves markedly – weather permitting, of course.
Next Saturday sets the tone with Warwick’s Classic Chase, backed up by the Lanzarote Hurdle and the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton.
A week later, the Berkshire Million takes centre stage across three days at Windsor and Ascot, headlined by the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase, with the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock adding a proper staying handicap chase test to the mix.
Saturday January 24th is one of the month’s real peaks, with Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham alongside Doncaster’s Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase.
January signs off in style with the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown and the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, which gets underway on Saturday January 31st.
Hardly a month to be written off.
Inside today’s main piece you’ll find several future winners from Victor’s Notebook.
Victor’s New Year Notebook
Egbert (Christian Williams) landed Tuesday’s Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase at Haydock on stable debut. When winning the Tommy Whittle last season for Alan King, he looked a hard ride. On Tuesday, he showed far more enthusiasm. If that continues, he looks exactly the type of staying handicap chaser his new trainer excels with.
I won’t revisit Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day card, as that was covered in Friday’s column. However, a couple from Musselburgh caught the eye.
The Virgin Bet Auld Reekie Handicap Chase was won by Breizh River, but the horses to take from the race are the third Insurrection and the fifth The Kalooki Kid.
Insurrection (Paul Nicholls) is a previous C&D winner and was returning from an eight-month absence. He ran well for a long way and would have gone very close but for a mistake three out. There’s a C&D handicap on Scottish Cheltenham Trials Day that looks an obvious next target.
The Kalooki Kid (Nicky Richards) won that same C&D contest on Scottish Cheltenham Trials Day last season. He returned from a 60-day break here, was weak in the betting, and shaped as though the run was needed. He should be primed to defend his crown at the end of the month.
At Windsor, the Fitzdares New Year’s Day Handicap Hurdle was won by Listentoyourheart. The third, Guard Duty, caught the eye once again. He had already gone into the notebook after his Newbury return and ran another solid race here. Back on a galloping track and with a bit more cut in the ground, he can win again.
The fourth Act Of Authority also ran to form. He didn’t get the clearest run approaching the last and a stronger pace would have suited. He remains on a workable mark.
Sandown: Sonigino Back on Track as Progressive Types Shine
I covered Sandown’s highlights in yesterday’s column, including the wins of Vanderpoel and All In You. Both are clearly going the right way and can strike again this season.
However, my main Sandown eyecatcher was Sonigino (Paul Nicholls). He was much closer to his best when a one-length third to Range in the Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle. This was only his second run after a 596-day absence. He showed he retains plenty of ability, and while he’ll go up a pound or two, he remains well handicapped. He looks capable of being placed to winning advantage before the season is out.
In Wednesday’s column and I’ll begin my look ahead to Saturday’s big races.
John