DECEMBER 2009 HORSES

6 year old bay gelding     (Alflora – Blackwater Bay)     12P/11060-0262

Usually on this site, a horse named like this one would be introduced as “no awards as yet, but surely a matter of time.” Then a pause for the uproarious laughter to subside as the hours, days, even weeks jut fly by. Except that Award Winner has actually won three races. Some may be concerned that they came early in his career and have mostly been replaced with 0s of late. In fact, the down the field runs came in valuable handicap hurdles at Haydock, Uttoxeter and Punchestown. When in Class 3 grade or lower the drubbings have been at Ascot behind Karabak, a couple of novice chases behind Paul Nicholls trained hotpots and a stand out pulled up in a modest Folkestone race that is as easily explained as the work of James Joyce. When he has won hurdles (Award Winner, not James Joyce), the form seems sound enough and the reason for inclusion now is that in a more sensible sort of race at Lingfield, he showed that he can do something in chases, on a day when even in the mud he was battling against an inadequate trip.

Handicap chases over 2m 4f or more, on good to soft, soft or heavy, rated up to 130

FLASH HARRIET     (J. Mackie)

5 year old chesnut mare     (Classic Cliché – Harry’s Bride)     37-575

An interesting career so far has not seen Flash Harriet speeding past the line in a blur of chesnut, but has suggested she might clump over it at the speed of an ocean-going cargo ship. She did well in her first bumper, behind one of Alan King’s lesser lights, and the form of an apparent regression behind Willow Wren proved a touch less than disastrous as well. Since then, it has been anything but plain sailing, losing possibly her softest bumper by the furthest margin, and being hammered 37 lengths when hurdling after six months rest. Flash Harriet was only 6/1 that day, presumably as a result of the betting market wishing to insult her opponents and having no other means to do so (no place dividend on the Tote is a good way of doing that as well). But then she staged a minor recovery by doing better in a probably stronger race at Wetherby, where possibly she handled soft ground more effectively than some rivals of greater talent. A little handicap could produce fireworks.

Handicap hurdles up to Class 5, up to 2m 5f

MINELLA FOR FOOD     (Evan Williams)

6 year old bay gelding     (Saddlers' Hall – Minella Madam)     02/-5

On his debut for Evan Williams, in a tidy novice hurdle at Leicester, the betting market initially was as welcoming to Minella For Food as the World Religious Fundamentalist Congress would be to Richard Dawkins, so the fact that he was beaten thirty lengths into fifth might be a remarkable performance, if the opposition progress as they are threatening to do. Of course, the reason why it is a positive was that after being briefly tapped for toe four out, the horse was not asked for a huge effort, yet lost no further ground, and hardly seemed tired crossing the line. His earlier form came in Ireland, where he won both points, had an educational at Naas and then was second to Cooldine in a big field at Punchestown - admittedly by a long way. It seems inconceivable that his current yard will not find a race for him somewhere, whether over hurdles or fences. Minella For Food could be handicapped on his three runs so far, but with the bare form so scattered in merit, the handicappers may request another look. Let us all watch with interest.

Handicap hurdles or handicap chases, over 2m 4f or more, rated up to 125

Minella For Food lives up to his name by wearing a selection of mashed potato about his face when racing

MR PRICKLE     (Dr. R. D. P. Newland)

9 year old chesnut gelding     (Carroll House – Auntie Prickle Pin)     4545845/843128/1167U/93930/5576-62

This is December's bonus seventh selection, even though he is fourth is the order. This is because he was earmarked for inclusion when showing signs of a return to form at Chepstow, unselected after winning in a quick reappearance at Towcester by 24 lengths seemed certain to clobber his handicap mark, then reinstated when, in the cold light of day, the handicappers will surely realise that his four opponents had little chance of putting up a fight on the combination of track, going and trip and the win proved very little. It did alleviate the concern that Mr Prickle was not far from celebrating the third anniversary of his last win. In the quiet spell there have been a few decent runs, certainly good enough to suggest that a cake was not ordered nor a venue booked to celebrate the coming landmark. Possibly better than the win was the Chepstow effort in the mud, where he was only seen off by a couple of lengths by Magot De Grugy in a much more challenging assignment. The other near things came at Haydock and Wetherby, and there lies the tale, as when he was trained by Peter Beaumont, all of his wins came on galloping courses (and on officially soft ground). Sticking with chases, his record on them was a 30% win rate and a 40% profit – ground has been irrelevant as until he changed yards racing on good to soft was considered radically fast. His current connections have experimented with good ground at Hereford and on a sharp track at Plumpton, proving only that the Beaumont plan was right all along. Even with some form of weight rise, more wins appear perfectly possible for Prickle.

QUEEN POLINE     (Mrs. L. Wadham)

5 year old bay mare     (Trempolino – Queen Running)     1/17-47

Queen Poline began her career with a very convincing success in a seventeen runner bumper at Haydock, but was then off for fifteen months. In a field half the size, she doubled her tally, beating a well regarded newcomer by three lengths, with some less illustrious opponents not so dangerously close. On the grounds that it is illegal to not go for a listed bumper with a mare that has won one race, aiming at the Sandown version with a dual winner would have resulted in riots in the streets of Newmarket (as opposed to the more common ones on the racecourse). Although only seventh, Queen Poline was beaten just nine lengths and after that rush of action, she had the summer off. Her return was in a very decent mares novice hurdle at Lingfield, when she was fourth, just lacking either pace or fitness on the run-in. What needs to be forgiven and forgotten was that she then came last at Newbury. The race seemed no better than the Lingfield one, but her stable was having lots of below par performances at the time, and she ought to be able to bounce back when they are on a more even keel.

Mares hurdles over 2m 3f or more on good to soft, soft or heavy  

Queen Poline exits the Lingfield paddock with dignity and composure, not yet aware that for the first time she was going to have to jump over stuff in a race

REBEL MELODY     (C. J. Mann)

8 year old bay gelding     (Houmayoun – Queenford Melody)     2/8217P/26847311-F7

It all started to go horribly right for Rebel Melody in the Spring. He ran a solid but unexceptional chase debut in Autumn 2008, then followed it with a couple of flat efforts and was switched back to hurdles. Solid performances at Ascot and Ludlow convinced connections that he could have another go over fences and Rebel Melody responded like proverbial pig in something best avoided being stepped in. Notably good rounds of jumping saw him win staying handicaps at Wincanton and Fontwell, which was then accompanied by a twenty-one pound weight rise – not entirely unjustified on the ease of his successes. So it looked like it was onwards to glory from this point, except that he surprisingly fell at Chepstow on his return from a summer break. Although well beaten at Fontwell next time, Rebel Melody put in a clear round and was, untypcially, not asked to make the running - suggesting that a clear round was number one priority. As charging off in front seems to be essential to him, his best chances of success imminently will be in smaller fields (hints of a preference to date) and a level track (definitely a plus already).

Handicap chases over 3m 1f or more on a level track, up to 9 run

SAUJANA     (J. R. Bewley)

5 year old bay gelding     (Benny The Dip – Silky Heights)     07/-27985

After an early career hiatus, based on two modest bumper runs being more than enough action for a lifetime (it seems!), Saujana reappeared in mid-2009 and looked to be an improved horse, coming second in an OK Sedgefield bumper – the winner followed up and the third has mixed up the good, the bad and the ugly, performance wise, so there are some grounds for thinking it a worthy effort. Saujana followed the example of the third placed horse, throwing in a truly hideous effort in his final race on the level, but he has since shown glimpses of the ability at Sedgefield over hurdles. Trying to handicap him on three tries would show him improving from race to race, but the eighth, in a good race at Kelso, when beaten only 22 lengths, indicates that he is a horse capable of some form of achievement when in his true level, although what sort of course, going or distance that may be is not yet clear. Quite possibly a sharp track, quite possibly good or faster, quite possibly further than two and a half miles. Unfamiliarity breeds not contempt, but intrigue. And sometimes unfortunate parasitic infections, which are best discussed on more medically qualified sites.

Handicap hurdles rated up to 110