Lingfield 22/11/11

It did highlight a big Racing For Change omission - marketing the sport to Goths. With fancied runners plucking defeat from the jaws of victory and the ominous weather, they could have been out en masse for a day like this, and musing thoughtfully over the lyrics to On The Wire (Sisters Of Mercy) - "Now the ground comes up too fast, too fast to meet you." Etc etc. The Tote has launched all sorts of bets that nobody cares about, so why not trump them with the Gothpot. Pick a horse to not make the first ten, or fail to finish, in the first six races. Add a 10% bonus return for every selection that refuses or runs out. It cannot fail. After his epic Monday adventure, Nicky Henderson would also have been breaking out black hair dye, as both runners today, odds-on favourites, hit the deck.

We are all agreed - nobody wants to see this corrosion on a racecourse...

Going: Good to Soft for hurdles & Good, Good to Soft places for chases

Race 1: Pancreatic Cancer Charity Raceday mares’ Novice Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Elegant Touch     2: Zennor     3: Lady Kathleen

Winner owned: Andrew Gemmell, trained: Emma Lavelle, ridden: Noel Fehily

There were plenty of mares in this that had shown ability or potential so far, many more than could possible make the frame, so this race is one to keep an eye on as a source of low level winners from those less prominent in the results. The form guide for this race was the mares' race over course and distance two weeks ago. Heather Royal, who won it, was favourite here, only to blunder her rider away at the halfway stage. That left the third from the same race, Elegant Touch, to run out a comfortable winner. The vibe from before was that Heather Royal looked the speedier mare and could defy the penalty against Elegant Touch, but the way she saw off the rest of the field suggested that Elegant Touch might have had something to say about that had the jolly stayed in the race. Zennor (fifth in that same race here earlier) made the running and got lots of her rivals under pressure descending the hill, but when the winner passed her, defeat and a certain second place was accepted very readily, so she is potentially better than the wide margin loss that ensued. Irish challenger Bessie Lou had some fair form to her name, but her win had been on good to firm, and the ground just caught her out this time. See Plus Points below for an extensive summary of the rest of the runners.

In order to stop vain mares from watching themselves on television, the big screen has to be angled away from the home straight. However, the position of the eyes on a horse's head foil that plan, and the ones taking note of themselves are, in order, Zennor, Definite Lady, Lady Kathleen, Hibba (9), Dream Performance, Heather Royal, Now What (15), Elegant Touch (6), a mostly hidden Bessie Lou, My Sister (14), Flying Trump (red, whiteish cap), Ceannline (brown, pink cap) and Just Say Please. These names could be arranged into a saucy rhyme...

Race 2: Pancreatic Cancer Charity Raceday Beginners Chase [2m]

1: Darna     2: All For Free     3: Russian Conquest

Winner owned: Mrs Julie Martin& David R Martin, trained: Kim Bailey, ridden: Jason Maguire

The field of four had clearly strong ideas about the talent pecking order, and they were soon spreadeagled in single file, with each one looking like they were being ridden to ensure the preconceived target. That all went haywire at the third from home, when Kid Cassidy came down, leaving the others to inherit one place above their station. There was not really much racing going on to upset the applecart. Darna won a couple of Ayr novice hurdles before being sold to his current yard for a six figure sum. With a run under his belt over hurdles, the apparent lack of ambition was surprising, but Kid Cassidy was extremely headstrong and the belief may have been that he would not see out his first race of the autumn. He had actually unseated his rider before the race got underway, thus exposing another rule that the BHA have implemented incompetently. Had that done so under starter's orders or after the last fence, he could not have been remounted, but because it was in effect before the race had assembled, there was no problem. Are there really no brain cells to go round at that place?

Race 3: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month Novice Hurdle [2m 3.5f]

1: Same Difference     2: Kilmacowen     3: Baldadash

Winner owned: Mrs R Vaughan, trained: Nigel Twiston-Davies, ridden: Sam Twiston-Davies

As with the opener, potential had been displayed in more runners than could possibly be battling it out for a place, so there is every chance that one or two of the also-rans can find a successful niche somewhere this season. The race panned out similarly to the opener, with the first two impressively dismissing the pack, who themselves showed glimpses of encouragement. The form of Same Difference's only run in Irish points, which he won, appears nothing exceptional, but he caught the eye here, being asked to attack early, and had the race won between the last two. A little uncertainty in front allowed Kilmacowen to close, without convincing that he would actually catch the winner until one final surge in the last twenty metres narrowed the gap to less than a length. Baldadash showed the same qualities as Kilmacowen, but not quite as speedily. The headscratcher here was in fifth. Willow's Saviour had lost all three bumpers by eight lengths or fewer, none a great race, and here he only got deprived of a place late on. The indecision hat is being worn as to whether this is a Plus Point, for a promising hurdles debut, or a Down Arrow for yet another race where he failed to threaten a not too distant winner. A better site would have an internet poll on this, as we all know how useful the results of those things are. 

Same Difference has this margin over Kilmacowen as the enter the final 100 metres. Kilmacowen ate up a big chunk of it.

Race 4: Pancreatic Cancer Charity Handicap Chase [2m]

1: Bankstair      2: Rosoff     3: Royaume Bleu

Winner owned: Hugh Doubtfire, trained: Tim Vaughan, ridden: Richard Johnson

The going was likely to be vital to the outcome of this race, with some only acting on the prevailing ground, and others only on soft, presumably entered in hope of a rainy night. Of course, the other critical decider was mood, with plenty of them disinclined to run every race as if there was importance attached to the outcome. In the end, the fall of Chestnut Ben three out made life easy for Bankstair, and given that the ground was not the heavy variety in which Chestnut Ben has delivered in the past, there seemed a good chance that Bankstair may have hung on anyway. Rosoff tried pretty hard, but his laboured jumping had drawn the sting from his race well before he was left in second place. Given the limited fight put up against him, it cannot be said for certain that a change of yard has freshened up Bankstair mentally, but it has obviously not done any harm.

Race 5: Pancreatic Cancer Charity Raceday Handicap Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: First Avenue     2: Ray Diamond     3: Extremely So

Winner owned & trained: Laura Mongan, ridden: Leighton Aspell

Before they started, this had all the signs of a very competitive, anyone's game handicap hurdle. It did produce a tight finish, but with the first pair having opened up some twilight back to the rest of them - see, someone is making an effort to welcome the Goths. Ray Diamond, a popular pick in the betting, had made the first attack, and got the opposition in trouble, but having approached the second last flight back in seventh, the response of First Avenue when only asked a small question saw him surge through to second place in no time at all. From the approaches to the final hurdle, Leighton Aspell did not get especially vigorous with him, yet it took a fair while to assert over a stubborn Ray Diamond. Given that First Avenue has a bit of a disappointing win rate over hurdles, it might be that this subtle coaxing is the only way to get the best out of him. Extremely So was having his first run since February, and is another that a bare two miles would probably not suit, so using his stamina to nab a distant third was as good as could be expected. 

Race 6: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month Handicap Chase [3m]

1: Monbeg Dude     2: Goring One     3: Pete The Feat

Winner owned: Oydunow, trained: Michael Scudamore, ridden: Tom Scudamore

With two chasing debutants, and two having only their second chase (one of which was knocked over at the first fence on the first try), this was a race with more than it’s fair share of question marks. On top of that, only five of the eleven had proven themselves to stay three miles, even though those who had not at least tended to hint that they were stayers in the making. But was the construction job finished yet? On the whole, no as the first three places were filled by horses who had played their hand at three miles. And the race looked to be at the mercy of hat trick seeking, three miles proven Wide Receiver when he fell three out, and hampered Goring One in the process. Would he have hung on? Goring One was labouring at the time, looking unlikely to catch the leader, and Monbeg Dude, who was still travelling smoothly a little way back, only wore down Goring One very narrowly, so the it seems Wide Receiver would have had his measure as well. Goring One has done well since sent over fences and gave it a good shot without having the best of luck, but the handicapper must be reeling him in now.

Race 7: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month Junior Standard Open National Hunt Flat Races [1m 5f]

1: Juhd     2: Fire Chief     3: Icanseeclearlynow

Winner owned: Paul G Jacobs, trained: Emma Lavelle, ridden: Jack Doyle

The usual all-weather bumper to end a Lingfield meeting on a dull note. This was more flat race-like than usual, with the pace looking solid through the darkness. Juhd got a nice run up the inside of the final bend, allowing enough advantage to hang on for first. Fire Chief put up a good battle to cling on for second from Icanseeclearly, who had the experience of a previous race to employ, but cancelled it out by getting boxed in approaching that last bend, and taking a little while to find a gap. Eyecatcher at the end was Jolly Valentine, who was in the rear and not going well early in the race, but swept through in the straight to end up fourth as he understood what was being asked of him. As the absent Goths would no doubt have endorsed, there is no reason why this bunch will fare any less badly on turf than those that have been involved in previous years, because life is like that...

Plus Points

Rydalis (not running today): Second in the good mares race that threw up the 1-2 in race one today, and from which the fourth has already triumphed. Keep a close eye on her wherever she pops up. 

Zennor (race 1): Seemed not to expect to beat Elegant Touch, but ran a very decent race all the same, and her flat rating of 77 shows that she is not slow - although only managing one flat win, at 1m 1f, is a bit of underachievement.

Lady Kathleen (race 1): Got a bit outpaced on the hill, but stayed on with determination in the straight to grab third. The form of her bumper second, well clear of the rest, appears solid, and this was a good, but looking to need further, debut over hurdles.

Ceannline (race 1): Came from Ireland with a flat rating of 87 and three wins to her name. Her first two hurdle races were woeful efforts, but she ended up sixth under a fairly genteel ride this time. God forbid that she will get her act together in a handicap...

Definite Lady (race 1): Faded a bit tamely into fifth, yet that still produced a result which was a far more positive one than on her hurdle debut.

Dream Performance (race 1): A nice big mare who had won a bumper and finished only five lengths behind Heather Royal in another, she had jumped really quite poorly in her first hurdle, but seemed today to show that something had been learned from it. She dropped away once the pace quickened, without being given a hard time, leaving the impression that she was better than the bare result of a fifty lengths or more beating indicates.

Minella Mistake (race 1): Unraced since finishing third in this very event in 2009, she had a good loosener, and can make up for lost time over the winter.

Flying Trump (race 1): Had only one flat run, finishing last in September 2010. She did much better here (eighth) and may have just needed a bit of time to get race ready in body and spirit. 

Darna (race 2): Good, efficient round of jumping and got an unexpected win from doing it. Maybe he will be better still over further than two miles.

Kilmacowen (race 3): Went UP4P2 in Irish points, but in that positive closing bid, he lost to a subsequent novice hurdle winner by a manageable distance. On this evidence he will also make a mark under rules.

Baldadash (race 3): Won his third Irish point, and when debuting in Britain in a bumper did not look as if he was as 100% serious about the race as the rules makers would prefer. An SP of 4/1 here indicates that just about everyone in Europe who bets on novice hurdles had noticed, and the expected improvement was duly shown. 

Fighting Flynn (race 3): Came into this with no pointing or bumper experience, and was caught a bit flat-footed when Same Difference quickened the race up. He rallied bravely and grabbed fourth near the line. A good start, likely to be improved upon, and probably a three miler sooner or later. 

Dream Again Boys (race 3): Also missed out on the fun of pointing and bumpering, but made a much quieter debut, ambling around gently for sixth. Unclear how good he is, but very, very likely it is more than this. 

Simply Ben (race 3): Fourth to Cheltenian in his only bumper, he was in a new yard and debuting over hurdles. He was at the back early and could not close due to a lack of fluency in getting over the hurdles. He showed some heart to try and close on the leaders belatedly, so when the technique is fixed, he can make a bigger mark on the results sheet.

Sharakti (race 3): A three time flat winner at 1m 2f, rated just in the 70s, he settled at the back for this hurdling bow and only tried to pick up when it was too late. With a bit of effort he managed to pass a straggler or two, and is one to have in mind when he gets handicapped. 

First Avenue (race 5): Can add to his tally when able to cruise along in rear and be kidded to victory like today - a sharp track suits that way of operating.

Ray Diamond (race 5): It was possible that a two mile hurdle on this ground would expose his lack of speed now that he has flirted with chasing and two and a half miles, but in fairness to the horse, he showed a relish and pace here that is not always apparent. Another win in deep mud is possible, although the booking of Tony McCoy today hints that this was the one that really mattered. 

Drumshambo (race 5): Off since pulling up at Aintree over a year ago, he looks well handicapped, even allowing for the fact that his two wins were in small fields of not exactly top drawer opposition. With the run under his belt, he can build on the opportunity that the handicapped has dangled. 

Monbeg Dude (race 6): A decent enough chase debut, with a bonus of a win, and he probably stayed the trip as well. But was his rider's decision to hang on to a tight rein from the fourth last down to a faith that the leaders had been too aggressive too early or a wish to conserve stamina and strict control of the jumping?

Pete The Feat (race 6): Tolerates this ground, but prefers muddier conditions, and was not close enough to the first pair to spoil a workable handicap mark. He is patiently waiting for the ground to turn.

Near The Water (race 6): Likes the same sort of ground as Pete The Feat, and narrowly lost out to that horse for a place. He also is doing well enough at present to expect wetter weather to open the arched window of opportunity, although history says perhaps at a shorter trip than this.

Down Arrows

Tweedledrum (race 1): Won two on the flat and was rated 79 before going hurdling. Her first pair of hurdle races were not up to much, but with a handicap mark looming, the signs of having better in hand were being sought. Reminders after hitting the second were a bad sign, and not only did she not get in the race, she did not seem keen to.

Kid Cassidy (race 2): Charged manically to the start, where he unseated attempting to stop, and set off in the race equally excessive in his enthusiasm, despite the oppo not doing anything to gee him up. It was reported that he was lame to some degree after the fall, so some absence is expected, but the verdict for now is that his brain is letting down a pretty decent degree of physical talent.

Heliopsis (race 3): Finished third in both bumpers, one of which worked out very well, whilst the other was exactly the opposite. This was his first hurdle race and although he would not be the first to pull up in bewilderment and then progress rapidly, the manner in which he went from prominent to floundering in a short distance was discouraging.

Next Hight (race 3): In a tight market, he was favourite on Betfair at one point in the morning, but seemingly went on the drift after that. He was runner-up on the flat in Germany a few times, with no wins, and was another that went from close up to tailed off too quickly for comfort.

Chestnut Ben (race 4): Had made a solid start to chasing but the fall here might prove to be the prompt for a big step backwards. Be wary until his jumping is again proven to be stable.

Al Amaan (race 4): Ran one of his better races last time, and the addition of blinkers to sharpen his finish was interesting. We shall never know on that score, as after errors at the first, fourth, fifth and sixth, he was worse at the seventh and unseated. It seems he was giving the new headgear a bit of a thumbs down.

Goat Castle (race 4): Always appeared to be of suspect mental approach over hurdles, and the pressures of a chase debut spotlighted the issue more obviously.

First Avenue (race 5): Can flop badly if not allowed to act like a genius in the race - the relentless pace on a galloping track can fluster him into surrender.

Spiritual Art (race 5): Won a hurdle at the fourth attempt, and was reported as having "run green" in front. Such signs of inexperience were odd for a horse that also had twenty-eight flat runs to his name at the time, and the verdict is that he is simply an awkward so and so, confirmed today as he was at the back throughout, and often looked uninterested in making an effort.

O Malley's Oscar (race 6): A victim of the obscure "one apostrophe per name" rule, he is protesting by doing all he can to not compete when in chases, which is a shame, as he showed plenty of promise as a hurdler.

Credit Crunched (race 6): Debuting over fences and joint top weight, the effort told on him approaching the fourth last and he dropped out quickly. His four hurdle runs were all at two and a half miles, so he is not yet trustworthy at three miles plus.