Worcester 08/07/09

On the upside, a few days ago the Racing Post (on a clearly quiet news day) had some photo mock-ups of the possible facial hair to be sported by jockeys on Robert Thornton’s stag do. Anyone who fancies a bet on the most extravagant growth might wish to consider investing on Mark Bradburne or Andrew Thornton.

Going: Good (Good to Firm) – presumably, as the course did not see fit to announce it or display it anywhere, despite the volatile recent weather.

Race 1: Promark By Partex Maiden Hurdle [2m]

1: Danetime Panther     2: Civil Servant     3: Commons Glory

Winner owned: Jenny & Mark Pitman Racing Club, trained: Ian Williams, ridden: Robert Thornton

With the two non-runners both being potentially interesting contenders, the race did come across as depleted, but Danetime Panther, who did not go unbacked, gave a good impression in the way he stalked the leaders from the rear and then pounced on the run-in. Poor Civil Servant (not a phrase you hear very often!) looked to have made a decisive move when leading at the last only to be undone by the ominous feline. The winner had run well in a decent race at Newbury on his debut, but then disappointed twice afterwards – which Panther will be seen next? Irish visitor Commons Glory made the running and stuck at it when headed. This was more like his good bumper form and a big improvement on some abysmal attempts over hurdles.

Race 2: Richard Wright Memorial Handicap Chase [2m 7f]

1: Quil Est Beau     2: Howdy Cloud     3: Tosula

Winner owned: W Frewen, trained: David Pipe, ridden: Tony McCoy

Howdy Cloud and Oneforbertandhenry ensured the race was run at a good lick, which meant that a fair smattering of the field never quite managed to get into contention. Quil Est Beau had shown signs of putting a couple of bad runs behind him when livelier last time, and made a winning chase debut. A couple of his jumps were a touch on the careful side, and he did tie up a bit on the run-in, but ultimately, Howdy Cloud, who has been finding mere Restricted points a tough ask, was not going to produce enough to take advantage of that. To sum up the race, the top weight was rated 85, the bottom just 80 and the fourteen runners had 230 appearances under Rules, with a mere 13 wins before today, and there is no reason to suspect that any of them is about to make a dramatic correction.  

Quil Est Beau returns fearing that he will not even be able to get a drink - others feel a rug is a better priority

Race 3: Mansell Construction Novice Handicap Hurdle [3m]

1: Winchester Red     2: Particle     3: Skipper’s Lad

Winner owned: RER Williams, trained: Evan Williams, ridden: Donal Fahy

The lack of proven stamina gave this race an interesting look, but it panned out in slightly unexpected manner. A slow early pace made it appear as if staying power would not be the biggest factor, but of the first four home, three were proven to see it out and one was trying three miles for the first time. Significantly, several dropped away as if they had been tested beyond their powers. Particle, who recently opened his account over course and distance, cruised into the lead three out, but could not handle the last flight challenge of Winchester Red. The winner had been thrashed on all four previous runs, including one handicap hurdle, but there was money for him, presumably based on the fact that his least awful performance was in a three miler on heavy – the plus being that it was behind Kayf Tara. On that form he was quite fairly handicapped, and the initial win was duly secured. Particle had taken a long time to finally win, but the card was spattered with horses that had only won two races, which happened to be consecutive. Clearly the positrons had not aligned to put him in a comparable balance of mood and fettle. Skipper’s Lad finished strongly but too late, and whilst this seems a cause for note in the near future, his history of non-triumph (odd days of excelling himself in a morass of wide defeats) does sound a power-chord of warning. The first trio ended up well clear of the rest.

Shield Of Zeus has the early lead, ahead of Dip In The Med (goosestepping his way round proved a failed strategy), Rio Laine (yellow & blue) and Massams Lane (black and beige). The pussyfooting around continues in behind, although the race was a riot of colour!

Race 4: Partex Marking Systems Diamond Anniversary Novice Hurdle [2m 4f]

1: Billie Magern     2: Cailin Na Ri     3: Hope Road

Winner owned: Roger Nicholls, trained: Nigel Twiston-Davies, ridden: Tim Molloy

A cracking good finish in the middle of the card, with Billie Magern leading three out, being headed by Cailin Na Ri and then battling back after the last to regain the lead for good. The winner, a maiden who has suffered ten previous losses, has been inclined to run in snatches, but the two levels today were travelling or battling hard. Cailin Na Ri had once been runner-up narrowly, and in all other efforts failed to repeat that. She proved that the earlier second was not a complete fluke, but what is her norm? Hope Road had looked a bit of a jolly plodder in hurdles and chases until be bullied some rivals last time that had left their clown shoes at home. This was the seventh time in thirteen runs that he has been third.

Race 5: Cotswold Scaffolding Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Priest Field     2: Akram     3: Edgefour

Winner owned: Chris & Nick Nenadich, trained: Chris Nenadich, ridden: Peter Toole

This was another race where a pace that looked strong to the naked eye seemed to knock plenty of runners out of contention. Akram defied that to come from off the pace to put in a serious challenge two out, only to find Priest Field, previously a seller winner, in no mood to concede the lead. Whether it was lack of speed or the effort telling, Akram’s prayers went unanswered and his challenge ground to a halt after the last, as Priest Field stormed clear. Edgefour just held the well backed Star Of Germany for third, although the latter made life difficult for himself by hitting a couple of flat spots along the way. The limitations of the field were highlighted by the fact that Dark Energy (one win in seventeen) went off second favourite.

Tip for the future: When it was observed that locally based trainer Chris Nenadich had enjoyed his two winners here and at none-too-distant Hereford, he replied that he, 'liked to be in the pub by nine.' A jest or a point to consider when he ventures further east?

Race 6: Mazak & Power Panels Together Success Novice Chase [2m]

1: Postmaster     2: Mam Ratagan     3: Norborne Bandit

Winner owned: Bill & Ben Partnership, trained: Evan Williams, ridden: Paul Moloney

When Mutual Friend* tried to put a skylight in the saddling box, using only his head as a tool, and was withdrawn, it threatened to set the tone for the novice chase, but it was entirely devoid of chaos on the course, being resolved when Postmaster collared Mam Ratagan on the false elbow on the run-in. Postmaster finishes second a lot, but his trainer is adamant that he is very game, and the way he runs, to the casual observer, definitely looks like an over-achiever, who has the guts to dismiss some more physically talented opponents – of which there is often one against him who is sturdy enough not to be tricked into defeat. In complete contrast, Mam Ratagan runs too freely early on and is at the end of his tether by the last – the ideal victim for the predatory Postmaster.

‘* Price at withdrawal was 6/4 – very short on chase debut for a hurdler inclined to be an awkward ride, and maybe an indication of lay possibilities in future.

Race 7: PP Training, An Investment Not A Cost Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m]

1: Grand Award     2: Sheila’s Castle     3: Poppy Parade

Winner owned: Don Cantillon Racing, trained: Don Cantillon, ridden: Leighton Aspell

The key to this race was Sheila’s Castle, who has run extremely well in two of her three previous bumpers, yet was freely on offer at 20/1 here. She ran up to par, only defied by Grand Award, another Don Cantillon horse to have successfully debuted in a 2m 4f maiden British point. The winner made a dive for the saddling boxes after passing the site of the last hurdle, and possibly did not accelerate once the rail straightened him up, but with the top man on board, disaster was averted, and as mentioned, the runner-up has good form as a yardstick yet he saw her off by four lengths. Prior to the race, Poppy Parade was subject to an extended lecture from the girl leading her up about continued poor behaviour, but she seemed perfectly co-operative today, admittedly with lots of accoutrements about her tack, and was a decent third.

Plus Points

Just Victor (race 1): Weakened quickly at Stratford last time, but off of a patient ride today, he sneaked into contention, and then found he could not sustain the effort. He just needs time to fill out and strengthen up, it seems.

Crystal Crown (race 1): Ran an odd sort of race, being at the rear early, making rapid progress around halfway, then back tracking abruptly again. More conventionally steady tactics might see improvement in handicaps.

Massams Lane (race 3): Whacked up ten pounds for his debut win, but failing to stay the trip closed his avenue to success this time.

Rio Laine (race 3): Found the going easier than last time, but is still youthful and does not yet stay three miles. He gives a better impression than the results so far would imply - so  a horse of potential or a down arrow in the making?

Semi Detached (race 3): Appeared to struggle with 2m 4f last time, and hit the wall about half a mile out today, up to which point he had looked a real danger.

Ring For Time (race 4): Had gone up a lot for her cruise at Stratford, but she was given a lot to do in a big field today and might yet defy the handicap rise when nearer the head of affairs earlier in the race.

Vivarini (race 4): Looked in top nick in the paddock, but ambled round at the back, without appearing to take the race at all seriously. He had one decent bumper run, one so-so run and two very bad ones, but there seems to be scope for him to step up considerably on this hurdle debut.

Billesey (race 4): Barely glanced at hurdling as he moved from bumpers to chases with some success, and after losing his way a little over fences around the New Year, he showed signs of a resurgence on this first run in five months, and might be worth sticking to hurdles - especially the brush ones met here and at Southwell.

Dark Energy (race 5): Is hard to enthuse over due to his poor winning percentage, but he is nearly down to the rating he won from, and had no more the a stroll round in the rear. If he is going to strike, and it is a big IF, there is a possibility of it happening soon.

Kingsand Bay (race 7): A debutant from an out of form yard, he ran on well to be fourth behind three proven rivals, and there is probably better to come.

Down Arrows

Grasscutter (race 1): Runner up on six of nine previous starts, looking a tame finisher, he added a woeful lack of toe to that problem at the end of this. The exchange users have already gathered round the lay button for him like vultures, and it only remains for the grounds maintenance people to sue him for giving them a bad name.

Seraphim Knight (race 1): Surprisingly did not even open as the market jolly, but in the race was where he needed to be leaving the far side, only to drop out in the manner of a horse with an injury or other form physical problem.

Classic Clover (race 2): Two wins at Wincanton made him prolific in the context of this field, and although he stayed on for fourth well, he had got himself in an adverse position earlier with bouts of laziness.

Particle (race 3): Showed why he took sixteen runs to break his duck, as he ran perfectly well for 2m 6f and then looked horribly, horribly one-paced in a race not exactly designed for horses armed with a turn of foot. The Hadron Collider is unlikely to be calling on this particle’s services.

Star Of Germany (race 5): Ran in snatches, and it is worth noting that his last three wins have been on sharp courses, where the pace can be expected to be a bit less unrelenting than usually met at Worcester – so should the sharp track affinity make him a plus point?

Norborne Bandit (race 6): Sets off much too freely – he looked to be testing even the mighty Seamus Durack en route to the start here – and thus fails to stay even two miles, hence his only win in thirty starts being on firm. It is a shame that he is so mentally erratic, as he is not slow and jumps soundly.

Tia Tara (race 7): A chunky, jump-ready sort of mare, she was showing her lack of experience a little in the preliminaries, but then ran disappointingly weakly in the race, being the first to crack. Some horses do progress quickly from this, but it is odds against.