Towcester 25/10/09

Even though it was a bright sunny day, forgiving the odd brief and light shower that passed over (usually laving half the track in the sunshine, the other half in the gloom - which may be a metaphor for something or other), there is nothing like the late autumn winds rolling over the top of the hill at Towcester for reminding us just how late in the year it is. Alas, the did not stop many having a good chuckle at the man who, before the first race, stood in the middle of the track and opened his newspaper just that little bit too far. He did recover it all in the end, but it is a long, hard walk back up the hill at the end. 

Going: Good to Firm (Good places)

Race 1: GG.com Novice Hurdle [3m]

1: Palypso De Creek     2: Lord Generous     3: Silver Bay

Winner owned: Alan Halsall, trained: Charlie Longsdon, ridden: Tom Siddall

Most years see this race divided, and the usual rule is the more three mile novice hurdles the better, but condensing this one into a single heat did give it more apparent strength in depth. Coming up the hill, Palypso De Creek, Lord Generous and Global Flyer were engaged in quite a battle for the honours, and for those with time to think about it, it unfolded in an obvious way. Palypso De Creek had won a Grade 3 chase over three miles at Auteuil, and after a very sensible early pace, remained having an edge in class and speed on Lord Generous, who ran in short bumpers (including a Cheltenham win) and hardly seemed a doughty stayer when sixth in a decent two and a half miler at Lingfield on his only hurdle run. The winner was also the paddock pick, but running him close there was Global Flyer, who needed two handlers, and was a bit geed up - and the wasted nervous energy saw him fade back into fourth between the last two hurdles.

Low velocity action in the opener. All For A Star leads Cheapside and Palypso De Creek, then (left to right in the air) are Ash High, Walkingonsunshine and Global Flyer. Then it is Annies Castle, Varekai and Silver Bay.

Race 2: E M S Wreford Handicap Chase [2m 6f]

1: Ballygalley Bob     2: Harris Bay     3: Cold Mountain

Winner owned: Andrew L Cohen, trained: Oliver Sherwood, ridden: Robert Thornton

Overall, the form of this race looks very suspect, as Ballygalley Bob was an emphatic winner on ground that he has avoided up until now. In fact, his optimum situation is over further on much softer, although he was helped by the rapid weakening of Flemish Invader, who pulled up on the run-in, but not dismounted and ambled over the line in his own time. The excitement was happening behind  Ballygalley Bob, as the stragglers were left battling for second. Due to the incredibly slow speed they were going at, Harris Bay untailed himself off and then held second by six lengths as per the clock - the physical gap was much less. The miserable recent form of Harris Bay gives reason to view the result through doom-tinted spectacles. In fact, we have so many things to worry about - horrendous over-population, ongoing recession, earthquakes on the Pacific Rim and Harris Bay coming second in a handicap chase. 

This was Robert Thornton's tenth win in 46 rides at Towcester in recent years. Ballygalley Bob was having his second race at the track ever - and second win. He still sought independent verification of the route to the winner's spot in the post-race festivities. This partnership is going to end in a row!

Race 3: Print Data Solutions Mares' Novice Hurdle [2m]

1: Asturienne     2: Naughty Naughty     3: Bert's Memory

Winner owned: Let's Live Racing, trained: Alan King, ridden: Robert Thornton

With a big clump of opponents fighting out the places behind her, Asturienne skipped nicely clear for the win, the impact enhanced by the fact that her yard has not been in the most sparkling form for a few weeks. Her bumper form was sound, but unspectacular (won on debut but could not follow up), and she seems to have upped her gears a touch during eight months off. Maybe the same can be said for Naughty Naughty, whose bumper record was 3rd, 16th then 12th. Bert's Memory looked well before the race, but having been badly tailed off in a claimer, then seen off in a seller, she gives the form a rather modest look. There was a delay to the start whilst the low sun was debated, which may explain why early leader Oh No Rosa jumped wildly left, causing all sorts of chaos in behind, and overall, after the winner there was no correlation between form previously shown and finishing position of the mares. A handicapper's, erm, 'mare. 

Race 4: Christopher G Mattocks 80th Birthday Handicap Chase [2m 3.5f]

1: Jacarado     2: Ammunition     3: Sarobar

Winner owned: RG Whitehead, trained: Robin Dickin, ridden: Charlie Poste

Although fought out at the sort of pace that the man honoured in the race title could have kept up with, this was a thrilling finish, with Jacarado just edging out Ammunition and Sarobar in a nip and tuck grind to the line. With none of his rivals going that well, Charlie Poste attacked a long way out on Jacarado, and although he was out on his feet after the last, the horse bravely kept finding enough to keep the boarders repelled. Ammunition had never tried going this quick before, but to be pipped by a horse posting his fourth course win suggests that he coped with it. Sarobar had been in a bit of slump lately, and this was an encouraging sign that he may be ready to ease out of it.

Race 5: GG.com Novice Handicap Chase [2m 0.5f]

1: Bennynthejets     2: Alfatrix     3: Croon

Winner owned: Payplan Partnership, trained: Chris Bealby, ridden: Tom Messenger

Eleven lined up, and for a long while the bookies were offering 5/1 the field, which sums up the race. Bennynthejets won the hard way, even harder than Jacarado, being in and out of the lead and often urged along to do so. Even when he took a couple of lengths advantage two out, there was no telling from afar how much the earlier efforts would tell, but Alfatrix stayed on in a particularly paceless style, so he only edged out of third because Croon's stamina caved in on the run-in. Alfatrix also ran like this at Wincanton, where speed, or lack of it, is more readily exposed, so a simple upping to two and a half miles may not be the answer. Given the way the race panned out, Won More Knight and Wherrimon, who were both in rear but close enough and going well when brought down at the eighth, may be be reflecting on their misfortune as being a chance that flitted past them in the style of a bored lap dancer.

Intense Suspense leads Bennynthejets over the third, from Croon and Musical Weld. Cartier Opera (red/white) and Alfatrix (black/white/red) make up the third wave from Wherrimon.

Race 6: GG.com amateur riders' Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Vincenzio     2: Classic Fly     3: Chord

Winner owned: Longmoor Holdings Ltd, trained: Charles Egerton, ridden: Ollie Greenall

The anticipated cavalry charge, as three non-runners still left fifteen contending, and some very inexperienced riders participating as well. The first pair home had more battle hardened pilots, and ended the sport with a head to head duel on the run-in. This was Vincenzio's fourth hurdle run, and a fall has possibly stopped him opening his account earlier in a seller, either side of which he twice done reasonably well in maiden hurdles. He outstayed Classic Fly, who is proving a good guide to where the excitement will be. His last four runs are second by 3/4 length, won by half a length, second by a length, second by a neck. Which puts into perspective his one attempt in chases - beaten 96 lengths! One of the Collective Dreamers (Elegant Olive partnership) billed Chord before the race as possibly the biggest under achiever in racing. On post-race review of his form, and this belated staying on when the race was all but over, that does not look a exaggeration. He was eight lengths third of fourteen to Noble Alan in a Perth novice hurdle and took only seven months to descend to thirty-two lengths sixth in a novice selling hurdle. The fall from grace of an Olympic medal winning heavyweight boxer (with occasional exceptions).

Plus Points  

Lord Generous (race 1): Is a bit small, and oddly angular, but seems to be able to run fairly well. The size thing may be due to his mum, Lady Rebecca, who is too small to drop anything of substance.

Global Flyer (race 1): Endured a pair of huge defeats initially, but then improved dramatically at Hexham, and showed ability again today, even if his brain is not quite there yet.

Giolla Dei (race 2): The bare result of fourth, weakening in the last furlong or so, is nothing to get carried away with, and he is now 1 win from 27 in chases, but there were encouraging elements to the run and he would certainly prefer muddier going.

Sarobar (race 4): Overall has 2 wins from 45, but that looks less awful if restricted to chases - 2 of 25. Of immediate interest is that he is back down on his last winning rating and ran his best race in a while today.

Croon (race 5); Did not have the stamina to get home, but in all other respects this was an adequate first stab at fences. 

Fixed Interest (race 6): Caught the eye for looking well in the paddock and was still going well, but with a bit to do to engage with the leaders, when he managed to unload his rider three from home. He could be on a very competitive handicap mark.

Down Arrows

Ash High (race 1): After not being off on his Irish pointing debut, went 211 in that sphere, before fetching £60,000 at the sales. For a handful of yards that makes him a lesser light, but for everyone else a horse a capable of a touch better than tailed off in fifth in this would be expected for that sort of investment.

Harris Bay (race 2): Outstayed Cold Mountain and Giolla Dei for a well beaten second. But bear in mind that since November 2006 his record before this was PP1PPPP994. The ninths were by 57 and 123 lengths and the fourth in a five runner race.

Aberdeen Park (race 2): Had a tough task on his chase debut, lugging top weight in a non-novice handicap, but after seeming fine early in the race, he made a mistake at the top of the hill and was almost immediately struggling, as if his confidence is a little fragile. Especially disappointing as he often goes well fresh - maybe the course and ground were not ideal?

Knar Mardy (race 3): Beaten favourite in two of her three bumpers, she was far easier in the market for her hurdles debut, but ran far below the norm for a Nicky Henderson horse at this level.

Amie Magnificent (race 3): Won her last two (one either side of the Irish Sea) so was conceding weight all round. She was significantly kept well away from all the others during the extended wait at the start, and then ran no sort of race - implying that she is easily discombobulated.

Cartier Opera (race 5): Ran on for fourth, another encouraging performance, but the last one of those was followed by a terrible flop.

Chord (race 6): Landed the place double with Croon for each-way musicologists, the difference being is that Croon looked to be stepping forward whereas Chord could have been weighted out of running in this race, if he cared to be.

Empire

Elegant Olive (race 3): A satisfactory comeback. She looked for a while as if she may stay on for fourth or fifth, but blew up three out and made a mistake there. Mark Grant was on board, and said that she tried to rally but just could not get past the trio in front of her. She seems ready to step up now to the sort of trips that she is bred for, but could not cope with last season.

UK-Jumping Selections

Blast The Past (race 6): It was probably the wrong race on the wrong track, but he set out at the back and more or less stayed there.