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Plumpton 16/01/12 |
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After a spell of quite big crowds and some decent
novice races, the traditional ennui of January manifested itself with a
vengeance, producing a fairly civilised number of people attending and an
absolute absence of future stars. Part of this was due to a divergence of
opinion on how well the course had shaken off the overnight frost. The grounds
team were certain it was fine, a sudden burst of non-runners just as the first
race was about to begin suggested that trainers were not totally convinced.
Perhaps significant is that the fence by the stables and the hurdle at the top
of the back straight were omitted. Due to “false ground.” Hmmmmm. Going: Good to soft Race 1: SIS Live Novice Hurdle [2m] 1: Henry San
2: Sew On Target 3:
Specialagent Alfie Winner owned: Mrs MC Sweeney, trained: Alan
King, ridden: Wayne Hutchinson
On a day when the pictures came out far better than normal, any form of document including the colours was not kept, so most runners will remain sparklingly anonymous. Fairly certain that 8 is Sew On Target, and it is Chilworth Lass alongside. When researching this race the conclusion was
that there were plenty of contenders for a place, but nothing that really jumped
out as a winner of a novice hurdle. Perhaps there should be a rule that if no
performance deserved it, a result can be declared for just the places.* And it
unfolded the same way, as Henry San attacked in the home straight, seemed set to
go clear, but was being reeled in again at the line, although fluffing the last
hurdle probably had the most to do with the slow loss of advantage. There was
plenty of support in the market for Sew On Target, even though his only other
decent show came in a bumper on fast ground. It nearly paid off. In getting
third, Specialagent Alfie repeated his upgraded showing from the last run, but
there is a good case for saying that this was a weaker race, so it represented a
stalling of progress, at best. After a solid fourth on debut in a bumper at
Towcester, Lamblord has been beaten 25 lengths or more in all other races. This
was his first go at hurdling and to finish fourth, beaten only nine lengths,
made for a surprisingly good start. * This probably already exists in
Henry San over the last, clear Race 2: Timeform Jury Novice Chase [2m
4f] 1: Golan Guy
2: Hearty Royale 3:
She’s Jolly Winner owned & trained: Alison Batchelor,
ridden: Mark Quinlan The two withdrawals left this as a pale shadow
of the usual Cheltenham bonus race here, although when Golan Guy joined his
current yard from Ireland, it was possible that one sor two wins could have got
him in at the bottom of the weights for one of the festival handicaps and he was
unbeaten over fences. From one try. Instead he came last in a novice handicap
chase at Race 3: Race Passes @ Timeform.com
Handicap Chase [2m 1f] 1: She’s Humble
2: Goring Two 3:
Wosayu Winner owned: Another small field winner to break a stable
losing run, although this one was harder work. Goring Two stays further and was
sent for home early. In trouble on the final bend, She’s Humble rallied in the
straight, and once she got her head in front, all she had to do was not make a
mess of the last fence, one which she is plenty familiar enough with, what with
today being her seventeenth chase run at the track and all. This was a repeat of
her win in this very race in 2011. Goring Two had only run once at two miles
before, on heavy ground, and his dramatic lack of speed was more evident in
these conditions. A return to 2m 3f or more must be on the cards. Wosayu was not
accustomed to beating many horses in bumpers and hurdles, and this third did not
amount to an improvement for the switch to fences, as he had no chance of doing
any better from quite a long way out.
Another job done by She's Humble (1) from a slightly demoralised Goring Two - does he believe a golden chance has passed him by? Race 4: JH Builders EBF mares’ Novice
Hurdle [2m 5f] 1: One More Cookie
2: Regal Brook 3:
Fifi L’Amour Winner owned: RT Crellin, trained: Martin
Keighley, ridden: Alain Cawley
A choice of styles for negotiating a hurdle are available. One More Cookie on the left is just about best, Regal Brook on the far side is not bad either. The others? Less than optimal. This was a very strange race. For starters,
Lady Kathleen was set fair for victory when she overjumped the last and toppled
on landing. This left Fifi L’Amour in front, an unfamiliar scenario for a mare
used to seeing plenty of horses out ahead of her (often in stronger races), and
once she had sidestepped Lady Kathleen, she did falter noticeably. Open space
can be frightening like that. This gave a window of opportunity to Regal Brook,
but she in turn found One More Cookie just that little bit too quick for her
after that final hurdle. What was also strange is that with a lap to go, both
One More Cookie and Fifi L’Amour were at the back and being urged along, so
either the general speed of the race was excessive or it was an event populated
entirely by oddballs. This being Plumpton, the second option cannot be ruled
out, but there were bits and bobs of ability to be found in their past
performances, and once the favourite fell, it did end up with the two most
likely alternatives finishing first and second.
Lady Kathleen over the last, a split second before it all went pear shaped - note totally intact hurdle, proving that it was solely the landing that went haywire. Race 5: Revelstoke Wine Company Handicap
Chase [2m 4f] 1: Niceonefrankie
2: Alldunnandusted
3: Magot De Grugy Winner owned: The Gambling Cousins, trained:
Venetia Williams, ridden: Aidan Coleman The betting was most tentative about
Niceonefrankie, drifting from 4/6 to evens, but it was off the mark in this
case, as he carried a penalty for a recent win with ease, seeing off
Alldunnandusted and Magot De Grugy in a fairly effortless manner. As there were
severe reservations about those horses dealing with the ground and the distance
respectively, it was hard to see where punters lack of faith came from –
paranoia that he was watching Lady Kathleen a little too closely? Horses in the
pre-parade ring here can just about see the big screen, and in some instances do
appear to watch it. But the real winner on the day was Aidan Coleman, managing a
stress-free success and no punch-ups.
Niceonefrankie is nice, and just one alone, at the final fence Race 6: Timeform TV Focus Handicap Chase
[3m 2f] 1: Pretty Penny
2: Ballinhassig 3:
Blue Lovell Winner owned: Charles CB Mathew, trained:
Jennifer Mason, ridden: Felix de Giles It is always nice when the three mile chase is
well supported, but this was a 0-95 and there were some morally questionable
contestants that the more “slow-but-sure” ones only rarely get a chance to
have a serious pop at. The first factor was the eclipse of a couple of
occasional winners that often hog the places. El Diego hit the second fence,
rapidly dropped from alongside the leader to last but one, and lost interest
totally after that. The challenge of Sir Winston also ended after a blunder, but
he at least had the decency to wait until halfway before doing it. Meanwhile,
the ones at the bottom of the weights were laying down the law to the rest, with
Ballinhassig again leaving his old struggles behind. Tackling Invictus and Gift
Of Dgab here in December seems to have highlighted to him how beatable some of
his handicap rivals really are, and he has risen to the giddy heights of, erm,
this. Alas, Pretty Penny was not one of those he could dismiss. She had not run
in a chase under rules but had gone 221 in a trio of points. The latest was a
win at the decent
Ballinhassig (11) is slightly nippier away from the last, but Pretty Penny (far side) is determined not to be done. Blue Lovell (7) finished more strongly than looked likely from this stage. Race 7: SIS Live Handicap Hurdle [2m] 1: Double Handful
2: Wheres Johnny 3:
Winner owned: Mark A Fossey, trained: Lawney
Hill, ridden: David Bass Five eventually took part in this, and with the
top weight, Jodawes, shaken off with half a lap to go, the race seemed set for a
surprise on the railway turn, as both Wheres Johnny and Forest Rhythm had a few
lengths in hand of the odds-on Double Handful, and the jolly was not travelling
any better than the outsiders. Once they straightened up, however, Double
Handful seemed to get his mojo back, and was soon in a slight lead and, more
importantly, back into cruise mode. Having ensured a strong pace, Wheres Johnny
(probably needs soft/heavy to win at two miles) and Forest Rhythm at least
earned their place money. Speaking purely with hindsight, and allowing for less
desperate ground, the fact that Wheres Johnny won this from a slightly higher
rating in 2011 made him an exceptional each-way option at 14/1, even if the
prospects of victory were moderate. Plus Points Sew On Target (race 1): Greatly improved
effort, switching to hurdles after two bumpers led straight into tackling
Rangitoto in a chase. He jumped the smaller obstacles much more fluently than
his clumsy attempt over fences. Marcus Antonius (race 1): Sat at the back and
jumped himself into defeat. A retrograde step from Lingfield last time, but a
sudden improvement when in a handicap would not be totally amazing. As he has
been iffy in both runs here, a different course will enhance his appeal. She’s Humble (race 3): We have seen her dog
the issue more than once, and she was in a foul mood at this course when
disruptive at the last meeting. But when she is in a chase field of no more than
six, she has won four times in ten races, as well as being second three times.
All at 2m 1f or shorter. In fact the only thing against her today was her stable
being on a run of more than 50 without a win, and the pluses proved strong
enough to defy that millstone. Lady Kathleen (race 4): Placed in a good
Lingfield race before her win, she can bounce back from this and as it was not a
crunching fall, hopefully she will not dwell on it much. One More Cookie (race 4): Promising in bumpers,
apart from when outclassed at the Punchestown festival, she was very
matter-of-fact about her hurdling debut, and just because she was a fortunate
winner, a solid run should not be underestimated, as Lady Kathleen was not going
to thrash her had she stood up. Regal Brook (race 4): She also has shown steady
promise, this time in an Irish point, then bumpers and hurdles, and she is
perfectly capable of winning something – perhaps a chase would be a likelier
option. Magot De Grugy (race 5): Is in the veteran
stage, but a return to 3 miles would potentially pay dividends, as he has been
fairly consistent in longer races of late. Kaycee (race 6): After he fell here a few runs
ago, his confidence at the fences has looked a bit lacking, and it started out
the same today. However, there were signs in the last mile that he is prepared
to get stuck into it again, and if it remains the case, he is handicapped to win
a low grade staying chase. Down Arrows Zafisio (race 1): Did not want for hype for his
hurdle debut, and it was amazing how many overheard conversations on train and
track declared him a certainty, despite never having jumped a hurdle in public.
The days of winning Group 1 races were a little while ago, and there have been
plenty of injuries along the way. He has raced only four times in 2010 and 2011,
beating a mere two other horses along the way – and it was more of the same
here, as he was last of those that finished. Battleoftrafalgar (race 1): A flat rating of 80
plus has not translated into hurdling aptitude, and he did not look skilled
enough here to think that switching into handicaps is guaranteed to reverse the
trend of failure. If it does, his connections have done a magnificent job of
disguising his potential as ineptitude. Flat Cap Thursday (race 4): Ran well in her
first ever bumper, and then was gently regressive. Despite a change of stables
having the potential to freshen her up, the fear remains that this solid hurdles
debut (fifth place, beaten 13 lengths) may be another false dawn. Alldunnandusted (race 5): A hint of a return to
form after some shocking efforts, but he was still seen off by 15 lengths with
only the ground as an excuse, and his stable mates have generally been running
with a sense of vitality that ought to have produced better. Master Darcy (race 5): His yard recently
coaxed, at long last, a chase win from Rosoff, but this horse has already won
one – three ran, the 1/7 favourite departed. The rest of his chase form is
awful, and another win, even on more suitable ground, is looking unlikely. El Diego (race 6): Did win on the flat in 2009,
but reminded us here how the most trivial inconvenience can render him
ineffective in no time at all. Stop The Show (race 6): Put in another sound
first 90% of the race and a really weak last 10%, which is an insurmountable
problem. His course and distance win seems a greater anomaly with every defeat
since. Maria’s Rock (race 6): Was in good form this
time last year, from a handicap mark similar to what she is on now, but she has
been very heftily beaten in both runs this winter. They were in weak races that
ought to have seen her fare a bit better, especially with her yard in a hot
spell. Double Handful (race 7): Little previous
experience of racing left-handed and on an undulating track, and the former in
particular seemed to be a problem when the pace picked up. After two wins, he
would be worth opposing in a competitive race going anti-clockwise. If he goes
back to right-handed courses, a climbing handicap mark could be his undoing,
unassisted. Forest Rhythm (race 7): Ran pretty well, but
the yard is in form at present and this is probably as good as he is on ground
with any degree of give, which was still not enough for second. UK-Jumping Selections Blue Lovell (race 6): So far she had been the
poster mare for those who assert that getting handicapped in hurdles for a chase
career is no guarantee of success, but this result was much better. She was
still hesitant early on, and the inclination is to attribute the improve outcome
to the very substantial limitations of the oppo. Bear in mind also that her yard
has had an odd season – winless until a brief splurge in late Nov/early Dec,
and now back at the foot of the cold list. |
