Plumpton 30/01/12

So what happens in this instance? We concern ourselves with less crucial things. Such as... Take a peek at the Timeform racing coverage accessed online via Betfair. What was once home to Britain's most esteemed racing pundits now cannot seem to distinguish between flat racing and jump racing - check the race descriptions. 

Interesting note about the Tote functions. With Montbazon absurdly odds-on for the first, lost of people were looking for other bets. The trouble was, the two to fill the places looked fairly obvious selections, so forecasts, betting without the favourite, guess the weight of the runner-up – it was all fair game. One option that many of the smallish crowd were interested in was place only Tote bets. As the commentator announced “the starter is climbing his rostrum,” which means less than 10 seconds to the off, the screens were showing placed returns of £4.00 plus for the two that ended up second and third. The actual returns were £2.50 and £1.80 – quite measly in comparison. Let us not get paranoid and assume a conspiracy, as the potential is for late money from external sources to affect the pool more than what is taken on course, but it hardly inspires consumer confidence when it happens. And how often do the dividends in any pool increase sharply at the last knockings?

Going: Good to Soft (Soft places)

Race 1: attheraces.com Track Your Favourite Horse Maiden Hurdle [2m]

1: Montbazon     2: Victor Leudorum     3: Edlomond

Winner owned: David Sewell, trained: Alan King, ridden: Wayne Hutchinson

Montbazon was a 1/10 chance in the betting here – reflecting the fact that although he had only once actually won a race, his defeats had been mostly very creditable against top notch opposition. Apart from a minor stumble at the third last, from which he quickly recovered, he swept to victory in a manner befitting his market dominance. It seemed as if the serious battle would be for second, but Victor Leudorum was far stronger on the day than Edlomond, and after a far feebler debut over hurdles, this was much more like the ability that Victor Leudorum had shown in bumpers. In fourth Frolic Along pulled very hard early, dropped back under restraint when he did settle and then overtook a few that were getting tired late on. This was his first hurdle race (badly thrashed in three flat maidens since his bumper debut), and whilst some positives can be gleaned from it, he does need to activate a few brain cells before they can be developed.

Race 2: At The Races Sky 415 Novice Handicap Chase [2m 1f]

1: Whitcombe Spirit     2: Lady Willa     3: Knock Boy

Winner owned: Telscombe Racing, trained: Jamie Poulton, ridden: Mattie Batchelor

After Battlefield Bob had pulled up lame at halfway, this could not have been more of a monkey fight if the three survivors had been put in a pen and been left to throw bananas and faeces at each other. Some punters may have been left feeling in the aftermath as if the pooh had been aimed at them instead. Knock Boy, a point winner who has an inglorious history under rules, led into the straight, and then put the brakes on, leaving Lady Willa in front. She in turn decided that enough was enough, and whilst she did not stop as sharply as Knock Boy, she allowed Whitcombe Spirit to make up a four length deficit on the short run in from the final fence. The winner had not looked wildly impressed with chasing in his three previous tries, and was under strong pressure first, but for Whitcombe Spirit the combination of headgear removal, dodgy oppo and Mattie Batchelor in inspired form was good enough. By a short head.

"If we all jump off keenly, people may not notice the total absence of enthusiasm at the end of the race." Whitcombe Spirit (4), Knock Boy (3) and Battlefield Bob (2) hide Lady Willa.

Race 3: attheraces.com Novice Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Aikideau     2: Ruling Party     3: Diamond Sweeper

Winner owned: The Stewart Family, trainer: Richard Rowe, ridden: Leighton Aspell

With his win here last time showing signs that the penny had finally dropped, Aikideau confirmed that impression by lumping a penalty around with confidence, and asserting himself well from the second last hurdle. In January he has gone from slack underachiever to local hero. He was able to finish off the race under gentle encouragement, whilst the pair of Alan King runners battled each other heartily for second. A mistake by his colleague at the last seemed to have given Diamond Sweeper second place, but Ruling Party knuckled down and grabbed it back by a whisker.  What was that about power corrupts? There was certainly no community spirit flooding Ruling Party’s veins. The morning prices suggested that Firey King may make a winning debut for Nicky Henderson, but be was a gradual drifter all day. In contention approaching the third last, he went out like a light and was soon pulled up.

Aikideau looks out the ideal spot for post-race smugness. 

Race 4: At The Races Handicap Chase [3m 2f]

1: Ballinhassig     2: Tarquinius     3: Pete The Feat

Winner owned & trained: Sarah Wall, ridden: Marc Goldstein

This did not go entirely to script, as although permit holder Sarah Wall is often witnessed campaigning a dour, low grade stayer around this course, the win (sometimes wins) usually arrive when it is barely raceable in the mud, and this time the course was in fairly decent nick. So is Ballinhassig a wrong ‘un? He had only lost by ¾ length last time on ground no softer, and he posted a very similar standard here, finding the absence of a handicap blot leaving the race at his mercy. Tarquinius had raced seven times in the 2009/10 season, and gained a win and three seconds. After that he had disappeared completely, only returning very late in 2011, in which time he had run three times and pulled up every time. The latest had been less woeful, and the market then had indicated some progress was expected – his rating has fallen from 119 to 84 in only five races – but that hint of recovery came today instead. He certainly is not back to his old self, as there was little sign that he would out plod Ballinhassig (and in his prime he needed 3m 4f or further to excel), but a win in the bottom tier seems possible now. The only one to pressure them in the last half lap was Pete The Feat, but despite giving the impression of being a dour slogger, three miles is about his limit, and stamina foiled him.

Race 5: attheraces.com Exclusive Hugh Taylor conditional jockeys' Handicap Hurdle [3m 1.5f]

1: Storm Survivor     2: The Red Laird     3: Twin Bud

Winner owned: JP McManus, trainer: Jonjo O'Neill, ridden: Maurice Linehan

The first use of a visor worked the oracle on Storm Survivor, and his first experience of races at this far was also, as anticipated, a help and not a hindrance. Still on the bridle three out when most of his opponents were not in such a happy state, Storm Survivor did find The Red Laird a tricky nut to crack, but that challenger had been off for eleven months, and appeared to be a little compromised on fitness. Not fat, but less rippling in muscle than some of those he had to overcome. Given the surge with which Storm Survivor completed the race, it probably did not cost The Red Laird victory, as the winner was back in his comfort zone once the threat had faded. As usual, Twin Bud stayed on strongly from the home turn, this also being her first try at marathon hurdles. Sadly, there seems to be no race run slowly enough for her – at least until she can tackle long distance chases. But she remains a true heroine for each-way and placepot punters. Although fourth, Deep Pockets was no threat and ran like a badly handicapped veteran chaser. Which is what he is, so nobody should have been shocked by that.

Race 6: At The Races Virgin 534 Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Songsmith     2: Just Beware     3: Ministry

Winner owned: Team Supreme, trainer: Lucy Wadham, ridden: Leighton Aspell

Quite a fascinating race to end the jumping of stuff for the afternoon, as the ten runners included some four year olds using the weight allowance, three horses in a handicap for the first time after three hurdle runs, and another in after four. It was the latter that prevailed, as presumably Songsmith’s clumsy introduction to jumping, featuring a fall and an unseated, had led to him needing an extra race to gain a rating. His jumping was flawless today, and helped by a mark of 100, which did not look overly harsh, he cruised to a comfortable win. In second was the most experienced horse in the race, Just Beware. Her wins come from ratings in the mid-80s, so 89 today was too high, but such was the dominance of Songsmith that two or three pounds relief would not have made any difference. She ran right up to her best though, having looked very well in the prelims. Alongside her in the visual appeal stakes were Ministry and Future Profit, who both were in their first handicap, and performed in contrasting manner. Ministry was on the same mark as Songsmith despite having achieved what looked far less over hurdles. He went well through the race and then just lacked a bit of ferocity in the final furlong or so. Future Profit had shown even less as a hurdler, yet joined the winner and third on a mark of 100. He came under pressure in the back straight and was beaten in a matter of strides. Being a JP McManus/Jonjo O’Neill representative, a drift to a price of 10/1 in the betting warned us all that this would happen. The unanswered question – “Is that it?” Or will different conditions have a dramatic impact. You could say that the clue is in the name, but at some stage he needs to be delivering in the present. Course winner Marju King was again solid, but not sparkling, back in fourth, just ahead of Wheres Johnny, who could not adapt to this harder task from the small fields in which he has been almost flourishing.

Race 7: attheraces.com Be A Virtual Owner Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m 2f]

1: Flementime     2: Tidal Dancer     3: Bamboleo

Winner owned: Figjam II, trained: Martin Keighley, ridden: Alain Cawley

The paddock pick for this was Tidal Dance, already third in a bumper, but the market was firmly behind newcomer Flementime. And the race panned out as that predicted. Leaving the back straight there were still five battling out for the glory, but entering the home stretch, three were under pressure and losing ground. Tidal Dance went to the front, but was quickly being ridden. However, when Flementime went past, he proved to be a very stubborn victim, and instead of cruising clear, Flementime had to work for his win. The rest of the field became spreadeagled quiet suddenly.

Plus Points

Edlomond (race 1): Tried to make Montbazon’s life difficult, but failed. His yard is out of form, which does not help his results at present, but after a pulled up and a fall, he was back to the solid form shown late last year. He looks perfectly capable of winning a race, and also looks more of a chasing sort than is normal for an operation that mostly functions with flat converts.

It Wasn’t Us (race 1): Showed glimpses of promise in bumpers, but two hurdle runs at this course and distance had been regressions from that. This was much better, hanging on in serious contention for a place until the second last. One to note for handicap hurdles.

Ruling Party (race 3): Progressed from his bumper debut into his second race, and has now done the same “modest start, better follow-up” trick over hurdles. He does not seem anything out of the ordinary, especially by the standards of an Alan King novice hurdler, but looks like he has a future, perhaps more in chases.

Seedsman (race 3): Fourth in a two miler on his hurdles debut, the history of having won a bumper suggested the longer trip should suit, but he lost this race by further. It may turn out to be a bit better standard than he took on before, and there is probably a race in him.

Tarquinius (race 4): Handicapped to slot into the lowest grades of race, look out for him to get back on the scoresheet in a race over at least 3m 4f, probably further.

Miss Fleur (race 4): Gains no awards for consistency, but she may be more at home going right-handed, even though she has some OK efforts this way. She hit the third, and was hampered when Bring It On Home unseated at the next, from which point she lost interest. Can do better when meeting less adversity.

Storm Survivor (race 5): Visor and long distances worked, and can work again. And again.

The Red Laird (race 5): Again ran solidly on his seasonal debut, giving reason to hope that hurdling success is forthcoming. It needs to be at least three miles, and ideally on soft or heavy.

Songsmith (race 6): Jumped with more skill than his record implies that he had, and was not badly treated on a mark of 100. He won with plenty in hand, and should be able to compete if turned out with a penalty. Any delay may be more problematical, as a sharp rise could be on the cards for him.

Flementime & Tidal Dance (race 7): Most Plumpton bumpers are too testing to attract the sort of horses ready to make an instant speedy impact. But the way in which these two left the rest for dead, combined wit Tidal Dance’s previous placed run, suggests they have stronger prospects than the norm for this type of race.

Down Arrows

Sharakti (race 1): Has appeared on the plus points list as one to watch when handicapped. He broke a run of finishing eleventh in all hurdles so far with an eighth, but as only ten ran something had to give. Ironically, having gained his best finishing position, he looked more ill at ease doing it than in any of the worse losses.

Knock Boy (race 2): This was the most golden of his intermittent stumbling into a perfectly winnable race, and with Richard Johnson on board, nothing seemed to be left to chance. And he still would not go through with it.

Lady Willa & Whitcombe Spirit (race 2): Less reluctant than Knock Boy, but that is setting the bat at a very low standard of achievement. It is hard to have much faith in them continuing this results onwards.

Firey King (race 3): Cost £115,000 after winning his only Irish point, but the form of that race leaves a lot to be desired now that we have the benefit of hindsight, and he did nothing to boost it here. Pulled up very tired, and eventually dismounted.

Blue Lovell (race 4): Hinted that the improved understanding of chases shown last time may have been a one-off (see UK-Jumping Selections below)

Balustrade (race 5): Is mostly off the boil, throwing in the odd moment of joy, and whilst there was some sign of vitality here, it did look as if the trip was too much for him. Whether it was stamina or attention span at fault remains to be proven.

Bobby Magern (race 5): Continues to pursue an unusual career path, where he shows promise in novice company as a means to be thoroughly awful in handicaps. He was ridden at half way here, and lacks the mental strengths that other Magerns fielded by Nigel Twiston-Davies have been noted for.

Ministry (race 6): This was a bit stronger than recent two mile handicap hurdles here, and third is a creditable effort. However, he did not finish the race especially strongly, and as it was something that showed in some of his flat runs as well, there is a question mark over his will to develop on the promise shown.

UK-Jumping Selections

Blue Lovell (race 4): Was only ¾ behind Ballinhassig here last time, when it seemed she had got to grips with big fences. All the good work was undone here with a run that was totally unconvincing from the word go. Going back to hurdles would be an interesting plan.