Lingfield 10/11/09

Going: Chase - Good, Hurdle - Good to Soft, Bumper - Standard

Race 1: Marsh Green mares' Novice Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Alasi     2: Megasue     3: Theft

Winner owned: Shully Liebermann, trained: Paul Webber, ridden: William Kennedy

Although many mares' novice races lack depth, this one did have a fair number of promising converts from the flat and bumpers, and for the benefit of all assembled, the most interesting quartet all finished in the first five. Megasue looked most likely to win crossing the final flight, but Alasi outstayed her on the run-in, to the marvellous tune of a short head. Although the numbers by Megasue's name were more attractive (110), Alasi's 566 had been accrued initially in decent races, only her final race having a small sense of disappointment to it. Theft also has bumper wins to her name, added to a slight whiff of under-achievement over hurdles, with a pomegranate jus, but she ran well, having every chance at the last only to weaken on the run-in and almost lost third back to long-time leader Queen Poline.

A confident Alasi entertains pre-race dreams of what treats will come her way when she secures her first victory. Some form of exotic carrot dish may well be involved.

Race 2: Ashurst Wood Novice Handicap Chase [3m]

1: Dusk     2: Brimham Boy     3: Absolute Shambles

Winner owned: RER Williams, trained: Evan Williams, ridden: Paul Moloney

Dusk had pulled up with a burst blood vessel over two and a half miles on his chase debut, and being a mere four year old, the step up to three miles seemed all the more likely to test that weakness in his construction. A few indifferent jumps early on did not help either, but none of his five opponents were devoid of issues either. Most of those issues involved jumping, except for Brimham Boy, who fenced with confidence and skill but after being deprived of the lead, seemed extremely devoid of pace, and Absolute Shambles, who appeared to give up at halfway, but still managed to cling on in touch for the rest of the race. Under the circumstances, it would be hard to be certain that Rojabaa, six lengths or more down at the time, was out of contention when he slipped on landing and was pulled up three out. Some may argue that there are those here who could find their niche (especially the runner-up), but then again, you can try and catch mice with a tiger shark.

Race 3: EBF Novice Hurdle (qualifier) [2m 3.5f]

1: Sonowyouno     2: Emperor Concerto     3: Ashleys Lad

Winner owned: JP McManus, trained: Jonjo O'Neill, ridden: Tony McCoy

Like the first race, this novice had some promising looking contenders taking part, and they also managed to serve up an exciting event. Emperor Concerto did most of the donkey work, with Divy doing most of the harassment of him. When Divy gave up the futile nuisance making work (let that be a lesson to you, health and safety people), it briefly looked as if Emperor Concerto had been left with sufficient of an edge over the rest to hang on, but Sonowyouno had been making steady progress and led on the run-in, ending up winning with more up his sleeves than the couple of lengths margin indicates. The runner-up has a win and two solid efforts in defeat over hurdles before this, and seems a good indicator that the form is quite sound, although there was a less inspiring aspect to Ashleys Lad's effort, despite the form of his bumper third having worked out well - see Down Arrows. 

One last workable picture before the gloom closes in, shows Sonowyouno winning, from a relieved Emperor Concerto (1) and Ashleys Lad, who has suddenly had the horrible realisation that this is the end, and there is not another lap to go

Race 4: New Chapel Handicap Chase [2m 4.5f]

1: Winning Show     2: Coast Of Malabar     3: Pipers Legend

Winner owned: Roger Alwen, trained: Chris Gordon, ridden: Colin Bolger

The record books will show that after three hurdle defeats on the spin of more than thirty lengths, Winning Show made a triumphant chase debut. It was not that he had never shown any promise, just that it was sporadic, and his latest runs were not part of it. Those watching will wonder how all of the four horses that had gone clear of him managed to fail to seal the win instead. Coast Of Malabar, also a chase debutant, just tied up approaching the last, having seemed to have the race at his mercy. Pipers Legend has won one out of thirty-six (a selling hurdle on fast ground) and after walloping the third last decided that this was getting too much like hard work. Ponchatrain was possibly similar, dropping out rapidly from the third last, without the prompting of a blunder. Williamtown Lad made his mistake two out, and was pulled up lame. So, it seems Winning Show can attribute his success to mass hysteria on the part of the other horses. To date, this can not be lodged as an official excuse for a poor run, but we witnessed it happen here. Hallelujah, unbelievers.

Race 5: T Frost Bawtry Racing Saddlers Handicap Chase [2m]

1: Vinmix De Bessy     2: Huguenot     3: Stumped

Winner owned: Frank McHugh, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Josh Moore

Every year this race, the highest grade on the card, attracts a smallish but exquisitely tricky field. Usually the weights are headed by a badly handicapped Gary Moore horse, but this year he slotted Vinmix De Bessy into that role, who was on a mark only two pounds above his last winning rating. At the final fence, those two pounds looked to be crucially counting against him, as he was a couple of lengths down, and did not immediately eat into the gap on the run-in. With about a hundred yards to go, Huguenot began to tie up, and crucially allowed enough room on the mini-elbow for Vinmix De Bessy to squeeze through on the rails and win by short looking neck. Not long ago, Zorro De La Vega was a win-shy type with 1 success from 30 races. An inspired spell had seen him grab four of his last six (without the media hullabaloo some horses have got for similar progress), and despite having gone up 44 pounds as a consequence he was in with every chance when he fell two out. The basic effort is a plus, the fall and the fact that the weight rise must catch up eventually are negatives. What next? Training sharks to catch mice?

Race 6: Copthorne Handicap Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Stratford Stroller     2: Lepido     3: Just Beware

Winner owned: M & E Stobart, trained: Jonjo O'Neill, ridden: Tony McCoy

Just like the previous race, a manageable number of runners (eight) did not make for an easy to fathom race, and the drizzle got heavier in the build up, shrouding the farther side of the track in mist, and also demoralising the big screen. Jumping the last, the first three horses home had just seen off We're Delighted, who handled the easing ground surprisingly well on his first run for a new yard. Stratford Stroller (a faller on fast ground last time) had won over an extra half mile on soft, and his stamina won the day, proving more important than any doubts on the trip. Lepido, in contrast, appears to find two miles a real stamina challenge, but on the chopped up, rain absorbing ground lasted it as well as he ever done this time. Just Beware, who is still twelve pounds above her last winning mark, tends to avoid soft or softening ground, but handled it as well as she has ever done, and only gave way in the last fifty yards or so.

Race 7: Burstow Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m]

1: Cash Point     2: Chilli Rose     3: Alwaysonthemove

Winner owned: Lady Vestey, trained: Henrietta Knight, ridden: Paul Moloney

After regularly observing that these all-weather bumpers were proving to have no bearing on future jumps reality, UK-Jumping conceded that Outlandish and Calaficial may be the horses to turn the corner in that respect, only for them to both find life a lot harder when back on turf, whether for bumpers or hurdles. So although Cash Point gets credit for dashing clear with two furlongs to go and holding off the rally of the odds on favourite, it probably is nothing to get too excited over. Bear in mind that Kirkum was fourth, and quite close up. His two earlier runs saw him pull up and get beaten 105 lengths. So just when he thought that he would be allowed to put an end to this racing nonsense, he has committed his connections to perseverance. There are no workable mousing shark analogies.

As the site attracts far more feedback about things such as poor analogies or other factual errors than blatant mistakes (well, that feedback is actually second to e-mail offers of genital enhancement...), mistakes such as the wrong result, please bear the following in mind:

Plus Points

Alasi (race 1): Seems to have improved over the summer and definitely looked the part in the paddock today. She has the capacity to repeat the win.

Megasue (race 1): Won her bumpers by 24 and 12 lengths, before failing to step up in tougher grade at Aintree. This was a pretty sound hurdles debut on going that she was not proven to cope with.

Queen Poline (race 1): Won two bumpers in the deeper mud, and was not disgraced at Sandown on better ground when losing the unbeaten record. Leading most of the way to two out after an eight month break, she posted a very respectable start over hurdles.

Gentle Caribou (race 1): Ran an odd race, perhaps down to the human element of the equation. Setting off a few lengths adrift of the main pack for no obvious reason, she was asked to close four out, and was quickly having to work much harder than any of her rivals. When things got tough, she passed most of them, but was eased when no more was to be gained. Different tactics? Longer trip? Softer ground? Something seems likely to spark a better result.  

Little Roxy (race 1): Ran in two flat maidens without much encouragement, but on her hurdles debut she was not given an excessively hard time of things in vain, and will be of more interest when she can run in handicaps.

Sonowyouno (race 3): Shaped when winning his two mile hurdle on debut as if further would suit even better, and he handled two and a half miles in more or less the same manner. The cards are still being played close to the chest.

Divy (race 3): The only horse to finish in front of him in bumpers was the unbeaten Frascati Park (the two that Divy won were not so hot), and whilst he was only fourth in the end, the experience ought to have helped. 

Good For Blue (race 3): Ran well in his two bumpers, despite it looking in the first as if nobody had thought of breaking him in before actually turning up on a racecourse, and despite needing some encouragement in the race, there is the chance that he has huge improvement still to come when his brain begins working properly.

Huguenot (race 5): Won two of four previous chases doing nothing wrong, but the fact that connections had gone back over hurdles with him implied that they felt he had exhausted what he could do over fences at the time. He did everything right back in the fold today bar win. Ironically for a horse with a possible right handed preference, he drifted left on the run-in to allow his conqueror a clear run at to the post.

Lepido (race 6): If this is a true indicator that he will stay two miles now, he might go on a winning run. A bit more evidence is required before putting the mortgage on it.

Lukie Victor (race 6): Waited with in last, he gradually became detached and struggling and was tailed off.  All in all, a case for the down arrows, but he won five times in Ireland, and may be that he really needs desperately soggy conditions to excel. 

Down Arrows

Sheila's Castle (race 1): Has some good bumper form to her name, but is quite small, and found hurdling a very different kettle of fish.

Absolute Shambles (race 2): Gave a previous winner a good race at Wincanton on his chase debut, but after being fine for a lap, he suddenly came under strong pressure from the saddle. The fact that he was never really shaken off does point to the fact that he chose to put the brakes on, rather than had it just happen to him.

Ashleys Lad (race 3): In the end, third in a fair race is a positive, but the manner in which he was badly outpaced from the third last before rallying in the straight suggests that he could be vulnerable at anything above modest levels  - or has a horrible aversion to running up and down hills.

Swansbrook (race 3): Won one of four bumpers, but probably showed his best form when third at Ascot. He flopped in his last bumper, and did only a little better on hurdles debut. The combination of being owned by a successful syndicate and trained by Alan King could lead to him being over-estimated in the near future.

Winning Show (race 4): Is now 1/1 in chases, but his oppo did an awful lot to avoid winning themselves, and he will find tougher assignments.

Millenium Mag (race 4): Debuting for Gary Moore, he was prominent in the betting, as some assumed that his new guru would work a minor miracle - since 2005, when still in France, a short head second on heavy over two miles was all there was to go on. A bad blunder at the eighth (or ninth?) caused him to pull up.

Green Gamble (race 5): Hit what is becoming his normal flat spot (very flat spot!) just after halfway, but unlike Kempton earlier, his oppo were unwilling to let him fight his way back into the places.

War Footing (race 6): Has quite a mixed bag of form in a low number of races, but certainly did not run up to his promising seasonal debut, even if this was a better race.

Musashi (race 6): Has been subject of some plus point entries here in the past, but in a first time visor, he set off with a clear lead and tied up turning for home, the complete reversal of tactics producing a worse result.