Lingfield 23/11/10

The going was heavy - not water-logged-hey-there-may-be-fish heavy, but holding-challenging-beware-of-the-swamp-monster heavy. As a result, the form is not reliable because the races were run at abnormally slow paces (and beware quick reappearances), that will only be replicated when similar conditions apply. The consequence was that on a day where weight bearing should have been a massive challenge, four turf races were won by top or joint top weights, and another by the second highest. The other race was more or less all level burdens anyway.

Going: Heavy (Soft bits for chases), Bumper - Standard

Race 1: SMIS Ltd Leading Tipster Management Handicap Chase [2m]

1: Near The Water     2: Nautical Approach     3: Maximix

Winner owned: Ms Jane Southall, trained: Richard Rowe, ridden: Leighton Aspell

Crossing the top of the hill, Sumdancer and Nautical Approach had cruised clear of the other four, all of whom were under some form of pressure, and the race seemed a choice of two. But the ground took a toll, and Near The Water rallied in the home straight to pinch the win from Nautical Approach right on the post, Sumdancer having weakened quickly from the second last. Whilst no other race unfolded quite that dramatically, it served as a fair warning that we could expect future races to be run at a dawdle - or slower. Near The Water had previously given bigger obstacles a bit of a thumbs down, so even with all the provisos, this was an encouraging effort.

Race 2: carlharris.co.uk mares' Novice Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: L'Accordioniste     2: Setter's Princess     3: Sapphire Rouge

Winner owned: David Maxwell, trained: Nigel Twiston-Davies, ridden: Paddy Brennan

After winning a bumper and a hurdle, L'Accordioniste was a warm (but drifting) favourite for this, and whilst she was not as impressive as a 2/7 shot might hope to be, she did everything that could be asked of in the conditions. Setter's Princess kept on but never looked like she would be too good for the jolly. Sapphire Rouge was set to be fourth, but Tony McCoy gave up on Ragdolliana very quickly and eased her down, losing third on the line. No doubt the mare was very tired, but had a claimer done the same, showing little urgency in the saddle, certain persons in the media would have crucified them metaphorically, telling us that Tony McCoy would not have done such a thing!

Race 3: Right Man Beginners' Chase [2m]

1: Mohayer

Winner owned: G&P Barker Ltd/Globve Engineering, trained: Jonjo O'Neill, ridden: Richie McLernon

As forecast on ATR by his rider, the likely favourite, Pascha Bere, was withdrawn, leaving us with an eventful four runner race. Having refused in his last two hurdles (for a different stable), Sacrilege ran OK over the first three fences, but resented bypassing the course exit and downed tools around the fourth fence, early in the back straight. Shortly after, leader Lord Singer fell, bringing down Fiftyonefiftyone. This left Mohayer to school round and mop up the prize money. Nice for the owners, but it proved nothing for the future, other than he does not mind being in space. Before today his record on heavy was 2113223F4314 - very good, but the chase instances in that were F44, so we should not assume he can replicate this.

Race 4: louiserose.co.uk Novice Hurdle [2m 3.5f]

1: Recession Proof     2: Brackloon High     3: Latin America

Winner owned: Mrs Vanessa J Stone, trained: John Quinn, ridden: Dougie Costello

After winning a weak bumper on soft, Brackloon High's hurdle win had been on good, working hard to nab a better race. He was a short priced favourite, possibly because decent flat stayer (rating 88) Recession Proof had done all of his decent work on good or good to firm. But the ground was only what had been forecast in advance, so would he have come down all the way from Yorkshire if connections were not hopeful he would cope? He was one of a quintet that went clear ascending the hill, and between the final two flights only two were battling it out. Recession Proof was indeed, immune to receding in the latter stages, and Brackloon High had to accept a second, without shame. Latin America took plenty of encouragement from the saddle during the race, but plugged on as Chase Gate and Cleaver wilted.

King Richard leads as a chilly field sets out with heavy heart for another lap

Race 5: secretsapphire.com Handicap Chase [3m]

1: Bobby Gee     2: Aztec Treasure     3: Supreme Plan

Winner owned: The Oakley Partnership, trained: Renee Robeson, ridden: Tom O'Brien

Bobby Gee made pretty much every yard of this, and whilst commentator Jim McGrath noted that some of his jumping was careful, the horse's woeful completion rate before today suggested that a bit of care would be a good thing. Extremely helpful was going at such a genteel pace that the odd slow jump did no harm to his overall chance. In the home straight, Aztec Treasure did threaten to reel the winner in, but before the last he had hit his wall, and in the end he only just held second from Supreme Plan, whom they had appeared to have shaken off after three out. 

Race 6: Hope's A Winning Machine Freephone 0808 126 2005 Handicap Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Alph     2: Perfect Reward     3: Slew Charm

Winner owned: Andy Chard, trained: Roger Teal, ridden: Tom Cannon

Whether his name invokes classic poetry for you, or Canadian prog rock, the excellent veteran Alph has astounded this season in his own way, putting years of preference for much better ground behind him to secure a third (each declared a fitting swan song) win of his thirteen year old season in a race where it seemed least likely. Perfect Reward, who was returning from a long break, tried his hardest, but could not reel in the legendary river ahead of him. Slew Charm does not win very often, and this OK show was about par for him. Rated 104 on the flat, and in his earliest possible hurdle handicap off of 109, Don't Panic caught the eye but ruined his chance by pulling too hard. 

Race 7: Harlequin RFU Junior Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race [1m 5f]

1: Keys     2: Painted Tail     3: Teutonic Knight

Winner owned: Seasons Holidays, trained: Roger Charlton, ridden: Paddy Brennan

London Racing Club attendees will have heard a former main player in horse racing regulation observe that these junior bumpers were introduced as vet's studies had shown that even for jump bred horses, to be in proper training early, developing the key muscles that they would need in their career, was good for young horses, and racing them as a result as whippersnappers was equally as helpful. Racing them, yes, bottoming them, no. And it was accepted through gritted teeth that this meant the races would include some runners that were not necessarily trying as hard as would be required in other races. This tells us that they are a punting minefield, and on the all-weather that doubt gets even worse. And then in this, there were fourteen runners of all shapes and sizes, in varied states of physical readiness, and an even wider standard of mental preparation. Watch, keeping wallet firmly shut! Keys had won on grass, and sprinted clear in the straight for a decisive win. Painted Tail improved on her debut effort to be second, and newcomer Teutonic Knight held third from Main Beach, who was in rear and came through to challenge too late. What this means for the future, who knows?

Plus Points

Near The Water (race 1): Ran out in one of his two Irish points, and fell in his only rules chase before today. Otherwise he had done OK - second to Aegean Dawn at Folkestone for instance - and if he is up for chasing (not a given in a faster run race), there are more wins to be had.

Devils River (race 1): Pulled up, taking his left handed record to 4P075P. He is not especially prolific overall, but at least going right handed he often gives supporters a run for their money.

Setter's Princess (race 2): A daughter of the marvellous Setter Country, she had been slightly promising in two bumpers, but made a pig's ear of the first hurdle on her debut and came to grief. This was much more like it, and she will hopefully be able to live up to the family history of excellence. 

Sapphire Rouge (race 2): Similar minor encouragement to Setter's Princess was shown in bumpers, but the ground probably got the better of her today. Can do better.

Cleaver (race 4): Encountered a tough day to come back from 13 months off, but did alright for a very long way. On the flat he was solid, and had five wins on soft or good to soft, over 1m 2f to 1m 5f, which is a nice profile for a hurdler. 

Chase Gate (race 4): Won his British point debut and pulled up in the next. Two hurdle runs to date were quite poor shows behind admittedly decent winners. Today's going seemed iffy for a tall, leggy horse, but he ran much better, at least for two miles and a bit. One to note for handicaps.

Aztec Treasure (race 5): Had a typical spree, for his yard, of educational meanders over hurdles, but has taken well to fences. Despite winning over 2m 6f at Towcester - on good to soft - he appeared to be caught out by the combination of trip and ground. He can bounce back.

Supreme Plan (race 5): Livened up over hurdles when cheekpieces were added, they had been left off for his chase debut, where things went quite well. He did not improve on it here, but a sharp, undulating track like this might not be his thing and another chance on a different type of course is merited. 

Perfect Reward (race 6): Gained his two wins in sellers, and also lost a couple at that level, plus he also had an inclination to sulk if not getting an uncontested lead. He was much more simple in his good effort here - is he a reformed character?

Grafite (race 6): In a handicap at the first opportunity, he had been second, beaten 29 lengths, to Silviniaco Conti in his best hurdle run and overall looked to have got a nice handicap mark. He was a bit tapped for toe at the second last, but started reeling in the leaders convincingly when he crashed through the last and all but came down. The jockey had no chance on a borderline fell / unseated, and whilst saying he would have won is off kilter given Alph's resolution, he would have been close. 

Down Arrows

Jeczmien (race 1): Had been off for nineteen months, since three runs in novice hurdles, all on much better ground. He pulled hard over the first three and forced his way to the front, but stopped quite quickly on the far side - before fitness should have been an issue. A discouraging chase debut.

Maximix (race 1): Plodded on for third off of a slow pace (he is generally a two and a half miler) but he has now suffered five straight bad defeats, looking a spent force - and before today losses of 105, 28, 44 and 45 had only seen his rating drop seven.

Lord Singer (race 3): Started his chase career with hope, but had a heavy tumble today and it could have an enduring effect on him.

Latin America (race 4): Appeared set for some mighty things in bumpers, but has been doing lots of treading water as a hurdler, or is it one of those South American dances that involves lots of careering round in circles?

Bobby Gee (race 5): Spot on today, but he may still be an unreliable jumping option in a race run at a more typical speed.

Digger Gets Lucky (race 5): Had been incredibly unlucky in his early chases, but had won a two and half miler at Chepstow last time, when avoiding any daft incidents. The trip was an unknown, but he flopped in that he he was unable to make a threat of himself before that became an issue.

Slew Charm (race 6): A good return, but his record is unhelpful when it comes to translating that sort of run into wins.

Don't Panic (race 6): Is handicapped to win races, but until he learns to settle, or indeed not panic, he is his own worst enemy. One to be careful of at short prices.