Newbury 27/11/10

Going: Good to Soft (Good places for chases)

Race 1: sportingbet.com Novice Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Act Of Kalanisi     2: Secret World     3: Dona

Winner owned: CE Stedman & Dr RDP Newland, trained: Richard Newland, ridden: Richard Johnson

This was a strong-ish race, with some expensive converts off of the flat, and one or two quietly high expectations no doubt suffered a bit of a body blow in the result, as the first trio left the rest of the field labouring quite badly, with two newcomers to jumping battling it out. Secret World cruised into a challenging position after the second last, led on the run in, but was worried out of it in the latter stages by Act Of Kalanisi, whose rider must have had a good idea that Secret World was flattering to deceive, as he refused to accept what the rest of the world saw as inevitable. The runner-up had not run since June 2008, and was barely a miler on the flat, so his stamina was in question, but the winner was race fit and landed a 2m 2f handicap at York only last month. So whilst Act Of Kalanisi did outstay Secret World, that is not necessarily a future problem for the second, and think how far back the rest were. Dona had suffered two winless seasons before a recent Huntingdon triumph off of 110, yet he was a safely clear third. Perhaps those behind were not as hot prospects as initially they appeared, as Lieutenant Miller, proud owner of a couple of mediocre midfield bumper runs, managed to be fourth. 

Race 2: stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Grade 1 [2m 0.5f]

1: Peddlers Cross     2: Starluck     3: Binocular

Winner owned: TG Leslie, trained: Donald McCain, ridden: Jason Maguire

Only a small field, but it ended up a thrilling race, unless you backed Binocular. Peddlers Cross went for home first of the main trio, Binocular cracked first, and the patiently ridden Starluck found Peddlers Cross to be quite a bit more of a two miler than many would have imagined. The runner-up could have made a move earlier, but it did seem that Peddlers Cross would have had enough in hand if that had happened. So at the end of it, Peddlers Cross does look more of a two mile championship contender, Starluck is probably the nearly horse that most already had anointed (or condemned) him as, and Binocular was less disappointing than he was in this race in 2009, meaning we cannot at all rule out that he will be transformed in the spring, again. 

Bygones Of Brid does the donkey work, from Peddlers Cross, Nearby, Binocular and Starluck and a suitably wintry background.

Race 3: sportingbet.com amateur riders' Handicap Chase [2m 3.5f]

1: Sarde     2: Noun De La Thinte     3: Carrickmines

Winner owned: Bill Ives, trained: Kim Bailey, ridden: CM Greene

An interesting tactical approach paid off here, involving bouncing up and down the field like a demented yo-yo. Approaching the final fence, it did not seem likely to pay off, as Carrickmines was four lengths clear and not really in trouble, especially as there were no more obstacles and jumping had been his main problem. However, he tied up on the run-in, surprisingly for a known three miler. A superbly efficient jump at the last gave Sarde the momentum that he needed. Noun De La Thinte just would not give up, but the line was too close for him - an extra half a furlong might have changed the result. Perhaps an extra 25 metres even.

A perspective on why Newbury is not really race viewing compatible

Race 4: sportingbet.com Novices Handicap Chase [2m 6.5f]

1: Regal Approach     2: In The Zone     3: Vino Griego

Winner owned: PJ Vogt, trained: Kim Bailey, ridden: Sean Quinlan

After the general chaos of a large field amateur riders' chase, the schedulers had maintained the theme of uncertainty by staging a novice handicap chase, with a bigger field, next on the day. It produced a similarly exciting last knockings, with five battling it out. After leading three from the finish, Regal Approach seemed to have blown his chance by going right at the last and being outjumped by his challengers. Instead of collapsing under the pressure, he picked up again and battled his way back to the front, just fending off a ferocious, but very late, threat from In The Zone. Events at the last fence had seemed to hand the race to Vino Griego, but his finish was quite weak. This has been a routine problem for him over fences, but his two career wins have been two milers on heavy, and perhaps a desperate slog to the finish does not slow him down at all. 

Race 5: sportingbet.com Intermediate Limited Handicap Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Tocca Ferro     2: Rebel Dancer     3: Olofi

Winner owned: Mrs Sarah Prior and Tim Syder, trained: Emma Lavelle, ridden: Sam Thomas

As exclusively (probably) predicted on UK-Jumping in March, just after the Triumph Hurdle, the prominence of Barizan in big races indicated that the four year olds were a rather unexceptional bunch last season, and after no impact in bigger races this term, they were again seen off, the first two home both being five year olds. Tocca Ferro made it four wins from seven runs, and although he only won by a couple of lengths, he did seem to be edging clear with every stride, and was not asked for hard work until halfway up the run-in. Back in May, Rebel Dancer was rated just 104 when unseating at Ludlow, and despite a mixed bag of form since (13F) he did not look out of place in this, and showed a good attitude. Olofi was the best of the kids, but since being done by a nose on his seasonal return in the Free Handicap Hurdle, he has just been slightly wanting in all-aged handicaps twice. Back in February, The Betchworth Kid (fourth today) beat Tocca Ferro ten lengths on almost identical terms, but was beaten off readily here, probably indicating improvement by the winner more than regression on his own part. The first four were quiet comfortably clear of the rest.

Race 6: sportingbet.com Long Distance Hurdle, Grade 2 [3m 0.5f]

1: Big Buck's     2: Duc De Regniere     3: Arcalis

Winner owned: The Stewart Family, trained: Paul Nicholls, ridden: Tony McCoy

A relatively smooth ninth win in a row for Big Buck's, with the lesser opposition and sedate pace allowing him to avoid his oft spotted mid-race wobble. Duc Du Regniere showed a bit of heart for a battle, but also illustrated that he is a good horse that is a class or two below Big Buck's. If we did have a positive to pick up on, Arcalis showed a greater zest for racing than has been the case in most of his recent races. But that also could have been the genteel stroll to halfway. Nothing new was proven here, and any realistic pretender to his World Championship crown ought to have been here proving themself.

The great one enjoys the build up to another valuable and easy success

Race 7: Hennessy Gold Cup Handicap Chase, Grade 3 [3m 2f]

1: Diamond Harry     2: Burton Port     3: Denman     4: The Tother One

Winner owned: Paul Duffy Diamond Partnership, trained: Nick Williams, ridden: Daryl Jacob

There was definitely a sense of expectation in the air, a communal belief (a grumpy minority might say mass delusion) that an exceptional race was on the cards. In the end, we got the epic that was hoped for. Denman stuck in there for a very long way, enough to raise hope and expectation of his fans that something unique was about to happen. In the end, he tied up sharply, but even before that, we had noticed all of a sudden that Diamond Harry was cruising along and had learned how to jump properly. Game shot. But not before Burton Port had posted one of his bustling, harrassing efforts and tried to worry the winner into a loss. A good run in defeat, and he has never been out of the first two in chases. As those two skipped clear, Denman was just holding off The Tother One and Niche Market for the minor spot. As the main five were busy sorting out what mattered, there was some highly careless jumping going on behind them, although Neptune Collonges was unlucky one amongst them, being brought down.

Hey Big Spender leads over the water, from Diamond Harry, Carruthers (mostly obscured) and Niche Market

Race 8: sportingbet.com Handicap Chase [2m 4f]

1: Mount Oscar     2: Pasco     3: Piraya

Winner owned: Mrs Jean R Bishop, trained: Colin Tizzard, ridden: Sam Twiston-Davies

By the time this was run to close the day, everyone was starting to feel the cold and there was a sense of anti-climax about it. It did not produce the rousing finish that everyone needed. Mount Oscar started last season with two wins, but a few in and out runs had brought him back down to his last winning mark. And lo, he ran out an easy winner, but for the future he can expect to be a bit too far up in the ratings again. Pasco has now raced here seven times and managed three wins and four places, so he cannot be ruled out chugging around this place. Piraya's form since coming from France has been patchy, but he has at least now run two decent races in succession.

Plus Points

Shalambar (race 1): Had a disappointing hurdles debut last season, picking up an injury. He has had a couple of gentle flat warm ups before today, and after a mid-race flat spot, made rapid late progress with very little demand from the saddle. One to be looking out for in handicaps.

Lombok (race 1): Was in rear early and ended up having a bit of an educational. This might not have been the plan, but something that the horse forced with some indifferent jumping. If he sorts that out, he can win hurdles, probably at a lower level.

Peddlers Cross (race 2): Gave a stronger impression of having elite speed than in the past - certainly on this sort of ground.

Binocular (race 2): Given that he failed to enjoy to winter last term, anyone who got involved in backing him at odds-on was asking for trouble, but when it gets a bit warmer, we could easily see a different view of him.

Pheidias (race 3): Made some horrendous blunders when he first went chasing, but is showing now that he has got the hang of it. He survived this bun fight and only missed out on a place by a whisker.

Stoney's Treasure (race 4): Seemed to love sloshing through the mud as a hurdler, and having learnt something in a couple of chases so far - ending up fourth here - he can get off the mark when it is soft or heavy.

Theophrastus (race 4): Has been let down by his jumping as a chaser, but in a bigger, arguably more bewildering, field, he appeared quite competent at it. Is this a sign that he now has the necessary understanding of what he is doing?

Tocca Ferro and Rebel Dancer (race 5): A likeable exacta effort (£48.50 if you picked it) and as long as the handicapper is not too harsh, they can both follow up on it.

Diamond Harry and Burton Port (race 7): Ran off the minimum weight and a rating of 152, but were fourteen clear of Denman, and an extra stone each would not have changed the result. And that would be the work of potential champions.

Niche Market (race 7): Fifth, but nearly third, and a nice step towards working at even longer trips as the season progresses.

Pocket Aces (race 8): Never got in the race and pulled up, but every one of his wins have been on sharp tracks, so this run is probably not a significant indicator for the future. 

Down Arrows

Classic Vintage (race 1): In decent form on the flat and rated 93 there, he was not able to translate that to hurdling in any shape or form. Nothing classic nor vintage about it.

Mill Side (race 3): Started out towards the rear, but made smooth progress entering the back straight. But when he got in the race seriously, his jumping became clumsy, and that knocked him back out of contention.

Vino Griego (race 4): Has been a timid finisher in all three chases, and the last two could have been declared an unlucky coincidence. Now it is becoming a habit.

Advisor (race 5): Eventually was badly hampered and unseated his rider four out, but he was partly to blame as scrappy errors had knocked him back to the rear, and into what became the danger zone.

Kayf Aramis (race 6): Came off of the bridle even before Spider Boy, rated 68 inferior to him. His career has been an odd one, blossoming in spring 2009 but being an exercise in failure since. Disappointing in a race that should have suited.

The Tother One (race 7): Managed a place despite a hopeless display of jumping. He can gallop, but his skill, or lack of it, may prevent him building on this.

Weird Al (race 7): A very likeable horse, a very uninspired performance.

Pandorama (race 7): Our man on the spot reported that he was very badly behaved at Down Royal, and after getting a bit of a bump early on, he downed tools quite rapidly. Suddenly, he is looking a suspicious package.

The Hollinwell (race 8): Failed with his jumping behind Little Josh and Weird Al at Carlisle, and very disappointingly repeated the same flaw again. A bad habit to be getting into.

Empire

Spider Boy (race 6): Unsportingly, the weather failed to prevent Arcalis making the journey, but he was guaranteed a prize doubling the cost of running if he finished. The plan was to amble round at the back, out of harm's way, but the other jocks were keen to have someone else make the pace. Spider did it, and completed. Objective achieved.