Plumpton 13/12/10

Speaking of divine intervention, the three non-handicaps were well above par for Plumpton, and the four handicap races were in the upper reaches of their pre-ordained grade. That did not make for easy selection, and even horses that ran worse than the market was expecting had the potential excuse of the weather hold up for doing so.

Finally, there was another vote McCoy race on the card. Has nobody noticed that when the award for sports personality of the year is awarded on a Sunday evening, the insane torrent of spurious end of year awards means that nobody is interested by Tuesday morning?$ Don't miss the UK-Jumping awards soon.

Going: Good to Soft

Race 1: panbet.com Juvenile Hurdle [2m]

1: Comedy Act     2: Mr Muddle     3: Omaruru

Winner owned: RA Green, trained: Philip Hobbs, ridden: Richard Johnson

A highly rated staying handicapper on the flat, Comedy Act was the darling of the betting ring for this, going off at 2/5. His appeal was obvious, but that price did seem a bit dismissive of the oppo. However, the market proved spot on as the best of the rest was once-raced-on-the-flat Mr Muddle, who made the running and showed admirable (and name belying) lack of confusion when the pressure was on. Comedy Act had to work very hard to get by him in the home straight, but once he did hit the front he asserted quite strongly, although in the manner of a horse that will excel over further eventually. Omaruru again stood out in the paddock, and since a poor start over jumps has now run two fair races in defeat. Also showing good staying power, more than just walking in the cold air, was Ultravox. The form of his debut third is not working out at all, but he will hopefully improve as there are many song lyric references that can work for him in a racing context. There certainly will be a rage in Eden (and other places) if it does not happen.

Over the last and Comedy Act thinks "Cor blimey, I'd better start making a bit of effort." The estimable muddle is in second. Ultravox pings it on the far side, but Omaruru (left) needs to cut out this sort of nonsense.

Race 2: panbet.com Plumpton Races Free Bet Today Novices Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Jetnova     2: Skint     3: On Trend

Winner owned: David Sewell, trained: Alan King, ridden: Robert Thornton

This was a very decent race, but produced an upset as Jetnova, even in his win, had looked like one of Alan King's more pedestrian novice hurdlers. Even at the second last, where he clumped through rather than over it, he did not seem the winner, but Skint tied up under pressure (as did the other Nicky Henderson runner on the day) and with On Trend looking less fit than the majority, all Jetnova had to do was keep digging in. The syllable 'jet' is perhaps out of place in his name. Back in fourth, Bunglasha Lady was closing hand over fist late on, but with none of the first three sprinting home, that impression may have been a touch flattering.

Cagey stuff going on with a lap to go. The winner is in yellow with red spots just behind halfway, and Skint is also in yellow, holding fifth. On Trend leads and Bunglasha Lady is on the far side in dark blue and pink.

Race 3: panbet.com Supports Vote McCoy Novices' Chase [2m 1f]

1: Medermit     2: Tullamore Dew     3: Rackham Lerouge

Winner owned: The Dunkley & Reilly Partnership, trained: Alan King, ridden: Robert Thornton

In the interest of sniffing out a scoop, this race was watched up by the stables fence, where, due to the trip Medermit had to pass a tempting exit twice. Sadly for fans of fiasco, he was on his best behaviour today, and worked out a win. It did help that the most likely danger, Rackham Lerouge, was deemed to need to lead, playing into Medermit's hands. Or is that hooves? He led two out and the horse he passed faded and lost second to Tullamore Dew. Nothing was done wrong by the winner, but he was not as dominant in victory as would have been the case in a hurdle race where they all ran to their mark, so keep being careful of him at short prices. 

Outside The Box leads over the first, from Tullamore Dew, Sarando (purple cap) and Rackham Lerouge (6). This was the oddest thing Medermit did all day.

Race 4: panbet.com Lower Margins Bigger Returns Handicap Hurdle  [2m]

1: Swiss Art     2: The Bishops Baby     3: Olympian Boy

Winner owned: Mrs Katrina Hitchins, trained: Richard Mitchell, ridden: Daryl Jacob

This was a funny race. Olympian Boy set an unexceptional looking pace, but gradually shook most of the oppo off, many of whom seemed to wave the white flag rather quickly. The Bishops Baby, who is proving very consistent but unable to nab a win, was first to go on, but then Swiss Art cruised past and turned the whole affair into a formality. He had won twice in the autumn, struggling in a weak seller and then being more impressive in a much tougher non-seller. This was his first start for a new yard, and other than enjoying a regular move, there is not really much way to explain how he achieved this. Run this race five more times, and you could easily get five more different winners. Not that the current weather allows time to run the same event half a dozen times. Try the ATR website.

Race 5: 40% Better Off On Betfair SP Handicap Chase [3m 2f]

1: Rey Nacarado     2: Rebel Melody     3: Deep Pockets

Winner owned: Runthatbymeagain, trained: Charlie Longsdon, ridden: Felix de Giles

Plenty of the runners were keen to get on with this, and for a 3m 2f chase on holding ground, the early pace was very challenging. Like race five, it did mean that some were shed from the pack quite a way out, but at least this time there was good excuse for it. Rebel Melody made a heroic attempt to lead all the way, but could not keep Rey Nacarado at bay, despite that horse wanting to visit a friend in the stand rather than run the final furlong in a straight line. Deep Pockets, having run two stinkers over hurdles, was much happier back in chases, but never in such a manner that threatened a win.

The mists close in as the staying chase gets under way. High Oscar (11) and Skipper's Lad (5) exercise some caution. Everyone else seems to want to jump the first in front

Race 6: panbet.com Handicap Hurdle [3m 1.5f]

1: Gentleman Jimmy     2: Massini Moon     3: The Red Laird

Winner owned: Burridge & Rutland, trained: Hughie Morrison, ridden: Tom Scudamore

Under the circumstances, picking the winner in this should have been fairly easy. All that was needed was a proven stayer that looked fully fit in the paddock. And therein lies the problem. In a field of eleven, only three were proven to last this sort of trip. Englishtown has been running especially badly of late (did liven up as a one-off in the summer). Massini Moon has been performing better, but his yard's losing spell pre-dates the weather break. And Manadam has both an out of form trainer and two recent poor shows. It was hair tearing out time before even seeing a horse. This all worked in Gentleman Jimmy's favour, as he had recently been placed three times at three miles or so, although not in a greatly impressive fashion. Worse, his only wins were at two miles, the most recent in March 2006. He just about saw off Massini Moon, who has now been second four times in eleven races. The Red Laird did adequately, but it probably did not amount to much of an achievement.

Race 7: panbet.com New Accumulator Bonus Handicap Chase [2m 4f]

1: Marias Rock     2: Abbey Dore     3: Fleur De Vassy

Winner owned: GT Lever, trained: Jeremy Scott, ridden: Nick Scholfield

This was a cracking comeback after over twenty months AWOL from Marias Rock. It was also her chase debut, although she had accumulated some pointing experience in her younger days. Taken wide and getting a good sight of the fences, she always looked a threat and whilst she did take a little while to pick up when asked, the eventual response was quite determined. Abbey Dore had landed his last three races, but was still only rated 83, which gives a strong clue as to the relative merits of those he was beating. Full marks for effort but not having the toe for a 0-90 race suggests his streak of success has levelled out. Fleur De Vassy fell in her only other try over fences, so getting round safely was a plus, but it was not foot perfect and technique could yet be a problem for her.

Plus Points

Mr Muddle (race 1): Flopped on his flat run apparently due to being hampered at the start and not being able to lead. It does sound a warning note as to how he would react if caught in a duel for the lead, but on this evidence he will cut it as a hurdler.

Jewellry (race 1): Finished well beaten for the second time but was not given a hard time in doing it, and perhaps she can enliven when she is in handicaps.

On Trend (race 2): A paddock check showed him to be a little less ready for this than some of the oppo, and after making the running, he hung in closely due to raw ability. He will do better.

Rackham Lerouge (race 3): Was keen early and like his earlier stable mate, ran as if needing the race. His jumping was more than adequate.

Azione (race 4): Even allowing for the bewildering nature of the race, his fourth place after a year on the sidelines was a fairly decent effort.

Rey Nacarado (race 5): Runner-up on his chase debut, he ought to save a few pounds rise in the weights due to hanging off to the right late on. His hurdle win came at Huntingdon, and for now perhaps he would be considered safer going that way round.

Rebel Melody (race 5): Did not get much handicap relief for a lacklustre 2008/9, but has run solidly this season, and is usually less well served by racing on left-handed courses.

Digger Gets Lucky (race 5): Like stablemate On Trend, looked like he might have had a greater than average weather hold up, and tied up late on as if that were the case, although he is not yet proven beyond two and a half miles and the trip could also have been a factor.

Marias Rock (race 7): After getting handicapped extremely quietly, she did not impress in a couple of hurdles, but she looks more at home in chases.

Down Arrows

Kind Of Easy (race 2): Looked handy in bumpers, although eight months off was worrying, but the main problem on this hurdle debut was that he found the aptitude for jumping over stuff sadly lacking from the start.

Sarando (race 3): Seemed to like very testing ground and two and a half miles over hurdles last season, so was immediately in compromise mode for this. However, it would have been preferable to have travelled more sweetly and not got detached so early.

American Trilogy (race 3): Fell on his chase debut, but was safe enough today until falling again, two from home when beaten but not by a huge margin. His future is surely back in hurdles and is definitely to be taken on in chases.

Mauritino (race 4): Won on good to firm at Hereford, but was all the range in the betting for this. He closed up approaching the third last, only to drift out of contention very soon after. The ground may be to blame, but it was very disappointing.

Sommersturm (race 4): It may have been intentional, but this was another poor show, ridden along quite early. Is he being prepared for a plunge, or has he just lost interest?

Tuskar Rock (race 5): Could be picked on his best form, and was by some, but ran really sluggishly. Even on a good day, he has never won, but has been second or third an ominous ten times.

Royaume Bleu (race 6): Sneaked in on bottom weight, and attracted money until heading the betting. He did OK, but again proved that simply not being fast enough for two miles does not automatically mean a horse stays three and a quarter.