Leicester 29/11/09

It has been an awful long time since the last visit to Leicester, and in the meantime it has failed to develop any distinctive features. A big screen does limit the damage of much of the back straight being behind trees - sneaky ones that block the view even when they have no leaves - and the stand is still painted an oddly soothing shade of blue. The restaurant is on top of a newish looking building, but anyone in it has their view blocked by the people using the terrace outside it, even on a day of relatively modest attendance due to the cold and threatened rain.

Going: Hurdles - Soft (Good to Soft places), Chase - Good To Firm (Firm places)

Race 1: ladbrokes.com Novice Hurdle [2m 4.5f]

1: Peveril     2: Daring Origyn     3: Azulada Bay

Winner owned: Trevor Hemmings, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Andrew Tinkler

Despite a lack of imminent stars, this was a sound novice hurdle, with most of the runners having shown promise at some point. Peveril had been a bit green in bumpers, but finished second and first in them, the latter on fast ground. He travelled well here, was in front and in control at the last, only to jump a bit askew and was joined, even headed perhaps, after. He fought back and won going away, and looks the sort to continue improving, but very long distance chases will be his game in time. Daring Origyn and Azulada Bay (who looked in superb condition before the race) had a real battle with each other when the winner sealed the race, and neither did a jot wrong. At face value, the race could be rated highly as runners rated 112 and 113 were well down the field, but there are reasons to wonder if they are worth their marks. Quidonc has lost his form badly in the last year, and has dabbled with headgear, whereas Pugilist's results tail off rapidly as soon as it gets a bit wet.

Race 2: ladbrokes.com mares' Novice Chase [2m]

1: Double Hit     2: Princess Flame     3: Campanile

Winner owned: Dr GM Thelwall Jones, trained: Donald McCain, ridden: Stephen Craine

Five lined up for this, and one pulled up run in three mile plus race by Orana Conti was the sum total of their chase experience. That dribble of expertise looked significant, as despite being the rank outsider Orana Conti was set for second until she fell at the last - fatigue surely a factor as Double Hit bowled along in front, put pressure on the other four and was only fractionally disturbed when whacking four out. Campanile was hassling the winner three from home, but she weakened quickly after, allowing Princess Flame to edge her out of second - after she herself had been unable to recover quickly from a bad error at the end of the back straight. So it was not the mistakes, but the ability to bounce back from them was paramount. A football manager had a much overused word for it. The other consideration was that as only Sagarich was proven on the unseasonal going, so can the form be relied upon? 

Double Hit leads Princess Flame over the second, with Orana Conti not far behind. Campanile and the grey Sagarich seem to already be having doubts as to the wisdom of what they are being asked to do

Race 3: ladbrokes.com Selling Hurdle [2m]

1: Applaude     2: Hoar Frost     3: Magnitude

Winner owned: Stan Wright, trained: Richard Guest, ridden: Graham Lee

A seller won by the only hurdle debutant in the field. With the horse having won a couple of ten furlong flat races this year, and sporting the sort of rating, 60, that usually earns the owner a stay of execution for a hurdle race or two before going into this level, punters were left guessing what they should expect from Applaude. As finding a worse race to start in would have been difficult (there was not even a big field to pose an enhanced challenge), any aptitude for the job would surely have led to financial support, but it was not there. When the field began to scatter, four runners looked set to fight out the finish, and Applaude was by far the most resolute. Hoar Frost has shown signs of seller winning potential, but at some point she seems to have developed an utter contempt for the hurdles, and was beaten a couple of lengths having done a lot of damage to the obstacles along the way.

Applaude fights for the line with a Hoar Frost close on his tail. We can presume that Graham Lee is not aiming a contemptuous burst of wind at his pursuer, it is just an oddity of the photo.

Race 4: Robins & Day Peugeot 3008 Handicap Chase [2m 7.5f]

1: Free World     2: Grand Slam Hero     3: Ballygalley Bob

Winner owned: Malcolm C Denmark, trained: Warren Greatrex, ridden: Noel Fehily

As far as finishes go, this was the race of the day, as four fences out, all nine runners were close enough if good enough, and at the last there were still five in positions that are regularly won from on this uphill finish. After a bad start over fences, Free World did better in a sub-par novice chase last time. His first couple of jumps were distinctly sketchy, but he warmed to the job as the race progressed, coming through with a strong late run to deprive Grand Slam Hero of his first chase win for two and half years - a horse whose form in this sphere before today was a wallet busting, Extra B XV winger-like 17UPP7P. The latest of those was a return from an absence, "achieved" without the essential tongue-tie. Back on a more suitable track, Ballygalley Bob left a poor run last time behind, on ground he had previously avoided. You And I won over hurdles when he made all of the running at Southwell, so proved that he can do something, but all other runs, chase or hurdles, now involve hefty defeats. Perhaps he is one to be on after half a furlong or so, when it becomes clear that he is off in front and wants to stay there. Even Flo runs so rarely right-handed that it cannot be a coincidence, which makes her finish in fifth here seem a satisfactory showing. 

Grand Slam Hero leads Ballygalley Bob over the last (who looks here to be ploughing through it, but did not bat an eyelid), with Free World leaping to pounce, as it were. Dune Raider and Even Flo are the honourable also-rans from here to the finish.

Race 5: ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Catch Bob     2: King Ozzy     3: Good Old Thyme

Winner owned: A&S Enterprises Ltd, trained: Ferdy Murphy, ridden: Graham Lee

At face value, this was the tightest race of the day, even after a couple of defections cut it to eleven runners. However, as far as Catch Bob was concerned, nobody could. Pace setter Good Old Thyme plugged on gamely once reeled in, but there was plenty of activity in the saddle for everyone around him, except Graham Lee, who had time for a quick nap on the run-in. In behind him, King Ozzy rallied after losing his pitch three out and poached an unlikely second from Good Old Thyme and The Hairy Lemon. That quartet were a fair way clear of the rest. 

Thompson was in the non-competitive-at-the-finish group and his handicap mark is a discussion point. It was today, first time in a handicap, set at 110. His best run was behind Kangaroo Court at Lingfield, but he was 12 lengths behind The Big Orse that day, who has not since been threatening from 118. He was further behind Rear Gunner (rated 130 and pulled up in handicap company) and Tanks For That (flopped hugely in a novice hurdle on sole run since). The latest run saw Thompson 12 lengths behind a horse that subsequently won a seller but lost a handicap from a rating of 103, and another stuffed out of sight from a mark of 95. And even though there were some very good horses in his hurdle debut, he was dozens and dozens of lengths behind them. So not only is his rating high, it is not even in line with other horses from the same races. There may have been one or two phone calls exchanged on the topic.

Race 6: ladbrokes.com Classified Chase [2m 4.5f]

1: Magnetic Pole     2: Roussea     3: Sir Bumble

Winner owned: D Pugh, trained: Richard Lee, ridden: Richard Johnson

The money foretold the story in the finale, as a plunge on Magnetic Pole was landed without too much trouble. This was the horse's debut for Richard Lee, and also it was on ground of dubious suitability and without the normally essential tongue tie and cheekpieces. The ease of success was such that tying his legs together and running on stale wafers would have been well within his compass! Roussea had everything in his favour - course, distance, going, race conditions, type of whelks in the seafood stand (possibly not the rain, but it came too late to affect the going drastically), but the improved version of Magnetic Pole was not anticipated. Sir Bumble ran in two chases in 2008, pulling up and falling. The completion was needed, and he stuck at it after making the running, but the form amounts to little as the ones behind him had all sorts of foibles to contend with.

Plus points  

Azulada Bay (race 1): The best that can be said of his bumper form is that he once did OK(ish) in a decent one. In a good hurdle race he struggled, but when dropped to the lesser venues, he has posted a couple of fair results that suggest he can win in handicap company.

Minella For Food (race 1): Was last seen in January 2008 finishing second of sixteen at Punchestown (22 lengths behind Cooldine). After being a little outpaced four out, he had an easy time of things, and is definitely capable of better than this.

Princess Flame (race 2): A bit disappointing, but she definitely needs cut and despite a hurdle win at Leicester, she is more consistently productive on sharp tracks.

Dune Raider (race 3): Won as recently as August, but a busy spell since, during which he put in some terrible efforts, meant that he is already back below that last winning rating. He actually ran quite decently here, given that small fields suit him better.

Free World (race 4): It appeared that getting over the first four fences boosted his confidence no end, and if the effect is maintained, he can add to his tally.

The Hairy Lemon (race 5): Was in woeful form last season, and plummeted down the weights like Meat Loaf going over Niagara Falls in a lead barrel. This was a doubly pleasing comeback - more signs of life, and with most of Alan King's runners coming on for the run.

Ovthenight (race 5): May not be on a workable handicap mark, but in a brief career so far, there has been a sharp track bias, so this run is not necessarily the best indicator of what he can do.

Down arrows

The Falklander (race 1): Was well beaten in two bumpers, then came second on his hurdle debut, 2 lengths behind a 135 rated winner. The betting market seemed to overlook the fact that it was only 5 lengths back to the 90 rated third, and he ran like a real plodder here.

Sagarich (race 2): Made bad mistakes at the first two fences and from then on she looked like if she had the choice of chasing or being slapped in the face with a dead haddock, then it was haddock time without a second of debate.

Dobravany (race 3): Remains winless, but had been second in his last two, both sellers. He looked to be coming with a big run around two out, but his head went in the air, and several dummies were spat. 

Roisin's Prince (race 3): Won last time to take his tally in sellers to 123581, but today he was ridden at halfway, to little effect. He inherited fourth due to the shortcomings of others - yet only last February, he was just eight lengths behind the much touted Harry Tricker off 109 in a handicap hurdle at Ludlow. Clearly a mystery, even unto himself.

Boomerang (race 4): Made a fair chase debut, but fell in the follow up and then had three runs back over hurdles. He was generally a bit hesitant, struggling in the rear when others were still looking comfy, and possibly is not over the accident mentally.

Wherrimon (race 6): Fell in his final hurdle, and was brought down on his debut chase. He made hard work of completing last time, and jumping today was a bit of a problem. Modest early low level promise has not been delivered upon.

UK-Jumping Selections

King Ozzy (race 5): On the down side, he was beaten like a horse in the handicappers grip. On the up, he seemed a forlorn prospect for even a place approaching the last, but was very tenacious on the run-in, shaping like he is ready to try a longer race, and improve for it.