Plumpton 17/01/11

Even for the standards expected of Plumpton, this was a below run of the mill, as there was a 0-100 handicap hurdle and chases of 0-90 and 0-95. This does mean that some of our slower animals had their chance to excel and thus the overnight rain failed to produce a single non-runner. Beggars cannot be choosers? In the last couple of years the standard of novice hurdlers washing up at the track had risen, but this was back to the old days, with neither one of those races contested by runners who jumped out as obvious winners of that sort of event. The only thing missing was the crowd, but when the clerk of the course had issued a totally discouraging bulletin in the morning (prior to an inspection that was passed), perhaps potential racegoers had a last minute change of plan. Funny how those downbeat prospects are never mentioned by courses in the Christmas lunch season...

Going: Heavy

Race 1: RANA Risk Management Novice Hurdle [2m]

1: Not Til Monday     2: Dusky Bob     3: Briefcase

Winner owned: The Three Honest Men, trained: John Jenkins, ridden: Timmy Murphy

The only horse in this race that was ridden with any apparent conviction that it would handle the going was seller runner-up Not Til Monday, and after kicking on from the third last, he put the race quickly beyond doubt. The margin was so clear that it is doubtful whether different tactics would have made any the result turn out any other way. Koup De Kanon, who was surprisingly favourite, had the oddest race, being slowly away, poodling along for much of the race and then surging forward into second. Making that effort told, as almost the instant that he got there, the energy ebbed away and he dropped back into sixth. In between this, three horses were having quite a ding-dong for the places, of which Dusky Bob came out best, being far less awful than two disappointments over hurdles. That is intended as a compliment. Newcomer to jumps Ceannline was rated a useful 87 on the flat. He was third early but dropped out quite weakly. As his flat wins came on good and firm, he might yet turn that around and his presence in this was a touch of innovative thinking that did not pay dividends.

Early leader Citrus Mark makes an awkward attempt at the fifth, as Not Til Monday (left) shows the first signs of having the job well in hand. On a day when there was plenty of oozing, he is oozing confidence.

Race 2: SIS Live Novice Chase [2m 4f]

1: Sarando     2: Ranjobaie     3: Have You Seen Me

Winner owned: Eight Men & A Hoss, trained: Paul Webber, ridden: Will Kennedy

This did not attract the usual quality of a Cheltenham bonus novice chase here. Sarando had made his chase debut in another of those races, over an inadequate two miles, and looked totally uninterested in this branch of the sport. The extra trip and lesser oppo provoked a dramatic improvement, and only a stumble and peck two out threatened to stop him. Much better, but he will not always find such a gift of an opportunity. Ranjobaie, who did manage the narrowest of thirds in the EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle at Sandown, had been thrown in at the deep end for his chase debut, trying the Dipper Chase, and unseating. He was inclined to go off to his right today, but seemed to have Sarando covered until he tied up dramatically from the second last. Like the winner, a sign of progress without being hugely convincing. Have You Seen Me ruined his chances with mistakes, and Ashfield's Dream seemed not to handle the ground (despite an excellent second to Quantitativeeasing on heavy last season).

Race 3: Open A Star Sports Account On 08000 521321 Handicap Chase [2m 1f]

1: She's Humble     2: Wishes Or Watches     3: Sieglinde

Winner owned: Valence Racing Too, trained: Linda Jewell, ridden: Andrew Thornton

There were horses appearing today that could accuse She's Humble, based on overall records, of being a glory hunting show-off, but she had managed only two previous wins with her torrent of seconds, so course regulars were wise to her. However, she certainly excels in small fields (not often enough to profit from it), so with only six lining up and half of them ridden before halfway, this was as unstressful as She's Humble could have hoped for. Wishes Or Watches was having his fiftieth run, flat and jumps, and had won only a two mile Folkestone chase on soft. Aside from that glorious moment, he had not often run well enough to work out what other courses, distances and goings may be suitable. He bustled and hustled She's Humble, but at no point seemed likely to succeed, unless the winner threw in the towel.* Sieglinde came out best in the futile and distant struggle for minor honours.

* It does cross the mind that maybe She's Humble did give up, but was unable to do so quickly enough to suit the opposition.

Race 4: Star Sports Bet - The Gentleman's Bookmaker EBF mares' Novice Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Rith Bob     2: Cloudy Wager     3: Here's The Key

Winner owned & trained: David Rees, ridden: Paul Moloney

Some say that there is no substitute for hard work. There is, and this was it. The previously frustrating Rith Bob (winning 4/4 in points, but only placed in 5/7 under rules, beaten favourite the last three) finally found her niche, strolling into a commanding lead on the railway bend and pounding the oppo into comprehensive defeat. Cloudy Wager kept on with some slight verve to hold Here's The Key for second - the latter lost a handicap by a neck from a mark of 90 last time, which is the best guide available to the merit of the form. Blazing Empress, whose only encouraging run so far was on good to firm, ran extremely well for a long way and was on course for a place coming down the hill to the third last, but she could not sustain what she had started and managed only fourth. Midnight Macarena, a good ground bumper winner, had made a fair hurdles debut last time, but put up a terrible show today. Charitbly, let us blame the going.

Normally this stretch of rail is a prime spot, especially for the irretrievably bewildered, but the weather had thinned their ranks hugely today. Rith Bob heads events (as she did uninterrupted after, but by gradually further). Cloudy Wager (2) and Here's The Key are next, followed by Brambley (9) and Blazing Empress. The whippers in are Sonus Weld, Midnight Macarena and Luna Lightning.

Race 5: Revelstoke Wine Company Handicap Chase [2m 4f]

1: Massini Sunset     2: Master D'Or     3: Kasimali

Winner owned: Mr & Mrs Andrew May, trained: Richard Mitchell, ridden: Steven Clements

After winning a four runner race on tactics last time, Massini Sunset was sporting a handicap mark higher than he has ever won from, but everything else had fallen into place for him - waterlogged is perfect ground. He went to the front after nearly a lap, and coming down the hill, with all his challengers under pressure, he cruised clear. Master D'Or did stay on to force Massini Sunset to keep working, and the winner did seem quite tired on the run-in, but by then the deed was done. Tired, but safe. Master D'Or ran a very honourable race on his comeback, and if he stays healthy, he might return to past glories. Well, wins at this level. Kasimali failed to build on his slightly encouraging UK debut (and started favourite, which showed how quick some were to latch onto one run - the winner was about as popular in the betting as an angry sawdust-intolerant rat in a lucky dip) and The Hardy Boy again gave no reason to believe that a return to his thrilling best is just around the corner. The ground had got far too soft for Manmoon, and he was out of the frame when he fell at the last - being winded but eventually appearing none the worse for it.

Race 6: starsportsbet.co.uk Handicap Chase [3m 2f]

1: Stop The Show     2: Miss Fleur     3: Bajan Sunshine

Winner owned: The Adlestrop Club, trained: Richard Philips, ridden: Richard Johnson

The majority of the nine runners had shown the capacity to win a race of this nature (0-90 marathon). Alas, none had been doing it very recently. So as far as making a selection goes, it was complete guesswork. And there were conflicting form lines to cloud the waters (plus others via the likes of Abbey Dore, Hobbs Dream and Its A Classic). Eventually it meant that Kiltimoney (ran 34, won 1) was looking a serious contender. Stop The Show did win in 2008, but he had struggled timidly through the next two years, being well beaten and finishing weakly even when placed. Various headgears had been trialled and discarded, and what this proved was that he only needed a race slow enough that the notoriously lazy Zimbabwe could spend a long time in front. In these circumstances, even having two rivals breathing down his neck did not Stop The Show, or is it stop The Show? Not exactly redemption, but a heart warming result in a small way. Miss Fleur had won a three miler then struggled over longer, so she seemed to excel herself in being second in such a test as this. In his youth, Bajan Sunshine looked potentially very decent, but he quickly lost the plot. A first time tongue tie clearly helped, but did not solve his issues totally.

An inexplicable desire of some riders to go off at full speed in the staying chase led to this at the start. Kiltimoney (grey) is the ringleader, and on the far side Seaview Lad is a loyal follower. Miss Fleur (1), Zimbabwe (5), Quartz De Montceau (2) and Mister Virginian (3) get varied degrees of the worst of it

Race 7: Star Sports Lay A Bet Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Wheres Johnny     2: Rosoff     3: Like Ice

Winner owned: CJS Racing Partnership, trained: Jamie Poulton, ridden: Mattie Batchelor

A five runner handicap hurdle on desperate conditions should have been an easy way to finish on a winner, shouldn't it? This was hard. Very hard. Like Ice held no appeal after two woeful runs and his impressive third to Lidar came on fast ground. Wheres Johnny was running over an inadequate trip, having needed two and a half miles even in his youth, but had been much livelier since not being forced to persevere in chases. Cosavita - best runs at Ffos Las, so unproven on such a course and the ground, but well handicapped. Just Beware - badly handicapped and wins on good or faster but has nearly defied rating and ground in other small fields. Rosoff - winning comeback last time, but had 11 stone 8 pounds to carry and is a different horse with low weights. In the end it was an amazing race as it looked on the railway turn that Like Ice was going to pounce, but even when that narrowly failed to materialise, it seemed, from a position right on the line that Rosoff had just got up. Apparently not, and he was done on the line by a short head, with only a half back to Like Ice. Wheres Johnny, back in limelight, from a spell of extreme doldrumicity. And by the noise in the crowd, not unsupported either.

Plus points  

Two Cloudy (race 1): Finished second in both his Irish points, but had not shown much in a bumper and a hurdle here. The improved showing in this race to end up fourth, and nearly second, suggests he might compete in a handicap when the course is virtually waterlogged.

Koup De Kanon (race 1): Struggled badly here, not helped by odd tactics, but he showed ability in his bumper and previous hurdle, so better is possible on a different day. And ground?

Rith Bob (race 4): The extreme conditions make the bare form suspect, but there was no sign of her wobbling commitment here. The turning of a new leaf?

Master D'Or (race 5): His only run since October 2009 was a pulled up last March, and when he did win races, it was far from certain that this ground was ideal. He ran a blinder on his comeback here, and the handicapper has given him a real chance to pick up another win or two.

Wheres Johnny (race 7): Despite a slow pace that would have been against him, confirmed the "Chases? Nein danke!" approach with his third course win over hurdles. Does he go back in his box and wonder why eighteen months and eleven races of his life were wasted on that nonsense?

Like Ice (race 7): Handled the ground better than expected and finally looked something like his old self.

Down arrows

Sarando (race 2): Went up a notch on his debut but the challenge posed by the oppo is not to be over-estimated

Ranjobaie (race 2): Certainly shaped as if he would be more comfy going right-handed, but after hanging in there, he ironically lost his way in the straight. Like Sarando, the quality of the performance required for the result was not that great.

Ede's (race 3): Won four two mile hurdles at the track on all degrees of mud, and has actually won a chase. He appeared fit enough, but showed no spark whatsoever, in a race where the feeblest lit match could have been sufficient.

Lukie Victor (race 3): Was running one of his better races when inheriting a race at Fakenham last time. Today he was in his default misery guts setting.

Kasimali (race 5): Showed some life at Lingfield over an inadequate two miles, but was ridden an awful long way out in this, and it was a step backwards.

Rouge Et Blanc (race 5): Still no sign of any interest in chasing. Or racing?

Miss Fleur (race 6): Has learnt that finishing races is a huge edge in aiming for wins, but this did not give the vibe of a step towards another success. 

Kiltimoney (race 6): Below par the last two, his yard has hit a bit of form, and he still could not raise his game in as easy opportunity as he is likely to meet.

UK-Jumping Selections

Massini Sunset (race 5): Turned out in tip-top form, and picked up a nice win. He may have ensured he is handicapped into failure, but has paid his way already. And a small field, where conditions and tactics mean more than ratings would not be beyond him.