Folkestone 28/11/11

Which is a reminder of this meeting last year, where the racing was abandoned after a short, sharp snowfall, and was rendered raceable by bright sun only twenty-minutes later. The reciprocal visitors from Pompadour must have a great sense of humour, as they came back.

Going: Good to Firm for chases, Good (Good to Firm places) for hurdles

Race 1: Tulasi Richardson Birthday Surprise Tri-Nations amateur riders' Handicap Hurdle [2m 1.5f]

1: Splendid Life     2: Munich

Winner owned: Francis Delord, trained: F Lagarde, ridden: Cyril Coste

A rather eventful start to the day, as favourite Shipboard Romance fell at the second flight, bringing down Marju King and What's For Tea. This left three going, and Near Germany (teamed up with Munich to taunt the French visitors?) got very excited by the wide open spaces offered and the loose horses overtaking him. The result was that he took a very keen hold, which was a problem as he had not run for nearly four years, as a result of being run-over by an upturned car (yes, really!) and ideally needed to show more composure to last home. He led most of the way, and was well clear three out, but the other two were closing rapidly when Near Germany tripped over the last. There was not much left between Splendid Life and Munich crossing that final obstacle, but Munich has fragile morale and is not in tip-top form, so Splendid Life inevitably was able to land a second away win in this race, with his rider operating on French whip rules.

Race 2: Barry Dennis No Premium Charge Beginners' Chase [2m]

1: Temple Lord     2: My Faithful Annie

Winner owned: JP McManus, trained: Jonjo O'Neill, ridden: Tony McCoy

The race turned into a non-event, as Lifestyle, in attempting to lay down the law to Temple Lord, ploughed through the third last and unseated her rider - her second notable mistake of the race. Temple Lord was still going within himself at the time, and was able to saunter home, with second readily accepted by My Faithful Annie rounding the home turn. The winner seems to be gradually working out chasing, and he had posted a steady show up until the race was handed to him on a plate, whilst still being a fair bit short of the potential shown in French hurdling.

Race 3: Barry Dennis No Commission Maiden Hurdle [2m 4.5f]

1: Ohio Gold     2: Joseph Lister     3: Capisci

Winner owned: PM Warren, trained: Colin Tizzard, ridden: Brendan Powell

The first pair in this skipped an awful long way clear of the rest, but it was no surprise given that they had proven themselves capable of running a fair bit faster than most of the opposition. However, the way that they fought out the finish was not impressive, with use of the word "fought" open to debate. Ohio Gold has run some crackers in grade races, and failed to replicate them in lesser company. He struggled to hold off Joseph Lister, whose head carriage was very awkward when the pressure was applied - or he saw someone he recognised in the crowd. The one that may have put the wind up these two was Trip The Light, rated comparable to Joseph Lister on the flat. He was close up when falling at the second last, possibly caught out as the pace began to rise. If anyone could have gone with them, the terror generated by being there would have been fascinating to watch.

The least unusable picture of the day. Capisci blurs his way into a lead with a lap to go, stalked by Ohio Gold (5) and Trip The Light. Joseph Lister watches on.

Race 4: Barry Dennis On The Phone 0800 124 4321 Novice Handicap Chase [2m 5f]

1: Hunt Ball     2: Free Speech     3: Beau Colonel

Winner owned: Anthony Knott, trained: Keiran Burke, ridden: Aidan Coleman

Another race where two horses routed the opposition. Hunt Ball had been backed as if defeat was out of the question. You could see from his pointing form in the West Country why that optimism might have arisen, but he had not previously delivered anything under rules. The supporters collected, but Free Speech, new to the in-form Jim Best yard although lumbered with less impressive South-Eastern pointing form, was given an attacking ride that nearly upset the apple cart, and he did not accept his defeat until it was clear that Hunt Ball had got over the last cleanly. In his latest race Beau Colonel looked like a horse that had finally found his niche in bottom drawer handicap chases, only to be put in his place well and truly by the first two. He might bounce back if avoiding the sort of horses that he bumped into here.

Race 5: Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Handicap Hurdle [2m 6.5f]

1: Storm Survivor     2: Nothingbutthetruth     3: Frameit

Winner owned: JP McManus, trained: Jonjo O'Neill, ridden: Tony McCoy

There were a few taking part here that were just one small step away from doing enough to win a race, and Storm Survivor was one of them. The manner in which the race unfolded was, however, strange. Using Elegant Olive as a marker for how the race was run - slowly, as she easily laid up just behind the leaders - it was odd how soon some of them, Storm Survivor included, struggled to go such a modest pace. However, Tony McCoy was not having any of it, and he managed to cajole and kid the winner to lead before the final flight, from where his stamina did the rest. Nothingbutthetruth ran quite well in a chase here last time, and repeated the enthusiastic show here, fading only on the run-in, just holding Frameit at bay for second. The third did not previously look at all as if he wanted races this far, so do not trust his stamina until he has replicated this in a less gently run race. 

Race 6: barrydennis.com Handicap Chase [3m 1f]

1: Reblis     2: Reymysterio     3: Romney Marsh

Winner owned: Kingsley, Avery, Farr, Glover, Humphreys, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Joshua Moore

This was not the toughest race around, and none of the five could be fancied with much enthusiasm. Reymysterio, whose name is Esperanto for "hamster guts," forced the pace and had every chance of winning until Reblis (Sanskrit for "half chicken, half mongoose"), himself not apparently the most determined, drew alongside and worried him out of it. Given that the winner had made what would normally be a race losing error at the fourteenth, it was extra timid by Reymysterio. Romney Marsh was on the wrong ground and was outpaced from the third last, but by her own erratic standards she had a going day, and ended up stealing third late in the race.

Race 7: twitter@barrysbismarck mares' Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m 1.5f]

1: Midnight Minx     2: Golden Firebird     3: Vinnie's Girl

Winner owned: Mrs JM Mann, trained: Anthony Honeyball, ridden: Rachel Green

Key form in this small field was with Golden Firebird, who won at Cheltenham in April, and then was third at the Punchestown in her other run. Flat Cap Thursday was only five lengths behind Golden Firebird in the first race, but instead of going onwards and upwards, she had been a beaten favourite at Towcester. The pair were mugged by Midnight Minx, who made a pleasing, but not necessarily elite, start to her racing career.

Plus Points

Shipboard Romance (race 1): Only has one win in sixteen hurdle races, but has joined Jim Best, who has extricated multiple wins from such horses before. The blinkers were added here, it will be interesting to see if they are retained or blamed for the clumsy mess caused at the first hurdle.

My Faithful Annie (race 2): Hung in well against far superior hurdlers, and her jumping stood the test in her debut. Despite a blank from three bumpers and fifteen hurdles, she could put it right in a little handicap chase.

Trip The Light (race 3): A decent flat horse for Richard Fahey, he made a solid start over hurdles at Leicester and was going well here until falling. It is not certain that he would have lasted an extended two and a half miles, but there is a hurdle race to be won with him. 

Raifteiri (race 3): Showed early promise in a couple of decent bumpers, but has been less convincing since. He had a nice toddle round here and can get more seriously involved when qualified for handicaps. 

Trevis (race 3): Has joined Emma Lavelle after showing a no real promise in bumpers for a pointing yard. This hurdles debut was marred by some sloppy jumping, which made it hard for him to keep tabs on the leaders. There is a chance that once he is handicapped, past woes will be forgotten.

Hunt Ball (race 4): Might struggle to defy a penalty in a quick reappearance as he had a hard race, but he ran like a horse able to handle a hefty slap from the handicapper.

Free Speech (race 4): Unlucky to run into a handicap snip whilst conceding lots of weight, the first time blinkers helped, and he too should be able to compete from a raised rating.

Storm Survivor (race 5): Delivered on the promise from a handful of quiet poodles round, but did look like a slower race over further would be even more suitable.

Nothingbutthetruth (race 5): Tends to be better in chases, but in his current frame of mind a win over hurdles is possible as well.

Just Benny (race 5): Is lightly raced over hurdles and seems to be creeping up on a win. He has a nice size about him, and will hopefully cut the mustard as a chaser. 

Jenny's Gold (race 5): Showed promise in very muddy conditions a while ago, but after an absence and a change of yards, she has not shown the same verve. This was better than the first comeback run. Now she is just waiting on the rain.

Down Arrows

Munich (race 1): Shows in the record books as having been a close second, but he is a moody type whose going days are getting fewer and further between.

Joseph Lister (race 3): Looked to have been ridden without expectation of victory at Ludlow on his debut, and seemed poised to improve on that. He was asked to do that here, and seemed to have an aversion to overtaking under pressure. One to be wary of, with the caveat that he had a ten pound claimer on board, and a more experienced rider might force a bit more co-operation from him.

Ohio Gold (race 3): Tried to give Joseph Lister an opportunity to go past, but found his rival with even more win-shyness than he could muster. 

Benozzo Gozzoli (race 5): Named after a fifteenth century artist who looked decidedly shifty in the self-portrait that he left us, the horse ran like he may be going the same way. Turning for home, he seemed to be Storm Survivor's biggest threat, but the effort died very quickly - too quickly for comfort. 

Reymysterio (race 6): Threw away some really soft openings in points, and it looks like running under rules will see more of the same. 

Road Train Bob (race 6): Showed improved form two races previously, but has gone into reverse, and his jumping let him down badly here against beatable opponents. 

Empire

Maderson Blue (race 4): Had schooled efficiently but found the job a lot harder in an actual race and got himself behind very early on. Disappointing.

Elegant Olive (race 6): Should have been a bit out-paced, only to stay on. Instead, she stayed prominent until fading from the second last. David Bass felt that after an awkward landing at that hurdle, she was not totally right and was not hard on her. On the other hand, it may just have been a funny race that was not run to suit her.