Kempton 27/12/09

Would this prove to be the turning of the tide from the damage inflicted on the fixture list by the weather or a short-term respite? The forecast suggested the latter, but it was a decent six race card for those who needed a bit of fresh air and were not at the 76,000 turnout for Harlequins against Wasps. Of course, there was not likely to be anything to merit a repeat of Ruby Walsh's threatened post-race striptease from Boxing Day (very much in the style of "Slapshot"), but there were a couple of Grade races on the card and it drew a huge crowd. Why more than in previous years of day 2 of the double header? Perhaps because sponsors William Hill had been advertising the meeting all over the shop - including on the hoardings around Premiership football matches. For some reason, Kempton and Sandown seem hopeless at advertising their big meetings, and this venue's occasional efforts at promoting attendance seem to only apply to bog standard all-weather meetings that nobody gives two hoots about. Surely a lesson has been learned?

Going: Good to Soft (Hurdles - Soft places)

Race 1: Williamhill.com - Blackjack Juvenile Novice Hurdle [2m]

1: Mille Chief     2: Westlin' Winds     3: Mymateeric

Winner owned: McNeill Family, trained: Alan King, ridden: Robert Thornton

There was a lack of strength in depth for this race, and after he was brought down on his debut, Mille Chief contributed the quality on what had been said about him more than what had been done. He was receiving ten pounds from dual winner Westlin' Winds, which probably explained why the more proven horse was second in the betting. The pair buzzed away from their rivals turning for home and with Mille Chief always going better, with reservations, Westlin' Winds gets plaudits for trying rather than the result. The one concern with Mille Chief was that Robert Thornton really did hang on to him as long as possible, suggesting that he had concerns about his ability to see out the trip in possibly holding conditions. The opposition was well behind, but some are not forlorn hopes when their sights are set a touch lower - Fakenham winner Mymateeric accepted the inevitable third place fairly readily.

Race 2: Williamhill.com Novice Chase, Grade 2 (registered as The Wayward Lad Novice Chase) [2m]

1: Riverside Theatre     2: El Dancer     3: Rory Boy

Winner owned: Jimmy Nesbitt Partnership, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Barry Geraghty

It is amazing that an actor as omnipresent as James Nesbitt has time to own a racehorse (all credit to him for picking a jumper), but he was here to collect the rather glorious trophy that accompanied Riverside Theatre's comfortable romp to success. The winner was a sound hurdler who is showing the signs of excelling even more over fences. He has won six times at two miles (a pair in each of the three jumps disciplines) but gives no reason to fear a step up in trip. There was a bit of a kick in the buttocks for the rider as he got a suspension for causing a concertina of interference on the final turn, but it made zero difference to the outcome. Although run out of the frame late on, Noble Request in fourth ran an interesting race. Apparently not comfortable early on, and looking set for last on a course that might be too sharp for him, he rallied well on the home turn to have a spell in second until fading again. The good parts of this race were by far his best showing since returning from injury, but before he can be followed with confidence, he does need to see things out to the finish.

Race 3: Williamhill.com - Bingo mares' Handicap Hurdle [3m]

1: Strawberry     2: Love Of Tara     3: Quaspia

Winner owned: Paul Murphy, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Barry Geraghty

Success over as far as three miles was a bit thin on the ground in this, and that helped Strawberry, who ground out the win more like a mare who had more stamina than her rivals than one especially well handicapped. Love Of Tara did win at just short of this trip in a weak novice hurdle, and since then has looked much better dropped in distance - admittedly her win being 2m 5f at Towcester shows she is not short of durability - and she was outstayed by the winner. Quaspia, representing the Francois Doumen team that are still ignored here at your peril - has never won beyond two miles, and did not get home.

Race 4: Williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase, Grade 2 [2m]

1: Petit Robin     2: Well Chief     3: I'msingingtheblues

Winner owned: Mr & Mrs John Poynton, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Barry Geraghty

A glorious moment for Exacta punters, as the two highest rated runners finished in a 1-2, yet the dividend paid in excess of £16 in an eight-runner race. Sometimes it pays to stick to the obvious. Petit Robin and Well Chief had the race between them from the final bend, and whilst helped by running and jumping in a straighter line, the feeling was that the younger and less injury battered Petit Robin would have found enough anyway. In his favour for the future is the fact that Nicky Henderson's horses do not seem to have been as productive as usual first time out, so Petit Robin could progress for the run. It would be easy to say this was a sign of age catching up on Well Chief, but the handicap ratings said he was weighted to finish level with the up and coming winner, so if there is a deterioration, it is not quite a fall off of the precipice. Fourth placed was the youthful novice Crack Away Jack. He made a couple of early small errors and was always then near the rear and thus could not get involved too seriously. However, even allowing for one of them being a quality race, his two novice chases saw him take on a total of five opponents, and instead of exposing his limitations, this might actually have served to give him a much needed education over fences.

Race 5: Williamhill.com Bonus 25 Handicap Chase [3m]

1: Fortification     2: I'moncloudnine    3: Piraya

Winner owned: Christopher Rudd, trained: Nigel Hawke, ridden: Matt Griffith

For the new racegoers, this provided a splendid education on the nature of big handicaps - a seventeen declared, two non-runners, and a horse that had won three on the spin adding one more to that tally at a price (12/1) that surely made them wonder why these types of races were supposed to be that hard. The winner might agree, as after twenty three races of utter futility over the smaller obstacles, he is now unbeaten in his chase career. Again, two horses appeared to be in control entering the home straight, but as much as Fortification powered clear, Piraya tied up quite badly, and I'moncloudnine took second, ensuring a place double for those who went each-way on badly punctuated and oddly spelled chasers. Soixante managed to avoid coming second yet again, but not in the way connections would prefer, and Or Jaune lost his unbeaten record at the track coming home sixth, although he did not run that badly in a much tougher race than the ones he won here.

Race 6: Williamhill.com - Casino Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Ronaldo Des Mottes     2: First Avenue     3: Know The Law

Winner owned: K & D Ives, trained: David Pipe, ridden: Timmy Murphy

After being the subject of an ante-post plunge for an abandoned race before Christmas, the bookies took no chances in pricing up Know The Law, but he was not exactly all the rage in the ring, and the manner in which he was condemned to third must have left those that laid the gamble cursing their luck that the weather did not co-operate. There were no excuses, as after three out all fourteen runners were close enough if good enough, and Ronaldo Des Mottes was by far the strongest finisher. First Avenue has only won a maiden hurdle at Plumpton, but his flat ability and two placed runs leading into this suggested that it was perfectly possible that he could step up to this level, and he was simply unlucky enough to bump into a rival who really meant it today, having been down the field in rather tougher tasks for his last two - the Fred Winter Hurdle and the Greatwood Hurdle.

Plus points  

Woodlark Island (race 1): Ended up fourth, receiving his third drubbing, but he was not given the most hectic time of things here and gave the impression that he could be aimed at some innocuous target at the small tracks, possibly on better ground. 

Amber Brook (race 3): Fell heavily when staying on two out, and might well have been involved in the shake-up but for the accident.

Petit Robin (race 4): Let's say it - a realistic rival to a healed Master Minded, and a huge threat if the champ's recovery is held up and prep for Cheltenham delayed. 

I'msingingtheblues (race 4): May be a real rarity - an unheralded Paul Nicholls chaser. Although only eighth in the Arkle, he was beaten just eleven lengths, and his only other duff chase run was on his seasonal comeback. This put that well and truly behind him.

Au Courant (race 5): Trying three miles for the first time, he blundered four out and it rather knocked the stuffing out of him. He has always been a bit of an all or nothing horse, and could quite easily bounce back next time, with a reversion to two and a half miles not a worry.

First Avenue (race 6): May be in the process of fulfilling his potential as a hurdler - this was only his seventh run in the sphere. 

Oddshoes (race 6): Trailed in near last but was greatly eased when beaten and did not run nearly as badly as the result implies.

Down arrows

Mille Chief (race 1): Did absolutely zero wrong, won on merit, but the body language of the ride was just that little bit discouraging - keep an eye on just how well he stays in the mud.

My Moment (race 2): His trainer and rider both had been near invincible a day before, but a dreadful round of jumping prevented him from continuing the run.

Argento Luna (race 3): Her overall record before this was four wins, five seconds and a third from just twelve runs, but she was going nowhere when brought down two from the finish, and might have gone further up the handicap than she can cope with, as the only other possible excuse, the sharp track, does not quite convince.

Doctor David (race 4): Was amazingly still hanging in there in third as the field turned for home, and although he faded from there, he was the one horse in the race that really ran above himself. The trouble is, he played up leaving the paddock and going to post, and leaves the impression that his brain is a bigger hindrance than this natural ability.

Valley Ride (race 5): Had been doing well in chases until falling last time over the National fences, and it seems to have got to him, as his jumping today was diabolical.

Little Josh (race 5): Looked a potential monster on soft ground over hurdles, but when he hit the deck at the first, it was the second time that he had fallen in his last three chases.