Newbury 29/12/09

Two Grade 1 races on the card, and the course attracted what was probably a fair crowd, although the terrible weather tended to keep people huddle together in the stands, so it was hard to be certain. Watching replays of the races, the pictures failed miserably to convey how bleak it was, so maybe RUK do some sort of picture enhancement thing, to attract the champagne on the lawn crowd. There were a couple of people here today dressed for that - perhaps they are a bit dim? But for those here to enjoy the sport, the horses provided several exciting finishes, on ground that does not often lend itself to that. The general trend for each race was to have a poodle round, and then split into two groups on the final bend, where those handling the ground would kick clear, and those not would act at their discretion.

Going: Heavy

Race 1: Bathwick Tyres Support Heros Novice Chase [2m 2.5f]

1: Take The Breeze     2: Den Of Iniquity     3: Dave's Dream

Winner owned: David & Jenny Murdoch, trained: Paul Nicholls, ridden: Ruby Walsh

It is not clear to the public eye quite how much Take The Breeze cost the current connections. His French flat record of 30 tries, 0 wins, peaking with a couple of thirds, suggests that he was probably not the most sought after of the yard's inmates, but after a fair go of things over hurdles, he really can jump the big fences. There were a couple of minor errors today, but like several horses after him, they can be blamed on the wet, slippery conditions on landing rather than poor technique. And apart from those wobbles, Take The Breeze demolished his oppo in smooth, unfussy style. A line through Bensalem gave Den Of Iniquity plenty to find, maybe not if you allow for him needing that run. Well, after challenging to three out, he dropped away and it is worth bearing in mind that he is 100% proven in bad conditions. Dave's Dream, upped in class after his debut chase win, struggled most of the way.

Race 2: Happy Birthday Laura From Bathwick Tyres Juvenile Novice Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Orzare     2: Hunterview     3: Rajamand

Winner owned: Bryan Fry, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Philip Hide

Even for those with experience of the mud on the flat, this was a hard slog, and although the first four were well clear, they may need a little time to get over the effort. None of the riders were keen to play their hand early, but Hunterview left it latest of all, only to find Orzare a phenomenally resilient rival - which his flat record in France of 13 runs, 0 wins, 6 places suggested was not traditionally the case. Rajamand is also ex-French, but he had only four runs on the level there, and will have more scope for improvement with the experience than the first pair. Couer Brule was fourth, fading from the second last, but he is quite exposed and had no real reason to make this rise in class. He can boast five OK hurdle runs in defeat, but it does mean those behind him need to able to blame the ground for being there.

Race 3: Bathwick Tyres Mandarin Graduation Chase [2m]

1: Carruthers     2: Big Fella Thanks     3: Massini's Maguire

Winner owned: The Oksey Partnership, trained: Mark Bradstock, ridden: Mattie Batchelor

A new improved, sensible Carruthers took this race with ease, settling in front and not running himself into the ground with a couple of furlongs to go. He still is vulnerable when having to dominate fast run, big field handicaps, but there are other races for him, and in this mood, he is not done winning them. Big Fella Thanks was having his first run since a futile tilt at the Grand National, and gave chase to Carruthers until having had enough two from home. He finished unusually tired for a Paul Nicholls horse, but was beaten on his reappearance last year, so may be one of the few in the stable who will not win first up. 

Race 4: Lawrence Equine Support Heros Introductory Hurdle [2m o.5f]

1: Quantitativeeasing      2: Ashfield's Dream     3: Action Impact

Winner owned: JP McManus, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Tony McCoy

These introductory races were designed to have extra prize money to attract the elite novices, but that may not have been the case here. Quantitativeeasing may have looked elite as he cruised amongst his rivals, but the fact that the second favourite had been beaten 38 lengths on his hurdle debut suggests that the oppo was not the toughest he will face. He still could turn out very decent, but so far his three wins do not show a huge deal of substance - the Punchestown bumper win coming out best of them to date. Ashfield's Dream and Action Impact get plenty of effort points, and whilst the former can boast an Ascot win to his name, the margins were a neck, a neck and a head, then the fourth went out and got beaten a lot further at Fontwell, which was probably why he went fairly unfancied in the betting ring.

Race 5: Racing UK Free Today On Sky 532 Challow Novices Hurdle, Grade 1 [2m 5f]

1: Reve De Sivola      2: Restless Harry     3: Finian's Rainbow

Winner owned: Paul Duffy Diamond Partnership, trained: Nick Williams, ridden: Daryl Jacob

A cracking finish was served up in this Grade 1 race. Firstly Restless Harry looked like he would hold on in front for a huge shock. Then Finian's Rainbow hit the front for a more predictable outcome, then Restless Harry fought his way back in the lead. Only to find Reve De Sivola pouncing late on the stand side. And for good measure former hunter chaser Kennel Hill nearly ran the jolly out of a place. Numpty fact about Reve De Sivola alert: He has run seven of his eight race sin Grade 1 or Grade 2 events, yet his one run below that level saw him beaten by more than double his next worst defeat. It is amazing what seems amazing on a cold day. When he finally got off the mark at Chepstow, the runner-up went on to win a Grade 1 three miler, but despite that endorsement, the market was more certain that Finian's Rainbow would rise to the occasion after two easy wins in much lesser races. The combination of trip and ground proved just too much, but on another day he could get revenge.

Race 6: Racing UK On Virgin 536 Long Walk Hurdle [3m 0.5f]

1: Big Buck's      2: Karabak     3: Diamond Harry

Winner owned: The Stewart Family, trained: Paul Nicholls, ridden: Ruby Walsh

A grinding success rather than a sparkling one, but after Big Buck's was seen being nudged along rounding the far end of the course, it was apparent that this would test his heart more than his legs, and he passed the challenge. Karabak proved, after his failure at Aintree, that he does get three miles, and whilst it is easy to see him being more suited to better ground than Diamond Harry, it is not the case against Big Buck's. So the champ proved that whatever is thrown his way in March, he ought to be able to deal with it. 

Big Buck's (left) and Diamond Harry have different degrees of ferocity to their pre-race psyche up

Race 7: Totepool Support Heros Novice Handicap Chase [2m 6.5f]

1: Doctor Pat      2: Reblis     3: Khachaturian

Winner owned: JP McManus, trained: Francois Doumen, ridden: Tony McCoy

A masterful effort from the champ, biding his time when his mount was not ideally fluent early on, challenging when Khachaturian stumbled on landing two out, and just wearing down Reblis, who made a last fence blunder. Just when bookies thought there was a race to provide a reprieve from strongly supported winners... In fact, the margin was narrow, but Doctor Pat did not looked like a horse that had been bottomed out, and could easily follow up. Having been edged out in both his chases, it would be unfair to blame Reblis' resolve, but in this ground the trip may be proving a touch too far.

Race 8: North Farm Stud Support Heros Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m o.5f]

1: Mizzurka      2: Easton Clump     3: Venetian Lad

Winner owned: Golden Cap, trained: Bob Buckler, ridden: Harry Skelton

No one could blame this hugely inexperienced field for wanting a gentle intro, and when the attack finally came from a real dawdle, only Mizzurka and Easton Clump made it. That pair went head to head all the way down the straight, with the winner sneaking an edge very late on. Venetian Lad emerged from the pack to narrow the gap and take third from the favourite, who had been second over course and distance previously. Five of the first six came from yards not normally too bothered about bumpers, or more accustomed to having flat converts, so the form has an immediate aura of doubt around it.

Plus Points

Working Title (race 1): Took a fall at the eighth, his only mistake proving costly, but in a brief career so far he has been much more productive on a sharp track (1151) than others (now 30F303F). Perhaps the considered pace on tight bends is to his liking?

Hunterview (race 2): Nothing wrong on the day, and his ability to win over a mile and a half on soft ground should serve him well over hurdles eventually.

Windpfeil (race 2): Showed signs of being a dour plugger on the flat, which acquired him a win on good to soft and a low handicap mark. He was not given the hardest of races here, and is one to have in mind when going handicapping.

Big Fella Thanks (race 3): May come on for the race, and now has a record when on soft or heavy over three miles or more of 112212, with one defeat being a short head. 

Niche Market (race 3): Took on Carruthers and the effort took a toll as he lost third on the run-in to a couple of horses that might otherwise have been pulled up. He is not entirely proven on this ground, and probably prefers going right-handed as well. Not to be written off, although winning the Irish Grand National will not have helped his handicap mark.

Ashfield's Dream (race 4): Allowing for the reservations of his Ascot win noted above, he did win an Irish point by two and a half miles or so (note "by" not "over"), and on this evidence, is waiting for bigger stamina challenge.

Action Impact (race 4): A six time flat winner, his SP of 40/1 reflected a fear that he was not cut out for a wallow in the mud, so unless he has changed his spots radically, this can be seen as a step to better things.

Tail Of The Bank (race 4): Travelled supremely well, and led three out, with only the winner matching his style. Then greenness set in and he wandered approaching the second last, causing him to trip over it and go to ground. After two very decent bumper runs here, he was also over priced at 40/1 and clearly has plenty of ability, if having a bit to learn about hurdling in anger.

Restless Harry (race 5): Second and first at Towcester on good and heavy respectively, beating a 110 rated opponent 13 lengths in the win, he did not look Grade 1 material on that form, and an eighty length hammering when last of seven to split those two made his prospects appear even worse. The conclusion is that this amazing run is the product of his ability to go on the ground, as Henry Oliver made certain from the front that any chinks in enemy armour would be exposed.

Kennel Hill (race 5): A Downpatrick hunter chase winner, his career over big fences began to be littered with Ps and Fs, so when he switched to hurdles it was no surprise that he started 100/1 in a Grade 2 three miler run on soft. The fact that he was beaten two and a half lengths there was astounding, but this showed it to be no fluke. 

Karabak (race 6): Will be hard to beat when avoiding Big Buck's and a margin of three and a half lengths is teasingly close.

Bertie May (race 7): Plugged on without looking as if he would make the frame, ending up fifth. His two recent wins came over a quarter of a mile less, and that could be the way to add to his quietly impressive tally of five wins.

Jump Jet (race 7): Jumped and ran well until the ground tethered him in the home straight. Perfectly capable of bouncing back.

Down Arrows

Dave's Dream (race 1): A very lacklustre performance, and the form of his winning chase run has been made to look iffy in the last few days.

Puzzlemaster (race 2): Rated on a par with Hunterview on the flat, and with a ten furlong win on heavy to his name, he seemed one of the more likely ones to cope with conditions - he failed by a long way.

Roll Along (race 3): Sixth in the Gold Cup, he ran a stinking seasonal debut, and sloppy jumping messed up this run as well.

Massini's Maguire (race 3): His third to Cooldine at Cheltenham seemed to snuff out his spring campaign, but the problem today was intermittent walloping of the fences. He is now in too high grade of race to get away with it.

Iolith (race 4): Group 3 and Listed runner-up in Germany, he was hampered seriously when Tail Of The Bank fell, but already was hinting that he had no more to give.

Any Given Day (race 5): Was poised to challenge for a place, but his stamina was found seriously wanting from the third last.

River D'Or (race 5): A French import in the Clive Smith colours, he probably cost his weight in gold, but ninth of eleven, even at the top level, was an inauspicious beginning.

Kayf Aramis (race 6): Somehow ended up fourth, having lost his position horribly before outstaying some tired rivals. He is yet to prove that changing yard has agreed with him - although it is accepted that he was not exactly an instant success in the old one.

Khachaturian (race 7): Did not shirk the job but does not seem to win as often as a horse of his ability ought to.

UK-Jumping Selections

Award Winner (race 7): A bit slovenly with his jumping early on, he got behind and could do nothing about it. Disappointingly similar to his last run