Plumpton 03/01/10

At least we all know our agenda for sport for the week coming - following the terrible cycle of enter, declare, abandon, start again until the tundra is thawed.

Going: Soft (Heavy places). However, the feedback for participants was heavy on the railway bend, fast in places, terribly holding the rest.

Race 1: At The Races Sky 415 Novice Hurdle [2m]

1: Notus De La Tour     2: Ranjobaie     3: Beau Fighter

Winner owned: Racing For Change, trained: David Pipe, ridden: Johnny Farrelly

This race was a lesson in how time can change your perspective quite radically on a topic, but then self adjust later on. Ranjobaie’s second to Menorah was elevated from the half decent to the very promising on by the winner’s Boxing Day follow-up, and he had been an unlucky loser when toppling over in his own follow-up run. Those who thought this was thus a formality had a shock as Ranjobaie was returned to the starting point of half decent as Notus De La Tour, who was making his UK debut after four runs at Autueil (won the least valuable of them) saw him off quite readily. Beau Fighter was unable to sustain a brief challenge three out, but made a respectable hurdling debut, as did fourth placed Blue Tango.

The first pic of 2010 - an uneventful one of Notus De La Tour keen to be seen in the winner's spot

Race 2: Attherace.com With Free Timeform Novice Chase [2m 1f]

1: Nomecheki     2: I Have Dreamed     3: Miss Sarenne

Winner owned: The Stewart Family, trained: Nick Gifford, ridden: Liam Treadwell

An amazing win for Nomecheki, who did his best to give the race away at the death, but somehow Liam Treadwell managed to prevent it. Both he and I Have Dreamed were going a little better than Miss Sarenne two out, which the trio approached in a line, but after a small error crossing it, Nomecheki’s landing was confused and he slithered along briefly, looking sure to tip over, eventually just avoiding it. I Have Dream kicked a couple of lengths clear, but Nomecheki lost surprisingly little distance, and was back in the hunt at the last, wearing down the runner-up very late in the day. Given that the distances were a short-head and three-quarters of a length it does look like I Have Dreamed did not quite get home in the conditions, helping the winner's cause a fair bit. Miss Sarenne jumped better than on her last run, but has now been a beaten favourite in all three of her chases. Up until three out, Franchoek ran his best race over fences yet, but then faded tamely, and only overtook the 90-rated She’s Humble (who ran out of her skin) near the line.

With such a threatening sky, Franchoek (3) shows a bit more zip for chasing, appreciating being in an early race. She's Humble responds with even more alacrity, but I Have Dreamed (1), Miss Sarenne (5) and Nomecheki (2) prioritise winning. There can be only one (unless it is a dead heat!)

Race 3: EBF At The Races Virgin 534 Novice Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Stoney’s Treasure     2: Pete The Feat     3: Barak O’Barma

Winner owned: Mr & Mrs FC Welch, trained: Alan King, ridden: Robert Thornton

If the close presence of She’s Humble until two out made the last race seem carefully run, the fact that there was little between the first seven in the field as they came to three out suggested that this was similar, but more so. However, the favourite, Fabulous Fred stumbled a few yards after the flight, flinging off William Kennedy dramatically, and Stoney’s Treasure kicked on, surely for a nice win? Not quite, as Pete The Feat (exposed and rated 85) and Barak O’Barma (pulled up behind the winner on his only other racecourse visit) proved surprisingly resilient, limiting Stoney’s Treasure to a win by the same margin that he had nabbed against probably much stronger rivals at Lingfield. Was it the going? Was it hitting the front much further out? Time will tell, but it was a far less impressive performance.

Race 4: At The Races Sussex National Handicap Chase [3m 5f]

1: Master Overseer     2: Tarquinius     3: Shaka’s Pearl

Winner owned: Brocade Racing, trained: David Pipe, ridden: Johnny Farrelly

There was a majority for young, lightly raced horses in this that is untypical of marathon chases, and the youthful ones saw off their elders, including Kawagino, whose chasing epiphany ended at the second. When it came to the finish, anything Nomecheki can do, Master Overseer can do better – mainly jumping, but the way he got out in front, wavered and was headed, then fought back suggests he is more worried about charging towards a large and noisy crowd. As Tarquinius had hit the front under strong pressure from the saddle, it was not certain that he would prevail, but between the last two fences, Shaka’s Pearl would have been the most likely guess at the eventual winner, until he ran out of steam as they went for the final fence. The first three were clear of the other finishers, and whilst some of the defeated constructed their own fate from suspect jumping, others might do better on less odd going. Teeming Rain was looking like a big danger going down the back straight for the final time, but when he came off the bridle, there was no more to give and he was very tired when unable to get good clearance at the second last. He got his revenge on Tony McCoy for making him jump it by using the error as an excuse for dashing the jockey to the floor and kicking him around a bit.

Whatever Next leads the big race of the day. The answer is "jump right, gradually lose positions." Tarquinius (grey) and Master Overseer are ready to pounce with still three laps to go. Then comes Teeming Rain (6), Pipe De Re (11), and Present M'Lord (hoops, red cap). Enroblim Trop is no. 8 and Shaka's Pearl keeps the back neat and tidy. The arm and bum behind Teeming Rain looks to be Notabotheronme, and similar behind Pipo De Re is Petite Margot, so the hint of a rider's head behind Master Overseer must be perched on Radetsky March.

Race 5: Attheraces.com Be A Virtual Owner Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Near The Water     2: Sebastiano     3: Have You Seen Me

Winner owned: Ms Jane Southall, trained: Richard Rowe, ridden: Leighton Aspell

There was money for Near The Water, but with serial runner-up Sebastiano again favourite, many people must have felt that the betting percentages were tempting on any runner with a squeak of a chance. As usual, Sebastiano did not do anything conspicuously ill-conceived, but one of the oppo proved too good again. Amazingly, Near The Water had not been raised a pound for his second to the immensely promising Aegean Dawn in November. Even after the money, Near The Water was a 9/2 shot. What price would Aegean Dawn been in this from a mark of 97? Have You Seen Me was just over four lengths behind Stoney’s Treasure last time out, and his run from 109 here suggested that he is slightly under-estimated when the yard is buzzing (in contrast to Stoney’s laboured defeat of Pete The Feat).

Race 6: Attheraces.com Is Free Handicap Chase [2m 4f]

1: Senor Shane     2: Omme Antique     3: Signs Of Love

Winner owned: L Gilbert, trained: Chris Gordon, ridden: Charlie Studd

This race looked to be run a bit faster in the early stages than some of the others (the snow flurry surely not a tactical factor?), which could explain some fairly scrappy jumping, or that could just be the way that creatures of similar habits congregate together. Senor Shane made less errors than at Lingfield, and as he was running out of puff, he most crucially got the final fence good enough to hang on from Omme Antique, who can at least say that he keeps narrowing the degree of defeat. King Raven ran quite well, but fatigue resulted in the effort ending with a fall at the last. Mostly a good effort and encouraging, but as it was his chase debut, the threat is that the sour memory will dominate his thinking. The Hardy Boy unseated at the fifth, only his second career mishap. Bear in mind that all five wins have come with Liam Heard on top, who was absent today.

This would be an all time great picture if the snow had not ruined it (a monkeys might fly out of my butt). Himba and the striped colours of Senor Shane are not as far away as this makes it look, from The Hardy Boy and Omme Antique behind Alderbrook Girl. Then Royal Kicks keeps Signs Of Love and King Raven (lighter sleeves) on his inner, with Legal Glory feigning interest.

Race 7: At The Races Sky 415 Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m 2f]

1: Brackloon High     2: Frontier Spirit     3: Back At The Ranch

Winner owned: T Conway, Mrs Conway, TG Warren, trained: Noel Chance, ridden: Richard Johnson

Only six lined up, none really wanted to race the whole trip, Frontier Spirit led most of the way, Brackloon High skipped by him and won easily. The entire story lies in the result, although Frontier Spirit’s resolve once headed did not impress much – but it was distinctly chilly by that stage of the afternoon.

Plus Points

Blue Tango (race 1): Had run quite poorly in his last three on the flat, but showed a touch more life here, and with a mile and a quarter win under his belt as a two year old, stamina ought not to be a problem for him.

Beau Lake (race 1): A nine length seventh on his debut in Bensalem’s wonder-bumper at Sandown, he has probably been the only one of the top half in that race to have fared worse since. However, after falling on his hurdles debut, he took a step in the right direction this time, ending up fifth. Better to come.

Barak O’Barma (race 3): Clearly learned plenty for his debut, and whilst Pete The Feat is very much a known quantity, it may be that this 100/1 third was not a fluke and will be replicated.

Alteranthela (race 3): Won an Irish point, but had shown nothing in a bumper and a hurdle prior to this, but showed a glimmer of talent in having a run round – enough to be monitoring his migration to handicaps.

Petite Margot (race 4): From the out of form Twiston-Davies team, she is not one that is necessarily woefully handicapped, being just above her last winning chase mark and just below her last hurdle one. Unless she has given up the ghost completely, she can add to her solid tally of ten wins from forty runs. For a little mare, it is a minor surprise that the last eight wins have come carrying 11 stone or more, so she seems happier duffing up less talented horses, rather than mugging her superiors. Wins left handed and on sharp tracks are a rarity as well.

Have You Seen Me (race 5): Yard struggling for winners, and still only beaten two lengths after racing a bit too freely early on. Therefore, should be capable of winning even after a little rise in the weights.

Maurisca (race 5): Was trying to run her best ever race last time, but did not stay two and half miles, but for the first time she finished less than ten lengths behind the leader and might go better yet.

Himba (race 6): Always runs badly left-handed, so look for a switch in direction, where he often runs badly, but sometimes remembers not to.

Down Arrows

Nomecheki (race 2): After his fall last time, he was a bit cautious early on, but the incident at the second last could have gone either way, and on another day he would have walked away with UK form of F1FF. In fairness, he has never lost a race that he has actually finished, having has two flat and one hurdle win in France.

Franchoek (race 2): Is only really on here for the benefit of those who missed his last two entries over fences.

Flanagan (race 3): Lacks a bit of experience, but took a long, long look at the stables before deciding to join in for the final lap.

Shaka’s Pearl (race 4): Has been lightly raced in recent years, but he is one of those horses that is easily able to perform with promise, but has only once managed to deliver on it (last November, for which he was instantly put up fifteen pounds).

Conington (race 5): Got into this after twice being in the first four over hurdles, and the market feared a Best plot. Struggled a long way out and the best that can be said is that he was eased when clearly demolished.

UK-Jumping Selections

Pete The Feat (race 3): Even if the form is a touch suspect, he excelled himself to be second with no apparent fluke as even had the jolly stood up, he would have been third at worst.