Plumpton 14/03/11

Having made an early start to the England - Scotland rugby game on the previous Sunday, and a latish finish, it has to be said that Plumpton was visited in a state of limited awareness and with a distinct lack of energy. Sadly for people that backed them, rather too many of the horses were showing similar symptoms. But that is the way of things the day before Cheltenham - it is the also rans that are catered for and turn out. It is very worrying that the 150th anniversary of Italian unification will further spoil Towcester on Thursday.

Going: Good to Soft (Good places)

Race 1: starsportsbet.co.uk Novice Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Turtlethomas     2: Inner Steel     3: Amaury De Lusignan

Winner owned: Norman Thomas, trained: Lawney Hill, ridden: Harry Skelton

The meeting started with a 33/1 upset, although rarely would such an outsider at a small meeting have had so many successful supporters. There were people called Thomas, people who think they are turtles, and those who have a high regard for Kingston Blount point-to-point form (couple with what became a justified contempt for the form of some of those more prominent in the betting). Turtlethomas had not really excelled in his bumper, but had learnt from it, and as far out as the run to the third last he was cruising and everything else was under pressure. The betting was headed by Amaury De Lusignan, who had been second in a strong Irish point and then been made to look a bit of a plodder in two decent novice hurdles. It was more of the same here. Weaker in the ring, but second favourite, was Shootin The Breeze, a good seventh to Minella Class on his debut, but in the process of running a far inferior race when brought down at Ffos Las afterwards. The main trio was completed by Ransson, who had been sixth in a six runner bumper at Ascot and still showed some signs of greenness in the paddock - he was going OK when falling at the fourth from home. The performance of Inner Steel was more amazing. He showed an inclination in the paddock to scuttle awkwardly sideways rather than stride forward, and got very sweaty on a day that was getting a bit chilly. Having led, he showed plenty of resolve to hang on for second - totally the opposite of the pre-race signals he was giving.

Race 2: Straight Forward Racing Novice Handicap Chase [2m 4f]

1: Horseshoe Reef     2: Ban Uisce     3: Manmoon

Winner owned: Horseshoe Racing Partnership, trained: Jamie Snowden, ridden: Sam Twiston-Davies

Imagine the most bewildering five runner race possible. This was not far from it. We had to untangle two chase debutants, one who had been consistent but flopped badly last time after a fall, one who had lost his way for a few more races and another who had not taken to chases at all, whilst finding a much lower standard of opponent here. Horseshoe Reef came out best, having kicked on early and made just enough daylight to hold the strong finishing Ban Uisce at bay. He was the one that had lost his chase debut by a length, and then been hammered in a couple of novice chases by even further than handicap marks implied that he ought to have been. His jumping probably made the difference here, as when he started to go clear, the oppo were not fluent enough to keep tabs on him. Manmoon ran better with a safe, albeit distant, completion under his belt, since falling here two runs ago.

A morale-improved Manmoon poodles off in front, chased by Ban Uisce (green & white) and Horseshore Reef (more comfortable on the inner). Trailing them are Quetzal (3) and Lepido.

Race 3: Warm Welcome To Mark Spratt mares' Handicap Hurdle [2m 2f]

1: Illysantacristina     2: Petit Fleur     3: The Bishops Baby

Winner owned: Marc Cohen, trained: Bernard Llewellyn, ridden: Mark Quinlan

A winning favourite popped up here, to the relief of those trying to save their funds for the rest of the week, although in a small field Illysantacristina was hardly backed as if defeat was out of the question. This is probably due to a run of three places being achieved without any close run things being involved, and her place heading the betting was due to (probably) bottom weight and the fact that three of her stablemates had won since Thursday. The main problem for Petit Fleur is that she seems a bit too high in the weights, and whilst she showed a nice degree of persistence in the home straight, only her most optimistic backers would have imagined she would pass Illysantacristina. The Bishops Baby got the race run to suit, did her usual respectably competitive thing and again managed only to make the first three. 

Race 4: RSA Handicap Chase [2m 1f]

1: Rileyev     2: The Hardy Boy     3: High Oscar

Winner owned: John Mayne, trained: Venetia Williams, ridden: Aidan Coleman

Having been a model of consistency in his career over fences, Rileyev has recently added the concept of victory to his repertoire, and his overall record is now 443434321311. This was not a race any tougher than the pair of five runner affairs that he had previously poached, and after cruising through the race, he turned the gas up a little and soon burnt off the pursuit. This is his ideal trip, whereas The Hardy Boy and High Oscar have both been more successful over two and a half miles. One more so than the other, but enough to shy away from supporting either in races over roughly two miles.

If there is one thing that can be relied upon to appear on UK-Jumping, it is pictures from the start by the stands at Plumpton cropping up. Left to right (based on jockeys bonces) they are: High Oscar, Rileyev, Paddy The Yank, Sumdancer, The Hardy Boy, Jeczmien

Race 5: Hepworth Conqueror Stout At Plumpton Racecourse Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Little Roxy     2: Just Beware     3: Airedale Lad

Winner owned: Ash Tree Inn Racing Club, trained: Anna Newton-Smith, ridden: Sam Twiston-Davies

Sam Twiston-Davies had a tactical theme going on today, and it paid off for the second time. It involved making a move at the end of the back straight and seeing if the oppo could get round the bend fast enough to close him down. Horseshoe Reef got home by a length and a half, but for Little Roxy the race was won by a very short looking half length. It was only as they crossed the last hurdle that it seemed possible for Just Beware to catch the leader, and she drifted left on the run-in, which took some sting out of finishing effort - she was also carrying 21 pounds more than Little Roxy, who had won over course and distance on heavy a month ago. Airedale Lad has two course wins over 2m 5f, but seemed at home over this distance until Little Roxy made her move, and then he was not able to offer an effective response. Insert your own topical political joke here. With favourite Dansilver charging off too freely in front and a few behind overly keen to keep up with him, it is probably significant that the first three all managed to show a modicum of composure and common sense early in the race. Is this really the Plumpton way?

Race 6: @Plumptonraceday Twitter Handicap Chase [3m 2f]

1: Present A Star     2: Zimbabwe     3: Ethiopia

Winner owned & trained: Sarah Humphrey, ridden: Colin Bolger

The race name tells us that the cyberwaves are to be further congested by useless guff - the default fallback for a marketing bod with no ideas is Twitter. Perhaps loyal citizens of two African countries wanted to know if the Zimbabwe - Ethiopia exacta (or vice-versa) would deliver, but it is unlikely. The one man in Addis Ababa who cared was foiled by Present A Star, who has an unusual career path, as he went Irish pointing after failing under rules. This made him favourite as he had won a maiden only sixteen days previously, and the popular assumption was that doing so had proven his old form to be left behind. This is not an infallible approach, but worked today - extremely comfortably. Zimbabwe and Ethiopia had taken each other on for the lead and did well to cling in there for the minor places, although that probably reflects quite badly on those in behind them. Zim has plummeted in the weights but has posted one or two false dawns along the way, so cannot be taken entirely at face value here, and Ethiopia only seems to be really bothered at Plumpton. The veteran ex-pointer Derawar won easily at Ffos Las recently but could not follow up under a penalty which took his burden to 12 stone 5 pounds, before his trainer/rider deducted her claim. That was enough to stop him. The was support at long prices for Ben Trovato, a five year old chase debutant (after three hurdle thrashings to get handicapped). His jumping was nowhere near adequate to keep him competitive.

Race 7: Dirty Dancing Drive In Movie Handicap Hurdle [3m 1.5f]

1: Madame Jasmine     2: Cloudy Wager     3: Aconitum

Winner owned: Mrs Yvonne Allsop, trained: Suzy Smith, ridden: Tom Cannon

Usually races at this course and distance allow most of the runners to be discounted due to unproven or insufficient stamina, but this included several proven three milers, which means that it is not concerning that the first two home, clear of the rest, were both stepping up from two and a half miles. On Cloudy Wager, Plan Twiston-Davies (S) was executed again, but Tom Cannon was ready and managed to urge Madame Jasmine home in the shadow of the post. A brave effort by the winner, and no loss of kudos to the runner-up. Aconitum is still winless in 18 starts, but has been nearest to correcting that in long distance hurdles, so he does not devalue the form in ending up third. After starting well in bumpers and regressing, then repeating the approach as a hurdler, there was a case being made that Venetian Lad would appreciate this distance and avoiding belly deep mud. The case failed. 

Madame Jasmine (the grey), edges out Cloudy Wager (not grey) on the line

Plus points  

Turtlethomas (race 1): OK, it was not much of a race but there was no fluke about this, and more wins are entirely possible.

Inner Steel (race 1): Showed some bumper promise, and did not do badly in his hurdle debut over 3m at Hexham. Despite being off putting in the preliminaries, he is not a forlorn hope going back to three miles plus.

Ban Uisce (race 2): Made a couple of errors, but nothing that cannot be cured, so on the whole made a first go at fences that could be a stepping stone to better things. The sharp track was ideal, although he would have preferred softer going.

Little Carmela (race 3): Had been running badly and usually tackles longer trips, so in this context a ten length fourth can be considered a step in the right direction. Watch for a return to 2m 6f or longer.

The Hardy Boy (race 4): Signs of coming back to form?

High Oscar (race 4): Has run better than this at 2m 1f, but again did well enough to make him appeal in a two and a half miler.

Present A Star (race 6): Won easily and did not have a hard time of things, so needs to be taken seriously if turned out quickly before his handicap mark rises. 

Madame Jasmine & Cloudy Wager (race 7): Their handicap marks are likely to suffer as a result, but by scooting clear in this race, the pair proved that three miles or more should be bringing out the best in them.

Down arrows

Amaury De Lusignan (race 1): Was all the rage in the betting, but ran quite moderately, and unless he is given a very friendly handicap mark, it is hard to see what sort of races he will win (prior to going into long distance chases).

Shootin The Breeze (race 1): Again failed to replicate the noteworthy debut run, and that effort may also have stuffed up his handicap potential for the time being.

Quetzal (race 2): Started favourite on his chase debut, and lacked fluency in general, jumping carelessly and not travelling especially well between fences. Faster ground may help, but he does seem to be overestimated simply because Alan King is the trainer.

Jeczmien (race 4): Has been in good form but had a real off day here. Soft or heavy ground seems to be absolutely essential, and even a hint of dryness in the air has been putting him off.

Paddy The Yank (race 4): Ran in a couple of novice chases to get handicapped, and showed a glimpse of appeal in doing so. He was not beaten far in the first handicap chase he tried, but put in a really shoddy round of jumping here, and any repeats will get him nowhere.

Sumdancer (race 4): After some lacklustre performances he had a visor on for the first time. It lit him up early on, but was too effective and when Rileyev passed him, he dropped out very quickly. Plan B required.

Dansilver (race 5): Not for the first time here, the betting went all weak at the knees for a horse debuting for Jim Best, and also not for the first time, the supporters found themselves crashing to the ground in a demoralised swoon. He had not won since his hurdles debut in 2007, so beware of any future over optimism where this horse is concerned.

Midnight Ocean (race 7): Was well beaten last time in her first race for eleven months, but did not appear today to have come on much for the exercise. She is only a pound above her winning rating, yet seems a fair way off of being able to take advantage. 

UK-Jumping Selections

Madame Jasmine (race 7): Needed every last yard to grind out a win, and shaped like three miles is her absolute minimum distance.