Huntingdon 16/03/11

Welcome to the alternative to Cheltenham, where the fog hung threatening over the course, and a chill wind brought back thoughts of late autumn. Alas, some of the horses felt the same, and in a card where most of the races featured some under-achievers, some of those who had been a bit livelier of late disappointed. It was fair to say that beyond the novice hurdle, positive clues for the future were a bit thin on the ground.

Going: Good

Race 1: Bet On The Cheltenham Festival toteplacepot Lady Riders' Handicap Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Samizdat     2: Atared     3: Domino Dancer

Winner owned: Mrs Freda Rayson, trained: Dianne Sayer, ridden: Emma Sayer

In days of yore the race was labelled as the Lady Riders Champion Hurdle and sat in the middle of the card. Despite not significantly altering the race conditions, the acts of removing the champion reference and moving it to start the day seems to have seriously downgraded the quality. The race turned into a stroll for Samizdat, who had ended a spell of appalling runs by winning last time, on his fifteenth run of the season. Still being thrown in compared what he was doing this time last year, making it two from two was not really a problem. Atared was held up early on and gradually progressed through the field to get close to the winner at the second last, which seemed to be enough to remind Samizdat to get on with it. Domino Dancer, whose trainer opted not to ride him as well (a reflection on his perceived chance, or a tribute to selected pilot Isabel Tompsett?), was always third, it was just that he allowed different horses to be the pair ahead of him. 

Samizdat has the race in the bag, from Atared, and Domino Dancer, although this picture does seem to be exaggerating the gaps

Race 2: Bet On The Cheltenham Festival jackpot Novice Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Dubai Crest     2: Masterful Act     3: Eseej

Winner owned: AD Spence, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Jeremiah McGrath

DubaI Crest exerts his authority over a staying on Masterful Act, and a game Eseej

Race 3: totetrifecta On All Cheltenham Festival Races Handicap Chase [3m]

1: Kercabellec     2: King Of Leon     3: Bardolet

Winner owned & trained: John Cornwall, ridden: Joe Cornwall

Kercabellec has the lead with two laps still to go, and he was there at the end, although not leading all the way. Absolute Shambles, who mostly lived up to his name, is next, with Bardolet launching himself

Race 4: Black Bull Sawston Dean's Final Freedom Handicap Hurdle [3m 2f]

1: Burnthill     2: More Equity     3: Willow Wren

Winner owned & trained: Claire Dyson, ridden: Peter Hatton

After recovering from a first flight howler, Burnthill got his brain in gear and settled into the job quite nicely. He had been running at three miles, with mixed results, but the extra two furlongs, and major limitations of the oppo, fell in place quite well for him. More Equity has been quite consistently placed in staying chases and hurdles, and ran her normal race, which is proving to be not quite enough on a regular basis. Willow Wren was being ridden along with over a lap to go, and somehow still managed to pick up the minor place. The winner was convincing, but he did have No More Prisoners getting reminders at the second hurdle, Toni Alcala having a good sulk, the ever awkward Nobby Kivambo and 30-rated Kirkum amongst the "challenge."

Race 5: Bob Brown Memorial Handicap Chase [2m 0.5f]

1: Red Law     2: Mad Professor     3: Troodos Jet

Winner owned: TJC Seegar & Mrs T Connor, trained: Mark Gillard, ridden: Tom Cannon

A couple of non-runners weakened this race a touch, and of the quintet that remained, Bennynthejets ran a very flat race, even allowing for the trip being wrong for him, and Fairhaven looked to be dropping out of contention when he unseated at the third last fence. This left Red Law a not too difficult challenge to defy a drop down from two and half miles, as Mad Professor is indeed mad, in the not overly genuine sense, and Troodos Jet was unable to react to this easier opening than the ones he has lost in his last couple of races.

Race 6: totepool Flexi Betting At The Cheltenham Festival Handicap Hurdle [2m 5.5f]

1: Emmaslegend     2: Sambelucky     3: Masterpoint

Winner owned: Pete Mercer, trained: Suzy Smith, ridden: Tom Cannon

After a slow start to her career, Emmaslegend had recently turned a Wincanton race on good to firm into a complete cakewalk, and reappeared here under a penalty. The different course, distance and going proved no hindrance, and this race became a similar stroll in the direction of the bakery. Sambelucky has a history that is a bit more steady than that of the winner (fourth to Samizdat on the previous run), and plugged away in vain for second. The first four, completed by Masterpoint and Sir Clad left the rest trailing from quite a way out, resulting in the spurned ones throwing in the towel early. Sir Clad's form prior to this has been dismal, so woe betide those unable to keep tabs on him.

Race 7: totepool Cheltenham Festival Betting At totesport.com Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m 0.5f]

1: Keyaza     2: Tirada     3: Cue To Cue

Winner owned: RS Hoskins, trained: Tobias Coles, ridden: Trevor Whelan

With two solid runs under her belt, and perhaps also due to being a daughter of the popular mare Marello, Cue To Cue was a warm order for this race, but after setting a modest pace she found very little under pressure and was swept aside by a pair of newcomers. Keyaza showed signs of her inexperience once she kicked on and entered the wide open spaces of the home straight alone, but never seemed likely to be caught. In contrast, Tirada looked a bit nervy early but stuck on well once she understood what was going on. 

Plus points  

Masterful Act (race 2): Won his flat race at 1m 6f, so can develop this promising run when upped in trip.

Lucky Dance (race 2): Rated 85 on the flat, he did not react to his first hurdle on decent ground quite as well as might have been expected, but it got him handicapped and better is on the cards.

Valid Reason (race 2): Won both his flat races on the all-weather, but did finish second three times in his four turf races. He made a fair hurdles debut, which can be improved upon by jumping more fluently early in the race and when his yard breaks an extended quiet spell. 

Lajidaal (race 2): Won a flat maiden on good to firm, but was stone last in two races afterwards. He was quite poor on his hurdles debut, but improved a fair bit this time. One more run and then handicaps?

Burnthill (race 4): Has probably found his niche - extreme distance hurdles. His pointing experience may prove useful if switching  to very long distance chases as well.

Sambelucky (race 6): The only win has been in an amateur riders' handicap hurdle, but has not done so badly of late, and was taking on the impossible here. He ought to find a race or two more.

Down arrows

Atared (race 1): Only had a novice hurdle sixth last November that was a competitive effort, and whilst he finally achieved a place, it did not look like a stepping stone to going one better. 

Theredballoon (race 2): Was led to the start very early, and was slowly away when the starter sent them on their way - not the first time he has been a pre-race mischief maker. He ended up fourth, showing that he has physical ability, but the state of his mind could hold back the possibilities of living up to the potential.

King Of Leon (race 3): Made no show on his only other chase, and has recently been a weak finisher, as if there is a problem to solve. 

Bardolet (race 3): Despite having won a chase, he does not convince that he has got to grips with the discipline as of yet.

Nobby Kivambo (race 4): Was well backed for this, but brought his winless career to 21 races. There have been occasional promising days, and more when he seems willing to take any measure to avoid winning.

Willow Wren (race 4): Proved her stamina, but getting outpaced in a slowly run marathon hurdle is a poor omen for the future.

Red Law (race 5): Has usually been running at two and a half miles, and given the inability of the oppo to summon a threat worth the name, it may be wrong to think that the drop to two miles was what made a difference on this occasion.

Borderhopper (race 6): Popped up with a third over 3m 3.5f at Sedgefield (good to soft) on his previous  run, but showed here that he does not have the pace to handle a drop back in distance.

Cue To Cue (race 7): Could still be overpriced in the future based on her first two runs, but she did not look like the keenest of battlers in this instance, a hint of failures to come perhaps?