Plumpton 24/04/11

It gets overcrowded here on any regular Easter meeting, without the added inconvenience of nice weather as well, but as Easter's go, this was fairly civilised. The meeting had a smattering of uncompetitive races to warm up the crowd, building up to some more intensive and keenly fought events to climax the afternoon. 

Going: Good to Firm

Race 1: Bet On toteplacepot.com Maiden Hurdle [2m]

1: Lava Lamp     2: Highly Regal     3: Always De One

Winner owned: Mrs Janet Davies, trained: Evan Williams, ridden: Paul Moloney

Even allowing for the fact that his hurdle debut defeat was in a grade 2 race behind Zarkandar, it was a little surprising that Lava Lamp was a short as 4/11 for this, as Highly Regal had shown a modicum of ability before now, and Sharmon had shown some pointing ability, although falls had spoiled his career and a drop to two miles seemed a touch drastic. In the end the first pair had the race to themselves from the final bend, and although Highly Regal showed some battling qualities up to the last flight, Lava Lamp exerted himself emphatically on the flat. Always De One was nothing of note on the flat, but was taking a drop in class from his first two hurdles and at least managed to bustle his way into the places. 

Sharmon (3) shows that he did not learn a great deal in his could of pointing falls, as Lava Lamp tries not to follow a bad example. Highly Regal and Homer Run have a good laugh at the leader's expense

Race 2: Free Racing Post Form At totesport.com Novice Handicap Chase [2m 1f]

1: Health Is Wealth     2: Catholic Hill     3: Zhukov

Winner owned: Gale Force Five, trained: Colin Tizzard, ridden: Joe Tizzard

After a win on course, distance and going last time, Health Is Wealth showed that it was no fluke by doubling up, although in neither case could it be argued that he was presented with the most ferocious opposition in the world. In this case Catholic Hill, a maiden over jumps whose worst run was his one previous try on fast ground, proved tricky to completely shake off, even though he was on and off the bridle throughout. Let us charitably blame the ground rather than a sour attitude. Back in third, Zhukov was surprisingly close for a horse whose preference is to finish last, however few runners there may be. 

Race 3: Bet On Live Football At totesport.com Novice Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Alla Svelta     2: Jeczmien     3: Late Red

Winner owned: P Conway & John Lee Jones, trained: Evan Williams, ridden: Paul Moloney

This cut up into a predictable three runner affair, and the horses finished in the order that the betting market forecast. Alla Svelta kept out of harms way at the front, and apart from taking the bends with undue caution, he won without being vaguely troubled. 

Race 4: 40 Live Football Markets At totesport.com Novice Handicap Chase [3m 2f]

1: Casual Garcia     2: Wait No More     3: Lions In Law

Winner owned: Kay Russell, trained: Mark Gillard, ridden: Matt Batchelor

After three run of the mill races, this one was marked by an epic ride which decided the race in favour of Casual Garcia. The horse jumped off a touch slowly, and had to be ridden along in midfield from the start. When he finally got daylight in front of him, alongside And Your Point Is, Casual Garcia did travel with a touch more co-operation. However, he was back under pressure quite a way from the finish, but Mr Batchelor was not going to let Wait No More get by, and his horse just about agreed with him enough to hang on. Having got handicapped in hurdles, winning pointer Wait No More had won his chase debut over course and distance, but found a twelve pound rise just more than he could cope with. That does not mean another fast ground staying chase is beyond him...

Casual Garcia seals his triumph, a bit more casually than it worked out, as Wait No More inexplicably tries to lose his number cloth

Race 5: Get Live Football Stats At totesport.com Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Tri Nations     2: Peaceful Means     3: The Bishops Baby

Winner owned: J Zambuni, trained: Milton Harris, ridden: Jimmy Derham

Between the last two flights of hurdles, six of the seven runners had every chance of winning this, but somehow the roguish, seller-losing buffoon Tri Nations came out on top - another one down to the jockey? Peaceful Means seemed to have done enough to stave off his sixteen race losing streak, and can not be blamed at for ending up a little miffed at the way it was stymied. The Bishops Baby certainly got the race run to suit her this time, but still just failed to deliver the goods. Having been allowed an uncontested lead, Just Beware was her usual game self, and refused to wilt despite being the first to come under pressure. However positive and encouraging the efforts of the beaten horses may appear, they did still lose to Tri Nations...

The camera lies - this appears to show Tri Nations (cheekpieces) sticking his neck out to win, when in fact he was trying to contract it and allow The Bishops Baby (4) or Peaceful Means (hidden) a last chance

Race 6: Bet totepool At totesport.com Handicap Chase [2m 4f]

1: Bajan Sunshine     2: Ilongue     3: High Oscar

Winner owned: Mrs KW Sneath, trained: Chris Dwyer, ridden: Colin Bolger

The pre-race verdict was that after winning two bumpers and a hurdle in 2006, and drawing a fourteen race blank since then, one recent close defeat was enough to consider Bajan Sunshine far from a lost cause in this race, from a lowly mark of 66. He did show a certain degree of heart in the finish, despite an imperfect round of jumping, but in contrast Ilongue is rarely 100% committed in a finish, and she probably let this one slip, having got too far behind and closed down Bajan Sunshine with just insufficient rapidity. Disappointing was High Oscar, who handled the ground better than expected, but weakened tamely on the run-in, by the standards of a course and distance winner. Is his stamina reducing with age? Wasntme also finished strongly but failed to claim a place.

Race 7: Bet totepool on 0800 221 221 conditional jockeys' Handicap Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Hereditary     2: Wallace Monument     3: Laughing Game

Winner owned: Valence Racing, trained: Linda Jewell, ridden: Peter Hatton

A thrills and spills crescendo to the day's racing. Five lined up, with Insignia favourite, on the back of a win earlier in the week. Prior to that his form was dreadful, so it was far from a formality that he would go in again. In the end, he ruined the chance with a clumsy error at the ninth which led to a fall. That hampered Hereditary quite badly and seemed to have knocked him out of contention. However, Storm Command pulled up lame, Laughing Game did not cope with the ground and Wallace Monument, having got into a winning position, could not see his race out, and in the shadow of the post Hereditary poked his nose in front. The winner had previously gone 6P0 at this course (where most of his stable's horses are more frequent visitors) and won on soft and good to soft, so as well as Insignia's attempt to trip him up, he overcame multiple setbacks to gain the victory.

Plus Points

Lava Lamp (race 1): Seemed at home on fast ground and unless hammered by the handicapper he ought to have a win or two more in him.

Always De One (race 1): Ran well enough to think a bottom tier handicap on fast ground could be within his limited powers, possibly over a longer trip, where the pace is a touch more genteel.

Ragdollianna (race 5): From a yard out of form, she lost in that fashion, plugging away on the heels of the main pack, and just not being able to quicken with the others in the home straight. One day it can come right for her.

Oranger (race 6): Has had his moments in points and hunter chases, but has been far below his best recently. He did seem to be going a bit better today until he stumbled on the top bend, and quickly lost his position. Perhaps a hint of getting back to his best?

Down Arrows

Health Is Wealth (race 2): Solid and honest in his two wins, he may well be exposed when meeting slightly competent rivals.

Catholic Hill (race 2): Is now 0/15 over jumps, and even when getting one of his better results, he manages to look totally unconvincing in the process. 

Lions In Law (race 4): Jumped off in front, but was soon headed and had a right old sulk when that happened. He did amble on enough for third - at the expense of an out of form veteran pointer! - but the overall impression was one of a rather tricky customer.

Tri Nations (race 5): Won one from out of the blue, surely he will not follow it up.

Screaming Brave (race 5): Has lost his way a touch in recent runs, and this drop in class did not revive him, other than he managed to be unplaced by fewer lengths.

Ilongue (race 6): Occasionally wins, often is happy not to have to try that much.

Insignia (race 7): Won a bad race, and on top of the fall today, he looks one to be taking on next time.

UK-Jumping Selections

Farleigh House (race 5): Seems to have gone into regression mode over hurdles, and needs something radical - such as fences - to turn the dial onto Go.