Plumpton 15/02/10

Having had the planned run of five meetings in eight days ruined by an abandoned Taunton, those dreadful teases at Plumpton planned an inspection for this, only to call it off ahead of schedule - the inspection that is, not the meeting. At least it gave people something other than Denman to worry about. The final word on the topic should be that after the excessive amount of waffle over who will ride him, it was inevitable that the Cosmic Joker would not let it pass without any input. And so it was. What was his plan for us today? The last thing anyone expected - right place, right time photography on UK Jumping! (Scheduled next for late 2019).

Going: Good to Soft

Race 1: toteplacepot Juvenile Hurdle [2m]

1: Orzare     2: Taste The Wine     3: Uncle Bunge

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

This will have come as a great relief to Orzare, as having won two races in the style equating to standing head to head with the oppo in a swamp and pelting each other with bricks, he now knows that it is possible to win a hurdle race with a degree of comfort. It did help that this was a much weaker race than he has had to deal with prior to today’s civilised affair. Taste The Wine’s strong finish caught many people’s eye, but it may be wise to approach him carefully in future, as after struggling to handle the ground for a mile and a half, his known stamina came into play after the last hurdle. He was sixth over it, but passed four rivals on the run-in, all of whom gave the impression that they were running in treacle.

Less than halfway and Orzare (white cap) already knows that he has Evening Sunset (2) and Rental Boy under his thumb

Race 2: toteswinger Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Romney Marsh     2: My Les     3: Sophisticated Lady

Winner owned: Romney Marsh Partnership, trained: Roger Curtis, ridden: Danny Burton

Being one of the conditional and amateur riders’ hands and heels series, there was a diverse range of experience held by the pilots, and being one of the more productive of them so far was no sure way to wind up on a horse with obvious credentials. The betting market was keen on My Les, unexposed with only two hurdle runs, having won a seller. She was less enthused than her backers, and needed seriously urging from the off – which she received and at least kept on from “last and hopeless” to be in the frame. However, Romney Marsh, who stays further, got the strong pace that she needs and tucked in behind the leaders, always going well. Just ahead of her going to two out was Gunship, a three mile chaser who alternates wins and unseateds, and she was always going to be too nippy for him. After some very poor efforts, Wondersobright did respond positively to the first time visor, but he unseated his regular rider at halfway, so it is yet unknown if the metaphorical jolt up the backside would have worked all the way.

Race 3: totepool Novice Chase [3m 2f]

1: Mobaasher     2: Giles Cross     3: Minella Boys

Winner owned: Seasons Holidays, trained: Venetia Williams, ridden: Aidan Coleman

The main three in this race all had big questions marks about them, just like The Riddler. For Giles Cross and Minella Boys it was their jumping, for Mobaasher it was that he usually runs on better ground with a tongue tie, and these conditions could easily draw another weak finish from him. Minella Boys cracked first, making several errors when the pace picked up, but Giles Cross was unlucky to be reeled in. He had led, and looked to be let in for the triumph when Mobaasher hit the second last. However, Giles Cross was not able to scoot clear at that point, and a fairly minor peck at the final fence allowed Mobaasher to nose in front early on the run-in and open daylight between the pair. Being six pounds better off for a one length defeat at Chepstow, the winner was perfectly entitled to reverse the placings, but for a horse that has won a pair of three milers on heavy at that track, Giles Cross appeared surprisingly short of stamina, having been foiled by his only real error in the entire race.

So which way round do we go exactly? Confusion reigns at the start for (l-r) Minella Boys, Giles Cross, Mobaasher, Another Classic and Quartz Du Montceau

Race 4: totesuper7 Handicap Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Preuty Boy     2: Samurai Way     3: Dot’s Delight

Winner owned: ATA Wates, trained: Alan Fleming, ridden: Timmy Murphy

On paper this was a very competitive race. On grass, four horses burnt off the other five with three-quarters of a lap to go, but had the decency to have three of them approach the last hurdle together. At that point Ballybach, who had given Preuty Boy a couple of side swipes approaching the obstacle, took a heavy fall. The win-shy Samurai Way then began to tread water and all of a sudden it was in the bag for Preuty Boy, with the avoidance of the short session of head butting with Ballybach that had been on the cards. The handicapper had seemed harsh with the winner, having been receiving three pounds from Ballybach despite having been beaten nine lengths by him at level weights (they had also both been beaten by Volador in different races with margins that marked out Ballybach as eight pounds superior). Despite the fact that she would have been out of the places but for the final flight incident, Dot’s Delight was well clear of the remainder, and at 33/1 seemed to have been under estimated after her two novice hurdle wins in the autumn. Ellen Tilley had done well in bumpers and novice hurdles with three wins and two seconds. Then in handicaps from a mark of 119, she has been beaten 23 and 46 lengths. For this, the ratings goblins have dropped her a mere three pounds. That seems very harsh, and another drubbing here surely should lead into a major fall in the weights. In the interest of balance, the evidence so far implies that Plumpton is completely the wrong course for her, so maybe she will not be dropped at all.

Race 5: RANA Risk Management mares' Novice Hurdle [2m]

1: Megasue     2: Yonder     3: Cloudy Spirit

Winner owned: Darrell Hinds, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Philip Hide

As it was for Orzare, so it was for Megasue. The difference was that in her previous hurdling battles, Megasue had failed to outmuscle her rivals, including Dot’s Delight, but today was easy pickings in comparison. Yonder ran a bit better than on her comeback from an absence in November, and Cloudy Sprit and Golden Games spoiled their chances with unhelpfully awkward jumping.

No cause for alarm as Megasue leads Appointment and Yonder over the fifth, with Cloudy Spirit (grey) Dayanara and Golden Games (checked colours) close behind...

...but for some reason the flight of hurdles caught Golden Games completely by surprise (also causing Cloudy Spirit to make her one fluent jump of the race)...

...but fortunately Wayne Kavanagh had his wits primed for this and survived to finish the race in fifth. Dayanara thinks that there is a time and a place for a canoodle, and this is not it!

Race 6: Tysers Beginners' Chase [2m 1f]

1: Tanks For That     2: Bormo     3: Inthejungle

Winner owned: Mrs Christopher Hanbury, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Tony McCoy

Tanks For That is fine, eye-catching specimen of the thoroughbred horse that dominates the paddock with his presence. He is also well named, as we have all seen archive footage of First World War tanks that are more dextrous in negotiating obstacles than he is. As we know, the cumbersome behemoths of yesteryear evolved into the slick engineering marvels we have now, and whilst he has less time available, maybe Tanks For That can progress the same way – and for all his clumsiness, he never looked like falling. He was able to win today as he only had two serious rivals. Shoreacres was with him when falling at the fourth last, and Bormo, whose bravery has been open to question was halted by fatigue before heart became a factor.

Race 7: toteexacta Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m 2f]

1: Dusky Bob     2: Magical Treasure     3: Lundy Sky

Winner owned: Lady G Wates, trained: Nick Gifford, ridden: Liam Treadwell

Only one runner in this had no bumper form, and she was so conspicuously green in the paddock as to be able to be written off as a contender. The history that the field had amassed was very mixed, and Dusky Bob proved the impression that his was best with ease as the field sauntered home scattered by the sort of margins normally seen in a four mile chase. Magical Treasure had run in a couple of races that had worked out OK, but on much faster ground, and he handled the mud adequately, but Lundy Sky did well for third, as the race that he had been second in has proved a terrible form indicator. Little Blackbeetle did catch the eye, as she her wide margin defeat had at least come in a decent race. She is very much a “does what it says on the tin” hors as she is little, almost black, by Beat All, and like most beetles, seems not to be a cold weather creature. El Passos ran really well in front for a mile and a half, but when he was headed on the rail bend, stopped very quickly.

Plus points  

Taste The Wine (race 1): Travelled badly, jumping soundly, stayed on well. Both flat wins came on good to firm, so there will be better opportunities – but see below.

Gunship (race 2): Has a winning habit in three mile chases, but also is inclined to treat the rider as an optional extra. On this evidence, he is worth a go in a minor staying hurdle.

Minella Boys (race 3): Fell in a three runner race on his chase debut and jumping was his Achilles Heel again. However, his yard is out of form, and when it is firing again, watch for a return to very long distance hurdles on very testing ground – he has won over the 3m 3f plus trip at Sedgefield.

Preuty Boy (race 4): Only his fourth career run (no flat or bumper experience) and he showed good aptitude for the job. It is not hard to imagine him sneaking into a big race on a low weight and running very well at a long price.

Cloudy Spirit (race 5): Fell at the second on her hurdling debut and today had obvious health and safety concerns when required to break contact with terra firma. She can run a bit when she needs to, so is not one to give up on yet.

Golden Games (race 5): Her jumping went to pot after making a terrible mess of the fifth – a knock, loss of confidence, damaged tack? She showed ability if the foible can be ironed out. She was twice beaten a neck over 1m 6f on the flat on faster ground, so perhaps further and drier will be of help.

Inthejungle (race 6): Was happy in the group that became tailed off from the main trio at halfway, but he made steady progress in the last half mile and was never nearer to Bormo than at the end. He did win an Auteuil hurdle nearly three years ago, but had run only nine times since, and totally without distinction. He jumped safely and made a promising UK debut for handicapping at a sensibly modest level.

Down arrows

Taste The Wine (race 1): If the ground was not the sole cause of his problems, the Plus Point above is totally invalid.

Evening Sunset (race 1): Won two poor fast ground races before being last of six at Sandown. Coping with trip and going in combination seemed to be a problem for her today.

Sophisticated Lady (race 2): Outpaced on the far side, she rallied well and the run seemed to suggest she is worth upping in trip. The trouble is, she has tried that and did very poorly, her recent places both being since dropped back to two miles.

Ballybach (race 4): Appeared none the physically worse for a heavy fall, but beware any mental scars until he has proven himself unflustered by the experience.

Samurai Way (race 4): Tended to be second on the flat more often than is healthy, and is looking similarly tame at the business end as a hurdler.

Warnes Way (race 4): Has been suffering some thrashings in chases, and having been reverted to hurdles for the archetypical confidence booster, he proved himself far too wily to be tricked by that nonsense, and ran just as poorly.

Cloudy Spirit and Golden Games (race 5): Both drop to this list if some remedial schooling does not sort them out, and it may be dangerous to forget too soon the rather eccentric race Golden Games ran on her hurdles debut at Lingfield.

Bormo (race 6): Flat and jumps he has 14 runs and no wins, with nine places. It does mean that he is still theoretically available to plunder the most muppetish of novice hurdles, but even then would you trust him not to fluff his lines?

Shoreacres (race 6): Fourth in the 2008 Festival Bumper that seems to have scuttled the future careers of so many participants, he has won only once since. There was a chance of this being number two (fnarr, fnarr) until he fell, but the mistakes have been there in all three of his chases.