Southwell 24/07/09

There are plenty of well organised things about Southwell, and it is presumed that the addition of electronic turnstiles designed to prevent any easy flow of people into the track was a diktat from on high at Arena Leisure (i.e. from people that do not have to use them). However, today they were selling the racecard for £1.50 - but in black and white. Without the colours graphically displayed, what would be better value, that or the Racing Post for £1.60? No contest, and not one that would be appealing to the racecard advertisers.

Going: Good - (officially it was good to firm for race 1, but changed back to the press published overnight going after that was run)

Race 1: CJ Pettitt Transport Ltd Handicap Chase [2m 5.5f]

1: Morenito     2: Scotch Corner     3: Feeling Peckish

Winner owned: CB Compton, BD Johnston, trained: Heather Dalton, ridden: Tom Scudamore

This was a 0-90 race, and in some of these you can at least find a few lightly raced youngsters with scope to progress from a poor base. In this instance, the entries had proved to have some bizarre hypnotic attraction for horses with some of the most flawed profiles imaginable. This meant that in the betting there were some speculative (presumed each-way) tickles at outsiders with no form of any worth, on the grounds that the more fancied runners looked very unreliable. One of those was Scotch Corner, who was eight pounds out of the handicap, below Feeling Peckish, who has not managed even a place in 33 jumps races, and only did so on the flat when seventeen lengths second in a five runner race on sand. The gamble almost came off, and having looked beaten at the last, Scotch Corner was beaten only a short head by Morenito, who looked OK when he gained his previous win, but began to regress immediately afterwards and finishes weakly - whether blinkered or cheek pieced. 

Race 2: Lincolnshire Developments Ltd Novice Chase [3m 2f]

1: Valerius     2: Winsley Hill

Winner owned: Our Friends In The North, trained: Gordon Elliott, ridden: Jason Maguire

Marufo made the running in this, jumping well, and coming into the straight he looked to have the long odds-on Valerius in trouble. However, Marufo blundered two out, which handed the advantage to the jolly, and then came down at the last when still battling, but looking the least likely to win. Prior to this, Valerius was unbeaten in four runs at Perth, and winless in eight tries elsewhere, and he definitely looked a touch uncomfortable with the course. 

Race 3: Rosemary Heron & Mary Atkinson Memorial Novice Handicap Chase [2m 1f]

1: Safari Adventures     2: Russian Invader     3: Just Like That

Winner owned: Mrs PK Clark, PG Stephen & H McCaig, trained: Lucinda Russell, ridden: Campbell Gillies

Southwell is a course that suits horses that lead or are up with the pace, and the tightness of the track exaggerates that effect in a big field, as horses trying to weave their way through often seem to struggle to find a clear path. So, even though he took a bit of a pull out in front, the circumstances suited Safari Adventures and he finally opened his chase account, not being stopped by a late race jumping error that has scuppered him more than once in the past. Having swung wide to the stands side coming into the straight, Russian Invader took a while to pick up for pressure, but he was alongside the winner, and probably the in-running favourite, when he got the last wrong. He did not look like falling, but it pitched his jockey up around the neck and removed sufficient momentum to decide the race, and he barely held off Just Like That (one of a surplus of horses on the card that are very occasional enjoyers of the fruits of victory) for second.

Race 4: Cartwright King Selling Hurdle [2m 1f]

1: Baguenaud     2: High Standard     3: Massams Lane

Winner owned: John Earls, trained: Gordon Elliott, ridden: Brian Toomey

Adjusting official ratings to weights carried in this ordered the field out nicely, and scores on the doors showed Baguenaud on top, with Carpe Momentum propping them up a mere thirty seven pounds behind. Second in the weights was Iron Hague, who was Tote favourite (predictably it was Baguenaud in the ring), presumably because Tony McCoy rode and had no other activity on the day. The horse is 0/41 over jumps in his lifetime, and never threatened to put that right. Presumably due to the limited talents of his rivals and steady pace, Baguenaud managed to be a come from behind winner, although his main dangers were High Standard (once looking set to be far too good for this level, now merely placed in his two selling runs), and Massams Lane, who produced one decent, winning effort out of the blue and seems to be considered a lost cause only a couple of months later - he was claimed. The race was put in perspective by that fact that Carpe Momentum actually managed fourth - the first time he has managed to be beaten less than twenty five lengths - and that previous peak came in a selling handicap. Princess Arwen was the best named horse of the day, by Magic Ring, out of Absolutelystunning, but she is continuing the unwritten rule that naming a horse with a 'Lord Of The Rings' connection is a kiss of death as far as career is concerned. She was 125/1 (250s available) and last to finish. 

The midnight gangs assemble, to pick a rendezvous for the night, or for the post-race auction. Baguenaud (1) is pretty indifferent, whereas High Standard (white face, looking at the camera) finds it all a bit more enthralling.

Race 5: Jackie & Jeanette Novice Hurdle [2m 1f]

1: Ovthenight     2: Danetime Panther     3: Laybach

Winner owned: D Bayliss, T Davies, G Libson & P Sly, trained: Pam Sly, ridden: Gina Andrews

A fascinating finish, as the first two went miles clear, and then played a game of 'try and let the other one win.' Danetime Panther started it, by hanging awkwardly to his right, which offset the fact that he outjumped Ovthenight at the last hurdle. This problem was potentially cancelled by Ovthenight looking a bit tricky himself, and giving his rider no help from the second last. However, Gina Andrews deserves oodles of credit for not letting Danetime Panther's route prove too intimidating for her faint hearted friend, and at some point half way up the run-in she convinced Ovthenight that the safest place to be was in front, which he managed to be at the line by a neck.

Ovthenight (white & green) looks a model of fine behaviour in the paddock, whereas Climaxtackledotcom to the left, is not sure about using a jockey, and tries to get out of his obligations by impersonating a cat hunting a mouse.  Laybach (far side) does not know what he is missing

Race 6: Freddie Latham & Bernie Wright Memorial Handicap Hurdle [2m 1f]

1: Dirar     2: Lord Baskerville     3: Peaceful Means

Winner owned & trained: Gordon Elliott, ridden: Brian Toomey

The hurdle scheduling, as far as race distances go, was a bit lacking in imagination, and there was a further sense of deja vu, as the Gordon Elliott contender was going best, but not certain of victory when his challenger hit the deck at the last. In fact, the last race need not have been run, but could have been compiled from a montage of events that had already happened on the card. Dirar had won a day earlier at Uttoxeter, making it 3 from 3 in handicaps, having been beaten anything from 17 to 84 lengths in five non-handicap hurdles. Hands up who thinks he was a trier in all of those. Any of those? Not many going up? With a flat rating of 92, even his penalised mark of 116 here did not seem harsh on his basic ability, and Dirar was backed in from 8/11 to 4/9. As noted above, he was the more likely winner coming to the last, but Hello Nod, the faller, was battling hard, and who knows if he may have worried the winner out of it - stranger things have happened. For instance, for those who watch 'The Wire,' Joe McNulty is played by an Old Etonian, and Stringer Bell by a guy brought up in Canning Town. Actually, the last of those is probably good preparation for 'The Wire.' Lord Baskerville, who could play Proposition Joe, was second. Peaceful Means has no connection to 'The Wire' at all.

Plus Points

Joshua (race 3): A four year old on his chase debut, he did not get a clear run in a race where there were more horses than usual in a bunch three from home. Initially knocked back, he picked up when he got some space and finished fourth. He can lead himself into the promised land having learned lessons from this recce.

Baguenaud (race 4): Was winning only his second race from seventeen tries, but the previous one, less than a year ago, was a 0-120 handicap hurdle, so there has to be the suspicion that, despite not being miles clear at the weights, he was below his class in this seller - he fetched 7,000gns at the auction.

Climaxtackledotcom (race 5): Pulled hard, had an educational and was beaten miles. He had ability in a flat career of only a handful of runs - the Post noted that he was prone to bursts of irrational violence at the sight of the starting stalls - and although his stamina is potentially a huge anchor, there may be a handicap hurdle for him on fast ground. Punsters throughout racing are just waiting for the chance to say that he 'reeled in the leader.' Too late.

Hello Nod (race 6): Has not won since his hurdle debut, and has a mixed bag of honourable and heavy defeats. This was clearly a good day, and a sign of ability intact. The only downside is that, including chases, he has three falls in his last five runs, and no one could blame him for becoming a bit demoralised. 

Peaceful Means (race 6): Has won this year at Bangor and Cartmel, and in a bit stronger class than she is used to, acquitted herself well in defeat - possibly showing she could defy her raised handicap mark.

Lord Baskerville (race 6): Six wins and many places from forty-three runs show his consistency, and a brief spell out of sorts - three races - has got his rating back on a realistic level. Hopefully, this run will not undo that.

Down Arrows

Moon Melody (race 1): The mere presence of a horse in the field of the first race can be deemed a down arrow, and as top weight and joint favourite, Moon Melody's record of 40 races, 1 win, 7 seconds also puts the race in context. He fell, when still contending for another place, although he would have done well to slot in the narrow gap between first and second.

Tosula (race 1): Accidentally won a race at Taunton at the end of 2007, but has been more predictably win-shy ever since that mistake.

Gus (race 1): Has some older form that gave him a great chance (on sharp tracks, but undulating ones). However, his recent form was far inferior, and he did not look overly interested this time.

Valerius (race 2): In a mere four runner race, he was not at home on either the left-handed or sharp aspect of the course, or both. One to take on when tackling similar in a tougher environment.

Falcon's Tribute (race 3): Has not taken to fences, and appeared a bit fed up very early in the race. Although not beaten a huge distance in the end - maybe 10 lengths - she got there in a most unthreatening manner.

Iron Hague (race 4): Is only going to be up there for consideration in sellers, but as he hates racing, even that should not be the case.

Ovthenight (race 5): Has won two from six now, but does appear to be the sort who could give one or two away cheaply. Perhaps the same can be said for Danetime Panther, but he seemed more or less normal at Worcester last time.