Ascot 20/02/10

Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places

Race 1: Hope Safe T-Bar Novice Hurdle [2m 3.5f]

1: Finian's Rainbow      2: Arkose     3: Spirit Of Adjisa

Winner owned: Michael Buckley, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Barry Geraghty

A genteel pace early in the race ensured that this was more like a 2m 1f hurdle than the real distance, but that proved no inconvenience for Finian's Rainbow, whose only defeat had been in a Grade 1 race that had worked out to be a solid effort. Despite the unexpected emphasis on speed, he proved to be the proverbial steering job, and with his connections, those of Reve De Sivola, Restless Harry and Kennel Hill (placed later in the day at Haydock) will have been not at all disgruntled - does that leave them gruntled? Arkose was a bit accident prone in Irish points, but has done much better as a hurdler, and also would have preferred a stiffer test of stamina.

Finian's Rainbow, Arkose, Spirit Of Adjisa and Sereth expand the hilarity at Ascot. There was no sleet or snow all day.

Race 2: Sodexo Prestige Reynoldstown Novice Chase, Grade 2 [3m]  

1: Burton Port      2: Knockara Beau      3: Diablo

Winner owned: Trevor Hemmings, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Barry Geraghty

This race can be pretty decent in some seasons, but none of the five runners especially impressed this time around - four from the finish not one of them were going especially well. Burton Port has done all his winning on soft or heavy going, and all three chase wins have come on left handed, sharp tracks. He did grind out the win eventually, rallying after a mistake six out, and might prove in time that it was the wrong course and going. Knockara Beau made mistakes and tended to jump out to the open space on the left. Watch out for a return to going left handed? Possibly, but he has jumped right handed into fresh air going that way. Diablo came into this having been beaten eight lengths in a handicap chase when rated 120, which is not pattern race form. He led until just before the last, where a mistake then cost him second place as well. He is now 0 wins, 5 places in five chase runs. Pettifour won a three runner race on his chase debut, then unseated in a four runner one after. He really does need a left handed track, so his laboured effort was excusable. Finally, Ballygulleen was out of his depth, ending up tailed off. There should be no ripples from this in the betting for the Festival.

Race 3: Betfair Handicap Hurdle [2m 3.5f]

1: Beshabar     2: Tender Falcon      3: Consiglere     4: Chief Yeoman

Winner owned: Mrs M Findlay, trained: Paul Nicholls, ridden: Ruby Walsh

Two of the runners in this rerouted to Haydock, where Souffleur made that trip very worthwhile by winning. This ought to have been a good omen for Tasheba, ahead of him in their previous race, but in a heat where most of the sixteen runners went near the front to explore thoughts of glory at some point, Tasheba was conspicuous by his anonymity, and ended up 13th. The win, his second of the season, went the way of Beshabar, who was sold from Nick Williams' yard when apparently on the verge of greatness as a chaser. Having missed his entire first year in Paul Nicholls' team, he has emerged from the back of most racegoer's minds to be the chaser of the future again. Tender Falcon finished well considering that he had to do a bit of weaving around to find room - blocking off Martys Mission enough to have maybe cost that horse a place in the frame. Nine of Tender Falcon's ten hurdle runs have been quite decent, but that has only produced one win.

With a lap to go there are only fifteen horses in shot, yet the only non-finisher of the sixteen pulled up two out. If anyone can provide there whereabouts of Secret Tune (as the one alongside Zabeel Palace - no. 15 - is tentatively identified as Halla San), there is no reward whatsoever.

Race 4: Betfair Ascot Chase, grade 1 [2m 5.5f]

1: Monet's Garden     2: Albertas Run     3: The Sawyer

Winner owned: David Wesley Yates, trained: Nicky Richards, ridden: Barry Geraghty

The veteran of the field gave the upstarts a lesson in jumping and galloping as a combined skill, and won a bit more easily than the final length and a half margin implied, having been eased on the run-in. Monet's Garden had his remaining rivals (Planet Of Sound fell early) struggling six out, and never seemed to be in any danger after that. He had come into this after three months off, and prior to today had a record of ten runs, eight wins when having had that sort of break or longer. Next stop Aintree, but is seven weeks or so too soon? Albertas Run lost his unbeaten course record (only two out of two), but ran a good race all the same. He had enjoyed an eight week race-free holiday, and his record after seven or more weeks off is now 101411412. Same race, same strategy for 2011? The Sawyer was a stone and a half or more badly in with his oppo, and to be a close third was a grand effort, picking up a five figure sum in prize money and leaving connections looking no less pleased than those of the winner. After being well touted in the papers, Herecomesthetruth was a let down, as the time did seem due for him to make his mark at this level. Monet's Garden put pressure on his jumping, which creaked badly, and although he tended to close up again on he flat, the effort told as they bypassed the third last fence. Jumping, especially mid-race when the screw was turned, proved to be a problem for the rather sweaty Oh Crick. Like Both he and Herecomesthetruth never looked like falling, but it cost them ground that could not be recovered.

Rather like Earl Hickey, Monet's Garden cannot be photographed with his eyes open

Race 5: Lomax Novice Hurdle [2m]

1: Lush Life     2: Menorah     3: Prince Buster

Winner owned: Michael Buckley, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Ruby Walsh

This was a very odd race, and one to perhaps not rely on for form interpretation. Before Swinley Bottom, three horses had gone clear, Menorah, Prince Buster and Sophies Trophy. They did not look guilty of excessive speed, so it was odd that the strung out also rans were letting them do it. The first pair were still travelling well turning for home, where Lush Life had closed down the weakening Sophies Trophy. Then Prince Buster stopped quite quickly, and between the last two Menorah was beginning to look vulnerable. By the last hurdle, Lush Life had joined him, and an awkward landing sealed Menorah's fate. The winner had run two fair, but unexciting races at the track this season - winning favourite in a bumper, beaten one in a novice hurdle - so perhaps Menorah is not as good as he looked at Christmas.

Race 6: Trisoft Handicap Chase [2m 1f]

1: Panjo Bere     2: I'msingingtheblues     3: Andreas

Winner owned: Paul Chapman, Mrs Elizabeth Kiernan, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Joshua Moore

A four runner race after two defections (Little Josh winning his preferred engagement, Russian Flag reverting to his preference also - being placed) and rather like the Reynoldstown, the entire field looked to be struggling to various degrees a long way out. I'msingingtheblues was going worst of all five from home, but he fought back gamely and a good lead at the last enable him to steal a lead on Panjo Bere, who had taken a long time to grab it from the other pair himself. Having made that effort, Panjo Bere refused to take I'msingingtheblues insult lying down and managed to get his nose back in front a inch or so from the line - heroic efforts from both horse and jockey.

Race 7: Gardiner & Theobald Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m]

1: Sprinter Sacre     2: King Of The Night     3: Sweet Irony

Winner owned: Mrs Caroline Mould, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Barry Geraghty

Plenty of runners seemed to be in contention turning for home in this, but the first three powered clear of the rest in the straight. There was great market confidence in Sprinter Sacre, despite this being his debut and King Of The Night having winning form to his name. The two went head to head in the final furlong, and it was decided on the nod - bear in mind that King Of The Night was conceding thirteen pounds to the winner. However, had his jockey got serious on Sprinter Sacre earlier, there was a choice of outcomes. A) He wins a bit more comfortably. B) He gets discombobulated and blows it. The general impression, which hints at A, is that it is easy to imagine Sprinter Sacre coming out best in a rematch, despite any change in the weights. Sweet Irony ran much, much better than his debut.

Plus Points

Arkose (race 1): Without attracting much attention has amassed a bumper win, and a win plus two seconds over hurdles. Assuming his history of having fallen, won and run out in Irish points is not repeated, he could be the sort to raise his game further when going chasing.

Max Milano (race 1): Unraced in any shape or form, he hung in with the pack until a mistake three out brought him under pressure. Not knocked about when then outpaced, he still finished only twelve lengths behind the second. A very encouraging start.

Pettifour (race 2): An uninspiring renewal and he was never convincing as a challenger, but be prepared for better on a left handed track.

Beshabar (race 3): Returns to the immense novice chase prospect list.

Secret Tune (race 3): Has been having a pretty ropey season so far, but he was right up in contention until they hit the home straight. He did weaken quickly from there (first try beyond 2m 1f), but there was just the hint that he might be regaining some form - and he did suggest that spring was his time of year in 2009.

Albertas Run (race 4): Has won but one of twelve since his Royal & Sun Alliance Chase glories, but today showed that it can be put right if he finds the right race (galloping track preferred, but not essential, Ascot a plus), right trip (perhaps just under three miles) and Kauto Star does not turn up to spoil it.

Sophies Trophy (race 5): Retained fourth in the end, and has ability for when her sights are set a little lower.

Panjo Bere (race 6): Last ran a couple of weeks ago and has often failed when reappearing quickly, but another theme to those races has been larger fields, and this was his fourth chase win, with them having come in races of 8, 6, 5 and 4 runners - where the eight was a weak novice chase in which the field scattered early. Form of 13141 when six or fewer line up.

Lorient Express (race 6): Is not in the best of form, and made some key blunders today, but he has won ten races. Eight of them were right handed - plus one at Windsor - and eight also saw him lugging eleven stone or less. That guideline failed today, but there will be other opportunities.

Wood Yer, Peedeeque (race 7): Both debutants, both ran pretty solid races, finishing fourth and sixth respectively.

Down Arrows

Spirit Of Adjisa (race 1): An 85 rated flat horse, his earlier defeats came when Alan King's team were treading a very rocky road, but now that they are winning a bit more often (although still not up to previous year's rates), it was disappointing that he could not make Finian's Rainbow work a bit harder.

Sereth (race 1): Having finished third in the Cesarewitch, this step up in trip should have been right up his street, but his challenge was over even before he made an error two out. The lack of early pace is a bit of an excuse, but he failed to show the appreciation expected.

Knockara Beau (race 2): On the whole is a likeable horse, but a developing tendency to jump away from the rails/other runners is limiting his winning percentage - although earlier on he has been second to some very good novices.

Tender Falcon (race 3): Looked a touch unlucky, but had he got a clearer run, Beshabar probably had enough spare to hold him at bay, which is becoming a common theme for Tender Falcon.

The Sawyer (race 4): After excelling himself here, could be difficult to place - not really a pattern race horse, but vulnerably highly rated in handicaps.

Herecomesthetruth (race 4): Had won all six completed chases, but a record of RPU outside them showed him not to be bombproof, and the quality of Monet's Garden got to him.

Menorah (race 5): Gave the impression of being decent but not anything special until his Kempton win, and this defeat was a reversion to the original position.

UK-Jumping Selections

Majaales (race 3): Raced prominently and finished a respectable seventh over a trip very much on the sharp side