Plumpton 01/03/10

This was the culmination of a hectic weekend, which started out simple, planned to be England v Ireland at Twickenham, followed by Charing point-to-point, and ending here. Then Happy Fleet had a race turn up at Kempton on the Sunday to clash with Charing. Elegant Olive also had a race at Plumpton here today, but had a serious risk of balloting out. Spider Boy was declared for Sandown on Friday (waterlogged and abandoned), Kempton on Saturday (sure of a run) plus entered at Fontwell on Sunday (risk of balloting out and bad weather) and Plumpton today (likely to be abandoned). This meant the safe option was taking on Punjabi at Kempton, and after a couple of races trawling on to Twickenham, perhaps via a pub or two. And the loss of Charing meant that it was a return to Kempton the next day. You can see why some people just sit at home watching television all day.

Bonus Kempton Reporting

Going: Soft

Race 1: Racing Post iphone App HBLB Champion Hurdle Trial [2m]

1: Punjabi     2: Border Castle     3: Supernoverre

Winner owned: Raymond Tooth, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Barry Geraghty

There will be those who considered this race a pointless gimmick (so it had an appropriate sponsor!) but it did allow the great debate to be settled once and for all - Punjabi or Spider Boy. Sadly, it was Punjabi who came out on top, by a mere thirty two lengths - imagine what may have happed had Spider Boy been at his youthful peak. We did not learn anything about the reigning champ from this that was not already known, but after going AWOL for nearly two years, Border Castle's solid comeback effort in second was worth bearing in mind - although his alternate entry was in a novice chase. The juvenile hurdler Supernoverre had run two fair races in defeat, but might have horrendously damaged his handicap mark in picking up a four figure sum for being third.

Race 2: Racing & Football Outlook Handicap Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Clova Island     2: Helpston     3: Sangfroid

Winner owned: Mrs Peter Prowting, trained: Philip Hobbs, ridden: Richard Johnson

Cabinet Minister ensured a solid, but not manic, pace prevailed for this, but the nature of the ground was shown when he and a couple of others that raced a touch freely tied up very rapidly in the home straight. Not a day for bluffing it out, stamina wise. The horses that led the chasing bunch were Stripe Me Blue, eventually fifth, and Helpston, who struggled on gamely but was always being mocked by the winner once Clova Island went to the front. Apart from one disastrous hammering on his hurdles debut, Clova Island has been a consistent performer, never beaten more than fourteen lengths, so it was quite surprising to see that he had run four races in a row off of today's rating of 120. He can expect that streak to be ending.

Having achieved an above par state of picture clarity, it is a shame that nothing interesting is happening in it. Cabinet Minister leads, from Stripe Me Blue (11) and Helpston.

Now, back to Plumpton, where they at least only had to get through six races, having passed an inspection on the morning of racing.

Going: Heavy (very 'eavy)

Race 1: Blackmore Borley Maiden Hurdle [2m]

1: Action Impact     2: Hoback Junction     3: Dean's Grange

Winner owned: T Bowley, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Philip Hide

This seemed to consist of horses of a rather mixed range of talents and experiences, and it was therefore no surprise when a quartet went clear as the field passed by the normal fourth last. Mega Watt, whose ability to go on the ground seemed very questionable in advance, took a tumble at the next when travelling ominously well, having gone through the heaviest of the ground with apparent ease. Next to crack was Dean’s Grange, who went from threatening to surrendered in the blink of an eye between the final two flights. From that point on, Action Impact, who debuted in similar going but with added icy rain, enjoyed the spring air and outlasted Hoback Junction. The winner was not massively impressive in his jumping skills, but did enough to fend off his sole remaining challenger at the last.

Action Impact negotiates the final flight after a fashion, but Hoback Junction cannot exploit the hint of confusion

Race 2: Revelstoke Wine Company Handicap Chase [2m 1f]

1: Sumdancer     2: Rince Donn     3: Sole Agent

Winner owned: Los Leader, trained: Michael Madgwick, ridden: Marc Goldstein

Only four lined up, but the market opened at 5/2 the field, and favouritism eventually fell upon Sumdancer, who only really bothers when he is at Plumpton and it is muddy – although soft ground suits him better than this. A narrow defeat over a trip too far by local legend The Hardy Boy was a good prep for this (and today he was still only one pound above his last winning rating - which greatly enthuses the human parts of the team) and his only serious rival, Rince Donn, palpably failed to handle the ground. Matter closed, although his lowish strike rate does not point to a possible follow up - except there are still two more meetings here in March and no guarantees that the rain will stay away. Rince Donn just held second from Sole Agent, whose record at Plumpton is now 53473 – and a when a Gary Moore horse comes here so infrequently, that is a clue in itself.

Race 3: Whippers Delight Novice Handicap Chase [2m 4f]

1: Inthejungle     2: Tanners Court     3: Scaramouche

Winner owned: A Achilleous, C Attrell, DC O'Brien, trained: Dan O'Brien, ridden: Wayne Kavanagh

An appropriate day for this to be run, because Whippers Delight would have adored these conditions. One key memory of the horse was him winning at Fontwell at a meeting that was abandoned halfway through and the water on the roads trying to escape the course was two or three feet deep. There may not be another Whippers Delight in the field, but you never know. As is so often the case at Plumpton, the chase fences at the bottom of the back straight had a big influence on the outcome. Celian was still a big player when he unseated at the first of them, and Tanners Court , who had tended to go right from the off, did it especially badly here. With these misfortunes hitting his rivals, Wayne Kavanagh kicked Inthejungle on from that point, and seemed to have the race won when Scaramouche’s progress ended two from home. There was time for him to get very fatigued approaching the last, but Tanners Court ’s fight back was too snailish to change the result, but the placed horses were not beaten nearly as far in the end as looked likely turning for home.

Race 4: Thorns Furniture & Catering Memorial Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Lord Singer     2: Just Beware     3: Phantom Lad

Winner owned: The Winning Hand, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Joshua Moore

A race that went from contest to rout to contest in the last half mile. Lord Singer enjoyed himself out in front, poodling along admiring the view. All of a sudden, the field reached the third last and he was the only horse still on the bridle. Skipping further clear on the last turn, he had the race in the bag, and sumptuous rewards tickled his tastebuds. But Lord Singer's energies drained after the second last and he flopped slowly over the final flight as Just Beware stayed on out of the pack to challenge, encouraged by Phantom Lad snapping at her heels. On the run-in, Lord Singer just about regained a little momentum, and it was enough for him to hang on by a diminishing three lengths. Calzaghe has had a few wins this season, but has also been aiming for the “most times a non-runner” record. He spoiled both today, by turning up and coming only fourth.

Phantom Lad casts a wary eye at the camera man or the ambulance man, whereas Alph (red), Just Beware (black & yellow) know that they have more important things to worry about. Bridge Of Fermoy (checks) is cultivating a pompous approach to hurdling, with some success (at being pompous, not yet at hurdling).

Race 5: Windsor Partners amateur riders Handicap Chase [3m 2f]

1: Portrait Royale     2: Opus Cafe

Winner owned: PPS Racing, trained: Anna Newton-Smith, ridden: Harry Challoner

It all changed two from home in this. Pass Me A Dime led, but was in the process of being overtaken by Its A Classic two out. Pass Me A Dime went to his right and fell, effectively bringing down his rival, who if not physically touched, went to ground trying to avoid the big brown lummock in his path. This left the toiling Portrait Royale clear of Opus Café, who had given up long before this and probably would have pulled up but for the fallers. Ironically, Portrait Royale had lost a couple of races due to inopportune blunders herself last season, and she is probably being quite smug about things going her way now, and she did not go unsupported due to receiving plenty of weight from all but Opus Cafe. The other runner, Newbay Bob, had won at Exeter last time, his first ever success at the 23^rd attempt, and was (handily for today) proven over four miles. He does seem to prefer a right handed track, however, and it was that inclination that caused him to unseat three out, having been relegated from first to fourth at the time.

Race 6: Create Your Wedding At Plumpton Pavilion mares' Handicap Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Pomander     2: Marsh Court     3: Edgevine

Winner owned: David O Moon, trained: Anna Newton-Smith, ridden: Peter Toole

After losing her way badly during a dismally incompetent spell in chases, the blinkers were on Marsh Court today, and they did the trick alongside the switch back to hurdles, as she set sail for home convincingly on the railway turn. Whether the headgear made her run too freely, or her stamina did not last on ground previously avoided, the effort told too soon, and she was nailed by Pomander approaching the last hurdle. The winner had shown some minor promise early in her UK career, but this win was a big bounce back from defeats of 47, 80 and 53 lengths. Given that it was the last race of the day, even with the smallish fields on show, the first three home did not appear to struggle too badly with the ground, despite having never tackled worse than soft before.

Pomander (6) leads at the second from Lupita (7) and Gentle Caribou. The grey is Conington, Elegant Olive is no. 8 in the background and Marsh Court is mostly hidden behind the mild mannered ungulate. Which leaves a sliver of Edgevine in view. 

Plus Points

Helpston (race 2, Kempton): Has had a light season so far, but in defeat today, he at least hinted that his rating of 130 can be won from, possibly off of a low weight in a better race - he was conceding weight all round today.

Stow (race 2, Kempton): Since being near the rear in the Triumph Hurdle, his form had gone to pieces, but fourth today, even without looking like a threat to win, was a sign that the jigsaw is gradually being reassembled.

Hoback Junction (race 1): Placed in a Southwell bumper, and then fifth in a big field at Doncaster , he performed perfectly well, and must be capable of winning something.

Mega Watt (race 1): Seemed to run OK on his debut, and did at least as well here until falling. His flat win was over a mile on good, so stamina-related energy could have caught him out, but the raw talent is there.

Mauritino (race 1): Won six flat races in Germany , but has had a couple of drubbings over hurdles in the UK . He did not stay in touch with the leaders, but when the main action was over and done with, at least had the resolve to stick on and be best of the rest – which might have been the object of the exercise.

Tanners Court (race 3): Unseated in his first chase when running really well, and again jumped right today, but marginally more safely.  He might be worth a tickle at a long price on a right handed track.

Celian (race 3): Has run in five chases, and only completed two. The manner of his performance suggests that low level handicaps are winnable if he concentrates on courses that are less tricky jumping challenges than Plumpton.

Pomander (race 6): Ran shockers over three miles or more on her previous two runs, and the improved result may reflect a preference for shorter trips on really testing ground, and therefore capable of repetition.

Edgevine (race 6): In a brief career she has preferred better going, and will come on for the run after 10 months off. The fact that her only other handicap run saw a defeat of 121 lengths from today’s mark of 95 might prove an unflattering historical anomaly.

Down Arrows

Wolf Moon (race 2, Kempton): He has had a pretty decent season so far, but looked as if he and the handicapper have combined to declare that his work for this one is done. Novice chasing, presumably next term, is an option to correct that.

Dean’s Grange (race 1): With conditions barely raceable, there is reason to be forgiving for failure, but he went from go to stop ominously quickly.

Sole Agent (race 2): Does not have an impressive course record, but also looked to take offence when Sumdancer had the temerity to take him on for the lead, so sulked.

Rouge Et Blanc (race 2): Started over hurdles with some promise, fell heavily on his chase debut, and pulled up here with an apparent wind problem. Too many adversities are being thrown his way.

Scaramouche (race 3): Had some older form that gave him a good chance, but since the start of 2009 had gone PPP4P. The weakness of his finish was probably a continuation of whatever has caused the drop off in results.

Wheres Johnny (race 3): Showed a slightly enlivened attitude earlier this season, but it does not seem to have lasted.

Pass Me A Dime (race 5): Last won in November 2006, and has never done it beyond two and a half miles, so it would be risky to think of him as an unlucky loser.

Gentle Caribou (race 6): She is performing quite a way short of the early potential that she showed.

UK-Jumping Selections

Inthejungle (race 3): Found the drop in class very much to his liking, but having burnt off the oppo two out, he was himself very tired and had to work hard to keep the rallying runner-up at bay.

Empire

Spider Boy (race 1, Kempton): By far the lowest rated of the six runners, and by far the elder statesman of the field (if they ever make a film of it, he will be played by Morgan Freeman), a faller and Mon Michel's lazy run allowed him to over achieve in fourth, just 32 lengths behind Punjabi. A handicap snip somewhere on this form?

Elegant Olive (race 6): It was feared that the ground would be a problem, but hoped it would prove equally so for the oppo. Only the former turned out to be true.