Stratford 10/07/11

In fact, the best sporting view all day was a game devised by three kids playing on the raised slope at the back of the lawn. It involved them inventing a fake name each, running down the slope waving hands above head like a demented Kermit the Frog, and then flopping onto some adults relaxing on the grass. Presumably said adults were related, but it would have been funnier if they were not. Repeat sequence ad infinitum.

Going: Good (Good to Firm places) - on a hot day it must surely have been a touch quicker by the later races.

Race 1: Birmingham Mail Novice Hurdle [2m]

1: Smart Freddy     2: Hes Our Lad     3: Red Whisper

Winner owned: Mrs RD Sumpter, trained: Lawney Hill, ridden: David Bass

This looked a race that threw up several promising runs, but with the reservation that they could all have been deceptive. The reason for worrying is that pace setter Red Whisper jumped wildly right at times, slightly right the rest, and the rest of the field tended to follow him, which suggests that they none posted an optimum form guide. Smart Freddy was long odds-on after his excellent Southwell win, but he only scraped home here, having been ridden from the third last, at the expense of Hes Our Lad, who looked before this as if he really needs further. 

Race 2: Coventry Telegraph Novice Handicap Chase [2m 5.5f]

1: Plunkett     2: Horseshoe Reef     3: Saskompliq

Winner owned: T Hywel Jones, trained: Evan Williams, ridden: Adam Wedge

With only five running, and Spock pulled up at the water jump in front of the stands (or was it ran out?), followed by the departure of Priors Glen at the next fence (bad error, did not fall but brought to a complete halt), it was a race that took very little winning. Plunkett stalked Horseshoe Reef, gained a length lead at the last, and all the way to the line, he showed no inclination to extend that margin, nor did Horseshoe Reef look interested and/or capable of denting it. Saskompliq lost by his narrowest UK margin yet, but the limited opposition means that it is not a good idea to get too carried away with it immediately.

A lap remains and Plunkett (5) decides he has the measure of Horsehsoe Reef (6) and can rely on the grey Priors Glen to do something off the wall to make his life easier.

Race 3: Pallasades Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Rajnagan     2: Domino Dancer     3: Heron Bay

Winner owned: Mrs W Morrell, trained: Paul Webber, ridden: Denis O'Regan

Only three ever got at all competitive in this race, even though Domino Dancer was allowed a solo lead by others that can front run, so the pace was strong, but not as manic as it could have been. Despite his rating having risen from 77 to 114 in the space of three wins, Rajnagan delivered again, in the now traditional method of being held up, moving in or around the lead three from the finish, and then having a late turn of foot. There was a brief moment when it looked as if he might struggle to swoop past the pace setter, but Domino Dancer ran out of steam late on, and lost by a couple of lengths in the end. This seemed as if it might be a class too far for Rajnagan, but it was not - no doubt we will all fear the same next time. Can he confound us? Heron Bay was never quite quick enough to worry Rajnagan, and although the first time visor helped him, he needs more. 

Race 4: 1A Plumb It Handicap Chase [2m 1.5f]

1: Bushwacker     2: The Jigsaw Man     3: Intac

Winner owned: Miss R Dobson, trained: Ron Hodges, ridden: James Best

What a weird race this was. With seven of the ten either always or often front running, there was never likely to be much scope for the taking of prisoners, and in such an environment, a plunge on the historically ungenuine Bushwacker which left him as favourite seemed incredibly optimistic. Having shown physical ability in bumpers, he had flopped badly when jumping stuff, winning only twice, at Towcester and Exeter when the oppo stopped up their hills, leaving his usual 80% effort enough to deliver. He attacked early on the far side, and only a couple could live with him. Trooper Clarence was the sole threat when he fell two out, but Bushwacker tied up turning for home, and the front runner The Jigsaw Man rallied and began to nibble at the lead. Not hungrily enough, and he only just held second from Intac and Hoo La Baloo - neither the most reliable racing machines. In fact, Noble Request might have made the frame but for a fall at the last, for which the horse gave Richard Johnson a really dirty, snarling look as he got up, but may wish to think more on his own proven short comings in that department. War Party was popular in the betting for this, having got a decent weight pull against Sunday City for a narrow loss, but his fast ground win came when the clear leader fell at the last, and all the other evidence is that he could do with softer ground than this.  

Bushwacker clear enough at the last. Unless Ron Hodges has turned him round totally, the horse is likely to blame this evidence of his true ability as mere photoshopping magic

Race 5: Birmingham Mail Juvenile Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Xenophon     2: Copper Canyon     3: Alfraamsey

Winner owned: Holistic Racing Ltd, trained: Brendan Powell, ridden: Jake Greenall

As often bleated on about in these virtual pages, juvenile hurdles at this time of year are invariably merit free, and this was no different, with one winner, six already beaten over hurdles and three debuting. It unsurprisingly turned into a desperate plod for the line, and was won by a horse carrying his owner's second colours in the race. Xenophon had lost by 23 lengths on his debut in a claimer, but improved here and comfortably beat the second that day, Freedom Flyer, who had changed yards. Copper Canyon had been fairly able in three runs as a two year old, but had failed to try and improve on that because of a hatred of going into the stalls, forcing him over hurdles whether connections wanted to or not. He did OK, but might have been expected to have been a bit pacier than he showed here. Alfraamsey was sprinter on the flat, and whilst it is possible that racing at those distances was a mistake, he may well lack the stamina to improve on this hurdles debut. Market Rasen winner Red Mercury, and his form history, is a bit more tangibly real than the fabled substance he is named after, and the drop down in trip from his debut ought to have been ideal. He struggled into fourth, and the close third at Market Rasen pulled up, which suggests that they had come from a truly shoddy event.

Xenophon clumps through the last, Copper Canyon may have taken advantage had he not decided to do exactly the same.

Race 6: Myton Hospice Handicap Chase [2m 1.5f]

1: Sumner     2: Rince Donn     3: Nawow

Winner owned & trained: Bill Davies, ridden: Richard Johnson

It was only a 0-95 race, but the winner went about his job with a zest that has not always been present in his races. Sumner often runs at around two and a half miles, but this was his second win over shorter, and it seems worth sticking to this trip whilst he is competing in the lowest tier races. The busy, consistent Rince Donn ended up second again, suffering the curse of a stayers pace and two miler's stamina again. Any slim chance he had remaining disappeared with an error at the last. Nawow's losing streak is now becoming worrying, especially as the course, going and handicap rating below 100 that work to bring out his best were all in place and he merely battled into third in the last few strides.

Race 7: Coventry Telegraph conditional jockeys' Handicap Hurdle [2m 3f]

1: King's Realm     2: Bathwick Man     3: Piper's Song

Winner owned & trained: Alison Thorpe, ridden: Ed Glassonbury

The most difficult puzzle was saved until last, and the race featured the last two winners of it to give added befuddlement and temptation to those tempted to have a bet. That pair, Kristallo and Bathwick Man, were joined by King's Realm and Piper's Song in a quartet that took total control of the race from quite a long way out. Bathwick Man was in front, and just when it seemed he was doing enough to stay there, his energy drained, and King's Realm went from struggling to reel him in to skipping clear in a short distance after the last flight of hurdles. The winner had only succeeded in a maiden claiming hurdle before today, but had done as well as could be expected in a novice hurdle at Ffos Las since then, and his rating of 113 could easily have been a bit higher as a result. It will be after this.

Plus Points

Red Whisper (race 1): Ran OK on his hurdle debut, but got roundly stuffed in the next two. He showed enough here to think a win or two are possible if he sorts his jumping out.

Gwendraeth Girl (race 1): Debuting over jumps on the back of bumper defeats of 15, 81, 61 and 19 lengths. She was edging into contention turning for home, and although she jumped the last two flights straighter than the first three, she made mistakes at both. A much improved show on any of her earlier runs, and a sign of progression

Salford Rose (race 1): Has had an interesting short career. She unseated at the start on her bumper debut, then ran three decent races where she was placed each time. Her first two hurdle runs were ruined by woeful jumping. A winter break and a change of yard saw her show much more agility at the obstacles, and she is definitely one to be watching out for in handicaps, as she was not given too hard a time here.

Domino Dancer (race 3): After a winning run, he shaped at Ffos Las as if the handicapper has caught up. Today showed that if he is allowed to dominate a small field unchallenged (and fast ground is ideal), he could yet render the rating irrelevant.

Intac (race 4): Had gone severely off the boil, with neither cheekpieces nor a visor helping. The tongue tie declared was left off, but first time blinkers helped a bit, and he might deliver back giving away weight to inferior talents. 

Sunday City (race 4): Wins at regular intervals, including his last two. Seven times the wins have come on good ground, and seven on level tracks, but his overall record on left-handed, sharp, level tracks in chases is F2PU281, so the fact that he was dreadful here was not beyond prediction, and not something that is beyond correction.

Copper Canyon (race 5): If any useful horses do emerge from this race, he seems the most likely candidate.

Bathwick Man (race 7): Ended up favourite and weakened in a tame way for a horse who is proven over a little bit further. However, it was his first run in nine months, and perhaps that took a greater toll than was expected.

Down Arrows

Plunkett (race 2): Whether it is lack of heart or pace, he usually finds a way to coax a narrow defeat from a race and the failure to do so here is not to be taken too seriously.

Brunston (race 3): Has won two races this season in respectable style, but split them with a doggy effort at Huntingdon, and was first under pressure, looking sluggish, this time. Clearly he cannot be written off entirely, but any supporters need to be wary that he may not be up for it on any given day.

Skye But N Ben (race 3): Ended last season in spectacular form, but since joining his new yard that has not been sustained. The fact that they have already dropped him into a seller once suggests that connections think he is as badly handicapped as it looks at face value.

Noble Request (race 4): Does not really cut the mustard as a chaser, and whilst a sharp course is not ideal, he has struggled on layouts that ought to be fine as well. 

Red Mercury (race 5): Limitations horribly exposed. 

Alfraamsey (race 5): Stamina remains unproven and suspect, so one not to get involved with, however tempting, when trying to build on this.

Bid Art (race 6): For a long way he was happy out in front, but once again he stopped quickly once the wall had been hit. Often he is too keen in his races, but on days like this where he seems a little more settled, the results do not improve.

Piper's Song (race 7): Put up 12 pounds for winning a two miler here, it was probably that which killed off his chance more than the extra distance, as he has run reasonably over a bit further than this.

Pelennor (race 7): Has never won under rules, and was popular in the betting simply because he has won three points last season, and is trained by Lawney Hill. However, the recent pointing results were less good - beaten in a two runner race, second in a four runner race, pulled up in a hunter chase. After a bad error at the first in the home straight, he and David Bass had a disagreement over how best to recover and eventually both ended up on the deck. This will not have helped his frame of mind, so be wary of any betting bandwagon that develops on him.

UK-Jumping Selections

Smart Freddy (race 1): Won unimpressively, and in handicap company he might need the pace reduction of a slightly longer race.