Newton Abbot 09/08/11

Going: Good to Firm (Good places)

Race 1: South West Racing Club Juvenile Hurdle [2m 1f]

1: Arctic Reach     2: Captain Sharpe     3: Alfraamsey

Winner owned: Holistic Racing Ltd, trained: Brendan Powell,  ridden: Tony McCoy

With the hurdles form demonstrated to date just as modest as we have the right to expect for August juvenile hurdles, this race did not take a great deal of winning. Arctic Reach, who had already won and been second as a hurdler, prevailed narrowly, and having seen off a series of challenges to his supremacy, did not look as if he had to dig to the bottom reaches of his capabilities to hold Captain Sharpe at bay, but also seemed as if he would resent having to do so. As the second had been stuffed in a shoddy Ffos Las race in June on debut over hurdles, some might suggest Eey-ore would have been equally unflustered in some sort of Winnie The Pooh tribute. Alfraamsey, a flat sprinter, had started over hurdles by being third to a winner that had in turn been third to Arctic Reach, so probably ran as well as could be reasonably be expected. A 1m 6f hurdle somewhere, e.g. France, would be ideal. Bernisdale, winner of her last two flat runs, both over 1m 2f, made her hurdling debut here and looked the biggest threat to the winner three from home, but was disappointingly short of staying power in the end.

Race 2: South West Racing Club Novice Handicap Chase [2m 5.5f]

1: Spock     2: Horseshoe Reef     3: Daneva

Winner owned: Jeffrey Hordle, trained: Paul Nicholls, ridden: Daryl Jacobs

This was one of those weird races where no runner inspired great confidence, but an optimist could see the positives behind several of them, even if they were numerically outweighed by the off days. Daneva set the pace, but began to struggle when headed five out, and Horseshoe Reef threw away the inherited lead and most of his chances with a bad error three out. He never gave up totally (not always the case in the past) but Spock kept on plugging away and never showed much inclination to concede the race. He ran here like a horse of modest talent but phlegmatically solid temper, which makes his ran out at Stratford last time even harder to explain, although first use of cheekpieces may have provided the necessary diversion of his wandering mind. Daneva lost third with a long way to go, but fought back to regain it late on, which raised the question was to whether her course and distance win on fast ground may have been a fluke, as she seemed to like the mud in Ireland, and shaped here as if lacking toe for quick ground. The highlight of the race, sadly, was Googoobarabajagal being withdrawn at the start, as the attempt of the racecourse announcer to pronounce it smacked of a man who had dined not wisely but too well...

Mr Goofy realises that by stretching weirdly in front, he can make people think that he is not number seven on the racecard. Daneva is on the other side of him. Golbelini (6) and Horseshoe Reef come next, with Spock keeping a wary eye out.

Race 3: South West Racing Club Novice Hurdle [2m 3f]

1: Alla Svelta     2: Green Du Ciel     3: Weldone Honey

Winner owned: P Conway & John Lee Jones,  trained: Evan Williams, ridden: Paul Moloney

Alla Svelta had the best form in the race, and the highest rating, and the only quibble with it was that the highlights came on softer ground, with his fast going success being in a fairly pathetic three runner race. He turned this slightly less woeful five runner race into a stroll in the park, easily dismissing the well backed Green Du Ciel. That horse had shown occasional cause for interest in Ireland, but the form of his debut for Tim Vaughan looked nothing much beyond the modest, and his run today supported that theory. Weldone Honey was about 23 miles behind in third. 

Race 4: Bryan Westcott Memorial Handicap Chase [2m 0.5f]

1: Mibleu     2: Exulto     3: Oceana Gold

Winner owned: Chasing Gold, trained: Colin Tizzard, ridden: Aidan Coleman

Having inherited Mibleu from the retiring Alners, Colin Tizzard had watched the horse run several good races without winning, but at least had observed in the Racing Post that he felt the horse was knocking on the door of success. The faster than forecast going was a help, but the ease with which he managed to dismiss the interest of several dangerous rivals was unexpected. Exulto, as usual, finished like a train in vain, without ever threatening to win the race, and Oceana Gold showed the handicapper's folly in quickly raising him for a win last time, when the skill needed to defeat the oppo that day did not justify it. This looks like a race that may be quite a good standard for the time of year, and if the runners start earning places in subsequent races it should be no surprise. Wins, however, look to be more dependent on some wet weather.

Mibleu wants to create the impression of hard work, but the absence of proximate rivals on the run-in gives the game away

Race 5: Jim Renfree Memorial Handicap Hurdle [3m 3f]

1: Kristoffersen     2: Free World     3: Will If I Want     4: Skipper's Lad

Winner owned: TMW Partnership,  trained: Helen Nelmes, ridden: Jamie Moore

A career occupying many years has been spent confounding any human that cared to get involved with him, yet Kristoffersen here gained his seventh win (but only the third since 2006), maintaining a spell in which his current yard has drawn some consistency from the horse by keeping runs nicely spread out. Of course, he was in this instance as lucky as an entrenched Syrian dictator, as Snake Charmer had the race won at the last, only to topple over a stride or three after landing, despite having made no error worthy of note. Free World got himself into contention smoothly and ominously, but perhaps found this a furlong or two beyond his talents. However, blaming lack of stamina may be too glib, as he beat sixteen others, and Will If I Want's only win was when wandering willfully home at this distance at Fontwell, so a doubtful stayer is unlikely to have held him at bay.

Race 6: South West Racing Club Handicap Hurdle [2m 6f]

1: Surfboard     2: Jan Jandura     3: Tigger     4: No Woman No Cry

Winner owned: Ashton Racing Club,  trained: David Pipe, ridden: Conor O'Farrell

In another controversial diplomatic move, the youth wing of the African National Congress had declared Surfboard the winner of this race well before the off, but the horse was not inclined to make the South African tykes life more awkward than it need be, so he made enough effort to win a race that could have gone to any one of about eight runners as they turned for home. Sporting a ten pound claiming jockey in the saddle (but one who has won a couple on the flat), Tigger finished strongly to almost steal second on the line, but he had to be pushed along to make progress from the rear with a mile to go, and despite this being the longest race he has contested to date, something more slowly run, and probably therefore over further, seems needed. On a positive note, Risk Challenge, who ran a similar race for the first two miles, only managed to progress as far as sixth, which shows that Tigger did perform a bit more wonderfully. 

Surfboard with a post-race condemnation of the democratically elected government of Botswana, to ingratiate himself with his supporters in the southern hemisphere.

Race 7: Sylvia J Leggett Memorial Handicap Chase [2m 0.5f]

1: The Fox's Decree     2: New Rackheath     3: The Grey One

Winner owned: Mrs Belinda Keighley, trained: Martin Keighley,  ridden: Tony McCoy

With the well supported Baroque Star struggling by the second fence and chase debutant Driving Miss Suzie being halted by a bad blunder with a lap to go, it did not matter much that none of the other three runners was looking especially happy with five fences still to jump, and once New Rackheath had given a sufficient injection of less slowness to the race to see off The Grey One, he was left with only The Fox's Decree to cope with. That horse was certain to like the ground more than his rivals, but would also have appreciated a longer trip. The usual McCoy ruthless exploitation of enemy limitations whilst giving his own mount no chance to ponder his own shortcomings produced a familiar outcome. Ride of the week, trumping his effort in the opener, but probably will not get the due appreciation as it was not on a Saturday.

New Rackheath, The Fox's Decree and The Grey One in a tactical game of statues, all being very ready to stop as soon as the music does

Plus Points

Horseshoe Reef (race 2): A chase history of 3541635222 shows reliability but also a concern over attitude to achieving the best possible result. Today might have been one better but for fluffing the third last, and on his ideal, sharp, left-handed courses all is not lost.

Bathwick Quest (race 4): Has gained his wins in the mud, and also seems likely to be suited by a longer trip or stiffer track. He got in contention, only to finish quite slowly from three out, but after having fallen last time, this was a positive step forward in a race hardly designed to play to his strengths.

Grand Lahou (race 4): Seemed likely to be on the edge of his tolerance when the going was good, and the eventual faster ground was a non-starter. He can do significantly better when the rain comes.

War Party (race 4): Has coped with fast in the past, but seems happier if it is muddier, and was struggling absurdly early in this. Three of his four wins have come no longer than ten days since the last appearance, so today's dreadful showing can potentially be rendered irrelevant on the back of a quick turnout later in the year.

Snake Charmer (race 5): Very unlucky loser, and the soft fall should do no more harm than confuse him how he managed to not be the winner of this race. Despite recent solid efforts on fast, good to soft seems more suitable.

Orion Express (race 5): In an eighteen runner race, he was ridden as if expected to imperiously sweep the oppo asunder late on. He actually ran gamely but a bit slowly, as usual, and a smaller field and/or more prominent tactics would give him a good shot at win number ten.

Jan Jandura (race 6): Returning from a break, he an quite well in defeat, and the only real concern for the future is that he started last season in a similar vein, only for the form to peter out without a win ensuing. Chasing may be the answer.

Tigger (race 6): Might prove to be a horse that has no correct race for his particular balance of cruising speed and stamina, but after this, he is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Tenzing (race 6): Once finished seventh of twenty-three at Cork, but has never replicated that standard. In his first handicap, he just pottered around in rear, showing no inclination to do anything else. Could be a lost cause, but might alternatively be one that is going to ascend greater heights soon. 

Down Arrows

Bernisdale (race 1): Could not translate a recent positive spell of flat form to hurdles, and from this point onwards, life should get tougher in juvenile hurdles.

Sinadinou (race 1): A 7f flat winner, he spoiled his chances on debut with a bad blunder at halfway, but today's effort was far inferior without any accidents or mishaps to excuse it.

Mr Goofy (race 2): Won what seemed an OK race in the spring on fast ground, but a slipped saddle stopped him next time, and each run since has been progressively worse. This maintained the demoralising sequence.

Green Du Ciel (race 3): Attracted unexpected market support here, and ran no better than his mediocre British debut. Beware of jumping on the bandwagon in future.

Mr Matt & Bushwacker (race 4): After long strands of under-achievement, they had both won their last two races. Forced into a higher grade, their less than impressive attitudes to hard work prevented any further progress. They could be hard to place for a while, unless another dry spell leads to small fields and uncompetitive races.

Monty's Revenge (race 5): Looked a real dodgepot when somehow winning at Worcester, and showed zero interest here. That earlier hurdle win and a chase one here since are looking like a statistical anomaly.

Little Eaglet (race 5): Suddenly hit form when switched to this yard, including a win over course, distance and going, but he was an awful long way shy of a repeat this time.

The Fox's Decree, New Rackheath, The Grey One, Baroque Star, Driving Miss Suzie (race 7): One of them had to win it, none of them seemed that keen on doing so, Tony McCoy forceth his will upon the unbelievers

Empire

Elegant Olive (race 6): Given the expected issues with the course layout and returning from a break, she ran just about as expected, ending up ninth, beaten 26 lengths. Hopefully this will put her right for more suitable races at the likes of Hereford and Huntingdon