Worcester 23/09/11

This did have a nondescript feel about the whole meeting. With 97 declared, the crowd would have been below par without the multitude of connections, and there were two maiden hurdles, two bumpers and a beginners chase, all of which seemed the sort to raise more questions than they answered. There was some excellent stuff for conspiracy buffs to get their teeth into. In the last race, Tony McCoy rode the JP McManus newcomer, and not the Rebecca Curtis trained one, who the stats say is far more likely to be taking this ultra-seriously. Yet in the first race, Jonjo O'Neill ran three, including two JP McManus-owned newcomers, and the champ was on the Rebecca Curtis horse, a classy flat runner who had stunk the place out on it's British debut. What to think? What to think?

Going: Good

Race 1: Spiffing Crabbie's Alcholic Ginger Beer Maiden Hurdle, Div I [2m 4f]

1: Lough Derg Way     2: Fennis Boy     3: Perazzi George

Winner owned: The Folly Partnership, trained: Jamie Snowden, trained: Sam Twiston-Davies

A right old ding-dong to start the meeting, with Lough Derg Way just outlasting Irish import Fennis Boy to add a hurdle win to his pointing and bumper ones. Nothing he does produces a gasp of anticipation, but he has now won four of his ten starts, which is a fairly impressive start to his career. In contrast Fennis Boy did impress in Irish bumpers, but when progressed to jumping things, he managed to lose all twelve hurdles and all five chases. That is moving out of the range of bad fortune into the one of malicious intent. This debut for his new yard was a near miss, but still a miss. Perazzi George, who ran in two bumpers, both on heavy, never managed to get competitive but showed good staying power to trundle into third. After a good debut - in a race yet to produce a subsequent winner - on his arrival from France, Satou was favourite for this, but he ran as if the spin was needed a little after five months off. Disappointing, but too early to condemn him completely. Unlike Platinum, who was horrendously tailed off on his flat warm up for this (rated 92) and found the square root of nothing when asked for an effort in this race. 

Moving Winds is in front with a lap to go, chased by Lough Derg Way (pale blue), Fennis Boy (pale blue & white), Satou, Platinum and Sans Un Souci

Race 2: Spiffing Crabbie's Alcholic Ginger Beer Maiden Hurdle, Div II [2m 4f]

1: Fintan     2: The Big Freeze     3: Johns Spirit

Winner owned: SW Dunn, trained: Rob Summers, ridden: Tom O'Brien

It has been an staggered career for Fintan. Good in bumpers in 2006/7. Absent in 2008. Poor twice over hurdles in 2009. Absent again in 2010. Much better in 2011, and here he finally got the result he has deserved. Having fallen in his last race, it was a good recovery, and horse and rider showed good patience to not feel obliged to respond when the oppo went for home quite early. The Big Freeze steadfastly refused to go to post passing the winning line, unseating rather than do it, and had to be led across the infield to reach the start. A cunning creature, and the energy saved clearly served him well during the race. John Spirit, previously a winner and a runner-up in a bumper, did not make a wonderful start over hurdles, but appeared to find 2m 4f just a little beyond his powers for now. Which is slightly odd considering the close second came at Towcester. However, when assessing the race, bear in mind the record of fifth placed Marsh Lane. He was tailed off when falling in a point-to-point in 2010, and has been also tailed off in two bumpers this season. Did he expose the limitations of race or make a great personal leap forward? Pliny was a lacklustre sixth, a reflection on the fact that since the Peter Bowen yard blazed through the height of summer winning all and sundry, the stable form has creaked towards the other end of the scale.

Race 3: Worcester Supports The Racing Lottery Novice Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Bolanderi     2: Naledi     3: Viviani

Winner owned: Maori Partnership, trained: Andy Turnell, ridden: Nick Scholfield.

Word on the street in advance was that this was going to be fast and furious, but whilst it was run at a good, solid pace, it appeared to be less manic than threatened. Bolanderi finally delivered the goods over hurdles, having previously enjoyed some comprehensive losses on all sorts of going and on all sorts of courses. So whilst connections informed the stewards that it was believed that the ground had brought about the sudden improvement, there was no cast iron evidence to present for the defence or prosecution. Perhaps he just liked the slightly easier than good, watered ground, on a sunny but not excessively hot autumn day, with thirteen other runners. But bear in mind the opening comment about pace, as both Bolanderi and Naledi were in the rear until making a late move - maybe it was a race run faster than it looked to the naked eye. The winner's case did seem to have assistance from Naledi not looking the most willing to overtake. Viviani ran a decent enough race to be third, getting caught flat-flooted on the final bend perhaps costing him the chance to challenge the winner. 

The Quantum Kid leads Cardinal James narrowly, and another totally hidden just beyond him, which is likely to be Kingspark Boy. Tram Express and Maid Of Silk head the pack.

Race 4: Christmas Parties At Worcester Racecourse Beginners Chase [2m 7f]

1: Vincitore     2: Mr Moss     3: Sangfroid

Winner owned: The Veni, Vidi, Vici Partnership, trained: Charlie Longsdon, ridden: Felix de Giles

Another Worcester run for Vertige Dore, another race ending in a stewards enquiry. This time he was the victim rather than the sinner, but with the run-in getting quite crowded, no positions were changed, as general chaos was blamed. By getting tucked on the inside of a crowd, Vertige Dore avoided heading for the weighing room, but Mr Moss, on the stand side drifted in, causing general bunching. Vincitore got the best of the finish, by a short head, another winner on the day who gets results without much dazzle. Mr Moss had won in the pointing field, but his jumping was awkward early, with his head looking too high approaching the fences. After jumping poorly here before, it was an ominous way to tackle the job, but he did at least warm to the task as the race progressed. Sangfroid got a better result than on his first chasing attempt, but he was always just that little bit behind the front pair, and nobody now would be too confident of him closing the gap or sticking his head down to nose his way to the lead.

The final fence, and Vincitore leads Vertige Dore, Mr Moss, Sangfroid and Total Victory. Argy-bargy imminent.

Race 5: New Year's Eve Charity Dinner Dance Handicap Hurdle [3m]

1: Only Witness     2: Tarvini     3: Auberge     4: High Carol

Winner owned: Arkle Bar Partnership & R Stanley, trained: Brendan Powell, ridden: Noel Fehily

Over the last hurdle this race looked in the bag for Only Witness, as he had a few lengths in hand and a loose horse to chase along the run-in. It was not a shock, as he had run very well over course and distance on his last appearance. Maybe the fact that it come in early June was a factor, as he began to tie up on the run-in. That allowed Tarvini (previously a course and distance winner) to get within a length. That proved that the livelier showing at Fontwell last time was not a fluke, but he just is not the sort of horse that sane people want to risk money on. The same can be said of Auberge, whose sole success in 32 races came at Cartmel just over a year ago, although Tarvini does win a bit more often when he enters a hot patch. Rannoch Moor, who landed a big field race at Uttoxeter last time, did not quite cope with going up seven pounds in the weights, and should take a long hard look at himself when considering the horses that he let beat him. 

Race 6: Frederick William Thorpe Handicap Chase [2m]

1: Wake Board     2: Playing With Fire

Winner owned: JA Provan, trained: Richard Newland, ridden: Daryl Jacob

A simple story. Lord Jay Jay looked to have the race at his mercy when he took a heavy fall four out. That brought down Sunday City, who was probably going to lose second to Wake Board anyway. Wake Board himself was safe and sensible in front. Playing With Fire jumped badly right throughout, and after dropping out of contention on the far side, pottered round for a completion of little merit.

Race 7: Westbridge & Co Commercial Property Agents Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race, Div I [2m]

1: Hazy Tom     2: Thespis Of Icaria      3: Don't Look Bach

Winner owned: Alan Halsall, trained: Charlie Longsdon, ridden: Kielan Woods

As per the theme of the day, this race was won by a relentless galloper exerting his power on the opposition, rather than a showing a devastating turn of pace. Having won his maiden point and previous bumper in the same style, it seems as if Hazy Tom is going to develop into a doughty stayer. With two bumper wins to his name, Thespis Of Icaria was conceding weight to the winner, but also ability. Having made most of the running, Don't Look Bach ran his best race to date, and was comfortably better than the rest. Thespis Of Icaria is exceedingly well named - after the person it is claimed to be the first actor in a stage play, inevitably in ancient Greece. He is by Sadler's Wells, out of Hellenic.

Race 8: Westbridge & Co Commercial Property Agents Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race, Div II [2m]

1: Strongly Suggested     2: Panache     3: Lady Deddington

Winner owned: JP McManus, trained: Jonjo O'Neill, ridden: Tony McCoy

The end of this race was much more competitive than division one, and the time quite a bit slower. For most of the last furlong or so it seemed as if Panache, running for his third trainer already, would prevail, but Strongly Suggested, who had no previous pointing or bumper experience, was seriously up for this, and he just deprived Panache of the win. As the runner-up  had already won and then performed fairly solidly in a Cheltenham race, the signals for Strongly Suggested's ability are, erm, strong. Lady Deddington made a fairly pleasing debut as well. Kanturk, who had been second in two of his three bumpers so far, was less effective today - disappointing, because the form of his earlier races has tended to work out well. Another good signal for the ones in front?

The youngsters manage to gallop past the horsebox park without undue chaos. Kanturk leads In The West, the third rank being (nearside to far) Heavenstown, Hay Dandy and Lady Deddington. Strongly Suggested sneaks into short, on the outside of Panache, with Lieutenant Dan the final one to sneak into view.

Plus Points

Lough Derg Way (race 1): As mentioned above, it is grind and not pizzazz that is getting him results, but he seems the type to really come into his own in staying chases.

Perazzi George (race 1): Has not achieved the same sort of results as the winner, but he also seems to have his future in long distance races.

Blue Lovell (race 1): Again caught the eye in the paddock, but her hurdle debut is the only time she has run anywhere nearly as impressive as she looks. This run, fading late on into seventh, was probably the next best, and although she seems to have a bit too much nervous energy in the prelims, it may be a different result/story in a low grade handicap.

Tough As Teak (race 1): Of the pair of JP McManus newcomers, which both poodled round in rear, he was the one travelling well within himself. A couple of late errors when tired ensured he stayed in rear, but better seems likely. The other in the colours, Tip Of My Tongue found it much harder work - time will tell if inexperience or a talent deficit was to blame.

Viviani (race 3): Not at all a bad run, and he should have hurdle races to win. Perhaps away from a galloping track, where the mid-race pace would fit his talents better. 

Kingspark Boy (race 3): Is far too eager to charge off manically, and his rating of 82 looks hard to justify on the bare results of three qualifying hurdle runs. But crucially, he is not slow, and if connections can find a way to calm him down a bit, there is some raw material to work with. 

Total Victory (race 4): Made a huge improvement on his British debut, being bang in the race until drifting out of it from the final fence. if he can repeat that, he should be able to find some easier openings.

Ballinacubby Lass (race 4): Looked comfortable in front until she tied up rapidly not long after halfway. She needed this to get a handicap mark, and is one to keep an eye on in lowly company, as her jumping did not look to be a problem.

Hazy Tom (race 7): Races like a stayer, and his owner has previously expressed a preference for potential Grand National horses, so it is not hard to guess where his future is hoped to lie. 

Strongly Suggested (race 8): Beat a proven performer on his first sight of a racecourse. It looks like he can go onwards and upwards from this.

Panache (race 8): Just got edged out, so if the winner has what it takes, he should too.

Down Arrows

Fennis Boy (race 1): Given his losing history, be wary of his chances of finding that tiny bit extra to go one better.

Naledi (race 3): Has been placed in six of ten over hurdles, and his enthusiasm to give that little bit extra here looked very questionable. 

Sangfroid (race 4): Can jump, but appears to have no extra injection of will power.

Wake Board (race 6): Third win of the summer, but none have been in races that finished in an especially competitive nature, and when the pressure has been turned up, he has been varied degrees of anonymous. 

Empire

Maderson Blue (race 3): Expected to struggle with two mile pace, but a bit disappointing all the same. Had a good cough afterwards.

Elegant Olive (race 5): Unsighted and unseated at the first hurdle. Tsk.