Towcester 21/05/10

The going was fast as forecast, but over the six races there were no non-runners. The feedback in relation to Spider Boy's race was that the course had done a really good job in getting the watering right, but the cynic may point to race three and six, where the participants would struggle to find a easier opportunity anywhere else, and race two, where only the long, long odds-on favourite had shown the the quality to raise that race above its two lesser brethren. At various points around the country, if you listen carefully, was the gentle tap, tap, tap of people kicking themselves for not having their horses entered for tonight.

The oddity of note du jour is the thumbnail portraits of the riders in the racecard, and their inaccuracy. Anyone glancing through today's offerings might think: a) someone should buy Sam Twiston-Davies a helmet that is not three sizes too big, b) Felix de Giles is cultivating a wild afro, c) if Tom Scudamore painted his face red, he would be a dead ringer for Hellboy, d) the effect of a long career on some less than perfectly skilled jumpers means that Rodi Greene's helmet has to be bolted to his skull - Boris Karloff comparisons apply and e) Jamie and Joshua Moore are identical twins. In fact, for the latter, one photograph was merely a more closely cropped version of the other, in a shoddy attempt to bluff readers. Use two pictures of Jamie Moore at least in different kit and they might have got away with it.

Going: Good to Firm

Race 1: Glazerite Windows Ltd Handicap Chase [2m 3.5f]

1: High Jack     2: Presentandcorrect     3: Rockiteer

Winner owned: M Tedham, trained: Andy Turnell, trained: Nick Scholfield

This was a much more heroic win than a course specialist (three wins from four tries before today), starting favourite and winning by 21 lengths implies, as before today High Jack had never even run on officially good to firm, and has in the past been a going-blamed non-runner. His cause was helped enormously by having half of his rivals struggling early and the other half under pressure from the saddle before the steepest bit of the climb, even though the race did not look to be run at breakneck speed. Presentandcorrect has become a bit of a tame finisher, and it was looking to be business as usual when Rockiteer thumped the last and handed back second place as a consequence.

Happy High Jack recognises a job well done, if he may say so himself

Race 2: Veka Plc Novice Hurdle [2m 3.5f]

1: Cool Touch     2: Saint Espiegle     3: Lygon Legend

Winner owned: Seamus Murphy, trained: Nigel Twiston-Davies, ridden: Paddy Brennan

The form book said that the only risk to Cool Touch was the sort of "accident in a crowd" that the old East European secret police excelled at staging, and when the six runners opted to line up at the start in single file spread over twenty lengths, even that remote possibility became less likely. He won as well as a 2/11 SP said he ought to - so easily that the result was posted on the big screen when he was still only halfway up the run-in. Saint Espeigle caught the eye in the paddock, and at least outbattled the others for minor honours, perhaps inspired by the mad captioneer's insult.

Race 3: Glazerite Windows Ltd Maiden Chase [2m 3.5f]

1: Bushwacker     2: Tuscany Star     3: Hereweareagin

Winner owned: Darren Anderson, trained: Seamus Mullins, ridden: Jimmy Derham

A good way to put the quality of this race in perspective is to look at two betting markets. 8th May, Kingston Blount, a sub-standard for the course two and a half mile open maiden - Himalayan Express is 10/1 (and unseats at the third fence). Jump to today and Himalayan Express lines up in this seven runner maiden chase. He is again 10/1. The heart warming ending to the story is that the winner, Bushwacker, looked really useful in a couple of bumpers, to the degree that it was inconceivable that he would be running in this sort of race eighteen months later, but he finally got that elusive win, as Hereweareagain ran up the white flag on the run-in, and was pipped for second by the slow but determined Tuscany Star. 

There is more enthusiasm on display a lap out than was witnessed later on in the race. Hereweareagin shows Tuscany Stat (nosedband) and Himlayan Express (4) the way. Jimmy Derham' s green cap and Bushwackers nose are just in shot, and the glimpse of red on the far side is Delgany Gunner.

Race 4: Network Veka Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Woodlark Island     2: Topflight Wildbird     3: Points Of View

Winner owned: Eminence Grise Partnership, trained: David Pipe, ridden: Tom Scudamore

Having led, then been headed turning for home, Woodlark Island showed immense resolve to deprive Topflight Wildbird of the win on the nod, with the runner-up having led a yard before and a yard after the line, but not on the exact plane of significance. The winner had scored twice off 90 early this spring, but then been well beaten twice when upped by the handicapper, so there was an element of surprise that he burst back into life, and Topflight Wildbird had rather gone off the boil for a year or so prior to this - but she did at least look very well in the paddock on this occasion. So it must have been hardcore ornithologists that picked up the £47.50 Exacta, leaving the assorted footpads of Northamptonshire to mug Bill Oddie lookalikes in the car park.

Race 5: Glazerite South West Division Handicap Chase [3m 0.5f]

1: Lucky Luk     2: River Indus     3: Alexanderthegreat

Winner owned: Mrs EA Kellar, trained: Kim Bailey, ridden: Sean Quinlan

A simple case of the race being run to suit Lucky Luk, who won this in 2009 as well. He has something a lot less than a turn of foot at the end of the race, more of a twitch of the ankle, but the field was loaded with front runners and as the early pace told, he moved smoothly through the field and surged clear rounding the home turn. After about a mile it was clear that those who took the 11/2 easily available were suddenly seeing their chance of a return much enhanced. River Indus was the last of his rivals to crack, but even he would not have got second had Alexanderthegreat not blundered badly three out, leaving his rider perilously close to tipping forward over the horse's neck. A good recovery, but it is unlikely that the mistake cost him victory.

Race 6: Maco UK Novice Hurdle [2m]

1: J'Adhere     2: Ana Buachaill Dana     3: Entertain Me

Winner owned: David Lovell, trained: Tim Vaughan, ridden: Richard Johnson

There may be a more low key way to wave the crowd off into the sunset, but it is a rare event. The clue was that Entertain Me, rated (harshly) 105 officially, was odds-on for this non-handicap. The fact that she grinded out her Towcester win over five furlongs longer and had a neck second over even further was a major negative, but which rival could take advantage of that? It was J'Adhere, whose inclination to pull very hard early on is the last thing a horse needs in it's armoury here. Of course, the oppo need to be good enough to exploit that, and they were not, although having looked likely to turn it into a cakewalk as they turned for home, J'Adhere did force his rider to push him out to be certain of victory - there did not appear to be much left in the tank. Ana Buachaill Dana had made much of the running, but refused to go away when headed, and even fought back to grab second late on.

Plus Points

Saint Espeigle (race 2): Is rated 82 as a hurdler, and has mostly run much better when on good or faster ground, as if that is a workable mark to be on. He flopped last time out, jumping badly, but it was at Southwell, over brush hurdles - suggesting if he gets his act together, that venue and Worcester are not going to be the location.

Tuscany Star (race 3): Managed two seconds from 23 tries in Ireland, and both chase runs showed little sign of hope, but today's battling effort would suggest that he can pinch a weak handicap somewhere if it can be repeated.

Points Of View (race 4): Was right on the heels of the leaders until the last, until hanging on the run-in and ending up beaten three lengths. This was his first try beyond 2m 1f, and on such a stiff course there is every chance that stamina found him out. Good to firm ground seems a big help.

Ana Buachaill Dana (race 6): His career highlight before tonight was either a 28 length ninth at Hereford, or a 71 length beating by Menorah at Warwick. The debate rages on, but his effort here eclipsed both of those, and if the handicapper resists the temptation to raise him from 79 to the low nineties, there might be a handicap to be won.

Down Arrows

Presentandcorrect (race 1): Three years winless, weak under pressure, and inherited, rather than earned, second today - but he could well be over-estimated in the betting for his next couple of runs, and enhance the price of some competitive rivals.

Borora (race 1): Has been a "six wins, plus third and sixth in the County Hurdle" degree of hero in the past, but even being well below his last winning mark on his preferred ground is not helping, and perhaps he has decided that he can now rest on his laurels somewhat.

Pistolet Dove (race 1): Can run in snatches, or travel better and hang when effort is required. Coming into this on the back of a fall was not ideal for a horse of his demeanour, and he did look a bit disinterested - and that was in his best moments!

Hereweareagain (race 3): Had the best form over fences, but it had not taken long for blinkers to be applied, and after looking the likeliest winner two from home, he gave up rapidly. A different type of headgear might suit better, but he is certainly not happy as can be.

Pinerock (race 5): Discouragingly needed urging back into position after being slowly away from most of his fences. It was his chase debut, but the off putting thing was that the jumping seemed pretty safe, it was the response to having landed that lacked zip.

Alexanderthegreat (race 5): May be deemed to have run better than the result, but he has not managed to actually win a race for three years. And of his five wins, the margins have been 6 lengths, 1.75, 0.75, 0.5 and a head, so he will give his supporters palpitations along the way if he ever does end the losing run. Is that stress worth the investment?

Lord Brunello (race 5): Did enough in British points to think he could manage something in handicap chases, but his jumping keeps letting him down, and it was the same story today.

Empire

Spider Boy (race 4): Fast ground, warm day, stressful travel, troublesome youths going to fast? Combination of them all? He was not in the mood for it today.