Fontwell 02/06/10

Whether it was a special deal or not, there was a big turnout in the crowd of people in wheelchairs, causing the first ever congestion and need for a car parking attendant on the wheelchair viewing podium. The other thing to note was how much money the people on their seemed to be collecting after each race. This means we have two politically incorrect, but statistically supported, stereotypes for the new decade - wheelchair users are phenomenally good at betting and gay politicians are corrupt (Laws, Duncan, Mandelsson for a party neutral spectrum of ignominy). There may also be one developing about Israeli commando/ship interfaces, but as UK-Jumping HQ is not built to withstand a special forces assault, a diplomatic silence will be maintained, and readers are invited to insert their own slander here. 

Going: Good (Good to Firm places)

Race 1: Elizabeth Clark's 50th Birthday Celebration Novice Hurdle [2m 6.5f]

1: Pure Anticipation     2: Like A Hurricane     3: Murcar

Winner owned: Cloud Nine, trained: Tim Vaughan, ridden: Richard Johnson

A solidly entertaining start in a solid standard of race run at a solid pace over a solid distance. Absolutely no further use of the S word is promised. Murcar, winner of a ropey looking Towcester race, made most of the running and tried to vary the pace to befuddle his two main rivals. That looked to have worked turning for home, but the effort began to tell on Murcar himself. The one paced but game Like A Hurricane caught up with him and edged past, whilst hurdles debutant Pure Anticipation (struggling after a blunder four out) also rallied, but added a bit more dynamism into her overtaking process. They were well clear of the interesting import from Ireland, Leitra House. The race provided an interesting means of comparing bumper form, and the effect of hurdling. The first two home had similar bumper records, with all defeats narrow ones. Pure Anticipation lost to horses that are barely household names in their own stable, whereas Like A Hurricane was hot on the heels of successes like Hell's Bay, Weird Al, Riverside Theatre and De Ee Williams. That did not save him here as the winner had not read up enough on that history to be frightened by it.

Murcar gets clever up front. Pallaton (4) Leitra House (pale silks) and Pure Anticipation (furthest) are in two minds each whether to go with him or assume it is a trap. Like A Hurricane (red & yellow) is already gambling on trap.

Race 2: Free Racing With Oddschecker.com Wednesdays Novice Handiap Chase [2m 2f]

1: Bankstair     2: Maxwil     3: Karasakal

Winner owned: Hugh Doubtfire, trained: Nigel Twiston-Davies, ridden: Paddy Brennan

Although the outsider of three and new to fences, Bankstair had been the subject of steady support all day, as the recurring foibles of his two opponents were well known. Maxwil - acquitted himself OK in modest handicap chases twice, but has not actually managed to win since Brighton in 2007, when a two year old. Karasakal - disqualified on winning his bumper debut and so dismayed by the perceived injustice that until he encountered a dodgy five runner amateur riders' hurdle over two years later, he declined to oblige again. Also a chasing debutant today, on the back of a six month break and in first time blinkers. Bankstair dictated the race the to his convenience, and saw his two rivals off. Always going best in the last half mile, sloppy jumps in the home run meant that he did not put away the labouring Maxwil by much, and after going off the boil hurdling, some more competitive evidence is needed to see where he goes as a chaser. Of course, everyone wants a horse with Banks in his name to fail.  

Race 3: Children's Trust Tadworth sponsored by Sturt's Handicap Hurdle [2m 2.5f]

1: Papradon     2: Rosenblatt     3: What's For Tea

Winner owned & trained: Nigel Twiston-Davies, ridden: Sam Twiston-Davies

This race was run at a strong gallop, with Papradon and Majestic Bull ensuring that there was no poodling around and handing the spoils to the speed horses. This worked a treat for Papradon and disastrously for Majestic Bull. Having shrugged off his main challenger leaving the back straight, the winner had enough grit to resist Rosenblatt when that horse came alongside between the last two hurdles. In fairness, Rosenblatt had not run since June 2008 so the effort might just have caught up with him - although Papradon's only decent hurdle effort had come on heavy ground, so there were excuses available to him also, should he have been turned over. Overall, the first three home had no real threat of winning in their history (although What's For Tea has been finishing fourth or fifth in comparable races and seems to get that little bit nearer the winner each time), and Risk Challenge, the favourite back in fourth, had won a seller from a mark of 67 a week ago, which adds up to a medicore race secured on merit by horses that just could not quite believe the opportunity upon which they had stumbled, unless they had pored over the programme book with the trainer over a late night glass of brandy and picked it out themselves.

Papradon finds that little extra to hold off a jealous Rosenblatt

Race 4: Platinum And Lace Bar Gentlemens Club Handicap Chase [2m 6f]

1: Mustangsallyrally     2: Misty Dancer     3: Moulin De La Croix

Winner owned: HB Geddes, trained: Paul Nicholls, ridden: Ryan Mahon

With the field loaded with front runners, including Morestead and Vial De Kerdec, who both see a race as a reason to go flat out for as long as possible, it was likely to be a fast and uncompromising event. Not true, as it turned out. Morestead led, and was more composed than his norm, with Vial De Kerdec settled near the back - and not entirely appreciative of the tactic. Misty Dancer led six out, and apart from a brief heading by Moulin De La Croix, looked to be in control as they came head on towards the stand over the last three obstacles. However, he is proud of his record of last having won three years ago (on the flat, a chase win is even more ancient) and he found a way to lose, the chance being snaffled by Mustangsallyrally, debuting for Paul Nicholls. He had plenty of Irish experience, but had not set the world alight in hunter chases and points for Richard Barber and might have got away with one on ground quicker than he has won on in the past.

Mutangsallyrally only has the energy to get as far as the winner's enclosure as he knows that is where the water is

Race 5: Mary Brosnan conditional jockeys' Handicap Hurdle [2m 6.5f]

1: Play A Cord     2: My Matilda     3: Arctic Ghost

Winner owned: Neil Mulholland Racing Club, trained: Neil Mulholland, ridden: Mark Quinlan

Having been the victim of a media wide slur campaign after she drew defeat from the jaws of victory at Fakenham, Play A Cord did put things right in this race, helped by first time blinkers. The drop in trip of a furlong, plus a lesser climb at the business end, were also in her favour, but the way that she drifted off to the far rail gave food for thought comparing this with Fakenham. Perhaps she wanted to hang left at Fakenham, but was tight on the running rail, with the winner holding her in. And why? Maybe she is startled by the noise from the crowd as the race comes to an uproarious conclusion. Ear plugs might be worth a try, as Play A Cord does not down tools immediately on crossing the final hurdle, something gets to her halfway to the line - if not noise, could it be a fear of red discs on wooden poles? My Matilda has been in good form since joining her current yard, and did nothing wrong in defeat other than make hard work of closing down the leaders when apparently travelling a bit better. In her two wins she has got on the heels of the front runners a fair bit sooner, whereas today she just about wore down some rivals that had been under pressure for a long way.

A poor picture due to inconvenient position of the sun, but it shows how the pack, annoyed at the keen pace being set up front, vent their spleens on the equipment. My Matilda (7) has been innocent, but Eddystone (12) and Send for Tim (14) could be a little more considerate

Race 6: Sporting Appointments Novice Handicap Chase [3m 2.5f]

1: Local Present     2: Oamaru Stone     3: Turbulance

Winner owned: Miss R Dobson, P Hart, R Hodges, trained: Ron Hodges, ridden: Tony McCoy

At this time of year a small field novice handicap chase is usually a guaranteed exercise in groundsman-irritating, fence-damaging, few-finisher mayhem, except at Ffos Las, where they run them on the flat. Instead, we had this, where there plenty of other issues, such as ground, track layout, cruising speed etc to quibble over, but four of the quintet had at least shown their fencing skills to be solid (D'oh!). That was mostly true again today, perhaps one or two forgivable errors crept in late in the race, with the exception, Lord Brunello, being his usual bull in china shop self. With the race having unfolded that way, it was surprising that Local Present won. A half length second last time did cause him to be favourite, but since winning a firm ground bumper at Kilbeggan he was 0/19 and had failed easier exams than the one set here and it was beginning to look as if he would only ever put that right if the oppo gave the race over to him on a plate - exactly the opposite of what happened here. The only thing new to him today was having Tony McCoy ride, and although there was some idling on the run-in when the race was in the bag, it was hardly a vintage example of McCoy willpower overcoming utter lack of equine cooperation. Oamaru Stone and Ethiopia (fourth) had fought out a dour Plumpton struggle on their joint chase debut and Oamaru got his revenge in a small way, despite again being a bit slow to react when Local Present went on and injected some extra pace into the race. They both shape as if no race can be too long for them.

Race 7: Brendan Powell Racing Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m 2.5f]

1: Midnight Macarena     2: Billy Merriott     3: Junior Jack

Winner owned: JJW Wadham, trained: Lucy Wadham, ridden: Leighton Aspell

Nothing about the timing, ground, previous form shown said that there was any reason to get carried away with this race, but watching the horses in the paddock resulted in a few ticked off as worth keeping an eye on, including Junior Jack, who attracted steady market support, plus Catch The Rascal and Miltara, neither of whom was as popular nor fared as well (outpaced and not asked for much effort, respectively). Junior Jack, who came from a British pointing background, where he fell in his only race, saw off most of the opposition, but was not quite able to match Midnight Macarena or Billy Merriott. Midnight Macarena had been difficult to settle when beaten on her debut, a trait she reversed this time, calming down but then proving a touch green still when asked to put the race to bed once she had swept into the lead off of the final bend. Billy Merriott had never seen a course before, not even the most agricultural of points, but bore that experience disadvantage quite well. A decent start and unless he is a naturally portly gent, he did not look as totally racefit as the typical Paul Nicholls newcomer. During the day, E Street Boy had been attracting market support, with the sponsor training him, and the champion jockey on board. He also performed OK given a lack of any earlier racing under his belt, and the money may not have been wildly optimistic, just lost to a better standard of opponent than would have been typical for the course in summer. Time will tell if E Street Boy is the wild or the innocent.

"I am the champion, I am the champion, no time for losers, 'cos I am the champion" warbles an out of tune Midnight Macarena, revelling in success whilst Leighton Aspell regrets the declining standard of post-win celebrations.

Plus Points

Pure Anticipation (race 1): Will not be any exciting prices due to be trained by Tim Vaughan, but the way she rallied from being in trouble three out and then picked up after not being foot perfect at the last showed a likeable attitude and the errors can be eliminated with experience.

Leitra House (race 1): Tried to leap up and headbutt a passing plane at the first, but gradually got less excited by the hurdles. He won the last of only four Irish points, and looks the type to come into his own as a chaser, possibly via staying handicap hurdles.

Rosenblatt (race 3): Even though the form looks very dodgy, and he may need some time to recover, this did appear to be a much improved effort from Rosenblatt. In the past, the only time he had finished in the first ten over hurdles was on his debut, when only nine ran, but let us charitably give him another chance.

Majestic Bull (race 3): A strapping great horse, he had mostly been mediocre as a hurdler, with one or two moments of promise, such as his run before today. For a horse of his size to have run as a two year old seems to have been a touch optimistic and with a bit more time he could yet cut the mustard as a jumper.

Moulin De La Croix (race 4): Gained her only win at two miles, and did not quite get the 2m 6f here. Drop back to two and a half miles and she should be seriously in the shake-up, as her jumping (apart from one anomaly) has been fairly reliable.

River Indus (race 4): Has won over course and distance but needs further these days. Before this he was only six pounds above his last winning mark despite having been placed in six of his last seven runs. The handicapper is not always that forgiving of horses finishing regularly in the money, and he will probably find a way to take advantage over about half a mile further.

Ethiopia (race 6): A down arrow for today but the evidence is building that he has contempt for any other racecourse than Plumpton. 

Turbulance (race 6): Had been in the doldrums quite a while, then won a confined point at an unpronounceable Welsh meeting last time. Switching back to venues with sufficient vowels in their name (see, Welsh people, even two vowels out of eight is sufficient), he ran well until tying up quickly approaching the last. Only eight years old, he is not done for yet, although most of his best runs have been on much softer ground.

Junior Jack (race 7): A good progression from his doomed pointing run, and he looks the part.

Miltara (race 7): Had a very unstressful intro to racing, and will be better both for the run and when his yard can snap out of the prolonged quiet spell.

Down Arrows

Maxwil (race 2): Has been far less dangerous in his three chases than the bare form of 322 suggests.

Papradon (race 3): Determined ride, responsive horse. But before this he had been third three times. Once by about five lengths, and the others by 42 and 57 lengths. His average margin of defeat in the seven hurdles where he did not pull up was 64 lengths. It is hard to believe the turn around could be that massive, even considering that the five length loss was the only other time he had made the running.

Nobby Kivambo (race 3): Had been phaffing around at the back in novice hurdles, and with Tony McCoy on board for the handicap debut, it was easy to imagine improvement being witnessed, but it was pretty much the same as it ever was. A smaller field might help, but this did not prove a tough assignment and he failed it.

Misty Dancer (race 4): Venetia Williams has found a way of motivating her older rogues by reading them entries in "Down Arrows" and instilling a sense of indignation in them which produces one last confounding win, but Misty Dancer may be beyond even that salvation.

Milesian King (race 4): Had a good summer in 2009 but his jumping, which was imperfect then, seems to be getting gradually worse, and when he gets the sort of smaller field that has helped him previously, there may be no getting away with it this time.

Arctic Ghost (race 5): In his early days in the north, he looked destined for better things than  0-90 handicap hurdles, but after winning a couple of chases, the career peak arrived pretty early. Unable to win in five points this season, he made most of the running, threw in a some errors and then walked through the last when very tired. It is easy to see a series of similar prominent efforts coming, none of which is quite good enough to end in a win.

Lord Gunnerslake (race 5): Went on quite a roll in chases once joining Tim Vaughan, although starting from a mark of only 64, which equates to just about mastered a slow walk, did give plenty of assistance. This switch back to hurdles, from a rating of 86 was doomed from the off as he was in rear and struggling throughout.

Local Present (race 6): Can he be trusted to deliver again, especially if not subject to tactical advice and sports motivation from Tony McCoy?

Empire

Spider Boy (race 5): Far livelier than his last run at Towcester, he mixed it with the leaders and kept trying when the work became harder. Turning for home a place was still on the cards, but a couple of ruthless enemies ran him out of it. Retirement postponed for the time being.