Plumpton 17/10/11

One of the preferred idioms of racing is that every dog can have his day. Well there were plenty trying to exploit the shortage of runners in that manner. One succeeded (Lombok), one blew it badly (Mzuri Bay), one perhaps suggested that the suspected canine genes were down to physical issues rather than mental ones (Jacko's Boy) and another did his best to avoid success, but could not (My Condor). The rest found ways to slink off into the shadows of their traditional failures.

Going: Good to Firm (officially Good places for the first two races - as if)

Race 1: Totepool Maiden Hurdle [2m]

1: New Code     2: Flemensgael     3: Goodison Park

Winner owned: Mrs Elizabeth Kiernan, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Jamie Moore

This six runner race was a considerably easier race than the two New Code had contested honourably this autumn, and had he found a way to lose it, then the time had arrived to take him aside and deliver a very stern lecture. He did win, as already listed, but he was not as devastatingly dominant as might have been hoped, with two pesky rivals keeping tabs on him until after the second last. He walks the tricky line, for now, of having the stamina of a two miler, but the pace of a horse who would suit longer races. After Negotiation had refused to race - in a rather ragged start - the remaining quartet ran an odd set of races. Erewhon, back with Philip Hobbs (who had failed to generate any signs of ability in bumpers) after a winning-but-generally-shoddy pointing spell, made the running, only to fade to fourth in the home straight. King's Colour, who was decent at best on the flat but in woeful recent form, made a good stab of challenging the winner, but also dropped out a bit sharply. These events allowed Flemensgael (not obviously 100% off, but achieving the best possible placing) to stay on for second just in front of Goodison Park, who has shown no great sign of ability in either discipline, and had to work a lot harder than the horse that pipped him for second.

New Code does not look especially impressed with the glory he has earned.

Race 2: Betfair Funds The Moorcroft Horsebox Novice Handicap Chase  [2m 4f]

1: Jacko's Boy     2: Fongoli

Winner owned: North Park Farm Racing, trained: Martin Keighley, ridden: Daniel Hiskett

A fairly desperate three runner race, which was rendered a no contest by two-thirds of the field failing to contribute. Raspbary (not performing as well as she is named) made many mistakes, and eventually pulled up lame after fence ten. Fongoli, who had done some things that made her appealing for this, was in no mood to get involved, and was ridden along continuously from the second fence. This meant that all Jacko's Boy had to do in order to win was maintain a solid round of jumping, which he did, although standing away from the hubbub of the stands did allow him to be heard making the sort of noises that implied his breathing was not as good as would normally be needed.

Race 3: SIS Live Novice Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Lombok     2: Brunton Blue     3: Hawk Gold

Winner owned: Pink Punters & Partners, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Jamie Moore

As much as the first leg of the Moore double was a formality, this was a minor surprise. The SP of 7/2 says not, but Lombok has been a very dodgy customer, and only an inspired con trick from Jamie Moore fooled him into winning this. Anyone who backed Brunton Blue is owed a pint by the winning jockey, as on nearly any other day, he would have delivered. Recent solid handicap runs are a better guide to his standards than some futile novice hurdle showings. Hawk Gold was right on Brunton Blue's heels (until the last 100 metres), but this made it 28 flat and jumps runs without a win, and he has had similar near misses in the past without being able to build upon them. Recent winner Highland River was fourth, which was not a bad show considering that he has only recently returned from a long absence, and this was his fourth run in two weeks, which seems a little bit too manic under the circumstances. For a long while, Ajool was shaping as if she would play a part in the finish, but she flattened the second last hurdle, and it disrupted her sufficiently to drop out of the places. Afterthought: Having given every other runner on the day a mention, Munich (5th), Apache Dawn (6th) and Mulaazem (7th) completed the card. Munich could be winning races like this, but is a law unto himself. Apache Dawn also could win this, and has a much longer record of defeat than Munich. Mulaazem used to be better than this race as well, but has become rather sulky. So the positions they were in were entirely predictable, it was just the order that needed to be decided.

Race 4: Simon Gibson Handicap Chase [3m 2f]

1: Runshan     2: Dusty Dane     3: Justabout

Winner owned: Terry & Sarah Amos, trained: David Bridgwater, ridden: Tom Scudamore

Justabout and Or Sing About had dominated the finish of an epic and eventful race at the last meeting here, and Justabout, unlucky in defeat then, had conjured another of his implausibly narrow victories since, at Exeter. They were put in their place here, as sensibly handicapped Runshan made all and had both of them ridden and struggling a long way out. A touch surprisingly, Dusty Dane stayed in contention to worry the leader for quite a long way, which was a massive improvement on some dismal efforts since returning from suspected injury. Runshan has only won on easier ground than this, but had enough good efforts on fast to make this success no shock.

Runshan enjoys a moment of quiet satisfaction

Race 5: Retirement Villages Handicap Hurdle [3m 1.5f]

1: Only Witness     2: Mzuri Bay     3: Big Talk

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

On a day when incident abounded, this race was probably the most volatile on the card. Only Witness was the winner, despite departing the back straight in a forlornly distant fifth, and also being ridden along at the time. The rally was due a little to a brave effort, with the balance made up of the the fact that it was the downhill back straight which seemed to befuddle him, and he was inspired by leaving it behind. Mzuri Bay was narrowly getting the worst of the battle for first, when the leader fell at the last. He was handed a golden chance to double his career tally, but instantly idled and let Only Witness close the gap in the blink of an eye. Big Talk was dropping away after a surprisingly game show when the faller left him with a slot in the first three to show for his troubles. This was helped by a lifeless show from Painted Sky, who had won three of his last four. That looked ancient history on what was seen today, even though it only happened two weeks ago. The last flight faller, and for all the world looking about to break his duck, was Inner Steel. He has struggled to find that little bit of zip at the business end, and two consecutive falls will not have helped at all. The final runner, Top Smart, pulled up lame after stumbling descending the hill.

Race 6: D&D Construction Handicap Chase [2m 1f]

1: My Condor     2: Goring One

Winner owned: Mrs B McCain, trained: Donald McCain, ridden: Nick Slatter

Just as the meeting was beginning to peter out, fate ensured that things remained weird and wonderful. A struggling Highly Regal departed at the eighth here, and having got tailed off due to poor jumping, Youandme refused at the second last. That left two in it, and a horrendous blunder nearly dislodged Goring One's rider at the second from the finish. That should have been it, especially allowing for the fact that Goring One did not look as fit as his rivals on this return from seven months off. However, the horse remaining was My Condor, who will never consider making life easy for himself, and he also felt that Andrew Thornton's recovery from the error was deserving of reward. He did his best to give the race away, but Goring One was just not quite able to rough him up, a neck being the final margin.

Race 7: Andy Stewart Charitable FoundationSupports Moorcroft Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m 2f]

1: Mad George     2: Finnegan Paddy     3: Ballyturn Boy

Winner owned: G Hickmott, trained: Gary Brown, ridden: Josh Moore

Three runner bumper fails to keep crowd in the course - shock. However, it produced a decent finish. On the railway turn all three were under pressure, but newcomer Mad George was going the least convincingly, showing greenness taking the tight bend at pace. However he rallied gamely in the final furlong and just saw off Irish point winner Finnegan Paddy, as Ballyturn Boy faded. This was an upset of a long odds-on favourite, but the winner is by High Chaparral, out of a half-sister to Scorpion (St Leger winner), so breeding buffs may have been tempted into a productive investment, watched by a bigger crowd on the station than in the stands. 

The bumper played out against an angry October sky, framed by a seasonal blackberry bush. Ballyturn Boy leads Finnegan Paddy and Mad George

Plus Points

Flemensgael (race 1): Shaped up a bit positively on his bumper debut, but failed to repeat that next time. Considering that he did not seem to be treating this race with massive seriousness, the end result was not that bad.

King's Colour (race 1): Is a bit of a borderline stamina case for hurdles, and that seemed to be an issue here, but he did show enough in the first 1m 6f to think that a small race run at a sedate pace is not beyond his powers.

Brunton Blue (race 3): Was just a little unlucky to bump into a monkey who found the bananas falling into place here. A small win is still perfectly viable.

Dusty Dane (race 4): Has only won 3 from 42 before this, but finally showed a bit of life, for the first time since his comeback. A replication in races of this feeble nature would make win number four a possibility, especially when reappearing after a gap of two weeks or less.

Only Witness (race 5): Had not really tried an undulating course before, and he got away with it here, rather than appreciate it. However, more success on a level track can be foreseen.

Goring One (race 6): The wrong trip, the race needed, and perhaps imperfectly quick ground, so he can move on from the ignominy of losing to My Condor and regain the progressive thread of last spring.

Down Arrows

Negotiation (race 1): Refused here, having played up in flat and hurdle racing earlier. Anyone backing him has been warned.

Jacko's Boy (race 2): Has won a couple of British points, but had struggled under rules. First impression had been a bad attitude, but today it sounded like a bad epiglottis (or whatever that thing in the throat is). Whichever is true, it will be a problem in a more competitive race.

Fongoli (race 2): On her best could have exploited the winner's flaws, but was ultra-sulky here.

Lombok (race 3): Everything went his way here. Can it again?

Mzuri Bay (race 5): Has never looked the easiest ride, but he has not thrown away gifts so dramatically in the past.

Inner Steel (race 5): Is not incapable of winning, but he has the serious setback of two falls in a row to overcome.

My Condor (race 6): In 48 earlier races he had four wins and thirteen seconds, and he did his best to add to the latter stat. Finding another race so soft will be no mean feat.

UK-Jumping Selections

Ajool (race 3): Does not have indefinite stamina, and the error two out proved critical. She may be happier on a level course with a less demanding finish.