Wincanton 23/10/11

After watching the Rugby World Cup final, it was an easy scurry from eastern Surrey to eastern Somerset for the latest installment of "can we get decent races without the rain." The answer today was "sometimes." The three handicaps were all competitive enough and the longer distance novice hurdle could turn out to be OK-ish, but the two races on the end of the card had a strong aroma of dud. But it was a day out in the fresh air, and the results were never at the whim of a South African referee... In fact, it was quite an enjoyable afternoon until learning that the Placepot for which 5 of the 6 legs had been landed paid over £4,800. That can rather put a dampener on an afternoon.

Race 1: Wincanton Golf Course Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Dragon's Den     2: James Pollard     3: Penchesco

Winner owned: G Waterman, trained: Chris Down, ridden: Andrew Glassonbury

A major upset opened the card, with Dragon's Den suddenly realising what is expected of a racehorse, and delivered for he first time, under an ultra-patient and cool ride, watching the manic pace up front from a safe distance. Turning for home it did look as if he was going to be a fair bit superior, but the placed horses battled on with a degree of tenacity, and the final margin was about three lengths. In their last races, which was all in the same event, the order had been 1st - James Pollard, 2nd - Penchesco, 7th - Dragon's Den, so all of a sudden it looks like a race to keep a close form eye on. A very close eye. Rounding the final turn, that cosy 1-2-3 seemed likely to be upset by Rock Of Deauville, but he seems lacking the stamina even for an easy course like this.

A lap to go and everyone still has a chance. Bathwick Man in front, January next. Fontano (grey), Rock Of Deauville and something hidden are the next rank. Behind them it is James Pollard and Boogie Dancer (9). That will be Dragon's Den at the back, watched by a ghostly entity that did not read the report properly

Race 2: FJ Chalke Desert Orchid Handicap Chase [3m 3.5f]

1: Gone To Lunch     2: Intac     3: Cullahill

Winner owned: GT Lever, trained: Jeremy Scott, ridden: Nick Scholfield

A nice competitive race for the big event, with the betting at one point showing the favourite at 5/1, and it also turned up a nice sentimental result, as Gone To Lunch gained his first rules win since 2008 and first ever in a handicap. Those that followed him through thick and thin in earlier seasons will probably be less dewy-eyed at the result, as they will have long since bankrupted their wallets and hearts in doing so. With three regular front-runners, and three more that will do it somethimes, the pace was certain to be intense, and the race probably would set up fair for a patiently ridden horse. Enter Gone To Lunch. He was toddling along the sweetest from a long way out and was helped today by the main challenger being Intac, who seemed an unlikely stayer, and was at the end of his tether by the last fence. Behind, Cullahill and Gullible Gordon were in a ding-dong battle for the minor spot, which was just nicked on the line by the former, who had led into the home straight, been swamped by the other three, and then rallied very late. Gullible Gordon made his traditional horrendous blunder, but did so far enough out to allow a recovery. The rest were tailed off, and from a long way out as well.

Race 3: Friends Of Wincanton Community Hospital Novice Hurdle [2m 6f]

1: Blues And Twos     2: Briefcase     3: Malibu Sun

Winner owned: TDJ Snyder & N Mustoe, trained: Emma Lavelle, ridden: Jack Doyle

Only six lined up here, but it produced a decent finish, having shoved aside the two outsiders. Descending the home straight, the four involved seemed to be in competition for who was struggling to cope the most, but Blues And Twos relished a clear run up the inside and gradually exerted his dominance on the others. Briefcase, who is becoming an habitually placed horse, did sort of battle on, but in a fairly slow and uninspiring manner. Behind them Malibu Sun, rated the same as Briefcase but conceding weight due to his Towcester win, had been under pressure for a long way, and although responsive to the rider's efforts, he never suggested that he had the wherewithal to catch the first two. The well-supported favourite was Mendip Express (is that a sarcastic idiom for a laid back part of the world?). He won a 2m 4f point-to-point, on a stiff course, but it is rarely a good sign when Paul Nicholls starts a horse over hurdles at this sort of distance. Having restricted himself to one bad error early in the race, he stumbled through the last in a tired fashion and fell, but was not due to make the first two at the time.

A finish slow enough that even UK-Jumping gets a blur-free picture. Twos And Blues outlasts Briefcase.

Race 4: St Margarets Hospice Handicap Hurdle [2m 6f]

1: My Brother Sylvest     2: Heir To Be     3: Orion Express

Winner owned: M Owen & M Williams, trained: David Pipe, ridden: Conor O'Farrell

There was one question to be answered here, which was whether My Brother Sylvest had snapped out of the funk of despair that had been enveloping him by winning last week, or was it a case of two opponents not handling firm ground and making it an irrelevance? The former it transpired, as he could have walked all the way to Italy, and back, and still had enough in hand to win this. As for salvaging the Lusitania, it may have caused an issue when it was time to weigh in. A couple of sturdy old veterans that had gained their latest wins over course and distance filled the places. Orion Express was in a scrap with Wise Hawk for second, and they got so engrossed in face-to-face combat, Heir To Be was able to charge up the inner and deprive them both. The imagined concept of them recriminating with each other about it all the way back to the stables is worth sustaining, even without any factual basis.

Race 5: Have Your Christmas Party Here Novice Handicap Chase [3m 1.5f]

1: Graduation Night     2: Cloran Jack     3: Fongoli

Winner owned: Martin Broughton Racing Partners, trained: Jamie Snowden, ridden: Tom O'Brien

Wow - what a non-event of a race. Graduation Night just kept popping away and at no stage was is potential lack of fitness in threat of exposure. Cloran Jack and Simply Strong got in a contest of tit-for-tat blundering that just forced them further and further behind, and after teasing for three fences that she may give it a proper go today, Fongoli was back to normal. All that we can take from it is that Graduation Night seems to be able to jump solidly, but even that still needs proving in a more ferocious environment.

Race 6: Paul Nicholls Racing Novice Hurdle [2m]

1: Adrenalin Flight     2: Freckle Face     3: Koralsdarling

Winner owned: Mark Adams, trained: Seamus Mullins, ridden: Andrew Thornton

After race five, we had another four runner affair to close, but a more fascinating one, because they were clearly closely matched in their inherent ordinariness and tactics were likely to be more important than mere ability. Adrenalin Flight - won a two and a half miler at Fontwell, that worked out to be a much lesser race than it looked at the time, would he handle the speed emphasis here? Blue Blooded - an underachiever at the Swinbank Prep School for Bumper Horses, he has moved to a stable that came into this badly out of form. Freckle Face - a couple of good shows at Fontwell, then a sharp regression, would he progress for the run last time? Koralsdarling - no show in bumpers, definite promise in a much better race on his hurdles debut, but not necessarily for two miles. In the end, Adrenalin Flight just worried Freckle Face out of it, but he did struggle with the shorter distance. Koralsdarling was not too far back, he just did not have any pace to offer at the business end of a slowly run race, and was eased on the run-in when the game was up. Blue Blooded's jumping was abysmal, so he got tailed off.

Plus Points

Dragon's Den (race 1): His future is at the mercy of the handicapper, but now the penny has dropped, he could improve as much as he is raised. And more.

James Pollard (race 1): Is edging up the weights with only one hurdle win to show for it, but he looks the sort to make a chaser.

Cullahill (race 2): Another a bit high in the weights, but on a galloping track he will usually give supporters a fair run for their money.

Blues And Twos (race 3): Injured himself in his bumper run last year, and did look like there was still some fitness improvement to come for the race here. After the win, his trainer said that she was inclined to switch to fences sooner rather than later, and he has the size to do the job, if the skill is there.

One And All (race 4): Lost his way chasing, and showed no improvement on his return to hurdles last time. With blinkers on for the first time here, he was a lot happier, and set for a big run, until weakening sharply at the end of the back straight. There was enough positive vibe emanating to not give up on the recovery mission, but it may need a bit more time.

Freckle Face (race 6): Already got himself handicapped over hurdles and if the ground stays unseasonally quick, he could find a winnable small race from the rating of 100.

Koralsdarling (race 6): Another race of promise, he will need handicaps, as races as dicey as this one, with a small field and cat'n'mouse tactics, are not ten-a-penny

Down Arrows

Rock Of Deauville (race 1): Failed to cope with arguably the easiest two miles in the country, and if that is a true indicator, opportunities are going to be very sparse.

Frosted Grape (race 2): Has always had days of complete disinterest, but lately they have been almost guaranteed, rather than old occasional surprise.

Briefcase (race 3): In four runs for his current yard, he has a third and a trio of seconds, and has appeared just a touch short of the determination needed to complete the job.

Mendip Express (race 3): Attracted the money in the ring, but looked nothing special at all in the course of the race.

Wise Hawk (race 4): Has had his moments here and there, all at two miles. Various bits of headgear have been tried and ditched, with none in use today. The overall impression is that his motivation is to confound his owner and trainer.

Tribal Dance (race 4): Showed a bit of talent in bumpers, and three novice hurdles saw him lose tolerably, running to a mark in the low 90s each time. Off 98 here for his debut in a handicap, that should not have been intolerable, but he was outpaced early on. Unless he needed the run far more than it looked, this was disappointing.

Cloran Jack (race 5): Needs to make a massive improvement in his jumping if he is going to make his mark under rules.

Simply Strong (race 5): There was a serious possibility that the course would not be to his liking, but the series of jumping errors seemed not to be connected with that.

Fongoli (race 5): If she had any love for racing, it has gone.