Fontwell 03/06/09

Going: good to firm (good in places)

Race 1: Smurf’s Low Mileage Centre Novice Handicap Hurdle [2m 4f]

1: Absolute Shambles     2: Tutor     3: Tabaran

Winner owned: Mrs CM Grant, trained: Chris Gordon, ridden: Colin Bolger

This race was unusual in that a manic front runner that was headed and under pressure a fair way out managed to rally and win even though he had half an eye on the stables exit after the last, although for Absolute Shambles benefit, the ones behind him did not perhaps achieve what the maximum that they ought to be capable of. In fairness to the winner, he was not beaten far in either bumper, and although well seen off in previous hurdles, he had at least been halfway down the field or slightly better in all of them. Tutor looked to be cruising ominously two out but failed to sweep past the winner – whilst managing to hold off the rest of the field, including Tabaran, who seemed to have had his goose cooked two out, only to run on strongly after the final flight.

Race 2: Foresters Friendly Furlong Novice Hurdle [2m 2.5f]

1: Black Jacari     2: Master At Arms     3: Duty Free

Winner owned: David Bellamy and Alan King, trained: Alan King, ridden: Robert Thornton

The oddity this time was that Black Jacari actually won a race, the previously tried headgear having been consigned to the dustbin of failure. He had been seen off six times before today, runner-up in four of them, and the first five defeats had been by a total of sixteen lengths – the accusative finger of saving his energies being pointed. Yet today he saw off three previous hurdle winners – was it the going that made a difference? Comparing the weights to official ratings Black Jacari was seventeen pounds well in with Master At Arms, so a six length success, even suggesting there was more up his sleeve, is not totally impressive, and the inclination is to rate Duty Free, deprived of second a mere inch or so from the finish, through Master At Arms – i.e. at about 105. Fourth placed Tri Nations has seen his form working out well, so failing to get involved was a sub par effort.

Black Jacari, en route to unsaddle, adopts his more customary position - tucking in behind two others, not overtaking. They are Bruff Academy and Master At Arms (2)

Race 3: T-Ware Developments Handicap Chase [2m 6f]

1: I Hear Thunder     2: Nostringsattached     3: Vial De Kerdec

Winner owned: Nick Elliott, trained: Bob  Buckler, ridden: Harry Skelton

For the second time, we had another unusually thrilling denouement, even though a bout of mutual hampering caused Dynamic Rhythm and hat trick seeking Dead Or Alive to depart at the first. The angle from the stands makes it hard to see who was to blame, so a random selector picks Monzon, because he has become a bit of a trouble maker. Vial De Kerdec led, jumping very well, and set a tough challenge for the oppo, but when Nostringsattached (nine pounds better in than when a touch unlucky to be beaten by Dead Or Alive at Plumpton, yet steadily a similar price in the betting) led two out and went four lengths up, the excitement seemed over. However, he tied up on the run-in, and as Vial De Kerdec snapped back at him, the pair were mugged in the last foot of the race by I Hear Thunder, the margins being a short head and a neck. In 43 chases (4 wins, 10 seconds) before this, I Hear  Thunder had only once tackled good to firm, and made a poor show on that occasion, so more reason to question how fast it was riding had emerged. Beehawk, set to win over course, distance and official going when he unseated at the last just over a week ago, was right on the heels of this quartet but lost a length or so in the dying strides and had to settle for being a close fourth. The last time that Lease Back wore a tongue tie was the last occasion that he won, but the equipment failed to work any magic this time around.

Race 4: Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd Selling Hurdle [2m 2.5f]

1: Joli Classical     2: Gold Gun     3: North Walk

Winner owned: Joli Racing, trained: Ron Hodges, ridden: Harry Skelton

This was an uninspiring seller, and Joli Classical won despite being another horse to consider veering off the run-in towards the stables. She was bought afterwards for 3,700gns, which seemed a lot even considering the auctioneer’s dubious assurance that she was “a very good mare.” That was a bit like selling a television that could only pick up BBC1 as being with Freeview. A rating of 86 and being 20/1 for this race – where the first six home sported some form of headgear - tells a different, and truer, tale of Joli Classical's history. Gold Gun wiggled his way through a narrowing gap at the last, then meandered gently up towards the line to be a clear second.

Joli Classical earns wild accolades but rarely, so she makes the most of this one

Race 5: Fareham Car Supermarket conditional jockey’s Handicap Hurdle [2m 6.5f]

1: Classic Quart     2: Runaround Sue     3: Star Lady     4: Miss Midnight

Winner owned: Harpers Brook Racing, trained: Richard Ford, ridden: Rhys Flint

Two laps to go (hence the pace is slow enough for a photo) and Classic Quart pokes a cheekpiece ahead of Star Lady, as Cortesia sees the writing on the wall (or at least the inside of the blinkers) already

Race 6: Megan, Tayla and Marni Ware Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m 2.5f]

1: Lady Rhinestone     2: Himitas     3: Howlin At The Moon

Winner owned: S & S Hubbard Rodwell, trained: Nicky Henderson, ridden: Tony McCoy

This was a fairly ordinary bumper, and the smallest field of the day. After a couple of minor let downs, Lady Rhinestone opened her account in laboured fashion, from Himitas, who seemed to have come on for her recent debut. Given that his trainer, Bob Buckler, does not win bumpers (a law or old charter, or something), Howlin At The Moon’s first look at a track was executed with credit

Race 7: Happy 50^th Birthday Ian Gibbens Handicap Chase [2m 2f]

1: Majy D’Auteuil     2: Glengarra     3: Caliban

Winner owned: Mrs Gloria Jessop, trained: AE Jessop, ridden: Wayne Hutchinson

Despite the race not being over loaded with front runners, it was run at a decent clip, as Glengarra and Caliban found The Tailor Carey keen to join in the fun. In the second half of the race, Glengarra put the pressure on with some aggressive jumping, and although it gained him ground, it did not scare off the oppo, not even Caliban. However, when Majy D’Auteuil went to the front two from home, he was soon clear – and Timmy Murphy did seem to accept second place very quickly – and had the race in the bag. This was the second ever success for the winner, and his recent good runs had come in some awful, awful races which made his position as favourite dubious. But by why of no contrast at all, Glengarra’s recent win was only a seller and Caliban’s best form was deep in the realms of history.

Plus Points

Absolute Shambles (race 1): Delivered in his seventh ever race and may repeat when allowed to dominate at a similar level.

Bruff Academy (race 2): Had two handlers, and ran very freely at the head of the field, both bad omens. However, he finished up far, far closer than in his earlier races and there is something to work with if he chooses to get his brain in gear.

Beehawk (race 3): Acquitted himself well in his last two runs, having not won for two years.

Caliban (race 7): It was not a great event, but he showed a bit more sign of life than for a while, and might step up again.

Alecia (race 7): Had failed to complete an obstacle successfully in her last two, one chase and one hurdle. Although last, and being smallish, never totally convincing at her fences, she did get round. From small acorns?

Down Arrows

Copper Sound (race 1): Was favourite after annihilating the oppo in his previous race, but both of his career wins have come at Hexham, and the best spin to put on the defeat is that it came too soon or that a very stamina sapping course is essential.

Dichoh (race 2): Rated 80 on the flat, his stamina was a question mark for this, but as he drew stumps with almost a mile to go, there was more to the failure than that simple element

Orfeo Conti (race 3): Had been stuffed in his last two, was unproven on a sharp track and was upped in trip. For a long way it seemed that the unknowns were no problem, but after a slow jump four out, he got tailed off very quickly.

Monzon (race 3): At least jumped off, and did finish ahead of Orfeo Conti, only the second horse he has beaten in his last eight appearances, which includes two refusals to start. Redemption is a long way off, it appears.

Gold Gun (race 4): Completed his hat trick of second places - and on a day when his rider had no less than four of them, it was inevitable

Glengarra (race 7): Until winning two of his last three, he seemed to have written off triumph as been there, done that, ate the t-shirt, and perhaps normal service has now been resumed.

Crystal Prince (race 7): Was up with the best of the field over hurdles, but was carrying 10 stone 6 pounds today because chasing seems to have him completely bemused. There were no signs of the penny dropping.

UK-Jumping Selections

Path To Glory (race 1): Won the best turned out award, but things went downhill from there. The thoroughfare after which he is named remains marked on the map, but when in the geographical location, the access is hidden by brambles and hawthorn. Perhaps a drop back in trip is the key to unlock the gate.