Plumpton 14/11/11

Going: Good to Soft (Soft patches over hurdles)

Race 1: Cloudesley Marsham Memorial Novice Hurdle [2m]

1: Gleann Eaglas     2: Aikideau    3: Turbo Du Ranch

Winner owned: RJ Lavelle, trained: Emma Lavelle, ridden: Jack Doyle

This was a really tricky way to open the card. Aikideau’s twelve length loss in the Triumph Hurdle was the outstanding hurdle form on show, but he was 100/1 that day and would he have the pace to build on it here, or the fitness, having not raced since? Turbo Du Ranch’s bumper runs were appealing, including a 1m 5f Newbury win. His jumping was an unknown. The best of the rest was Hudibras, third in a race here last time that seemed not to have anything up to the standard of the biggest two threats today. Well the win went to none of those, with Gleann Eaglas landing the spoils. Given the yard that he is in, the expected approach was a few gentle not offs and then go mad in handicaps, but he won this easily and an SP of 11/1, suggested a modicum of confidence was behind him, but not total conviction. Certainly his bumper runs and a blunder marred hurdles debut did not pinpoint Gleann Eaglas as instant novice hurdle win material. Aikideau tried then tired but did confirm the worry that the Triumph run was an exception, not the rule. Turbo Du Ranch did well enough against Aikideau and had it not been for the winner, would have made an instantly impressive hurdling debut. Hudibras ended up fourth, so for judging the merits of Gleann Eaglas' effort, it was the obvious trio that chased him home...

Glenn Eaglas shows his hand early, leading Aikideau, Vincentian, Turbo Du Ranch, Hudibras, Romeo Americo and Ophelia's Kiss

Race 2: theatlantic4.com Novice Chase [2m 4f]

1: Notus De La Tour     2: Dona     3: Megastar

Winner owned: D Bradshaw, J Dale, P Deal, J Smee, W Walsh, trained: David Pipe, ridden: Tom Scudamore

Only four were declared, and the likely outsider ducked the challenge, so three eventually lined up, but it was not a bad race as two were 140+ rated hurdlers. Notus De La Tour had so-so opposition on his chase debut, but jumped well and did it from the front at Carlisle, which is never a doddle. Megastar made one bad blunder in his first chase, and ended up last of three at Ascot. Apart from an Aintree bumper win, his history raised a doubt as to whether Plumpton was the ideal course for him. Dona had not run since being well beaten off of 134 in the Imperial Cup and was also new to fences. Connections had seemed to prefer running him right-handed over hurdles, so in his first chase he had to prove that there was no reason to fuss over him so. The race was won without stress by Notus De La Tour, who adopted an efficient but not eye-catching approach to jumping. Megastar made a bad error at the sixth and did not jump with conviction afterwards, allowing Dona to grab a safe second without being asked for tremendous effort.  

Notus De La Tour edges Megastar (4) and Dona, before the race gets going in earnest

Race 3: Cenkos Guernsey Supports Spinal Research Novice Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Flemi Two Toes     2: Five Rivers     3: Bathwick Brave

Winner owned: P Chapman, trained: Sarah Humphrey, ridden: Charlie Huxley

Another novice hurdle with plenty of unknowns, but Five Rivers had been running well in bumpers and hurdles and looked to have found a winnable chance here. Bathwick Brave and Flemi Two Toes were making their first move into hurdles, having been competitive in bumpers, but Final Cast had been shaping like she may be the least talented horse in Nicky Henderson’s yard (which is not making her useless, but the trainer’s name will lead to her being underpriced). The final contender was Ransson, who is not one of the Alan King elite, but has shown some life so far. The race was won easily by Flemi Two Toes, who improved on his bumper efforts. Having been trained by Rebecca Curtis, he would have been placed in those bumpers to maximise his resale value, so the inability to have won any of them was a negative indicator that he was able to overcome. Five Rivers was not good enough to handle Flemi Two Toes, but dealt with the rest enthusiastically enough.

Race 4: Cenkos Fund Managers Atlantic4 Handicap Chase [2m 4f]

1: Prince De Seuil     3: Flaming Gorge     3: Penny Max

Winner owned: Mrs Peter Prowting, trained: Alan King, ridden: Robert Thornton

Throwing in Penny Max as top weight for his chase debut was a brave move, as there were some proven performers receiving a pound or two from him. Flaming Gorge, having his first race for Paul Nicholls, Double The Trouble (better right-handed, but can win this way round) and Foxesbow (inconsistent, but up a lot in the weights after a good year). And Pocket Aces could be added to that list, other than he has a bad record first time out and was in sufficiently horrible form last season to overlook a handicap mark that has dropped 27 pounds. At least until he has shown a sign of exploiting it. A very generous morning price of 8/1 on Double The Trouble was wasted when he was a non-runner, and there was a simultaneous plunge on Penny Max. In the end, all of the interesting ones were trumped by Prince Du Seuil, who simply went about his job in an efficient manner after being taken by surprise by the first fence. When he tried chasing in 2008, efficiency was one thing that proved totally beyond him. If this is not a one-off, he is well handicapped as a chaser. Moving from Nick Williams to Paul Nicholls did no more than allow Flaming Gorge to run his most common race – competitive but lacking a decisive spark.

Race 5: Spinal Research Albert Davison Conspiracy Handicap Hurdle [2m 2f]

1: Master Milan     2: Watergate     3: Just Beware

Winner owned: JP McManus, trained: Jonjo O’Neill, ridden: Richie McLernon

Yes, it was a conspiracy, but one to make it a selection-free race. We had horses returning from a holiday with no history of going well first time out, ones on the wrong ground, or wrong distance, or even in the wrong discipline. But not one that could say “this is the time and the place.” So for those who like a good guessing game, it was the perfect race. Master Milan had been woeful in novice hurdles last season, and last of six on his handicap debut. This involved a sudden improvement that is not unknown for the yard, and the official explanation was at least something realistic - that he physically progressed during a summer off. A few months back he was about as threatening as a dozing penguin, but now that he is free to work his best more progress can be made. Watergate tried to make all the running, but since he gained his Folkestone win, a raised handicap mark has seen his form flatten out, and this was more in that vein. The first two were in command from a long way out, and Just Beware battled her way to being best of the rest, in a mighty scrap with Little Roxy and Owner Occupier.

Race 6: Sir Jim Novice Handicap Chase [3m 2f]

1: Shernaz      2: El Diego

Winner owned: Paul Heneghan, trained: Jim Dreaper, ridden: Richie McGrath

Another novice chasers’ race, this time for a small but not very select field. Irish visitor Shernaz had to be taken seriously on his recent form, but he had in the past been iffy, including a failure to start on one instance. None of the others convinced that this was the right place for them to gain the chase win, El Diego having an issue with the ground, Kaycee with the sharp track (not withstanding his second here on chase debut, as lack of acceleration cost him), and Catch The Rascal was stepping up a mile in race distance. The way it panned out was as everyone would have said was most likely. Shernaz made all the running, and slipped comfortably into a safe advantage after the third last. He was taking it easy coming to the final fence, where Kaycee was asked for a big one to try and take that small chance of worrying him out of hit. Instead, Kaycee cleared the fence but forgot about landing and hit the deck. El Diego inherited second as a result, although in his defence, he was rallying strongly after being badly outpaced in the last half mile.

Race 7: Mandeville Paralympics Mascot Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m 2f]

1: Wings Of Icarus     2: Cinevator     3: Sutton Storm

Winner owned: Shirl & The Girls, trained: David Pipe, ridden: Timmy Murphy

Not much interesting form to go on, just a couple of Irish point wins, so the interest was in looking at newcomers fielded by Paul Nicholls and Anthony Honeyball, as both have better than 25% win rates in these races. George Baker and Noel Chance, neither of whom are unfamiliar with winning bumpers, also put in debutants, so it did seem that the there was a good chance of this being a better bumper than normally offered at Plumpton. As it happened the pointing form was what mattered most, with Irish winner (in a dead heat) Wings Of Icarus proving too good for Worcester fourth Cinevator. There was a stewards enquiry as the winner ran very green and wandered about in the last few hundred metres, but it would have been an outrage had he lost the race and the result (unaltered) came through fairly quickly. After being tailed off and then pulled up in British open maidens, Sutton Storm somehow excelled himself to compete in this, and finished well clear of the majority of the field. After an long absence from racing, one of the runners in this was trained by Charlie Brooks. The question we have to ask is whether someone used to socialising in the higher echelons of News International has the integrity and measure of a fit and proper person enough to hold a licence. The answer is almost certainly no. But when such things are happening such as the Nicholls inmate not looking fit enough to excel at a modest level, we are not operating here in the normal realms of reality.

Plus Points

Hudibras (race 1): Did not live with the first trio home, but again showed there are races to be won when a sensible handicap mark is available.

Romeo Americo (race 1): Found inexperience a complete roadblock in two bumpers. A blunder at the first was, under the circumstances, not a great surprise, and he took a while to get his equilibrium back, ending up fifth. Again, the impression left was that the talent is present when the brain catches up.

Dona (race 2): Won his hurdles on right-handed, level tracks, so Plumpton was likely to be a challenging place to debut over fences. He could not cope with Notus De La Tour, but was not asked to bottom himself in vain, and actually looked a safe enough jumper. Take note of his appearance in easier races.

Flemi Two Toes (race 3): Improved by his new yard and for a hurdles debut, the manner of his win was impressive, and is not to underestimated in whatever race he washes up in next.

Five Rivers (race 3): Is failing to convert ability into results so far and gives the impression of being the type that will need fences to put that right.

Bathwick Brave (race 3): Beaten by two fair horses, he was bit tapped for toe on occasions. Using the evidence from his bumpers, better is likely on soft or heavy ground.

Fitobust (race 3): Flattened the fourth and lost his pitch badly as a result. He rallied to steal a well beaten fourth, but confirmed that there is something to work on when the skill factors are drawn into line.

Penny Max (race 4): Made minor errors at the third, tenth and twelfth but was not so bad that a small amount of wisdom accrued from the experience is not impossible, and that would be enough to think about winning.

Double The Trouble (gave race 4 a miss): Usually improves for his first run after a rest, and can be taken seriously going right-handed on decent ground, in a field of no more than seven.

Pocket Aces (race 4): Readers with long memories will recall UK-Jumping always being enthused about him, and his chase rating peaked at 138. A dismal twelve months has seen him plunge down the handicap, but he showed enough verve today to believe that the edge can be utilised soon. Sharp tracks and mud suit.

olanderi (race 5): Had his moments from lower ratings, but the ground was all against him today, and back on good or quicker as less dismal show than today is possible.

Wings Of Icarus (race 7): Appeared to still be very naïve about racing, and whilst it never pays to get too excited about Plumpton bumper form, he does look like he can move forward from this as his understanding of racing gets better. Possibly one to be cautious of on bright, sunny days.

Down Arrows

Turbo Du Ranch (race 1): There was nothing especially wrong with this, but his yard is in good form at the moment, and the worry is whether the necessary small step forward is possible.

Notus De La Tour (race 2): Did not win often over hurdles, despite a rating over 140, and whilst he has taken well to chases, his immediate future is suspect. There seem to be a greater than average number of good hurdlers heading into chases this season and he has a real risk of being not good enough to beat them, but too good for races at the lesser tracks. Not his fault at all, but a placing nightmare.

Megastar (race 2): Finished last of three for the second chase in a row, and having replicated his Ascot error, the confidence seeped away like a brown sauce from a badly constructed bacon sandwich.

Ransson (race 3): Has been inconsistent so far, but this was one of his better opportunities and he ran one of his worst races. Probably not up to the standard expected from an Alan King novice hurdler.

Final Cast (race 3): Made the running, only to drop out alarmingly quickly after the third last. One to be suspicious of, but the expected overly short price did not materialise.

Foxesbow (race 4): Fell at the seventh, and adding that stress to an inflated handicap mark equates to a horse to be cautious about supporting in the near future.

Watergate (race 5): Nothing wrong with his attitude, but he won off of 90 and marks into three figures have been too much so far, with no reason to expect that to change.

She’s Humble (race 5): Gets her wins in chases, but often makes the frame over hurdles. Disappointingly, even that proved well beyond her in a race which ought to have been within her talents.

El Diego (race 6): Is not doing anything obviously daft in chases, but finds a way to make them seem like impossibly hard work.