Huntingdon 19/11/11

Of course, this was a fun meeting, but whatever may have happened here (even if far more extraordinary than actual events proved) was upstaged by the greatness of Kauto Star. Maybe Kauto should be offered a job at the course, ensuring that the station bus does not get there just as the train is leaving - nobody at the track at present seems to be able to manage it, so perhaps it requires a genius of the Kauto grade.

Going: Good

Race 1: toteplacepot Juvenile Hurdle [2m 0.5f]

1: Unex Picasso     2: Rasam Aldaar     3: Refusal

Winner owned: Mrs AJ Forde & D Nicholls, trained: Ian Williams, ridden: Harry Skelton

This was a rather mediocre juvenile hurdle, and the betting went barmy as a badger for newcomer Louxor Des Mottes, a 1m 6f winner at a very obscure French provincial track, but well beaten in his other two runs, both in 2010. He was very confidently ridden, but when push came to shove, he found nothing at all and ended up fourth. Unex Picasso, in his fourth hurdle race, finally delivered. He again looked splendidly well in the preliminaries, but even when third at Aintree, he had not really looked a winner in waiting. Rasam Aldaar had also had three races, improving in the latest when a tongue tie was added. The progress was sustained today, but the form is not that valuable, confirmed by the proximity of third placed Refusal, who had given even less reason for hope than the two in front of him.

Unex Picasso (left) surprises himself as he forces his way to a length win, at the expense of Rasam Aldaar (blue & red silks). Even more amazed is Refusal, who goes into hiding whilst digesting the implications. Louxor Des Mottes trundles in fourth.

Race 2: toteexacta Novice Chase [2m 4.5f]

1: Supreme De Paille     2: Kauto The Roc     3: Flichity

Winner owned: Terry Evans, trained: Fergal O'Brien, ridden: Paddy Brennan  

Only four lined up here, and the main trio all have shown their ability, not always reliably, and none seemed a star in the making. After hurdling wins on heavy and good to firm had given cause for hope, Supreme De Paille had given reason to foresee better things in chases, only to disappoint on his debut. With the run under his belt, he progressed a great deal, and his only mistake came at the last. He quickly recovered and ran on very strongly to seal the race. The form can be queried, as Kauto The Roc had been hard ridden from over on the far side of the track, so had predictably little up his sleeve on the run-in (even on a good day to be a Kauto), and Schumpter's Lad went from the lead three out to well beaten quite quickly, eventually pulling up.

Race 3: totequadpot EBF mares’ Novice Hurdle [2m 4.5f]

1: Golden Gael     2: Night Rose     3: Gioiello

Winner owned: The Wild Bunch, trained: Jeremy Scott, ridden: Nick Scholfield  

There were three in this that stood out above the rest, which is about par for a race that usually attracts a handful of decent mares but not great depth. One became a non-runner and all of a sudden it was looking uncompetitive. With her Chepstow win endorsed earlier in the week, the market was strong on Golden Gael, and she obliged without being too harassed, only a blunder two out threatening to derail a win that was easier than the four length margin. Night Rose was second favourite - some boards were betting 1/3, 3/1 on the pair. She was nothing special in bumpers but has worked out an improved performer in hurdles, if not a star in the making. Having been second in a 2m 4f British point and fourth in a bumper, Gioiello was the one that seemed to catch the attention of each-way speculators (20/1 widely offered, ended up 12/1) using the theory that "something must come third." She did, but a long way back in a very scattered field from which it was hard to see many positives down the field. An interesting point here. The media hype on Tom Symonds' start to training has been absurd - ATR did a feature on him when the number of winners trained was zero!! There should be money to make opposing overhyped horses and/or trainers, but the betting market does not seem to have bitten yet, and the runners are not necessarily under-priced. Does that reflect how much notice people take of television punditry?

Race 4: totetrifecta Handicap Hurdle [2m 4.5f]

1: Mr Jay Dee     2: Switched Off     3: Keep Talking

Winner owned: Ms K Austin, JJ Wadham, trained: Lucy Wadham, ridden: Matt Crawley

A game front-running success by Mr Jay Dee, a horse not proven to stay this distance, and with one attempt at it which was not encouraging about his chance of lasting under such an aggressive tactical plan. It did help that Switched Off is not a animal with great love of the overtaking concept and Keep Talking, having cruised into contention in comfort, floundered like a horse needing the run more than looked the case in the paddock. Gunslinger was also making a challenge when he fell at the second last, but his approach to passing others in hurdle races is as suspect as Switched Off. With Risaala disappointing and Kahfre his usual stubbornly unhelpful self, it seems that Mr Jay Dee had found himself in the right place at the right time. A jump up the handicap ratings is on the cards, but not a reflection of what it took to win this.

Mr Jay Dee exudes satisfaction

Race 5: totepool Handicap Chase [3m 6.5f]

1: Call At Midnight     2: Spring Moon     3: Getmeouthedoldrums

Winner owned & trained: Sarah Humphrey, ridden: Mark Mariss

A fascinating staying chase, not least because the only one proven over the trip was out of form teenager Kercabellec. It turned out to be a cracking race, with three of the six runners jumping the last in a line, and the final margins being a pair of half lengths. Despite astounding recent stable form, it was easy to fear for Call At Midnight, as her chasing career is one of having the will to succeed but suffering a permanent confusion as to how this can be achieved. Adding in a rider who had not yet won a race, at least under rules, was another concern, but in the end the ten pound weight reduction proved vital, and the extra fences required of a longer trip did not turn out to be the problem for her that was expected. Spring Moon possibly nosed ahead by a fraction on the run-in, but just got outstayed. He did have two second places over fences before this - in a three horse race and a two horse one - so even this result showed a little bit more about him. Getmeouthedoldrums was even less exposed. He was second in a very weak open maiden in Wales, and had showed his inexperience in a couple of novice hurdles, whilst getting placed. Reflecting the failings of his rivals, the betting had him a short priced favourite, but in the circumstances a narrow defeat was by no means a flop.

Race 6: toteswinger Handicap Chase [2m 4.5f]

1: Mayolynn     2: Viable     3: Kirkhammerton

Winner owned: Mr & Mrs R Scott, trained: Caroline Bailey, ridden: Andrew Thornton

A tricky five runner race in which the trip was only certain to suit one of them. The win was landed by Mayolynn, making her chase debut in ruthlessly efficient fashion on ground that was very different to what she usually peaks upon. When the pace was quickening three out, she did make a bit of a meal of the fence at the end of the back straight, but for a first try it was a decent display of jumping. Which brings us to Viable, whose recent jumping has been terrible and seemed to have destroyed his morale for days when the blunders were avoided. This was a much, much better effort, almost a miraculous revival. Kirkhammerton was not certain to act on the track, but he seemed happy for most of the way. When the pace picked up with half a lap remaining, he was totally devoid of the ability to respond. For those who maintain cynicism about the ability of a horse to have a considered opinion and a sense of humour, please analyse Deputy Dog here. He might a right mess of the first, noodled round in the rear without a scare for a lap, and then succeeded in ditching his rider at that same fence. Comedy is all about timing.

Race 7: totequickpick Handicap Hurdle [3m 2f]

1: Go Amwell     2: Pheidias     3: Carmela Maria

Winner owned: Robin Stevens, trained: John Jenkins, ridden: Brendan Powell

An excellently competitive race to end the day, with six of the eight runners able to be suggested as possible winners. The first trio home were among them and were all easily available at double-figure prices. Each-way hunters must have had their heads spinning in excitement and at least two instances of brain explosion occurred as a consequence. The race was started as one of the field going along in a tight bunch, waiting for someone else to take the initiative. The first horse to do that was Carrickmines, who took off with excessive enthusiasm and not necessarily jockey agreement, then predictably wore himself out with a long distance still to go. The next attack was from Pheidias, who seemed to have seized a decisive lead late in the race, but rounding the final bend it was clear that Go Amwell was eating into the margin without working too hard, and after Pheidias flopped over the second last flight in a tried manner, Go Amwell pounced, race over. It is remains to be seen whether it was the switch from visor to cheekpieces that made the difference or whether it was a performance that was on the cards with his stable in form and the opposition that lined up against him. Although the runner-up was very tired, Carmela Maria was nowhere near catching him, but she held off the in-form Iris's Flyer for a place.

Plus Points

Supreme De Paille (race 2): The enemy put up limited resistance, but the way he went about the job in hand was likeable.

Kauto The Roc (race 2): Was risking exposure by tackling an inadequate trip on his chasing debut, and so it proved. Not a fantastic performance, but watch for better at three miles.

Golden Gael (race 3): Looks like she can go on to better things.

Keep Talking (race 4): Has not yet won in a light career, but has hinted that he could - e.g. second of fifteen in a novice hurdle over this course and distance. With the run under his belt after over twelve months off, he is one to keep an eye out for. The time for chases may be near, as he has a smattering of pointing experience.

Spring Moon (race 5): Had not quite convinced in two very small field chases, but did enough here to think that there are long distance races to be won, even though just outstayed at the business end.

Getmeouthedoldrums (race 5): Almost overcame his significant inexperience, and was not helped by being on the wrong side of the three horse line for getting round the elbow on the run-in. A couple of errors hampered his cause as well, but he seems to have a staying chase future, even if making him 6/5 favourite was over-optimistic.

Mayolynn (race 6): Good first chase, especially for a mare who has only won on soft or heavy, and she one to have onside until the magic wears off, or the rating gets to high. The same thing? 

Viable (race 6): Is now three wins from twelve Huntingdon races (one or two more blundered away) and if he can replicate this livelier performance, he is realistically handicapped. The question is whether it needs this course or whether he will indulge us elsewhere.

Pheidias (race 7): Has been ruining his chase career with some diabolical attempts at jumping, and this effort showed that a return to hurdles gives him a chance to be back in the winning enclosure. 

Lady Karabaya (race 7): Took a big jump up in trip and failed to cope. Watch for better back around 2m 6f.

Down Arrows

Louxor Des Mottes (race 1): The betting plunge may have been an anomaly, provoked by the exposed limitations of his five rivals, more than huge belief in the horse himself. It was a woeful start to hurdling (admitted by his trainer in an interview, despite the crazed attempts of the racecourse announcer to spin it as an excellent effort!), and unless something happens to force a better effort - wind op? tongue tie? longer trip? - he seems one to be wary of.

Schumpters Lad (race 2): Mostly is an underachiever, and tends to go out like a light when the work gets hard. He has shown that he can hang on in a soft race, but there is a problem of either a morale or a physical nature that is making him thoroughly unreliable.

Switched Off (race 4): Could be tricked into winning sometime, as he gets close to the winner on occasions, but win avoidance is his priority.

Gunslinger (race 4): A decent flat handicapper, it is disappointing that he has not yet opened his account over jumps, and this threatening run until he fell is not something to rely too heavily upon.

Kercabellec (race 5): A long and honourable career, but his tame effort in a race that should have suited suggests that he has done enough.

Moon Melody (race 5): A well known troublemaker, but one occasionally able to be nosed ahead on the line. It was possible that 3m 6.5f and twenty-five fences would be the catalyst to keep his attention on the job in hand. Not the case at all.

Breaking Silence (race 5): Throws in the towel quite quickly most of the time, and was not interested even in the leisurely pace offered here.

Sum Laff (race 6): Showed promise in hurdles, but his big loss on chase debut could be put down to just needing the run - see Supreme De Paille earlier. He failed to follow that example, and again made the whole thing appear ever so hard work without doing anything notably wrong, eg. in the jumping department.

Carrickmines (race 7): Continually blunder-ridden chase runs meant that he is interesting if given a chance for a sustained spell back over hurdles, but the manic way he went his task here was a big negative