Introduction
Below you can find Adam’s first ’round up’ article of the new season, touching on his recent racecourse visits. Adam’s long term edge comes from his paddock analysis and here we get to peak through the window into his pro-punting world. These articles will follow every 1-2 weeks. I found it an enjoyable and informative read, and I hope you will too. You may just enjoy flicking through while drinking a morning coffee or taking a lunchtime break. However, there are numerous nuggets for you to ponder and horses to add to trackers, if you so wish. I’m confident these articles will add to our enjoyment of this jumps season and add to our understanding of the great game. There are bound to be future winners mentioned below also, and horses to avoid, which is always useful…
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Over to Adam…
Carlisle (20th Oct)
We finally got the first day’s rain in what is probably more than six months – just a shame it was on raceday, what a difference from last week’s warm sun. At least the horses declared on better going stood their ground despite it turning soft on the hurdles and good to soft on the chase course. Fair to say many didn’t handle it too well though.
I’ve been surprised at how fit and forward Stuart Coltherd has much of his string right now and he almost bagged a double on the day, Grand Voyage going down narrowly in the opener to an Emmet Mullins raider. Grand Voyage isn’t a bad type at all and has done nothing but improve from a low base, surely enjoying the extra juice in the ground. The problem with this run is that the pair came clear with So Scottish probably winning a shade cosily, but I’ve no reason to doubt that Grand Voyage has run to at least 125, so let’s see what the assessor makes of it. The winner has a nice way of using himself and could turn out to be pretty useful when strengthening up as he looked a bit disorganised at times.
Coltherd made no mistake later on when Cooper’s Cross won readily from a field that had an early season look to it – the unexposed seven year old looking really fit and well. I first saw this horse last October and he was a long way behind where he is now. He jumps and travels well and although he has won at Sedgey, I’d be inclined to think he could be better right-handed as he jumped that way on occasions last term. He was five times a non-runner so may have been suffering intermittent lameness, who knows. Unfortunately he’ll get 9-10lb for this easy win but he’s one I’ve always liked.
It wouldn’t surprise me if this works out okay – runner-up Croagh Patrick still looked on the burly side but much improved from Hexham 12 days ago… a consistent type ready to win again. Maninsane is a better looking horse than his rating suggests, and he travelled well before finishing tamely – this was his first go at the trip and it looks like he didn’t get home in the conditions. Road Warrior looked on good terms with himself and there’s a race for him back at his favourite track in a fortnight’s time.
The novice hurdle featured three rather nice types who had recorded decent figures in Irish Points, Maximilian justifying strong support to win nicely under a typically textbook Hughes ride. Quinlan, by contrast, was a bit disappointing on the strong finishing runner-up Harjo, although it could be that the horse took a blow when losing his pitch in the dip. However, he looked the fittest of the bunch and I’d expect him to win next time if he’s ever going to do so – the Longsdon horses don’t always hold their form.
I wasn’t massively taken by Get Up Mush – the Skelton novices I’ve seen thus far have been some of the weaker members of the team. I’d expect the Getaway gelding to need a bit of time to strengthen up.
Arguably the most taking performance of the day came from Fenland Tiger, who was giving Sam and Jonny England a rare first time out winner at this stage of the season. Despite looking on the burly side, this big rangy chasing type was just too well handicapped to be given a ‘sighter’ and despite travelling like a dream saw out the new trip really well. From a decent staying family, he’s quite a nice prospect and he’s likely to have any amount in hand of the assessor at present – if they go chasing sooner rather than later he’ll be even more interesting. That’s already 12 on the board for the stable as they chase down their season’s best of 19 achieved in April.
Aintree (23rd Oct)
Plenty of rain around overnight and in the morning but it looks as though they kept the ground as good to soft, good in places. As is often the case here it took some getting and although there were plenty of close finishes they were well strung out in behind. Fitness was the order of the day and those looking in need of a run or two were largely found wanting.
My initial thought after the first was that Hexham scorer Tiger Jet should be given another chance after being sent on an awful long way out, in contrast to a fortnight ago when H Brooke seemed at pains to hang on to him as long as possible. This steady gallop did the horse few favours but it still seemed an impertinent move and one that failed spectacularly. It was an odd race with countless beaten a long way out.
I don’t really do veterans races but one to take from today’s may be Le Patriote, who looked to be carrying plenty of timber on his return from an enforced absence. He popped away and travelled nicely before fading from the second last – he was no certainty to stay and he failed to get home, so bear him in mind over shorter next time.
The big race saw some really nice horses come together – paddock honours going to Do Your Job with eventual winner Riders Onthe Storm not far behind. The latter looked on good terms with himself and great in his coat – odds of 16/1 were an insult to his ability and connections had been vocal enough about his chances provided the rain got into the ground.
Soldier Of Destiny was popular but looked a bit out of place in this grade, and he’ll need his sights lowering. I don’t think it suited this enthusiastic mover being held onto and more forceful tactics should see him return to form. Stablemate Ga Law did not look at all wound up for this – he’s not filled out greatly and like his sibling may always be a little fragile… if they get him to the Paddy Power at Cheltenham in three weeks’ he could go well.
The most interesting formline of the day may come from the handicap hurdle won by Peking Rose with the right horses pulling clear. The winner and second, McCain’s A Different Kind, looked ready to roll while appealing as types to continue to pay their way. The nicest of the bunch came home next, Petit Tonnerre and Onemorefortheroad quite imposing chase types – particularly the former. He looked quite burly and defied market weakness to prove himself an interesting project for connections. Many will say the latter didn’t stay but he got there soon enough and he’s worth another crack at the trip as he’ll surely come on for the run. Bridge North is another to bear in mind – he’ll rate higher than this and he’d be interesting if sent over fences next.
The maiden hurdle is worth mentioning for the fact that the market principals all looked big chasing types in need of the run, not least the favourite Ginny’s Destiny ,who looked novicey at times in what turned into a messy race. Eventual winner Mahons Glory was the fittest in the line-up and I’d expect a very different result if this was run in a few months’ time. In that sense you’d have to give credit to Heezer Geezer who went down fighting and will benefit enormously from it.
Kinondo Kweto continues to defy the handicapper in a ‘low sun’ affected novices handicap, the interesting one being Your Own Story who looks an instinctive jumper and one to bear in mind next season when he gains strength and fills out. I’d expect him to do well this term, but will really benefit from time and I’m sure he’ll be sensibly handled.
The mares bumper wasn’t a great renewal – Bombay Sapphire looking fantastic in her coat as you’d expect emanating from Seven Barrows, I thought she was fit enough but she ran as though it was badly needed and the market drift told all. Money came for Harry Fry’s Credrojava – a trainer who targets this race – and she looked well forward for her stable debut and got the job done. It was a remarkable run though from runner-up Ruby Island who is most definitely the one to take from the race, as with many of her yard’s horses at present she looked in need of the run and not great in her coat, which has yet to be clipped out. To run so well under a penalty bodes well for her career over jumps, which she has the size for.
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Thanks for reading, Adam.
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Did any jumps horses catch your eye in recent days? Ones you’re keen to follow? Do post below if so…
One Response
I took my mother to Cheltenham last Friday, some scribbled notes from me:
135 – Soul Icon was well-backed overnight and went off 11-4 in a 15 runner handicap. Prominently ridden, it jumped well and was given a couple of flicks from the last winning by over 3 lengths. Progressive, I can see connections running him again at the November meeting.
Calico travelled well and was a threat at the last before finishing 2nd, perhaps needs a sharper track. Nayati may well need slightly further back up North. Swaffham Bulbeck lost 2 places from the last and a sharper track may be needed.
210 – A strange novice chase. Straw Fan Jack was well-backed and having never looked like winning, outbattled the 2nd. A tough genuine sort trained by a small yard, I don’t think he’s grade 1 material but perhaps can pick up a small graded chase. Ash Tree Meadow travelled like a dream but perhaps needs further and a lead. Sole Pretender was outpaced but stayed on up the hill and may well land a small 2m2f / 2m4f novice chase in Ireland. Jetoiles jumping fell apart.
245 – Mofasa is a strapping sort who will make a smashing chaser and he did well to win after a bad mistake at the last. The Wounded Knee looks a genuine front-running sort and can pick up something in the North. Music Drive had every chance but found little.
320 – Performance of the day from Found On who jumped brilliantly, was aggressively ridden and pulled away from the last. Wouldn’t surprise me if this bonny mare comes back for the November meeting. Champagne Gold and Tullybeg need further. Pull Away Green was novicey.
355 – A difficult handicap hurdle to fathom. Seddon travelled beautifully and put this to bed well. Fontana Ellissi came out of the pack to finish 2nd and may well need 3m. Onagatheringstorm has a weird head carriage, Coole Cody blew the cobwebs away. The fav Spanish Present disappointing
430 – a well-run amateurs handicap chase. The winner Jimmy The Digger did well to reel in the 2nd and looks certain to relish longer distances. Anightinlambourn keeps on progressing and a 3m handicap chase it will pick up this year.
505 – one to rewatch. Fennor Cross travelled well and won easy but falls for Petrossian and an Elliot novice slipping up made life easier. Deere Mark (2nd) and Commander of Ten (3rd) look chasing types and will relish further. The favourite Tullyjets was hampered 3 out by Petrossian’s fall but he looked awkward and was one-paced. May be one to lay next time