Hello,
In these regular Members’ Posts, I highlight a few jumpers who caught my eye in the last week or two. The intention is not necessarily to just ‘back them blind’ but to add some brief notes as context, and that may save time analysing future races. There are some last-time-out winners who may not be ‘value’ anytime soon as such, but still I think useful, and most of them ran well in the races highlighted. However, they are included with the view that they have more wins in them, whether that over hurdles or chasing down the line – that could be next season, or the season after!
I’m generally picking them out on how their effort looked visually, and usually with upside potential. There is very little assessment as to what the ‘form’ may be worth etc and of course at the time of making the notes, I don’t know how the race may work out – I prefer to ponder that when it comes to looking at said eye-catcher in ‘todays’ race, and that’s an important part of the puzzle, for me anyway.
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The below eye-catchers cover the period Tuesday 7th to Tuesday 21st November… in reverse order…
Cheltenham
Es Perfecto – ran well on seasonal return and chase debut, a former 3m point winner. He’s evidently been hard to train and hopefully Alan King can have a clear run with him. He jumped well here, over-raced somewhat and probably needed the run, he shaped that way. Some of his older form has a solid look and if they can keep him sound, he should have chase wins in him.
Dom of Mary – ran ok in the staying chase, noted on his previous run at Plumpton. It confirmed he has chase wins in him, but maybe this was too high a class, or he didn’t quite get him in the ground. He was help up, on going that may have been testing enough, and made the odd fiddly mistake. If he can lay up closer, he should be competitive in ‘regional nationals’ or with his sights lowered over 3m2-4f.
Guetapan Collonges – arguably built on his Carlisle win here, travelled well, jumped well, a bit outpaced before storming up the hill, staying on well, for all well beaten. His profile suggests that maybe, over a proper staying trip, he may not want it overly soft. I remain convinced they should aim him at The Eider Chase, and see if he just keeps on galloping over that 4m, on ‘ok’ ground. I could be wrong there, but he ran here as if he may have some sort of staying pot in him.
Mole Court – ran well in the Amateur event, not helped by the start which took his jockey by surprise and he was poorly placed after that. He had to use a lot of gas to get into contention, moved well, jumped well, but ultimately the ground may have found him out. I think he has more wins in him from this mark but wants decent ground and I assume may get a holiday now and be back for the spring/Summer. Maybe he’ll be back at Chelt for the April meeting.
Latitude – this horse had many entries, withdrawn, and so on, trying to avoid deep ground. In the end i think they just needed to run him. He ran well on the pace, jumped well, moved well, and very much shaped as if needing the outing. He also had a big weight. He wants better ground. He looked progressive last season, especially around Kempton, and I suspect he’ll be going close at some point over fences.
Read To Return – Irish raider, whose jockey received a hefty ban after this, having sat out the back and not moved a muscle until after 2 out. He was never put in it. He was very inexperienced, and I think a genuine error – I’m not sure why you’d come over from Ireland, with the expense/admin etc, to just hold one up to never be put in the race, but maybe it’s part of an elaborate plan! He may well not be missed next time but he moved here as if well handicapped, time will tell. He was very well backed.
Il Ridoto – another more obvious one I suppose but he ran well on seasonal return here, the front two clear but classy types, and he wasn’t far off them before tiring. I suspect the plan is a similar race back here at the November meeting, for all I suppose he’s open to attack from less exposed legs, but he does like it around Cheltenham.
Unexpected Party – ran ok here, on ground that may have been soft enough. He won his seasonal return in good enough style, beating a NTO winner who did it well. I think he may want a flatter track and better ground, but on the Chepstow evidence he could have another handicap chase in him. Maybe he’s one more for Aintree or an Ayr Scottish GN meeting, later in the season. There’s always a chance he was tuned up fully for his return and that’s that, but plenty of Skelton’s haven’t been finishing off their races in recent weeks.
Easy As That – ran ok for Venetia, for all never really in it. He was held up, early error, looking badly outpaced and flat out for most of the way. He looks to have a likeable attitude though as he kept at it, didn’t give up, and he stayed on well up the hill. Maybe this wasn’t the plan, or he was outclassed, but it may suggest he’s worth a go over 3m.
Springwell Bay – a winner for Jonjo here and it could be marked up. He was making seasonal return, under 12st, and was very keen for the most part, yet still he cruised around and won fairly cosily come the line. A smart enough performance and he could be fairly smart. He beat Tizzard’s Gyenyamie here, who brought some solid form to the table, also unexposed. He was badly outpaced himself heading for home (or outclassed) but stayed on suggesting 3m could be in range at some point. It may be he could do with some headgear also, looking a bit gawky under pressure, or maybe still a big baby. I don’t think an attitude problem.
High Stakes – ran well here back over hurdles on seasonal return, 0/4 chasing last season. Whether they go back fencing I don’t know, but he led here, raced strongly, beaten 6l come the line and shaping as if he’d come on for the run. A 3m point winner, he’d won over 3m as a hurdler, and this 2m5f may have been sharp enough also, flat out for a time.
Prince Zaltar – an Irish raider I fancied EW at a big price, annoyingly not getting up for 5th (some paid out on 6th) in the race American Sniper won for us. This horse did best of those held up, and raced wide for a time also. Had he sat a bit closer, he’d have been top 5, but I still think he’s got another handicap in him, maybe back in Ireland. He may not want it this soft either, and he’s never won by far in his victories, which makes me think there could still be room in his mark, but maybe not races as this competitive.
Late Night Pass – a fine hunter chaser, and over Aintree’s big fences, he ran a cracker here on his first start around the XC course, opening up options. Many of Skelton’s have been shaping as if needing the run, but this lad ran his race and stayed on all the way to the line, opening up options. You’d think they would now aim him at the January version, which is also a handicap, and he should run his race there again. There could be room in this mark as a handicap chaser, usually races prominently and jumps well.
Mr Mackay – only a 4YO and having won two starts previously around Huntingdon over 2m4f, he ran well here NTO, given an overly aggressive ride and hitting a few hurdles. Sam T-D held onto him a bit here, again his jumping suggesting he may be best RH, but TBC. This was over 2m and he was outpaced also, but stayed on. There are handicap hurdles to be won with him from this mark, maybe back up in trip.
Navan
Watch House Cross – to the Troytown, a race I didn’t read overly well for all my fancy, Largy Debut was brought down at the first. However, he was last at the point and looked to jump out badly to his right, and wasn’t getting close even if standing up. I think he’s got a 3m Irish handicap chase in him, but I wouldn’t mind a more positive ride. It’s Henry De Bromhead’s outsider who caught the eye though, as he did for many no doubt. He was fiddly at the odd fence (possibly jockey, possibly ground) but cruised around as if he was chucked in as a chaser. He’s won a couple of novice chases on better ground, and this would have been testing enough. There’s a chance 3m stretched him also, but there’s a handicap chase to be won with him, back on better ground/or over shorter. Maybe he could be one for the Stable Plate at The Festival, with Festival experience over hurdles.
Huntingdon
Fairway Freddy – this 10YO chaser has ‘upside’ potential in Vets chases. I fancied him here in a weak/open enough content, held up, moved well until before 2 out, and then flattened out, like a horse who didn’t stay. That was the risk, but there was some thinking he may ‘improve’ for the distance. He didn’t, and I don’t think i’d back him over 3m again. However, there is a new 2m4f Vets series, which could be ideal for him. He had some solid chase form last season, suggesting this mark is workable and he has more wins in him, at his level.
Kempton
Egbert – an easy winner here who won’t be missed next time, however it was a fine run, seasonal return, chase debut. What stood out was the fact that he was being scrubbed along from miles out, but showed a great tenacious attitude and kept at it. It suggested he may want a more galloping track, or that there certainly could be further improvement over 3m. That’s if he was being scrubbed along due to a lack of pace, of course he could just be a lazy type who needs being kept up to his work. Still, a nice chaser in the making here.
Sandown
Iontach Cheval – ran well on first start of the season, after 300+ days, held up, never put into the race, but stayed on into 3rd. Bar the front two, the race may have fallen apart, but he still ran with credit. He’ll no doubt come on bundles for the run and it did suggest that a step back up to 2m4f may unlock more. The front two, including our RTP Syndicate horse, Kaleb, are solid animals, and it’s ok form for the grade. Aurigny Mill also ran well for Victor Dartnall. I spoke to him briefly before the race and he said his string had the odd issue last season, due to a feed issue. His horse here shaped as if needing the run, bang there 2 out before tiring. Victor wouldn’t have loads of horses to go to war with and his current form is a bit so so, but they may bounce back into life at some stage, and this lightly raced 6YO should have more wins in him.
Aintree
Frero Banbou – ran well in the Grand Sefton for Venetia, well handicapped, jumped well, travelled well, but ultimately shaped as if this very soft ground over 2m5f did stretch him. I think he may be worth persevering with over this sort of trip, but maybe 2m3-4f is as far as he wants, or better ground would help. He stayed ok, but those in front of him stayed much better. But you could also see him going well in a smaller field, flat track, where Charlie can dictate.
YCCS Portocervo – an outside here in the Sefton who I had a nibble at, which was probably idiotic given how soft the ground was, for all more of an unknown. He travelled well here, jumped well, and looked dangerous from 3 out and had me excited, momentarily. He then didn’t find a great deal, maybe the class/pace and/or ground being a bit too much. He was in form when last seen at Uttoxeter (his favourite stomping ground) and will win more chases on better ground, likely next year at some point. He goes well fresh also.
Exeter
War Lord – ran ok in the Haldon Gold Cup here, held up, a bit outpaced, staying on well enough from 2 out, in a race won by his stablemate. Most of Joe’s have been coming on bundles for the run. He had a so-so season last year, but he had a wind-op in the off season, and this indicated it may have worked, finishing off his race. This mark is looking workable and he could be better back up in trip, over 2m4f.
Collectors Item – one for Jonjo, who was a likeable type over hurdles last season. I thought this stiff 3m would suit but under a welter burden he was held up cold, and it’s very hard to come from the back around Exeter. In any case, he generally jumped well but looked outpaced, before plugging on. He may well want it even softer, but he does now shape as if worth a go over a marathon trip, at least 26f, but maybe 28f+. He looks like he could just keep galloping. I wonder if Jonjo may find a 26f soft+ ground chase around Carlisle for him, a track which could suit. But in any case, if they keep him in one piece and in form, he has to win a staying handicap chase at some stage. Broomfield Present was 3rd in this race, on chase debut. He ran a couple of days ago at Uttoxeter, BD but possibly on the back foot. That was also over 3m, but he also shaped here at Exeter if worth a go over a proper staying trip, 26f+. He has hurdles form at Haydock and I wonder if he’ll pop up in one of their 3m4f contests. He was a solid hurdler and again looks like he’ll just keep galloping. He usually races prominently also, which always gives you a chance over fences.
Ludlow
Langley Hundred – no world beater rated 106, but he ran well on chase debut here, first run of the season. He was held up, jumped well, tired late on and beaten 6.5 lengths. He stayed 3m over hurdles, with a win off 1043, and I suspect this mark is workable as a chaser. I think he may want some ‘good’ in the going, but softer ground more an unknown. The Hobbs team have gone a bit quiet again after a good start to the season, but this one should have a modest handicap chase in him, hopefully ridden more handily.
Newbury
The 1.15 here, on 9th November, is a race that could work out well and be worth following, especially four of the front five, who are very unexposed over fences. Come On Gruff ran a cracker here on chase debut and looks a brute. He was never really put into the race but it was a decent introduction to chasing, generally jumping well, bar the odd slow leap. He looks a brute, travelled well, and moved into it up the straight, before tiring as if needing the run. He’s a winning hurdler who looks as though fences should improve him further. The Henry Oliver team haven’t found their stride yet either, but he looks a nice handicap chase prospect.
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