Tuesday 27 January 2015 18:11, UK
It was a bumper weekend of action and we've several horses for your My Stable trackers. Ben Linfoot, Will Hayler and Sky Bet's Irish racing expert Stuart Jones reveal all.
They went a real dawdle in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial but that didn’t stop Peace And Co underlining his claims for the main event in March. He looks a real class act and though 2/1 quotes are prohibitive, they are understandable. The one from the race I want in ‘My Stable’ is STORM FORCE TEN, who was last of the sextet turning in, not ideal off the slow pace. Considering that, he stayed on well up the hill and almost denied Zarib for third on the line. This was an encouraging effort with the Fred Winter in mind as there could be plenty of improvement in him on better ground. You would think this run will see him nudge up the handicap enough to get in the race, too, and he’s worth keeping an eye on in the spring. (BL)
If Nick Gifford is right and Generous Ransom is better on faster ground conditions, then he could be a player in the Rewards4Racing Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Festival. We’ll have to see what the handicapper does first though, as although the winning distance was only a neck he was surely value for much more than that. Five lengths clear when making a mistake at the last fence, he got lonely on the hill and idled badly, allowing the staying-on Astigos to close the gap. However, it was the fourth horse home, CAROLE’S DESTRIER, that caught the eye. Stellar Notion ensured a strong gallop up front but Carole’s Destrier was never far away in second and can be credited with helping force the pace. He was travelling well on the turn for home despite doing enough early on, and though he faded after the last this was a really good effort carrying a big weight in a competitive race. A winner over three miles at Exeter earlier in the season, where he beat Carraig Mor and Return Spring, he could be one for the Festival Handicap Chase on day one, although Will Hayler has one from the same yard for that race (see below). (BL)
No performance at Cheltenham on Saturday left me licking my lips with regards to the Cheltenham Festival as much as that of THE DRUID'S NEPHEW in the Cleeve Hurdle. But it's not as a hurdler that Neil Mulholland's charge excites, but as a fascinating prospect for the Festival Handicap Chase after his eyecatching run in the Hennessy. Having backed him not-insubstantially at Newbury, my pulse was racing four out when Davy Russell brought him around the field to lay down a serious challenge, only for his stamina to give out not long afterwards on very testing ground. Back down in trip and on quicker ground, this late-maturing sort looks a rock-solid player, even though his mark has gone up 5lb since the Hennessy to reflect the form of his previous excellent second to Sam Winner at Cheltenham - form that hardly looks any worse after that rival's third in the Lexus Chase over Christmas. Although unable to keep tabs with his high-class staying hurdler rivals, he travelled with power and purpose for a long way and trainer Neil Mulholland gave an up-tempo bulletin as to his Festival prospects subsequently. (WH)
Many Clouds was cut for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after his BetBright Cup victory and is a general 10/1 chance now, but I do wonder if he’ll need soft ground to play a part at the Festival. He’s barely run a good race on decent ground throughout his career, although he was brought down in the RSA Chase which was one opportunity to prove otherwise. Still, his three victories this season have all come on soft ground and it does put me off him at his current price. At 25/1, I would rather chance SMAD PLACE as this was a really promising effort with the Gold Cup in mind. He was big at one or two of his fences and was denied racing room by Dynaste and Tom Scudamore on the turn for home, but he had every chance jumping the last and maintained his challenge up the hill. Yes, he was receiving 8lb from the winner, but this was just his second start of the campaign and more improvement can be expected in the spring. Placed at three Festivals on good ground, he has no such questions to answer when conditions are riding faster. (BL)
The decision to run EASTER DAY at Cheltenham instead of his first preference at Doncaster was met with plenty of derision, but the move probably would have been vindicated had he not come to grief at the third from home. Travelling like the winner under Nick Scholfield, it wasn’t a bad jump that brought about his downfall, but a skewed leap through the air left him unbalanced and that was that. The way he moved through the race suggested he was comfortable racing at 2m5f and, with his stamina still to prove over three miles, connections will probably keep him racing at that sort of trip for the time being. Clearly, he looks well handicapped off a mark of 142 and if he goes for the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate he’ll have to come into calculations. (BL)
Given that Gigginstown saw fit to part with a hefty €175,000 for PRINCE OF SCARS, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that he really took the eye in the paddock before his Rules debut at Leopardstown on Sunday. A big, strapping chasing type, like so many in this ownership, he looks sure to improve given time and experience. With that in mind, it bodes very well that he was able to show so much on his hurdling bow. Having jumped and travelled well up with the pace, Prince of Scars showed a really willing attitude to battle back against the rail only to be joined on the line having shown greenness in front. That initial outing should bring about plenty of improvement and he looks one to follow in novice hurdles, though it wouldn’t be a great surprise to see connections fast track the inevitable chase campaign. (SJ)
Denis Cullen’s cheap purchase out of Charlie Hills yard, MAWJ TAMY has shown enough in three quick runs in maiden hurdles to warrant interest in handicaps over the coming months. His never-nearer third to the promising Rogue Trader at Navan on Saturday was easily his best effort to date and he was better than the result there too, keeping on well down the straight having had to come from an impossible position turning in. Beaten far enough to think he will start off in handicaps from a pretty lowly mark, he’s one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks, especially should the market speak in his favour. (SJ)
While admittedly held when falling two out in a handicap at Leopardstown on Sunday, there were definite signs that SITCOM will be returning to something like her best form sooner rather than later. Already 3lb lower than his highest winning mark, Sitcom was left plenty to do under a patient ride, and although under firm pressure when coming to grief, she did look to have more to give and could well have made the frame. Given that she’s a half-sister to a 3m winner and from a staying family, it’s surprising that Sitcom is still untried at two and half miles, so confidence in her returning to the winner's enclosure would only increase were connections to belatedly up her in trip. (SJ)
Since returning from an seven-month absence, during which time connections tweaked a couple of things that were ailing him, RUNSWICK ROYAL has twice performed with considerable credit. His victory at Newcastle, a first over fences, in early-January was franked when Yorkist came out and won the other day and it might well have been two over two had Brian Hughes got going a little earlier behind Royal Regatta at Doncaster on Saturday. In his defence, Hughes knows how to ride the horse far better than me, and I agree that he probably doesn't want to be in front for too long. Nevertheless, it was a performance that strongly suggested he can pick up a nice novice handicap chase on spring ground in the months ahead, and the fact that his trainer is still flying under the radar - despite an impressive strike-rate with her half-dozen-strong team this season - can only help in terms of getting the right price. (WH)
The Stuart Crawford team have always tended to do well with limited ammunition and they look to have an exciting chase prospect in the shape of GILT SHADOW. Having acquitted himself well in good company as a novice, bumping into several well above-average sorts after getting off the mark at Down Royal, it was a blow to the yard when his season was ended prematurely in 2013/14. However, they look to have got him back as good as ever and he would have made a highly-impressive chase debut success but for a last-fence mishap at Navan on Saturday, a loose horse doing him no favours at all. His jumping on the whole was very assured and he would have comprehensively beaten the well-regarded Apache Jack had he stood up. Success in a similar events looks a given, but he’ll warrant his place in graded company before the season is out. (SJ)
In last week's Eyecatchers, I incorrectly said that Cloudy Bob was part-owned by Alan Potts. The owners of Cloudy Bob, the 'Men Of Stone', have asked me to correct this and confirm that Mr Potts is in no way connected to the horse. I am happy to do this and wish them well for the future with their tough, mudloving grey. (WH)
