Hi all,
Sorry for the delay in putting this together. I am doing some house major renovations now so the last month or so has been hectic. That’s now all out of the way and I concentrate on the upcoming jumps season.
There are two-day flat cards at Doncaster and Newbury on Friday & Saturday. The feature race of Doncaster’s Saturday card is the final Group 1 of the English flat season the Vertem Futurity. A field of 12 have been declared at the five-day stage which sounds good until you realise 11 of them are trained by Aidan O’Brien. The highlights of Newbury’s seven race card are two Group 3, including the Horris Hill for the juveniles.
Of more interest to me from a betting perspective this weekend will be Cheltenham’s 2-day Showcase Meeting. The first jumps meeting of the season at the home of National Hunt Racing. The recent rain should mean the course will produce some nice jumps ground for this weekend’s meeting. On Sunday there’s more quality racing with a good card at Aintree with the Old Roan Chase the highlight of a seven-race card which begins at 12:40.
More on the weekend racing on Friday. Let’s look at some horses that might be worth adding to your trackers from the last two weeks.
Eyecatchers – W/e October 13th
Chepstow hosted its first meeting of the winter jumps season on Friday & Saturday. It’s arguably the first big meeting and a good chance to see some returning National Hunt stars. The recent wet spell meant the meeting took place on softer ground than could have been expected.
Friday October 11th
Chepstow
Joe Farrell – Rebecca Curtis
The 10-year-old was having his first start in a Veterans Chase and having his first run since pulling up in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandowm in April. He was well fancied in the market sent off 3/1 favourite which suggests connections think he starts the season a competitive mark.
He only ran four times last season from March to April. Far away and the best of those runs came when finishing 2nd of 11 at Newbury over 3m 2f, off 4lb lower.
He travelled well through the race and when hitting the front two out looked likely to win. However, he made a mistake at the last, lost two places and had to settle for third. There’s a nice staying handicap chase in him if he keeps sound.
Saturday October 12th
Highest Sun – Colin Tizzard
The 5-year-old was having his first start since finishing down the field in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Prior to that he had won a Chepstow 2 mile handicap hurdle which was his fourth attempt over hurdles.
He made a highly encouraging start the season finishing third of 9, would probably have finished second but for a mistake at the last. Entitled to have needed this first run since March. Starts the new season on a competitive mark, and I will be disappointed if there isn’t a decent handicap hurdle in the lightly raced gelding in the coming months.
The form of this 2m handicap hurdle should work out well and it may be worth noting the fifth horse Louis’ Vac Pouch who was a bit keen on his first start for 162-days. He could win a decent handicap pot when returned to fences.
Imperial Aura – Kim Bailey
Flash The Steel battled on well after the last to land the valuable Silver Trophy Handicap hurdle. But it was the third home Imperial Aura who looks the one to take out of the race.
Returning from a 213-day break and two from two over hurdles, he was sent off the 5/1 favourite. The race was run at a fast pace from the off but the 6-year-old was always travelling comfortably behind the early pace setters, Taking it up three from home, he made a slight mistake two out and was headed between the final two and had to settle for a 4 length, third at the finish.
Should be all the better for this fitness wise and although he’s been nudged up 3lb for this effort he remains on a competitive mark for handicap hurdles.
Eyecatchers – W/e October 20th
I put up one horse for the tracker in my Monday Daily Punt column which ran at Ffos Las on Saturday but there are another three that caught my eye last week. Starting with two from Wetherby’s Wednesday card.
Wednesday October 16th
Wetherby
Sky Pirate- Jonjo O’Neill
The 6-year-old, twice a winning hurdler, improved for going over fences last season. No wins from five starts 2 placed. He had only been beaten a length at Carlisle on his second start over the larger obstacles and then fell two out when still in contention at Cheltenham in November.
Returning from a 216-day break. He was held up in the early part of the race before making headway five out. He was just behind the leader when falling two from home. This was a promising run given the 2m 3f distance looked like it might prove a bit short for the son of Midnight Legend.
Hopefully he will be none the worse for this mishap and remains one to be interested in when stepped back up in distance, stays 3m.
Teescomponents Lad – Gillian Boanas
Improved with racing last year winning two of his last three start here and at Carlisle on his final run of last season. Sent off the well backed 7/2 favourite at the off the 6-year-old was always in a good position tracking the leaders but couldn’t find an extra gear three out before staying on finish 4th of 10. A mark of 130 looks workable in handicap hurdles in the North in the coming weeks.
Thursday October 17th
Carlisle
Arthurs Gift – Nigel Twiston-Davies
A C&D winner back in February, off 5lb lower, before pulling up in the Midlands National. The 8-year-old was expected by the market to make a winning seasonal reappearance being sent off the 15/8 at the off. He ran well for a long away, but lack of a recent run seemed to find him out and favourite backers knew their fate three from home.
The good to soft going probably wasn’t soft enough for the top weight and he’s another who will be sharper for his seasonal reappearance. Given the market support he received before the race a handicap chase mark of 135 looks exploitable by connections.
Saturday October 19th
Ffos Las
It was the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on Saturday. My selection in the race Monsieur Lecoq ran out a brave winner to hold Le Prezien by a short head at the finish. He has the size to make a chaser, but it looks like he will be kept to the smaller obstacles for now and remains one to keep onside for now. The runner-up will probably be returning to chasing for his next start and like the winner he was well suited to the soft ground. The form of the race should work out well going forward.
Coeur Blimey – Sue Gardner
I put Coeur Blimey up as an eyecatcher in my Daily Punt article but for those of you who missed what I wrote.
The 8-year-old who had finished well down the field in the Cesarewitch 7-days earlier, found 2m on the short side here but he stayed on well enough to finish 4th. He’s tended to need his first run back over hurdles, so this was an encouraging effort. The softer the ground the better for the gelding and he’s capable of winning a handicap hurdle when returned to further.
Cheers
John