Hi all,
The delayed weekly notebook is double action-packed edition of eyecatcher’s from the previous two weeks British & Irish racing.
The best of this weeks racing is reserved for Friday onwards. On Friday it’s the first day of two-day meeting at Ascot.
On Saturday we have the mouth-watering prospect of Altior v Cyrname in the 2:05 at Ascot. Should that match-up take place it will take some of the headlines away from Haydock where it’s Betfair Chase Day. Bristol De Mai bids for a hat trick of wins in the Grade 1 chase at the Lancashire track but will face competition from the progressive Lostintranslation & Frodon.
On Sunday attention switches across the Irish Sea to Navan where it’s the valuable Ladbrokes sponsored Troytown Handicap Chase.
So, some great racing to look forward to but let’s have a look at the horses that have entered my tracker in the past two weeks. This week I have nine eyecatchers for you. They include four trained by Venetia Williams, it could have been five, but one was found to be lame after his run at Cheltenham on Saturday, and two Irish handicap hurdlers who can win off their present marks.
Eyecatchers – W/e November 10th
Saturday November 9th
Aintree
Present Value – Evan Williams
The 5-year-old made a nice chase debut when runner-up to all the way winner Champagne Mystery on the novices’ handicap chase that opened the Saturday card. Granted he was well beaten by the winner at the finish, but he jumped soundly through the race and given this was only his 4th career start it was a great effort.
In his Racing Post Stable Tour the trainer had said the horse was a “big baby” last season who had “strengthened up over the summer”. Given his relative inexperience it was surprising to see him sent off the 11/4 favourite of what looked a competitive race. He’s starts his chase career off what looks a workable mark and can win races over fences this winter.
Cepage – Venetia Williams
Carrying top-weight of 11-12, the 7-year-old was making his seasonal reappearance in the 2m 4f Class 2 handicap chase. First run since finishing runner-up to Frodon in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup last December. He jumped well through the race but came up against a well handicapped rival, on the day in, Riders Onthe Storm.
The handicapper has put him up 5lb for this effort which makes life tougher, but he will no doubt go back to Cheltenham for another tilt at next months Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Despite his rise in the weights for not winning his last two runs, I will be disappointed if he doesn’t pick up a decent pot over the winter.
Kelso
Slanelough – Rose Dobbin
A useful handicap hurdler he didn’t run badly over fences last season, despite not winning any of six starts. Failed to complete on his last three start, form figures UFU, but he was staying on when unseating at Haydock two out and was still in contention when falling back at the same venue in February.
The 7-year-old unseated his ride at the second on his seasonal reappearance at Wetherby. He completed this time when 2nd of 10 in the 2m 5 ½ f handicap chase. He handles soft & heavy ground and could stay further on the evidence of this run. He can win a handicap chase up North at this level over the winter.
Sunday November 10th
Navan
Encore Lui – Liz Doyle
Made a very encouraging second start over hurdles when finishing 2nd of 19 here. This was just the 5-year-old’s fifth career start and his first start since March. It looked he was going to win coming to the last, but he had no answer to the winner’s strong finish after the last.
This was a clear career best. Given he’s lightly raced there could be more to come and I’m sure he can win races off his present mark, on winter ground.
Sandown
Chambard – Venetia Williams
A winner of a soft ground Exeter maiden hurdle back in January, before finishing runner-up at Ludlow on his next start under his 6lb penalty. The 7-year-old made a satisfactory chase debut when runner up to Champagne Court. He didn’t jump well in the early stages in the race, but it did improve the longer the race went.
Looks like he can make a better chaser than hurdler, should be all the better for the experience and have no problem in winning something similar.
Eyecatchers – W/e November 17th
Wednesday November 13th
Bangor-on-Dee
Commodore – Venetia Williams
A winner of both his starts over fences last season at Warwick & Sandown. Despite a 13lb rise in the weights for the last of those successes, he was well fancied to make a winning seasonal reappearance in the 3m Class 2 handicap chase. Unfortunately for his backers he found heavy ground, after 249-days absence just too much of a test.
Jumping well from the front, he ran well for a long way and was only headed two out. Slipped on landing after the last and was run out of the places on the run in and eventually finished a tired fifth. He wasn’t subjected to hard race once his winning chase had gone.
An excellent jumper he handles soft ground and remains capable of being better than a 135 rated handicap chaser.
Saturday November 16th
Cheltenham
Belami Des Pictons – Venetia Williams
Yet another one from the Venetia William stable.
Cheltenham’s November Meeting tends not be a happy hunting ground for trainer Venetia Williams. In the past five years she’s had 0 winners from 17 runners -17 1 placed 6% and there was luck for her this year either.
However, couple of this year’s runners went well none more so than Belami Des Pictons in the BetVictor Gold Cup. This was only his third run in the past two years, so he’s clearly not been the easiest to keep sound.
Having his first start since pulling up in February. He got hampered at the second and soon found himself at the back of the field. To his credit. He managed to work his way through the field to finish a never nearer 4th of 17 at the finish.
He stays 3m, is suited to the mud and looks on a competitive handicap mark. There’s a decent pot to be won with him.
Sunday November 17th
Cheltenham
Dame De Compagnie – Nicky Henderson
Off since winning here over 2m 4 ½ f in April 2018 the mare was having her first start for 577-days in the competitive Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. Despite her long absence from the track that didn’t stop punters backing her into 6/1. The slow early pace probably didn’t suit the 6-year-old who was outpaced three out, but she was staying on all the way to line to take 5th.
In recent Racing Post Stable Tour the trainer said he was “delighted with how she’s training and we’ve schooled her over fences, so she could switch, but I quite like her hurdle mark”.
She should be all the better for this run and connections keep her over hurdles there’s a race in her off her present mark, especially when racing over further. Likewise, when she goes chasing, she can make the grade over the larger obstacles. Both her hurdles wins came on good ground but she’s just as effective on soft too.
Punchestown
A Great View – Dennis Cullen
The 8-year-old was having just his second start since winning a valuable 3m handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in April 2018. Racing off just 4lb higher and having his first start since December over what looked an inadequate 2m. Not surprisingly he was doing all his best work at the finish to finish when fourth to Drop The Anchor.
He showed his well-being here and if he can build on this run, looks on a competitive handicap mark when returned to further. All his best form has come on soft or heavy ground.
Cheers
John