Hi all,
The delayed weekly notebook is double action-packed edition of eyecatcher’s from the previous two weeks British & Irish racing.
Latest eyecatcher to get into the winner enclosure was Gumball who landed the Listed Sodexo Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
There are more Gumball’s below, indeed there are 12 for your trackers although there could have been a fair few more. You can tell the jumps season has now hit top gear.
Eyecatchers – W/e October 27th
Friday October 25th
Cheltenham
Breaking Waves – Noel Williams
The 5-year-old won a novice hurdle at Huntingdon last season, a track the gelding also won his bumper at, before ending his season when 4th of 10, under his penalty, at Newbury back in March. Returning from a 217-day absence. Coming from well back he made steady headway and was running on after the last to snatch 4th. Saw out the 2m5f here well and looks capable of satying further. Sent off joint 6/1 favourite which shows that connections think they have a horse on a winnable mark.
Oakley – Philip Hobbs
The 6-year-old has looked progressive when winning a novice hurdle at Ludlow last December before following up on his handicap hurdle debut at Kempton a month later.
Oakley was having his first start for 286-days when finishing 3rd of 13 behind Benny’s Bridge in the 2m ½ f handicap hurdle. The handicapper had raised him just 5lb for his Kempton success. Ran like the run was needed and should improve plenty for it. The son of Oscar should get a further than 2m and remains one to be interested off his present mark if staying over hurdles.
Saturday October 26th
Cheltenham
Cogry – Nigel Twiston-Davies
The 10-year-old was having his first start since unseating his rider at the last in the Scottish Grand National in April. He made a good return to action when 3rd of 15 behind The Conditional in the opening handicap chase on Cheltenham’s Saturday card. It’s a track he goes well, three of his career wins have come here. The last of which came off today’s mark last December.
His record in field sizes 9 & under are 7 wins from 13 runs 54% +22.62 9 placed 69%.
Whilst he run well in big fields his overall record is 1 win from 27 runs 4% -19. 8 placed 30%.
The veteran is handicapped to win again when he gets his optimum conditions.
Barbados Buck’s – Paul Nicholls
The first Cheltenham Meeting of the new winter jumps season concluded with what could turn out to be a very good bumper.
The one to take the eye before the race was Barbados Bucks. The 4-year-old a full brother to winning hurdler Barbados Blue and half-brother to winning chaser More Buck’s was still in contention coming to three out but a combination of race fitness and the heavy ground tolled on him in the final stages and he eventually finished a tired 7th. Weak the market before the race which suggests the run was needed.
Given his siblings were at their best on good ground underfoot conditions wouldn’t have been to his likening. He should come on plenty with this run under his belt and will do better on better ground going forward.
Sunday October 27th
Aintree
Killaro Boy – Henry Oliver
Won a hunter chase on his debut for trainer Henry Oliver in May he then went on to run Brave Eagle to a nose in the valuable Summer Cup at Uttoxeter a month later. Both those runs came on good ground and his Uttoxeter performance was a career best for the 10-year-old.
Back from a 119-day absence in the veterans chase and 5lb higher than at Uttoxeter he was open to more progress than some of these veterans.
Always up with the pace, he jumped soundly and coming to the second last had all the field in trouble apart from eventual winner Burtons Well who swept by him at the last. He held on well for second and this was a nice start to the campaign. Given the quality of his jumping he’s capable of winning of these races int eh coming weeks.
In the same race, Captain Redbeard will have pleased connections in finishing 4th. The 10-year-old career record stands at 8 winners from 33 runners +26.5 15 placed but his optimum conditions seem to be distance up to 2m 7 ½ f, field sizes 9 or less and last raced within 30-days of his last start 7 wins from 13 runs 54% +40 8 placed 62%. He will be of interest with this run under his belt.
Wexford
Castlebrook – James Joseph Mangan
The 6-year-old will have gone into few notebooks after his win in the beginners’ chase. He clearly relished the heavy ground on his first start since April and his first run over fences.
Connections see him as a Grade 1 level in the making and the Grade 1 novices’ chase at Limerick was nominated as target by his trainer after the race. This win came over 2m 4f but he will get 3m+ with more experience.
Given his trainer isn’t a big name he could well go off at value price in better company.
Eyecatchers – W/e November 3rd
Monday October 28th
Wexford
Roaring Bull – Gordon Elliott
I had been waiting for the 6-year-old to return to action. By Milan, out of a Presenting mare he’s certainly bred for chasing. Twice a winner over fences last season he looks the type of handicap chaser Gordon Elliott/Gigginstown excel with.
Sent off 25/1 in a four-runner race, not surprisingly he wasn’t competitive on his first start for 189-days. All the better for this run. He’s one to look out for in “Big Handicap Chases” this winter.
Thursday October 31st
Stratford
Kilfilum Cross – Henry Oliver
Took advantage of a lenient handicap mark on his first start for trainer Henry Oliver, when winning an amateur riders’ race at Ludlow in February. He improved further on his next start when finishing 2nd of 22 in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Ended last season with a below par effort at Ayr on ground that was probably quick enough for the 8-year-old.
Making his seasonal return after a 201-day absence over a trip (2m 4f) which seemed to short of his best. Well he ran well to finish 3rd of 12.
Will be all the better for his seasonal reappearance and I don’t think we have seen the best of the 8-year-old yet. He’s one to note for the rest of the season and has a decent handicap pot in him this season.
Saturday November 2nd
Ascot
On The Slopes – Chris Gordon
A winner of a soft ground novice hurdle at Fontwell last December. The 5-year-old was described by his trainer as “a big backward horse” after his hurdle success. Jumped soundly when 4th of 6 on his chase debut at Uttoxeter last month. He built on that promise when runner up to Doctor Dex in the novices’ handicap chase.
No match for the winner on the day he still managed to finish five lengths of the third. Softer ground than he faced here shouldn’t be an issue and he remains a work in progress over fences. I will be surprised if he can’t win something similar especially when his stable is in better form than at present.
Ayr
Fanfan Du Seuil – Tom George
Won a juvenile hurdle at Exeter last November and put in a career best when 5th of 21 in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Ended last season when down the field in a Grade 1 at Aintree. The return to handicaps was expected to suit the 4-year-old.
Travelling well through the race he looked to be going best coming to three out but once coming under pressure he faded coming to the last and eventually finished 4th of 7 behind the useful winner Elvis Mail. He shaped like he was need of his first run 212-days and will remain on a competitive mark.
Wetherby
Just Don’t Ask – Charlie Longsdon
The 7-year-old had won a good ground C&D novice chase in January before a poor effort at Newcastle on his last start in February. Back for his first run for 252-days he put in a good effort to finish 3rd of 9 behind comfortable win Kapgarry.
Running well for a long way and was still bang there until headed at the last, only losing second in the final strides. This was only his eighth career start, four over fences, and he remains open to further progress.
A run on such testing ground was likely needed given his long absence and it’s worth noting he’s 3 wins from 4 runs 3 placed when running between 31 to 45-days since his last run. There are more races to be won with the gelding who remains capable of better over fences.
Sunday November 3rd
Carlisle
Chapel Stile – Nicky Richards
There should a few winners to come out of the novices’ handicap chase won by Two For Gold. One such winner should be Chapel Stile. The 7-year-old was returning from 562-day break here and ran a cracker to finish 3rd of 10 on his chase debut.
A three-time winner over hurdles on good & soft ground at around 3m, today’s distance would have been on the short side for the gelding for a half-brother to Grand National third Rathvindon and indeed he was doing all this best work at the finish.
Given his long absence from the track there would be a danger that he may ‘bounce’ on his next start. However, there is no denying he starts his chase career on what looks workable mark. He will win his share of races over the winter over further than 2m 4f, if he keeps sound.
Cheers
John