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28th February 2010
click here for the FEBRUARY 2010 GALLERY
Douglas
6th Feb: Wetherby, 2m ½f bumper on soft, ridden by Mark Grant: 10th
This was Douglas' debut on desperate ground, and he did as well as could be expected, given that he would have learnt a lot for the experience. He is giving the impression that he will grow into a nice horse and leave this result behind.
Myshkin
7th Feb: Fontwell, 2m 2½f juvenile hurdle on soft, ridden by Mark Grant: 6th
23rd Feb: Taunton, 3m ½f handicap hurdle on soft, ridden by Mark Grant: pulled up
The first of these was a bit too high standard of opposition for Myshkin, so the outcome was no better than expected, but in the follow up, he was a little bit disappointing. The expectation was that he would be happier cruising along at the pace typical for a staying hurdle, instead of the extra bustle at two miles, but Mark reported that he was struggling quite early on and it was not worth forcing him to go the full distance. As stamina was clearly not a relevance to the outcome, another try at a longer trip, perhaps on slightly better ground, might be the way forward.
Numpty fact number 8 (but the first for several years): In the Robert Sheckley novel "Options" a character named Mishkin wanders randomly around a surreal planet, accompanied by a survival robot programmed for a completely different environment. We would like Myshkin to strengthen his disassociation with Mishkin a great deal.
Its A
Classic
8th Feb: Lingfield, 3m handicap chase on heavy, ridden by Mark Grant: 3rd
This was a quick follow up to his win at Towcester, and whilst the conditions were in the range of borderline abandoned that he adores, the gap between races just caught out. That said, whilst the chance of a win disappeared two out, Its A Classic was in a battle for second all the way to the line and did not shirk it even a fraction, so the verdict is "below par" rather than "very flat." And he could just have decided that he does not care to race when it is still snowing.
Happy Fleet
8th Feb: Wolverhampton, 1m 4f maiden on the all-weather, ridden by Dane O'Neill: 6th
28th Feb: Kempton, 2m handicap on the all-weather, ridden by Fergus Sweeney: 2nd
Far, far away from Its A Classic, but the meteorology was a factor for this as well. The threat of very cold weather (and it was a realistic threat, not a flight of fancy) led the course management to harrow the track fairly deep, which is the standard defence against the conditions, and Happy Fleet did not really handle it, with Dane suggesting that the bends are a bit too tight for her there as well. A bit further and the more suitable surface at Kempton was the suspected be the answer. And it very nearly proved 100% correct. In a bigger field than has been typical of all-weather tracks lately, Happy Fleet ran a super race, only to be outstayed by the winner in the last half-furlong, after they had gone eye to eye for the last quarter of a mile. And that came after she had lost her position when avoiding some scrimmaging in the back straight. A bit of luck and the outcome could have been even better.
After a brief loss of morale when she remembered quite what a long walk it is at Kempton from parade ring to track, Happy Fleet perked up a great deal for the race
New World Order
8th Feb: Wolverhampton, 1m 1½f handicap on the all-weather, ridden by Dane O'Neill: 8th
This was hoped to be a good day for the New World Order, but it turned out to be an off one instead. He is referred to a "the" New World Order in order to attract googling conspriracy theorists into racing, which is a sport sadly lacking in paranoia. Or should the opposite be true? Back to the point, and it is possible that as well as not performing to his optimum, the horse was not totally happy on the surface as it was harrowed on the day - his best runs on it have come when it was a lot less chilly and a bit lighter underfoot.
Candilejas
9th Feb: Southwell, 1m 3f amateur's handicap on the all-weather, ridden by Chloe Boxall: 8th
We had two runners in one race here, and they put in contrasting efforts. Candilejas was up there and handy all the way, but did not really last out until the end and faded from contention...
Key Partners
9th Feb: Southwell, 1m 3f amateur's handicap on the all-weather, ridden by Ashlee Price: 9th
26th Feb: Wolverhampton, 1m 4f claimer on the all-weather, ridden by Kevin Ghunowa: 7th
...meanwhile Key Partners, who is not an easy ride as he is inclined to pull like a train, had to be settled at the back, and therefore never quite got into the race. He showed an encouraging commitment to the idea of beating his stablemate, in which he failed narrowly. He repeated his foolishness in the follow-up run, and until he gets in a race where he does concentrate on doing as he is told - there is winning evidence that it can be done - Key Partners is his own worst enemy (Apart from the evil gnomes who come in at night and steal his underpants, or is that someone else entirely?).
Apache Moon
11th Feb: Kempton, 1m claimer on the all weather, ridden by J-P Guillambert: 13th
Unfortunately, it was more of the same from Apache Moon - a case of failing to show on the course anything near the ability that he offers up willingly at home. There is a key somewhere to change that, we keep searching...
Dreamwalk
11th Feb: Kempton, 2m handicap on the all weather, ridden by Andrea Atzeni: 5th
After his previous run, Jim Crowley had suggested that Dreamwalk needed a step up to two miles, and as he was in good form at home, a big run was expected. For a long way he travelled like the winner in this, but failed to see out the trip. It will probably be back to a mile and a half or so for him, and hope for a strongly run race.
Friends Hope
12th Feb: Southwell, 1m 4f seller on the all weather, ridden by Tony Culhane: 3rd
18th Feb: Southwell, 1m 4f claimer on the all-weather, ridden by Frankie McDonald: 4th
This was her farewell to racing, after having demonstrated beyond any doubt that she has decided that she had been there, done that, chewed someone's t-shirt. 55 runs, 10 wins, 8 seconds and the wins came in 5 different countries (well, three countries, a principality and a crown dependency). A decent CV for her new career.
Numpty fact no. 9: The only country in which Friends Hope ran and did not win was Ludlow. At least it is if you sympathise with the political aims of the Ludlow Popular Front.
Pensnett Bay
12th Feb: Bangor, 2m 1f bumper on good to soft, ridden by Mark Grant: 5th
Being a stuffy sort of horse, he was likely to need this after a year off, so to be fifth was not a disappointment in a race that did not cut up as much as might have been expected. He will come on plenty for it.
Rince Donn
14th Feb: Hereford, 2m handicap chase on good to soft, ridden by Mark Grant: 2nd
This was another defeat by Star Galaxy, who beat Rince Donn back in November and this time went on to win again shortly afterwards, which was good for our fellow's morale and a kind compliment to pay. A series of superior jumps did see Rince Donn hit the front a bit earlier than ideal, but having been headed, he fought back, outjumped the winner at the last and only went down by a head. Another good effort, for which he was raised another five pounds.
Romney Marsh
15th Feb: Plumpton, 2m hands & heels handicap hurdle on good to soft, ridden by Danny Burton: WON
23rd Feb: Taunton, 2m 1f hands & heels handicap hurdle on soft, ridden by Danny Burton: 5th
Romney Marsh had been in sparkling form at home for a little while, but it is just not possible to keep her simmering on full for an extended period, and after a couple of good openings fell to the weather, it was beginning to become a race against time to take advantage of where she was at. In the end, Plumpton came to the rescue, and the chance to get Danny on board as one of the more experienced riders in a hands and heels race helped as well. Danny rode totally according to plan, as she tracked the leaders all the way, and, as expected, had too much toe for them from the second last. In the Taunton follow up, she did not seem at home on the ground, and despite trying really hard when asked, could not repeat the result.
Having been in position for an action shot at the last (see Feb Gallery), and sprinted back uphill to the unsaddling enclosure,* Romney Marsh could learn some lessons from Danny about being appreciative of the snappers' efforts, i.e. do not look ready to bite a lump out of them.
* Bear in mind that this involves passing the chip van, seafood bar, curry van, noodle van and at least three places where Guinness can be purchased.
El Passos
15th Feb: Plumpton, 2m 2f bumper on good to soft, ridden by Mark Grant: 8th
He surprised us a bit with this run, as the ground seemed likely to be wrong for him. El Passos led until three furlongs out, and whilst Mark reported that it may have been more under sufferance than it looked, it was a decent effort all the same, and certainly cast a doubt over the theory that his stamina is not up to jumping. He has schooled well over hurdles and that is the next stop.
La Toya J
16th Feb: Southwell, 7f handicap on the all-weather, ridden by Dane O'Neill: 4th
This was a bit of an experimental run to see if she would handle the different surface encountered at Southwell. She did not but gave of her best anyway. At one point, La Toya J did battle her way up to second, but this track tests the stamina a little more, and having got there, a couple of others outstayed her and knocked her out of the places.
Numpty fact no.1o: Amazingly, Googling Latoya Jackson with Southwell produces many responses, none of which gives any clues as to the what the various performing Jacksons think of Fibresand. Proof that Google is a great big fraud.
Diamond Surprise
18th Feb: Southwell, 7f handicap on the all-weather, ridden by Frankie McDonald: 8th
Ran another lacklustre race, and is telling us that she has had enough, so retirement beckons.
Going French
18th Feb: Wolverhampton, 7f handicap on the all-weather, ridden by Tony Culhane: 8th
This was his first time in the headgear, and it has to be considered something less than an unqualified success as an experiment, as Going French refused to face them completely. Some other form of "carrot on a stick" type encouragement will be tried - sadly the rules preclude use of a carrot on a stick.
Alderbrook
Girl
24th Feb: Ludlow, 3m handicap chase on good to soft, ridden by Michael Murphy: 9th
The jockeys said this was riding dead and the thought was that she might get away with it. However, the trainer holds his hands up to a fair cop on this one, as with Alderbrook Girl's historic unwillingness to compromise on less than ideal going, we would have been better off giving this one a miss. She toddled round and tried to stay on, then came back giving us all a dirty look for forcing such outrageous indignity on her.
Cheltenham Preview: Callisto Moon is the Festival team, entered in the Coral Cup and County handicap hurdles. However, as things look now, he will require a minor miracle not to be balloted out of both of them. Is he too high in the weights for the lady riders' champion hurdle at Huntingdon?
Horse Departures: Stellar Cause (will be missed due to being easily photographed) left us via the Ascot Sales. Tacinja and Friends Hope have been retired, although with winning form to their name, perhaps to stud, and Diamond Surprise has joined them in the quiet life.
4th February 2010
click here for the JANUARY 2010 GALLERY
Apache Moon
13th Jan: Kempton, 6f maiden on the all weather, ridden by Kevin Ghunowa: 3rd
26th Jan: Southwell, 6f maiden on the all weather, ridden by Tony Culhane: 5th
On the whole, we were quite pleased with both of these runs, and the way that he stayed on in both suggested that it is about time he was upped to a mile, and now that he is qualified for handicaps, we now have a much wider range of races to put him in.
Happy
Fleet
15th Jan: Lingfield, 1m 4f maiden on the all weather, ridden by Jim Crowley: 6th
27th Jan: Kempton, 1m 3f maiden on the all weather, ridden by Dane O'Neill: 3rd
At face value, these were two fair enough tries on her first look at all-weather racing, where she clearly preferred the surface at Kempton second time round (she broke from the stalls a bit more sharply as well). However, the form and handicap ratings are making these efforts look like a work of minor genius. The winner of her first race, a well-backed newcomer named Buxted, was given a handicap rating of 88, from which he won easily, and the second race was won by an also well-backed horse, making his British debut, Cairnsmore, who was then given a mark 0f 96 and immediately packed off to Dubai by Mark Johnston to take on some big races at the the carnival. And for good measure, the horse that finished between Cairnsmore and Happy Fleet was 156-rated two mile chaser Fix The Rib. She is in a maiden at Wolves on 8th February, and must be in with a chance if these runs are a reliable guide.
Elegant
Olive
16th Jan: Huntingdon, 2m 5½f conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle on soft, ridden by Danny Burton: 6th
She needed the race after the snow disruption, but her chances were further scuppered when the starter asked the field to take a turn at the start. Danny (who has been banned once this season for ignoring such an instruction) and one other rider did so, and the field were let go whilst their backs were turned, giving away a fifteen length start. Olive did work her way back into the pack, see below, and made good progress half a mile out to be on the leader's heels, before fading out of things, which at least proved the problem at the start was an inconvenience rather than costing her a winning chance.
As the field passes the stands, Elegant Olive (9) gets stuck in as she realises she will soon get another chance to bite the starter...
Romney
Marsh
16th Jan: Huntingdon, 2m ½f handicap hurdle on soft, ridden by Danny Burton: 6th
She was in a similar situation to Olive, having been held up by the snow, but acting as if she needed to get out into the wild green yonder for a run. The trip at a speed track like Huntingdon was on the sharp side, but Danny worked his way to the front on the far side and kicked on, challenging the others to be good enough to respond. Unfortunately, they were, but it was job done, and no worse outcome than expected in the circumstances. She has been phenomenally well since, and was set to run at big race at Folkestone afterwards, but it was frustratingly called off, having looked an unlikely weather casualty until the day of racing.
Rince
Donn
19th Jan: Folkestone, 2m handicap chase on soft, ridden by Mark Grant: WON
26th Jan: Leicester, 2m 4½f handicap chase on good to soft, ridden by Danny Burton: Pulled up
The plan at Folkestone was to be sneaky and hit the front at the last. However, as the horse was travelling better and out-jumping the opposition, Mark could not help but get there about half a mile too early. Fortunately, Rince Donn kept his idling in front to a minimum and ran out a comfy winner. The margin was five lengths, but as he was not flustered to do it, we feared a sharp rise in the ratings, and went for a quick follow up before it took effect. That plan did not work as a) Rince Donn ran a bit flat and b) he was raised less than the worst case/most likely scenario envisaged.
Myshkin
19th Jan: Folkestone, 2m 1½f juvenile hurdle on heavy, ridden by Chloe Boxall: Unseated
After getting a win on board for this meeting, Myshkin was not a forlorn hope to make it a double after he had pleasantly surprised us before. Since the winner of this race followed up in a good race at Sandown, hindsight suggests that was a bit of an optimistic view. However, Chloe kicked on with him a long way out, but the muddy conditions found him out, and he was fading out of the places when unseating at the last. He will probably do better in handicaps and when he can be ridden patiently over a longer trip, as he does not always enjoy being rushed along in life.
Street
Devil
20th Jan: Kempton, 1m handicap on the all-weather, ridden by Frankie McDonald: 13th
He got this horribly wrong at a time when the horses were either winning, or finishing in positions that are multiples of three. More maths lessons are clearly required. The main damage was self inflicted, as Street Devil was far too keen early on, and then resented getting bumped around a bit when asked to improve his position. He did pick up again late on, but when the race was over. He can do much better than this, but has to learn to race to his rider's agenda, not his own.
La
Toya J
20th Jan: Kempton, 6f handicap on the all-weather, ridden by Dane O'Neill: 9th
Another self-inflicted defeat, but a more physical one. La Toya J tried to anticipate the gates opening in the stalls, charged them and bashed her head on the frame, knocking two front teeth out in the process. This ended all realistic chance, but to her credit she ran a genuine race, despite the fact that she must have been feeling a certain degree of pain. To see what she was experiencing, hit your face on a door frame, biting it in the process and then run several laps of the dining room with a small person trying to steer you round with a bit of string held in place with your mouth. Obviously, don't actually do this, as it is phenomenally silly and we do not want to be held responsible, but it makes for a good comparison.
Munich
20th Jan: Kempton, 7f handicap on the all-weather, ridden by Dane O'Neill: WON
This was a great, intelligent ride from Dane O'Neill to ensure a convincing win. Drawn wide, and with Munich not as sharp out of the stalls as hoped for, he tacked over to the inside, settled on the heels of the leaders, tested out how much horse he had on the bend, and happy that the answer was "quite a lot," he dived up the inside when they got to the false running rail at the top of the straight. Good riding and a very encouraging turn of foot from Munich, to win cosily.
New
World Order
22nd Jan: Lingfield, 1m 2f handicap on the all-weather, ridden by Ian Mongan: 9th
The plan for this was to lead, steadily early on, and wind up the pace gradually, as New World Order is the sort to grind things out, not show flashy bursts of devastating speed. The first part worked, as he led at a mediocre pace, but the wind up was not aggressive enough and he was swamped late on. Being ninth involved a defeat of only three and a half lengths...
Alderbrook
Girl
24th Jan: Towcester, 3m ½f handicap chase on heavy, ridden by Danny Burton: 7th
A common refrain for Alderbrook Girl - it rode very stickily and she did not go on it. A bit disappointing, as after the snow had melted, we were expecting Towcester to be the wetter and looser ground that she does like.
Stellar
Cause
27th Jan: Kempton, 1m 4f handicap on the all weather, ridden by Dane O'Neill: 13th
This was also a disappointment given that the horses running at Kempton had all done quite well on it lately - facial injuries permitting, of course - but Stellar Cause is still a bit weak and immature and is going to need a bit more time to live up to his potential.
Candilejas
28th Jan: Southwell, 1m auction maiden on the all weather, ridden by Tony Culhane: 6th
She had not been impressing at home, but did not run at all badly here on her debut for us. Although the first two were well clear, Candliejas looked for a long way as if she was going to pinch third, but she tied up in the last furlong, and that threat petered out. It gave something to work on.
Friends
Hope
28th Jan: Southwell, 1m 3f claimer on the all weather, ridden by Frankie McDonald: WON
This was her tenth career win, and she bolted up, no problems encountered. Obviously it failed to answer why she did not achieve the landmark in the seller last month, but the end justifies the means, and the first time blinkers probably fired her enthusiasm, as she had become a bit lazy in her work at home. Some form of spark was required, and they did the trick.
Baltimore
Patriot
28th Jan: Kempton, 2m handicap on the all weather, ridden by Frankie McDonald: 2nd
4th Feb: Wolverhampton, 2m ½f handicap on the all weather, ridden by Tony Culhane: 3rd
Being more of a hurdler, he is not blessed with a great burst of finishing pace, and that proved to be the undoing of Baltimore Patriot in both races - in losing the first by half a length he was staying on strongly late, rather than going stride for stride with the winner. Eleven out of ten for effort, and roll on the spring for him, where the jumping ground will begin to suit.
Dreamwalk
29th Jan: Wolverhampton, 2m ½f handicap on the all weather, ridden by Dane O'Neill: 4th
When we arrived at the track, it was two degrees BELOW zero, and fear of freezing meant that the track was harrowed extra deep. That was no good for Dreamwalk, who failed to cope with it, but at least showed a brave attitude in trying to cope.
Quam Cellerime
2nd Feb: Taunton, 2m 1f novice hurdle on good to soft, ridden by Mark Bradburne: 11th
He got a nice aside in the Racing Post for this, whose alert use of Google had shown that his name is also the motto of the Chilean Air Force. This failed to improve the result, although the horse has taken to conversing in Spanish, with a South American accent. In fact, after having been off for a long time, he needed the run and experience, and the choice of date was dictated by Hugh's availability to see the long-absent horse actually on a race course. He jumped well (Quam Cellerime, not Hugh) and it will time to wind him up (again the horse, but Hugh might be up for it as well...) more seriously from now.
Its A Classic
4th Feb: Towcester, 3m ½f handicap chase on soft, ridden by Mark Grant: WON
Win number three of the season for Its A Classic, battling it out in testing ground at Towcester. In our often non-ideal world, winning by thirty lengths has undesirable long term consequences, but there was little choice. Going up the steep hill in the mud can cause horses to stop very quickly, and even after the second last, Its A Classic still had a challenger. That horse did tie up quickly, but had Mark eased up as well, he could have found our fellow also slowing far more rapidly than intended, so had to keep him up to his work. Fear of the rise in the weights forces a quick reappearance, at Lingfield, but whether Its A Classic is fresh enough remains to be seen.
Money Finder
4th Feb: Towcester, 2m 3½f mares' maiden hurdle on soft, ridden by Mark Grant: 4th
We were very satisfied with Money Finder's run. She cut out the running, but was swamped by the field at the fourth last. Although the first three then went clear, Money Order showed her heart and stamina by rallying and passing several runners that had gone past her earlier. Staying handicap hurdles are just over her career horizon.
13th January 2010
Miscellaneous entries news: On 16th Jan, Kempton has a provisional card for bumpers open to horses that would normally have graduated beyond them under the regular rules. These will be run if the turf jumps meeting is called off. We have a few of the thousands of entries, so please keep eyes peeled for any last minute surprise decs if the bumper card goes ahead.
Capone
28th Dec: Wolverhampton, 6f handicap on the all weather, ridden by Hayley Turner: 6th
This was probably a better run than the bare result shows, as Capone was beaten only a length and three-quarters. That after he got quite a hefty bump early in the race, which must have had a bit of a startling effect, and the whole heat itself was run at a sedate pace. One thing is certain abut Capone - he prefers battling it out grimly after things have gone on at a rapid rate quite early - sort of Sigurd versus Fafnir, but with all horses.
Bentley
Brook
29th Dec: Southwell, 1m 6f handicap on the all weather, ridden by Tony Culhane: 9th
Bentley Brook's run here was one of a puzzlingly poor handful around this time, where the horses underachieved with no obvious reason. It did come hard on the heels of the first burst of snow, which disrupted the routine a little before Christmas. None of those horses that were ready to run appeared unduly affected, but the results did not bear that view out. Perhaps it was some sort of localised, short term Seasonally Affected Disorder, but of the excuses allowed to be given to the stewards, none of them say "been watching too many Ingmar Bergman films."
La
Toya J
31st Dec: Lingfield, 7f two year old maiden on the all weather, ridden by Tony Culhane: 5th
It was all a bit too manic for her on this occasion. She did not run badly in the end, but now she has the experience under her belt, a furlong or so further is needed, and the better surface at Kempton probably makes La Toya J feel a bit more comfortable.
Its A
Classic
31st Dec: Warwick, 3m ½f handicap chase on soft, ridden by Mark Grant: 5th
In a slight contrast to some of the flat runners, Its A Classic was not sparkling as brightly as when he picked up his two wins earlier in 2009. However, this race looked worth a stab at, as the conditions were ideal. Unfortunately, it did not cut up as much as was expected and it proved a tough ask, which he made harder for himself with a couple of careless jumps early on. He will bounce back.
Lesleys
Choice
1st Jan: Southwell, 5f handicap on the all weather, ridden by Frankie McDonald: 6th
See Bentley Brook!
Baltimore
Patriot
1st Jan: Southwell, 1m 6f handicap on the all weather, ridden by Tony Culhane: 4th
See Bentley Brook as well! Actually, there was another possible factor at work on New Year's Day, apart from all being quiet. The bad weather had left the going riding slow, and at Southwell that can prove surprisingly testing, more than is preferred for Lesleys Choice or Baltimore Patriot.
Alderbrook
Girl
3rd Jan: Plumpton, 2m 4f handicap chase on soft, ridden by Mark Grant: 6th
A bit of a waste of a day in the end, as the snow battered, cover plastered ground at Plumpton was completely wrong for her, so motions were gone through. The small, specific consolation was that the loss of jumping from the next day onwards meant that she was not missing a better opening by running!
Dreamwalk
3rd Jan: Plumpton, 1m 4f handicap on the all weather, ridden by Jim Crowley: 3rd
This was a decent run, with Jim reporting that he followed the wrong horse into the straight, and he assured us that given the chance to ride the race again, he could win it. Give an infinite number of monkeys an infinite number of parallel universes (multiverses, to be pedantic) and something amazing would happen! Jim's other view was that Dreamwalk would do better over 1m 6f or more, so that is the future agenda.
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