Newbury Racecourse, take a bow! Having
enjoyed 3 fantastic days I will certainly be returning for next year’s Winter
Festival (and more than likely before that!). Over the 3 days we were extremely
lucky with the weather as although fairly chilly at times, we escaped rain and
were even privileged enough to enjoy some sunshine! As for the racing, I’ve
never known so many close finishes at one meeting. Most will remember the gallant
Harry Topper plugging on when seemingly having no chance to take the race close
to home, but on that first day alone we saw Parsnip Pete win by just over a
length, Sizing Santiago win by a length, Lyvius win by 2 lengths and Oscar Rock
also win by just one length – 13 ¾ lengths total winning distance across 7
races advertises the competitive nature of the card!
As with last time I visited Newbury I was
impressed on all fronts. From the staff and food/drink, to the general
facilities and accessibility, the whole 3 days were hugely enjoyable, but as
always it is the racing that is to be looked back upon. On Thursday the
aforementioned Harry Topper looked done before seemingly growing a pair of
wings under Timmy Murphy and flying home in front to land the competitive
looking novice chase. He will almost certainly not take in the RSA this year as
Kim Bailey will look after him but I can see him making up into a Gold Cup
horse next season – particularly if we had a wet March. Benefficient (2nd)
will no doubt pick up races and I feel there will also be more to come from Highland
Lodge (3rd), both of whom will enjoy similar conditions and softer.
Lyvius is another horse I’d take from Thursday’s card as he looks much improved
on last season’s performances. Barry Geraghty said before the race that he’d
strengthened up over the summer and that appeared the case as although
receiving weight from the smart Edgardo Sol (2nd), that rival had a
decent claimer aboard in Harry Derham. Vendor never ran his race again and
again I’d write off that run, but something needs to change before I’d be
backing him in future. The bumper was the other race I feel will throw up
winners in future as Oscar Rock narrowly beat Gone Too Far with the pair well
clear of the rest. Gone Too Far is well regarded by the Alan King team and will
certainly go on to better things and will certainly get further in time.
Therefore the winner is also clearly a smart sort and looks an exciting
addition to young Harry Fry’s newly forged team.
On to Friday and another hugely competitive
looking novice chase, though this time won in the most impressive fashion of
any race across the whole 3 day meeting! David Pipe appears to have a very
exciting horse on his hands in the shape of Dynaste (pictured above), another grey who has made
a successful transition from hurdles to fences after the similar exploits of
Grands Crus last season. In a race that looked like it could be a close one on
paper with Court In Motion (2nd) and Theatre Guide (3rd) both
fancied to go well by many, Dynaste proceeded to demolish all before him and
hose up on the bit to take the Gr2 affair cosily by 4 and a half lengths. The
world is this boy’s oyster and his handler could run him in any of the 3 novice
chases at the Festival in March and you’d have to give serious consideration to
his chances! Elsewhere on the card, Vasco D’Ycy won what I don’t believe will
be the strongest of juvenile contests this season, but I still feel it is worth
sticking Bold Cuffs (put up on here pre-race) in the tracker as he was green as
grass and didn’t jump well. He should come on for the run and I can see him
returning a much improved horse in the not too distant future.
Another beaten selection was Ballybough Pat
who ran a decent race to dead heat in 2nd behind the rejuvenated old
boy Fair Along. An impressive training performance from the Hobbs team, I again
feel Ballybough Pat should still be followed as he will make into a smart
chaser next season and should improve on his hurdles form to date. The other
exciting horse to take from Friday’s racing is obviously Puffin Billy who could
be anything. Having impressed in 2 effortless bumper victories he made the
expected successful switch to hurdling and will no doubt continue to progress
throughout the season. The race looked one of substance as Paul Nicholls’ Sound
Investment looks no mug and although likely to improve considerably for the run
and upped in trip, Kaki De La Pree is well regarded by the Seven Barrows camp.
The only doubt in my mind is that the 2nd went off 150/1 but I’d
like to think that he was massively overpriced and that the form will work out
okay in time. However, Puffin Billy couldn’t have done it any easier and
regardless of the form he has a bright future ahead of him and is a nice sort
for his trainer to work with.
Saturday was another lovely day of racing with a nice blend of handicaps, the Gr1 Big Bucks procession, and of course the feature Gr3 Hennessy Gold Cup. Though bitterly disappointed by Call Me A Star, I feel she simply did not run her race and would be willing to write off the run. The front 2 should both progress and Eleven Fifty Nine will have more to come but needs a greater test of stamina so looks one to follow when upped in trip. Rolling Aces did as expected and won his handicap (having been put up on this blog at 6/1 the night before) and although made to work hard by Merry King (2nd) I feel the pair both have plenty more to offer as they were nicely clear of 3rd and Jonjo’s Merry King cost £150,000 at the Cheltenham Sales last year. Both will also get 3m when asked, with further improvement likely to be seen when stepping up to that trip but a good result from my perspective having backed the winner and also the forecast! Big Bucks (pictured above) did what Big Bucks does. My only worry was that Ruby Walsh (pictured below) may receive a ban for schooling public! It was that easy!
Having put up and massively fancied
Salubrious it wasn’t fun watching the clearly smart At Fishers Cross bound
clear to take the 2m3f handicap, but he
was obviously beaten by a nice sort and I’d be sure that the front 3 are all
decent as Ardlui is another who should find more upped in trip. What a game
horse Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty have in Bobs Worth! To win this race
off his mark is impressive in itself, but the way he battled on all the way to
the line made the performance that bit more creditable. He is surely a big
contender for the Gold Cup in March having done the business at Prestbury Park
on every visit, and the improving 7yo looks one to stay on the right side of
any time he runs (assuming they keep him to left handed courses!). Having
applauded the winner, it would be delusional to ignore Tiday Bay who defied a
mark 6lb higher than that of Bobs Worth to finish just over 3 lengths back in 2nd.
It’s hardly a secret that Paul Nicholls is capable of great things but this
performance simply reinforces his extreme talents. To improve a horse that
seemed he may be past his best when arriving at Ditcheat, to win the Bet365
Gold Cup, the John Smiths Hurdle and then finish 2nd in this race,
all at the age of 11, would be almost unthinkable if we were not treated to
such excellence on an almost annual basis. Though he’ll be 12yo by March it
would take a brave man to discount his chances in the Gold Cup if you ask me
and he could well take all the beating in the Lexus in Ireland over Christmas.
It was nice to end the 3 days on a high with
the gambled on Ulck Du Lin taking the finale at an SP of 2/1 having been put up
here the night before at 5/1. The drop in trip was the key for this one and
depending on how the handicapper reacts he may win again as he was obviously
well handicapped. The other horse put up for Saturday was Mount Benbulben who
won easily at Fairyhouse. Though definitely needing to brush up on his jumping,
this is a serious horse who should improve as the season goes on and it will be
worth keeping a close eye on him.
A fantastic 3 days and plenty to take from
the meeting, we can now look forward to an exciting clash of the titans in the
Tingle Creek this coming Saturday. The novice chase looks like it will also
shape up nicely and although both are unlikely to have many runners; they will
almost certainly be high quality affairs and provide further indicators for the
rest of the season. Saturday also sees Aintree host the Becher Chase over the
Grand National fences (pictured above) which will, as always, be fascinating to watch.
Happy Days!
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