Review of Cheltenham's International Meeting and more!

As ever, I thoroughly enjoyed both days at Cheltenham this weekend. In fact, I’m not sure it would even be possible to visit the course and not have a great time (though maybe I’m slightly biased!). For the first time since I’ve been a member (this is the third season), I actually made it up into the Insurance Bar and members’ seating and was gobsmacked by the view. Simply walking out trackside at Cheltenham takes your breath away, but the view you get watching racing from the elevated position in line with the finishing line is second to none!

 

Concentrating on the racing and what a cracking 2 days we enjoyed, though it is important to remember how awful and testing the ground conditions were when looking back on the form with a view to future races. Whilst certain horses were supremely impressive, it could be slightly naive to take the form of this weekend’s races at face value as some horses would have been suited ideally and others would have hated it. One that falls in the latter category is Broadbackbob who was never travelling in the opening race of the weekend and I’d simply write his run off as he will make a nice chaser given the better conditions he desires. The winner, Super Duty, looks a very nice horse himself though and is likely to go on over fences so is worth following. Rebel Rebellion was again disappointing but I’d be willing to chance him when back on decent ground as his 2 flops over fences have come on very testing ground and he has hurdles form on better surfaces.

I had no feelings about the 2^nd race beforehand and frankly still don’t but Dark Lover was put up on here as one that could figure prominently in the 3^rd race and so he did, hosing up impressively by 16 lengths on ground I still feel he’s not best suited by. With the possibility of improvement back on better ground he could still progress but it would depend on how the handicapper assesses him and I would think he’ll gain a hefty rise for this win. Another horse in the race also wants better ground and Top Of The Range could be nicely handicapped by the time he encounters it so is worth sticking in the tracker with that in mind. He’s only a 5yo so I’d say there’ll be more to come but being by Presenting, the aforementioned better ground and a switch to chasing would seem needed for us to see him at his best.

The 4^th race on Friday was a bit of an odd one for me as Midnight Chase was withdrawn and I think connections of both Bradley and Quart De Thaix are still considering the Welsh National for their charges, though I wouldn’t be as keen to back them after they’ve run 3m1f in that ground just 2 weeks prior to the Chepstow race!

The X-country was another letdown for me having backed Uncle Junior as he departed before any indication of where he may have finished so I'd still be keen to follow him in future. The winner, Outlaw Pete (pictured above), was very impressive but was receiving plenty of weight which was always going to be of great benefit on the heavy-riding X-country course. It was nice to see Bostons Angel show signs of a revival in finishing second as he has been out of sorts for a long time now but seemed to take to the obstacles nicely so hopefully has found his niche and can continue to enjoy racing in these slightly less conventional races.

A race I’d be more inclined to take note of is the 3m handicap hurdle won by Rebecca Curtis’ talented 5yo At Fishers Cross, who after taking a Newbury handicap with noticeable ease last time out (beating 2 well handicapped sorts in the process), racked up another victory over this new extended trip. Inish Island is a big strapping horse and ran a nice race in 2^nd, not beaten far, and they were a good 8 lengths clear of the 3^rd so could both be worth noting.

 

As suggested before racing, I still feel the last race on Friday is one that will throw up plenty of winners this season and in future years. The winner Melodic Rendezvous did it nicely and confirmed the promise he showed when finishing 2^nd in the Gr1 Champion Bumper at Punchestown by taking this competitive heat from the Nicky Henderson trained Royal Boy. Barry Geraghty’s mount hadn’t run for a long time and although outpaced slightly, stayed on impressively to lose out by less than a length at the finish. I’ve no doubt he’ll come on for the run and is sure to pick up races in the not too distant future to help justify his £150,000 price tag. Eduard performed with great credit again in 3^rd, as did Imperial Leader in 4^th who I think is most worth taking from the race from a long term perspective. They both gave the majority of the field 6lb in weight and are both only 4yo’s, making their performances even more commendable. Imperial Leader, like the more well known Imperial Commander, is by Flemensfirth so the 2m1f trip would certainly have been plenty short enough and this was evident in the way his race panned out. He was a bit keen early on which is understandable for a young, inexperienced horse and he will certainly mature in time. He was a little outpaced in the middle stages of the race but stayed on dourly (as his breeding would suggest) and battled gamely to take 4^th place. He has proven he can handle the hill at Cheltenham which is an excellent sign for things to come, and given time to gain experience and grow up both physically and mentally, I’m certain this one will make into a serious horse and could even return to Prestbury Park for one of the novice hurdle events in March. He will no doubt improve for a step up in trip which would appear likely given his performance and I recommend following this one closely wherever he goes!

For want of a better indication that the quality of racing this weekend – the above was Friday at Cheltenham alone! Saturday however, brought equally as talented horses, on cards across the country! Any of you who read Saturday’s preview on here will know we had a good day and although many were favourites, nearly reached double figures on the winners count (including the 13/2 winner of the Lingfield bumper!). Although I don’t particularly like putting up short priced horses (anyone can pick out the jolly), occasionally I will if I feel they are deservedly favourite and should do nothing but win their race!

 

The opener Saturday went pretty much as expected as the impressive Far West confirmed previous form with the since gelded Handazan. Alan King’s charge looked to have Ruby Walsh at work on the winner a couple out but Paul Nicholls’ promising youngster soon put the race to bed by a comfortable distance and I’d say he’ll go on to better things. Slightly surprising as we often tend not to see the elite juveniles until after Christmas these days but either this one is bucking the trend or Mr Nicholls has a serious horse to unleash on the Triumph market!

 

The 2^nd race was pleasing as although not investing financially in Highland Lodge, it is always nice to pick one against the odds on favourite and see it win. Emma Lavelle (pictured above) had a great day across the cards on Saturday and this one looked an absolute picture in the parade ring and prevailed in conditions he most definitely thrives in. Barry Geraghty mentioned in his weekend review blog (I’m sure he has a few more readers than this one – for now!) that Lavelle may have a future Welsh National horse on her hands and it would be hard to disagree as the softer the better and he appears to stay all day. Not one I’d consider for the RSA (unless Cheltenham was a bog in March) but he is certainly worth keeping in mind when gifted his preferred conditions.

Shooters Wood won nicely at Cheltenham last time and backed up that display with another win this weekend, though it was nearly a different result as Ruby Walsh didn’t appear to notice AP attempting to blindside him up the home straight on His Excellency. Fortunately for Walsh, David Pipe’s inmate didn’t appear to want to win as much as his jockey and Shooters Wood held on, but it was a heart in mouth moment for those who backed the Nicholls horse. As with all races this weekend, particularly the handicaps, it will be hard to assess the substance of the victory as they were very much strung out in behind, but the pair finished 33 lengths clear of the disappointing joint favourite Garynella in 3^rd.

 

 

Mattie Batchelor is already a fan favourite and his exploits on Carruthers (the pair are pictured above) were enjoyed as much by those who didn’t back him as those that did! He appears to have a serious horse on his hands in the shape of double Cheltenham winner Coneygree, who battled gamely to the line on the back of a headstrong, end to end front running performance that firmly placed this one on my radar for the future. To stay 3m in that ground after going a fair gallop the whole way was impressive enough in itself, but the way he quickened up again when challenged on the run in by Aerial, who had been given an excellent stalking ride by Ruby, was extremely impressive and he is certainly a horse for the notebook! Another that looked a picture in the parade ring, he will make a lovely staying chaser in time, but will surely make his mark in staying hurdles and assuming he handles better ground in the same way he has the soft/heavy conditions, he could be a festival horse come March.

From one impressive performance to another, as Unioniste became the youngest horse ever to win the December Gold Cup as he stormed to victory under a featherweight for young Harry Derham to land the 2^nd of the 2 big handicap chases this side of Christmas for his superb trainer. Though in receipt of plenty of weight, it does not detract from the achievement of winning this race as a 4yo and he looks another bright grey prospect for his owner John Hales to look forward to after the disappointing news his previous big race winner Al Ferof could be out for the season. As impressive as the horse, young Derham (pictured below aboard Unioniste) certainly looks a jockey going places and with the firepower he will no doubt receive working for his uncle Paul, he looks sure to pick up some more nice races in the future. Walkon ran another creditable race in 2^nd after filling the same spot behind Al Ferof in the PaddyPower, and they were again strung out in behind so as with previous races it may pay not to read too much into the form.

 

The final 2 races on the card at Cheltenham contained the most talented horses on show at the course, but the former was far more competitive than the latter. Zarkandar, Grandouet and Rock On Ruby all ran with great credit in the International (or Bula as many still refer to it) but I feel no more educated on how the Champion Hurdle may pan out than before the race! Zarkandar was receiving 4lb from those 2 rivals and duly took this competitive heat, but no by far! He also had a run under his belt which the other pair didn’t, but that does not mean I think they would reverse the form in March. Zarkandar and Rock On Ruby both hurdled beautifully and I’d say Zarkandar was as slick over his hurdles as a cherry ripe Binocular on his day! He also stayed on extremely well when challenged at the finish by Grandouet, though that rival will probably come on a fair amount for the run having been off the course for a year. Rock On Ruby would have been inconvenienced by the ground, but then so would the other 2, so who do we take from the race? Personally – all 3. Zarkandar is my favourite of the 3, and I think that the quicker they go (and I’m sure they will on better ground and in a Champion Hurdle) the more effective I feel he will be as it will bring his stamina into play so I’m hoping he will confirm the form when they next meet, though he will need to improve accordingly when racing off level weights. Oscar Whisky was the other class horse to run on Saturday and he took the finale as expected in a pointless, 3 runner affair. If we get soft ground in March he’d have to be taken seriously as a Champion Hurdle contender, but could go for the World Hurdle given the recent news that Big Bucks may be out for the season. Either way he is an excellent horse and will no doubt pick up a couple more races this season, possibly including the Aintree Hurdle where he could bump into Zarkandar (pictured below) and Rock On Ruby over 2m4f.

 

Not wanting to miss out on the other racing from Saturday, a couple of horses were put up on here and must be mentioned now having impressed in their respective races and looking like horses to follow. Kim Bailey’s Midnight Oscar may have idled on the run in but he ran a nice race on Saturday and I think he’s one who will improve for a better quality race. He looked in great nick and will continue to mature so follow him wherever he goes as he has bundles of potential! Rocky Creek (pictured below) finished 2^nd to Bailey’s Newbury winner Harry Topper on chase debut at Exeter (with Highland Lodge in 3^rd) and he also confirmed the form of that race in winning nicely at Doncaster. He looked around a bit when in front but jumped nicely and will certainly go on to better things so could well make into an RSA horse by the spring. Court In Motion is another novice chaser who won Saturday and he is also likely to go on over fences as he was a smart hurdler and appears to have taken to the larger obstacles. He won on the same Lingfield card as Tanerko Emery who justified our faith in winning again, though now likely to earn himself a hefty rise in the handicap it could be worth deserting him now. Alphabetical Order was another pleasing win for this blog as he took the all-weather bumper at 13/2 for his new trainer Tim Vaughan. The other horse I feel compelled to mention from Saturday is Samtegal, who in finishing 2^nd by a length to impressive winner Kashmir Peak, cost me over a grand in the process as the other 5 selections in my multiple went in! Thanks for that!!

 

Only 2 races I feel are worth mentioning from Sunday’s card at Navan, as Boston Bob won the opening novice chase, and Pont Alexandre surprised many (but not all of us) in beating Don Cossack who actually fell once beaten. Boston Bob didn’t look as impressive as some may have wished, but he got the job done and will improve for it and I’d say he’ll be winning more races soon. Don Cossack has been touted highly after an impressive season in bumpers, but I wouldn’t desert him after this defeat as he is definitely a chaser in the making and was beaten by a serious horse in Willie Mullins’ Pont Alexandre. I’m certain the form will be franked considerably by the winner over the following months and assuming he is okay following a fairly nasty fall, Don Cossack (pictured below) will still be worth following, possibly over hurdles this season and without doubt when going novice chasing next season.

 

A weekend to savour and I promise you that winners from all 3 days will be popping up again throughout the season! Next weekend will no doubt be another interesting one with Simonsig likely to make his chase debut (possibly against exciting Champion Hurdle runner up Overturn) and there is plenty to look forward to with the prestigious Ladbroke Hurdle on Saturday!

 

Happy Days!