Cheltenham Pointers 31st October 2012

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Another weekend of strong national hunt racing behind us, and the portfolio is in for a reight treat as we say up north, and is about to get more padding than the walls of Broadmoor, and probably just as difficult to understand. This season is gradually moving through the gears, with Cheltenham’s Open Meeting followed by Aintree’s Old Roan Chase card, and The Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby bringing some very interesting challenger from across The Irish Sea. Lots of high class pretenders out strutting their stuff early, so who has caught the eye?


He may have cheekily gone under the radar but not by my bins as I’ve been waiting for WAAHEB to run since missing the festival last year through injury. His only ever defeat came to the unfortunate deceased Lovethehigherlaw of Willie Mullins in the champion bumper at Punchestown in 2011 and he is all class. He was expected to go hurdling with a view of his main aim for the forthcoming season being The Supreme Novices Hurdle. A year on, he will be stronger and fitter and trained by Dermot Weld, is hardly a negative now is it. Saying he knows the time of day is like saying Stephen Hawking is a clever chap. That man AP McCoy is likely to ride should the five year old get to Prestbury Park, with his boss JP being rather fond of having runners, and more importantly winners around such hallowed turf. He took well to hurdling, and is the leading player already at the start of the season.


Another leading player in their novice division will be THE NEW ONE for Sam and Nigel Twiston-Davies. Like Waaheb, comes from a decent background in bumpers, winning at Aintree, and sixth at Cheltenham, and he has looked even better since taking on hurdles. He won a modest novice hurdle at Newton Abbot but travelled like a dream when stepped up to two and a half miles at Cheltenham in a race that is seen as an early prelude to the Neptune Novice Hurdle come March. He showed a smart turn of foot to win by three lengths and at the current odds on offer of 10/1 – Mr Chandler may be underestimating the King’s Theatre animal. Already a course and distance winner is a massive plus around Cheltenham, but you knew that already, right? You do now.

HANDAZAN won a juvenile hurdle at the second attempt, winning an all-out slugfest to beat the well-bred For Two of Graham Wylie and Paul Nicholls, on desperate ground at Aintree. That being said, there should be more to come, and let’s be honest, we all know how Alan King likes a tilt at the Triumph Hurdle. As does his owners, The McNeill family, who have purchased this horse for that very race. Bred and ran on the flat by HH Aga Khan, he has an illustrious pedigree, but more importantly an illustrious ante post price of 33/1. He will be gelded to calm him down, all that testosterone on the poor lad will be making his thoughts wander instead of lepping around Cheltenham, and on better ground, when he turns up on the day, he is more likely to be 3/1 than 33/1.

GO NATIVE was a ma-hu-sive eye-catcher with his first run back for two and half years on the flat three weeks ago, when absolutely lobbing along before finding little late on, but wasn’t pressed, there is more in store for him than a two mile handicap around Navan. Clearly as he won on Monday by six lengths at Galway under Nina Carberry, going wide throughout and yet still routing them. She knew how much she had underneath her (that’s what she said). He won The Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle in 2009/2010 season, and ended up going off 5/2 favourite for that year’s Champion Hurdle finishing tenth of twelfth, injured and out for two seasons. He’s back, he will be fresh and fit and the Noel Meade stable have started off flying. A friend of mine think’s he a cert.


The final eye catcher of the week was SIRE DE GRUGY who has really strong form in two mile handicap hurdles last season behind the likes of Zarkander, rated 148 over the smaller objects. His running style means he will thrive over a quickly run contest, which he is sure to achieve come Cheltenham the second week in March. As long as his jumping is up to scratch, he could be a big player, and he seemed to thrive over fences at Kempton last Sunday, running away to win by six lengths. Don’t get me wrong, he may be outclassed if something like Simonsig goes chasing, but, he looks a good bet for the multiples, and a nice each way poke… so to speak.


Eye-Catchers & Markets
Supreme Novices Hurdle - Waaheb 12/1 (Bet Victor, Boylesports, William Hill)
Neptune Novices Hurdle – The New One 16/1 (William Hill)
Triumph Hurdle – Handazan 33/1 (Bet Victor, Boylesports, William Hill)
Champion Hurdle – Go Native 33/1 (William Hill)
Arkle Chase – Sire De Grugy 20/1 (Bet Victor, Stan James, Ladbrokes)


The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner

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Thursday Racing at Uttoxeter

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A nice little card at Uttoxeter this afternoon, with a nice bunch of handicaps and novice hurdles to gradually dip our toe into the national hunt season. It seems from entries and market movers that the two trainers to keep an eye on are Fergal O’ Brien and Donald McCain, two very crafty men to keep an eye on throughout the duration of the season no doubt.


The first race is a trappy looking novice hurdle, and RIGHT TO RULE looks to be a very worthy even money favourite for the ever conquering Donald McCain yard, with stable jockey Jason Maguire taking the leg up. He was second to eventual group winner Sir Graham Wade on debut for William Haggas, and ran on soft three times, winning a maiden over ten furlongs at the third time of asking. Now gelded, this Rock of Gibraltar three year old showed enough promise two weeks ago on his hurdling debut at Bangor to suggest he has a lot more to offer, and given his flat form, should love the soft ground out there. Ctappers gives the field 7lb, and Alborz has been behind both of these two on his two novice hurdles thus far.


The second novice hurdle is for older horses, and is made up of national hunt bred horses, whose main goal will no doubt be chasing in the years to come. Un Bop P’tit Gars carries a 6lb penalty for a recent course and distance win, which makes life very difficult. Spanish Arch, Moscow Presents, Benjamin Bittern and Coastal Bay are not without a chance, but it could be worth taking a chance on BUDDY LOVE for Martin Keighley. The mares allowance gets her a further 7lb in weight from the field, and the yard are warming up nicely, with two winners last week. She is from a decent family, and showed a game attitude when winning a bumper at Towcester back in May.


Notabotheronme looks the worthy favourite of the three mile handicap chase, and Paul Moloney is riding especially well as of late, but considering the gelding is up 4lb for winning a very poor race last time out in May, the form of that win and the lengthy absence could go against him. Four run out of the handicap, which leaves Ban Uisce and Salut Honore, with preference for the former. BAN UISCE has three career wins over soft ground, and it is interesting that the seven year old is stepped up to three miles for the first time. He is down to a career low mark and has promising young jockey Ryan Mania on for the first time, and he should be fit from a season of summer jumping.


QUEEN OF MANTUA goes for the ever conquering Fergal O’Brien yard, and this could form the part of a quick-fire double for the stable. A well-bred Old Vic mare, she was last seen winning a novice hurdle in a very comfortably fashion on soft ground at Towcester over two and a half miles. She won despite hanging that day, and with more experience and strengthening up over the summer; she could prove to be a very nice handicapping prospect for the yard. The fact that the money is down for DIRLETON in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle speaks volumes and the Flemensfirth six year old runs for the first time in eighteen months, making his handicap and actual debut for the yard after previously being with George Charlton. He is unexposed, off a workable mark, and with the market responding accordingly, he carries maximum respect.


The two mile handicap chase looks very tricky, but with the ground being very soft, the only horse who has form on the surface is LUKEYS LUCK who has also been well backed throughout the morning. The six year old’s record on soft or worse going reads 12, and considering how unexposed he is in comparison to his rivals, he looks on a good enough mark to be winning a race of this calibre.



2.10 Uttoxeter – Right to Rule (Nap)
2.40 Uttoxeter – Buddy Love
3.10 Uttoxeter – Ban Uisce
3.40 Uttoxeter – Queen of Mantua
4.10 Uttoxeter – Dirleton
4.40 Uttoxeter – Lukeys Luck (Nb)

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner


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Tuesday Racing at Huntingdon, Leicester and The Curragh

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SEPTEMBER LILY is a very game and consistent sort, and is a filly that goes against her Cape Cross pedigree, having her best runs over seven furlongs and soft ground. The filly gets 5lb from the field, and has Wayne Lordan on her back, enjoying a fine season. The Ballydoyle debutant Sidereus Nuncius is massively short due to the Weld non runner, and if anything September Lily could be a back to lay option, or perhaps an each way bet to nothing in a weak field.

JP Murtagh has built up a great relationship with MAN OF ERIN, and whilst he is up 7lb for a recent win, their form figures when combining of 121 highlight the strength of the partnership. The Invincible Spirit gelding is up against rivals with very patchy and inconsistent form, whereas Man of Erin, since switching to handicaps has form figures of 112317, and is one who will handle the conditions better than most.

MOSCOW CHANCER was one to follow when switching to novice handicap chases last season, and providing that he is fully wound up for his season beau, he looks on a good mark to run a big race. The two stand out freelance jockeys last year for me were Paddy Brennan and Denis O’ Regan, who both formed decent partnerships with some ‘lesser’ yards, Paddy in particular with Fergal O’ Brien and Tom George. Since handicapping, Moscow Chancer’s form reads 323314, his best form coming on better ground, and unbelievably, with Newcastle abandoned, and Curragh riding heavy; Huntingdon has good ground. We’ll take it.

GIFTED GIRL has ran smart races in defeat to group horses Coquet and Fallen For You, and back after a break, she can get back on track in the 3,40, a conditions race over a mile. The Azamour filly should handle the soft ground fine, and ran well enough before tiring last time out in a good Ascot handicap, her first run for 156 days. My Queenie is respected down in grade, as is Crystal Gal.

A trainer making giant strides already this season is Fergal O’ Brien who has been teaming up to have a host of winners with Paddy Brennan. Timmy Murphy takes the ride on WELL METT who goes unpenalised for a narrow neck defeat last time out over course and distance just nine days ago. The form of both his last two runs has been franked, and although there is a well in horse of a similar nature in Victor Echo for David Evans, Well Mett gets the nod ahead at the prices.

HISAABAAT won the four year old grade one hurdle at Punchestown last season, and although over a trip that doesn’t exactly stretch his stamina, he has enough class to win the mile and a quarter handicap off a handy mark for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen. He should win this on the way to winning much better things this season over hurdles.

BEDOUIN INVADER comes from a very smart family, for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore in those familiar colours of Mr Saheed Suhail. Out of a very smart mare, who run in plenty of black type races, yet acquiring her only two wins on soft ground. The yard can ready a newcomer, especially in the autumn and with Hard Spun and Deficit looking severely lacking in any value whatsoever, we shall rely on Ryan Moore booting the colt home.


2.15 Curragh – September Lily
2.45 Curragh – Man of Erin (Nb)
2.50 Huntingdon – Moscow Chancer
3.40 Leicester – Gifted Girl
4.20 Huntingdon – Well Mett
4.40 Leicester – Bedouin Invader
4.45 Curragh – Hisaabaat (Nap)


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Friday Racing on The Knavesmire - York.

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York have a solid card to round off another tremendous flat season on The Knavesmire, with numerous highlights, and the north in particular dominating the key fixtures and races, the highlight being personally Ortensia’s win in The Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.


BOND CLUB looks overpriced in the first, a six furlongs nursery, with the official going now on the softer side of soft, and heavier than an Andy Fordham knuckle sandwich, it will be treacherous out there. He handled the conditions in fine style two weeks ago, winning a Haydock maiden, beating a next time out winner, and off an unchanged mark has to be a player. Bachoteque is respected, but is plenty short enough under a plenty for the Easterby stable.


BEATEN UP is yet to run on soft ground, but he has a chance to get back to the scintillating form he showed last year, where he had the looks of a prospective group one animal. Graham Lee rides for the first time, and bringing that jumps background to the party, cane dictate the fractions to a tee. He stayed on well under hands and heels in a messy conditions race at Doncaster last time out, and back after a break, he should be fitter and fresher.


The mile handicap is a very difficult nut to crack, there are a host of protagonists, and it looks a very trappy field. No Poppy and Jo’Burg both run with pounds in hand to the handicapper, and are both respected for local connections. The conditions will be testing, and those who have handled the ground are the ones to stay on the right side of, which immediately makes OSTEOPATHIC REMEDY a big player, given his win on heavy ground at Ayr three weeks ago. He is up 3lb, but just loves the juice, young claimer Connor Nichol takes 7lb off his back, but he still looks on a good mark and will love the ground, unlike many of his rivals.


ANDERTON looks the best bet of the day, an Invincible Spirit colt that has made good progression in two maidens this season. Owned by Mr David Armstrong, who has a host of horses with the stable, that invariably like cut in the ground, most notably his star performer Mayson. He was still very green last time out at Beverley, and I have a feeling the conditions underfoot will really help this colt shed the maiden tag at the third attempt.


Another horse that was impressive last time out in shocking conditions was NATURAL BLOOM for the in form Sir Henry Cecil stable in the colours of Sir Robert Ogden. The filly turned over a Godolphin odds on shot in tremendous style under Paul Hanagan, clearly appreciating the going, winning by six lengths. She is up 7lb for that, but in good heart, will run a very strong race from a favourable draw.


GABRIAL THE THUG ran a good first race on debut at Chester, when owner Marvan Koukash had a memorable 1-2-3 where the first three home were all Gabrial’s, outstanding stuff. The winner that day won a good conditions race at Epsom the run after, and the third came from an outrageous position to run on for second, despite nearly being pulled up. The form looks good, and he should build on that debut promise. Being a son of Azamour, the heavy ground shouldn’t be too much of a problem.


Unless we have done our cogones in all afternoon, I wouldn’t bother with the amateur rider’s race, although Allied Answer looks a smart type. A well bred son of Danehill Dancer, he has performed best for David Wachman in Ireland in soft conditions, winning last time out on heavy going.


2.00 York – Bond Club
2.30 York – Beaten Up
3.05 York – Osteopathic Remedy
3.40 York – Anderton (Nap)
4.15 York – Natural Bloom (Nb)
4.50 York – Gabrial the Thug


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Arc Day at Longchamp

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On Arc day, there is a plethora of races, with form lines more muddled than a few facebook statuses I saw last night, lay off the gin flower. The ground has gone softer than a southerner spending his Saturday night on the sofa watching X Factor, be wary of both.

I like to take a couple against the field on Arc day, especially in the tough races with large fields, and perm the lot, like an eighties hairdresser, with added fizz. I will go through the fields as a process of elimination, and work with what I have left. If that doesn’t make sense, think of it as playing a game of Guess Who, but with thoroughbred equine specimens.

The Prix De L’Abbaye is a generally horrendous race for me, and I am woeful at it. I liked Sole Power a lot, and would like him even more if it wasn’t for the ground to be horrific, and he is traditionally a lover of the firmer stuff, aren’t we all mind. The two I’ve pinpointed as soft ground animals are SWISS SPIRIT for David Elsworth, who comes for that infamous mare Swiss Lake, and all her progeny love a bit of juice. As does MAYSON, who won The July Cup on torrential ground, and handled it better than any. Ortensia and Society Rock have franked the form in behind, and they should handle conditions better than most.

Gradually going through the gears, and The Prix Marcel Boussac is the fillies chance to strut their stuff, and their coats will no doubt be glistening off the crisp turf, hopefully the British invasion of France continues with AGENT ALLISON and PURR ALONG going for us, Purr Along is the obvious stand out with her second behind Certify franked by Godolphin’s star filly winning The Fillies Mile at HQ last week. Agent Allison is another who was second behind a superstar when behind Newfangled at Royal Ascot. By Dutch Art, and out of a Diktat mare, I’m hopefully she will handle the conditions well.

In The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, I cannot have the Ballydoyle two, even though they have a good record in the race and in particular on Arc Day. George Vancouver and Pedro the Great, are both out of Henrythenavigator won six of his ten starts on turf, but the two runs on soft he faltered, and being American bred, I don’t like his kiddies running on the wet stuff. I don’t like Olympic Glory, and generally avoid the Hannon and Hughes horses. The two I like are WHAT A NAME, who is a group three winner already in France, and Tha’ir for Godolphin. What a Name although a Mr Greeley colt, ran well on his maiden on soft, finishing a good third of nine at Deauville when very soft. THA’IR won at Ascot when the ground had plenty of juice, and he has good form in behind the likes of Toronado, Steeler and Dundonnell.

IZZI TOP immediately goes on the shortlist for The Prix De L’Opera and has seen her best form come on very soft ground, most memorably winning The Pretty Polly in Ireland ahead of Sapphire of Dermot Weld. The daughter of Pivotal will have her ideal conditions today. GALIKOVA is a horse I have liked since winning The Prix Vermaille last year and this half-sister to Goldkova ran well behind Snow Fairy and Izzi Top in a stellar renewal of The Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August. She has won over further and the trip will need getting again.

I have backed Orfevre ante post, but with the ground it is hard to not fancy GREAT HEAVENS in the Arc, The filly gets 11lb from the four year old colts and will be sure to handle the heavy going. Camelot is a place lay; I can not have him in the slightest.

The Prix De La Foret should have been a cake walk for Moonlight Cloud, seven furlongs on soft, she could have won this doing handsprings, somersaults and various other gymnastic tricks the filly would have learnt watching The Olympics. Instead, the two to take here are Penitent and Mashoora. I backed Mashoora in the 1000 Guineas, and she just didn’t stay the trip. She is a classy filly, and will go well. As will Penitent, who loves the soft ground, putting his best foot forward in the mud, as seen last week when winning well at Newmarket over a mile. Gordon Lord Byron is respected but far too short, although he should handle things well.

The Prix Du Cadran looks a good renewal this year, and with the ground as it is, I can not have Kasbah Bliss or Saddlers Rock. The two to take out are High Jinx and Colour Vision, with preference for the latter. High Jinx has chased home Times Up twice on his last two starts, but is a progressive colt for James Fanshawe, who has a stable in top nick. Colour Vision is a progressive Gold Cup winner, who is sure to stay the trip, it will take some getting.

12.55 – Mayson & Swiss Spirit
13.30 – Purr Along and Agent Allison
14.05 – Tha’ir & What a Name
14.40 – Izzi Top& Galikova
15.25 – Orfevre & Great Heavens
16.55 – Mashoora & Penitent
17.25 – Colour Vision &High Jinx


The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner


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Monday Racing at Bath

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A little interest in Bath, with the ground causing the demise of Ayr, leaving a decent card to perish, their card for tomorrow is also under threat. With Folkestone already succumbing to the conditions tomorrow. It leaves a card at Wolverhampton and Sedgefield: don’t get too excited. Anyway, sticking with Bath, no jokes about the dirtiness of the card please, an interesting runner in the first is RUN IT TWICE for Brian Meehan, and interestingly enough, Paul Hanagan booked for the ride. Well held in three maidens, then gelded, and eight on handicap debut, beaten five lengths. Switched to turf, he was a very good second of sixteen at Chepstow, still showing signs of greenness, and hanging right, but still battled well. The penny seems to be gradually dropping, and he is tried at 10 furlongs for the first time, 4lb higher, but he looks over priced on should run well.

CIRCLE OF ANGELS will be far more suited to SDS aboard the filly as opposed to Jamie Spencer, who has made desperate attempts of riding on his last two runs, and the four year old is back to a trip where she seems at her best. Her record over 10 furlongs reads 04313. She will appreciate the better ground, and down 2lb for her last run, she has previously run well over course and distance, off a 5lb higher mark.

The division two of the equivalent race is an even more competitive affair, with Elbow Beach a non-runner, leaving fourteen remaining acceptors. The Giving Tree has been ‘Hugh Taylored’, which helps the prices in the market. Dynamic Duo is similarly short due to the Hannon/Hughes factor, and Danube River should be bigger if it weren’t for the stable form of Mark Johnston. Marvo and Pelham Crescent both run out of the handicap, and Spanish Plume, Hawaana, Focail Myth and Heezararity haven’t won for an age. Keep chipping away eh? Focail Myth could be a dark horse back at a more appropriate trip, and Wordismybond won well last time out for shrewd connections, but the two I like are Pandorica and Rawaafed. Pandorica is a very game and tough filly, but does her best running on soft ground, daffodils, and Welsh turf. She is yet to win in five attempts at Bath, although has three wins over the trip. RAWAAFED is dropped a very lenient 6lb for third last time out at Wolverhampton, and with five runs to his name, the three year old gelding is still unexposed. Paul Hanagan is riding very well as of late, typified with Gabrials Kaka’s win at Epsom yesterday. 11lb down from his initial mark, I think there is plenty of improvement to come, pedigree suggests as much anyway.

It’s interesting that SUN SEAL runs in maiden company, despite having the obligatory three runs and attaining a mark of 75. Hughie Morrison’s three year old Cape Cross filly’s best effort was last time out, when fourth of seven at Kempton over a mile and a half. She was behind Bedazzled that day, who ran well in a good handicap at Haydock Saturday finishing second. Watching the run back from Kempton, she travelled well, before finding little in the closing stages. Dropping down an extra two furlongs would seemingly suit her, and Darryl Holland replaces Rab Havlin, who has a 24% strike rate at the track this season.

WELSH BARD is the Sir Mark Prescott stereotypical handicap improver after looking utter pants in maidens, and the well bred son of Dylan Thomas can carry on his propeller like improvement off a 6lb higher mark for a Wolverhampton win two weeks ago. He is unexposed and will appreciate the step up in trip to two miles.

2.20 Bath – Run It Twice
3.20 Bath – Circle of Angels
3.50 Bath – Rawaafed
4.20 Bath – Sun Seal
5.20 Bath – Welsh Bard (Nap)


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