Weekend round up for 7 to 9 December 2007

By Graham Richards

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Sandown 7th December

Hibiki ran well in the first race. He had been working well at home and just found the experience of the winner too much too cope with. The winner, Approved Force, is a talented if rather quirky individual and the form could be above average.

Lightning Strike ran out a determined winner of the Ballymore Hurdle, a race won by the more than useful Labelthou last season. Talented on the flat, he is developing into a useful novice and runs as though three-miles will not be a problem. His jumping is safe without being fluent; he will need to brush that up as he moves up in class. Mount Oscar ran well again and looks sure to win again below this class. Nakai found it happening all too quickly in the closing stages. He will appreciate three-miles and looks an embryo chaser.
Turko ran out a hugely impressive winner of the Future Stars Novice Chase. He is a horse who will always be best fresh, as he has suffered with wind problems. A flat track will be where he shines most. I hope connections rule out Cheltenham and aim him at Aintree. Glasker Mill ran well and will not always come up against such a talented performer. Ungaro disappointed and appears below his best form at present.

Alfadora ran away with the three-mile handicap chase. Despite taking a rise in the weights, he still looks, on FSF ratings, 10lb below the mark he should be. He may reappear at Cheltenham and is not a horse to dismiss lightly.

Navan, 8th December

Perce Rock ran out an impressive winner of a fast run race. Although he looked tired at the end of the race this had been a truly run race and a real test of a horses ability. That he was able to produce a performance like this after a long lay off speak volumes for his ability and courage. The Irish novice chasers are well above average this season, and I would not put anyone off having an interest in him for the Arkle. The runner-up is a more than useful novice himself and jumps for fun. He looks sure to win again and lends weight to the overall form of the race. The third horse confirms this reasoning, having been a comfortable winner on his previous outing.

Woodbine Willie and Aranleigh dead-heated in the novice hurdle. Both are improving with experience and should continue to do well. Aranleigh is developing a far better attitude in his races. This was a good performance and I feel he can now develop into a serious Ballymore Hurdle prospect at Cheltenham.

Sandown

We were treated to an exciting race in the opening novice hurdle. County Zen has a likeable attitude to the job. What he lacks in stature, he makes up for in guts and determination. He also gave a boost to the form of I’msingingtheblues who beat him at Wincanton, before winning at Cheltenham from the equally promising Snap Tie. Evelith Echo and Hells Bay deserve credit for fine efforts; they will be in the winner’s enclosure before too long. Hells Bay in particular did well, considering this was his first race over hurdles, and he clouted to second last. Edgeover ran well again and he looks ready to win in a slightly easier grade over a bit further.

The Tother One ran out an impressive winner of the handicap hurdle. He was never going to win as he had at Newbury in the conditions, but could do no more than win stylishly. The runner-up had won at Ascot on his previous outing confirming the form is solid. Still a novice, The Tother One looks the type to go well in what was the Brit Hurdle at the Festival.

The Henry VIII Chase is not likely to produce an Arkle winner. The winner, Marodima, is a fair horse, but the time was disappointing and the dismal running of Moon Over Miami casts a doubts over the form. Runner-up Mahogany Blaze should win again at his level, while Pancake ran below Philip Hobbs’s expectations. He had been off for a long time, so perhaps we can give him the benefit of the doubt on this occasion. His jumping will need to sharpen up and going left-handed may be the key, as all three of his wins came that way round.

As with Denman in the Hennessy, Twist Magic ran out a hugely visual impressive winner of the Tingle Creek. Dealing with the beaten horses first, Ashley Brook faded out of contention at the Pond fence and looked well below form. Oneway looks a shadow of his former self, whilst Demi Beau did well to survive some horrendous mistakes. River City found the ground against him again. He is best judged when returning to good ground. Hoo La Baloo is a tough performer that jumps well. Handicapped to the hilt, he will not be easy to place; he is however, steadily improving his FSF rating and will always be a danger going right-handed, in all but the highest class. Monet’s Garden ran well over a trip that now is now patently too short for him. He was outpaced on the run to the Pond fence, but recovered and ran on well. It is hard to suggest anything other than he is a RyanAir chase candidate, worthy of the highest respect.

There can be no denying Twist Magic was a worthy and decisive winner; having reviewed the race several times there were no excuses for Voy Por Ustedes on this occasion. However, I do not feel the Champion Chase is cut and dried. Twist Magic has run on undulating courses twice. He fell at Cheltenham, going well in the Arkle, and faded out of contention at Chepstow behind Blue Shark. He went there in top form having won at Wincanton twenty-six days before. There has to be a chance he is not as effective on an undulating track; we know Alan King’s charge acts well on the course. Alan has always been of the opinion “VPU” is capable of going further than he has done and being just as effective. I suggested to him in conversation, that after the Sandown race my FSF ratings showed My Way De Solzen was still a better horse than Twist Magic over two-miles. Alan responded by saying that he was not surprised, and the King George would tell us where “MYDS” will go in the future. He also reiterated that “VPU” might be even better over further. Watch this space!

Ring The Boss ran out an impressive winner of the handicap hurdle. His FSF rating suggests he is still ahead of the handicapper; if he takes his chance in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot, he would be highly respected. Breedsbreeze ran well in second, despite walking though the last hurdle, while European Dream, as I feared, ran out of stamina. Nevertheless, their previous performances underline the strength of the form. The runner-up will be interesting back over two and a half miles. Further back, Chiaro ran well; I understand he will now go novice chasing, having returned to full fitness.

Wetherby

The two from this track that caught my eye were Coe and Nevertika. The former won his race in a good time and there looks to be plenty on improvement to come. Still green, he will hopefully be brought along at a sensible level. Nevertika still jumps too low at his fences. Nevertheless, the ability is there and he looks more than capable of winning again.

Kelso, 9th December

The luckless Mr Strachan finished second again. This time his conqueror was chasing debutant Nudge And Nurdle, who looks a decent prospect. A big, scopey, good-looking horse, “NAN” needs to brush up his jumping, when that happens he will be able to handle a rise in grade with ease. He may always need a flattish track to use his giant stride. The runner-up had previously beaten L’Antartique and Tidal Bay, suggesting the form is solid.

Patricksnineteenth looked as good as ever when he took the valuable handicap chase. Two or three ran below their best; nevertheless, take nothing away the big horse, he looks as though he will be able to defy a rise in the weights. Ever Present should be noted for the future as he ran well for a long way. Nicky Richards feels he is a better horse on good ground.

Warwick

I liked the performances of Benetwood, Mamlook and Oniphlaure. The former is a promising novice chaser that will improve greatly with experience. Mamlook handled the conditions well and he looks one of the best juveniles seen so far. Oniphlaure did well to grind out his win, he looks sure to do even better over three-miles. Philip Hobbs was pleased with Or Bleu’s performance in the same race; he will come on again for that effort.

Punchestown

One could not fail to be impressed with The Listener’s performance. He jumped his rivals silly and came home a facile winner. He is clearly at home in the mud and this performance, over a distance, arguably short of his best, puts him close to the top of the chasing tree. As we can from my FSF ratings, he is now in third position; his clash with Denman in the Lexus, is something to whet the Christmas appetite!