Weekend Action on 12 & 13 October 2007

By Graham Richards

York 12th October

Best Alibi was sent off favourite for the opener. A lightly raced colt he played up beforehand and failed to show his best form. My FSF ratings suggest he is best over twelve-furlongs on good or good to firm ground. Ten-furlongs, on ground on the slow side, would not have helped and he is worth another chance. Spanish Moon had been working well at home prior to this comeback run. Not given a hard time when beaten, he looks worth another chance.

In the Nursery Handicap, Upton Grey, Aye Aye Digby and Border Defence all caught my eye. All looked as though they needed further and I feel they will go close if stepped up to seven furlongs or a mile.

In the mile handicap, Kinsya ran much better than he had at Ascot. His young pilot urged him along under handle and heels and he looks capable of finding a race before the season ends. He is on a mark he can win off in Class 3/4 company with some cut in the ground.

Calming Influence looks a promising sort to follow. Sent off a short priced favourite, Dettori rode him like a class horse from start to finish. He only came off the bridle in the last half furlong. The time of the race was marginally slower than the nursery, though the colt was never really asked to do anything serious. Both his sire and dam preferred faster ground; he should improve when tried on a more suitable surface. Next season his breeding suggests a mile will be his optimum trip.

York 13th October

In the opener on Saturday, Dancing Lyra again showed he is close to win either on the flat or more likely over hurdles.

Max One Two Three ran out a convincing winner of the Listed juvenile event. Tom Dascombe is proving himself a more than capable trainer and he looks a trainer to follow. Maze will win a decent race when he gets his head and/or accoutrements sorted out. Look Busy ran well from a poor draw but I am still not convinced she stays six-furlongs. Lytton should be able to win again in slightly lower grade.

Fonthill Road grabbed the gallant Hoh Hoh Hoh in the shadow of the post to record his first win of the season. He has gone up 5lb and will not find another win an easy affair. King Orsichos is running into form. He is three from four on all-weather, though his higher handicap rating on that surface will not make life easy. Dabbers Ridge needs a stiffer track when he runs over six-furlongs. Rising Shadow showed a little promise and is coming down the weights. He is one to keep an eye on.

Flying Clarets grabbed The Grey Berry close home as he battled back, having led all the way up the straight. Both horses ran blinding races; the runner-up might win again with more cut in the ground. Best Prospect needs everything, and something else to go his way, while I thought Hollow Ridge showed some promise under a considerate ride, after a break. His best from has come on soft or heavy; over a mile he may pop up in the near future.

Market Forces is an improving filly ands she ran away with the final handicap. The handicapper has raised her 10lb and I would imagine “Black Type” would now be pursued. Alaghiraar is I feel reluctant to exert himself. He may now have an appointment with the vet to remove his stud career assets.

Ascot

Captain Gerard made all to win convincingly. He is a more than decent colt with an FSF rating of 113. It would appear on the evidence seen so far, ground with cut is essential for him to show his best. Hammadi ran well and his breeding suggests he should do well as he strengthens and matures.

Winter Sunrise and Dash To the Front were not disgraced behind all the way winner Trick Or Treat. The latter needs more give in the ground and she may yet pop up before the turf season closes.

Buccellati got up in the final strides to win this competitive handicap. I confess I thought he would have trouble seeing out the trip, but he did so in grand style. Both Dubai Twilight and Zaif ran well enough to suggest they could win a handicap before the season closes. Zaif stays a mile and a half but seems as effective, if not more so, at ten-furlongs. A drop in grade should help him. I am not sure what happened to Red Gala. It would be easy to say Ryan Moore had him too far out of his ground, before coming home strongly. One could also argue he needs further; however, a recent win over a quarter of a mile shorter tends to dismiss that theory. He had a long lay off before winning in September, and may have been feeling the effects of that race; against that theory, is a four-week break. Having viewed the race several times it appears Players Please injected some serious pace into the race about a mile from home. This led to both Red Gala and Zaif struggling at the rear of the field. Buccellati and St Savarin were closer to the pace and they needed every yard of the race to catch the game Players Please. The fact Red Gala and Zaif got so close speaks volumes; I feel we should put this down to “one that got away”.

Ibn Khaldun weaved his way though the field to record an easy winner. He is progressing at a rate of knots and at 106 is only 9lb behind the FSF top rated two-year-olds.

The unpredictable Night Crescendo caught Mutajareed close home. The latter handles softer ground and is still progressing.

Chepstow

Gwanako justified the reputation he had brought forward from last season. He has clearly recovered from the setback he incurred on his arrival from France, having won three hurdle races and a chase over there. Reported to have needed this race, he came through to challenge at the second last and battled on all the way to the line to hold off Pouvoir and Osprey View. Some of the jumping was abysmal in places and how Osprey View stayed on his feet is a mystery. Watching the race, it did not initially appeal as one that would be particularly strong form; however, the time of the race suggests the first two are useful and they should be monitored closely over the coming weeks.

I was impressed with the way Franchoek ground out his win; he looks sure to be amongst the leading juvenile hurlers for the first part of the season. Katchit won this race last season for the same stable and Franchoek will now follow his route to Cheltenham’s Open meeting. Serabad ran a fair race; he is well regarded and will win when the stable hits top form.

Theatrical Moment’s hurdle debut was disappointing. He will need to go over further and learn to jump properly, if he is to progress into a decent performer.

Run For Moor justified strong market support in the finale. A point-to-point winner, he will now go over hurdles. The Great Alfie did well to stay on for third and he should win one of these bumpers.

Fairyhouse

Cork All Star made a winning debut over hurdles. He won with any amount in hand having led at the second last; his jumping was a mix of hesitant, too brave and good. As the field quickened downhill on the far side he jumped the first of those two hurdles particularly well. It is always a good omen for the future when a talented bumper horse never looks like falling and wins on the bridle. He should stay two and a half miles, and has the speed for two-miles. His next run will tell us more about his jumping technique. Needless to say, his fluency over the hurdles will need to improve as he steps up in grade.

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