Weekend round up for 19 and 20 October 2007

By Graham Richards

Cheltenham 19th October

3.30 Platin Grounds impressed with me with the way he took this competitive handicap. He travelled well, came widest in the straight and battled on well when challenged by a horse with flat race speed. He has gone up 9lb and has the scope to win again. Classic Gold travelled well until approaching the second last. He stopped very quickly and may have another problem with his breathing.

4.05 Ardaghey battled on well to once again advertise the current well-being of the Twiston-Davies stable. The trainer always has a good time in September and October, but usually finds November a difficult time. Joacci looks well-handicapped; if he builds on this, he will win soon. I am still not fully convinced Mr Pointment truly stays three-miles. His dam was by the sire of Ground Ball who did not stay this far; he may be better at an easier track or over a slightly shorter distance.

4.40 Sainte Kadette is agile and quick. She should be able to win a couple more before the big guns come out to play.

5.50 Snap Tie and Quaddick Lane came to the last all guns blazing. Unfortunatley the latter clipped the hurdle and his momentum gave him no chance of recovery. He looked alright after the race and should make amends next time. Snap Tie still has a lot of maturing to do. He is a talented horse, though I am not sure we will see the very best of him until the spring. Sendani is worth a mention He has been highly tried on all three runs over hurdles. He was far from disgraced behind the useful Zilcash at Aintree. He ran on well to finish fifth here, under a less than vigorous ride. He will almost certainly go handicapping now and his mark will be viewed with interest.

Newmarket

1.00 General Elliot made all and put a decent performance on his debut. The third horse home had finished second on his debut, so the form may well work out. General Elliot raced with his ears pricked and looked to being enjoying the job in hand. Runner-up Sortita ran green two-furlongs from home, and then closed all the way to the line. Despite the narrow margin, I thought the winner won with a bit up his sleeve.

1.30 Insaaf (FSF 94) won with a bit in hand, though what the form amounts to, with regard to the Classics is questionable. Tawaash ran well, while Provence should lose her maiden tag in the near future. Brave Prospector ran a blinder for his out of form stable, while Film Maker looks a colt to follow this display. Further back, Chartist ran well for a long way. He should come on for the run, as he looked very green.

2.00 Mukhber took an age to realise what was need of him. However, once Richard Hills got him running he cut the leaders down to win cosily. As always with these maidens, one never knows how they will work out until the runners start reappearing. Katimont gives us a clue; she ran well behind the consistent Badalona (BHB rated 80) on her debut and performed adequately again, though ultimately well beaten. Stow is worth noting. Hughie Morrison likes him and he ran well in the second half of the race, having fallen out of the stalls. Kuriyama is worth keeping an eye on. He travelled nicely for a long way and looks capable of better.

2.35 Kandahar Run (FSF 104) ran away from the opposition despite drifting right into the centre of the course. He is still green and will improve further, as he strengthens over the winter. A few words of caution. I feel he may always be best when the ground has some ease in it.

5.30 Cutting Crew ran another sound race and looks sure to win soon. Esthlos ran well but may have been in a grade too high for his ability. Velvet Heights again showed he has a race in him when everything is in place. His five best FSF ratings have come on the all-weather, and he looks handicapped to go close if switched. His top two ratings came at Wolverhampton, when it was standard to slow, and Southwell. Both races were over a mile and a half.

Catterick 20th October

3.05 King Orchisios got up in the dying strides to catch the game Oldjoesaid. The former looks sure to do well on the all-weather, though he may have to step out of Handicap Company. Oldjoesaid may be able to win again this season, possibly with some ease in the ground. Strike Up The Band ran well and appears to be approaching top form. It should be noted he is yet to win a handicap.

3.40 Willyn was given an awful lot do by his claiming rider. Reined back at the start, she was never put into the race until it was far too late. Keep an eye on this young filly in similar company.

Cheltenham, 20 October

2.20 From Dawn To Dusk battled on gamely to repel his stablechum Leading Contender. He loves it here, and at Chepstow; he looks sure to continue to run well. Leading Contender may go over fences now and he should do well in that sphere. Ninetytwo Team looks to need further; he may come back for the three-mile handicap at the Paddy Power meeting.

2.55 Imperial Commander jumped well and showed a pleasing attitude to the job in hand. He looks sure to stay further and is one to follow at present. Considering he needs further Over The Creek ran well enough in second place. He should not be over burdened in handicaps and is one to watch out for.

3.30 A rousing finish to this competitive handicap, with Knowhere storming up the hill to grab the leaders on the line. He runs well fresh, and will find it hard to follow up if he is raised much in the weights. Bob Hall looked just in need of the need the run; he should make amends soon. Harmony Brig and Private Be showed enough to suggest they can go well again in the near future.

5.50 Oberon Moon won the bumper from the gallant front-running Razor Royale. This looked a decent contest and those in behind, notably Piamontini and Fair World, look sure to go well in similar contests.

Newmarket

2.05 Al Qasi, Arabian Gleam, and Candidato Roy all showed enough to suggest they are improving and can win again. The former may run overseas, while Arabian Gleam will come back a stronger and better horse next season. Candidato Roy may be found another opportunity before returning to Dubai in the New Year.

2.40 New Approach proved himself the top juvenile of 2007. I will be coming back to the race in depth over the next couple of weeks.

3.15 Literato held off Eagle Mountain in a tight finish, both are now FSF rated on 123 (Dylan Thomas 128 as a guide). I thought the winner had a little to spare and hope he is kept in training. The runner-up apparently goes to South Africa now and we may see him in Dubai. Doctor Dino should have finished closer. Caught in some scrimmaging he ran on well in the final furlong and would probably have preferred better ground. I am sure Creachidor did not stay and he may now drop back in trip; the Dubai Festival figures in his plans. Notnowcato ran like a drain, as did his stablechum Maraahel. Following a slow start, Multidimensional was left with a huge task. Held up, he began to make ground; however, the drifting Speciosa hampered him. Switched wide he ran on well to be nearest at the finish. He is a hard horse to keep right; however, he looks worth another chance, if he can be kept in one piece.

3.55 Leg Spinner bounced back from a poor display over hurdles to lead home three other National Hunt horses. He came through the field travelling well, and always looked likely to hold on. When he is right, he is a decent tool under both codes. Caracciola showed enough here to suggest he will be winning over hurdles soon, while Fair Along who got caught in some scrimmaging ran a blinder and was unlucky not to be closer. He may now be campaigned over hurdles and fences, as his trainer feels he lacks the physical stature to get to the very top over fences. Al Eile ran a remarkable race from an impossible draw; he too looks set for another decent campaign over hurdles. He has a good record at both Aintree and Leopardstown. The remainder were well beaten, though Sunley Peace deserves credit for running as well as he did. A progressive sort he may now go juvenile hurdling.

5.05 Royal And Regal looks a stayer to follow next season. He gave a boost to the exciting Coastal Path’s form; the Cup races next season look potentially highly competitive affairs.

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