Weekend round up for 2 to 10 November 2007

By Graham Richards

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2 November 2007, Uttoxeter

Ouzbeck gained his first win in workmanlike fashion. He jumped competently but had to fight hard to get on top. It looks as though softer ground will suit him and another half a mile would not go amiss. Shore Thing ran a blinder in second and was quickly eased when beaten. He should come on for this and win races. Chrysander also caught the eye in third, though his rider said he was making a noise throughout the race.

Down Royal

Aitmatov won his second race on the trot and is clearly an improved performer. The two to take out the race are Ebaziyan and Bobs Pride. The former is a different horse on softer ground, but still ran well on his return to hurdling. He jumped fast and sure throughout the race, and looks a much stronger horse this season. Bobs Pride was not given a hard time in fifth place; he still looked in need of the race. He may not be championship material but looks certain to take a decent race in the near future.

Wetherby

Olay Olay may be able to defy a rise in the weights. He jumps well, looks far happier over a longer trip, and clocked a decent time.

3 November, Ascot

Kanad won a very competitive handicap hurdle. Ones in behind to consider for the future include, Altilhar who, despite being high in the handicap, may find some more improvement over two and a half miles. Rio De Janeiro is another to note over that distance, while Amour Multiple looks sure to win races again, on soft ground. Special Envoy needs further and should start to drop down the handicap; Ouninpohja ran deplorably and looks one to avoid at present. Liberate is too high in the handicap and may go chasing.

Full House ran well for a long way behind Harris Bay but looks sure to drop back to two and a half miles now.

Zero hacked up in the last; a lightly raced horse he is worth following despite a 13lb rise in the weights.

Wetherby

Black Jack Ketchum scrambled home and is likely to be dropped back in trip. However, one has to worry his breathing may still be a problem; I would like further evidence he is back to his best before stepping in to back him. In addition, horses that have had breathing operations usually show their best form fresh. Faasel ran well and connections will switch between hurdles and fences. He is so talented that he will pop up one day. Perhaps a tight track is his best hope of Grade One victory where the run in is usually short. Yet to run at Kempton Park, that track may well suit him; he has also run well round Aintree’s tight Mildmay track. My Turn Now ran well for a long way and almost certainly failed to stay. He looks one to look out for around two and a half miles.

Ollie Magern made all and produced an exhilarating display of jumping. He has always gone well fresh in the past; I am not sure he will reproduce this form in the near future. State of Play, who is just short of the very best chasers, ran a blinder. However, he is too high in the handicap, and does not posses the physique to carry big weights. He will be hard to place. An Irish campaign may be on the cards. Monkerhostin showed more on his return to racing than he has done for some time. Aces Four will come on a bundle for his run; his jumping held up and he looks to have become far more proficient in that department.

Down Royal

Taranis won a slowly run three-mile Grade One Chase. What the race told us is he has returned as good as ever; he travelled and jumped well throughout the race. Whether he truly stays three-miles will be decided another day. His profile suggests to me he is at his best on good or good to soft ground. Justified looked like the winner for a long way. The slow pace played against him and he pulled away his chance. He needs a truly run race; when he gets that, he will be winning again.

4 November, Carlisle

Marleybow had been well-touted prior to his hurdles debut. He completed the task in workmanlike manner, looking better the further he went. He can win again but looks a chaser in the making. Berwick Law caught the eye in fourth place; he looks a ready-made winner possibly over further than two and a half miles.

L’Antartique surprised his trainer when he won the three horse race. He has clearly come back fit and well and looked as though the race would bring him on again. Mr Strachan will win races, as will Ungaro when he returns to a flat track.

Both Leading Man and King Killone look horses to keep a close eye on, following their performance behind all the way winner Naunton Brook in the three and a quarter mile chase.

The handicap hurdle later in the day was won by Hue; he may be able to win again, especially if upped in distance. Both Kingsbury and Corrib Lad look ones to note when they get their optimum conditions.

6 November, Exeter

Pablo Du Charmil put up an excellent round of jumping in the Haldon Gold Cup. Setting out his stall from the start, he soon had his rival in troubles. Understandably, he was coming to the end of his tether at the second last, but had enough in hand to hold his rivals at bay. He will be just as effective at two-miles and should have a good season. Fair Along is not big enough to carry big weights round galloping courses. He is not going to be easy to place this season.

7 November, Chepstow

Planet Of Sound ran out a convincing winner and looks a horse for the future. Philip Hobbs suggested he would not be over fazed this season as he develops. The Package did remarkably well to finish second. He pulled too hard throughout the first half of the race and simply ran out of gas. He looks another to stay with. In behind, Galantos and Towerofcharlemagne showed enough to suggest they can win a race.

8 November, Huntingdon

Both Kickahead and Cottingham gave the impression they can win a handicap hurdle after their efforts behind Bureaucrat.

Sunnyhill Boy overcame a slow pace in the bumper. He looks a nice type; it was promising he was able to win so easily under far from ideal conditions.

Towcester

Katess won her first hurdle in gritty fashion. She will come on for this race and looks one to follow in mares only races.

Ammunition is a big horse with plenty of scope. He jumped well and outstayed the Twiston-Davies trained favourite. There is more to come from Ammunition and he is one to keep a close eye on.

10 November, Sandown

Pepperoni Pete jumped the Sandown Park fences in style. He looked a complete natural and his only mistakes came when he got in too close. Even then, he quickly put himself right. He has now won all his races on his seasonal debut. Bets on good ground, and a flat track, thoughts of the Arkle are surely fanciful. Star Shot ran well in second and he should win when dropped in grade.

Wincanton

Theatre Girl and Procas De Thaix at a titanic struggle up the straight and there was nothing between them as they passed the winning post. Both horses deserve the utmost credit and they displayed an excellent turn of foot from the last hurdle. One can only guess how the form will work out; visually, it looked a good contest.

Kings Quay continued his improvement when he took the Elite Hurdle, despite his rider mistaking the winning line. There is little doubt he is best on flat tracks; he should continue to run well in this grade. Poquelin and Pouvoir ran well for the four-year-old divison. Both may do a little better on soft ground, though neither are stars in the making. Chivalry bounced back to form; his rider also mistook the winning post. He is a winner without a penalty; if he comes out of this race fit and well, he will win races. Fandani is returning to form; he is another to note, particularly, if eased in grade. Overall, I would suggest this was not as good a race as Crow Wood’s win last season.

Abragante cruised home, as he was entitled to do, based on his hurdle mark. Whether he reproduces this run against stronger opposition is questionable. Turthern appears back to something like his best, while Irish Wolf ran well in this better grade of race. He will improve again.

Hells Bay landed the odds in the last, but was made to work hard. He has schooled well and will make a decent hurdler.

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