2.00: A competitive if not vintage renewal of the JCB Triumph
Hurdle.
Made In Japan beat a well-regarded newcomer in Royal Katidoki at
Sandown last time but stepped up significantly on that effort to win
this.
Racing towards the rear, he made good headway to chase the leaders
coming down the hill.
Hitting the front at the last he ran on strongly and
has the size and scope to go on from here.
Chief Yeoman sat closer to the
pace and battled on well for second.
He looked fairly exposed coming into
this race and provides the benchmark by which the form should be
judged.
Top Strategy returned to his best in third but is a frustrating
individual and it may pay not to trust him to repeat this form next
time.
Cherub finished fourth having been tapped for toe at a crucial
stage. He is clearly well above average and will be winning soon.
Of the
others Howle Hill looked sure to take a part in the finish turning in but
failed to see the trip out up the hill.
Providing this race has not left its
mark he looks sure to play a major role in the four-year-old hurdle at
Liverpool.
So too could Adopted Hero who was swinging away until the
second last for Tony McCoy.
Having been short of room turning in he could
never reel in the principals but clearly has plenty of ability and should
not be written off.
Trouble At Bay was off the bridle at halfway and while
he closed menacingly going to the second last, his run soon petered out.
He
is better than this while Tusk faded disappointingly from the foot of the
hill.
Of all the runners in the field he has the greatest physical scope
and remains an exciting prospect when sent chasing.
2.35: A magnificent duel for the Stayers' crown and Baracouda is
finally dethroned by Iris's Gift.
The winner sat in the slipstream of
leader Solerina before taking a definite advantage two out.
He went for home
turning in but was immediately pressed by the defending champion.
A
magnificent duel followed up the hill but this time it was Iris's Gift you
had the necessary reserves, breaking his rival 150 yards from the post to
win going away by a length-and-a-half.
This represents magnificent
training performance from Jonjo O'Neill with his seven-year-old a doubtful
starter for the race at the turn of the year.
A reappearance second to
Tardar at Haydock clearly put him straight for this and he remains a fresh
horse open to more improvement.
Baracouda lost little in defeat.
He had to
be niggled at several stages of the race but was alongside the winner at the
last and only gave way after a titanic battle.
His reign as champion has
been a glorious one and at the age of nine there is every chance he could
return and attempt to retake the throne in 2005.
Crystal d'Ainay travelled
well but was left behind from the foot of the hill.
He has enjoyed a fine
season but needs to improve again to test the elite.
Solerina set a fair
gallop but wasn't helped by a couple of mistakes.
She will struggle in
races of this nature but will remain a tough nut to crack when dropped in
grade. She is probably best at two-and-a-half miles.
3.15: What can you say about a historic performance from Best
Mate?
It may not have been scintillating but courage came to the fore as
he overcame ground that could just have gone against him and trouble in
running.
Paul Carberry was perfectly within his rights to deny Jim Culloty
the chance to slip through on the inside turning in and had Sir Rembrandt
held a tighter line to the bend the winner may have had to switch three
wide.
He didn't and having cleared the last ran on strongly for a famous
win.
The balance of the form may not be particularly strong in terms of
the Gold Cup but this was all about the winner and his place in
history.
Sir Rembrandt finished strongly up the hill having made a mistake
four out and was back to his best after his recent problems.
This
performance confirmed he will be a leading player in top events given some
cut in the ground.
Harbour Pilot made one early mistake but in general
produced the jumping round of his life.
His luck must change and a big prize
come his way.
Beef Or Salmon finished with good effect but could never
land a blow.
It was a promising display but the worry must always be that
his fencing will not stand up in this elite company.
First Gold produced
an extravagant round of fencing in front and only cried enough after the
second last. He looks set for a profitable spring.
Keen Leader again
disappointed and we are running out of excuses for him.
His best form is on
much softer ground but at present he looks set to fall some way below the
anticipated heights.
Therealbandit was beaten three out and despite the
betting faced a tough assignment.
He will do better in time but clearly
needs to if he is to fulfil connections' ambitions.
Alexander Banquet ran
no sort of a race, Irish Hussar was badly let down by his jumping and Tony
Dobbin reported that Truckers Tavern suffered from a breathing problem.
4.00: Earthmover was a hugely popular and brave winner of the
Foxhunters, six years after his initial win.
The veteran 13-year-old
showed the fire still burns by fighting tenaciously to hold off Never
Compromise who looked a major threat between the last two.
Clearly there
will be no long term plans for the winner but he deserved another day in the
limelight.
It will be interesting to see where connections go with the
runner-up who showed only limited promise under rules but has been a
revelation of late.
Disappointment of the race was Lord Atterbury who was
deliberate at his fences and dropped away on the second circuit.
He was
eventually pulled up and with connections unable to explain his below-par
display, it seems the Grand National ante-post money that came flooding in
on the eight-year-old is lost.
4.35: A big field for the latest renewal of the Grand Annual and a
good performance from St Pirran at the foot of the handicap.
Jumping has
always been his problem but a clear round here allowed Ruby Walsh to ease
him into the race between the last two.
Ground Ball threatened to shake
him up but the winner lengthened well and providing his jumping holds up,
should go on from here.
The runner-up is versatile and he lost nothing in
defeat here. It would be no surprise to see him win a race of this nature
this spring.
Reiziger committed early and was always a good target for the
hold up horses.
He is in great form at present but this performance, from
10 pounds of the handicap, could cause problems.
Santenay could never get
into the race but finished to good effect and is undeniably well handicapped
over fences. He isn't the best of jumpers but can surely be placed to good
effect by his shrewd trainer.
5.10: A terrific performance from Our Armageddon, 48 hours after
he was taken off his feet in the Arkle.
He relished an easy lead in this
contest and jumped his rivals into the ground.
This win will make life
difficult for him in handicaps next season but he is a genuine
two-and-a-half mile horse who will surely be aimed at the major races back
here and at Liverpool.
Iris Royal ran in snatches and was unconvincing in
his fencing.
He eventually ran on well to chase the winner home but this
was a strange performance and a little worrying.
Impek travelled well for
a long way but was a beaten horse turning in. He could continue to be
difficult to place for connections.
La Landiere has been a shadow of the
mare she was last year and was beaten a long way out, along with Don
Fernando although that rival is short of experience over fences and should
improve.
5.45: Paul Nicholls kept the weights down with the declaration of
Rigmarole and was rewarded as Sporazene ground out a win under Ruby
Walsh.
The winner had disappointed in the Tote Gold Trophy last time but
patiently ridden, he was in the slipstream of Harchibald going to the last
and battled on well.
Hawadeth ran a remarkable race in second and these
unfavourable terms but could not quite get to the winner.
He is suited to
the strong pace and big fields of these competitive events.
Copeland
showed signs of his old sparkle in third and has tumbled down the ratings of
late. Connections will look to strike while the iron is hot.
Balapour was
touched off in this race last season and ran well again in fourth.
He isn't
the most consistent but is shrewdly campaigned by connections.
Harchibald
looked all over the winner when cruising to the front at the home turn.
He
could not sustained his challenge though and would have been better suited
by more exaggerated waiting tactics.
Greenhope travelled well at the head
of affairs and was still in front two out.
He is best on a flat track with
the emphasis on speed and is on a winning mark at present.
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook
