Timeform Eyecatcher of the Day

Timeform Eyecatcher: Saturday

YEAH MAN

Second, 3m premier handicap chase, Ascot, Saturday December 23

Although yet to win a race over fences, for the second race running the Gavin Cromwell-trained Yeah Man showed plenty of promise in a premier handicap at Ascot and is surely capable of getting his head in front before much longer.

The former winning pointer had looked sure to finish second at worst had he not come down at the last in the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup won by Victtorino early last month and he found only the same rival too good in Saturday’s Silver Cup Chase.

Despite completing this time, Yeah Man is still not the finished article in the jumping department as he wasn’t always fluent under a patient ride and still had plenty to do three out, but after not getting a clear run early in the straight and being forced to switch wide approaching two out, he stayed on very strongly after the last to run Victtorino to three quarters of a length having pecked at the last.

Timeform Eyecatcher: Friday

DAMARTA

Third, 2m novices’ handicap hurdle, Uttoxeter, Friday December 22

This looked a competitive novice handicap which should throw up winners, with Damarta in third shaping very much like one sure to pick up a race in due course. Making something of a belated handicap debut on his fifth start over hurdles this term for Olly Murphy, Damarta had been given a breathing operation since his previous start at the beginning of last month and was well backed, sent off one of the 5/2 joint favourites.

In a steadily-run race, Damarta was asked to come from last place and a slicker round of jumping would likely have seen him go closer still. Settling better than previously dropped out in rear, he was making headway out wide when untidy three out and wasn’t fluent again at the last but ran on for a never-nearer third, two lengths behind the winner Present Fair.

This isn’t the first time the big, workmanlike Damarta has caught the eye this season, and his turn shouldn’t be too far away.

Timeform Eyecatcher: Thursday

JUVENTUS DE BRION

Third, 2m maiden hurdle, Exeter, Thursday 21 December

The first two in this maiden hurdle, Alcedo and Navajo Indy, both had winning form in bumpers, so it was a good effort from Dan Skelton’s four-year-old Juventus de Brion, who lacked any racecourse experience beforehand, to finish third behind that pair.

Related to winning jumpers in France, his good showing evidently wasn’t unexpected as he was well backed for his debut at 11/2 and shaped encouragingly.

Waited with and racing wide in the testing conditions, Juventus de Brion made steady headway on the home turn, was untidy jumping the last and then wasn’t given too hard a time on the run-in where he took third in the last hundred yards, finishing six lengths adrift of the winner.

A step up in trip will suit and with improvement to come he looks well up to winning a similar event.

Timeform Eyecatcher: Wednesday

MARTATOR

Runner-up, 2m handicap chase, Newbury, Wednesday 20 December

One of two last-time-out winners in this handicap chase seemed to run right up to form, but he was left standing by the market leaders, one of whom just starting out over fences and the other pretty much so.

Though yet to get off the mark in three starts as a chaser, Martator is threatening to come good soon having filled the runner-up spot here, well backed and posting his best effort since arriving in Britain with cheekpieces on for the first time on these shores.

Beaten around five lengths at the line, Martator was unable to live with Etalon, a potentially smart chasing debutant, but there was still plenty to like about his performance, jumping well in the main and rallying gamely even when the winner was out of reach.

The six-year-old Martator is yet another ex-French chaser finding his feet this winter for the Venetia Williams yard and there should be something similar well within his reach.

Timeform Eyecatcher: Monday

PEPE LE MOKO

Runner-up, 2m4f novice handicap chase, Plumpton, Monday 18 December

Pepe Le Moko was unable to make it two from two over fences but he shaped well behind another potentially useful novice at Plumpton and is one to keep on the right side.

Pepe Le Moko conceded first run to another last-time-out winner in Oxygen but he stayed on well, closing all the way to the line to get to within three-quarters of a length with the pair seven lengths clear.

He has already shown he's a much better chaser than hurdler and remains capable of better in this sphere, especially when stamina is at more of a premium (won on ground considered heavy by Timeform at Warwick).

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