Lydia Hislop Road to Cheltenham Novice Hurdlers archive

February 9 2017

Monalee was always in the driving seat when winning Clonmel's Grade Three novices' hurdle last Thursday, relaxing just off the pace and moving smoothly into a challenging position around the home turn. He rather bunny-hopped the last flight, landing flat-footed, but extended readily for an authoritative victory.He's going the right way over hurdles and is unexposed at this three-mile trip, which appeared very much to suit. Of course he was brushed aside by Albert Bartlett favourite Death Duty when they met at Navan last month but although both horses would need to prove their aptitude for faster conditions, Henry de Bromhead is confident it would suit Monalee."We think he would like better ground, even if he is grand on ground like that," he said. "He's by Milan and is a good-moving horse. I'm not saying he wants it like the road but Festival ground should be fine." 

 Battleford added to the comfort of Monalee's success via repeatedly forfeiting impetus by jumping out to his left at most obstacles and frequently making errors in the process.He is doing better with each start, clearly requires a left-handed track and perhaps better ground so he'd be interesting in something like the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, even if he ultimately needs more of a trip.The others were soundly beaten, although Woods Well ran better than it seems after failing to stay. New To This Town might not have enjoyed this ground but Rathnure Rebel can claim neither excuse. Keen-going Turcagua ran so abjectly that he was pulled up.Later that week at Punchestown, Cilaos Emery probably crashed out of consideration for the Supreme, at the very least where Walsh is concerned, when defeated by County Hurdle candidate Mick Jazz.Everything seemed to be going to plan with the then third-favourite for the Supreme when he brightly took the lead approaching the home turn but Mick Jazz covered the move too readily and was upsides under Jack Kennedy at the last, both riders having had to put some work in already. In a scrap to the line, Mick Jazz was able to get there a neck quicker."We were toying with the idea of going to the Betfair Hurdle but winners in Ireland are more important than winners in England so we won't go for that," said Elliott, making plain the importance to him of a first trainers' title. "I knew he'd come there on the bridle - It's just what he finds off it - but he came home really well."That suggests Elliott has questioned Mick Jazz's finishing effort in the past - worth bearing in mind for a horse as short as 10/1 already for the County. Cilaos Emery lacked professionalism - keen in the early stages, scruffy in his jumping and perhaps even a tad green in front. While it underwhelmed those expecting more, it still strictly represented improvement in form.In recent years you'd wonder whether Mullins would give the Festival a go anyway but with the Irish trainers' title so close, you can't help but wonder whether some of the reinforcements might be kept back for a swoop on Punchestown.Walsh's Supreme options are narrowing apace with the once-hurdled Melon in prime position but the outcome of this Sunday's Deloitte Novices' Hurdle at Leopardstown, for which Mullins holds seven of the 12 entries at the time of writing, will hopefully provide further clarity.Pravalaguna - Walsh's mount in the Grade Three mares' novices' hurdle at Fairyhouse last Saturday - was disappointing. After being keen and making some mistakes early on, she faded right out to finish a distant fourth.Stablemate Asthuria might have won but for again taking a heavy tumble and handing the race to Shattered Love. This time she got as far as the last and had apparently exerted less effort than the eventual winner when nose-diving her narrow advantage away. She surely won't go to Cheltenham following a further blow to her confidence.Shattered Love might have found a way past anyway given she's such a sturdy galloper and she's a likeable mare for the medium term but Elliott is rightly concerned that the 2m1f trip for the Trull House Stud Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle "could be a bit short for her". Barra, in the same yard for the same owners Gigginstown Stud, is perhaps a likelier candidate.Another potential Irish contender for this race, the Mullins-trained Camelia De Cotte, flopped behind Mick Jazz so it's looking ever more certain that ante-post favourite Airlie Beach will chiefly represent him in this event rather than take on the geldings in the Supreme.Back in Britain, Lough Derg Spirit pushed his way back into the reckoning for the Supreme by defeating Peter The Mayo Man, supposedly a superior horse on official ratings who was conceding weight and well backed to do so.The key to victory in Musselburgh's Trial last Sunday was a return to forcing tactics on better ground that enables Lough Derg Spirit to use his deadly accurate jumping to most advantage. Particularly quick leaps at the third and second last put the pack in trouble. The time was quick.Henderson worries that Cheltenham might be "a year too soon" for this former point-to-point winner; he might also be thinking his preferred tactics are hard to execute in a Supreme.Earlier that day, Henderson had also seen Neptune entry Burbank beaten by Tree Of Liberty. Perhaps due to the sharp track, Jeremiah McGrath didn't look happy on the runner-up as far out as the fifth last when already applying the niggle but although he inched closer he was never able to bridge the gap to a winner cannily ridden from the front by Brian Hughes.Tree Of Liberty isn't entered at the Festival, is deemed by trainer Charlie Longsdon to need further and jumped his hurdles like a future chaser here. Stablemate Monbeg Charmer, winner of the Albert Bartlett Trial on the same card, might also miss Cheltenham if Longsdon heeds Hughes's advice to "mind him this year".The trainer admitted he was "a nightmare" to saddle at Musselburgh and his rider reported he'd got worked up at the start so you can see why the head-screwing experience of a Festival crowd might send this horse over the edge.He displayed only a little inexperience in the race itself, taking a keen hold and also being inclined to wander a bit in the latter stages but he made all and came up particularly well when asked by Hughes at the second last. Longsdon sees him as a "good staying chaser" of the future.Beaten favourite Overland Flyer - an impressive winner at Taunton - also refused to settle, raced wide and went out to his left on occasion. Perhaps he needs a more galloping track in this company.At the same venue the previous day, Gaitway - who holds entries in both the Supreme and the Neptune - shaped as though the latter trip would be more suitable when winning under a back-from-injury Nico de Boinville.However, Gaitway also hinted he might not be street-smart enough for the Festival, generally spending too much time in the air over his obstacles. His main rival Touch Kick was also mostly interested in hanging left, especially when all but pulling himself up on the stable bend.The winner has clearly had issues, given that there was almost two years between his first and second hurdle starts, and it wouldn't be surprising if Henderson kept him back for an Aintree target.Down at Sandown that same day, Rather Be ran with great credit when trying to concede a stone (minus Ned Curtis's 5lb claim) to tough juvenile Coeur De Lion. This head defeat, 13 lengths clear of the rest, probably wasn't enough to convince Henderson to take up his Neptune entry but he remains a promising horse and might be back to the Esher track for the EBF Final next month. Yet I still wonder whether sticking to two miles might be best for now at least.At Wetherby the same day, the highly likeable Ami Desbois took advantage of favourable conditions to make all under top weight in a Wetherby handicap hurdle. Stepping back up to three miles on testing ground was exactly what this game thorough stayer needed."I thought we were going to be put up [in the ratings]… given his form with Wholestone and Don't Hassle Hoff so the handicapper has done us a favour," observed trainer Graeme McPherson. "Ami Desbois is so game and just a novice. We'll look at the Albert Bartlett - it'd take a good horse to pass him if it comes up soft."At Taunton last Saturday, Mohaayed got off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt but trainer Dan Skelton plans to sidestep the Supreme in favour of the suitably flat track of Aintree. Neon Wolf had previously thumped him by 15 lengths at Haydock.At Wincanton last Thursday, hurdle debutant Sir Anthony Browne initiated a 1-2 for Alan King but allowed more experienced stable-companion Midnight Maestro the whiff of hope when displaying some greenness by veering left at the last. The pair was 17 lengths clear of their field."I thought Sir Anthony Browne was my best bumper horse last season but when he came back off his summer break, his wind had gone and we had to give him a tie-back. He has entries in the Supreme and Neptune - that might be flying a bit high but we will give him another run and see," King said.The final piece of news from the track this week was substantial enough: Any Drama's 38-length Market Rasen success on Tuesday over a decent enough field meant that talk of the Albert Bartlett was far from fanciful. He did jump a tad scrappily, however, and moves like he'll always need cut in the ground."If we are going to Cheltenham, Any Drama would undoubtedly have to run again and be a lot sharper with his jumping," said trainer Harry Fry. "The key to him is soft ground."But Fry has still got cold feet about Cheltenham for the exciting Neon Wolf due to Noel Fehily's advice that the horse "hits the ground hard… [he] is adamant we only go there if there's plenty of juice in the ground". Fry has got form for saying he'll miss the Festival and then being lured onto the rocks, so this isn't a done deal yet.In other news, Tizzard seems to be leaning towards the Neptune with Challow Hurdle victor Finian's Oscar, who runs at Exeter on Sunday with the express aim of getting more experience ahead of the Festival. "He looks more of a two-and-a-half miler but then he's not slow and we've decided to wait and see how he fares on Sunday," he said.Finally amid all the turmoil of last week, I overlooked the fact that my Neptune flyer of a tip Any Second Now has not been engaged at the Festival, as Mark Walsh suggested might be the case.I was banking on the temptation of running a fiercely progressive horse whose form is working out becoming too strong to resist. But you need an initial entry for the sirens' call to take effect and trainer Ted Walsh has pre-emptively tied himself to the mast.

February 2 2017

In a week when the bad news just kept on coming for Ricci, Let's Dance at provided some counterbalance. Her demolition of Leopardstown's Grade Two novice last Sunday was smart to the eye and on the clock but she has a plurality of options at Cheltenham.Left briefly in the lead and slightly hampered by the crunching fall of Blood Crazed Tiger at the sixth, Let's Dance regained it with a smashing jump at the second last to quell Ricci's second string Montalbano, who was quickly a spent force after again being keen early on. She then sauntered into the lead, quickly leaving all rivals toiling in her wake and stayed on strongly to the line."The advantage she has is that she's a second-season novice in against real novices," Mullins pointed out. "She ran last year but didn't win and we just ran her in big races because she started off so late in the season."We took a chance that if she won one, all well and good but if she didn't she'd have all the experience for this year. I think that's paying off for her, apart from the fact she's a good filly anyway."Mullins was rightly concerned whether the 2m1f Trull House Stud Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle would be too sharp for Let's Dance and instead cited the Neptune or even the mares' championship event, the OLBG David Nicholson, but Ricci was talking either Neptune or Albert Bartlett.The turn of foot she possesses and the mares' allowance she'd receive from less experienced geldings would make me strongly favour the Neptune ahead of all other options. You can back her at an entirely reasonable 16/1 on ante-post terms with Paddy Power or 10/1 NRNB BOG with Bet365.The quality of stable companion and runner-up Kemboy's effort might pass under the radar. His timing was poor when dragging his hind legs through the second-last hurdle just as Let's Dance pinged - a momentum-stilling error that was compounded by being shuffled back by the weakening Montalbano.Kemboy was unable to regain his equilibrium until nearing the last, by which time the winner had already gone. He stayed on strongly on the run-in without making any further significant inroads on the strong-staying Let's Dance but pulling 11 lengths clear of steady improver Joey Sasa.Handicaps appear the latter's best option even considering he'd made a bad mistake four out, but this was only Kemboy's second start over hurdles and he definitely has more to offer. Mullins was taken enough to mention the Albert Bartlett as a potential target for which he's an attractive 33/1 with Sky Bet and Stan James. Let's take a bit of that."He impressed me in his work during the week," Mullins said. "He was running a real good race until that mistake. He's improving all the time."Third-placed Peace News was wearing a first-time tongue-tie but struggled to stay in touch from the seventh flight and has not reproduced the form he was showing behind Airlie Beach until nose-diving at the last in the Royal Bond in early December. He didn't fail for want of trying, however.Earlier on the same card, much-touted Melon finally made his hurdles debut for Mullins and it was a straightforward success in all respects apart from when he pitched at the last. He won unextended, displaying the high cruising speed that's ideal for the Supreme and although this was just a creditable effort on the clock, he could clearly have pulled out more if asked."He was a bit long at the last and genuflected a little bit," said Mullins. "But he has been showing me plenty for a long while. He did a nice gallop in the autumn and I was afraid to do any more with him. We waited and waited until he came right and he has come right now at the right time. He lacks a bit of experience for Cheltenham but we will try and give him that at home."Mullins puts his finger on the overriding concern about Melon, especially given bookmakers are offering no better than Sky Bet's 9/2 about his chances in the Supreme.As discussed through the prism of Neon Wolf last week, this race's least experienced winners in the past ten years - Captain Cee Bee and Ebaziyan - had benefitted from two hurdles starts but also six previous outings on the Flat or in bumpers.It doesn't sound as if Mullins will run Melon, who raced just four times on the Flat in France, over hurdles again prior to Cheltenham. That's mightily scant race know-how for this event and this strikes me as something of a rush job.As an aside, pictures on social media last Sunday suggested that one fan took the trouble of purchasing a honeydew melon in order to leave it outside the Leopardstown weighing room in tangible tribute to this season's hitherto absent talking horse. Such expression is to be encouraged. Neon Wolf fans, up your game!Melon was one of 22 horses Mullins this week entered in the Supreme and one of 29 in the Neptune; he didn't merit being among the 23 stablemates in the Albert Bartlett.His recent impressive Gowran winner Bon Papa was entered in all three and dropped down by a mile in trip to get off the mark over hurdles in authoritative fashion after falling on his debut over three miles. He jumped particularly well to wrap things up over the last two flights and then coasted home."He hasn't had to do anything special yet and is unproven," said Geraghty, who afterwards stressed his mount's inexperience. "He's still a big raw horse. He's good but still has plenty to learn."Two other Mullins-trained winners over the past week also merited entries in the Albert Bartlett: Tin Soldier, the French recruit whose Fairyhouse triumph was his first start in Ireland but 11th over obstacles, and hurdles debutant Augustin, who overcame mistakes for a well-backed success at Naas. Both need to improve markedly to justify this lofty entry.Champagne Classic, who went from going best behind Tin Soldier to getting in too close and losing momentum at the last, was attempted to concede 8lb and was also entered in the Festival's three-mile novice. Third-placed Call The Taxie, last seen when a respectful second to Penhill in a Limerick Grade Two, disappointed in first-time cheekpieces. On his first-ever run, Jetz shaped with great promise behind Augustin but was not entered at the Festival.Whatever you put in the way of Wholestone, he usually finds away of beating it. This time it was three fewer hurdles than intended due to the low sun and the extra accent that placed on stamina was only to his advantage.Mistakes were again present - at the fourth and makeshift last (usually the penultimate flight) - but he recovered quickly with a characteristically positive attitude on both occasions. Once he'd taken the lead, this strong galloper was always going to stay on up the final hill.Both Jacob and trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies rightly favour the Albert Bartlett as his Festival target - but for the overnight rain that fell, the latter would have been concerned that this drop back to 2m4f would prove too much of a test of speed.He acknowledged Wholestone's hurdling technique "doesn't look clean but he doesn't lose any lengths". That said it could be that better ground would make it harder for him to recover so swiftly, if at all, from a scruffy jump. Endearingly Twiston-Davies hasn't counted out running him again prior to the Festival. All power to his monogrammed-duffel-coated elbow.Interestingly Wholestone head-to-head score with West Approach, who'd run so well when third in the preceding Cleeve, is 3-0. The latter has since discovered a more congenial run style mind.William Henry pursued Wholestone having travelled strongly into contention and continues to progress. He could well be suited by better ground and is worth his place in either the Neptune or Albert Bartlett. Third-placed Perfect Rhythm is still going the right way even though he's yet to get his head in front over hurdles. Easing in grade should sort that and three miles is his trip.I was far from discouraged for the medium to long term about 2019 Gold Cup winner Topofthegame, who was still moving smoothly approaching the last where he lacked fluency, stumbled and became unbalanced. He could muster no more after that.Hopefully trainer Paul Nicholls will stick with his nobler instinct of missing the Festival with this raw unfinished horse. If there is a feasible target among the loftier novice events, it's surely Aintree's Sefton Hurdle.The rest were exposed as below this grade with the possible exception of Kimberlite Candy, who was beaten so early that something must have been amiss.Another of last Saturday's winners took more distinct shape as a realistic Albert Bartlett contender in the form of Constantine Bay, who got the better of the year-younger No Hassle Hoff in Doncaster's Grade Two River Don in a decent time.The pair jumped the penultimate hurdle together and the runner-up had the stands' rail to help but he wandered left at the last, carrying the winner with him, and was worn down on the other side. The duo pulled 13 lengths clear of Duel At Dawn, who shaped like a marathon chaser of the future.No Hassle Hoff had the harder race of the two principals whereas, despite being a slightly uneasy favourite, Jeremiah McGrath only had to persuade Constantine Bay to do just enough to get on top.Both horses are progressive and proved their liking for a soundish surface here. Winning trainer Henderson had previously suggested Constantine Bay "might want minding a bit this season" but this success might persuade him otherwise.Exeter winner and 5/4 favourite Give Me A Copper was the disappointment of the race, stepped up in grade but beaten on the home turn and finishing tailed off. He is unproven on anything other than testing ground and was not entered in any of the Festival's novice events this week.At the same track on the preceding day, Brio Conti secured a Neptune entry with a ready victory in the closing maiden hurdle. He'd previously flopped behind Pingshou at Cheltenham in December and ran Constantine Bay close at Haydock in November. Here he moved stylishly into the lead with a good final leap and drew clear to win by nine lengths on the best time of the day.Earlier on the card Mount Mews proved he can settle a race decisively when taking the novice event by 14 lengths. He'd thrown away a winning chance by idling at Warwick last time but only had to dispatch markedly inferior rivals here. Jefferson has nonetheless entered him in the Supreme and Neptune.

January 25 2017

Having negotiated the shallow waters of his hurdles debut at Exeter with an authority greater than his winning margin, the notably well-backed Neon Wolf transitioned into classier company on his second start with the assurance of a smart horse.Yet in the aftermath of his Grade Two Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle success, winning jockey Noel Fehily cited the owners' liking for Punchestown - a yen shared by trainer Harry Fry.However, Fry also has form for finding the siren call of the Festival too seductive to bear and, once this shrewd trainer has crunched the numbers, he may find the Supreme moves up his agenda because this was surely the best performance by a British-trained novice hurdler all season to date.Carrying 4lb less, Neon Wolf's overall time was better than The New One's 35 minutes later and quicker in the home straight, having reached that bend in a similar time if slightly different fashion. Of course his two mistakes, one of them major, would have retarded The New One by strict comparison.Fehily pushed out Neon Wolf to the line for this nine-length success but he still left the impression of having more to give. As befits a horse having just his third start under Rules, he showed signs of inexperience when turning for home in the lead but his jumping in the straight was excellent."I thought early on he was a little bit babyish in his jumping," Fehily told Racing UK. "As he went on he jumped better and I thought the way he let rip up the straight was very impressive. He showed a great turn of foot up the straight today. For a horse that will definitely stay further I thought he was very impressive."Fehily had been concerned beforehand that 1m7f at Haydock's sharp track might place too great an emphasis on speed but on soft ground at least, the opposite was the case - this horse had plenty of toe for the task. He added that Neon Wolf wouldn't want "quick" going, preferring "anything with a bit of dig in it" and sees him as a nascent chaser.The major factor weighing against Neon Wolf's participation in the Supreme might be his naivety compared with typical winners of this race.He hails from the point-to-pointing field, something he shares on his CV with only two of the past 10 winners, Champagne Fever and Al Ferof. However, they both subsequently ran eight times under Rules prior to the Supreme.Neon Wolf has hitherto raced only twice over hurdles. Captain Cee Bee and Ebaziyan both won the Festival's opening event with hurdling experience that scant but they had also run six times beforehand, either on the Flat or in bumpers.Unless he has another start, Neon Wolf would be pitching up with just four races under his belt - a Point, a bumper and two hurdles. Of the past ten winners, only Douvan had as little experience but at least all of his starts were over hurdles. Your non-exceptional Supreme winner has already felt the heat of battle in many races - even Altior had appeared seven times.Perhaps Neon Wolf is exceptional - evidence is accumulating for this hope - but it could be that his long-term growth would indeed be better served by ducking the Festival this year. If connections roll the big dice, he's a highly attractive 10/1 NRNB with sponsors Sky Bet right now. Were the Festival to be staged on softish ground - a rare thing - that price would look very long. I'm pretty sure his revised official rating of 148 doesn't do him full justice.Runner-up Elgin just couldn't ever get to grips with the winner. He jumped well but jockey Wayne Hutchinson seemed to accept the struggle was unequal on the approach to the last.Trainer King had targeted this race to test-drive his theory that Elgin requires right-handed tracks but, although that might comfort his connections for the manner of his vanquishing, there was no obvious kink to his racing left-handed here and this was a career-best on paper. It might be as good as he is. We'll find out more when he takes in Plan A, next month's Dovecote.That Mohaayed, previously runner-up to Elgin at Kempton, was a well-beaten fourth gives this notion some substance but his margin of defeat was exaggerated by dragging his hind legs through the third last with prolonged effect. That said he was under pressure, though responding to a degree, at the time.Third-placed Crievehill continues to improve in his own sphere and jumped safely when tired late on, having been keen early. He never had the pace to get near the winner and was comfortably held by the second, too. He looks a chaser.Rewinding to Ludlow last Thursday, River Wylde won the closing novices' hurdle comfortably under a penalty in soft going, travelling strongly into the lead approaching the last but then hanging greenly left to the stands' rail.He'd previously dotted up in a maiden over the same course and distance and boasts an upwardly mobile career trajectory. His only blip to date came when trailing in 40 lengths adrift as beaten favourite in a Cheltenham bumper last October."River Wylde is a good horse and he would have hated that ground," said Henderson. "We'll head to the Dovecote next with him and that will tell us whether to go to Cheltenham. We'll find out just how good he is when he gets some better ground. The timing of this race was crucial, really - it enabled us to give him some more experience as he's still green."Over in Ireland, C'est Jersey paid a small compliment to my Neptune fancy Any Second Now by winning a 2m4f maiden at Navan last Saturday by a clear margin. He'd previously been mugged by that horse over two miles here in December but ran poorly over this trip at Fairyhouse last time.Mullins reached for the cheekpieces on this occasion and perhaps they made the difference. C'est Jersey travelled sweetly at the fore of mid-division and made stealthy headway towards the lead from the home turn.He was shuffled back by ultimate fourth A Rated jumping left across him at the second last but recovered to challenge at the last. There he sprawled right and bumped main rival Black Key. Shaken up by Walsh, he then quickly recovered to power clear.Perhaps Black Key was materially unbalanced by the collision because he initially found less off the bridle than his smooth waited-with progress to the last had promised. He did recover to chase the winner more meaningfully but his chance had gone by then. A decent stayer on the Flat for Hughie Morrison two terms ago, he was more comfortably held last time by the winner's stablemate Montalbano at Leopardstown."He's improving slowly," Mullins said of C'est Jersey. "He could go out to three miles although he shows us plenty at home. He doesn't have any regard for his hurdles so he could be one of those horses that might do better over fences."The eye-catcher was sixth-placed Bilbo Baggins who didn't seem to want any adventures this day, buried in a share of second last exiting the fourth last but coming past beaten horses in a race totally dominated by those who raced far more prominently. He possessed no credible Rules form prior to this but had shown flashes of ability in Points.At Leopardstown the following day, Justmemyselfandi showed improved form to get off the mark on his second start in the 2m2f maiden hurdle, underpinning the form of his Limerick conqueror Kemboy. The latter is a potential live Neptune player and is entered at Leopardstiown this Sunday.Back at Thurles last Thursday, The Storyteller took the scalp of Battleford under a guard-changing ride by Jack Kennedy in the extended 2m6f event. He would probably have won anyway but as eventual third Wishmoor weakened from his position disputing the lead with the Walsh-ridden runner-up, Kennedy wriggled his mount into that position - up the inside of his main rival, no less. The chutzpah of the lad.Battleford had nosed into the lead at the third last with a far better jump than either of his closest pursuers but under pressure he started to adjust left after that. In particular, he got in too close to the second last and that mistake in effect presented victory to the more professional winner. Granted the office, The Storyteller made no mistake at the last."He's a nice horse and will win plenty of races. Whether he goes into a handicap or stays in novice company, we will see," said Elliott. "The owners like to have a runner at Cheltenham so he'll probably run in something over there. More of a galloping track will suit him better."I like The Storyteller's steadily improving trajectory. He shapes like a thorough stayer and that could result in him contesting the Albert Bartlett unless Elliott gets him qualified quickly for the Pertemps. The Coral Cup or Martin Pipe could place a tad too much emphasis on speed but he does handle a faster surface and is maturing all the time.Battleford was beaten on merit and stuck on, hard ridden, in the straight. He appears a class below graded company over hurdles but could get a workable mark for handicaps.Earlier on that card, Battleford's stable-companion Al Baum Photo took the second division of the two-mile maiden hurdle in the style of a horse that will do better upped in trip. Mullins is already on the case and suggested entries in both the Neptune and Albert Bartlett.In the first division Surf Instructor built on his rallying second to the Mullins-trained Coquin Mans with a likeable success, outspeeding another member of the Mullins massive, Timi Roll, approaching the last and then securing victory with a good jump. Four-year-old Icario, last seen when second to smart fellow juvenile Dakota Moirette, then rallied to pass Timi Roll for second spot. This race was a fractionally slower time than the later division.Word reaches me that Mark Walsh suggested Any Second Now could miss the Festival for the benefit of his long-term development. The crunch will therefore come next week when we discover whether he's been entered in the Neptune. If he is and his form continues to work out, the lure of Cheltenham might (rightly) prove tough to resist.Turning to the mares, Toe The Line followed up some decent placed efforts - most notably when third to Turcagua at Punchestown last month - by winning the opening event at Leopardstown last Sunday. While her owners are keen on the Trull House Stud Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle, trainer John Kiely believes she's "not in that league" - correctly, on all known form to date.But Airlie Beach, who won an open Grade One for novices at Fairyhouse last month, heads straight to Cheltenham. That's according to Steve Massey, racing manager for owners the Supreme Racing syndicate."If Willie [Mullins] was to say we'll run in the Supreme, we'd say great," said Massey. "However it's not every day you have a favourite for a race, which she is for the mares' novice after her Grade One win… I'd say she's more likely to run [there]."

January 19 2017

Only Any Second Now seems to know how good he is. On debut at Navan, he decided he was fit and talented enough to mow down the leaders uninvited to triumph at 66/1. Last Saturday at Punchestown he won the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle from the infinitely more heralded Crack Mome in the style of a horse with an incredibly bright future.Patiently ridden by Mark Walsh, he moved into the race like the raw talent that he is: oscillating from travelling well to looking gawky to getting his stuff together approaching the last. A good jump at the last gave him the momentum to get to the front and once he had the lead, he was happy to idle.Palpably, after leading on the home turn the mistake Crack Mome made at that final flight limited his impact on the race - the blunder caused him to land awkwardly flat-footed - but such is the untapped potential of the winner, I believe he would have won anyway.This is strong form delivered in an excellent time. Third-placed Runfordave - unlucky to fall when probably poised to win at Limerick last time - was the first to feel the heat but also responded generously to pressure. He gamely harried better-travelling Crack Mome rounding the home turn and approaching the last but was getting the worst of it even before he made an error and Any Second Now swallowed them both up.The also-rans - all winners and improving in their own spheres - were well beaten off. This is a race Mullins often targets with his best hurdler - he's won it with Mikael D'Haguenet, Vautour, Douvan and Min in recent years - and although he stated beforehand that Cilaos Emery, Bunk Off Early, Cadmium and Pravalaguna were also in the mix, it only lends substance to what Any Second Now has achieved on only his second start.Winning trainer Ted Walsh said: "I was happy turning in that he was going to be third to two fair horses and when he picked up he did it well. It's a tight two miles around here and he was going as quickly as he wanted to at times, too. He cruised through Navan and probably didn't learn a whole lot. He's a raw sort of horse but he could be very good."I think he is - and likely to be best suited by the demands of the Neptune. It's true he's only raced on soft or heavy to date but he doesn't move like a horse married to that surface and his jumping is good. He is also clearly a fast learner.Betway stand out at 20/1 but the 16/1 available with Sky Bet, Paddy Power and elsewhere is just as palatable each-way. Let's take that. Given McManus has so many horses for so many races, the 9/1 offered by Sky Bet to win 'any Festival race' is not unattractive.In the very next race, Gunnery Sargent pounced on Kolumbus's error at the secobd-last obstacle to win the big-field maiden over the same course and distance. The runner-up represented Bacardys's Leopardstown form and didn't really enhance it, although his more feted stablemate is likely to be a much better horse stepped up in trip.At Fairyhouse the following day, Barra gained a deserved win in ready fashion when trouncing Kate Appleby Shoes by 12 lengths. She already had the race won before the home turn and Jack Kennedy merely had to be keep her up to her work either side of the last to maintain that wide advantage.After giving a pair of decent geldings, Joey Sasa and Invitation Only, a run for their money in her previous two starts, this success eased in grade to a mares' maiden was no more than should have been expected but Barra certainly didn't disappoint in her manner or fluency.Trainer Elliott is considering a graded mares' event back at Fairyhouse in a few weeks' time but this progressive horse would clearly also merit an entry in the Trull House Stud Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Festival.Kate Appleby Shoes got outpaced and lost her position at halfway before staying on for a distinct second without ever giving the winner a fright. She may need further now.Back in Britain, Willoughby Court may have been unchallenged on the lead from start to finish in last Saturday's Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Leamington Hurdle at Warwick but it was not from the want of his rivals attempting to get on terms. A quick jump at the first secured the lead and he was in an unstoppable rhythm thereafter, although he did wander right latterly.Trainer Ben Pauling had recommended this target, despite his horse meeting the likes of Peregrine Run a stone wrong on official ratings. Willoughby Court was proven at the track, in soft ground and clearly stays 2m5f thoroughly."Whether he's ground dependent? I'd like to think he's not but I suppose he handles it well," observed a non-committal Jason Maguire, racing manager to owners Paul and Clare Rooney. "He might got straight to Cheltenham as he likes to be fresh and I imagine he'll be over fences next season.Both the Neptune and the Albert Bartlett were mentioned as possible options but the latter makes more appeal based on this effort - he shapes like a thorough stayer.This was a thumping reversal of his defeat by Get On The Yager, a well-held fourth here, at Market Rasen in November but that was on quicker ground and Willoughby Court was then making his hurdles debut and wearing a tongue-tie he hasn't donned since.But in fact all of his main rivals bar the doughty and improving runner-up Gayebury - who had a tendency to go out to his right - could plausibly have underperformed due to the testing ground.Irish raider Peregrine Run had won his last four starts, including a Grade Two defeat of Wholestone at Cheltenham in November, and surely needs a sounder surface. Beaten favourite Geordie Des Champs, who finished stone cold last, might have been totally unable to function after a significant mistake put him on the back foot.At Kempton that day, Ballymalin extended his win tally this season to four from five starts but, having looked assured of a comfortable victory with all of his rivals outpaced on the home turn, he was forced to fight by the rallying and game Beneagles and ultimately triumphed by only a length.Having been cautious at his hurdles early on, Ballymalin saved his best leaps for when he was under pressure in the latter stages and responded willingly to pressure. The plan had been to target him at the Festival's Pertemps Final but he hasn't yet run in any of the qualifying races. He certainly stays well and handles a sound surface.Beneagles was pulled up on his Rules debut in soft ground at Uttoxeter last November but showed his true worth here, going down fighting to a vastly more experienced rival who was admittedly conceding 10lbs. He is clearly a thorough stayer.Third-placed Alpha Male, sent off favourite here, was outpaced after the seventh flight and waved the white flag with a mistake at the second last. He might not have stayed but is hinting at being just too immature currently to utilise whatever talent he might have.At Huntingdon the preceding day, Burbank initiated a treble for Henderson with a victory in the two-mile NH maiden event that looked far from likely when he was under pressure and ridden along by Jeremiah McGrath after the fourth last. Yet he responded to those urgings and went from paddling to winning approaching the second last in the style of a gawky but talented horse.Henderson said he'd been anxious for McGrath to settle a horse that had been buzzy when a good second to Glaring on his hurdling debut here but "the sleep button" had clearly worked too well. Burbank is clearly well regarded but "a work in progress" and will be kept to novice company in the short term to hone his craft. He's definitely going the right way, though - as is runner-up Man From Mars for a lower level. He's qualified for handicaps now.Beyond Conceit made an exciting winning debut on his first start for Henderson this week at Newbury, having been unsighted on a racecourse for three-and-a-half years. Apart from a touch of freshness in the early stages, you couldn't tell.At eight years of age, he's late embarking on a hurdling career but his technique was good and he reeled in the advantageously ridden runner-up Shantou Rock with ease soon after the second last, pulling away to win by ten lengths. The only opportunity to deduct points came with a small mistake at the last; the time compared well. This was a performance that demanded an entry in the Supreme."Beyond Conceit had a tendon problem and fractured a pelvis," Henderson revealed. "Barry said after the way he tanked through that you wouldn't be in a rush to go over 2m4f. We'll stick to this ground and wouldn't run him on quick after the problems he's had."Despite a sharp frost requiring the course to undergo three inspections before being given the go-ahead to race, the ground on Newbury's hurdles track was surprisingly no more testing than soft on this day. Beyond Conceit was at his best on a fast surface when trained by Andrew Balding but looked at home here - happily, given his problems. He also stayed at least 2m4f on the Flat but often doesn't translate to a need for marathon trip over hurdles.At Taunton last week, there was a breezy display of authority from Overland Flyer in winning the three-mile maiden hurdle by 22 lengths in a reasonable time on his Rules debut.He'd previously won a couple of Points at lovely Larkhill and had taken quite a bit to get fit according to Harry Derham, Paul Nicholls' assistant trainer, who deems him a smart nascent chaser that they "won't rush"."I had a look behind two out and couldn't quite believe how far clear I was, so he must be a fair animal," said jockey Sam Twiston-Davies. "We could try to win another little race before going up in class. He's by Westerner and they can be a bit quirky but when I gave him a slap he picked up."In the very next race, Bags Groove finally got off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt over hurdles. He'd contributed to his defeat at Newbury last time with some waywardness after the last but here raced more professionally, with only a hint of a wander when asked to assert."Bags Groove had been second a few times but had run well and bumped into good horses. The idea was to get his head in front and go from there," said Fry. "Noel [Fehily, jockey] said they didn't go fast enough for him which is always good to hear. The penny's dropping and he's in the Betfair Hurdle but we could look at the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon."Runner-up Captain Buck's shaped promisingly on his hurdles debut and first start since April despite his rogue apostrophe, keeping the winner honest by still holding every chance at the penultimate flight.Bastien is now unbeaten in two starts over hurdles after winning at Plumpton last Monday. He was conceding upwards of 6lbs all round and his jumping was notably sound, especially when challenging for the lead at the second last. He'd had to work to get on terms with free-going Flat recruit Not Never but powered away approaching the last to register an improved effort.

January 11 2017

I suspect Death Duty would have won Naas's Grade One novices' hurdle last Sunday even had Augusta Kate not taken a tumble at the last - and perhaps with a degree of comfort. As things played out, he won by an ever-expanding nine lengths.Once again his nimble jumping was on display, particularly at that final telling flight, and his head was bowed characteristically low. He needed only encouragement from fine young jockey Jack Kennedy to get involved in the action and posted yet another career best."I would say he is an out-and-out stayer and they did not go fast enough for him," said trainer Gordon Elliott. "Jack thought he had [Augusta Kate] covered and the one thing I do know is that he would have galloped all the way to the line. Our lad is a very good horse."He's a proper three-mile chaser. At this stage, of all the good horses I have had, none of them were as good as this fella over hurdles. That does not mean he will go on to do it as a chaser. I would say he is a fair one, though."The Albert Bartlett is the next stop for Death Duty, after "a couple of easy weeks", where he will be trying three miles for the first time. Like his trainer says, he shapes as though it will suit him.Perhaps a greater imponderable would be faster ground, given all his substantial hurdling form has been recorded on a testing surface. He might well be just fine and, although 9/4 is short, his claims are considerable.Augusta Kate was dwarfed by her rivals and kept buried in the pack by Ruby Walsh until angled out to challenge approaching the second last. However, she sought to hang right on the approach to both final flights, necessitating repeated slaps down her neck to keep straight but resulting in an awkward head carriage. She didn't get high enough when falling but would have beaten the rest comfortably had she stood up.Despite racing keenly throughput, the horse who revels in the name Blood Crazed Tiger might have snatched second from front-running Turcagua had he not been hampered by the fall of Augusta Kate at the last. The actual second enjoyed an easy lead and appeared to have every chance.Earlier, the decision to attack with the habitually keen Turbojet almost paid off in Naas's opening maiden hurdle but Art Of Security caught him soon after the last. Jockey Mark Enright had cast a glance back at the chasing pack entering the straight and again, in concern, when Turbojet lacked fluency at the second last. He'd have seen both the winner and Arvico Bleu travelling well enough.Art Of Security, who'd recovered well from a scrappy jump three out, then responded readily to hands and heel to challenge at the last and pulled clear on the run-in. Arvico Bleu might have been second but for lurching to the left with a scrappy jump, to the extent he needed correcting to get the right side of the rails. He shapes as though further might suit.Inexperienced Fit To Be Tied and hurdles debutant Mossback shaped with some encouragement but the overall time was nothing special. Winning trainer Noel Meade deems Art Of Security "a reasonable horse" set for handicaps rather than anything loftier but the win underpins conqueror Bacardys' Leopardstown success last month.Making his Irish debut at Cork the preceding day, Chateau Conti ultimately won without challenge after poor Hardline took a second nasty tumble in as many races at the third last. The winner's jumping must sharpen up but he hinted with the odd leap that he'd be capable of jumping nimbly in time. He looks a bang two-miler."He wasn't quite ready for Christmas, " said Mullins. "He likes to get on with things. His jumping can improve but to be able to do that on heavy ground first time is a good sign."Hardline had yet to be asked for his effort when lurching right and stepping at the hurdle in an X-rated departure. It was a great relief to see him back on his feet afterwards but it's worrying that he wasn't under any obvious pressure when making his mistake this time and his confidence may be affected.Quadruple bumper winner Canelie inherited second but she also came from further back than the principals and delivered by far her best effort yet over hurdles.Britain's big novice event of this period was Sandown's Tolworth Hurdle last Saturday and Finian's Oscar won it easily. Tizzard was exaggerating when describing his jumping as "immaculate" - he guessed at the second and fluffed the last - but he was clearly excited by what he called "a real professional horse".Rider Tom O'Brien admitted afterwards to Nick Luck on Racing UK that he would have liked a lead deeper into the race but neatly conveyed his mount's domination of this Grade One event when observing that it felt like riding a really well-handicapped horse in a handicap.Such is the strength of Team Tizzard that his horses instantly command authority in ante-post markets these days and Finian's Oscar was instantly promoted to favourite for the Neptune - although his trainer said he'd be entered in all the Festival novices and is "the sort of horse who could do any trip". He didn't lack pace at two miles here but couldn't afford to make any mistakes in the white heat of a Supreme."The easiest option would be to go 2m4f because he's got the speed for two [miles] and he stays," Tizzard observed. Luckily, with this trainer, we'll get to gather further evidence because he plans to run Finian's Oscar again. "What am I going to do for two months if I don't?" he asked, rhetorically. Quite.Come the Festival, faster ground would be an unknown but this horse moves as if he should be well suited by that. More of a concern is perhaps the worth of his form to date proportionate to his cramped odds. The time was identical to the opening juvenile performance and his key rival, Capitaine, was clearly below his best. As O'Brien commented, he'd expected that horse to keep with him longer.However, it's worth remembering that trainer Paul Nicholls commented after Capitaine's win at Ascot last time that he'd enjoyed making the running on better ground. Here he was restrained chasing the lead on heavy ground. Perhaps the County Hurdle remains his primary target.Third-placed Chalonnial ran respectably, although he almost wandered right off the track exiting the back straight. Of greater interest is Global Stage, a highly-encouraging fourth under a relatively sympathetic ride on a tough gig for his hurdles debut. It's worth noting that exciting mare Kayf Grace missed this race due to what was said to be a minor setback.At Doncaster on Monday, Stowaway Magic dotted up in one of those races in which nobody seems to care how they start except for punters and those who'd prefer the Rules of Racing to be applied for reasons of probity.There were nine or ten lengths between first and last as the starter let them go, the leader Yorgonnahearmeroar having been well backed. The free lengths he purloined turned out to be of little use against a winner this good but relative positioning suggests runner-up American Gigolo should be marked up.But the winner was at least two grades superior and won this conceding upwards of 7lb all round. He guessed at a couple of hurdles in the straight but clearly has the raw material to carve out a decent jumping career.Henderson said: "Stowaway Magic needs experience. He is a good jumper but he needs practice. We won a hurdle race with him in May and he should have been out earlier but he had one or two niggly problems."He's a horse who wants decent ground and we will look for something nice for him in the spring. He's going to be a chaser next season."That makes it sound as though Cheltenham won't be on the agenda but Aintree could be.Another performance worth mentioning was Lakeside Castle's debut 23-length success at Wetherby last Thursday, although admittedly the time was nothing special and favourite Westend Story hung his chance away from the third last.The winner was making his debut for Dan Skelton having previously chased home Blood Crazed Tiger in a Roscommon bumper. (Great name. I might have mentioned that.)On Sunday, Constantine Bay won for the second time over hurdles and may head next to Huntingdon's Sidney Banks. He won by six lengths but again the time was no great shakes. "He's a staying chaser in the making so might want minding a bit this season," said Henderson.In other news, David Pipe reportedly plans to run Supreme favourite Moon Racer once more prior to the Festival and King has changed plans with Elgin, who now heads to Doncaster rather than return to Kempton for the Dovecote so his trainer can test his theory that the horse needs to go right-handed.Finally, the Mullins-trained Melon has been nibbled at in places in the Supreme market. He was name-checked a few times in the early days of this season but has neither raced nor is entered at the time of writing.

January 4 2017

Messire Des Obeaux was impressive in beating a strong field gathered for Newbury's Grade One Challow Hurdle last Saturday although trainer Alan King clearly sees him primarily as a nascent chaser.He was a tad keen early on at the fore of the main group chasing the two clear leaders, Major Mac and Ami Desbois, but moved smoothly into contention from the third last and needed only the mildest of shakes to lead after the second last. He got in too close to the last and landed flat-footed but had plenty left in the tank and was even idling on the run to the line.A second-season novice who finished seventh in last year's Fred Winter, he'd previously won at Bangor and a Grade Two at Sandown, defeating Ballyandy by half a length, last time out - an experience his trainer believes taught him plenty."He travelled very well through it and probably last time [at Sandown] was the first time he'd really had to battle and I'm sure they learn from that," King told Racing UK's Tom Stanley."He'll definitely get three [miles] but I don't think we need to be in a rush to go there yet. He travels very well through a race. I've said all the way through that the one thing I'm excited about is him seeing a fence next season. Of the staying [novice hurdlers], he's up there - he'd be as good as we've got, I think."King anticipates entering Messire Des Obeaux in both the Neptune and Albert Bartlett; the Neptune trial at Cheltenham at the end of this month is his anticipated next step. For his part, jockey Daryl Jacob spoke of his mount having "exactly what you need for a Cheltenham horse"."He's just learning, just switching on all the time. The last time he travelled really well but hit a flat spot… It took him a while to get into that top gear but once he got into it he as never ever stopping," Jacob said."And today he's learned from that and once he got into top gear he knew exactly what to do when he came off the bridle: he fought hard and he fought well."Runner-up Baltazar D'Allier gave chase to the winner from the third last but could never quite reach him. Trainer Gordon Elliott suggested he wouldn't be racing much this term: "He's a big weak horse," he said. "He's a horse for next term. Barry [Geraghty, jockey] said he was nice but inexperienced."Third placed Ami Desbois didn't jump as well as he had at Cheltenham and, in correcting himself into the third last, was on the back foot for much of the straight until his stamina kicked in. The drop in trip and less testing ground weren't to his benefit.He was also inclined to hang left, as was fourth-placed Elegant Escape who might have been third but for a stilling mistake at the last that left him trotting rather than galloping for a few strides. He needs further, too.Another second-season hurdler Major Mac bounced back from a dull effort at Sandown to be a convincing hare at a track he likes, ultimately finishing fifth. He should be capable of winning a handicap, perhaps needing to go left-handed.Having made a mistake at the second, Cultivator never got involved and his form took a step backwards. Henderson concluded he'd been over-faced and needed to be put away until there is better ground in the spring.Going into this event Robin Roe was second favourite for the Neptune on the strength of his exciting Aintree hurdles-debut success but hadn't been sighted on a racecourse for more than two months. Trainer Skelton said then this race was the target so there was no sense the horse had suffered a setback.Sent off favourite, he was a length down on the runner-up and about three behind the winner when taking off too soon and suffering a slithering tumble at the third last. Sadly it later transpired he'd cracked a bone in his knee in that incident and will be sidelined until autumn at the earliest.Later on the same card William Henry followed up his encouraging comebackat Cheltenham with an authoritative success in the introductory hurdle. Having previously been off the track for 21 months, it was important to see him reappear promptly and build on his hurdles debut and he initiated a 1-2-3 in the race for Henderson.It was conducted at a crawl, however, and there were plenty of errors in his wake - notably fourth-placed debutant Mister Universum. Runner-up Le Dauphin, a half-brother to 2015 OLBG David Nicholson runner-up Polly Peachum, surely needs further. A rare runner over jumps for David Simcock, former decent Flat handicapper Captain Morley hinted at an aptitude for this game without landing a blow."William Henry is a classy horse and I don't think a messy contest like that would necessarily help him," Henderson observed. He was generally upbeat about all three of his representatives, while admitting the race had degenerated into something akin to "a gallop at Seven Barrows". He plans to step the winner up in trip so a Neptune entry must be a possibility.Coo Star Sivola relished the testing conditions at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and, despite dossing on the job early, won the opening contest with more left to give. A second-season novice, he was a decent juvenile and even finished third in the Fred Winter - a fine performance for a relatively slow-maturing scopey horse.His season had started well with a second in the Persian War but he was thumped in Grade One company in France last time and still sought his first career success. The step up in trip to 2m4f here did the trick. This success also initiated Kelly's notable double in races precluding the use of her claim.Understandably given his physique, she deems him a nascent chaser. In the meantime Williams believes "you need to be 150-rated" for the Neptune and is instead tempted by the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Festival.Runner-up Report To Base again ran a super race to follow up his Bangor second to Kayf Grace. Perhaps even more than Coo Star Sivola, he loved the ground but jumped less fluently and wandered once headed. This inexperienced horse also looks like a decent staying chaser in the making.In third, Poetic Rhythm reversed his previous form with Pingshou probably due to being better suited by the trip. The former would have finished closer bar for being repeatedly mildly inconvenienced before and after the final flight where he also landed very awkwardly. He may ultimately even want further.By contrast Pingshou went from travelling well at the second last to leaving Coleman holding onto to nothing exiting the home turn; he surely did not stay and might also need a sounder surface. Sumkindofking's petrol also emptied in these conditions but he wasn't ever quite able to get involved either. Minotaur jumped monstrously and the only hope to cling onto with the pulled-up Baden is he was simply unable to function in ground that deep but he risks becoming disappointing.In other UK novice-hurdling news from New Year's day, Neon Wolf and Air Horse One formed two legs of a Harry Fry-trained treble in the opening three races at Exeter.The former is now unbeaten in a point, bumper and hurdle; he won in straightforward fashion for mostly hands and heels and with more authority than the official three-length margin. The latter finally got off the mark over hurdles at the sixth attempt, steadily getting on top from the second last in testing ground.At Plumpton the next day, No Comment carried a double penalty to victory in the NH novices' hurdles. The hood he's worn the last twice has helped him start to realise his potential and, hat-trick in the bag, there should be more to come in decent handicaps.Rewind to Taunton last Friday and Coillte Lass took the scalp of last year's Trull House Stud Dawn Run Mares' Hurdle runner-up Dusky Legend despite trainer Paul Nicholls' concerns about her dropping back to the minimum trip.Although she's a winning pointer and registered both previous successes over 2m5f, she didn't seem to lack for pace and, once assuming the lead after the third last, she extinguished all hope behind her with a daring long but accurate leap at the next flight. When she clipped the last it scarcely affected her momentum and she maintained her four-and-a-half-length margin of superiority all the way to the line.Nicholls has "no real plans" for her and didn't mention Cheltenham as a possible target but she's clearly a decent mare and her pedigree suggests her trainer will ultimately be borne out over her trip requirements. It was comfortably the best hurdles time of the day.Dusky Legend was conceding 3lbs to the winner but comprehensively outpointed. Jockey Wayne Hutchinson sounded the alarm as early as the fourth last, when his mount made a mistake and needed shaking up. By the home turn, she was outpaced. There was a fleeting vague hope when you thought her stamina would kick in entering the straight but the leader's second-last leap crushed that thought.The runner-up had previously been beaten three-and-a-quarter lengths by La Bague Au Roi at Newbury, when also conceding 3lbs, and this appeared to be a slightly lesser performance. This second season novice is consistent but couldn't at this stage be accused of progression. Her price still ranges from 10/1 to twice that for this year's Dawn Run; Coillte Lass is available at 16/1.Copper Kay finished third to La Bague Au Roi in that same Newbury race and threw away victory on the step up to 2m5f at Warwick on New Year's Eve. She was eight lengths clear of Ellens Way after the last, the pair having pulled away from the rest after the third last, but seemed to jink at a photographer crouching under the rail and idled so badly that her pursuer, head bowed honest and low, caught her approaching the line. She rallied to force a photo but was still held by a head.The runner-up had been keen early on but it was Copper Kay's lack of focus that cost her rather than any other factor, so it won't be surprising to see her either delivered much later or in headgear in future. If she could be guaranteed a strong pace, she might still be effective at shorter trips. Her jumping was scrappy at the fourth and third last, so she's doing plenty wrong currently.Ellens Way was receiving 7lbs and appeared to step up markedly on her previous form, returned to a more suitable trip. Grace Tara lost her unbeaten tag under Rules, her jockey Robbie Dunne reporting she "hung right-handed throughout and stopped quickly".The notable novice-hurdling performance from Ireland during this period - admittedly something of an exhalation after the frenetic graded action of the preceding days - came from Woods Well at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day.In heavy ground in which he was entitled to finish as tired as he did, he kept galloping and jumping whereas his rivals faltered. This was another improved performance and Team Elliott sees him as a staying chaser for the future.Runner-up Gettysburg Address ran creditably enough but made mistakes. C'est Jersey appeared to regress on his Irish debut when surprised by Any Second Now at Navan; his jumping was notably poor but perhaps he found the ground difficult.On his racecourse debut Time Factor shaped with distinct promise, having been out of his ground early and then fading late from the effort of getting on terms with the principals.

January 1, 2017

Saturnas is progressive and quelled a decent field in fine style to win the Grade One Future Champions Novices' Hurdle at Leopardstown last Tuesday.He led the group-chasing pacesetting Le Martalin and jumped well to join him as the field bunched up approaching the second last. He and Brelade then emerged travelling best on the home turn but by the last he had edged ahead for a decisive victory.This was only his third start over hurdles and he's improved a chunk for each of them. He jumped with far more assurance than when beaten by stablemate Airlie Beach at Fairyhouse last time and could yet be even better stepped up in trip.Mullins said: "We know that he jumps and gallops so I told Paul [Townend] not to be afraid to go about his business. The last day in the Royal Bond, I thought he might just have met Airlie Beach on a good day but he seemed to travel and jump better here."Brelade negotiated the step into graded company with credit here, jumping well and emerging as the only credible threat to the winner. He stuck to his task likeably after Saturnas had shaken him off. This was only his second spin over hurdles and there is surely more to come.Sunni May was unfortunate not to finish closer, having been either squeezed out and/or steadied into the second last where he then made a mistake. That left him with ground to find, which he initially managed before becoming outpaced approaching the last and then rallying strongly en route to the winning post. He is worth his place at this level.Patiently-ridden Riven Light made too many mistakes to cut it at this grade and Peace News, who'd hit the deck behind Airlie Beach and Saturnas last time, was disappointing, only seeming to want to hang left late on.Earlier on the same card, Bacardys looked bang in trouble in the steadily run two-mile maiden hurdle when exacerbating the problem with a slow jump at the second last. But pumped along, he responded to Walsh's urgings to press the leader, stablemate Kolumbus, approaching the last and soon wore him down on the other side. Ultimately, Bacardys could even afford to throw in some idling once in front.He's in sore need of a step up in trip and should take a good stride forward when that happens. He had also suffered a scare prior to contesting this event, having twisted off a shoe en-route to the track."We weren't sure whether that would hinder him," admitted Mullins. "But he did it well and would have no problem going up in trip. Kolumbus ran a very good race and he, too, should stay further. Both of them seemed to be suited by the ground."Talking of the ground at Leopardstown, Walsh was of the opinion that it rode slower on this second day than on Boxing Day despite no rain having fallen.On that preceding day, Joey Sasa underpinned Brelade's form with a decisive defeat of Barra and Castello Sforza in the 2m2f maiden hurdle. He made a mistake just as Castello Forza jumped into the lead at the second last but steadily responded to get back on terms on the home turn. The mare Barra then seemed to be travelling best and at one point all three were in a line heading for the last flight.They'd broken ranks by take-off however, with Joey Sasa asserting and seeming to relish the two furlongs extra. At the age of seven he's old for a novice hurdler and, according to trainer Noel Meade, started late not due to injury but because he hadn't been broken in.Barra built on her encouraging Irish and hurdles debut second to Invitation Only here and although Castello Sforza has now beem sent off the beaten favourite in his last three starts, he is consistent and no shirker so perhaps he needs to step up in trip or receive a more positive ride.Earlier on the card, Bunk Off Early beat Outspoken by five-and-a-half lengths in the two-mile maiden for four-year-olds. Both were well positioned in an averagely-run race but the winner seemed better suited by the sharp trip and also jumped fluidly on his hurdles debut.Bunk Off Early was at his best at around nine furlongs on the Flat so may always be better suited when conditions place an emphasis on speed. Outspoken was third in the 2015 Melrose but had been sidelined since his hurdles debut more than a year ago. He's absolutely entitled to come on for this run and will appreciate a stiffer test of stamina.At Leopardstown on Wednesday, Montalbano - described by Ricci at the start of the season as among "the most forward" of his novice hurdlers - made his Irish debut.He wasn't invited to make all but was instead settled in the rear of mid-division, Walsh later explaining that the horse had been "quite keen at home and I wanted to get him settled". The effect was that of a confident ride."He jumped super, travelled well and ultimately won well," he concluded - and you couldn't argue with a word of it.There was a small blemish at the third last but a good jump sealed the deal at the last and he beat a more settled and improving Youcannotbeserious by almost three lengths in the 2m4f maiden event.The winner raced extensively on the Flat in France - not Italy - and stayed 12 furlongs but ran only once over hurdles over there. He didn't overly excite bookmakers here, which may undersell him.Further back in the field, four-year-old It's All Guesswork made a highly encouraging racecourse debut for Elliott.Island Remede has taken well to hurdles and took a major step forward with victory over Gunnery Sergeant and Kate Appleby Shoes, in that order, in Limerick's maiden hurdle last Wednesday.Her extensive previous Flat campaign for Ed Dunlop would stand her in good stead were new trainer de Bromhead tempted by the Festival's mares' novice hurdle. She's also versatile ground-wise.The key to her success here was smoother travelling and better jumping than the runner-up, who had to be urged along to get involved with the leaders from the home turn, wandered and lacked fluency two out before rather flinging himself at the last. The first-time hood seemed to bring about some improvement on this second start since a year-long absence, however.Beforehand Mullins had described the third, a dual bumper winner returning from 655 days on the sidelines, as "a fine strong mare in good order for her hurdles debut". She ran well until getting in close to the second last and then seeming to lack match fitness.Earlier on the same card, hooded Coquin Mans achieved a narrow success over the rallying once-raced Surf Instructor to win on his Irish and hurdling debut for Mullins and Townend. It was also his first start for almost two years. The time was comparatively reasonable."He was green in everything he did and he can only improve in every way," observed Townend. "Ability got him through and he will have to improve."On his first attempt at three miles, Penhill bossed the Grade Two Guinness Hurdle at Limerick last Thursday - a race in which hitherto progressive favourite Rathnure Rebel bombed out.Penhill had been clumsy and outpaced in a Grade One at Fairyhouse over two miles last time; here he was slightly less clumsy but travelled strongly under a patient ride from Townend in rear. He tends to scramble over his hurdles and land flat-footed but he won on the bridle in heavy ground he clearly enjoyed."The step up to three miles suited him; it just helped him sort his jumping out," said Townend, optimistically. You wouldn't fancy him to necessarily keep his feet in a big-field Albert Bartlett on faster ground; perhaps Aintree's Sefton Hurdle is a more feasible option, ground permitting.Call The Taxie and Livelovelaugh, the former steadily improving and the latter having dominated solo on the lead, were brushed aside by Penhill but Rathnure Rebel was the first beaten. Ground and trip should have been fine so either he had an off day or resented not being able to dominate.Earlier on the same card, Townend had employed positive tactics on Pylonthepressure to make the most of his stamina and clean jumping but Mighty Stowaway would have given them more to worry about had he not clipped the second last prior to rallying gamely. The winner also then proved his resolve - not a given beforehand - and the duo pulled seven lengths clear of the third. Whereas the winner might be versatile in terms of ground, the runner-up might always need testing conditions.At Leopardstown that same day, Let's Dance eventually saw off the persistent Slowmotion with a round of infallible hurdling in the 2m4f Grade Three mares' event. They joined in duel from the fourth last but the scrappier-jumping runner-up was broken by the home turn and finished tired over a new trip for her."Let's Dance did it well - jumped and galloped just as we thought she would. She is improving all the time and will handle a step up in trip," Mullins said.As a second-season novice, her Festival options include the Trull House Stud as well as the OLBG David Nicholson over half a mile further - if she goes to the Festival at all. She has certainly looked more comfortable upped in trip.Earlier on the card, Mullins and Walsh had also been successful with the rangy Battleford, beaten favourite over an inadequate trip at Navan last time out. His jumping was less airy than on debut but even more markedly out to his left, to the extent that he landed inside the hurdle track a couple of times. Mullins described him as "a bit novicey over a few of his hurdles" but that would appear to understate the issue.However, a further step up to three miles is clearly what he wants and it's worth noting Mullins also thinks the horse is "just so strong and big that I don't know if he is fit yet".Runner-up Coeur Joyeux had been beaten further, in receipt of weight, by Albert Bartlett favourite Death Duty on his seasonal debut. Here he pressed the winner with cleaner jumps from halfway but was a spent force approaching the last and remains a maiden after nine starts, five of them over hurdles.Over at Down Royal that same day, The Storyteller worked his rivals off the bridle one by one in the 2m3f maiden hurdle. Travelling strongly on the home turn, he jumped into the lead two out and took the last long in his stride for a comfortable success. It paid a compliment to his in-the-fog Punchestown conqueror, Monalee.In the following two-mile maiden, a quicker last-flight leap from debutant Calino D'Airy enabled him to see off the typically keen favourite Turbojet in a good tussle between two of Ireland's leading 7lb claimers, Dylan Robinson and JJ Slevin. The duo came seven-and-a-half lengths clear of weight-conceding Black Ace.A Gigginstown project trained by de Bromhead, Calino D'Airy is a winning pointer and may do much better in future. It was the fastest time of the day.Back in Britain, the much-feted Jenkins, the form of whose Newbury win had been working out inexorably, tumbled from his perch as ante-post Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite with a troubling display in Kempton's opening race on Boxing Day.His jumping hadn't been that good on his debut but here it was worse. It all started to unravel with his hesitancy at the third and fifth; he then hit the next and was palpably in trouble thereafter. To his credit, he tried to respond to pressure but an inclination to hang right only became more marked and, eased once his chance had gone, he ran down the last acutely to the right.Frankly it looked as if he was afraid to relax into his athletic ability for some reason, perhaps physical. Maybe a problem will come to light.Instead it was Elgin who took the spoils. My paddock moles testify he was the best-looking horse in the race and will make a chaser. He was a tad keen early on and covered up until produced between horses at the second last. A good leap meant he secured the lead soon after and overcame a scruffy jump at the last to stay on well, if idling a little.Trainer Alan King was delighted that he settled better than on his debut at Newcastle but also raised the idea that he preferred racing right-handed - interesting, even if it's rather soon to be dogmatic about it. The plan is to give Elgin a break now before returning to Kempton for the Dovecote in February."The only thing he wouldn't want is quick ground," warned King. "We had a few issues with his knees in the past. He wants a bit of juice, really." When pressed on whether this could put the major spring Festivals in doubt, he wavered slightly. "We might get away with it," he said. "But he's quite a heavy topped horse."It was a pleasing introduction to hurdles for Mohaayed, who nonetheless was probably flattered by his proximity to Elgin in second and flashed his tail under pressure. His form had evaporated on the Flat in Ireland for Kevin Prendergast earlier this year and, given he was at his best at up to 9.5 furlongs, you wonder whether sharp tracks like Aintree will be more his bag than Cheltenham. That said, he seemed to want to go to his right also.Ballyhill again ran creditably in third and might be worth trying over further but Glaring might have been second bar for snatching at the second last and skidding on landing. He was going well enough at the time although he had been keen early on.In other UK Boxing Day news, Rather Be was an impressive winner for Team Henderson at Huntingdon giving away 7lbs or more in weight to all rivals. Always prominent, he went on from the fourth and soon had the field toiling via his powerful cruising speed and sound jumping.He was either idling or getting tired at the end - given it was his first try beyond two miles and he's closely related to stablemate Sign Of A Victory, it might be the latter. He might just want the minimum trip for now.Rider Jeremiah McGrath commented: "There was no pace on so I thought I would jump and get a lead over the first couple and let Rather Be stride on if he was still hacking. He was the best horse in the race and I wanted to keep it simple. We think he's a Cheltenham horse so he had to be winning today."Runner-up Forza Milan stuck to his task well and will be interesting upped in trip now he's qualified for handicaps. Distant third Dawn Missile improved notably on his debut and, on the evidence of his Flat form for William Haggas, will appreciate a much sounder surface.At Market Rasen, Bandsman narrowly fought off London Prize in a head-bobbing finish to the novices' hurdle. The winner's jumping under pressure was surely the difference between victory and defeat - something he's improved since his last run - although he did wander a little to his left after the last.The runner-up was tenacious but couldn't quite get past a strong stayer; both are improving. The pair pulled 15 lengths clear of Ain't No Limits, who caught the eye for handicaps. He'll need at least one more run to get qualified and is worth monitoring for a small race.

December 21, 2016

Performance of the week in this division goes to Death Duty, who was recommended by Walsh at 25/1 for the Neptune during Racing UK's NH Preview show back in mid-November after he'd ridden him to his first hurdles victory at Roscommon. There is no doubting this horse's ability; the only quibble is what his likely target might be.At Navan last Saturday, he won the Grade Three in most efficient style - sitting on the quarters of front-running Monalee and pouncing in the straight, where he turned on the style with jumping that had hitherto been sound and then became silky. He didn't draw away as one might ideally wish but was always in control."His jumping kills other horses and he gets four lengths at a hurdle when another horse might get two," observed Cooper, his usual rider. Trainer Elliott pinpointed a 2m4f Grade One at Naas as the next target but deems Death Duty an Albert Bartlett type - for which he is now best priced 3/1 favourite.Monalee had previously won a fog-enshrouded event at Punchestown and, having made the running, tried to go with the winner in the straight. He hung in there until the final hurdle but managed also to keep on for second.By contrast, beaten favourite Invitation Only could never get on terms and seemed to want to hang left; he'd previously jumped in that direction when winning at Gowran. Moulin A Vent, another recent Punchestown winner, played an even smaller role in proeedings.Wishmoor made mistakes and never got involved. After briefly playing along with his rider by trotting towards the start, Labaik again refused to race.Speaking of smart novice-hurdling displays, West Approach finally showed what he's capable of in the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle a matter of days after I'd observed how he remains unexposed at three miles but was starting to get frustrating…His race ended when short of room on landing awkwardly at the last, jinking left at the prone Ballyoptic and unseating his rider. He'd already been passed by Lil Rockerfeller at that hurdle and was probably destined for fourth at best, had all survived that obstacle. However he was clearly - if that's not a misnomer in the conditions - in the process of a career best.He enjoyed being able to chase a strong pace rather than the Hobson's choice of having to make his own running or suffering a dawdle and this evidence hints he would be capable of making an impact in the Albert Bartlett. It can do no more than hint because we didn't see most of the race.Later on the same card, another novice Consul De Thaix took on more experienced rivals in the two-mile handicap hurdle. More fancied than on his promising seasonal debut at Sandown, he again chased home stablemate Brain Power in the style of a stayer. It will be interesting where Henderson places him at the Festival - perhaps the Coral Cup? - but there are clearly valuable handicap prizes to be won, perhaps at 2m4f, with him first.One note about taking a short price about him in one such race: he is as yet a maiden so we don't know what he'll do when he hits the front. He shows no signs of awkwardness but inexperience could be an issue in a tightly-contested affair.Nicholls introduced two nascent chasers last week that he clearly regards as highly-promising types. Personally, Ascot winner Topofthegame caught my imagination more than did Give Me A Copper at Exeter despite the fact he almost threw his race away and the latter won by 14 lengths.Give Me A Copper had been threatening an appearance for some weeks, his reputation preceding him, but finally pitched up last Thursday in Exeter's rainy gloom. Unbeaten in one start each in pointing and bumper company, his former trainer Donal Coffey - selling all the time - described him as a gold Cup horse."He's a horse who will definitely run in it some year," he averred back in March, before selling him at the Goffs Aintree sales the following month for £270,000. Coffey had also said: "We'd sell anything if we got enough." Members of the Coffey family, you have been duly warned.At Exeter Give Me A Cooper was clumsy and green but dominated his rivals led by the experienced Bindon Mill and capable Big Meadows, the latter of whom again exhibited a high tail-carriage. Fourth-placed Sideways caught the eye, coming from much further back on his return from a break.The six-year-old winner is a staying chaser of the future, hails from an excellent jumping family and could even be better on a sounder surface than he's yet encountered.However, there was something about two-years-younger stable companion Topofthegame's Rules debut performance in the opening contest at Ascot the following day that instinctively made me think I had seen the future - and that it is currently camel-shaped.I'm borrowing Racing UK pundit David Cleary's physical description of Topofthegame; without wishing to hurt the horse's feelings, it's not a misplaced simile. But he won't always look so bony raw and angular; once he grows into his frame, he will surely be a strapping chaser.He shaped like the best horse in the race by far and lolloped to the front on entering the straight but contrived through idling inexperience to all but throw it away after getting in too close to the last. Criq Rock, who'd settled better than in the past, was even able to force a photo.Nicholls said: "Topofthegame won his Irish point-to-point without coming off the bridle. He is big and green. He sauntered to the front then idled. He will improve and improve."Arrestingly he also compared this horse with Denman, the 2008 Gold Cup and dual Hennessy hero a.k.a. The Tank, whom he observed was a comparable physical specimen and whom had also threatened to throw away his hurdles debut success in similar fashion.Nicholls plans to run Topofthegame two of three more times over hurdles this season, including a decent contest in the spring - not Cheltenham, but Aintree's Sefton Hurdle were you to ask me to guess. He'll then go chasing next term. I think he's the Gold Cup horse, target date 2019.Later on that same card, Nicholls completed a novice-hurdle double with Capitaine also taking the Grade Two Sky Bet Supreme Trial (or Kennel Gate to you and me). Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies stole lengths relatively cheaply from after the first hurdle, enabling his "buzzy" mount to maintain his lead without over-exertion and to then have plenty of energy left when the challengers eventually came.Capitaine clearly enjoyed these tactics, even though his head carriage suggested he isn't utterly straightforward, and better ground than the Haydock bog he'd ploughed through last time. He's also a quick negotiator of a hurdle - at least when left alone to measure it un-pestered. Nicholls was talking County Hurdle prior to this success.The only real challenge, such as it was, came from Keep In Line but you felt it was always something of an effort for him to keep tabs on the winner in the straight and he had nothing left after the last.Harry Skelton employed more patient tactics on Captain Forez than when third to Jenkins on his UK debut and he responded by settling better, but he was never able to reach the winner. He may want further and definitely wants fences in time.Thomas Campbell, described by Geraghty previously as "a bit of a playboy", found he couldn't perform in better company. He was in trouble in the back straight and this time failed to respond to pressure; even if he does want further, this was flat. Lough Derg Spirit again jumped impeccably but the form of his Kempton win is not working out and he played no real part here.Elsewhere this week, the success of Finian's Oscar at Hereford is worth a mention. He's out of a half-sister to the 2012 Champion Chase winner Finian's Rainbow and had won an Irish point in October. He won the 2m5f novices' event by jumping well and beating previous winner Acting Lass by six lengths. That runner-up finished 10 lengths clear of the rest.Kimberlite Candy also gets a shout-out. He's been bought by JP McManus, of course, since winning at Ascot last month and followed up under a penalty at Newcastle on Saturday, stepped up to a trip that clearly suited. He beat Acdc, who'd hinted at ability prior to being pulled up after a tired blunder at the track last time, by a comfortable seven lengths.At Newbury last Wednesday, High Bridge made a winning debut in good style for his amateur rider Alex Ferguson, who is also son of owner and the horse's former trainer John Ferguson. Last term's Festival Bumper sixth is now in the hands of Ben Pauling following a one-race stint on the Flat with Godolphin's Charlie Appleby.He made some small errors but responded positively to pressure to stay on strongly. Pauling reported High Bridge, a dual bumper winner, had arrived in a consignment of ex-Bloomfields horses about a month earlier; he considers him a Cheltenham prospect, most probably for the Neptune - but keeping to two miles on soft ground - even though stamina for that ambition is scarce in the horse's pedigree.Runner-up Chelsea Flyer, victim of an unfortunate incident at Uttoxeter on his debut when squeezed out of a close finish, made stylish headway out of the back straight until shaken up to chase the winner after the third last. He never quite got on terms with High Bridge but continues to improve.Wenyerreadyfreddie used to live at Bloomfields, too, but was part of the Ferguson dispersal when he quit training to become Godolphin's chief executive. At that stage this horse had finished second in a Doncaster bumper and went for £95,000 at Cheltenham's April sale.He was outpaced by the front two late on but, again, shaped well. He's distantly related to Bradbury Star, dual winner of what was then called the Mackeson.What About Carlo was not atypically awash with sweat and suffered a bout of post-race ataxia on his tough Grade Two debut at Cheltenham last month; he looked a happier bunny here, even if in being part of the breakaway group in the straight and sticking on for fourth possibly amounted to fairly similar form.Broughtons Flyer still needs to brush up his jumping but he came from further back than the principals for a clear fifth whereas Golden Bridge went from attacking to beaten either side of the third-last hurdle.Cruiseaweigh has now hung left, to a greater or lesser extent, on four of his five career starts; it was nowhere near as pronounced here as at right-handed Sandown last time but he made no impact after going well on the home turn and was not persisted with from approaching two out. It transpired that he'd broken a blood vessel.Later on the same card, odds-on favourite Bags Groove finished second for the fourth time in his five-race career. While I can readily believe that Sneaky Feeling, his conqueror here, is a smart horse given the pair pulled nine lengths clear of the third, the degree to which the beaten favourite hung to his left under pressure and into the whip from the last is worrying. Had Sneaky Feeling not been able to wriggle through against the rail, the stewards might have intervened to amend the result anyway.The winner had failed to win in one shot each at pointing and bumper company and raced quite freely here. He also lacked fluency at his final two hurdles - particularly the penultimate one where he landed flat-footed and lost ground on the leaders. He did well to respond to pressure when switched right but was again stilted at the least. It speaks well of him that he found a way to win and, in doing so, recorded the best hurdles time of the day.Sarah Hobbs, wife of the winning trainer, commented: "Philip thought Sneaky Feeling would improve from his last run and, as a pointer, he stays and jumps. He's very relaxed and has a good attitude."The last-named attribute was very much on display and this shock winner - who looked a rangier animal on TV pictures than the runner-up - could be decent. Bags Groove now has questions to answer. He did keep pulling out more when he hit the front but also in diagonal direction; perhaps there's a physical issue or tack adjustment to address? As mentioned before, he's probably also a thorough stayer.Third-placed Westerndorf is better than the literal form beyond acknowledging that he conceded 7lb to the 1-2 given he smashed through the third last. It looks like he stays well, also. Tintern Theatre, who also carried a penalty for a previous success, and hurdles debutant Creep Desbois also ran with credit, pulling clear of the sixth.Back at Exeter on Thursday, Lamanver Odyssey won an unusually large-fielded mares' novices' hurdle that also seemed to have some depth for a race of its type. Winning trainer Fry believes some cut in the ground was in her favour.She also enjoyed a switch to positive tactics and saw off decent bumper recruit Which One Is Which, strong-staying daughter of fabulous race-mare Lady Rebecca, Lady Karina, and penalty-carrying Cajun Fiddle, who might have held on to a place bar for an ill-timed error at the last.Talking of mares, Ricci appears to have another smart one in the form of last Thursday's Tramore winner Camelia De Cotte. This four-year-old won readily by 15 lengths on her Irish debut for Mullins, prompting Walsh to comment: "She settled relatively well - she had been a little keen at home. It wasn't the strongest race on paper. At the second last, I heard something behind me and just let out a bit of rein and she went about her business. It was a nice performance."At Thurles on Sunday, it's impossible to say whether Shattered Love would have beaten Asthuria had the latter not taken a tumble at the third last in the mares' Listed novices' hurdle. The eventual wide-margin winner was certainly going well at the time and had previously acquitted herself with credit in a duel with Let's Dance, the faller's stablemate.It was slick stuff from Cilaos Emery to win on his hurdles debut in a Navan maiden that same day. The entire herd still seemed to be in contention on the turn for home but he had them well strung out by the line and the time was comparatively strong. He was smart enough to win a Punchestown Festival bumper on his racecourse debut and his jumping technique here was particularly impressive. Mullins was complimentary."I liked him at Punchestown in his bumper where I thought he was exceptional and he showed that again today," he said. "He was against stayers and point-to-point horses, took then on from the front and was going away from them. He will go for a novice now and should improve away over the season."Runner-up Joey Sasa had shown a tenacious attitude when beaten by Brelade last time out but was brushed aside here, though finishing well clear of third at Rules debutant Arvico Bleu. Fourth-placed Fitzhenry built on the flash of promise he showed last time.At Fairyhouse the previous day, Minella Till Dawn paid a compliment to Moulin A Vent that the latter wasn't able to amplify in better company when winning the 2m4f maiden event. He jumped soundly between rivals at the last and then looked a little green on hitting the front. Runner-up Castlegrace Paddy ran well under a positive ride on his hurdles debut and beaten favourite Al Boum Photo was too keen early on. The trio pulled clear.Finally, as of last Friday, Skybet offer non-runner-no-bet for the race they sponsor at the Festival, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. It is entirely valid to discuss the impact of concessions as perverse advertorials by a risk-averse industry that has increased its inclination to restrict to what must ultimately be a self-cannibalising level. However in a market that's otherwise an ex-parrot, this is a great initiative, as ever, for those people who can get on.

December 15, 2016

Daryl Jacob believes too much has been made of the flaws in Wholestone's jumping. If his mount continues to perform as he did to win the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Bristol Hurdle, he'll increasingly have a point.It was a steadily-run affair dictated by second-season novice Ami Desbois, recently the winner of an open Haydock handicap off a mark of 126 and clearly suited by the rain that had fallen steadily all afternoon.Under a well-judged ride by Kielan Woods, this front-runner jumped immaculately and responded gamely to pressure. Jacob never had Wholestone too far away but even he recognised that the persistence of Ami Desbois demanded a foot-perfect leap from his horse at the last."I didn't think it would take as long to get by him but to be honest I'm quite glad he actually stuck in there as long as he did because my horse doesn't do a whole lot when he gets to the front," he said. "Bar the one mistake, that's the best he's ever jumped."Both horses head to the Festival's Albert Bartlett-sponsored event; winning trainer Twiston-Davies had identified that target some time ago but Graeme McPherson and connections used this performance to underpin their ambitions for the runner-up.Whether Ami Desbois would be as effective on the likely sounder surface in March is open to some question but this improver already justifies his place both on ability and gameness. The "grinder" Wholestone, whom Twiston-Davies likened to Blaklion, is known to act on faster ground.This race had plenty of depth. The score between the winner and another second-season novice West Approach is now 3-0. Aidan Coleman reverted to more patient tactics on this step back up in trip and they seemed to suit the horse, if not as much how the race panned outIf you're playing catch-up, with or without Henry Kelly, you need everything to go smoothly and just as West Approach crept closer at the second last, a hurdle was knocked down in front of him and he blundered, catapulting Coleman to clinging on desperately around his neck. Game over. The horse remains unexposed at this more suitable trip but is starting to get frustrating.The third glories in the name No Hassle Hoff and, for an inexperienced four-year-old, performed with great credit. He travelled well until getting outpaced when the tempo lifted. The rangy Impulsive Star shaped well for future chasing exploits; even last-placed Anchor Man clearly has ability and would have finished closer bar for hitting the penultimate flight.Pingshou paid a large compliment to Jenkins, his Newbury conqueror and Sky Bet Supreme ante-post favourite, when winning the closing contest on the preceding day at Cheltenham. On paper, it was a fascinating clash between several highly-regarded and promising novices; in reality, it was something of a crawl with eight horses still in contention approaching the last.The winner built on his first run for Colin Tizzard despite reappearing only a fortnight after his first outing for almost two years - something the trainer admitted he wouldn't usually do, but he knew owner Alan Potts was in town. The gamble paid off and the six-year-old - always well positioned by Coleman - got off the mark in his career despite hanging left due to greenness when hitting the front."Pingshou came to me as a bleeder who had lived out in a field but I didn't want to do that with him," Tizzard said. "He's a beautiful big chap and even if he had been swallowed up off the home turn, it would have been a lovely run."Henderson fielded two long absentees in William Henry and Gaitway; the market preferred the latter but the former did best. This dual bumper winner was positioned more towards the rear but travelled and jumped well until hanging left after the last. Gaitway, who had finished second in a Wincanton novices' hurdle on his last start almost two years ago, was also inclined in that direction approaching the last. He wasn't overly exerted once a lack of a recent run appeared to tell.Third-placed Lieutenant Gruber progressed again and Ballyhill ran creditably in his attempt to concede weight all round, offset by the 10lb claim of his substitute rider Tom Humphries. It was a highly-encouraging hurdles debut from recent Cheltenham bumper winner Poetic Rhythm.On the downside, Sumkindofking ran below expectations but was making a quick reappearance. Midnight Maestro was one of the first in trouble and regressed on his workmanlike Warwick success last month.Over at Bangor that same day, two more promising types wrestled out the NH novices' hurdle. Four-year-old Report To Base had established a clear lead but was joined quite readily by Kayf Grace at the second last. You briefly considered whether the latter's initial keenness would render her vulnerable but she soon quelled her younger rival, despite that horse far from folding.The winner, who again wore ear-plugs, hails from a strong jumping family, boasts decent bumper form culminating in success in the Aintree mares' event at the Grand National meeting and was a short price to make a winning hurdles debut here. Toby Lawes, assistant trainer to Henderson, was well satisfied. "We could not have wished for a better showing," he said.Report To Base had already won over hurdles at Uttoxeter and was trying to concede a stone to the mare. It was an excellent effort in defeat from a horse who probably loved the soft ground but will definitely need much further in time.Earlier that day at Doncaster Henderson had also won with Post War, who made short work of five opponents on his hurdling debut. From the look of him on TV pictures he is likely to come into his own over fences next season.He'd disappointed connections on his second bumper start last term but might have got stuck in the mud - the times suggested very testing ground at Chepstow that day. He's an interesting mid-to-long-term project.The patiently-ridden Benny In Milan chased him home but without ever actually mounting a challenge; he's a maiden after six starts over hurdles. Thorough stayer Wind Place And Sho displayed an aptitude for this discipline on his debut but didn't settle well enough to last home; he'd run poorly on his final two Flat starts. Beaten favourite and winning pointer Desaray further undermined the form of Midnight Maestro's Warwick win with a dull performance on this step up in trip.There was a less-informative contest at the same track the following day when Duel At Dawn overturned 1/16 shot Blue Rambler. The race had been denuded of much of its spice by the withdrawal of bumper and point winner Give Me A Copper, who'd cost £270,000 at Goffs Aintree sales in April. Not surprisingly, the resultant match was conducted in a painfully slow time.The winner dictated and simply jumped better than Blue Rambler, for whom warning signs were apparent when he wandered right, totally forgot to pick up his feet on the approach to the seventh hurdle and was left briefly chewing turf as a consequence.Duel At Dawn was still slightly ahead when both tackled the third last, after which the runner-up seemed to be travelling the better but then he never quite got on terms. The winner enjoyed positive tactics, is an intelligent hurdler capable of measuring his obstacles (albeit he had plenty of time to do so) and a strong stayer.At Southwell the following day Sandymount made a decent winning debut; he moved easily into the straight to record a success that improved quite a bit on his bumper form. The next two home both have ability, coming from positions further back. Runner-up Earlshill is an Irish points recruit for Dan Skelton and Undisputed - better than the literal form here (albeit he did hang left) - is now qualified for handicaps.A (relative) Henderson hotpot was defeated at Ffos Las on Monday when Red Indian made a winning hurdles debut for Ben Pauling, keeping the Russell-ridden Jameson, previously the wide-margin winner of a bumper, at bay.David Bass rode the winner with some confidence, only asking him to lead approaching the last where a careful jump allowed the runner-up some hope. Jameson, who'd been keen, had the better momentum from the last but still couldn't catch the winner.A few days earlier at Warwick, Pauling experienced the relief of well-regarded Willoughby Court recovering his poise. The horse recorded good form in bumpers last season but had disappointed on his hurdles debut at Market Rasen when wearing a first-time tongue-tie. This defeat of decent types in Tommy Rapper and last term's Festival bumper fifth Westend Story - who was making his hurdles debut - was much more like it.More recently, at Wincanton on Monday, there were two performances to note. Movewiththetimes had to get down and dirty to see off Hidden Cargo, who was receiving 6lb, in the novices' hurdle. He'd previously won at Fontwell but was twice hampered when beaten by Moon Racer in a Grade Two at Cheltenham on his previous start. The four-year-old Hidden Cargo had shaped well on his debut when fifth to Jenkins at Newbury.Nicholls described the winner as "a work in progress" and plans to keep his sights low in the short term. "He has been a bit green in his two hurdle races previously. He needs to gain a bit more experience before he takes on the better novices in the spring," he said.In the closing maiden Strong Pursuit impressed. The winner of an Irish point in 2015 but well beaten on his Rules debut at Ascot last month, he looked a different horse here. He made most of the running and maintained a strong gallop; his jumping was excellent, especially when threatened by the 127-rated favourite Chocala in the straight.Over in Ireland, Gigginstown registered a dominant 1-2 in Cork's Grade Three staying novices' event but not in the anticipated order. Rathnure Rebel made all, dictating a clear lead that he never looked likely to surrender despite making a mistake at the third last and rather stuttering into the next; he got the last spot on. Testing ground and three miles is clearly bang up his street.Jack Kennedy's body language conveyed unease about beaten favourite Monbeg Notorious from a relatively early stage. Having jumped a tad big initially, the horse was niggled along at the end of the first circuit but was outpaced as the winner wound up the tempo and could only manage a laboured 11-length sceond.In the preceding race, Dr Mikey gave what proved to be further substance to Sunni May's earlier Cork form by beating fellow joint-favourite Woods Well by six lengths. The winner made all, despite repeatedly jumping left, and his closest pursuers were outpaced from three out. Third-placed Black Ace caught the eye on his third start over hurdles but the rest, bar faller Kolumbus, were never remotely involved.The worth of Sunni May's previous success had hitherto been somewhat obscured by the fact of still-travelling odds-on favourite Bacardys hitting the deck. The winner actually did well to catch the better positioned race-fit front-runner, especially given he was hampered by the fall.In his latest race in Punchestown's opener last Sunday, Sunni May was always prominently positioned until left in the lead when Lion In His Heart could not resist the dramatic irony of running out at the fifth hurdle; he'd hung badly left at a previous one also. Sunni May also often shifted in that direction so it was not surprising that Power reported he'd be better going left-handed.He was ridden into the second last and had put all opponents in trouble on the landing side, partly via his own direct left-shifting contribution. He was already well in control when slowing, again drifting left and lacking fluency at the last; he then galloped on strongly to the line.Trainer Harrington declared Leopardstown's Grade One Future Champions Novices' Hurdle as his Christmas target; that track will suit better and he looks more than ready for a step up in class. Deep winter ground might not serve him best, however.It didn't help the mare Kalopsia that she got checked in a domino effect set off by the winner at the penultimate flight and was probably then a tad too far back even if she had been fluent at the last. She seemed to want to hang right even as she was ridden out for second.Fellow McManusite Joshua Lane made a series of scruffy leaps so the blunder that left him briefly eating turf at the last, when upsides the runner-up, was not unexpected. He has plenty of experience and can jump better than this; it was a little disappointing.Conrad Hastings ran far better than it might seem. He was going well when helped into an error at the second last and also lost his hind legs briefly on the slippery home bend. He never really recovered from that on his first run for seven months; his rider wasn't hard on him in the straight. He may be overpriced on his next start.The Rich Ricci-owned Turcagua won the following event under a change of tactics, Walsh going straight to the front from the outset. The only sure detail gleaned through the fog on this horse's hurdles debut last month was that he came from too far back in a race dominated by the prominently positioned.On the pace was also the place to be here, only this time Turcagua was setting it.Champagne Classic and New To This Town were never too far away and after the winner made a mistake four out - his only blemish - the former tried to press his cause but was impressively brushed aside on the gallop to the last. Nonetheless this was a good hurdles debut from him. Third-placed mare Toe The Line crept into the race from a bit further back than the principals and may do better dropped back down in trip.Clearly borrowing his prepositional usage from Irish originator Paul Nicholls, Mullins observed of strong stayer Turcagua: "He can go out further in trip. He'll go up in grade next time. He's a fine big chaser for the future and handles soft ground."At Navan the previous day, you could almost hear 66/1 shot Any Second Now, in the unconsidered McManus red cap, shouting "surprise!" as he burst between the 11/10 joint-favourites to win the opener under all his own steam. He looks raw and exciting.French recruit C'est Jersey jumped increasingly right, to the point that he blundered badly at the second last; he did well to recover to fight out the finish. Fellow fancy, third-placed Chirico Vallis, needs to smarten up his jumping.In the following contest, Pravalaguna made a winning racecourse debut. Understandably, she showed inexperience as well as talent - wandering on the approach to one hurdle and lacking fluency at others but she travelled and asserted well.Finally Crack Mome's Clonmel success last Thursday merits mention because he clocked a good time despite running green. Walsh believes he's open to great improvement and he looks a smart recruit for owners Andrea and Graham Wylie.

December 7, 2016

Tough mare Airlie Beach continues to surprise Mullins and extended her unbeaten run of seven with victory over her two more vaunted stable companions Saturnas and Penhill in the Grade One Royal Bond novices' hurdle at Fairyhouse last Sunday."She jumped very fluently compared with our other two," he said. "The plan was to jump off, be up there and to take the race by the scruff of the neck. That's what she did. She keeps improving and remains unbeaten. I never dreamed she would be a Grade One winner."On the winner, Danny Mullins had gone out clear in front with Le Martalin but while the pair maintained a good pace they did not go so hard as to compromise their chance and took a breather approaching the third-last, enabling the field to bunch together. When the mare moved on again on the home turn, her injection of pace had her rivals in trouble.The favourite Peace News responded to hands-and-heels pressure and had yet to be produced by Cooper when putting in an extra stride, tripping over the hurdle and nose-diving into the turf as the winner typically jumped left in front of him. Nobody was going to catch Airlie Beach after that.In second, Saturnas again shaped as though a step up in trip is required and he was rather careful at the final two hurdles; he might have preferred more cut. Le Martalin plugged on well and might also benefit from more testing conditions. Penhill was briefly knocked off his feet by Forge Meadow's avoidance of the tumbling Peace News but he was outpaced at the time and his jumping lacked fluency.Recent Navan Grade Three winner Labaik reverted to type, digging his heels into the turf at the start and refusing to budge. That's three times he's declined to race in his career and cannot be relied upon.In the 2m2f maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse, experience probably made the difference between victory and defeat for runner-up and racecourse debutant Capital Force, although having to make inroads on two quickening rivals - winner Runfordave and third-placed Castello Sforza - from the second last after a steadily run affair wouldn't have helped either.Runfordave was just able to fend Capital Force off in a ding-dong to the line, having already steadily quelled the close-up third. This trio was 11 lengths clear of the rest, who included the too-keen right-hanging Gunnery Sargeant in sixth. That was his first run in just over a year when third to the late Long Dog in the 2015 Royal Bond.Runfordave was an encouraging third to Moulin A Vent at Punchestown over 2m4f on his hurdles debut and trainer Elliott commented: "He probably wants a bit further and he's a smart horse." He certainly shaped here like a strong stayer.Henry de Bromhead has a smart recruit in Capital Force, who surely won't waste much time before opening his account. Castello Sforza was plainly third best but this lightly raced debutant did well to rally so meaningfully from rapping and pecking at the third last. He has only made it to the racecourse once in both seasons he's raced, although that sole start last term was fourth in the Cheltenham Festival's Bumper.In the very next race, Bel Ami De Sivola jumped into the lead at the first and never saw another rival over 2m4f albeit rider Sean Flanagan would surely have heard them bearing down on him hard from the last. The winner, who's got an efficient jump in him, had enough left in his tank for a three-quarter-length success over the extensively handicap-hardened Teacher's Pet.The winner is steadily improving and the fact he was being closed down so quickly near the line was probably due to the assertive ride. He has long been deemed a nascent chaser by trainer Noel Meade. Bilko, a fellow Gigginstown soldier, kept on well but the price for trying to go with the winner was the loss of second place. He might like some cut.On the previous day at Limerick Kemboy outclassed his rivals on his Irish and hurdles debut over 2m3f for Mullins and Walsh. The latter attested to his straightforward success: "He got this trip really well and jumped really well, too. He'll find it harder from here but he did it nicely." His dam is a half-sister to Relkeel winner Karabak and this was likeable.He clocked a slightly quicker time than stablemate Cadmium managed in the second division of these opening maiden events. In the later race, the persistence of the more experienced Call The Taxie meant Walsh needed good jumps from the debuting winner at the last two obstacles - and that's what he got. The pair pulled 22 lengths clear of the third.A recruit from French bumpers, Cadmium earned this comparison from his rider: "He's a bigger horse than Kemboy and he'll be a chaser in time."The fog lifted for the four-year-old maiden hurdle at Thurles last Thursday in which Riven Light was ultimately unextended to win by 12 lengths, his sole challenger Hardline having fallen when stepping at the last. He was already being urged along to stay pressing the winner at the time.Riven Light was a steady improver at around ten furlongs on the Flat in France for Carlos Laffon-Parias until bought by Mullins' talent scout Harold Kirk for 200,000 Euros in October of last year. Of the horse's Irish debut, Mullins commented: "I wouldn't feel the need to go up in trip with this fellow; he'll stay at two miles." The Ricci-owned novice is entered in a Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas.Hardline would have been a clear second if keeping his feet. The winner of a point and, at the third attempt, a bumper was in the process of a promising debut. He hails from the family of Johns Spirit, Crocodile Rock and Spirit Leader. In a race in which the principals were all prominently positioned, La Bella Vida came from further back for third.Later on the card, Riven Light's two-year-older stablemate Aussie Reigns won over the same course and distance in a faster time and carrying 5lbs more. The winner stayed two miles on the Flat and was campaigned in Pattern company by former trainer William Knight last year prior to having one start, in the Cesarewitch, for Gary Moore.Aussie Reigns had clearly built on last month's rusty-looking hurdles debut and, having always raced prominently, dispensed with the threatening Montana Belle with a far-superior jump at the last when probably already in full control. The scopier-looking runner-up over-pitched on landing but ran with credit on her second start over obstacles, building palpably on her previous comeback fourth at Galway following 18 months off the track.There was a terrific three-way battle for the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Winter novices' Hurdle at Sandown last Friday in which Messire Des Obeaux rallied to engulf dueling Ballyandy and Cultivator. It's possible that the second and third pressed on a little early in soft conditions.Asked by David Fitzgerald on Racing UK whether he thought he was beaten in between the last two hurdles, winning rider Daryl Jacob said: "I hadn't really gone for everything, really. They're young horses and it's a long way up the home straight. But he's a real galloper, he keeps grinding it out - when the tough get going, he's just started getting going so I knew he'd stay well."I just got done for a little bit of toe between the second last and last. The second last was also flipped down in front of him. But I was always close enough."Messire Des Obeaux had previously won a handicap hurdle at Bangor and clearly relished a stiffer test of stamina here. Ballyandy rallied likeably when the winner went past and also seemed suited by stepping up in trip - in fact it might be that he needs even further. He's yet to win over hurdles but consistently posts good - if not progressive - form.Cultivator is starting to deliver on the ability trainer Henderson nurtured via well-spaced races in his early days when trying to "get his brain in the right place". The application of a hood has helped and he's progressing now. These three pulled eight lengths clear of well-backed front-runner Aintree My Dream.At the same track the following day Dashing Oscar got the better of Crystal Lad in a good tussle in the opening NH novices' hurdle, rider Noel Fehily declaring afterwards that the two-mile trip was "the absolute minimum" for the winner, on whom he'd mostly dictated from the outset. The horse's wider pedigree backs him up.Trainer Harry Fry added: "It's encouraging that this is the first time we have got back-to-back runs into him. He fell apart [as a bumper horse] being a big baby and after running well on his return last season he had a skin allergy and sore shins. There are no plans, having won with a penalty. The handicapper has been quite hard with a mark of 129."The runner-up jumped stickily early on, not helped by the loose horse at the second, but put up a good fight in drawing 13 lengths clear of the rest. Third-placed Keating and Hooper's Legend, who dead-heated for fourth, both caught the eye as better than the bare form; the former needs another run for a handicap mark but the latter may already qualify for one.The disappointment of the race was headstrong favourite Cruiseaweigh, who pulled himself to the front at the third and then hung so badly left off the home turn that Adrian Heskin was forced to pull him up.Later on the same Sandown card, four-year-old Consul De Thaix ran very well despite drifting in the market and running against more experienced rivals on his handicap debut. It was only his fourth-ever start and he remains a novice in his second season. He looks to have progressed over the summer.At Aintree on the same day, Charlemar made virtually all in soft conditions to win a 2m1f novices' hurdle in good style. Aside from one less-than-fluent jump, his technique was a major asset and he is clearly an intelligent negotiator of an obstacle, as his trainer subsequently attested."Charlemar doesn't show a great deal at home - he's not a brilliant work horse and it is difficult to know how good he is," admitted Harry Whittington. "But that's not too bad if they can do it on the track. He loves his jumping and has been awesome from day one; he is very athletic and finds it very easy."Aidan [Coleman, his jockey] thinks he will make a proper chaser and if that is the case we will not be too hard on him this season."Runner-up Minotaur won seven times up to two miles on the Flat for Nicolas Clement and made an encouraging hurdles debut for Jonjo O'Neill; his jumping became scrappier in the latter stages, ultimately resulting in a real horlicks at the last, otherwise he would have finished closer.Banditry underpinned a sense of vague positivity about his opening hurdles bid at Ascot last month by getting into this race to some degree, despite having been keen early on, and seeing it out in testing conditions eight lengths clear of the fourth.Earlier up at Wetherby Baden revealed himself to be a stayer when making hard work of winning the opening 2m5.5f contest. He revealed novicey flaws under pressure: making a mistake and landing flat-footed when asked to lead at the second last then wandering left and right away from the whip on the run-in.Rider Andrew Tinkler acknowledged "it was good for him to get his head in front" after being "highly tried last season". Let's hope Baden derives some benefit from the experience of getting the job done because he's currently functioning well below the level of that early promise.David England smuggled runner-up Kafella into the race, refraining to ask for an effort until producing him to challenge at the last - perhaps because his mount had been inclined to hang markedly left and would even have been inclined to pinball off the inside rail without his rider's counteraction.Third-placed Quietly ran well on just his second start over hurdles, yielding only as his jumping really started to unravel over the last two obstacles. He is improving with each start.There was a deep-looking novices' hurdle at Huntingdon last Sunday featuring a clutch of highly rated Flat recruits and some rivals who'd already posted decent efforts under NH rules. It went to Glaring, one of the debutants, in a style that suggested he'd be worth stepping up in grade.He joined Amanda Perrett from Andre Fabre earlier this year with an official Flat rating of 108 and was plunged into Group races without impact. His best effort was surely his first, when seventh and getting involved to a degree in the Sagaro Stakes in April, but he regressed thereafter.That might be a valid concern for his hurdle exploits - that he's best fresh and might fail to build on this form - but it was nonetheless a convincing win. He jumped well, his leap at the third last moving him effortlessly into contention and at the second last into the lead.Newbury bumper winner Burbank was able to sprint away with him from the rest of the field, despite having again been keen. The runner-up had jumped well and moved into the race smoothly but a mistake at the second last handed the advantage to Glaring. That horse then rather inconvenienced Burbank by jumping left at the last and was always holding him to the line. The winner certainly cuts a substantial enough jib to make it over jumps.Top Tug had already made the switch from the Flat (where he's rated 98) with an impressive win at Kempton but he didn't jump well enough here in his attempt to concede 7lbs all round. Central Square has a Flat mark of 102 and was Roger Varian's first-ever hurdles runner but didn't jump fluently and often to the right.Captain Felix stole fourth place with an enterprising ride from Jack Quinlan, purloining several lengths at the start and building that into an easy long lead. By contrast, Swoop To Conquer came through for sixth after racing in rear and is much better than the beaten margin suggests. He'll be handicapped after one more run, if all goes to plan, and will be of definite interest then. Even well beaten gawky Champion Chase displayed some ability.The opening novice hurdle at Kelso on that same day produced a decent duel between Mount Mews and Sam Spinner, with the former getting quite readily on top for hands and heels approaching the last.From TV pictures, he looks a rangier model than the runner-up, from whom he received 7lbs, and the dual bumper winner still displayed some greenness but Brian Hughes could even afford to ease him near the line. Sam Spinner had already won at Newcastle and showed improved form here, finishing 33 lengths clear of the third - an effort that shouldn't be underestimated.The winner's dam is a full-sister to owner Trevor Hemmings' triple Grade Two chase winner Burton Port and this five-year-old looks a fine prospect. Trainer Malcolm Jefferson believes Mount Mews wouldn't have enjoyed the "tacky" ground, officially called good-to-soft but soft according to the clock.Earlier in the week at Market Rasen Bandsman clearly relished the soft ground that exhausted his rivals to the extent he came home heavily eased after making all and only two of his ten pursuers actually completed. The winner has found his niche with an increased stamina test but his jumping needs to sharpen up.

November 30, 2016

After all the noise about his Sky Bet Supreme credentials, Jenkins had to showcase them in an actual hurdle race last Friday at Newbury. In the end, he was a satisfying winner but his round was not without its blemishes. There is definitely room for improvement in the jumping department.He got three of the four hurdles in the back straight wrong, simply guessing at the first two, and yet moved readily forward whenever Geraghty asked. He briefly had to work to wear down the positively ridden Captain Forez but soon drew clear to win by five lengths. He's now 10/1 second favourite for the opening Festival contest behind Moon Racer.Henderson observed: "I said to Barry that Jenkins does warm to it a little bit. He can be like that first thing in the morning. He has got very laid back about life in general this year. He goes to sleep very happily and then you have to wake him up."He didn't arrive there running away but you always felt he was going to get there. He jumped the last two well, which was good. I would be surprised if Jenkins wants to go further [than two miles], especially at this stage."Captain Forez is a chasing type on looks and might be a bit raw to scale the heights of the hurdling ranks; he also displays quite a bit of knee action and might have preferred more cut. That said, he demonstrated clear ability, attacking before the home turn and only fading into third late on.Runner-up Bags Groove was withdrawn from a Cheltenham bumper earlier this month because connections didn't want a potentially hard race on testing ground to delay a switch to hurdling. Here, he got outpaced entering the straight but jumped well under pressure and clearly needs to step up in trip. He might even be an Albert Bartlett type, for which he is currently an interesting 33/1.The other horse to mention from this race is fourth-placed Pingshou, having his first run for 700 days. He left de Bromhead for Tizzard in the Alan and Ann Potts transfer of this summer. This horse is a full brother to still-stablemate Sizing Platinum and shaped well here, pulling clear of the rest.In the closing race on the same card, Jenkins' stable companion Reigning Supreme won a race that spontaneously combusted; it probably lacked depth. Given this ex-pointer was formerly owned by Geraghty's wife and cost Michael Buckley £130,000, you'd imagine this success was mostly a relief to the winning jockey.Reigning Supreme did well to beat a more hardened rival in Chocala, who hadn't raced over hurdles since February 2014 but had shown improved form on the Flat this summer. The pair pulled 14 lengths clear of another Henderson inmate in Alpha Male, who picked his way late through beaten rivals such as poor-jumping favourite Any Drama.In the opening mares' contest at the same track the following day, gangly La Bague Au Roi received a positive ride from Harry Bannister and required no further invitation to jump soundly and never see another rival. A particularly good jump at the third last asked her rivals a question to which they never found an adequate rejoinder.These rivals were no slouches. Dusky Legend came of age in last term's Trull House Stud mares' novice hurdle at the Festival when finishing second to Limini at 50/1. She had since shrugged off her maiden status and then defeated Copper Kay over this course and distance earlier this month.The disparity between that pair was pretty much the same again. The former holds the same Festival target as last year; the latter needs to step up in trip.The winner moved as if the (at worst) good-to-soft ground was as testing as she'd like, so it was logical to hear trainer Warren Greatrex say she'll avoid deep winter ground.Her season has gone exactly to plan so far, in that she's assimilated three unbeaten starts before Christmas. This was a more polished display, mentally, than her previous success at Wetherby. Whether she runs next in the Trull House or has a prep run nearer March remains to be seen. She might be vulnerable to speedier types at the Festival, however.At Newcastle on the same day, Dubai Angel put up a good fight as Elgin shaped to breeze past him in the opening NH maiden. The winner had travelled strongly, jumped soundly and is progressive but the runner-up rallied likeably - in the style of a stayer - as the pair pulled 18 lengths clear of the rest. Both were making their debut over hurdles.Jacob said Elgin was "a bit keen and hung right all the way" and is "still a bit babyish but he'll be a smart horse".Later on the same card, Spirit Of Kayf beat Get On The Yager in a 2m6f novices' hurdle that began with four contenders and concluded with just two. However, the time clocked by the Sandy Thomson-trained winner suggests the form should not be underestimated.He was deemed good enough to contest the Festival's Champion Bumper in March, albeit he only beat one rival home, and had triumphed on his hurdling debut only to tip up at the second obstacle on his next start. Here, he travelled strongly and made one significant error, when challenging his remaining rival three out.Neither was fluent there; if anything the Skelton-trained favourite got away from the flight the quicker, but Spirit Of Kayf soon regained his equilibrium and had Get On The Yager working to keep with him. That task was too much on the approach to the last.From TV pictures, the progressive winner appears to be a more angular model than the runner-up, who looked the rangier chasing type. Spirit Of Kayf also proved his stamina for this trip, as predicted by his trainer who long expected him to develop into "a lovely staying hurdler".The runner-up, hitherto unbeaten in two points and a Market Rasen maiden hurdle, ran creditably in defeat. Before Brian Hughes pulled up Acdc due to a tired error after losing his position over a trip he'd never tried before, there was more than a hint of ability.Two French Flat recruits did battle in Monday's opening contest at Plumpton albeit the low sun transformed it into less of a jumping test by forcing the omission of five out of the nine hurdles.Winner Regal Frost backed right off the first, giving Geraghty "a bit of a fright" but jumped well at the other three (!) obstacles and had enough track speed readily to neutralise Burrough Park's attack on the home turn. Both horses stayed middle distances on the Flat and the runner-up was the superior; he made his hurdling debut here whereas the winner had previously finished third at Huntingdon when jumping more hurdles less fluently.Like Bags Groove, the well-touted Sumkindofking was withdrawn from the Cheltenham bumper earlier this month and switched to hurdles for his next start, over two miles at Southwell. He had previously won a Chepstow bumper by 12 lengths and - so Mark Howard's One Jump Ahead informs me - an Inch maiden point, feted for its track record in producing high-class horses and from which his three nearest pursuers all duly won maidens.On Tuesday, Sumkindofking faced a shallow field of 13 over nine brush-type hurdles and looked to have the race under control when getting in a bit close to the last and allowing I'm A Game Changer the whiff of a chance. But some rousting from Adrian Heskin was enough to galvanise him to a four-length success.He'd been perhaps a tad fortunate to avoid any repercussions from the front-running Pokora Du Lys's blundering nosedive at the second last but Flat veteran Fattsota was not so lucky and had to switch markedly to avoid trouble, otherwise he'd surely have been more than a narrow second.Let's turn our attention to Ireland. Death Duty, winner of Navan's Grade Three Monksfield novices' hurdle over 2m4f last Sunday and second peg of the Elliott-trained six-timer, had impressed Walsh when he rode him to victory at Roscommon. Here, he saw rather less of him because Livelovelaugh, his Mullins-trained mount in this contest, was done by the third last.On the winner, Cooper never had much worry; the worst moment was getting in close, hitting the fourth hurdle and landing flat-footed. The rest of their round involved some goat-sure hurdling, including coming up likeably when asked at the fifth last, and outclassing this field approaching the penultimate flight. Death Duty exhibited a low head carriage and a good cruising speed.Afterwards, Elliott acknowledged he thinks "a fair bit" of him and stated: "He won't be going back in distance and shouldn't have a problem going further. He could be one for the Albert Bartlett, although that's a long way off."The filly She's A Star secured an important second place ahead of the still-raw Stand Up And Fight; neither had the smoothest of runs home, albeit the former had the harder race. She's A Star was barged right approaching the third last but missed the trouble caused by front-running Lion In His Heart's fall at the next. Both the third and Walsh's mount were hampered by it, perhaps costing the former a place and serving to compound the latter's conclusion that all was lost.Stand Up And Fight is improving but was inclined to jump and lean left on this occasion, despite having previously won at right-handed Punchestown.Jumping was the key difference between debutants Brelade and Joey Sasa in the opening maiden hurdle on the same card. The former was quickly across and away from the third- and second-last obstacles, enabling him to take control of the lead and that might have been critical for a horse who shaped like a stayer.He never quite shook off his closest pursuer, however, and neither got the last right but he was always holding him to the line. This was a highly promising start from a horse that moves (and is bred) like a sounder surface would suit. The time was comparatively rather good.Joey Sasa hit the third last, adjusting right, and steadied himself into the next, meaning he was playing catch-up on the other side. He tenaciously rallied but again slowed into the last, jumping it even less fluently than the winner; pole position had been conceded some time earlier.The horse with a huge arrow pointing down at his head was third-placed Midnight Escape, stablemate of the winner and a 50/1 shot. He allowed the long leader and quartet of chasers to break clear of the rest of the field after the fourth last. Around him, the likes of Mon Lino, Jack Dillinger and Fitzhenry - none of whom were without promise themselves - were under varying degrees of pressure sooner or later.Midnight Escape was nudged along after three out and that was enough to bridge the gap to the principals before the next obstacle. Further nudges saw him give respectful chase to the first two, who were breaking clear, and he was then hard ridden from the last. This was a noteworthy performance from a winning pointer on his Rules debut.Battleford jumped left and sometimes big, was readily outpaced after the third last but under kind handling then stayed on for fourth on his hurdles debut. Last March's Cheltenham bumper runner-up looks like he'll need a lot further than two miles; I liked him best of that Festival field from a paddock perspective. He may have been beaten at 2/7 here, but it was encouraging nonetheless.The keen Turbojet and, hard ridden from the last, Vinalhaven both finished tired.At Gowran the preceding day, Walsh had to get busy with 1/4 favourite Invitation Only to win the maiden on his hurdling debut because Barra, who'd stalked the easy leader from three out, produced a serious challenge approaching the last.The winner inconvenienced himself by running down his hurdles to the left or jumping that way, but Walsh kept returning to the inside rail which forced Davy Russell to challenge on his outside on the runner-up. Thus Barra bore the brunt of Invitation Only's habit over the final two flights; given the winner needed only hands and heels to assert, the interference was not decisive.Winning trainer Mullins suggested a step up in trip is likely for this lightly raced successful pointer, who missed Cheltenham as a bumper horse last year because his season started too late. Invitation Only's hurdling technique may improve for switching to a left-handed track.Barra is a seasoned French bumper recruit and ran well on her Irish debut for Elliott. Debuting New To This Town, who beat only two home in the 23-strong Festival bumper in March, made mistakes and took too long in the air at some hurdles. Island Remede, formerly a decent staying filly on the Flat for Ed Dunlop, recorded her best effort yet at her third attempt over hurdles for de Bromhead. Poor visibility meant that detail any further back in the field was hard to discern from TV pictures.The following race over an identical trip was a novice staged, if anything, in even more opaque conditions. Light That, who led from the second, repelled Sound Money by a head even though the latter had seemed to be going better. (Caveat: poor visibility and an inside tracker camera does not make for satisfying race-reading.)Robbie Power was at work on the winner from the second last, to a large extent in stopping him hanging left so it was no surprise to see him lurch that way with a blunder at the last. Sound Money, who was perhaps suggested left by his rival, stepped at the last himself and recovered less quickly.The time was better than the year-older Invitation Only (who carried 3lbs more) and was Light That's best performance yet on his fourth hurdles start. Sound Money is also a steady improver with similar experience and he also challenged from much further back in the field than the winner and third.That horse, eight-and-a-half lengths adrift, was hurdling debutant Without Limites on his first run since April; he was up there until fading approaching the last. The drop in trip from 2m4f did not suit Mahler Ten, who got badly outpaced before rallying likeably. Recent Naas winner Ben Dundee - from the family of Nick Dundee, of course, and Ned Kelly - was sent off the 7/4 favourite but simply made too many mistakes.

November 23, 2016

Half an hour before Altior dotted up at Kempton, his stable companion Lough Derg Spirit registered the most taking novice-hurdling performance of the week. It was less the literal form and more the fluid manner of his hurdling that impressed.He moved into the lead from the second flight and travelled strongly, enabling him to be admittedly unharried at most of his obstacles thereafter. However, he did more than just measure his hurdles; he was metronomic in approach to each jump and took up to a length out of his nearest pursuers in getting away from them smartly. This was particularly noticeable at the third last.He was introduced into the Supreme market as a result and remains a best-priced 20/1, but I suspect this winning point-to-pointer is going to need further than two miles as he goes up the grades. He galloped past the winning post on this occasion with no intention of stopping.Coup De Pinceau, a dual bumper winner making his hurdling debut, got in too close to the third last and then was outpaced on the home turn but stayed on well under pressure for second. Third-placed Zipple Back also knuckled down well until fluffing the last, building on the manifest promise of his Wetherby debut.100/1 shot Give Him Time stuck to his task rather well in fourth and will probably get a handicap mark now - perhaps one rather higher than anticipated. Having pressed the winner on the home turn, Altior's half-brother and stablemate Silverhow weakened from the second last and appeared to finish tired on his first outing since May.The opening contest at Ascot last Saturday went to the Tizzard-trained Elegant Escape, who demonstrated plenty of stamina and game in wrestling victory from the more patiently ridden Laser Light. The winner has room for improvement in his jumping but rallied takingly when headed by the runner-up between the final two flights.Better known as a decent novice chaser last term, Aloomomo made an encouraging return over these smaller obstacles in third, weakening late as though the run was just needed.At the same track the previous day, last month's Cheltenham winner Thomas Campbell was never stronger at any point in the Introductory Hurdle than when, having hit a flat spot on the home turn, he seized the initiative with a flying leap at the last to win going away by four lengths.He shapes as though he'll do better over further, albeit that both his jockeys this term - de Boinville and, last time, Geraghty - have insisted he's best kept to two miles for now. The latter rider suggested he's just mentally immature.Dual bumper winner Criq Rock had been given too much to do in a steadily run race when beaten favourite at Chepstow on his debut and showed improved form in second here, albeit he needs to brush up his jumping. Resolution Bay also improved on his winning debut at Exeter, carrying a penalty to third place in this stronger contest.In the opening NH maiden, Kimberlite Candy either outstayed or out-fitted Secret Investor, exhibiting an excellent head carriage and a sound jumping technique to boot. He won't be over-faced this season by trainer Tom Lacey. The runner-up should improve for the run, but this may not have been the strongest of races.At Haydock that same day, Tahira gained her third hurdles success in nine starts but importantly upped to Listed company. She put her fitness and experience to good use, wearing a first-time tongue-tie. Having been granted an easy lead from the outset, she went clear approaching the third last and none of her rivals had the ability or gumption to reel her in.Trainer Richard Hobson, who believes the mare prefers a sounder surface, now plans to give her a break until the mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham next March.Behind were Capitaine who'd won a match in keen fashion at Wincanton on his debut, Khezerabad who had followed up his promising second to Thomas Campbell at Cheltenham with success at Sandown and dual winning hurdler Ballyhill. All three may have struggled in softer conditions; the runner-up in particular still looked green.Of all the races staged at foggy Punchestown last Sunday, the 2m6f maiden won by Monalee was perhaps the most shrouded in mystery - conditions reached their nadir at the time.The winner moved into the lead entering the final circuit and was not headed thereafter, but it's impossible to say much more. Trainer de Bromhead deems this point-to-point winner a future chaser in the making.The Storyteller, who had fallen at Down Royal on his hurdles debut when seemingly holding a winner's chance, chased Monalee home.There was an interesting performance from third-placed Turcagua in the silks of Rich Ricci. This horse was held up in rear, unlike the other protagonsists, and made late steady progress. He finished a keen 15th in the Cheltenham Festival bumper but fourth at Punchestown's last term and was taking a marked step up in trip here.The perils of yak sadly made for only a short story at Punchestown last Saturday when Ricci-owned talking horse Senewalk - already as short as 10/1 for the Supreme without yet jumping a hurdle in public - floundered from the home turn on his Irish debut in a 2m4f maiden.Mullins later observed that "he went from travelling to cutting out" and suspects the exertion required on what he described as heavy ground had exposed a breathing problem that had remained masked while training at home. If his vets can get Senewalk back in time for spring, we might see him again this season but it seems more likely his trainer will seek to retain his novice status for next year.As Senewalk weakened, four horses surged past in what turned out to be a competitive race. Moulin A Vent looks to have learned plenty from his debut when second in the race The Storyteller had threatened to win, albeit the soft ground may have also helped here. He asserted from Minella Till Dawn and Runfordave approaching the last.Meade was wary of turning out his winning grey quite quickly after his Down Royal effort earlier this month and now plans to give him a short break. The most likeable bit was when he jumped the second last soundly despite being unsighted and switched for take-off relatively late.The next two home were more patiently ridden, working their way steadily into the race. Minella Dawn was a winning pointer making his hurdling debut, with room for improvement in his technique, and Runfordave had been a quiet improver in bumpers, most recently winning at Down Royal only earlier this month. Elliott trains both and can surely find plenty of improvement.In fourth, former winning pointer Ask Nile built on his hurdling debut, only finding no extra from the last. Behind him was Youcannotbeserious - like the second, McManus-owned - who was keen early and faded late, but also made some progress on last term's debut.There had been two interesting novice hurdles at Cork on Sunday. In the opening maiden for four-year-olds, Peace News made a good start to his jumping career when winning in good style, having always been prominently positioned and mostly jumping well.Dylan Robinson, his 7lb-claiming rider, appeared confident even as the eventual third, Timi Roll, was upsides at the third and second last. He merely had to shake up Peace News for the Gigginstown horse to assert, albeit with an untidy jump at the last and perhaps a fractionally high head carriage.The winner was formerly trained on the Flat in France by Francois Rohaut, where he stayed an extended 14 furlongs, and had a brief sojourn at the Mullins yard before moving to current trainer de Bromhead as part of The Divorce Settlement.On his debut for Elliott, the runner-up Chirico Vallis seemed to find the pace a shade too strong as the race developed but he stuck to his task nicely under sympathetic handling. He must improve his jumping but that might happen not only with experience but also for stepping up in trip.It took a while for the quite well-backed Timi Roll's jumping to warm up and he just seemed to get out-speeded near the finish. He looks a stayer.The eye-catcher was racecourse debutant Veneziano Springs, who was held up much further off the pace than the principals and made good headway approaching the home turn. Mistakes at the last two obstacles, plus a small blemish earlier on, didn't help but he was never positioned to threaten.There was an upset in the following maiden for older novices when the Mullins-trained 1/3 favourite Bacardys took a tumble at the third last, just as he'd moved up to press for the lead on the bridle. He would surely have beaten this unintimidating field had he stood up.His hurdling in general did not impress, however, and the winner of the prestigious bumper at Aintree's Grand National meeting may need a fence to shine. He's already a winning pointer and, at this early stage in proceedings, approaches these smaller obstacles with a rather too upright technique.His departure left Dr Mikey to set sail for home, having enjoyed a long and easy lead throughout the contest, so Sunni May, who was inconvenienced by Bacardys' fall, did well to pick him up by a neck at the line. This was a decent effort by the winner, who was conceding race-fitness to the runner-up and moves like a horse who'd appreciate a much sounder surface.On the same day at Punchestown, Let's Dance won for the second time over hurdles in a Listed event that developed into a duel - as the market had indicated - from the third last.The winner is in her second season over hurdles, having run consistently well as a juvenile including fourth in the Triumph. Main rival Shattered Love was good enough to finish third in the mares' bumper at Aintree's Grand National meeting in April and had also already won over hurdles at Tipperary.At first, Let's Dance seemed to cover pretty readily the runner-up's move approaching the second last, where the former was untidy but the latter worse. Yet then she looked in trouble when outpaced on the home turn, until you sensed Walsh felt he had things under control approaching the last. She needed a good jump and got it, mind.Shattered Love is rangier than the winner - at least, so it seemed from TV pictures - but perhaps a shade weak at present. Ultimately, she will surely want further, once growing into her frame. The winner sticks to mares' novices, according to her trainer.At Clonmel last Thursday, Rathnure Rebel was never more impressive in winning the opening 2m3f maiden hurdle than when drawing away over the last two obstacles. Wearing a hood for the first time, he always in command and also jumped particularly well in the closing stages.Meade believes three miles will suit him and has a staying novice at Cork in mind next. He added: "He has had a few issues. It has taken a while for him to come to himself, but he did that well. Last season was a bit of a rush."That goes some way to explain why, after Rathnure Rebel win a point in April 2014, he didn't appear for another two years and only as that season was ending. This was a massive step forward on anything he'd achieved before. He's from the wider family of the superb Limestone Lad.At Fairyhouse last Wednesday, Avenir D'Une Vie made a winning start to his hurdles career in a two-mile maiden that saw the runner-up Aussie Reigns, making his debut for the winner's former yard.The former, another making his debut for de Bromhead after leaving Mullins in the Great Split, was deemed good enough for Grade One bumpers at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals last term but failed to see out his race more than once. He may have strengthened up now.Here, he jumped into the lead at the fourth last before gaining ground at the next but getting in too close at the second last. Nonetheless, he had already got first run on the less smooth-travelling runner-up, who perhaps was not fully got after until a little late after the penultimate flight.Aussie Reigns hadn't raced for more than a year - not since finishing 17th in the 2015 Cesarewitch for Gary Moore. He looked a touch rusty and is better than the bare form.Back in fourth, ex-pointer Soul Kaliber ran encouragingly on his Rules debut before getting tired.

November 16, 2016

There was some expectation that Ballyandy would reverse his Perth defeat by Moon Racer on 4lb better terms in last Sunday's Grade Two Sky Bet Supreme Trial at Cheltenham, but he lacked the tactical speed of that rival and that contributed to rider Ryan Hatch getting in a right bother.It was obvious that Mirsaale, dropping in trip, would try to control the race from the front. As it turned out, he wasn't in the best of moods to do this but Brian Harding still masterminded him into second place.Meanwhile Moon Racer just took whatever position Tom Scudamore requested, challenging at the second last and dominating readily all the way home. This run suggested soft ground is no barrier, but we know from his 2015 Cheltenham Festival bumper triumph that faster ground suits well, too.Given he'll get eight years of age next March, I suspect the chances of him contesting the Champion rather than the Supreme are very live indeed - particularly given that contest lacks depth beyond whichever Ricci-Mullins representative lines up - and, sadly, I suspect there will only be one.In the backwash, this was a rough race. Ballyandy (who wore earplugs) was not as well positioned as Moon Racer and lacked the tactical speed to compensate, meaning that when Hatch tried to shadow the winner to the stands' rail, he caused interference and earned a three-day ban from the stewards.His horse then stuck to his unequal task so determinedly that he got the post-race wobbles (or post-race ataxia, to use the veterinary term). A step up in trip will surely be the plan for this likeable horse who retains plenty of potential.Both Keep In Line and Movewiththetimes suffered interference, the latter markedly so and not just when squeezed out by Ballyandy. He was also carried markedly left before the last when Keep In Line hung post-trouble and had to switch around him after the last. Both had spoiled what chance they might have had.What About Carlo was awash with sweat for his jumps debut and hurdled too carefully to get involved, but he was also diagnosed with post-race ataxia. He is not proven beyond 10f on the Flat and may not have got home in those testing conditions.Later that same day, Behind Time walked into the paddock like he was walking onto a yacht. Less convincingly, he also seemed to have one eye in the mirror as he watched himself trot up in the novices' handicap hurdle.Dubbed "well named" by trainer Harry Fry - who won this race last year with subsequent Albert Bartlett winner, Unowhatimeanharry - his inexperience meant that jockey Kieron Edgar had to fight for his attention from an early stage and in particular when weaving about after the final flight.It all spoke of a horse who's now improving faster than the handicapper will be able to keep pace with him, especially in the short term as he will be without penalty for winning this conditional jockeys' event if turned out quickly as is the plan. This good-looking horse has the potential for fierce upward mobility.On the first day of Cheltenham's Open meeting, the experienced and improving Peregrine Run beat the re-opposing Wholestone and West Approach - the trio clear - in the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Hyde novices' hurdle.All three are improvers but vulnerable to better horses at in novices events as the season progresses. The winner completed a hat-trick, has plenty of experience as a second-season novice and prefers top of the ground. Wholestone is very game but make mistakes in the crux of the race, whereas West Approach jumps accurately in a hurdling style reminiscent of his half-brother Thistlecrack. Likewise, he needs to step up in trip.Fifth-placed Baden, who had shaped well in some substantial contests last season, needed the run as least as much as his trainer had warned yet Henderson's grey didn't really show enough to interest you in his next start.At Wetherby last Saturday, "backward sort" Some Invitation surprised the Skelton team by making a winning racecourse debut. From the family of Thisthatandtother, the five-year-old travelled strongly but floundered into a gawky mistake when challenging leader and recent Worcester winner, Monbeg Charmer, two out. He then rallied takingly to assert by a length, albeit it in receipt of 7lb. He should improve markedly.In the opening contest on the same card, the mare La Bague Au Roi readily accounted for the too-keen Whatduhavtoget and, for a second time, the less scopey Groovejet at Wetherby on Saturday.The winner made a small mistake at the second and rather reached for the last but extended readily away by five lengths. She won't be racing much on deep winter ground but is deemed potentially good enough for second running of the mares' novice event at the Festival.At Navan earlier last week, the Elliott-trained Labaik scored a success that looked unlikely as he was outpaced approaching the second last in the Grade Three novices' hurdle but he out-sped stablemate Mick Jazz (formerly with Fry) and one-paced Le Martalin.The time was comparatively good but the winner twice refused to race on the Flat and is one to be wary of, in my mind. He heads next to the Grade One Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in December but will need to improve on this form.This is the runner-up's third season over hurdles, having been absent since pulling up in last year's Greatwood until finally getting off the mark in a first-time hood on his first start for his new yard at Clonmel last month.Further back in the field, Wakea not uncharacteristically made mistakes on this quick return following a good win in handicap company at Down Royal. He was rated 104 at his peak for Jeremy Noseda on the Flat and stayed two miles.Looking back to early November, Monbeg Notorious looked fortunate to win a Down Royal maiden given The Storyteller was travelling far better when falling at the second last and even Moulin A Vent, who was going worst of the trio at the time, was able to harry him to the line.That said, the winner still looked raw but jumped very soundly and looks a decent staying chaser in the making. All three principals were making their hurdles debut.Some brief yak: Prize for the Most Mentioned Ricci-Mullins Recruit goes to Senewalk, who's entered this weekend and shares a sire, Walk In The Park, with Douvan and Min. Both his owner and likely jockey, Walsh, spoke well of him.Invitation Only ("he's schooled well"), Melonand Chateau Conti, in different ownerships at the same yard, all also got positive mentions.Battleford, as horse whose frame and athleticism I liked when first encountering him in the paddock prior to his running second in last season's Festival bumper, also got a shout-out from Walsh, who also suggested that further than two miles would be required.Walsh also spontaneously nominated Death Duty, a horse he rode last month to an eight-length victory on hurdles debut over 2m4f at Roscommon for Elliott and Gigginstown, as "a bit of value" (presumably for the Neptune). "He's a very decent horse," Walsh asserted.Finally, if I have overlooked an item of novice-hurdling form hailing from the early part of this season, apologies but I'm sure it will be put to the test in the coming weeks and I'd like to end with the horse that has impressed me most in this division to date.Robin Roe made a huge impression on me when winning over 2m4f at Aintree last month, freewheeling away from his field when invited to do so by jockey Harry Skelton. It was notable that trainer Dan immediately said the horse's next stop would be the Group One Challow Hurdle at Newbury. I like him a lot.Other honourable mentions in dispatches include Saturnas, who won a two-mile Naas maiden in the style of a stayer last Saturday (albeit with an easy lead), and Top Tug, a decent recruit from the Flat who made a winning start over hurdles at Kempton last week.