A Triathlon of Horses from Ascot on Friday
We saw three very useful performances at Ascot on Friday; 1 hurdler, 1 chaser and 1 bumper horse. Two of them went in small but select fields and the final, and most impressive in my opinion, in the concluding bumper that was run at a frenetic pace - one in each discipline! Let’s look at them in chronological order though.
First up we had the win of L’Ami Serge for the Nicky Henderson yard, who under Barry Geraghty saw off the front running Killultagh Vic and Emerging Talent to take the 2 mile Novice Hurdle by a whopping 7 lengths. Emerging Talent was probably the most likely danger at the business end of the race but fell at the 2nd last, leaving the winner to scoot away from the Irish raider and take victory in a hugely impressive manner. We don’t really know the value of this form but L’Ami Serge was a very easy winner over a certainly useful (and beautiful jumper) Willie Mullins horse. Whether 14/1 represents value for the Supreme Novice for the winner I don’t know as the Festival opener will be run in a far different manner to this one, with a far bigger field representing it’s own test. However I’d rather take that price than the 6/1 on Douvan as at least we have some solid form to go on in the case of L’Ami. If Douvan is hit up in the market over the next few hours however we can be assured that the Mullins yard fancy Douvan to do L’Ami now they have a yardstick within their stable. Lets wait and see but with so much activity expected in this market over the Christmas period it may be best to hold fire now.
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| L'Ami Serge puts his worst jump in at the last but still won easily |
We then moved onto the Novice Chase over 2 miles 3 furlongs, where Ptit Zig, Josses Hill and Dunraven Storm all held leading claims to take the honours in this Grade 2 race. In the end experience held at Ptit Zig, odds-on winner of 2 chases already in his career, further enhanced his Cheltenham credentails as fencing (and seasonal) debutant Josses Hill couldn’t match the winner in the jumping deparment. Don’t run out the runner up though, as Henderson said in the aftermath of the race Josses Hill needs more match practise and will come on a bundle for the run as well. Quotes of 8/1 for the winner for Arkle and JLT, compared to 10/1 for the Arkle for Josses Hill (a better hurdler, 2nd in one of the hottest Supreme Novices in recent memory) are fair enough and would leave me with a conundrum as to how to get involved in this race. There is so much potential under the bonnet of Josses Hill that I would be tempted to back him, but Ptit Zig is a proven, and very impressive jumper of a fence. Nicholls didn’t commit to either race (or infact even sending him) for Ptit Zig afterwards but did say he saw his charge getting further over time and definitely made it sound like it would be JLT unless the going was properly soft. Two very useful Novices we will certainly be hearing more of in the season ahead. Dunraven Storm was found out trying to give weight to two very good horses and would be interesting when back out in a slightly easier race, however bear in mind he managed to serve it up to Vibrato Valtat and Irish Saint at Sandown and couldn’t lay a glove on these two here (although unfavoured more by conditions here).
Finally on the Ascot card for Friday the closing bumper will be very interesting to follow throughout the season and will make for reliable form in my opinion. The race was run at a really solid pace and won in the end by a hugely impressive flat recruit in Supasundae from the Andrew Balding yard. The stable currently are in red hot form, with 5 winners from their last 7 runners, and in this close relative to Nathaniel they have one here who could take them to the Cheltenham Festival in March. As I say I was so taken by this performance due to the pace that they went here; this was no slowly run bumper which turns into a sprint down the home straight. Supasundae saw off some highly thought off opposition here and 16/1 for the Champion Bumper would be the bet I would be tempted by after the Friday card. Solid field size, good pace, good opposition and a hugely impressive winner = horse to follow!
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| We had a hugely impressive winner of the closing bumper in Supasundae |
The most impressive performance of the day for me came from the most exciting horse currently fit to race in Un De Sceaux over at Fairyhouse. With his usual front running style the Willie Mullins inmate got out in front and never saw another rival as he jumped impressively and confidently (showing no ill effects of his fall lto) to win by a token 12 lengths...it could have been double that easily. Now a 3/1 favorite for the Arkle if he is sent there you can be assured of one thing; there will be some pace in the race! It's difficult to read too much into the form, he didn't beat a massive amount as his 1/5 SP would suggest, but his jumping was big and confident and much improved from his debut. There is no way I would lay 4/1 (a price available in places), I'd much rather be a backer at those odds, but with Willie having so many bullets to fire at the Cheltenham races you are taking a gamble that he will even be sent to the race. To be honest I'm inclined to take the gamble that he will go to Prestbury Park this season after missing it last year and take the 4/1 on this front running machine.
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| Such a thrilling horse to watch; Un De Sceaux (photo Patrick McCann Racing Post) |
Over on these shores we had day 2 of the Ascot Christmas Festival where Irish Saint further enhanced his claims to honors in the Novice Chase division, however at a slightly further distance to Un De Sceaux. Irish Saint was an impressive winner of the 2 mile 5.5 furlong Novices Chase, seeing off Puffin Billy (who suffered a horror fall, but is thankfully OK, when well beaten) and Thomas Crapper in an impressive manner. Post Race his trainer Paul Nicholls left us under no doubt as to this horse's targets in time; 3 miles if the ground dries up or this trip if it remains testing. He is entered in both the JLT and the RSA at the Cheltenham festival, however as usual Nicholls reminded us that Cheltenham was not the be all and end all and Aintree could be the aim, making any ante-post bet a tricky thing with Irish Saint. I don't think he is a top class horse up to winning at the highest level at Cheltenham; he was beaten by Dunraven Storm at Sandown (admittedly over a shorter than ideal trip) and Dunraven Storm was beaten out of sight on Friday as mentioned earlier. It could be that Grade 2 races, or even a top handicap, are more Irish Saint's thing and I won't be betting him for either Cheltenham race.
Zarkandar somehow managed to avoid winning the Long Walk Hurdle later in the Ascot card. He looked all round the winner 2 out as he cantered all over Reve De Sivola and overtook him in menacing style. However after getting ahead of his rival he either idled or didn't find anything off the bridle as Daryl Jacob managed to gather another effort out of the brave and admirable Reve to get him up to win by a head. I certainly would't blame Sam Twiston-Davies for the ride, I don't see what else he could have done, it was just when Zarkandar hit the front he didn't fully pull away as looked like he would, and should, have done given his rating. Maybe he just needs to be held on to a bit longer but this was concerning and limits his potential as an ante-post proposition for Cheltenham, where 14/1 is available for the World Hurdle. He didn't fail for lack of stamina, so the trip shouldn't be an issue, it may just be that the blinkers applied didn't do their job today. Reve De Sivola is a hugely admirable horse, however these were his absolute perfect conditions and he is now a 3 time winner of this race. It has been proven before though that he isn't quite World Hurdle class, don't let that ditract from his victory today but I wouldn't back him to follow up in March.
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| The Winner (left) and runner up (right) of the Long Walk Hurdle |
The Young Master further enhanced his growing reputation as a horse to follow after shrugging off a 14 lbs rise in the weights following his Badger Ales 'win' to take the Silver Cup handicap in good style, beating Hennessy runner up Houblon Des Obeaux by a 2.5 length margin and gaining connections compensation for their Badger Ales disqualification. He is only 5 years old and clearly progressive; for all that Cheltenham this year may come too soon he is definitely a horse to keep on side of. I think Gold Cup quotes are a bit fanciful this year but if he has a good remainder of the season I wouldn't run it out in the future; this is a horse with a progressive career ahead of him and Neil Mulholland is a top trainer who will surely not overface him this season given what he could be capable of down the line.
Finally on the Ascot card Bayan gave Gordon Elliott another big winner of the Ladbroke Handicap Chase, winning at odds of 14/1 from last years winner Pine Creek. Elliott had been saying pre-race that this was the target for Bayan and his charge did not disappoint; a great training performance by Elliott. One man who may have been annoyed post-race however was his jockey Davy Condon who was hit with a mammoth 15 day whip ban after this ride! After the jockey suffered an almost career ending spinal injury from a fall at Cork in August this was a fantastic and emotional win for him, although that whip ban certainly provided a bit of a sting in the tale. Lets not distract from the winner though, this was a great performance carrying a huge 11 stone 5 lbs in conditions and a gutsy win; congratulations to all involved including Gary O'Brien from the At The Races team.
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| A great picture courtesy of the Racing Post of winning jockey Davy Condon |
That's all from me for this weekend folks, although I'll have a few Festive previews up over the next few days as we have some top action coming up for us at Christmas time!
Thanks for reading
Alex
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