New Year New Clues?
With the new year upon us and just over two months till the festival, some festival clues could be coming thick and fast.
It was the first meeting of 2020 at Cheltenham, the first race on the card was the Ballymore Novices hurdle, Redford Road previous course winner during the December meeting was sent off the 2/1 favourite, ran in his normal style leading for most of the race till he was headed 3 out. He was passed by Imperial Alcazar, he in turn was then headed at the last by the Skelton trained Protektorat who was having his first run up in trip. He went on to go and win the race by a head, well that’s what everyone thought, wasn’t till a few minutes later when the stewards enquiry was called and the placings were reversed. I like many others where surprised to see the placings being altered, upon watching back the replay, Protektorat does drift to the right after the final flight and in turn cut across Imperial Alcazar but not enough to end up in him losing the race. I thought it was a really good run from Protektorat on his first go up in distance, think the plan is to head back to Cheltenham for trials day with him and go again for the Ballymore on that card. Dan Skelton said that he was going to appeal the result which he did, the hearing was today and the BHA he decided to reverse placings giving the race back to the Skeltons.
The Grade 2 Dipper chase, this saw many peoples selection for the RSA, Champ go off the odds on favourite. He sat behind the leader while making a couple of mistakes along the way. He led with and was travelling like the winner with 2 to jump behind not jumping the 2nd last at all and falling, this left Midnight Shadow to pick up the pieces and win. For me its lucky that Champ has an engine as he is not a natural jumper, we’ve seen in his other races over fences that he’s not been the best and relied on his turn of foot to get him home in front. He can’t be jumping the way he has been in a RSA as I don’t think ability will help him against much better jumpers.
The next race to talk about is the Paddy Power handicap chase, this say Ryanair hopeful Kalashnikov go off favourite under top weight, unfortunately he never traveled during the race making a few mistakes along the way. After the race it was reported that he had burst a blood vessel. Lalor was prominent, leading for the majority of the race and jumping with much of his old zest. This was until Oldgrangewood led approaching the last, where once in front he wasn’t doing a lot. This enabled Lalor and Saint Calvados another chance of winning, all three of them being pushed out and flashing past the line. The result took a few minutes to come through from the stewards, with the result in the end going to Oldgrangewood who only just held on by a nose. It was another good performance from the winner who probably got to the front way to soon unlike last time where he finished really strongly to get up late to beat Kalashnikov. Some may say justice was served here after the stewards took the first race away from the Skeltons.
The final race i want to cover from the New Years meeting is the grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle. It was only a 6 runner filed two of which were going back over hurdles after being chasing, these being Janika and Summerville Boy. It was Summerville Boy that made all to win by 2 1/4 lengths, was alway travelling and jumping well and after jumping the last stayed on really well. He never saw a rival till Roksana loomed up at the last hurdle where she was just outstayed up the hill. Where they go next with him remains to be seen, they could up him in trip for the Stayers hurdle or drop him in trip for the Champion Hurdle, or just miss Cheltenham and go to the Aintree hurdle come April where he was 4th last year.
Over at Tramore in Ireland we saw the seasonal debut of last years Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, they race went as expected with Paul Townend just positioning him behind the leaders. He took up the lead with 5 to go before going clear to win comfortably by 6 lengths from Acapella Bourgeois in 2nd. This is the same route he took last year, winning the Savills chase before going onto the Gold Cup for his next start. It remains to be seen if he can go back to back in the Cheltenham show piece, it would be hard to go against him but I’d still just favour Clan Des Obeaux and hope this time he can get up the hill.
It was the first meeting of 2020 at Cheltenham, the first race on the card was the Ballymore Novices hurdle, Redford Road previous course winner during the December meeting was sent off the 2/1 favourite, ran in his normal style leading for most of the race till he was headed 3 out. He was passed by Imperial Alcazar, he in turn was then headed at the last by the Skelton trained Protektorat who was having his first run up in trip. He went on to go and win the race by a head, well that’s what everyone thought, wasn’t till a few minutes later when the stewards enquiry was called and the placings were reversed. I like many others where surprised to see the placings being altered, upon watching back the replay, Protektorat does drift to the right after the final flight and in turn cut across Imperial Alcazar but not enough to end up in him losing the race. I thought it was a really good run from Protektorat on his first go up in distance, think the plan is to head back to Cheltenham for trials day with him and go again for the Ballymore on that card. Dan Skelton said that he was going to appeal the result which he did, the hearing was today and the BHA he decided to reverse placings giving the race back to the Skeltons.
The Grade 2 Dipper chase, this saw many peoples selection for the RSA, Champ go off the odds on favourite. He sat behind the leader while making a couple of mistakes along the way. He led with and was travelling like the winner with 2 to jump behind not jumping the 2nd last at all and falling, this left Midnight Shadow to pick up the pieces and win. For me its lucky that Champ has an engine as he is not a natural jumper, we’ve seen in his other races over fences that he’s not been the best and relied on his turn of foot to get him home in front. He can’t be jumping the way he has been in a RSA as I don’t think ability will help him against much better jumpers.
The next race to talk about is the Paddy Power handicap chase, this say Ryanair hopeful Kalashnikov go off favourite under top weight, unfortunately he never traveled during the race making a few mistakes along the way. After the race it was reported that he had burst a blood vessel. Lalor was prominent, leading for the majority of the race and jumping with much of his old zest. This was until Oldgrangewood led approaching the last, where once in front he wasn’t doing a lot. This enabled Lalor and Saint Calvados another chance of winning, all three of them being pushed out and flashing past the line. The result took a few minutes to come through from the stewards, with the result in the end going to Oldgrangewood who only just held on by a nose. It was another good performance from the winner who probably got to the front way to soon unlike last time where he finished really strongly to get up late to beat Kalashnikov. Some may say justice was served here after the stewards took the first race away from the Skeltons.
The final race i want to cover from the New Years meeting is the grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle. It was only a 6 runner filed two of which were going back over hurdles after being chasing, these being Janika and Summerville Boy. It was Summerville Boy that made all to win by 2 1/4 lengths, was alway travelling and jumping well and after jumping the last stayed on really well. He never saw a rival till Roksana loomed up at the last hurdle where she was just outstayed up the hill. Where they go next with him remains to be seen, they could up him in trip for the Stayers hurdle or drop him in trip for the Champion Hurdle, or just miss Cheltenham and go to the Aintree hurdle come April where he was 4th last year.
Over at Tramore in Ireland we saw the seasonal debut of last years Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, they race went as expected with Paul Townend just positioning him behind the leaders. He took up the lead with 5 to go before going clear to win comfortably by 6 lengths from Acapella Bourgeois in 2nd. This is the same route he took last year, winning the Savills chase before going onto the Gold Cup for his next start. It remains to be seen if he can go back to back in the Cheltenham show piece, it would be hard to go against him but I’d still just favour Clan Des Obeaux and hope this time he can get up the hill.
(Silver Forever and Harry Cobden at Sandown)
At Sandown on Saturday in the Mares Hurdle we saw the Nicholls trained Silver Forever make it 3/4 over hurdles, winning in impressive style, she jumped and travelled well. Sitting behind the pace before taking up the lead before the last with Harry Shaking her up a little as she went on to win comfortably. She’s a likeable mare and you’d assume she will take high order in the Mares novice hurdle come March at a price of 10/1.
The Grade 1 on the card was the Tolworth hurdle last season it was won by the Colin Tizzard trained Elixir De Nutz, this years renewal went to the same trainer again this time with Fiddlerontheroof. He travelled behind the leaders before making his move 2 out, when he did he pulled clear easily and travelled powerfully up the Sandown hill to go on to win by 6 lengths. The decision that Colin Tizzard will now have to make is what race to run him at come Cheltenham, he is currently 8/1 3rd favourite for the Supreme and 14/1 for the Ballymore. I don’t think it will be an easy decision to make as he will more than likely have to run 2 of his good novices against each other, with Master Debonair likely to go Supreme and The Big Breakaway the Ballymore. A horse to keep on side that finished 4th in the race is the Nicholls trained Calva D’Auge, i thought he travelled and jumped well on ground that he wouldn’t like, he may of finished 22 lengths off the winner but ideally he wants the ground to be heavy then he comes into his own. If he gets these conditions you can see him picking up some decent races.
The final race on the Sandown card was a competitive handicap hurlde, Gunnery was sent off a short priced favourite which was understandable after his impressive win at Doncaster last time out. He was ultimately disappointing finishing 6th and never being able to land a blow on the leaders. For much of the race it looked like previous Sandown scorer Totterdown was gonna do what he did last time and make all. Unlike last times catch me if you can, this time he was caught by Eldorado Allen and Mill Green who won by 3/4 of a length. These both look useful horses going forward, Mill Green having his first run for just over 8 months, while Eldorado Allen was having his first run for over a year. Of the two i was more impressed with Eldorado Allen, was a good performance after a long lay off and for me would of won the race if he wasn't giving the winner 11lbs, the Tizzard 6 year old is one I will be keeping an eye on in the future.
On Sunday at Naas we saw Envoi Allen out again in the Grade 1 Lawlor Of Naas novice hurdle, he just settled in behind before taking over the lead 2 out and was then pushed out to go and win by 3 1/2 lengths. I wasn’t impressed with this performance and personally feel that 13/8 which he currently is for the Ballymore is a poor price and you’d of wanted to see him do more than he offered. You’d cant take away the face that he is winning races, but you compare him to Samcro who went off a short price favourite for the Ballymore, he was beating much better horses than Envoi Allen is beating now and making them all look rubbish. He justified his short price and for me at this stage Envoi Allen doesn’t.
Over at Plumpton it was the Sussex National, this went the way of another Colin Tizzard trained horse in Christmas in April, he travelled powerfully behind the leader for Harry Cobden before being left in front when Sackett made a mistake at the 8th. He made the whole rest of the running and wasn't for catching. He’s one you could see being a Grand National horse in a season or 2 thats for sure.
Once again thanks for taking the time to read this, not long now before those Cheltenham accumulators can be placed.
Lovely Silver Forever😍😍😍
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