Look back at the November meeting.

 

The 3 day November meeting got underway on the Friday and the performance of the day was without a doubt that of Protektorat for the Skeltons in the Novices' chase, he made all and delivered a spectacular round of jumping. At one stage in the race before turning for home it looked like Southfield Stone was travelling the better of the two, but as soon as Harry Skelton asked him to kick on the race was over, it was just a matter of getting over the last 2 fences. He's being quoted at 25/1 for the Marsh Chase back at Cheltenham in March, stranger things have happened and course form is key, so I will be looking forward to seeing if he can back this race up again when put up in grade although if he does that 25/1 won’t last long. Also on the Friday there was the Cross Country chase and the rematch from March of Easysland and Tiger Roll, unfortunately it wasn't what we was all hoping for with them both being beat, Tiger Roll being the bigger disappointment, he never went a yard and dropped to the rear of the field before being pulled up after the 20th fence, with many people calling for him to be retired, but I don't think that's needed just yet, one more poor show then it could well be the case. As for Easysland it was disappointing that he was beat but i doubt connections will be too disappointed with that, he made a few mistakes head butting his way through the fences like he usually does, but stayed on well in the run in to take 4th, he's still only 6 years old so will have many more Cross Country races in him. The race was won by the Scudamore's and Kingswell Theatre, this was his 8th go around the Cross Country course and his 2nd win, he jumped out from the front making all and won well by 5 lengths while losing a shoe in the process. Looking at early prices for the Cross Country Chase come March I think he is somewhat overpriced at 50/1, yes the likes of Tiger Roll and Easysland wouldn't of been primed to win this race, but he won it really well and even for a place 50/1 is too big!

The Saturday started with a familiar trainer taking the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial, this being Duffle Coat for Gordon Elliot and Robbie Power, this was an impressive performance as he always raced out the back and was pushed along with 4 to go, then took 3rd with 2 to jump and always looked the winner before the last, in the end pulling clear of the field to win by 5 lengths. He could well be the Triumph winner come March but there will be plenty more horses to come out yet and chances are the winner hasn’t stepped foot on a racecourse as of yet. The favourite Hell Red was disappointing and was pulled up, it was reported after the race that he made a noise when running so will probably go in now for a breathing op. Next up was the race that's seen as a trial for the Arkle and was won by last years Arkle winner, previous winner around Cheltenham Fusil Raffles was sent off the short priced favourite, but he in the end was pulled up, as soon as he lost his jumping rhythm he never got it back and made a few more mistakes. Gumball led them from the start and was jumping well out in front before falling 2 out when 2 lengths up leaving Eldorado Allen who was just being pushed along at the time clear and with just the last fence to jump to win. Robbie Power on Eldorado Allen said he was confident of catching Gumball but I'm not to sure as he hadn't even been asked yet before coming down, its just good that he got back up to his feet as it looked like it could of been a nasty one, hopefully he's non the worse and will be seen again soon. The Paddy Power Gold cup was the highlight of day 2, the race turned into a slog after the rain hit with only 7 of the 16 runners finishing. The top 3 in the betting were disappointing, Mister Fisher was pulled up after never really travelling, clearly saved for another day, Saint Sonnet fell at the last, but was in contention before making a mistake at the 3rd last, and Simply The Betts who never really jumped like his usual self and will have bigger days ahead finished 6th in the end. The winner was Coole Cody who led from the 3rd fence and never really looked like being caught, till Spiritofthegames made headway from the rear to 2nd with 2 to jump but had nothing left in the tank on stamina sapping ground and Coole Cody just pulled away again in the run in. It was good to see him get his head in front as he had some decent form prior to this race, even though I was on Spiritofthegames!

The final day of the November meeting saw The Big Breakaway make his eagerly anticipated chase debut, he put in a brilliant round of jumping for a novice making his debut at Cheltenham, he did briefly look in trouble before the 12th fence and had to be bumped along for a bit, but in the end won by 10 lengths. I felt the winning margin flattered him as The Butcher Said was bang there coming to the 2nd last before stumbling on landing, not to say The Big Breakaway wouldn't of won but for me he wouldn't of won that easily. The Shloer Chase saw just 4 runners go to post one being last years winner Defi Du Seuil, he started off in last before giving the first fence a lot of air and stumbling on landing, it took him a few fences to get into a rhythm but once he did he made some great jumps and smooth progress up the inside, he was then pushed along and asked to catch the leader Duc Des Genievres but he never really looked like catching him and was pulled up before the final fence and is reportedly fine after and will be see again in due course. The long time leader Duc Des Genievres had a 5 length lead 2 out from Put The Kettle On who rallied well to catch the leader after he started to drift before getting her nose in front close to home. It was a good performance from last years Arkle winner but I couldn't have her for a Champion Chase just yet for which she's currently best priced 10/1, I feel connections may just take the easier route and send her to the Mares Chase instead anyway, as for the second i thought he ran a brilliant race first time out for Paul Nicholls he just appeared to get tired in the ground, I'd rather back him at 20/1 than Put The Kettle On come March, but with them two 3rd and 4th favourite for the Champion Chase it just shows you how weak it is, the race could really do with something coming out and stamping its class on the division, or maybe Altior to show he’s still got it come the Tingle Creek? The last race I will cover is the Greatwood Hurdle, Tegerek was sent off favourite and ran well to finish 3rd after initially looking like he was going to refuse to race, last years winner Harambe was running another massive race and looked in contention before coming down at the final flight. The race was won by The Shunter and was another winner for Robbie Power, he was always in touch and travelling well before losing ground with 3 to jump, but in the end when he got a passage through he won comfortably from Ballyandy who once again ran a brilliant race under top weight and always appears to just find one too good for him in each race. 

Over at Punchestown on Saturday Asterion Forlonge made his chase debut, he was sent off the short priced favourite and won well by 6 lengths, he still maintained his old quirks of jumping out to the right at his fences, but its clear that he has a decent engine which always helps, not sure it does at Cheltenham though or other left handed tracks. Elsewhere at Punchestown Felix Desjy won the 2m novice chase, he didn’t run in his normal style of making all, instead they opted to take a lead, he was was 6 lengths down coming to 3 out before making up ground to dispute the lead over the last, before getting the better of Sizing Pottsie in the run in and won going away. This was a nice performance and will be worth following to see where they go next. On the Sunday we saw the Albert Bartlett 2nd and 3rd make their seasonal debuts, Latest Exhibition was well beaten on chase debut by Pencilfulloflead who won really impressively and will be another to watch going forward. To me Latest Exhibition seems like he wouldn’t be out of place in the what was 4 miler at Cheltenham and could well make up into a national horse in time. Fury Road who was 3rd in the Albert Bartlett won the Grade 2 Celebration Hurdle, it was a pretty week race and he was fully entitled to win, he won comfortably by 3 1/2 lengths but I would ultimately like to see him do it again in better company before getting to carried away with him for the Stayers Hurdle even though he is one of my 10 to follow. The main race on the Punchestown card was the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle, the County Hurdle winner from March Saint Roi was sent off the odds on favourite, in the end he was beaten a neck by Abacadabras, on first viewing I didn’t think any of them really enhanced their Champion Hurdle chances, but watching it back again you’d have to say the best horse on the day for me was 2nd, Saint Roi didn’t get the best of rides and was keen as well as making a few mistakes, so with a better pace of a Champion Hurdle I’d take him to reverse the form, but either way you can’t take the win away from Abacadabras who wouldn’t of liked that ground one bit. I still think both have a bit to prove before taking Epatante’s crown come March.

Thanks for reading, next week we have the Betfair Chase at Haydock, with Bristol De Mai, Lostintranslation and Clan Des Obeaux all due to feature.