Ladbrokes Winter Carnival

 


We will start off at Newbury on the Friday which was day one of the 2 day Winter Carnival, the first race was a maiden hurdle which saw the eagerly awaited jumps debut of Flinteur Sacre, he was sent off a short priced favourite which was always gonna be the case considering his reputation and connections. From the start he never really looked comfortable, he was always keen and put in a few dodgy jumps, and ultimately when push came to shove he wasn’t good enough on the day and could only finish 4th beaten 7 lengths. In the end the winner was My Drogo for the Skeltons who came into the race after finishing 2nd at 50/1 in a Cheltenham bumper a couple of months ago. He himself also put in a few iffy jumps, but approaching the last hurdle he was the one travelling the best and when Harry asked him to go seal the race he did impressively staying on strongly in the run in. Obviously people will crab the form with there being a 200/1 shot in second, but for me he looks like he could be a useful type for them over the coming months. Bravemansgame took the 2m4f novices hurdle and he couldn’t of done it any more impressively, winning in a canter by 7 1/2 lengths. Ignore the old cliche but as they say he is one of those “anything he does over hurdles is a bonus” type of horses, he just looks a chaser in the making. The first Grade 2 on the card was the Berkshire Novices Chase which over the years has been won by some very good horses such as Champ and Clan Des Obeaux. This year it went the way of Caribean Boy and he did it in good style. He jumped well throughout the race and was always prominent, in the end going on to beat Fiddlerontheroof by 4 lengths. Now I’m not sure if he is of the same calibre as some of the previous winners or the two horses that he beat (Fiddlerontheroof and Getaway Trump) aren’t what was expected or just had an off day, either way it will be good to see him out again to see if he can continue his progression over fences, as for the other two i guess its back to the drawing board with them, with Getaway Trump possibly in line for a handicap chase in the near future. The highlight of day one was the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle and it was like a mini Stayers Hurdle with all the right names taking their place. You had Paisley Park looking to bounce back after his disappointment in March, Lisnagar Oscar the Stayers Hurdle winner and McFabulous and Thyme Hill the two young pretenders. They all travelled well throughout the race and coming down to the last we had the 3 there with a chance that we wanted with Thyme Hill just leading from McFabulous. On the run in it was Paisley Park that made the biggest challenge to Thyme Hill finishing like he usually does but he couldn’t quite get to Thyme Hill who won well in he end. I would say the connections of the first 3 home will all be happy, Thyme Hill now the favourite for the Stayers come March as based on that performance all he has to worry about is what’s over in Ireland, which could well throw up the winner yet! It will be interesting to see what Paul Nicholls does with McFabulous, does he try him again over hurdles as that was his first run over 3m and he ran a stormer or does he now send him chasing? As for Paisley Park, Emma Lavelle will be delighted that he ran like his old self after having his heart problems in March. Like I mentioned, Thyme Hill is now the ante post favourite, but between him and Paisley Park I’d still be siding with Paisley Park come March as he will not be conceding weight to Thyme Hill. It was also nice just to see 2 of my 10 to follow running well with them finishing 1st and 3rd.

Day 2 saw Next Destination take the John Francome Novices’ Chase for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden, this was a really nice performance from him on chase debut and only his second start for Paul, he’s one I could see featuring in the RSA come March but he may have some task on his hands to beat a certain horse that we saw in Ireland just under an hour earlier which I will cover later.

(Next Destination and Harry Cobden on their way to Grade 2 victory, by Francesca Altoft)

The handicap hurdle on the card went the way of the Skeltons with Flash The Steel, he raced in his normal way being held up always travelling well for Harry. He got himself in contention with 2 to jump and moved his way to the front at the last where he jumped well and kept on strongly. Champagne Platinum ran a nice race behind him in 3rd considering how keen he was throughout the race, so only finishing around 3 lengths behind the winner makes that a performance you can definitely mark up, if they can get him to settle in the future he’s one you can see being involved in the big handicap hurdles later in the season, that is if they don’t stick him back over a fence! There was another handicap hurdle next,  this one went the way of Nicky Henderson who took the race last year with Epatante, but for him probably nit with the horse he was hoping, as he had the short priced favourite in the shape of the unbeaten Marie’s Rock. Her race was lost when she was short of room 2 out and had to quickly switch inside, in the process hampering Thyme White who was also travelling well, causing him to unseat his jockey. The winner was Henderson’s other progressive mare Floressa who looking back at it now had some brilliant form to her name when finishing a neck second to Lady Buttons in January. She made all and jumped well and was always travelling strongly. Milkwood who also had some decent form coming into the race finished 3rd and was unlucky at that as he was hampered in the carnage over 2 out, so for me he would be the one to take out of the race as he would of been a lot closer had he got the luck needed. Next was the main event on the Newbury card and the Ladbrokes Chase, there wasn’t a stand out horse in it as a few weeks before we lost Topofthegame through injury, this left Secret Investor and Vinndication joint favourites on the day, Vinndication was going alright before making a mistake at the 17th fence and unseating David Bass. In the end we saw what will probably be one of the easiest wins of a big field handicap all season with Cloth Cap, he made all and put on a show jumping brilliantly throughout the race to scoot clear after the last to win impressively by 10 lengths from Aye Right and The Conditional. It would be no surprise to see him do it again this season in a National, but he may find it harder once the handicapper has his say. The two behind him both ran solid races and you can see them getting a big win each this season if they continue to jump like they did, just on the day they was no match for Cloth Cap who had everything go his way on good ground that he loves.

(Cloth Cap and Tom Scudamore jumping around Newbury for fun, by Francesca Altoft)

There was also racing from Newcastle where we saw Epatante get her Champion Hurdle campaign off to a flyer in winning the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth hurdle. There was drama at the start when Not So Sleepy decided he didn’t wanna jump the hurdle and jinked right unseating Paddy Brennan, he then decided he wasn’t done there and coming to the 2nd hurdle he ran to his right and carried Silver Streak past the wings of the hurdle. This left just 4 rivals for Epatante to beat and approaching the last flight she was a length down to Sceau Royal. She flew the last flight and quickly put daylight between herself and him scooting clear to win by over 4 lengths. It was hard not to be impressed with this performance, she jumped so smoothly and quickly over her hurdles and the turn of foot she showed was frightening, for me there is no horse in England or Ireland capable of giving her the mares allowance and turning her over come March, which begs the question should Mares be given an allowance in the top races? We are all still waiting on the appearance of Goshen, but he’s gonna have to be an absolute superstar to turn her over.

Over in Ireland we had a two day meeting from Fairyhouse which included some star names, first up we saw Monkfish make his eagerly anticipated debut over fences, and its safe to say he didn’t disappoint, winning his race in style. He travelled and jumped superbly, winning in a canter. After this performance he shot straight to the top of the RSA market and of what I’ve seen so far its going to have to take a really good one to knock him off of there. Then there was the Grade 2 Mares hurdle which went to the same connections as before with Concertista, she was held up in her normal style and was always travelling well, she joined Minella Melody just after the last where Paul Townend was still sitting motionless, he just nudged her along to get her head in front. She’s now the 3rd favourite for the Mares hurdle at Cheltenham at 5/1 which I think is a cracking price as I think she has the turn of foot which the others lack, I personally think she wouldn’t look out of place in the Champion Hurdle for which she’s 16/1, but it all depends if connections are feeling brave enough. On day two we had the Grade 1 Royal Bond Hurdle which went the way of Ballyadam, he travelled well and led with 2 to jump before being pushed along and winning comfortably in the end. He was then obviously cut in price for the Supreme and Ballymore for which he would no doubt have a good chance, but for me I’d rather be siding with the horse that finished 3rd which was N’golo, considering how keen he was throughout the race and still had it in him to power home was a massive eye catcher, he wouldn’t look out of place in any of those races mentioned and 25/1 and 20/1 is too big no matter what race they pick. The same connections won the next Grade 1 which was the Drinmore Novice Chase with Envoi Allen, he did it in impressive style, looking like he may of had a race on his hands but showing a great turn of foot to put the race to bed. Unfortunately we didn’t learn much from it with him only facing the 3 rivals, none of which you’d say will make it into Grade 1 winners over fences, so although he won well I wouldn’t get too carried away with it till we see him tackle some decent horses, which probably wont be till Cheltenham itself where I will be hoping to take him on with something at a bigger price where he will no doubt make me look a fool. The final race I want to touch on was the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, which was won again by last years winner in Honeysuckle, she wasn’t as impressive as her win last year where that time she already had a run under her belt but she won in gutsy fashion maintaining her unbeaten record. She had a slight scare on the run in after Ronald Pump flew home and with a few more strides would of got her, for that reason he’s the one I’d take out if the race, giving 7lbs to her and only losing half a length over a trip that isn’t his ideal one was a big performance and I think the 16/1 about him for the Stayers Hurdle is once again too big considering he’s been there already when he finished 3rd last year.

Thanks for taking the time to read this weeks blog, next week we have the Tingle Creek at Sandown where we get to see Altior make his seasonal debut and the Becher Chase at Aintree

I’d also like to say a special thanks to Fran for allowing me to use her photos throughout my blog, you can find more of her work here:


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