- Monday, 25 May 2015 11:33
- Written by David Pipe
With four winners from ten runners on the domestic front as well as three other places including an excellent effort in France from Katkeau, it is apparent that the stable continues in good form. Indeed, during these early weeks of the season our tally stands at eight winners and we currently head the trainers’ table…long may it continue!!!
The week started in the best possible fashion with the victory of Vieux Lion Rouge at Towcester on Monday in the 2m6f novices’ chase. A useful bumper performer/hurdler with a good winning strike rate, he was making his chasing debut in what looked a fair race for the track at this time of year. While he was entitled to win if reproducing his hurdle form, it is not always that simple so I was pleased to see him put in a safe round of jumping to score. His fencing improved as the race went on and he stayed on well when it looked as though he may be in trouble two out. He will most certainly improve for the experience and we will try to find something similar for him in the not too distant future – he has always been a quality individual and an embryonic chaser.
I had been quite vociferous about the four year old fillies’ handicap hurdle at Warwick on Wednesday suggesting that this was not the correct type of race to be running for £40,000 at this time of the year, although I am more than happy to have landed the winners’ share of just over £25,000 with Bella. While an honest and reliable type, it is not often that a horse of her ability gets the opportunity to compete for such a prize. As such it is important to grasp these opportunities when they arise and I thought that Tom Scudamore gave her a canny ride to land the spoils. I am sure there are other races in her, although whether they will £40,000 contests is debatable. I would like to thank the sponsors The Wigley Group for their generous support of the race and hope that they have achieved their marketing aims and will continue to sponsor races in this country. This is a good initiative and I am sure it will be better supported next year.
I was pleased to get a winner on the board this season for local owners Gordon Tratt and Sue Hartnell when their mare Lady Of Longstone ran out the tenacious winner of the mares’ handicap hurdle at Ffos Las on Saturday night. She jumped a lot better on this occasion (ironic considering all of the hurdles in the home straight were omitted due to the low-lying sun!) and made all the running to grittily get the better of favourite Midnight Sequel. She could turn out again for a similar contest at Newton Abbot on Wednesday, although the very different course characteristics may not suit as well and the reaction of the handicapper to this performance will govern whether she runs or not.
On Sunday we managed to score a long overdue success with Dell’ Arca as he opened his account over fences at the third time of asking. A winner of the Greatwood Hurdle in 2013, he had not won a race since, despite filling the frame in a number of top-class handicaps. He had run creditably in two previous starts over fences, including when a close second to subsequent Gold Cup winner Coneygree so this represented a sharp drop in class. He jumped well and won comfortably in the end from a useful rival in Germany Calling. He is another high class novice and he could be found another novice chase, or possibly join our raiding party to France next month.
Talking of France, I was delighted by the performance of Katkeau in the 2m2f conditions’ hurdle at Auteuil on Friday. He finished a close third (beaten only a head and a neck) having made most of the running. He kept on in game fashion, although ideally he would have been suited by further and left me rueing him not being able to take in the 2m3½f handicap hurdle the previous week that had been his intended target. Nevertheless he has run an absolute blinder and I wouldn’t rule out another trip abroad in the near future.
The stable has no runners today (Monday) or tomorrow and our next racecourse representatives could well come on Wednesday. Decent handicap hurdler Alternatif is a possible in the novices’ chase at Cartmel, while as previously mentioned Lady Of Longstone could run at Newton Abbot. Rathlin Rose would look to have a good chance in the novices’ chase at Wetherby on Thursday, while Scottish National fourth Amigo could take in the 3m3f handicap hurdle at Stratford on Friday.
Much will depend on the weather over the coming days and the prevailing going at each track. As usual, Chester will be able to fill you in with all the latest running plans, even if he is sat with his feet up somewhere on the west coast of France!
