Cheltenham Success

The November meeting at Cheltenham is a fixture that the team have always done very well at and I was delighted to be able to add to that tally again this year with the success of the gallant Ramses de Teillee (pictured above) on Sunday.  Any meeting at Cheltenham represents the pinnacle of the sport and as such, it is the hardest venue to win at, so whilst hopes are always high, you also have to manage expectations.

Pleasing Chase Debut

The week kicked-off in great style with the success of Remastered at Carlisle on his chasing debut.  Although only a small field, there were some talented horses in the line-up and this was a very pleasing first effort over the larger obstacles, one that certainly bodes well for the future.  His jumping was extremely good and whilst he has always had the look of a chaser in the making, you can never be sure until they have done it on the course.  I hope that he will be able to build on this and make-up into a quality staying chaser.

Cheltenham Success For Gallant Grey

Our second winner came at the other end of the week when Ramses de Teillee produced a typically gutsy performance to land the 3m3½f handicap chase at Cheltenham on Sunday.  The ever-popular grey put in a great round of jumping under a positive ride from Tom Scudamore and battled his heart out to hold off the renewed challenge of Yala Enki after the last.  He is incredibly tough and versatile and could well head for the Welsh National (a race in which he was runner-up in 2018) at Chepstow next month.

There were a number of other good performances too last week.  Nobel Joshua ran well to finish runner-up in the 2m7f handicap hurdle at Exeter on Tuesday under Fergus Gillard.  He stuck to his task gamely and can land something similar.

Adagio did very well to finish second in the Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham on Saturday.  Given that this was only eight days after his hurdling debut there is certainly further improvement in him and he has already proven to be one of the best juveniles seen out thus far.  He was well bought from a French claimer on the level for just over €25,000 and is already looking like a bargain.

Astigar finished runner-up on his racecourse debut in the Uttoxeter bumper on Saturday.  He was only beaten on the nod and looks to have a very bright future ahead of him.  Those around him had the benefit of previous experience and some decent form in the book.  With several other well-touted types behind, something similar looks well within his compass before going hurdling.

Induno, Kepagge, Eden du Houx and To Fly Free all shaped with promise in reaching the frame and should be adding to their tallies soon.

Lac Unlucky

Of course, it was very disappointing that Siruh du Lac came to grief at the first fence of the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday.  He overjumped and just landed a bit awkwardly, giving Tom Scudamore no chance of staying on board.  He is none the worse may now go to Newbury in a fortnight’s time for the Ladbroke Chase (formerly the Hennessy) and I am excited to see what he can do.

The Week Ahead

We have already started the week in the best possible fashion with the success of Paricolor at Leicester this afternoon.  We were due to have a couple of runners at Lingfield tomorrow, including odds-on favourite Sexy Lot but sadly the meeting was lost to the elements.  Sexy Lot holds another entry at Chepstow on Friday and she will run there where she can compete without a penalty for her easy Ffos Las success.  She is due to go up by 12lbs in future handicaps so must take all the beating as she bids to follow up.

We will have three runners at Ffos Las on Wednesday;  Little Red Lion and Great Tempo for the David Pipe Racing Club and Broughtons Admiral for the Value Racing Club.  Little Red Lion has always appealed as a nice staying chaser for the future and makes his debut over fences in the 2m5f novices’ handicap chase, whilst Great Tempo makes his seasonal reappearance in the 3m handicap chase.  Broughtons Admiral, a useful stayer on the flat and over hurdles, shaped with promise on his first start for the stable and contests the 2m6f handicap hurdle.  He has top weight of 12-0 to contend with, but conditional jockey Fergus Gillard takes 7lbs off his back.  Indeed, he rides all three horses at the meeting.

We have a number of entries on Thursday at Market Rasen and Wincanton, including exciting newcomer Neon Moon, whilst Fontwell bumper winner Bumpy Johnson could make his debut at Chepstow on Friday.

On Saturday, Main Fact will bid to extend his winning streak to nine as he is an intended runner in the Stayers’ handicap hurdle at Haydock.  He has been in good form of late, winning three times on the flat.  He was entered in the 2m Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday, although we decided to wait for the Haydock contest.  The step-up to three miles is something of an unknown, but his style of racing suggests that he has every chance of getting the longer trip.  His best form came when stepped-up to 2m4f at Uttoxeter last season and he certainly wasn’t stopping at the end of that.  Any rain between now and then will only aid his chance and he will give young Fergus Gillard an exciting big race opportunity.

Talking of Fergus, as promised, below you will find a video interview with the promising conditional as he nominates a horse to follow and looks forward to the ride aboard Main Fact at Haydock this weekend.  Click on the image below for video...

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