- Monday, 07 February 2022 16:33
- Written by David Pipe
I was pleased to be back among the winners last week, with Shot Boii and Anglers Crag (pictured above) both obliging. We had a busy time of it, with 23 runners last week and aside from those successes, there were a number of other creditable performances too and with Cheltenham now only five weeks away, it is great to have the stable in good form.
Shot Success!
Shot Boii (pictured right) ran out a good winner of the 3m handicap hurdle at Chepstow on Tuesday. This was his first try at the trip and he saw it out well on his handicap debut under a good ride from Fergus Gillard. A well bred gelding, there are more options open to him now that he has proven his stamina. He is still only light raced and I hope that he can continue to improve with experience. It was tremendous to see the colours of William Frewen (who owned top-notch stayer Lough Derg) in the winners’ enclosure again. The horse, by the way, is named after one of William’s cricketing friends’ favourite expressions.
Anglers Obliges
Anglers Crag was our other winner last week, running out a game victor of the 2m4½f novices’ hurdle at Leicester on Wednesday. A smart performer in point-to-points and bumpers in Ireland, it was great to see him translate that form to hurdles on his debut for the stable, keeping on stoutly to run down the long odds-on favourite on the run-in under Tom Scudamore. A lovely, big gelding, standing at seventeen hands, this was a very pleasing first performance over timber and augurs very well for the future. I don’t like to blow my own trumpet, but you may remember that earlier in the season I nominated him as my horse to follow in our stable staff series…I hope a few of you took notice!
Aside from those winners, there were a number of other good performances, notably from Thanksforthehelp, El Paso Wood and Kingofthewest who all finished runner-up. Thanksforthehelp again shaped with promise in the 1m7f novices’ hurdle at Wincanton, bustling up a good yardstick in Honneur d’Ajonc. Another, well-made gelding who can only continue to improve, he looks likely to benefit from a stiffer test of stamina in time and should be winning over hurdles sooner rather than later.
El Paso Wood was an unlucky loser in the Dick Hunt Trophy at Wincanton on the same card. He looked all over the winner as he led a long way out, but he was just allowed to idle in the straight and was collared close home. Even so, this was another improved performance from a mark 10lbs higher than when landing the Somerset National at the track a fortnight later. We will see what the handicapper does before deciding whether to have a tilt at the Grand National Trial at Haydock on Saturday 19th February or find another staying handicap for him.
Kingofthewest was another to run with a good deal of promise when runner-up at Chepstow on Friday. Running with a penalty for his Taunton success, he was clear second best behind a useful winner and could be the type for the final of the EBF series at Sandown on Imperial Cup day. He will certainly benefit from more of a test of stamina and he is another nice prospect for the future.
Paricolor and Ladykiller were others to reach the frame, with the latter in particular looking in need of further. A quality stayer on the flat in Germany, two miles looked a bit sharp for him on this occasion and we may look at stepping him up in trip next time.
The Week Ahead
Miss M was our first runner of the week this afternoon at Fontwell, although rain over the weekend meant that the ground was softer than ideal for her.
We will have a couple of runners at our local track, Taunton tomorrow with Kalzari and Seventeen O Four in action. Kalzari contests the 2m3f handicap hurdle and looks sure to benefit from this longer trip. Seventeen O Four runs in the 2m½f handicap hurdle at 3.35pm. He was a good winner on his penultimate start but seemed to find 2m2f on a galloping track just beyond him at Exeter last time. This trip should suit and any more rain will aid his cause.
We have plenty of entries on Thursday with possible runners at Ffos Las and Doncaster. Popular veteran Dell’ Arca is an intended runner in the staying handicap hurdle at Doncaster, whilst Little Red Lion is a likely runner in the 3m handicap chase at Ffos Las and Heure de Gloire could contest the 2m4f handicap hurdle on the same card.
There is plenty of exciting action over the weekend with entries at Newbury, Uttoxeter and Warwick on Saturday and Exeter on Sunday.
Adagio Wincanton Bound
Finally, we decided against confirming Adagio for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday, instead opting for the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton the following weekend. Adagio met with a minor setback before Christmas but has been pleasing me at home and we are looking forward to getting him back on track. With Goshen successful at the weekend and an intended runner at Wincanton, it should certainly provide a good test for him.
