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Juvenile hurdler action returns on Saturday at Hexham which means that this thread also makes a return. Same concept as last season, I fill this thread with information and opinion pertinent to this particular branch of the sport and heartily encourage others to join in.
There was a collapse in my contribution partway through last season sparked by festive excesses but hopefully, my sabbatical will have done some good and can ensure that I maintain my good behaviour long enough to make decent heads and tails of the Triumph in March. During this sabbatical, I’ve not been able to keep a keen eye on the French 3YOs this season, thanks in part to France Galop killing off the free streams I have found nine horses from across the Channel set to be gracing UK racecourses, another three heading to Ireland and a handful of others whose destiny isn’t set in stone. I will post some details on these horses next week after I’ve sorted out the pedigrees and given myself a crash course in French form.
To begin, here are lists of the top sires and trainers of the leading 100 3/4YOs of the past five seasons. I’ve removed the obvious NH stallions with the exceptions of Westerner (Ballynacree, Caid Du Berlais, Solar Impulse) Old Vic (Kie) and Beneficial (Abbyssial) who have each sired young hurdlers. I have left Dessie Hughes in the trainers list with a view to seeing how Sandra deals with Juveniles.
High Chaparral 15
Authorized 12
Jeremy 9
Cape Cross 8
Montjeu 8
Azamour 7
Galileo 7
Sinndar 7
Barathea 6
Dubawi 6
Nayef 6
Poliglote 6
Rock Of Gibraltar 6
Tobougg 6
Beat Hollow 5
Califet 5
Danehill Dancer 5
Dylan Thomas 5
Martaline 5
Motivator 5
Pivotal 5
Saint Des Saints 5
Tiger Hill 5
Al Namix 4
Dom Alco 4
Dubai Destination 4
Haafhd 4
Kapgarde 4
Le Fou 4
Mastercraftsman 4
Shirocco 4
Smadoun 4
Teofilo 4
Alhaarth 3
Antonius Pius 3
Balko 3
Bering 3
Dalakhani 3
Dansili 3
Doyen 3
Enrique 3
Footstepsinthesand 3
Halling 3
Hernando 3
Hurricane Run 3
Iffraaj 3
Le Vie Dei Colori 3
Lemon Drop Kid 3
Medicean 3
Monsun 3
Notnowcato 3
Redback 3
Sakhee 3
Sea The Stars 3
Shamardal 3
Voix Du Nord 3
Westerner 3
Act One 2
Alberto Giacometti 2
Bernardini 2
Bertolini 2
Blue Bresil 2
Captain Rio 2
Choisir 2
Generous 2
Gold Well 2
Great Pretender 2
Indian Haven 2
Intikhab 2
Invincible Spirit 2
Keltos 2
Kentucky Dynamite 2
Lando 2
Lawman 2
Librettist 2
Lomitas 2
Lucky Story 2
Manduro 2
Montmartre 2
Multiplex 2
Nickname 2
Night Shift 2
Oratorio 2
Raven’s Pass 2
Red Clubs 2
Red Ransom 2
Robin Des Champs 2
Saddler Maker 2
Sakhee’s Secret 2
Singspiel 2
Stormy River 2
Turgeon 2
Verglas 2
Acclamation
Ad Valorem
Aqlaam
Arakan
Archange D’Or
Assessor
Astarabad
Aussie Rules
Avonbridge
Ballingarry
Baltic King
Barastraight
Beneficial
Big Shuffle
Birdstone
Bushranger
Cacique
Camacho
Captain Marvelous
Catcher In The Rye
Chevalier
Clodovil
Cockney Rebel
Conillon
Corri Piano
Dai Jin
Daliapour
Dandy Man
Dark Angel
Davidoff
Daylami
Denham Red
Diamond Green
Discover D’Auteuil
Dr Fong
Dragon Dancer
Dream Well
Duke Of Marmalade
Dutch Art
Dynaformer
Echo Of Light
El Prado
Elusive Quality
Empire Maker
Excellent Art
Exit To Nowhere
Falco
Fath
Flying Legend
Fraam
Gentlewave
Goldneyev
Governor Brown
Hard Spun
Imperial Dancer
Indian Danehill
Indian Ridge
Indian Rocket
Intense Focus
Irish Wells
Ivan Denisovich
Johann Quatz
Kahyasi
Kallisto
Kandidate
Kendor
Key Of Luck
Khalkevi
Kheleyf
King’s Best
Laverock
Laveron
Lavirco
Layman
Le Balafre
Lesotho
Limnos
Lord Du Sud
Lord Of England
Lucarno
Moss Vale
Muhaymin
Muhtathir
Mull Of Kintyre
Network
Nicobar
Norse Dancer
Oasis Dream
Observatory
Officiel
Okawango
Old Vic
One Cool Cat
Overbury
Panoramic
Paolini
Papal Bull
Peintre Celebre
Pelder
Phoenix Reach
Pierre
Policy Maker
Polish Summer
Proclamation
Pyrus
Rail Link
Reefscape
Refuse To Bend
Reste Tranquille
Robin Des Pres
Roli Abi
Russian Blue
Sabiango
Sadler’s Wells
Saffron Walden
Samum
Sassanian
Shaanmer
Sholokhov
Sixties Icon
Slickly
Soviet Star
Spartacus
Spirit One
Starcraft
Statue Of Liberty
Storming Home
Stormy Atlantic
Sulamani
Tillerman
Tirwanako
Titus Livius
Touch Of The Blues
Trade Fair
Turtle Bowl
Val Royal
Where Or When
Whipper
Windsor Knot
YeatsB H,
With regards to watching French hurdlers, are you aware that you can subscribe, quite cheaply, to the Equidia replay service. I paid 20 euros some time ago and that got me 135 replays, worth every cent for the information gleaned about horses switching to the UK.
I access the replays via the France Galop site, using the links in the individual horse records, which appear on the far right of the form line for each past race.
Hi Alan
Yeah I made the purchase last year and I think I still have some 130 odd left. There were ways and means of being able to download the races and watch them offline (which helps me as my internet connection can be iffy from time to time) but you are right that it’s good value for what it is.
Anywhom, if I introduce the list of trainers, it would make sense to then post said list!
Paul Nicholls 44
W P Mullins 35
Nicky Henderson 29
Alan King 26
Gordon Elliott 21
John Ferguson 14
Donald McCain 13
John Quinn 13
David Pipe 11
D T Hughes 10
Noel Meade 10
Gary Moore 9
Charlie Longsdon 8
Mrs John Harrington 8
D K Weld 7
Jonjo O’Neill 7
Brian Ellison 6
Charles O’Brien 6
E J O’Grady 6
Venetia Williams 6
Warren Greatrex 6
Nick Williams 5
Philip Hobbs 5
Brendan Powell 4
C Byrnes 4
Colin Tizzard 4
Evan Williams 4
Tim Vaughan 4
Tony Carroll 4
A J Martin 3
A P O’Brien 3
Charlie Mann 3
Eoin Doyle 3
Jennie Candlish 3
John Joseph Hanlon 3
K J Condon 3
Neil King 3
Nigel Twiston-Davies 3
Robert Stephens 3
Sabrina J Harty 3
Steve Gollings 3
Tim Easterby 3
A L T Moore 2
Alan Fleming 2
Alison Thorpe 2
C Roche 2
Denis W Cullen 2
Desmond McDonogh 2
Don Cantillon 2
Dr Richard Newland 2
Harry Fry 2
Harry Whittington 2
John C McConnell 2
John Joseph Murphy 2
Kieran Purcell 2
Kim Bailey 2
Lucinda Russell 2
Mick Channon 2
Micky Hammond 2
Oliver Sherwood 2
Paul Nolan 2
Ross O’Sullivan 2
Seamus Mullins 2
Sheena West 2
T E Hyde 2
T Stack 2
Thomas Mullins 2
Tom George 2
Tom Tate 2
A J Whelan
A Oliver
Adrian McGuinness
Alistair Whillans
Andrew Balding
Anthony Honeyball
Anthony Mullins
Augustine Leahy
Ben Pauling
Bernard Llewellyn
Chris Gordon
Colin Bowe
Dan Skelton
David Dennis
David Wachman
E McNamara
Edward P Mitchell
Eugene M O’Sullivan
Frank Sheridan
Gary Brown
George Moore
Graeme McPherson
Henry Oliver
Howard Johnson
J F O’Shea
J G Coogan
J Halley
J J Lambe
J T Gorman
James Ewart
Jamie Osborne
Jamie Snowden
Jeremy Scott
Jim Best
Jim Goldie
John Ryan
John W Nicholson
K R Burke
Karen McLintock
Keith Dalgleish
Kevin Ryan
Lee Smyth
Lucy Wadham
M F Morris
M J Grassick
Mark H Tompkins
Maurice Barnes
Michael Blanshard
Michael Hourigan
Michael Quinlan
Miss Elizabeth Doyle
Ms Joanna Morgan
Nick Gifford
Nigel Hawke
Noel Quinlan
P A Fahy
P J Prendergast
P M J Doyle
Patrick G Kelly
Patrick J Flynn
Patrick O Brady
Peter Casey
Peter Niven
Phil Middleton
Philip Fenton
Renee Robeson
Richard Lee
Richard Rowe
Robert Alan Hennessy
Robert Walford
Roger Charlton
Seamus Durack
Seamus Fahey
Stuart Kittow
T J Taaffe
T M Walsh
Terence O’Brien
Tracey Collins
W McCreeryNice to see you back BH and cannot wait for your opinions. They were excellent last season and made me a nice profit.
Thanks++ bachelors, always enjoy this thread; they may be bargain-basement horses, and a sub-plot in the great scheme of things, but they try just as hard as the others, and great to see them get a their chance in the sun
Nice to see you back BH and cannot wait for your opinions. They were excellent last season and made me a nice profit.
No pressure then :D
Thanks droffats. As I think I alluded to before, the previews are to enhance my understanding of the sphere. I’m not a tipster, I’m not a pundit and I’m certainly not a punter (should read ‘certainly shouldn’t be a punter). Standard disclaimer – as with any bet, form ones opinions and compare them to my own at your own risk! If you end up in the black then nobody will be happier than I :)
Thanks++ bachelors, always enjoy this thread; they may be bargain-basement horses, and a sub-plot in the great scheme of things, but they try just as hard as the others, and great to see them get a their chance in the sun
Cheers befair. I always enjoy starting to it :) Regardless of what’s going on on the flat, they’re always the summer highlight for me as, for one of many reasons, they start on a perfect blank page and their stories are their own. I look forward to this years bunch being as enthralling as all the others.
Juvenile hurdling returns to the National Hunt melting pot in its usual Northumberland wellspring. Whilst only a small contest, three strong juvenile stables in Ferguson, McCain and Ellison are represented although it’s safe to say that these representatives are unlikely to be the stable stars.
As John Ferguson’s Bloomfields operation grows from strength to strength, he seeks to maintain this growth and will be looking to find yet another Juvenile as strong as last season’s flag-bearer – Triumph fourth and Anniversary second Devilment. It is interesting that he starts so early this season and his opening gambit is Mojawiz. His form can be described as fair at best. The most interesting line was in a Lingfield maiden last November where he finished fifth, ahead of subsequent listed third and Good Friday runner up Tempus Temporis. After being gelded over the winter, he finished third and fourth in two runner handicaps on the sand where doubts were cast over his stamina over ten furlongs at Lingfield and his attitude was called into question at Chelmsford over a mile in a race which hasn’t worked out at all. He has a solid jumping sire in Dubawi (Hisaabaat, Dodging Bullets) and has almost a stone in hand on official flat figures so he wouldn’t be the most absurd favourite in a race where favourites have a good record. Nevertheless, he was cast off by Godolphin earlier than most Bloomfields recruits and the questions over his stamina and attitude will need answering – especially on a stiff track like Hexham. Donald McCain’s grey Fortuna Glas had three starts as a two year old, all coming in Scottish maidens where he never finished closer than six lengths to the winner. Learning much from his first start, his second start wasn’t too bad finishing in sight of expensive dual handicap winner Yorkidding and then Derby entry Barbarous. He followed up with another fair effort at Ayr where he was sandwiched between two subsequent winners, both of whom warranting marks in the mid high seventies. Not seen since October, he has been kept away with a career over sticks in mind which can’t be said of his main rival. His sire, Verglas, produced Lexi’s Boy a few seasons ago who won four races as a juvenile for the McCain yard and being out of a Linamix mare who herself is a half sister to high class French flat horse Best Name, the trip at Hexham should be absolutely fine. There is then a leap in the standard of flat form to George Moore’s colt, Egmont, whose best effort was a ten length third in a Nottingham handicap off 45. It’s awful form really but it demonstrates that he does stay and in the spirit of grasping, the only other Notnowcato – Sadler’s Wells nick to go hurdling was Kozmina Bay who won three poor races over hurdles and he’s out of a half sister to the reasonable Orzare so there’s a glimmer of hope at some point. The most interesting thing about The Name’s Bond is that fourteen years ago, there was another early season juvenile called The Names Bond. This makes me feel like my youth truly is a thing of the past. The Names Bond (sans apostrophe) actually finished second to Quazar back in 2001 but his modern day almost namesake will do well to fill the same position despite the less exalted company. All six of his runs have come at Redcar and the best of his form is more or less comparable to Egmont’s and though by a sprinter, he appears to shape as though a jumping trip will do fine. Brian Ellison has won this race in his last two attempts with Dilizan and Come On Sunshine. However, those both held favourites’ chances which Ace Of Marmalade does not. Having beaten only one of thirty four rivals home in four starts, her flat form constitutes the best part of nothing. She’s bred as though the trip might suit but any tenuous hope lies with her trainer lining up one of the more audacious plots in turf history.
Arbitrary 1-2-3*
1. Fortuna Glas
2. Mojawiz
3. EgmontAce Of Marmalade 2/2 Shield 1st Novices’ Hurdle, Galway 2014
The Name’s Bond 3/1 Papua 2nd Swinton Handicap Hurdle (G3, 132), Haydock 1999 (4/2 Nemisto)
Mojawiz 3/2 Deadly Sting 1st Novices’ Chase, Worcester 2015
Egmont 2/1 Orzare 3rd Holloway’s Hurdle (G2, 130), Ascot 2012 (4/1 Feux d’Artifice)
Fortuna Glas 4/1 Fruit Defendu 1st 3YO Maiden Hurdle, Fairyhouse 2000Sires
Mojawiz – Dubawi (6)
Egmont – Notnowcato (3)
Fortuna Glas – Verglas (2)
Ace Of Marmalade – Duke Of Marmalade (1)
The Name’s Bond – Monsieur BondNice one droffats.
This was written after a full day at work followed by an exhausting coach ride up to Newcastle so there’s a slight chance my judgement might be off. Still, at a glance, I’ve woken up next to worse things after using the iffy judgement card…
My top French NH 3yo speed figures:
31-Mar-15 Enghien (FR) Caresse D’Estruval (FR) 3/5F 96
07-Apr-15 Enghien (FR) Cibellaly Du Seuil (FR) 104/10 94
07-Apr-15 Enghien (FR) Tes Yeux Bleu (FR) 14/5 89
07-Apr-15 Enghien (FR) South Pacific (FR) 12/1 88
19-Apr-15 Auteuil (FR) Caresse D’Estruval (FR) 3/5F 85
07-Apr-15 Enghien (FR) Sky Clear (FR) 13/1 85
26-Apr-15 Auteuil (FR) Mocalacato Has (FR) 31/10F 83
24-Apr-15 Enghien (FR) King’s Socks (FR) 33/10 82
26-Apr-15 Auteuil (FR) Device (FR) 4/1 79
26-Apr-15 Auteuil (FR) Irmao Joao Has (FR) 242/10 79
07-Apr-15 Enghien (FR) Adrien Du Pont (FR) 99/10 79
31-Mar-15 Enghien (FR) Kamaloka (IRE) 11/1 79
26-Apr-15 Auteuil (FR) Chinco Star (FR) 201/10 78
24-Apr-15 Enghien (FR) Shakapon (FR) 17/5 78
19-Apr-15 Auteuil (FR) Bellaville (FR) 69/10 78
31-Mar-15 Enghien (FR) Royal Society (FR) 43/10 78
28-Apr-15 Enghien (FR) Loca (FR) 29/10F 77
26-Apr-15 Auteuil (FR) Nabuco Has (FR) 32/1 77
26-Apr-15 Auteuil (FR) Bulkov (FR) 179/10 76
07-Apr-15 Enghien (FR) King’s Socks (FR) 21/1 76Cheers for these BB. Certainly a nice starting point for my crash course.
Of those listed, Adrien du Pont is definitely set to be racing in the UK this season although I haven’t discovered with whom and Shakapon races in the Munir/Souede colours which makes his arrival to these shores a possibility at least.
I won’t be back home until much later and am hoping that a clip of yesterday’s Hexham race exists on my ATR recording. Otherwise, I will try to find one online and failing that, the review would probably read like “Christ it’s windy… something – possibly The Name’s Bond – made a right hash of the first… christ it’s windy… Fortuna Glas has pulled his way to the front… this bloody wind… I think that was Fortuna Glas that jumped big… ffs the wind… what kind of devil wind is this?… Fortuna Glas getting detached… Mojawiz sounds like the winner but he’s bound to sod it off… yep he’s sodded it off and it’s the certain stayer that’s made the best of the situation… Fortuna Glas has finished miles behind the others… this wind is taking the mick… blow this for a game of soldiers.”
Top 3yo figures from yesterdays meeting at Auteuil.
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Caresse D’Estruval (FR) 3/5F 92
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Carlita Du Berlais (FR) 11/5 84
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Omessa Has (FR) 111/10 83
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Device (FR) 3/5F 80
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) King’s Socks (FR) 178/10 76
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Irmao Joao Has (FR) 68/10 68
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Punch Nantais (FR) 92/10 67
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Mocalacato Has (FR) 3/1 66
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Coastal Beach (FR) 31/1 65
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Forest Forest (FR) 50/1 64Mike.
Ah BH no write up on todays race at Uttoxeter. Such a shame
Shows why I like this division so much; must have been one of the worst NH races ever; visually anyway. The jumping was a shambles, including the winner. The third kicked at every hurdle, but benefited from a few falls, and a riderless horse taking out a few others. Wish ATR had shown him coming home
Top 3yo figures from yesterdays meeting at Auteuil.
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Caresse D’Estruval (FR) 3/5F 92
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Carlita Du Berlais (FR) 11/5 84
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Omessa Has (FR) 111/10 83
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Device (FR) 3/5F 80
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) King’s Socks (FR) 178/10 76
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Irmao Joao Has (FR) 68/10 68
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Punch Nantais (FR) 92/10 67
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Mocalacato Has (FR) 3/1 66
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Coastal Beach (FR) 31/1 65
07-Jun-15 Auteuil (FR) Forest Forest (FR) 50/1 64Mike.
Cheers Mike.
Hopefully we will be able to have a much closer look at one or two of these in the not too distant future.
Ah BH no write up on todays race at Uttoxeter. Such a shame
Yes, my apologies for that. I thought I was going to be around last Wednesday to preview the Uttoxeter race but it was my friend’s birthday and after much deliberation, it was decided at the last moment to have a rather heavy celebration. Thankfully, he’s the last of us to cross into his 30s and that, in theory, should spell an end to silly midweek shenanigans.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>droffats wrote:</div>
Ah BH no write up on todays race at Uttoxeter. Such a shameShows why I like this division so much; must have been one of the worst NH races ever; visually anyway. The jumping was a shambles, including the winner. The third kicked at every hurdle, but benefited from a few falls, and a riderless horse taking out a few others. Wish ATR had shown him coming home
It wasn’t much better from a form perspective either but it was weirdly entertaining nonetheless and thankfully, they all came back in one piece including Rokbaan who fell off camera.
Here are the reviews for that race and the one at Hexham
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Hexham 6th June – 2m48y – Good
The first Juvenile Hurdle of the season was a poor one with the five runners bringing zero wins from a combined twenty-three starts on the flat and official ratings of 73, 59, 43, 41 and 38. Furthermore, the conditions were atrocious, beset with extraordinary gusts of wind (reportedly around 46mph) which threatened to call off the meeting. As such, the first flight of hurdles in the straight were omitted on each circuit reducing the total jumped to six and in the process, leaving just one to be jumped in the final five furlongs and a run in of three furlongs. To compound the future irrelevance of this race, the time was nine seconds slower than the opening seller.
As with many contests of this nature, the race was ultimately fought between the two horses who jumped the best and in the end, went to George Moore’s Egmont whose best flat effort was a ten length third in a Nottingham 1m6f handicap off 45. Overall, it was his stamina that won the day but that’s not to discredit his attitude as he really put his head down against the strong headwind. It is also worth remarking upon his agility as he was brought almost to a standstill before the first but managed to find a fractional amount of space to clamber over the hurdle. Always prominent, he covered a great deal of ground at the fifth flight (two out) and almost overjumped it but he found a foot and got away from it without losing any momentum. It was an error free round which demonstrated that he will meet much more success over hurdles than on the flat. Nevertheless, it can not be overstated how poor a contest this was and will be lucky to be granted access to the winners enclosure outside of plating company or in a poor handicap. Mojawiz started as odds on favourite and came into the race with a stone in hand of his rivals on flat ratings but his superiority was caveated by a questionable attitude – wandering on a few occasions as well as twice disappointing as favourite. His first jump in public was a little apprehensive and he was lit up for the first couple of furlongs but he soon settled and jumped proficiently from then on. He was upsides the winner and was last off the bridle but he began to be niggled when hit with the wind in the straight and did not pick up when asked. Though he didn’t overly wayward on this occasion as he kept to a true enough line in the straight, and it could have been that the winner just really wanted it more, one gets the impression that this was probably the easiest opportunity for him to get his head in front and he hasn’t done enough to bury the notion that he’s a bit of a dodgepot. There was a seven length gap to The Name’s Bond who, though keeping low company, never started a race shorter than 20/1 on the flat. He slammed on the brakes going into the first but his jumping improved from then on until he made a bit of a mess of the last. He did keep on at one pace which belies the stamina doubts raised by his sprinting sire but he’s not an obvious winner and his proximity to the front two does them no favours either. Ace Of Marmalade was next and though Brian Ellison has a good record in the race, it didn’t stop him from going off as rank outsider. Whilst never threatening to fall, his jumping was never fluent and this, with his finishing under fourteen lengths behind the winner, anchors the form further as his flat rating of 38 flatters him. Fortuna Glas is a very pretty looking horse but that’s just about the only positive to be drawn from his trip to Hexham. In the context of this race, his flat form gave him a chance. His absence since last October may have been interpreted as his being kept away for a jumps campaign but in light of this performance, and his alarming drift before the off, there could have been something more problematic afoot. He pulled very hard for the first half mile, jumped slightly to the right at the second, lost the lead and three places in the air at the third, wasn’t fluent at the fourth, became detached shortly afterwards and ballooned the fifth. In short, he has shown absolutely no aptitude for the sport and a career in modelling looks like the more appropriate vocation.
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Uttoxeter 11th June – 1m7f168y – Good
The second Juvenile Hurdle of the season had more depth and class than the Hexham event with a cumulative five races collected from the flat with three horses officially rated 69 or above, one of whom had contested the Group 3 Acomb stakes last season. The standard of jumping from the majority of the field was very much more a spectacle than spectacular and the first two came a parish clear of the remainder. The leader set a decent gallop and the time was slightly quicker than the (poor) novices’ handicap hurdle later on the card.
Dominada was the horse who had contested the Acomb and ran out a clear winner here. Though he finished just under seven lengths behind Dutch Connection and ahead of Mill Reef second Growl as well as Listed winner Prince Gagarin, the form transpired to be most flattering and an official mark of 69 reflected his subsequent efforts. He was reportedly described as a “natural” by Brian Ellison but despite running out a comfortable winner, it would be easier to recount the two times he actually jumped well. He was sticky at the first, ballooned the next two, steadied into the fifth, made a mess of three out, was untidy two out and stuttered on landing at the last. To his credit, he did gallop on for pressure but it was certainly his latent talent that burned off his foes than it was his jumping prowess. Connections suggested he would return to the flat after this which will probably provide more success than this sphere. Directional had finished no closer than thirteen lengths to the winner in four starts on the sand which is unusually substandard for a Godolphin horse. Thus his finishing runner up here, on his first start since December, has to be considered as an improvement. Unlike every other horse in the field, he jumped well throughout with the exception of a couple of tired leaps towards the end. With this in mind, it’s hard to envisage where he would find a good deal of further improvement and as such, his scope is limited to how much he potentially finds for fitness. As Directional crossed the line, the remainder of the field were just about to jump the last. Fast Scat managed to finish in third place five times on the flat at distances up to a mile but her one hundred and seven length third here reflects how comprehensively she was beaten. She pulled hard early and jumped very slowly from halfway. If two of the other tailed off horses hadn’t exited at three out, she probably would have pulled up. Bleu Astral wasn’t a forlorn hope before hand carrying a flattering flat rating of 72 into the race but he also pulled hard, also lacked fluency and finished a further sixty five lengths behind Fast Scat. Rokbaan, a nephew of high class chaser French Opera, was lucky to stay in the race when David Crosse did a fantastic job of staying aboard after being clattered into by another horse at the second. He kept with the front two for the longest but was going to be well tailed off when falling at the last. Trainer Mark Usher has stated that he does not have a future over hurdles. Ventura Castle came here on the back of two wins in ten furlong sellers at Lingfield and Ripon and he was picked up after the latter by Jamie Snowden for £9,000. He wasn’t fluent at a couple and was beaten before halfway though he well may have won the battle for distant third but for being loosely carried out by a loose horse. Being Paco Boy’s first jumps runner, it’s not surprising he was tired at the time of the incident and he doesn’t look like a ready made future winner over jumps. Auld Fyffee managed to pick up a Wolverhampton claimer on the flat and is a sister to the dam of ill fated novice hurdler Aland Islands. Tom Gretton’s filly left her back legs in over the first and was quickly outpaced. She kept on in a fashion from halfway and was battling for remote third before being inspired by the loose horse and Ventura Castle to sod three out for a game of soldiers. Following an uninspired quintet of efforts on the flat Royal Street somehow wound up at Warren Greatrex’s yard. He was never fluent though and after putting almost zero momentum into his latter jumps, was pulled up before three out. Smugglers Lane was fully exposed as poor on the flat after eighteen starts on the flat although he did collect a couple wins along the way. He screwed badly in the air and lost Peter Carberry at the second and did the same whilst riderless at the third before creating his mayhem at the same flight next time round. An inauspicious start but if nothing else, he sets the target for other Juveniles this season having taken out three in the same race.
Market Rasen plays host to the third Juvenile race of the season tomorrow and whilst it isn’t saying much, it would be the strongest seen on these shores thus far. It features the return of last week’s Uttoxeter winner Dominada and he takes on a french import in Chic Name and a fair flat performer for John Ferguson.
Dominada heads those with jumps experience by virtue of his win last week. Though he was a maiden after eight starts on the flat, he did put together a pair of solid runs at York last season. In a maiden, he finished within four lengths of 2000 Guineas fifth Celestial Path and next time out, his sixth in the Group 3 Acomb saw him finish within shouting distance of Jersey Stakes winner Dutch Connection and ahead of Mill Reef runner up Growl and Pontefract listed winner Prince Gagarin.His form rather tailed off as a three year old and sub-par efforts saw his official rating slide by over a stone. He made a resurgence of sorts when winning at Uttoxeter last week although his jumping was anything but polished as only two of his nine jumps could have been described as fluent. Furthermore, he only really got away with the race due to his latent superiority the field and it was suggested he would return to the flat. Nevertheless, he’s back jumping with Richard Johnson on board so connections couldn’t have been too discouraged and despite the penalty and the possibly stronger opposition, he has to be respected. Chic Name is the first French import of the season in these races and the third horse in training (first Juvenile) for Richard Hobson who’s more famous for his exploits sourcing Hurricane Fly and Saint Are. The sophisticatedly named Nickname gelding has ran three times over hurdles. On his first start, he was third at Hyeres (Red with red,white chequered sleeves) before finishing sixth at Marseille and third in a Compiegne claimer where he was subsequently purchased for €13,000 (had I been inclined to reproduce videos of the latter two runs for your benefit, equidia have outsmarted me in any case – and rightly so). The form of these three runs is little more than rubbish. The best line comes from the last race where the easy winner, Jaromier, has since finished third in an Auteuil claimer and that line would give Chic Name an approximate RPR of about 84. Of those that finished alongside him at the finish, Akfatango was previously pulled up at Lyon and Robyx du Desert twice finished nowhere at Compiegne. Chic Name’s Marseile race saw him finish behind one who’d pulled up over the same course before finishing nowhere at Lyon and another who fell at Dieppe and finished nowhere at Compeigne. His debut run saw him finish eight lengths behind a horse who’s best subsequent effort was a second in an Avignon claimer and every horse Chic Name has finished ahead of has achieved the sum total of zilch. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to speak quite positively of his ability to jump as it is decently quick and certainly safe – it’s possible to see him as more a chaser in the making. This being such a low starting point means he can’t be ruled out but there will be imports later down the line who will bring a lot more to the table. Ace Of Marmalade was dreadful on the flat and he didn’t jump brilliantly when fourth at Hexham earlier this month. The yard already has Dominada in this and it’s difficult to make any case for this second string. Smugglers Lane managed to win twice and be placed three times from eighteen starts on the flat but the level at which he was racing was a poor one. He made it to the second last week before getting rid of his rider and made a bizarre while jump loose at the next before running around and taking out two tailed off rivals later on. Fast Scat managed to finish third at Uttoxeter but after pulling like a train, she jumped so slowly and finished so far behind that she would have been pulled up in most other races.
Two horses make their jumps debut here and the better of the pair looks like the Bloomfields’ Mountainside. Beaten by over twelve lengths on his debut at Kempton last June when running green, he finished a closer third at Yarmouth behind two mid seventy rated horses and ahead of two subsequent winners. His latest start was at Wolverhampton in November where he improved again, beaten just half a length despite hanging left. The two he was sandwiched between are each mid seventies horses and it’s difficult to get excited about anything else that has come from the race. Nevertheless, John Ferguson has had two runner ups from the two juveniles he’s sent out thus far and Mountainside looks the strongest of the three – far stronger than Directional who chased Dominada home last week. What’s more, both of them were clearly well schooled as they each jumped efficiently. Whisky Marmalade was not the most consistent in eight starts on the flat for David O’Meara and even at her best, she wasn’t very good. Spending half her time in claimers and sellers her most promising effort probably came last time where despite meeting trouble in running, stayed on to finish fifth in a 1m6f Redcar handicap off 58 with Hexham wnner Egmot way behind. She has since joined Ben Haslam who won an early season Juvenile Hurdle for connections with Dance For Livvy a few seasons ago.
Arbitrary 1-2-3*
1. Mountainside
2. Dominada
3. Whisky MarmaladeMountainside 3/1 Vaporetto 1st Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil Hurdle (G1), Auteuil 1999 (4/1 Video Tape)
Chic Name 3/1 Vie De Reine 3rd Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (G1), Auteuil 2002 (3/2 Vino Griego)
Smugglers Lane 3/3 Albanov 3rd Tied Cottage Chase (G2), Punchestown 2008
Fast Scat 4/1 Danegold 2nd County Hurdle (G3, 135), Cheltenham 2000 (5/2 Sacred Path)
Dominada 5/5 The Last Stand 1st Winter Festival Juvenile Hurdle (G3), Fairyhouse 2005 (4/1 Le Moss, 5/5 Golden Bay)
Ace Of Marmalade 2/2 Shield 1st Novices’ Hurdle, Galway 2014
Whisky Marmalade 3/3 Tobar Na Gaoise 2nd Maiden Hurdle, Wexford 2012 (.5 Fabuio)Sires
Mountainside – Dubawi (6)
Dominada – Mastercraftsman (4)
Chic Name – Nickname (2)
Smugglers Lane – Bushranger (1)
Ace Of Marmalade – Duke Of Marmalade (1)
Whisky Marmalade – Duke Of Marmalade (1)
Fast Scat – Scat DaddyExcellent post and pleased you are back BH
Love the quote “he has shown absolutely no aptitude for the sport and a career in modelling looks like the more appropriate vocation”
It will be an interesting race to say the leastCheers droffats
I had placed my bet behind the boards before the previous race so I could spend good time watching them in the paddock. I was struck by how much a picture he looked during the parade but when I came out to see his price, it felt like a giant egg had been dropped on my head. Sure enough, he ran a stinker.
On the bright side, that’s the last time I’m going to be backing my selections in this sphere so they should mostly be winning again before too long.
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