JOHNNY WARD’S DAY 2 RACE READS

1.30 Grade One Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 2m5f26yds

A RACE that was dominated by those handy, with some of the Irish runners flopping, failing to complete or both. Bon Papa tended to jump big and, while he was well-held at the end, he travelled nicely to about three out. His head carriage when he weakened was again ungainly and he was pulled up.

All the action, ultimately, was up front. Willoughby Court was always up with the speed, jumping well. Neon Wolf, which was settled on the rail and ran a little keen in the first mile, was wound up to challenge him between the second-last and the last, at which he did not leap with particular fluency.

After that flight, Neon Wolf ended up on the inner of Willoughby Court, which edged right; and he gave game chase, probably getting upsides at one stage, but the winner pulled out more near the wire. The last hurdle was crucial. No stewards’ enquiry was called.

Messire Des Obeaux, which travelled quite nicely off the front two, was wellplaced to pounce if good enough; he ran a fine race in third, with Burbank next, having stayed on dourly. Kemboy was no threat but emerged best of the Irish in fifth.

Sixth-place Brelade was trying this trip for the first time and apparently failed to get home but he moved in the main like a nice horse.

2.10 Grade One RSA Novices’ Chase 3m80yds

THIS sums up why racing never stops captivating, as ability can only matter so much, with the constitution and mentality of horses also such an imponderable.

After Acapella Bourgeois initially went through the tapes, there was a delay. He set out around the front along with Alpha Des Obeaux out wide but

Might Bite was able to establish a lead. These three held the first three places for much of the race.

Meanwhile, in rear, Whisper was quietly ridden and so was Belshill, but they had begun to close when they went out on the final circuit. It was on the final circuit that Alpha Des Obeaux dropped a bit back from the main two and Acapella Bourgeois eventually faded altogether, though he should have other days.

Might Bite, which jumped exuberantly, poured it on and was clear coming to the second-last. Whisper made nice ground on the outside with Bellshill, both still quietly ridden, but Might Bite was in total command jumping the last, at which he was untidy.

It was at this stage he repeated the antics of his course hurdling win as a novice, betraying the fact the quirky Scorpion – which almost ran out through the rail in the Leger many years ago under Frankie Dettori – is his dad.

Whisper, under Davy Russell, rallied as Might Bite veered badly right, probably going around a length up, but Might Bite somehow ran on again under Nico de Boinville and got up near the wire. It was an extremely tight finish.

Bellshill proved that the track is not an issue for him with a fine run in third. He stayed on in a gritty manner all the way to the line. Alpha Des Obeaux, a moderate fourth and apparently having had no excuses, generally jumped with fluency. Marinero fell early.

2.50 Grade Three Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle 2m5f26yds

A HOT renewal of this classy handicap but Tombstone, which was sent off favourite, was one of the first beaten and it is possible that he was struggling on the ground, having had plenty of training problems.

Tin Soldier tracked Tombstone until he started to back-pedal and he looked a major contender for much of the race.

Supasundae avoided trouble and had some space at his hurdles. He was a little untidy four out but soon recovered and disputed at the second-last, with Taquin Du Seuil and Who Dares Wins bang there too.

As they jumped the final hurdle, Robbie Power took it up on Supasundae and he never was in any real danger afterwards, relishing the hill and the lively terrain. Taquin Du Seuil held Who Dares wins for second, while the veteran Monksland rolled back the years with a fine effort in fourth, making one mistake but staying on strongly. Scoir Mear finished particularly well in fifth, ahead of Modus, Old Guard and the one-paced Tin Soldier.

3.30 Grade One Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase 2m

AS is normal for him, Special Tiara set out in front, with hot favourite Douvan out wide and very handy, almost upsides jumping the first. His problems began almost immediately afterwards.

Whether something happened Douvan at the first, or whether he was feeling it on the ground, his jumping was a mixed bag, big at some and fiddly at others. By the time they reached the fourth-last, Special Tiara had established quite a nice lead, and it was now apparent that Douvan was more likely to pull up than win.

God’s Own went after Special Tiara but was failing to make any impression and, at the last, it was a three-way go in second between him, Fox Norton and Sir Valentino.

Fox Norton was now getting into his groove and he challenged Special Tiara, which tends to run on the one breath, all the way to the line. Fox Norton powered up the stands’ side and for a moment appeared to be getting there. However, Special Tiara – which had jumped efficiently – just held on.

Back in third, Sir Valentino held the late rally of Top Gamble, which made nice ground from the last. One had to go back to seventh to locate Douvan, which cut a forlorn figure in a position utterly alien to him.

This was palpably a flop from Douvan. Ruby Walsh felt that he may have pulled a ligament at some stage and it was a surprise that he was not pulled up, as the game was clearly up some way from home. The rider looked perturbed from about the third fence.

4.10 Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase) 3m6f

SOMETHING of a novelty event but extremely reliable for punters and, again, the right horses were involved. Ballyboker Bridge was prepped specifically for this race and led from the second to the 26th, plugging on thereafter.

Cause Of Causes, which carried a lot of confidence and an in-form Jamie Codd, was a little sluggish at the eighth but generally knew his job and was well in control despite veering left at the last. He won going away.

Cantlow, which went off favourite, did very little wrong. He wasn’t great at the tenth but generally had every chance, fourth-place Auvergnat also untidy at that flight.

The runner-up, Bless The Wings, seemed to enjoy himself greatly under Davy Russell. He took the eye in middivision travelling easily for much of the race and made rapid headway to a close fourth around the final bend. Soon outpaced, he held on well for second.

4.50 Grade Three Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m87yds

THIS produced a memorable finish and, tellingly with a view to the strength of the Irish juveniles, they were nowhere in camera-shot by the time the chief protagonists jumped the last.

The favourite, and eventual runnerup Divin Bere, was squeezed along early but recovered like a nice horse and travelled most powerfully to the second-last. After that, he faced challengers either side.

The winner, Flying Tiger, did really well to win as he pulled hard for much of the race. Richard Johnson struggled to get him settled in cover, but he made rapid ground from the second-last to dispute at the final furlong.

Nietzsche, well-backed, travelled well and, while he wandered about a bit at the last, it was between those three thereafter. Divin Bere knuckled down in the middle and got the measure of Nietzsche, but Flying Tiger repelled him on the far side and held on gamely. Back in fourth was Project Bluebook, which will appreciate stepping up in distance and just lacked the pace to challenge. The winning stable’s Diable De Sivola came from an unpromising position to finish fifth.

5,30 Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper 2m87yds

ANOTHER race that had a false start, with plenty of horses meeting traffic, and the sort of messy event which reminds one why Gigginstown doesn’t fancy having runners in it.

The winner, Fayonagh, was wellbacked but looked to have little chance after a predictably untidy start to the race, when she got a hefty bump. At least being so far back meant she avoided subsequent trouble and she made nice ground around half-a-mile out, but had to come wide on the home turn. She had several horses to pass two furlongs down but showed incredible stamina to get up close home.

It looked as though Debuchet had done enough. The mount of Danny Mullins, riding for his mother Margaret, kicked for home off the bend but, despite gamely staying on with the rail to help, he could not hold the winner.

Claimant a kin for gan just edged Next Destination, which ran a fine race, for third. The latter’s stablemate Carter Mckay was unable to lead and was toiling coming into the straight, while fellow raider Quick Grabim was again keen and met a lot of traffic.