OUT IN STICKS
Jeremy Grayson gets out and about to find some winners
CARTMEL, August 7 (Good to soft, soft in places) 3m1f107yds (+36yds) 0-105 Novices’ Handicap Chase (class 5)
The run-in at Cartmel is so long that it would be brave to insist the cumulative effect of mistakes at the final two fences made the difference between victory and the eventual neck defeat for WHATEVA NEXT. Even so, this otherwise highly encouraging performance by George Bewley’s fiveyear-old confirmed the impression of his fourth over 2m5f here a fortnight previously that 3m-plus is required under Rules (probably unsurprisingly, as a sibling of both Idle Talk and Belon Gale), whilst at the same time hinting that he may find it easier getting into a nice jumping rhythm returned to flatter, galloping tracks such as the Guilsborough line he won his sole pointing start over for Fran Nimmo in spring 2019 (good). That initial success between the flags serves as a reminder that cut in the ground isn’t a prerequisite.
2m5f34yds (+30yds) Novices’ Handicap Chase (class 3; no ceiling)
The recipient of a kindly, waiting ride on this first outing since March 2019, SHANTALUZE responded sufficiently well to the unfamiliar tactics to post a very satisfactory near-2l second on his chasing debut, albeit without ever quite looking as if he’d get to the winner in time. A record of 2-3 in hurdle races around Bangor could be interpreted as just a function of Donald McCain’s heavy patronage of his local track as much as anything else, but success at Kelso as well does seem to underline that the Shantou gelding clearly enjoys a turning lefthanded challenge. He might take some catching if allowed to race more prominently again next time granted a comparably sharp 2m4f-plus, and stamina ought not fail him if upped as far as 3m, having made most over that trip when winning an Irish point (yielding to soft).
2m6f31yds (+30yds) 0-105 Handicap Hurdle (class 5)
HOLME ABBEY had been beaten by at least 37l on each of three novice hurdling starts last winter at up to an extended 2m5f, but whilst his initial handicap mark looked prohibitive judged on those efforts it paled next to the level of his best bumper form further back still. At or near the head of affairs until worn down by a fairly attractively handicapped rival up the run-in with the pair 15l clear, Nicky Richards’ Fair Mix gelding looks to have derived appreciable benefit from six months off and can kick on as a handicapper now. Owner-bred by the Roper family, whose much-loved highclass performer Grey Abbey was a sister of this one’s granddam, the seven-year-old ought to prove better suited to slower ground or longer tracks than he’s been able to show over hurdles thus far.
UTTOXETER, August 8 (Good, good to firm in places)
2m4f 0-120 Handicap Chase (class 4)
All the better for her recent first run since competiting at a collector’s item Wolverhampton jumpers’ bumper fixture in February, and dropped back to her last winning hurdles mark now switching to handicap chase company, the form of HENRIETTA BELL’s 4.5l third here wouldn’t need improving on very much to render her a serious contender in a anything up to a 0-130 rated chase at this time of year. That would be especially true in the often calmer waters of the mares-only company in which Harry Whittington’s seven-year-old struck three times over hurdles during summer 2019, proving as happy to make all over 2m as to be played more cagily in a tactical 2m7f affair. Late mistakes have been one feature of both chasing starts now, but the option of headgear remains completely open.
PERTH, 11 August (Soft) 2m4f20yds (+30yds) 0-110 Handicap Chase (class 4)
A wet night at Scone Palace suited the appropriately named WALKIN IN THE RAIN rather better than most. Aided by the newly applied cheekpieces and his latest career-low mark, a return to his very best form looked firmly on the cards until falling two out with the winner merely one length ahead. Jim Goldie’s son of Darsi had travelled
comfortably enough up to that point to offer abundant hope of compensation next time, assuming he takes as kindly to the headgear once again. A re-rise having checked out so close to the finish would be understandable if frustrating, but it’s hard to imagine all of the 13lb worth of charity he’s received so far this year would be rescinded at a stroke, and easier options in 0-100 company should remain available to him all things being equal.
MARKET RASEN, August 16 (Good)
2m125yds (+180yds) 0-130 Handicap Hurdle (class 3)
Patiently hunting round right out the back until halfway wasn’t the correct strategy on CAPONE in a deepish 0130 where the all-the-way winner never looked in any danger of curling up, and a couple of inopportune mistakes when asked to progress ultimately served to make a hard job impossible. Charlie Mann’s son of Nathaniel hit the line as hard as any, however, and although raised 3lb for not winning prior to this return to hurdles he remains enough below his last winning mark to convince that he’ll strike the next time the choice of tactics perfectly complements the shape of the race. A sharp 2m-2m1f on ground no worse than good to soft still appear to comprise optimum trip and surface requirements.
2m7f191yds (+258yds) 0-145 Handicap Chase (class 2)
In need of this first outing since December and eventually beaten 17l into fourth, BEAU DU BRIZAIS has no pretensions to being a progressive chaser after three years and 19 starts over fences. Seeking to derive the benefit of a return run at this stage of the season looks highly significant, however, with probable autumn campaigning around other right-handers such as Kempton, Wincanton and Ludlow in mind. Philip Hobbs’ son of Kapgarde would make particular appeal returned to the last-named Shropshire venue, where he boasts an analysis of two wins and two podiums from four chasing starts at 3m-plus. Assuming it’s been programmed again this year, the 0-140 in which he just missed out off a near-identical mark to today’s at the course’s early October fixture in 2019 looks as likely, and realistic, a target as any.
2m5f89yds (+258yds) 0-120 Novices’ Handicap Chase (class 4)
CAGE OF FEAR appeared to have got in off a very plausible mark on this
quick switch to chasing, given the best of his hurdles ratings at least, and it’s tempting to suggest that only a bad blunder at the last prevented him from proving just that. This was not the only mistake the Milan gelding made on the way round, however, and considering his sole handicap hurdles start eighteen days prior hadn’t been completely blemish-free either, it may already be time to reach for a concentration aid. Only six races into his Rules career, but at the same time on the podium on all four occasions he’s led or otherwise raced assertively, Fergal O’Brien’s six-year-old gives the impression of one still with tremendous potential to tap, especially as a 2m4f-plus chaser (there are plenty in the family), once all of the basics are got right.
UTTOXETER, August 17 (Good to soft, good in places) 2m3f207yds (+115yds) Novices’ Hurdle (class 4)
Rail adjustments rendered this a very extended 2m4f hurdle, and JEMIMA P stayed every milimetre of it, a tardy jump when on the move three out giving her just too much to claw back despite a strong late effort. Emma Lavelle’s daughter of Jeremy had very much caught the eye on last autumn’s Warwick debut (2m5f, good) before refusing to settle in eerie, foggy conditions next time out, and as the meat in the sandwich here between 117- and 110-rated rivals in a three-way finish an initial mark in or around the mid-110s surely nominates itself. The jury is sill out where genuinely soft ground is concerned (it would be a few hours before conditions turned that way at this fixture), but her options for placement in handicaps have nevertheless increased having demonstrated appreciable effectiveness with at least a little cut.
3m (+38yds) 0-120 Handicap Chase (class 4)
The only previous occasion EUREU DU BOULAY had encountered a genuine 3m trip was when emptying up the straight in heavy ground in a typically competitive renewal of the class 2
C&D novice handicap chase on Midlands National Day. This lower grade and less exacting surface comprised a much more comfortable fit at the trip, however, and a near-10l third rates all the more meritworthy considering the presence of Aubusson was always likely to deprive the son of Della Francesca his preferred lead. Richard Hobson can afford to target similar contests to this with renewed confidence, not least while his six-year-old bay remains on the same equal careerlow mark he cashed in at Catterick a couple of years back (2m3f; made all), and he’d be particularly interesting should he chance upon a line-up minus any other confirmed front-runner.
1m7f168yds (+77yds) 0-110 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (class 4)
It’s still very early days with a full training license for Ryan Potter following several years of plying his trade between the flags, and the Winchcombe handler picked up his first bit of prizemoney outside of points and hunter chases here with a staying-on 11l fourth for DEFINITE WINNER, despite her spare stamina at the trip not really being exploited. A winner at up to 2m4f for Katy Price previously, the failure of assertive tactics at Southwell (2m, good) on her stable debut likely had something to do with a pace rival softening her up, and granted more peace out in front the daughter of Definite Article could yet make count a mark which continues to decline from its peak of 95. Surprisingly for one to have made mistakes in over half of her 21 hurdling starts so far (falling or unseating four times), no concentration aid has been tried out on her yet – just a tongue tie.
1m7f214yds (-19yds) 0-120 Novices’ Handicap Chase (class 4)
Long regarded by Lucinda Russell as a chaser in the making, despite a damside rather longer on Flat performers, MINT GOLD did nothing on this chasing debut to suggest connections require a rethink, popping away cleanly and just finding two rivals inspired by their respective sets of debuted cheekpieces that bit sharper. Regularly seen sporting a tongue tie (as here), and the recipient of a second wind operation before this seasonal bow, it’s perhaps unsurprising he’s not been chanced on soft or heavy ground more than twice. So long as an extremely soggy autumn doesn’t await us, the gelded son of Gold Well can be taken derive sufficient benefit from this return run to alight on a 2m-2m1f handicap or novice handicap closer to home sooner rather than later.