Well, it was a quiet week until the weekend…
No Flat racing this week in the UK but an International Jockeys Challenge took place at the Garrison Savannah racecourse just outside Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday 30th. Jim Crowley, Hector Crouch and Clifford Lee took part. I have visited myself and it’s a lovely raceday experience. Get yourself there if you are around that neck of the woods on holiday. They don’t race very often so check the fixtures, but well worth a visit.
Sedgefield on Tuesday saw a certain Willie Mullins have his first ever runner at the course, and Mr Escobar under Brian Hayes made it one winner from one runner at the track. Over at Tramore the Gigginstown owned novice hurdler Karniquet won convincingly under Paul Townend by 11 lengths, after finishing runner up twice in France before his move to Closutton. This 4 year old Kapgarde gelding was descibed afterwards as “still tall and narrow with more to come” by the winning jockey. The Major likes this horse and is one to follow.
A day later, in other Irish news, it was announced owner and trainer Barry Connell and jockey Michael O’Sullivan had parted ways. Plenty of rumours as to why but I haven’t seen any official line yet. Sean Flanagan is rumoured as a possible to benefit with rides from Connell including Marine Nationale.
The listed Bud Booth Mares Chase was the highlight on Wednesday at Market Rasen and Marsh Wren was a good winner by 16 lengths. Trained by Stuart Edmonds and ridden by Sean Bowen, it will be interesting as to where we see her next.
Paul Nicholls saddled the first winner at Hereford which is no headline story as such, however this paricular winner contributed to the yard running at a remarkable 29% win strike rate for the month of November to date!!!
Thursday’s Taunton card made the headlines off the back of the quite remarkable owner/come amateur jockey David Maxwell. At age 47 he rode out his claim on In D’or, trained for him by Venetia Williams. He joked with the press post race, that it’s taken around 25 years to lose his claim. David invests a lot of his own money into the game, and on occasions has been heavily criticised for his riding ability but you cannot doubt his enthusiasm and commitment to National Hunt racing.
The two day Friday and Saturday meeting from Newbury sponsored by Coral saw two Grade 2 events on the first day. The John Francome Chase was won by the Ben Pauling trained The Jukebox Man for owner Harry Redknapp and ridden by Ben Jones. The Major thinks this was a very nice start over the larger obstacles after a really honourable season last year. He went close in two Grade I staying hurdles at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. He deserved that win!
The other Grade 2 race on the day, over hurdles and a trip of 3 miles resulted in Strong Leader coming out on top for Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen. He’s as short as 8/1 for the Stayers next March but as big as 16/1 in places, so it appears there’s a difference of opinion.
Saturday, where do I start. So much is worth a mention. The Coral Gold Cup or the Hennessy as it was for many, many years was, as you would expect a competitive affair. The Saturday showpiece again went to Paul Nicholls with Harry Cobden doing the steering this time, courtesy of Kandoo Kid who defied a career high mark. He won from the favourite Broadway Boy by one and three quarter lengths. The third horse home Victtorino came from miles back closing fast on the run in, a further 3 lenghts back.
In the 2 mile handicap chase that closed the card and meeting we saw a very impressive winner in the name of General Medrano who hosed up by 9 lengths for The Elite Racing Club, Emma Lavelle and Ben Jones. The Major liked how the race was put to bed very quickly.
Up at Newcastle with the absence of Constitution Hill we were left with what seemed like a match, with respect to the other runners. Sir Gino v Mystical Power. Sir Gino won easily giving his trainer a record 9th Fighting Fifth Hurdle as Mystical Power ran no race and was beaten 3 out. He has to be a Champion Hurdle possible, even though Nicky Henderson had said this season would see him over fences. We will see…
Over in Ireland Willie Mullins had 3 winners at Fairyhouse. The most taking was Anzadam who after victory in two hurdle races in France last autumn made quite an impression on his Irish debut. He saw off the opposition in the Grade 3 WillowWarm Hurdle for 4 year olds. The Major thinks this is another Mullins inmate who will easlily hold his own in better races.
Finally awfully bad news to report about Jack Kennedy who broke his leg for the 6th time and will be out for a good while just as the season gets into full swing. His mount in the Beginners Chase Twoohthree fell at the last and paid the ultimate price too. Shocking for all connections.
The Sunday card sponsored by Bar One Racing at Fairyhouse included 4 graded races. The Grade 2 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle saw Romeo Coolio go off a short priced favourite but he had to settle for 2nd place behind Tounsivator, another for the Mullins winning machine. In the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase Gordon Elliot saddled the winner Croke Park the outsider of the field at 22/1 to help pay for the bookmakers next world cruise or similar. Finally Lossiemouth brushed aside Teahupoo in the Grade 1 Hattons Grace Hurdle for you guessed it, Willie Mullins and Paul Townend making it 9 career wins from 10 starts for the winner.
Over at Carlisle, Caldwell Potter a 740,000 Euro purchase made his chase debut for the Nicholls/Cobden combination. He had a nice introduction and won nicely, jumping a little left at times but devouring the testing ground.
On to next week…