No more flowers pleae we have got the point
There were many good pluses today. The card was varied, pretty well contested and the big race was a valuable sponsored event with one decent feck off cup to commemorate the considerable contribution of Yorkshire family Armstrong to local racing. Suitably won by local connections.
Tell me where a class 4 has a better pot then
The course is a right hander not dissimilar in layout bar orientation to local sister track Thirsk. It has a brilliant old fashioned number board where the close circuit TV is set in the middle and the day's results and going are set around it. Looks really good. The paddock position means that you can go straight there and then view down the track for the finishing straight and then see the horses back into the winners' enclosure. The main stand gives good views and there are plenty of fast food outlets although to be honest the scran didn't look too appetising.
Old fashioned number board one of the best seen to date
The paddock was well stocked with trees which is always a plus but surely far too far north for the good ladies of Plumpton to appreciate and as such they will have to take my word for the quality as I forgot to capture with a photo. Very remiss. However the 'Dobbies Buddlia Cup' for best paddock tree is still in Plumpton's grasp. There is also a decent size pond but not as impressive as Catterick Bridge which continues to hold 'Best Racecource Lake Award 2011' I am sure the exec at the squaddies heaven will be sweating with anticipaton as the final 20 courses are ticked off. The 'Tuperware Trophy' inaugeral presntation could be winding its way to Yorkshire. Whereas the ' Brisket Dripping Plate' for most edible molten fat is still clearly bound for South West Wales.
Bandstand niced up with flowers in a garden course stylee
Nearby to the track there are a good number of historic and cultural venues to perk up your visit. I took time out to have a look at the brilliant Ripon Cathedral which is well worth a viewing. Dates back to Saxon times and was founded by the early Christian pioneer St Wilfred. It is very restful inside with fantastic stained glass windows and it was here I lit a candle in a silent confession to having laid the 1/5 favourite Mehdi in the first for some obscure reason, the logic of which still escapes me long since the tallow supporting the burning wick has melted and fallen into the tray. Why oh why did I do it? Surely a scintilla of evidence to support Bapak Pintar had ignited the greed gene with predictable consequences. I wonded if St Wilfred will take pity and ensure that my investments at Slisbury and Beverley next week will be rewarded for such contrition?
Racing
First up was a two year old maiden over six which has won in an absolute canter by Mehdi making all and eased clear. Had been promising in three previous efforts and has a current mark of 87 which looks promising from a nursery perspective. Has a wide range of good class entries and is aiming at stepping up to conditions class at Windsor later in the week. You have to be impressed because second home Bapak Pintar looked to have run a promising debut effort and I still think he has the ability to pick up a small maiden. However pretty predictably the winner rates a positive off anything under 92 but I remain cautious as to whether he can make condition / listed class on the evidence of the four runs. The rest were not impressive really.
We then had a three year old selling sprint handicap which was won in fairly comfortable fashion by top weight Melodize who atracted no bid (there were also no claims for any of the runners). Was positioned in the chasing group, produced about two out and took it up around the furlong pole being ridden out to score well but in workmanlike fashion suggesting that the 52 mark is around optimal. The runner up was the early paced Tancred Spirit who I had seen caught at a similar stage of a race at Musselburgh a couple of weeks ago. She is off 47 and may just go down a bit further. Her pluses are good speed and very consistent. Ideally I think she needs fast ground and given that conditions suit (maybe another shot at the quick Catterick) I think she is ready to win now and rates a positive. She certainly saw off the other speedster Vintage Grape who looks a short runner. Of the rest Brian Sprout stayed on well for minor honours looking like six on top of the ground is needed.
On the way back to the winners' enclosure
A fair class 4 over ten furlongs handicap event followed with a good ride by Philip Makin who made all and won in commanding style by San Cassiano (looked very calm in preceedings)indicating that the gelding is is on a noce mark and as only a four year old could improve a bit. Looking at the form you have to say if the current 78 goes up much above 80. Second home was Kensei who showed ability but was edgy beforehand, pulled to post and as running a bit too free. Needs to settle better I would say. Has won over the distance at testing Sandown but looks a bit toppy off 78. Jonny Lester Hair looked well beforehand and looked to hold every chance two out but failed to quicken. However it could be penalty to 80 has weighed him down and looks particularly well suit by Beverley configuration stays this 10f well. Third home was the tetchy sort Rios Rosanna. Took keen hold and held up produced to hold a fair chance two out but failed to quicken up. Best form has been at tssting track Pontefract. Oneofapair looked very well in the paddock but has been well beaten since being hampered second runof the year. Had previously run well in class 2 and first time out at Dncaster over this trip had been a very encouraging runner up. Difficult to weigh up but best avoided until showing glipse of form return.
Entering the final furlong
The Six Furlongs Armstrong Memorial for a very nice cup (much better than some much more valuable group races I could mention ) was the feature of the day attracting sixteen who split into two groups of eight for this £10,500 class 3 handicap which is great news. It was won in great style by Pepper Lane with trainer O'Mearah. Missed the kick a touch, held up and then produced before the furlong pole for a well ridden by the continually impressive Silvertre De Souza. Carried an eight pound penalty to success and it is certainly a possibility that this four year old can run up a hat-trick. I am not sure there was much more of note. Old stager Mango Music won the stand side race staying on through beaten horses. Gap Princess ran with credit to be second and may be better aimed at Catterick suited by six. Midnight Martini showed very good pace but could not go with the winner when Pepper Lane quickened two out. I would like to see her returned to five (good second at York when badly handicapped and well beaten at Beverley when badly drawn) as has not been disgraced on both starts ovefr this trip since winning twice over the trip. Now on 88 whih looks attractive compared to York second off 94 so rates a positve.
Yorkshire hold the Armstrong Cup for another year
The class 4 five furlong handicap for three year olds was won in a driving finish by the filly Lady Royale. Blinkered in the last three runs have produced form figures of 211 and suggests this has been a major factor. Despite this her mark has only gone up 5 pounds and I would expect this 81 level to be spanked and despite improvement I think she is now exposed and thus worrth opposing so rates a negative. Second home Crimson Knot suffers from extreme consistency as rating hardly shifts and is nearly always in the first four. Frustrating but genuine. The third was another consitent handicappe who has suffered from a continued high mark. The conclusion is that the winners current mark is at best fair and therefore any uplift puts Lady Royale increasingly into the badly handicapped zone
The one mile four maiden for three year olds was won in the style of a decent filly by Cape Rising. Clearly the best of this mob but at four it is a bit late to be this unexposed. It would be interesting to see where they pitch her mark as there were not much to act as benchmarks so I leave as a watch. Of the fancily trained Africaans agin looks moderate, the debutante Millennium Star was very green looked backwards beforehand and may not be ready till next season to lose maiden tag.
Gratuitous shot of another fine Yorkshire lake
Final race was a class 5 over one mile four, It was won by Fossgate who had run with credit when I saw him at Musselburgh recently. He is in brilliant form over 12 furlongs with recent frm figures of 21151. He was clear by six lengths which is sure to attract the attention of the assesssor. As good as this run was I have Roayl Bonsai as the positive in this race. I was impressed with his juvenille hurdle debut at Market Rasen and had him as a positive which has not been badly returned with two flat places at 10/1 and 12/1 each way returns. Again he looks in good nick, has the conformation to suit surdling and I expect him to continue to run close, maybe able to pick up a 12f handicap on the flat but I think he can now go on and win a hurdle and I would not baulk at backing if there is a suitable novice / juvenille in excess of two miles even up to 20f.
Good thing next run Royal Bonsai especially if over the sticks
Noted Horses
Tancred Spirit (P) down £10
0 4
Not backed on seocond run on the basis that he was trying 6f which I do not think he stays. Still a chance if over 5f and kept.
Royal Bonsai (P) up £245
1 13/8 4 2 4 1 10/1 3 1 16/1
won over the sticks straight away and then we folowed him on flat where he ran with promise but he is turning into a decent juvenile as he showed when stepping up in class at Haydock. He needs regular races. His run whem third on the flat was not backed but he then stepped up to a graded hurdle at Doncaster and hought hard to win. Kept as a positve.
Midnight Martini (P) down £10
0 0
Unlucky and fioished in pack when hampered 2 out over 5f at York stepped up and failed to stay next run over 6f (not backed) still a positive over 5f
Lady Royale (N) up £30
0 0 0
As expected anchored by ratcheted up but close to a competitive mark now and is left