rebelfm

WETHERBY
19TH FEBRUARY2013
Soft
Bright sunny day
TWO MILE CONDITIONAL KOCKEYS’ HANDICAP HURDLE CLASS 5
A SOUTHSIDE BOY (pos)
Handicapper still hasn’t caught up with winner Coverholder who was completing a fourtimer. Held up in mid division made smooth progress to lead approaching two out and won still looking to have a little in hand.  Although you could say he may yet have another win in him I think eventually the assessor will catch him so I will leave him out. The race was not run to suit Prickles who I had seen win in good style at Uttoxeter on New Year’s Eve She likes to dictate matters and was not allowed that today as was hustled along having to press for the lead. She went out too tamely for this to be her form and whilst she has had a fair jack up in the weights I would not be negative and take her on with a lot of confidence in subsequent races. Second home Solway Dandy was unlucky in running on his handicap debut and could very well pick up a handicap soon but it was the German bred A Southside Boy who looks on to back in the future. Slowly getting the hang of things over hurdles after three novice events came into handicap territory off  79 which looks more than fair. Previous flat form included a handicap win over a mile and half at Hamilton Park in the mud. Showed tenacity to win but took a good while to show any ability on the level suggesting in a slow learner but has some pace. On the basis of this more promising staying on fourth I would say he needs further than this with at least 2m4 required. His hurdling was nowhere near perfect and there were a couple of clangers today but is definitely going in the right direction. His only win was under Tom Eaves which suggests to me he could well do with more experienced jockey especially in these early days. Has only been ridden by claimers to date.

TWO MILES FOUR AND A BIT FURLONGS NOVICE CHASE CLASS 4
RISKIER (neg)
This was not a satisfactory race at all with more than half the field of 11 falling and the unfortunate sight of Shinrock Hill perishing. The winner was Marie Des Anges who jumped fine and skipped clear. Quite what she beat and the circumstances of the victory would not make her a clear winner in the future and shouldering a penalty in novice chases difficult. Probably better suited to handicaps I would say. The one I watch for the future as a laying option is third home Riskier. He was prominent for much of the race and kept out of the trouble as a consequence. Looked to be the only challenger entering the straight but was out jumped from three out and finished tired. His jumping was very sketchy and spends a long time in the air. Whilst safe enough looks too careful and I cannot see him picking up many more chases going forward off this 109 mark. I think he is better over a two mile trip but this is the third consecutive race where his jumping has been his Achilles heel so he looks to me a lay and with recent form figures of 2211323 he is always likely to trade shorter than his ability dictates.

TWO AND THREEQUARTER MILES HANDICAP HURDLE CLASS 4
SOLIS (neg)
The seven year old Forty Crown still looks a bit of an awkward sort but battled on well to prevail from the veteran Leac An Scail who still retains plenty of jest. My eye though was caught by Solis who looks a lay going forward. Although  11 places from 45 runs with two wins probably says it all. Both those wins were off 93 (raced off 95 today) and was ridden by Ryan Mania at Cartmel and Perth. In truth  Cartmel is the one track I would be wary taking him on as both runs at that idiosyncratic  track where about his best and Cartmel often throws up a specialist. In the meantime his hurdling is too big so will always be open to being outpaced by nippier jumpers. Has been campaigned on the flat with not a sniff of success, well beaten in sellers over timber and has played up at the start before.

THREE MILES ONE FURLONG HANDICAP CHASE CLASS 3
SEE U BOB (pos)
Good class but small field feature race. The hot favourite Good Order was outjumped and was beaten coming into the straight with the winner  No Secrets making all and dictating well. However  it remains the Johnjo O’Neill Trained See U Bob who is still a positive for me. I had said enough as to his past performances after I saw his run at Leicester. In terms of today he again looked to have a real chance going to the last having been held up but did not quicken enough. It was still a good effort  I am not saying he doesn’t stay this sort of trip but his wins have all been around the two mile mark and maybe  a large field handicap over that sort of trip off around 123 with a bit of cut is required. I think he will be best over a flat track and I remain positive. Today’s 6/1 was a decent each way as I was always convinced getting at least the money back at quarter the odds.

TWO AND A HALF MILE NOVICE HURDLE CLASS 4
WHISPERING GALLERY (pos)
This was a very nice hurdle race indeed with the first three home being good quality and no excusses so I would expect the form to work out. Whilst the winner was super impressive and rates the eyecatcher it is likely to side with the inexperienced ex Irish pointer Marken who continues to improve and ran very creditably finishing fourth in such company being competitive for much af the race. Bobowen and Diese Dynamo ran creditable second and third by Whispering Gallery looked a class apart here showing stamina and jumping ability which marks him out as a future top grader. He is in a host of Cheltenham races and on the basis of two facile wins out of two hurdle efforts you question why is he at such long odds. Some might point to one clumsy jump two out today but the error did not knock his momentum in the slightest. If we assume he can jump which I believe he has shown he can, the only question is what about consistency at a fast pace. Well we will just have to see. But what about class? On the flat in 2009 he won first time out as a three year old for Mark Johnson. He then won a class 2 handicap at the Ebor meeting on fastish flat ground,  As a four year old was second in the listed Fred Archer Stakes,  won a listed race at Windsor before running second in the group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot by a short head. His final race on the flat was winning a £400,000 Group 3 at Meydan over two miles.  I think he will be even better when raced over three miles over hurdles . Could be decent each wayer at the festival and I think the Albert Bartlett is his best option.

TWO MILE HANDICAP CHASE  CLASS 4
JACK THE GENT (neg)

They went a decent clip and in general they were a fair mob with the winner a stocky grey jumping fine and wining in workmanlike but with a bit in hand. However the runner up caught the eye as one to lay. Form figures of 422 would have him chalked up on the low side I would say but his jumping is so erratic especially when at a fair clip as to make him one to leave alone. One win in 18 which was a novice hurdle says plenty. Still a novice over the larger obstacles and likely to remain so

TWO MILE NEWCOMERS NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE
FIDDLER ONTHE HOOF (pos for long term)
It didn’t look that inspiring when I looked at the card with twelve horses who had never seen a point to point let alone raced under rules due to contest the final race of the day. In fact they looked a very nice set with some looking bumper quality and others clearly for the future. The winner Diamond King just pulled right away showing an excellent turn of foot and clearly well prepared by McCain for this racecourse bow. Cost €85,000 and is well bred for the game. Of the others Willpower looked a smart sort and bred for NH being closely related to useful Noble Price. Showed up in a handy position throughout but just didn’t go the same pace as the winner. I think he will prefer faster ground. The one that I liked the most was Fiddler Onthe Hoof. Full brother to hurdler Songsmith he looked like he has plenty of scope to make a hurdler and probably in time jump fences. Went very well today if a bit green. Hampered after getting into contention approaching 2 furlongs out and come home unhurried to be a promising 5th. Can win a bumper but will be much better when sent jumping in due course. Looks sort to stay further than 2 miles as brother won good event at Newbury over 19f.