rebelfm

WARWICK
20TH MARCH 2013
HEAVY
VERY COLD

HORSES OF NOTE

POSITIVES OR PREVIOUSLY NOTED

THREE MILES ONE FURLONG HANDICAP HURDLE CLASS 4

PRIEST ISLAND

There is not too much in the pedigree to suggest an awful lot. The only sibling who made the track was Ley Preacher who stayed 3 miles but was not really that good being best placed as third in a modest Sedgefield maiden. However the second dam did produce a decent 2m4 handicap chaser in River Unishion who was a regular over the Aintree grand national fences for the John Hughes and Foxhunters. Also won fair handicaps including at Newcastle and was a multiple winner of low grade flat races over two miles in Ireland.  Very few miles on the clock and off 107 without a win to his name PI ran a decent race being eased when beaten at the last today having been right in the thick of it two out.  His hurdling was naturally a bit hit and miss but when he got it right he was decent so with a bit of expected improvement in technique you have to feel that there is more from PI.  There are those who think he may not stay this sort of trip but the pedigree suggest he has every chance of doing so and his sire is doing well this year over the jumps. My view is that he would probably be better over a shorter trip and that soft ground will suit, On the basis of being not so exposed and that he didn’t really get a hard time of it I would expect PI to open his account most likely in a handicap.

TWO MILES NOVICE HURDLE CLASS 4

RED COUTIER

This is a particularly well bred horse to be going novice hurdling with his mother having won the Group 2 Sun Chariot stakes and was second in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes.  There is a lot of stamina in the family such as a runner up in the Sagaro Stakes. He was not too bad on the flat concentrating on two mile handicaps and was successful on the polytrack at Kempton twice.  Had not been seen on the track for 19 months so clearly something had gone amiss . Was switched from Paul Cole to Venitia Williams. This was a very promising debut, looked like he would be in need of the run based on the absence although to be fair looked in pretty good nick to me in the paddock. He hurdled very well for his debut and was always close up just being run out of it after the last by the more race sharp Don’t Do Mondays. RC tended to be kept to good or fastish ground on the level or the poly and it is probably the case that he will be much more at home on good ground. Sure to stay further and can build on this especially on tightish tracks.

TWO MILE BUMPER

COURT APPEAL

Was useful in points in the Antrim area with two wins and second in his last three efforts over the three miles before heading over for the Brightwells sales. He is bred out of a point to point family. The dam didn’t race but a mare produced by her was placed over hurdles and won points. Sandmoor Chambray is also out of the family and he was very good over 10 furlongs on the flat. He won on his debut today but it was in workmanlike nature and I think he will be better over a longer distance when he goes hurdling. Looks a scopey sort with the frame to chase and I think  he will do fine when sent hurdling .

TWO MILES FIVE FURLONG  MAIDEN HURDLE CLASS 5

AWBERG MASSINI

I saw Awbeg Massini race at Uttoxeter in February  when attepting to make all but being beaten into second place to subsequent handicap hurdle winner Fourovakind (won off a OR of 120) when it looked to me as if AM waited when in the lead and was hauled in quickly on the run in. Today’s race was a good maiden event won by Cloudingstar on his hurdling debut being half brother to Flemmingstar out of the same family as Carvills Hill so has the connection to imply ability and the second favourite whose hurdling disappointed again today being Lone Ranger finished a remote fifth but backed on the basis  of some very useful French form including a 1m6 listed race win on the flat at Deauville. AM raced today with more restraint than at Uttoxeter and with a tongue strap for the first time Always prominent took the lead three out but was never really in command and was soon beaten approaching the last to be bit of a disappointment in fourth as was a well backed even money favourite today.. He hurdles a bit big but very safe and his timing was good with claimer Michael Byrne giving him a nice ride (worth his three pounds I would say). Went through the ring at Cheltenham Brightwells April sale last year for 20,000 having won a point in Ireland. He is brother to useful hurdler Aughaloor who picked up a couple of fair novices and his best run was when fourth in the big grade 2 novice hurdle race at Naas and was then fancied before being hampered and pulling up two out in a festival handicap hurdle at Pinchestown. He wasn’t seen after that. He was well suited by 2m4 and looked like he was going to satay three miles at Punchestown. AM is closely related to Irish Arkle and multiple chase winning mare Rosenaire who was herself the dam of two winners. There are Kings Stand and Chester Vase winners in the close family. AM clearly has ability and will stay three miles. He looks the sort to make a chaser one day but in the meanwhile it is probable that he will be better on good ground and kept to ‘summer’ jumping. I think the tongue strap probably helped his breathing (which  is suspect apparently) a bit but I think the lack of a win is probably in his head and some blinds will not go amiss. I think Michael Byrne clearly gets on fine with him and I would like to see him retain the ride and have AM as a strong  positive when conditions etc prevail.

THREE MILES FIVE FURLONG HANDICAP CHASE CLASS 4

POWER PACK JACK

I had him down as a positive needing a tight track, preferable right handed  and good going over three miles. So to see him over 29 furlongs in the mud going left handed didn’t inspire me to follow the heavy backing to make him a 6/4 favourite. To be fair he was much the better jumper of the four runners for much of the race and did look to have the race in his hands before going out like a light with five furlongs to run. His previous form over this sort of marathon has often ended up in a similar result so I feel that unless the criteria I felt ideal when I saw him run a good second at Leicester prevails he is not worth backing.