rebelfm

AINTREE
6TH April 2013
Good
Sunny 

UTOPIE DES BORDES (pos)

Has some very useful French form including when winning a grade 3 chase at Auteuil over 2m6 in very soft ground and then the 4yo championship grade 1 over same CD in heavy ground. She then won a couple of moderate novice events for mares at Doncaster and Sandown before stepping up in trip and fifth in the A Bartlett at the festival behind the very classy At Fishers Cross. Dropped down in class and ran with great credit today to finish a staying on second. However I think the faster ground may have counted against her and so will be better when the ground is softer. I saw her win at Doncaster where she beat a very decent one in Call Me A Star where she quickened we. Of the others the fancied pair Dodging Bullets (saw him drop out tamely in the Supreme when it was reported that he had breathing difficulties and bled) again bled today and Up And Go was soon beaten. The winner Ubak had been promising in good races before this but it was still a bit of a shock that he galloped well clear of the field today.

BAILY GREEN (pos over 20f + on soft ground)

Was a positive out of the Arkle but ran very poorly today when being pulled up. Jumping was nowhere near as fluent as it was at Cheltenham and having never been able to get competitive was pulled up soon after halfway. Has had a busy season being on the go from May when winning Rosscommon novice chase. Then extending winning run to seven before good placed efforts in grade 1 and grade 2 events before the Arkle. All his best form has been with plenty of cut, appears to me to have a round action indicating a pronounced preference for cut and his running may well have been in part going related.  However things went wrong from the first fence blunder so the going cannot be entirely to blame. Still a positive and will give him plenty of room after such a good race in The Arkle. Of the rest Bryan Cooper rode a good race on the outsider Special Tiara and his skill is hardly news, Overturn jumped really well today in contrast to Cheltenham and the better ground was probably a contributory factor.

AFRICAN GOLD (POS)

This meeting is setting up any return to racing for Big Bucks as Solwhit and At Fishers Cross are viable alternatives. Solwhit was again very impressive winning at he liked today. However the standout for me was the novice African Gold stepping up to take on the experienced horses after some good efforts this year in novice company. Last time out was a highly respectable runner up to At Fishers Cross having won modest events at Doncaster, Wetherby and twice at Newbury emphasizing that flat galloping tracks are probably optimal all in soft or heavy ground. Was up with the pace throughout today and looked to be taking a hand in the finish when still close up at the second last. However appeared to weaken from the last giving the impression that three miles stretches him a bit too far and that a 2m6 may prove his preferred trip as all wins over hurdles have come from20 or 21 furlongs. Cracking horse and sure to go on next season. His dam was unraced. The family has some decent runners over the sticks including Calling Brave (2nd in Challow Hurdle and winner of the Pendil Novice) Farmer Brown (winner of grade1 Galway Hurdle) and Farmer Jack (winner of the Aon Chase). 

LOCH BA (bit high in the weights off 137 at moment)

Had him as a slight pos from Cheltenham when I felt the nature of the course caught him out. Not a bad fifth today racing fine and certainly better than at the festival. He is 12 pounds above the last winning mark  and my guess is would need to come below 130. Flat tracks suit and this sharp course should have been OK on the basis of two Kempton wins. Acts on any going. Has won over a more testing three miles as well as over 2m5 on a sharp one so the trip was no problem. Is only seven so plenty of time.

SOLL (pos)

Couple of errors at tricky fences (Canal Turn and Chair) but apart from that this was a very good run over these fences by an eight year old being up with chances until weakening from two out to finish a creditable seventh was more eased when held so I am not saying he didn’t stay so is one to watch for next season’s event. Was no mug in Ireland winning points and then opened account when still trained in Ireland at Newcastle over hurdles, returned home and then won over fences at Punchestown and Down Royal. Bought down when well fanciedin the national hunt chase over 4m at 2012 festival behind today’s third Teaforthree. Probably asking a bit for one of limited experience to have a go at the Hennessy (decent eighth and only beaten 5l by Teaforthree getting only 4 pounds) and then last of the finishers in a real Welsh Grand National slog. Won a class 3 easily at Sandown before grand national effort. I thought he jumped the fences well in general but just got a bit tired.  Very promising young staying chaser and worth following.

LE BACARDY (too high in the weights off 130)

Was a strong positive after I saw him run well in fourth at Uttoxeter. He then followed up off 120 over the 2m1 trip which suits at Newbury coming in at a rewarding 8/1. Went right up in the weight after to 132 for the Imperial when finished seventh without really threatening to get involved. Down to 130 but similar story in this conditional jockey’s event holding a bit of a chance two out but failed to quicken. Not a bad handicap hurdler but needs to come down a fair way to be considered and my guess would be 125 could be attractive.


PURPLE BAY (Pos as a hurdler)

Was an eyecatcher at Cheltenham as a hurdler for next season. Followed up promising fifth in the champion bumper with a very good fourth in grade 2 event at Aintree. Ridden up with the pace looked the winner coming into the straight but when hit the noise of the crowd was clearly spooked and ran green in the final quarter mile. I doubt he would have won if keeping straight but would obviously have gone closer. Well bred for the game and has plenty of pace.