rebelfm

There was no specific reason for visiting Leicester again in respect of awards following the review of each GB course other than it looked a good card and I fancied going racing over Christmas. Leicester receives a bit of stick on occasions regarding facilities etc but I have found it a really nice racecourse top visit. Today saw a good sized crowd for a Christmas family fun day so was quite a good one to gauge the course by.

The poor aspects are worth pointing out first. These include total chaos in the car park (why are there no stewards to manage the flow of traffic out after racing it was like Wacky Races getting out of a sludgy thus slippery quagmire), the attractions for the kids (they made Radio Chorley Day at the Phoenix Club look enticing) and a lack of food outlets (queues for the four ‘burger vans’ were so long that racegoers missed races whilst waiting for food).

There were some very good points though which included the Quorn tea-room (I really like this little oasis for some reason and although small one you have a table it’s a great place for a quite brew and a cake between races), the atmosphere of a big crowd (it’s nice to be at an event with a bit of buzz) and the was the viewing over the final chase fence (this has been engineered specifically to give the spectators a fantastic almost bird-eye view and is one of the best in the country).

However the best thing about the day’s racing was that we had a really mixed card today making it an interesting card. There were two valuable handicaps being the silver (a handicap chase) and bronze (a handicap hurdle)  fox trophies. There were two novice chases one a handicap. A novice hurdle and a selling hurdle. These attracted in general decent fields because we had good ground. The advertised good to firm in places did not seem to be prevalent.

We started with a  two mile handicap chase for novices at class 4 level. The previous form for all eight runners provided a suspicion that jumping errors were likely and that this would be a case of whoever jumps with fewest mistakes would prevail. In fact that is how it worked out. The length and a half winner was one of the outsiders Azfal. He has shown a preference for going right handed and does not see 3 miles out but does stay up to 19f. Often makes the running but can fade in deep ground. Today he jumped well and made all but benefited from others errors and as such was a bit fortunate just holding on when treading water in the run in. The second home was Surf And Turf who could be viewed as an unlucky loser. Made smooth headway from about four out and looked the winner until an awful blunder two out where Richie McLernon did remarkably well to hold on appeared to have sorted him. However got going again and way catching the winner up but just failed to haul him in. On the basis of this you would have him down as a positive from this race. This was only his second chase and he showed his jumping is improving and these are quite stiff fences. He may even prefer a longer distance as his hurdle form suggests 20f is well within his scope. The pair was eight lengths clear of Edgebury who ran OK but never really threatened. His breeding (close relative to Deep Sensation) suggests can make the mark over fences but there have been doubts over his temperament. Of the rest only Russian Conquest showed any potential staying on pretty well and thus giving the impression that further would be preferred. He has also run well here in the past.

We then had a two and a half mile selling hurdle where the favourite was Belle De Fontenay. She opened at 4/7 and then took a walk in the market to 4/5 before some late money led to a SP of 8/15. I had seen her run twice before with the most recent being a good effort to make all in a handicap where she was taken on for the lead and thus probably was made too much use of. Today there was a complete change in tactics with her and she was held up. I cannot understand these tactics as in my opinion all she does is gallop resolutely but without a change in gears. She led for a few hurdles entering the final mile off a modest gallop and when the leaders quickened she was completely one paced and plodded home a remote third. She was a stone better off than the winner and to be frank this smelt a bit. Keep an eye out for her as she is much better than this and needs to dictate affairs to be seen at best. I am not putting her down as a positive as this was such a disappointing run but she looks a plot horse somewhere soon. The winner was the lightly raced Ministry Of The Interior who was held up and quickened well off the slow pace. Best in the blinkers which were applied today and had in the past won after a long break. Previous run had been marred by poor hurdling and probably picked up an injury. Because of his history you would suspect that he cannot stand an awful lot of racing but was bought in for 5,000 guineas so is well thought of by connections. The runner up was Small Fry who was held up and quickened up with the winner from two out but couldn‘t maintain the pace and was eased when beaten. Form has been best on fastish ground and may have been flattered by the bare bones of the result. Of the remainder Madam Molly looked fractious in the paddock and mucked about at the start refusing to race and the 4/1 second favourite Dots Delight appeared to be having problems with the bit / tongue strap before entering the paddock and fell when going well at the 6th. I would forgive her this one and she could go close in a seller. However nothing of note out of this race.

The Lefeuvre Family  Help The Heroes novice hurdle over 2m4 followed. This was a great innovation comprising of an auction to have a race named after them plus attend the meeting dishing out the pot. The money raised is donated to this very worthwhile charity. What a brilliant idea and well done the LeFeuvre’s for bidding most for what I am sure was a highly enjoyable day. There are far worse ways of spending your money I would say. The race itself was a very decent quality. It was won by the Nicky Henderson trained Hilton Indiana who jumped very nimbly and stayed strongly to score by about two lengths. I had seen his debut months ago and had him down as one to follow especially over a distance of ground. I have also formed the opinion that he will make a good chaser in time. Difficult to fail to be impressed although did hit the last when fiddling it a bit. This was a strong gallop playing into the hands of those with stamina. I am looking forward to seeing him chase next season. The runner up was the Tom Scudamore ridden Bygones Sovereign. He made most until challenged for the lead two out. I thought he had enough in the take to reel the winner in approaching the last but stayed on at the one pace. He will be better over further and I have him as a positive after this race and can win a novice soon as this was a pretty decent event run at a true pace. The third home was the hot 13/8 favourite Medanas who had some decent form coming into this race so set a good standard. I think this third place today was another step forward and was beaten by some novices with plenty of potential. The trio were well clear emphasising that this was still a very decent effort so despite being beaten I would not being laying him next run. The rest were all pretty well tailed off including the well fancied Black Noddy who didn’t show anything like the potential it had on hurdle debut so it may well be that he was outclassed today. A second one to note from this race today was Wood Bank who is very closely related to Denman. He has not given a hard race at all today on his hurdle debut when finished a remote fifth. Clearly needs three miles and thus this was way too short but ran with much promise. Once in the right race he is sure to pick up a hurdle and obviously can be reasonably expected to do even better over fences with time.

The first of the features was the class 4 20f handicap chase for the Leicestershire Silver Fox. It produced a pulsating finish with three horses locked together over the last. It was a tight race on the book and little to suggest much of note going forward. The winner was Cootehill  which is named after a border town in County Cavan. Not the most memorable of places although has a decent limestone quarry. Cootehill was close up throughout and jumped more than competently to power up the straight and just hold on by a neck. I was surprised how well he jumped in comparison to some less than impressive efforts. Is now getting close to his useful hurdle form. Would not be a shock if went on from this especially over this 20f which suits him well. The runner up Forty Five also ran with much merit being yet another second for JJ O’Neill and McLernon. Is still a maiden over the fences and this effort being much more fluent than of late and is a positive. His 108 mark looks lenient and 20f going RH looks ideal. Third home was Quackers who had some really good form in 2008 winning a string of races and being rated 140. However encountered breathing issues combined with this severe rating led to a fallow time. Now down to 118 which is a wining mark he ran very well being run out of it on the run in. I think a stiff 20f is just too far and maybe 18f on good ground is optimal. I would not put anyone off backing when encountering optimal conditions. Of the remainder Nothingbutthetruth had some fair form but ran poorly suggesting that he needs to be ridden closer to the pace than this held up display, Thats The Deal come here off a decent run but this is too far and is better off over two miles who ran as well as could be expected but a couple of errors knocked him out of it down the back straight, Double dizzy went well but looks one who is best at those cross country races. There were a couple I had seen in the past. Quel Brure tried to force the pace and is best over three miles. However is very inconsistent. I had seen Roc De Guye win at Fakenham and I think that easy LH track is much more to his liking than this stiff RH test. 

The three mile novice chase was a decent event. It was won in fine style to complete a Nicky Henderson trained double in the form of Loose Performer. I had seen his hurdling debut back in January at Doncaster where he looked a future chaser. He has only had the two efforts over hurdles and you would suspect that he had shown plenty at home ahead of this chase debut. Front runner  and was jumping the rest into the ground when made a horrendous blunder on the tricky uphill fence along the back straight. Somehow the partnership remained intact. I thought he would then potter home from there as he emerged third. However he was soon back in a good rhythm and back at the fore turning for home jumping the remainder very well for a noteworthy win. I think he can carry a penalty and was impressive. The second home was the well bred Quentin Collenges (Heroes Collenges is a close relative) who came here having a decent chase debut when third to Wayward Prince in the book. He ran well to be second behind a progressive sort but his jumping is not fluent enough yet. I think he is a good novice but I cannot get too positive until there are signs of fluency. I think he will prefer going left handed with time as well. Third home was the experienced Ackertac who ran well but was not up to the class of the first two. Kauto the Rock has yet to show anything like the ability of his illustrious relative but ran OK for fourth.

We closed off with the class 3 Leicestershire Bronze fox which was a two mile handicap hurdle. This looked a very competitive event with plenty having good recent form and looking fairly treated. In the circumstances the acceleration shown by the winner Grammes And Ounces to quickly put this event to bed was impressive. This run was off 106 after a facile Hereford victory. Clearly goes best RH is still only on 109 and there is a valuable class 2 handicap on Saturday at Sandown which he is down on the entries as 109 avoiding a penalty but may end up out of the handicap if Afsoun takes his place at the head of the weights. He has two other engagements but both lead to a 7 lbs penalty. I think he is a strong positive until the assessor gets hold of him. The second is also a positive. Royal Opera looked the sort to suit a sharper track than this after a good run at Musselburgh. So a second to a handicap snip based on Timeform assessment must be viewed as a noteworthy effort. However he is now up to 124 on the basis of recent form which is a seven pound lift. On that basis he is a bit toughly dealt with but I would be keen to back given the right track. Of the rest I thought Binend was in the process of being given an easy after falling in decent company at Ascot last run but tipped up two out. Clearly got jumping faults but has plenty of promise. Pepite Rose ran well for fourth and is on a decent mark now. She is one which now that V Williams string is hitting a bit of form could well oblige.

Notebook

Surf And Turf (P)

Hilton Indiana (P)

Bygones Sovereign (P)

Loose Performer (P)

Grammes And Ounces (P)

Royal Opera (P)

Mission accomplished and I am now back at base. All the GB courses covered in a year. It was often a delight but on occasions it was a chore. However what a great track to finish off the proceedings. This is a really special place and the redevelopment is fantastic. This was the first time I had had the chance to wander around and have a bit of a close look and I have to say this place is brilliant in most respects. There are a couple of niggles I will go into but it puts Ascot right up there on the shortlist for top southern track. I have one big plus to say and that for the price this was simply very good value for money. Compare £22 including racecard here to £22 at Bangor a couple of days earlier and it doesn’t take the sharpest of odds compilers to see where the relative value is.

I have been here on many occasions including several times for the Royal meeting. The race which I think of as my highpoint of visits here is back in October 1983.  It was a qualifier for The Haig Whisky Novices Hurdle Series over two miles. The winner was trained by David Elsworth and ridden by Colin Brown. The gelding had the unpromising form figures as a juvenile of F020 and this was his seasonal reappearance. The form summary said; ‘Possibly unsuited by heavy ground and well Behind Destiny Bay at Newbury last March’. It was the great desert Orchid’s first victory. The sponsors in those far off days included tobacco company Imperial. How times change. How long before alcohol goes the same way.

So what of today’s visit. Well what is it all about banning these Helium Ballons which is written larg and prominently on the ascotracecourse website? For the sake of accuracy I reproduce in its entirety. The Royal Ascot  Helium Balloon Policy no less as it is grandly entitled.

'Racegoers are not permitted to bring helium balloons into the racecourse. Helium balloons, if in close proximity to horses or to the racing, can distract the horse or ‘spook’ them. This could have an impact on crowd safety if it happened in the Parade Ring and could change the outcome of a race if it occurred close to the track.

If you have booked a hospitality venue or box for the day, celebration balloons can be pre-ordered with your booking or catering order. The balloons are not permitted to leave the facility.

Should customers arrive with a balloon at the turnstiles it will be taken away by a member of Ascot staff and stored in the racecourse offices. Racegoers may collect the balloon at the end of racing from the Main Racecourse Reception.'

I thought it might just be drunken revellers sucking the gas into their lungs and then trying to sound like Speedy Gonzales leading to the spectavle of seeing their crippled bodies and contorted features as they twitch in spasms of grunting laughter like astronauts cut adrift in space opening their helmets for one last scream.

Also Santa, what’s that all that about on a school day when the place is populated with early darters on the last weekend before the festivities kick in. Now I’m not adverse to supporting the big lie that is Father Christmas as a means of bullying adrenaline filled seven year old fresh from the money making scam which is wobbling out their milk teeth for financial gain. But if you’re going to have a Santa he’s got to be fat, he’s got to be jolly and he has got to resist saying that he is not on tomorrow but another Santa is. Especially in these financially constrained days the last things a racegoer who has just seen Hazy Tom get stuffed is for someone selling Big Issue to request purchase when clearly freezing their proverbials off and you haven’t got much more than the price of a pint left in your pocket,  a pack of drunken filing clerks from the local council office meandering their way towards you resplendent with helium balloons liberated from the gatekeepers hut and least of all fecking red coated a la coca cola fat gutted guttural chortling Santas imploring you to have a Merry Christmas whilst jangling a bucket in which he is suggesting that you might wish to deposit any shrapnel into for some obscure charity.

Scran looked good. However I have a much better plan for Ascot racing. There is a brilliant cafe called Ascot’s about 100 metres from the main gate. You can get a first class full breakfast for a few quid. It has a great atmosphere and trust me on this one you will not even think about getting anything else to eat or drink that day. You can thus settle on the important stuff of the racing. You have got to try it.

Grandstands; The massive new one at  Ascot is absolutely brilliant. I have heard it mentioned in disparaging tones in the press and on websites. However I have to tell you that I reckon it is brilliant. There is plenty of room, the armchairs are proper sink right up to chest comfort, there are plenty of bars, restaurants and it doesn’t feel like you’ve just walked into a betting shop (yes Ayr I mean you). I have heard it referred to as an airport terminal lacking any atmosphere at. Forget all that tosh, this is by far the best facilities anywhere in GB. You can get to the paddock, the viewing steps, the winners enclosure easily. The view from the premium balcony of the course is absolutely fantastic. There are some things I am not keen about at Ascot. However the fundamentals of view, racing and price this track is clearly the best. 

Water Feature, from my eyrie high up in the stands I spied the lake in the centre of the track. It looks not too bad really but it does not dominate the way it does at Catterick, it is not a feature as it is at Folkestone, it is not landscaped at it is at Fakenham and there isn’t a fountain to be seen as it is at Kempton. Therefore Ascot is not in the running for the award.

The Paddock is a decent size with good viewing steps and access to the stands. But there was no tree to be seen. I am sure tea was nice as well but didn’t have any so cannot comment.

Communication  was not quite as good as I would have hoped really. Nowhere near as good as Bangor and I think the racing public could do with the sort of after race interviews which I have heard at some of the gaffs. In this respect they just seem to try that much harder. The racecard was £3 but at least it was formatted more like a football programme. However if you look at what you get for that price in that game you begin to see that these things are a complete ripoff in this game. The prelim tells us some stunning bits of insight eg grade 2 events are only one step from the top, thanks for that. The staged photo for Imagine your event at Ascot shows an interloper at a black tie event about to be outed by a vivacious bird who is thankfully tethered to her chair by jewel incrusted handcuffs.

Entrance to the course is very modern and very grand. You cannot fail to be impressed . Artefacts are around in the entrance there were some of these warhorse things, there is the very impressive statue of the great flat horse Yeats and there is the less than flattering one of Frankie which looks like he has encountered a scorpion whilst on the crapper. Architecture is modern and fresh but I would have liked to see some of the old stuff woven in. There may be some examples of such however I couldn’t find them.


No one can go away from Ascot considering whether the deferential patronage central to the British social system is a quaint anachronism or a flaw stifling the people. Ascot particularly during the royal meeting is a microcosm of the nation. The exclusion and the gatekeepers all designed to separate the sub tribes would be humourous if not an impediment to the development of this state. Writing now in 2009 my views would not have changed from that overcast and showery day in the early nineteen nineties. A recent television programme charting the pivotal year in English history 1066 makes a suitable precursor for why we are as we are. From the Romans onwards the method of plunder by victorious invaders was not the systematic ethnic cleansing of the celts  but a garrison process and regional administration sending back harvested resources from this attractive wet green rock. The Saxons followed a similar path and in fact DNA of the average Brit today would find a total or sizable influence of celtic and especially Welsh blood in Englishmen. In other words we have since the Romans drove out the Celts into Wales and  Cornwall whilst pushing the Picts into Scotland we have been managed by a small ruling elite. The English mentality encourages the authoritarian leader particularly if this position is by slight of birth rather than a democratic or even a military putsh. It is likely and evidenced that the country has a series of cultures. The dominant English culture of process and patronage clashes with the more underground anarchic and fluid. My experience has been that the former are likely to be from saxon roots and the later from celtic roots. Hence the forces for change tend to come from areas with heavy celtic influence such as Liverpool, Glasgow and Cardiff whilst the complicit south tends to be support the forces of inertia.

Racing

Race 1 was a maiden hurdle over 2m6 at class 3 level. It was run at a moderate pace which was sensible given that these were inexperienced horses running in quite deep ground. It was won by debutante Hadrians Approach who was patiently ridden by Barry Geraghty but was very green and idled when had race in the bag edging into the runner up a bit. There was an enquiry and it concluded that this had not affected the placing which was the correct decision. However this is clearly a hurdler of promise and can be expected to do better with time. He is from the same family as Feathered Gale, Approaching and Adamant Approach so coupled with clear ability shown today is a positive. The second home was Fighting Flynn who benefited from his previous fair fourth at Lingfield to improve on that today. Was hampered a bit heading home but you always felt that the winner had his head in front on merit at the end. This was another step up and must be in with a chance next run. Came with every chance heading around the final bend stayed on OK. Of the rest the second favourite Arbeo is worth a few seconds pondering as looked on the book to have a fair chance but was mid division until weakening four out not appearing to either like the ground or stay the trip. My view on the basis of his form being fine in the mud is that 2m4 is his maximum trip and he didn’t appear to stay this trip today. He does not merit a negative on the basis of this run as can open hurdling account over shorter. One to note from behind this lot was Winning Habit who is closely related to staying chaser Big Fella Thanks. He was not given a hard ride at all and could be seen staying on through the beaten horses looking like the exercise had not taken much out of him. Stayed this fine and a three mile maiden is well within his scope I would have thought.

Race 2 was a class 4 handicap chase for novices over 2m1. This was a particularly uninspiring lot on the basis that they were pretty novice in their recent form and therefore the chances of mistakes etc was very high even for this type of race which is usually well worth avoiding. It was won by All For Free who fairly scooted clear from two out and looked relatively impressive in doing so. However none of these jumped well with the winner probably jumping the best of the lot. This was the first time he had not thrown in a few major errors as previous three chases had been littered with mistakes. Second home was Cheney Manor who was having first ever effort over fences and seems to be better suited to them than hurdles. Having said that his hurdling is particularly moderate and quite how the assessor determined the 115 mark on the basis of some very remote finishes is beyond me. Still sure to stick to the bigger obstacles I would have thought. The rest all put in more errors than is reasonable to expect novices to do. Celtic Wish (jumped out to the left and was not really fluent), Scoter Fontaine (succumbed and not before time when managed to dislodge jockey 3 out), I Can Run Can You (not fluent), Osmisia (jumped several poorly), Border Station (jumped awkwardly throughout) and Drumlang (was never fluent). No positives from this one.

Race 3 was the Grade 2 novice hurdle Kennel Gate over two miles. This race has a great history with winners including Deep Purple, Medermit and the great unfulfilled talent that was Sun Alliance winner Monsignor. So the winner of this needs to be taken very seriously and we had at least two very interesting competitors in this race today. First off and this is no excuse for the beaten favourite I think the positioning of the chase/hurdle course dividing rail off the final bend led to some problems today as it looked difficult to find the line off the bend and hold the rail. Perhaps there could have been a taper off the main running rail for this race? Anyway it was won in great style by Molotof who was battling hard and looked to have the race in the bag when splayed his legs like Bambi over the last losing loads of momentum but quickly got himself back on an even keel then reasserted for a victory distance of a length sand a half. I was impressed in general with his hurdling but it was his attitude plus pace which marks him down as one to follow. He won The Newton novice hurdle which is listed status previous run at Haydock. He did compete for the Triumph last season with little effect and therefore it could be argued that he is unproven at Cheltenham, In fact it could be that he is unsuited to it. Alternatively he may have been too immature as a juvenile. My guess is that he had run very well in The Adonis beforehand and that he is much more at home going right handed and/or on flat tracks. He is a positive but on conditions that suit. Second home was Peckhamecho  who was the one who missed the optimum racing line coming into the straight and caused a bit of bumping. He rode that well and battled on gamely. Although not of the same class as the two principles I think that this race showed he is a thoroughly genuine type and has a good hurdling technique for a novice despite fiddling the last a bit. I have him as a positive as well coming out of the race particularly if still racing off 135 as I would think there is a good handicap on a flat galloping track to be had. The third home was the odds on favourite Hazy Tom who came here with very nice form. However he failed to sparkle today having every chance in the straight. He reached for a couple of hurdles and was a bit hampered by Peckhamecho’s junking into the straight. However the defeat cannot be laid at that door. It might have been the ground it might have been going right handed for the first time or it might be that he was not up to the class of the other two on the day. I think it might be the latter but I will not mark him down as a negative on the basis of this one modest run. None of the others disgraced themselves including Binend who fell two out when looking likely to finish fourth he one to keep a bit of an eye on for the future is likely to be Nazreef. He showed a much improved effort in comparison to his debut and I would not be surprised if he won next time up so I have him as a positive as this was a nice race. He was fair on the flat rated 97 on the sand so no slouch. As is improving I think we could see him win. 

Race 4 was The Noel Novice Chase over 2m3 set at grade 2 level. Although this looks a very high class race the history of winners has not been outstanding for whatever reason so be guarded as to the form level. It was won with a return to form by previous high quality Triumph winner and third in the Champion Hurdle Zaynar who put in a bolt jumping front running effort. He only put in a couple of hairy jumps and for a novice this was a very good run. I know he is a decent sort and that he had plenty of pace as a hurdler but I cannot get carried away with this one as I am not convinced this was a stiff test for the grade. Thus treat with caution. I am therefore loath to do it but because I think he will be chalked up shorter than he deserves for this run I am going to put him down as a negative.  Second home was Kumeshwar who made a few errors and was held up. Was staying on well at the end without ever looking like a threat.  Not a bad run for a four year old to be fair and he has plenty of pace as was second in this year’s Anniversary Hurdle at Aintree. Third was Frascati Park who was bought wide and lacked real fluency. He looked like finishing second but was at best one pace heading home. I was not that keen on his jumping I thought it was a bit too steady for me. Yet had looked the part in two moderate events at Carlisle. Fourth home was previously decent hurdler Michael Phips who was yet another to fail to impress with jumping technique. Won the Lanzarote last year so might well prefer Kempton’s tight course. Chablais jumped scarily. Pacha De Polder had jumped markedly to his right on previous race. However I thought in general he jumped the consistently of the lot today. However it looked more like a straightening school than a balls out effort and a couple of minor errors let to him being bought home in his own time.

Race 5 was a class 3 handicap hurdle over 2m6. There was a substantial gamble on the winner Our Father who went off at around 11/8 which for an 18 runner event is plenty short enough.     Timmy Murphy rode a patient and well timed ride today and he won with any amount in hand looking sure to follow up with another similar event. He looked quite classy to be honest and could step up to run well in graded class. This was only his fourth hurdle race he raced off 129 and I am sure he can win off a least another 7lbs.  As a consequence of this it is really difficult to rate the others. Second home Shoreacres ran very well and would have walked this if it wasn’t for catching a tartar today. He wasn’t bad in the past including a fourth in the champion bumper, good run in the Supreme when 12l behind Go Native who was one of the better winners of that race but was then campaigned over the fences with less luck. He is off 127 and it might be that the assessor has to peg the winner to justify giving this one a fair crack of the whip. The comments in the Racing Post suggest a more strenuously fought final furlong. My view was that the jockeys had accepted the result a furlong out. Shule Royale who I had thought ran well in good novice at Stratford in October ran well today to be a decent third. He made a hash of a couple and is still learning. I thought he stayed on well suggesting that he should have a pop at three miles. He should stay as there is plenty of stamina in the family including a Welsh National winner.

Race 6 was a listed bumper over two miles. The winner was the excellently bred for the game Shutthefrontdoor. The race was run at a fair pace but typical of bumpers these days ended up as a half mile sprint. However I think the form will hold up well. Could this be a champion bumper winner in the waiting? I would not be in the least bit shocked and as such he is a big positive from me especially once jumping a fence / timber. For me in this game you cannot go far wrong with an Accordian / Strong Gale mare link. Whatever he does in bumpers this could be a real top class one for the future.  Second home was the 6/4 favouritte Claret Cloak who looked to have the race in the bag two furlongs out when the winner whooshed by.  He is a good sort and with Decoupage in the family is another with a good future jumping ahead of him. Of the rest Josh Dreamaway raced awkwardly looking a difficult ride and third home Pianoconcerto ran with credit showing he had progressed from debut when raced very green. Looks sort to pick up a bumper in due course.

Notebook

Hadrians Approach (P)

Winning Habit (P)

Molotof (P)

Peckhamecho (P)

Nazeef (P)

Zaynar (N)

Our Father (P)

Shutthefrontdoor (P)