RyanWe

                                                             July 26th

Worcester

5.55 Novices´ Hurdle (CLASS 4) (4yo+) Winner £2,079 8 runners 3m Good

Shake the Barley enforced the pace and nothing significant of note really happened until they came in to the home straight where he soon gave way to the front 2 in the market: Escudero & CºCk Of The Rock.

Escudero looked slightly under pressure coming round in the bend but found plenty for pressure and won with a little bit in hand today. He’s currently rated 120 over hurdles, and that looks more than fair at the moment, but who’s to say the handicapper won’t put him up a few lbs. I’m sure he’ll prove to be even better over fences in the future, especially in staying handicap chases.

CºCk Of The Rock, a two time bumper winner, made a really encouraging hurdling debut under the Champ McCoy but he just wasn’t quite good enough to beat the favourite. You wouldn’t have known this was his 1st start over hurdles, as he jumped perfectly well. He also looked to get the step up in trip by a mile fine, and I’m sure he’ll be picking up a novice hurdle before long.

Akbabend stayed on for 3rd, but he looked to be struggling quite far out. His attitude is of definite concern and it wouldn’t surprise me to see connections stick some sort of headgear on.

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6.25 Handicap Chase (CLASS 5) (4yo+ 0-90) Winner £1,916 11 runners 2m Good

Nesnaas and New Rackheath led together at a fair clip, resulting in the field being quite strung out from the off. New Rackheath soon fought off Nesnaas for the lead and put in some really good jumps down the back straight and legd going in to the home straight.

There must have been at least 7 horses that were in with a chance at the final fence, and it looked like New Rackheath might hold on for the win, but Crack At Dawn stayed on dourly towards the outside and was value for further.

However, the race was lacking in quality, and it’s not a race to get too excited about in the future as the horses all look to be poorly handicapped.

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7.25 Handicap Hurdle (CLASS 3) (4yo+ 0-135) Winner £3,087 8 runners 3m Good

This race saw a better quality of horse, although the whole field looked like they were all on career high marks or above their last winning mark.

Both of the horses that came in to the race with lifetime best’s last time out fought out the finish. With Fade To Grey just holding the very progressive Scotsbrook Cloud, and they pulled well clear of the others. It wouldn’t surprise to see both remain competitive, although races for 120+ rated horses at this time of the season are few and far between. 

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8.25 Handicap Chase (CLASS 3) (4yo+ 0-135) Winner £3,249 8 runners 2m Good

Oceana Gold made the running, although slowed it up coming in to the home straight and the field bunched up again. He looked vulnerable in moments but this is the best I’ve seen the horse jump, and he won quite comfortably in the end. There could be more to come from the horse, particularly if they use their 7lb claimer to offset some of the rise in the ratings that he’s certain to encounter.

Mibleu is one of those horses that has you tearing your hair out. He attracted a lot of support today, 14/1 in to 5/1, and as he’s had a 60 day odd break, I thought it was possible that he might have been given a wind op. Anyway, he travelled supremely well as is usually the case and looked the likely winner, which can also be said many a time before too, but he just seems to travel within himself and he either 1) couldn’t or 2) didn’t, want to quicken. He’ll win a race sooner or later, but he’s not one to trust implicitly.

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8.55 Maiden Hurdle (CLASS 5) (4yo+) Winner £1,779 15 runners 2m Good

The Winged Assassin looked to hold an obvious chance on his form and was duly sent off a short priced favourite, but he just didn’t seem to fire today.

Tara Rose, a bumper winner, won on her 1st start over hurdles over this minimum trip and battled on gamely to beat Morning Farewell. This was a really good start to her career, and although it probably only puts her around the 105 mark, she should definitely improve when stepping up in trip.

Morning Farewell has yet to win in 14 starts over hurdles, but he has gone close on numerous occasions. I still think he needs some help from the handicapper to reduce his 105 mark, but he could pick up a weak maiden/novice hurdle.

Mezarat caught the eye on only his 3rd start over hurdles. He might of finished half way down the field, but he showed up well for a long way, and jumps and travels well. He’s definitely got the makings of a horse who could win in the future and I get the impression he’s been half fit in his 3 novice runs(18/1, 50/1, and 40/1 today) and was eased when his chance had gone. It will be interesting to see what sort of mark the handicapper gives him, I’m hoping somewhere around the 80 mark.
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Perth

6.35 Maiden Hurdle (CLASS 5) (4yo+) Winner £1,949 8 runners 2m4f110y Good

This looked an interesting maiden hurdle on paper. As two winning point to pointers turned multiple bumper winners clashed over hurdles: Atlanta Falcon & Jive Master. They went a sedate gallop and quickened it up in the final 4-6 furlongs.

The race ended up going to the favourite Atlanta Falcon who was having his 2nd start over hurdles and had the experience edge. But his and Jive Masters jumping left a lot to be desired. They both clearly have the engines to get success in the game, but their jumping was just poor. We can give Jive Master the benefit of inexperience as this was his 1st start over hurdles, but I’m not a big fan of Tim Vaughan’s horses 1st time out over hurdles, they look ill prepared in my opinion.

I’d quite happily take both of these horses on next time out if faced with any horse of competence in the 110+ area.

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7.05 Novices´ Handicap Chase (CLASS 4) (4yo+ 0-100) Winner £3,165 6 runners 2m4f110y Good

A small field for this race. Richard Johnson blasted off – which seems a theme of late, just look at House of Bourbon yesterday – and became a sitting duck after some iffy jumping. It was only his 2nd start over fences, but he needs more experience if he is going to win.

The race pretty much fell in to Some Catch’s lap, but he still really impressed me on his 1st start over fences, and will undoubtedly end up higher rated over fences as opposed to hurdles. It’s hard to know what he beat today but there is a lot to like about the way he jumps his fences, very economical and enough scope to see a stride. Unfortunately for us punters he won a bit too easily and is likely to take a hike up the ratings and be over bet on his next start.   

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8.05 Handicap Hurdle (CLASS 4) (4yo+ 0-100) Winner £2,532 9 runners 3m110y Good

Patrixbourne the favourite, bowed out early after falling. This 3 mile race pretty much only started to take shape in the final half mile.

Below The Deck hit the front coming in to the straight but was soon a sitting duck after a bad mistake 2 out and was swiftly overtaken by both A Bit Of Fun and Soprano from behind. I’m not convinced this horse quite stays 3 miles, and a drop in trip by a few furlongs wouldn’t hurt based on previous form.

Soprano drew away with A Bit Of Fun and won quite easily in the end. He was almost brought down by the fall of Patrixbourne earlier on in the race. However, he made the most of his declining mark over hurdles, and ran a decent race was on the flat last time out, so it was no surprise to see him win under his capable claimer Henry Brooke. Whether he can build upon this success your guess is as good as mine.

A Bit Of Fun ran a screamer to run the winner so close after a 850 day lay off. He momentarily looked like he was going to win coming to the last hurdle but he just didn’t quite have enough. You couldn’t say he didn’t stay the trip, and maybe he just lacked for fitness. However, caution is advised if he reappears quickly as it might take a bit of time to for him to readjust to racing again. He should have a race in him though.

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8.40 Handicap Chase (CLASS 3) (4yo+ 0-130) Winner £4,431 7 runners 3m Good

Scotch Warrior made the running and showed up well for a long way. He was soon overtaken by Sun Tzu coming in to the home straight, who was looking for his 6th straight win.

However, Solway Bay had his measure from 2 out and after a good jump at the last, he won easily. He was on a career high mark today and he was soundly beaten by Sun Tzu last time. However that was his 1st run after a 13 month lay off and he travelled well that day before fitness clearly told. There might just be more to come from this 9 year old.

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9.10 Handicap Hurdle (CLASS 4) (4yo+ 0-115) Winner £3,165 13 runners 2m110y Good

With Grace was sent off the short priced favourite due to running in today’s handicap hurdle as an unpenalised winner of a conditional handicap hurdle. She only narrowly held on as the chasing pack chased her after the final hurdle, but she done well to win back down in trip and having only won 7 days ago. She should go on to pay her way as she’s a very game and likeable mare.

Grand Diamond nearly caught her in the end, and is on a nice looking mark at present (only 1lb higher than last winning mark) but is likely to go up a few lb again after today’s performance. Maybe a step up in trip could eek out some more improvement.

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Eyecatchers so far
Baan (July 21st)
Cloudy Dawn (July 22nd)
Fashionable Gal (July 25th)
House Of Bourbon (July 25th)
Bahr Nothing (July 25th)
Mezarat (July 26th Worcester)