{mos_sb_discuss:2}
“A horse for all seasons?”
Looking through the entries for Saturday’s Northumberland Plate it struck me that the 2003 winner Unleash belongs to a fairly exclusive club. He won 4 times on the flat with that success in the Piman’s Derby his best win thus far. He also won 3 times over hurdles and once over fences. I got to thinking about other horses that have won at all 3 disciplines. Double Honour and Chivalry were the first that sprang to mind.
The grey Double Honour was a decent stayer on the flat. He won a listed race in Germany and in 2001 he was runner up to the great Persian Punch in the Goodwood Cup. He won 3 times over hurdles and, to date 5 times over fences. He has run with a great deal of credit in some of the top staying chases and has been in the money in a number of these races.
Chivalry won the Cambridgeshire in 2003. He showed some promise over hurdles winning 3 times. He was also 3rd behind Self Defence and Rooster Booster at Sandown. He ran over fences but didn’t record a win so does not qualify for my “club.” I am pretty sure that Big Moment qualifies. I remember him best for a couple of placed efforts in the Chester Cup, but he has not looked a natural over fences.
Triumph Hurdle winner Penzance has joined the club recently when starting his career over fences with a win. The other one that I thought about was Tees Components. I remember backing him when he came from last to first to win on the AW at Lingfield. He was made favourite for the Cesarewich in 2002 but could only finish 16th (Double Honour was 19th). He came out and won his next race though. He has had dodgy knees and there was some doubt if he would ever go jumping but he did make a fair hurdler in the end. He made a belated start to his chasing career last Christmas but unseated early doors and I don’t think he has run since. He qualifies for a different club though as he won the Chepstow Bumper so has won a bumper, on the flat on turf and all weather and over hurdles.
You may have got the idea by now that I do not have a lot to say about Thursday’s racing! From a personal point of view I am hoping that the Elite Racing Club’s Travolta can break his duck in the 5.30 at Lingfield. He stepped up on previous efforts when 2nd last time out so I am hopeful.
We have a “lister” in the Newcastle 2.50. Celtic Carisma has already won for us at 12/1 but in this race Accordello, from the same stable looks the likely winner. Robert Winston looks an interesting jockey booking for this mare who should really appreciate this trip.
The handicap at 3.20 looks tricky enough. Rio Riva is one of our horses to follow. Like Celtic Carisma this one has already won once. His win at Redcar came on fast ground and he is not without a chance here. Of the others the race may not be run to suit hold up merchant Harthead. He will appreciate the ground as will Gaelic Princess, who has a good record in smallish fields.
I have been catching up on watching some videos of races from Wednesday at Newbury. Richard Hannon did well with his 2 yaer olds. Dazed and Amazed put in a gutsy effort to land the listed race. Vauquelin lost nothing in defeat and should be able to win a race. Earlier Indian Ink was an emphatic winner and will be an interesting one to follow as she should improve over further given her pedigree.
See you tomorrow.
ahorse 