Month: September 2006

Review of the flat 2005

Welcome to the 4th flat review since I started writing these literary gems.  They are mainly intended to feature the exploits of the horses that appeared on my list to follow with a few thrown in from previous years lists that have become “old favourites.”  As I joined the Elite Racing Club during the season I have also included a small selection of club horses.

In some ways it was an unsatisfactory season with so many of the classic generation having their careers cut short by injury. In addition our list to follow was seriously becalmed mid season before coming with something of a late flourish in the last few weeks.

A golden start

The season got off to the to best possible start when the list supplied the Lincoln winner with Streams of Gold at 5/1.  He looked a group horse in the making when running away from a decent looking field but he didn’t really live up to that promise in 3 subsequent starts at the higher level, rather as Pablo had done a few years back In fairness though, on his last start he was 4th to David Junior, giving half a stone to a horse that went on to win the Champion Stakes.

Classic success and retirements

The list supplied many of the big 3 year old winners through Footstepsinthesand, Shamardal, Motivator, Dubawi and Oratorio.  By the end of the season though all bar Oratorio had been retired.  Footstepsinthesand came to Newmarket for the 2,000 Guineas on the back of 2 wins from 2 as a juvenile and with the benefit of K Fallon aboard.  He started at 13/2, partly because of the presence in the field of a hot favourite in the shape of the Godolphin colt Dubawi.

 

Dubawi appeared not to relish the unusually fast ground at Newmarket and failed to steer a straight course.  Footstepsinthesand stayed on strongly up the hill and was clearly the best horse on the day.  Sadly injury finished his short career and this was his only race of the season.

At the Curragh the Newmarket 4th and 5th, Oratorio and Dubawi started joint favourites and fought out the finish.  Dubawi travelled well throughout to win by 2 lengths.  And so to Epsom where the might of Godolphin and Ballydoyle lined up their big guns.  Dubawi and Oratorio were in the line up as was an Aiden O’Brien dark horse, Gypsy King. 

 

Gypsy King had scored a remarkable win in the Dee Stakes at Chester where he ran green and even jumped a path at one stage.  Somehow Kieren Fallon got him from last to first in the short straight to get up on the line.  Many people’s idea of the Derby winner though was Motivator, who had maintained his 100% record when landing the Dante at York, usually an informative trial.

 

On the day Motivator could be called the Derby winner a long way from home as Dubawi failed to stay and Oratorio was disappointing.  The winning margin of 5 lengths was the widest since 1991 and there was talk of Motivator being the new superstar.

 

Oratorio

Godolphin held high hopes for the Giant’s Causeway colt Shamardal who started the season unbeaten.  Plenty of doubts were expressed when he was beaten out of site on dirt at Nad Al Sheba in the UAE Derby but there was much better to come.

 

First he made all under Frankie Dettori to land the Gainsborough Poule d'Essai de Poulains (French 2000 Guineas).  Given an almost identical ride by Dettori, Shamardal followed up in the French Derby, which was reduced in distance to 10 and a half furlongs.  The general consensus of opinion though was that this form was still well below that of Motivator.  He caste doubt on that theory though when winning the St James Palace Stakes in good style with Oratorio 3rd and there was talk of taking on Motivator in the Eclipse.  Once again though injury intervened and Shamardal had run his last race.

And so to the Eclipse, the first clash between the 3 year olds and the older generation.  It is a measure of the impression that Motivator created at Epson that he started as a 2/5 favourite at Sandown, with Oratorio a fairly unconsidered 12/1.  The late defection of the injured Shamardal had seemed to set this up for the Derby winner but Oratorio proved too good on the day justifying Keieren Fallon’s confidence in the horse.  Oratorio was able to confirm the Eclipse form in the Irish Champion Stakes when he again got the better of Motivator.  The big disappointment on the day was Azamour who could only finish 5th. 

 

 

 

The John Oxx trained 4 year old  had earlier recorded back to back Group 1 wins in the Prince of Wales Stakes at York and the King George at Newbury.  The latter of these was particularly impressive, as held up by Mick Kinane he came from last to first, treating his rivals with some disdain.

Dubawi was another who was retired through injury before the end of the season.  His final run was something of a controversial one.  In the Queen Elizabeth ll Stakes at Newmarket in September Dubawi was beaten 3 parts of a length by Starcraft after Frankie Dettori had ignored the trainers riding instructions. Whether or not this cost the Godolphin colt the race became the subject of much heated debate.

Two star fillies

Two of the leading fillies of 2004 had been Ouija Board and Attraction.  But at one stage of the season it seemed as though neither would be able to recapture their best form.  Attraction suffered an unhappy experience in Hong Kong in May, while Ouija Board was behind Azamour at York where she lost a shoe and then had some niggling problems.  In both cases there was a happy ending though.  In mid September Attraction achieved her fifth Group 1 victory at Leopardstown with a reproduction of the front-running tactics that were a hallmark of her brilliant three-year-old career.  This was to be her last race as she later sustained an injury and Mark Johnston decided to retire her. 

 

 

A couple of weeks after Attraction's win in Ireland Ouija Board won a Group 3 at headquarters in September and then made a brave effort to retain her Breeders Cup title when 2nd at Belmont Park.  The fact that the race was shortened this year to 10 furlongs would not have helped her cause.  She continued her globe trotting with a fifth place in the Japan Cup followed by a scintillating victory at Sha Tin in the Hong Kong Vase.  Held up in the pack by Kieren Fallon she finally saw daylight and found a devastating turn of foot to win going away.

Ouninpohja's 5 timer

Leaving the classic contenders and Group race winners aside for the moment, if there was an award for the “Russellform Horse of the Year” it would most certainly go to Ouninpohja, who won 5 times in succession.  After an early sighter at Doncaster Alan Swinbank's gelding was an unlucky loser in both his next two runs, failing to get any daylight until it was too late on both occasions.

 

He landed handicaps at Doncaster, Pontefract, Newcastle and Newmarket (twice) going up 19 lbs in the process. Connections have shelved plans to send him hurdling and he will now winter in Dubai. He was one of the most progressive middle distance handicappers in Britain.  Good horse.

 

Stoute successes

 

Sticking with the multiple winners, Notable Guest , Linngari and Peeress, all trained by Sir Michael Stoute, did a good job for the list to follow. 

 

 Notable Guest was raised 11 lbs for an easy win in a Newmarket handicap but that didn’t stop him from following up in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at York where he got the better of Crow Wood by half a length.  He was down the field in the John Smith’s Cup before landing the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Group 3 level from subsequent Champion Stakes winner David Junior.  He was then a tad disappointing when 3rd at Newbury in the “Arc Trial". 

 

Linngari didn’t show much on his first two starts but a win in a 4 runner field at Hamilton seemed to restore his confidence.  He appeared to have matured both mentally and physically when winning the William Hill Superior Mile at Haydock, a listed race, at 12/1 ridden by Ryan Moore.

 

The filly Peeress was consistent throughout the season winning 3 from 6 and running creditably in the others.

  

After winning a listed race at York she returned to the same track to take the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes where Soviet Song, admittedly making her seasonal debut, was back in 3rd.  Her biggest success was in the Group 1 Sun Chariot at HQ where she had her favoured soft ground and was intelligently ridden by Kevin Darley. Rather like Linngari, Peeress proved a profitable selection for the list as her last two wins came at 14/1 and 7/1.

 

Multiple winners

 

Musicanna was 3rd to Peeress in the Sun Chariot and had earlier run up a winning sequence of 3. After winning handicaps at Newmarket and Newbury she won a listed race at Sandown on soft going which certainly seems her favoured ground conditions.

 

Another to run up a hat trick was James Fanshawe’s Cesare.  He won at Leicester, Ripon and Lingfield and was also a fair 3rd on his final outing only beaten a neck and the same by Unshakable and Crosspeace.

 

Stronghold, trained by John Gosden also won 3 times as did Mick Channon’s Dream Tonic.  The latter won fast ground handicaps at Salisbury, Thirsk and Ayr in the space of 4 weeks in mid summer. He was made favourite for all 3 wins.  From a horse to follow point of view it was rather a shame that he didn’t win earlier in the season when he was beaten a short head at Leicester when 20/1!

 

Sprinters

 

 Iffraaj was one of the more progressive horses of 2005.  After an early success at Kempton, Iffraaj was well supported for the Victoria Cup, switched to Lingfield this year and he duly prevailed at 11/4 favourite.  The draw no doubt played a part with the first four coming from stalls 5. 1. 2 and 4 respectively.  Next stop was another of the season’s big handicaps, the Wokingham at York and he was always going well and won by 2 lengths.  Upped to Group 1 company he could only finish 14 in the July Cup where to be fair the softish ground was against him.  Back on a firm surface he won at Group 2 level at Doncaster in September, just getting the better of Sleeping Indian by a short head.  The going preference was confirmed on his last run when 7th of 8 in the soft at Longchamps.  As a horse to follow Iffraaj did us proud winning at  11/4, 9/4 and 7/1.

 

Iffraaj

As a horse to follow Fonthill Road only broke even winning once from 8 starts at 7/1, the single success coming at Beverley.  He deserved better though as he was 2nd on 4 occasions, twice beaten by a short head.  One of those short head defeats was in the Ayr Gold Cup, while he was only beaten into second in the Stewards Cup by a quarter of a length.  His conqueror at Goodwood was Gift Horse, trained by sprint king Dandy Nicholls. 

 

 

I decided to keep Gift Horse on my list to follow even though he had failed to win during 2004.  He had been 2nd at 20/1 that season and I hoped that the move to the Nicholls stable might see a change in his fortunes.  He proved an excellent choice, winning 3 of his 5 outings, the Stewards Cup success following wins at Doncaster (18/1) and Epsom on Derby day.  Kieren Fallon rode him on the latter 2 wins. The other Dandy Nicholls sprinter from my list to follow worth a mention was Machinist. 

 

He won a small race at Donny in May but topped this with a 12/1 success in the Ayr Silver Cup.

Another horse that seemed to benefit from a change of scenery was Mutamared. Previously with Marcus Tregoning, he was gelded and switched to 6 furlongs by Kevin Ryan and it certainly paid off with a win on his first start for his new connections.  This came in a Newmarket handicap where he moved smoothly into the lead a furlong out and held off the challenges to win in a blanket finish where only about 3 parts of a length separated the first 5 home.  Border Music was 3rd and Machinist 5th and snatched up close home by Adrian Nicholls.  Mutamared disappointed in the Ayr Silver Cup but returned to form on his next outing to win a handicap at Salisbury.

Hughie Morrison got the list to follow going in the early part of the season with the progressive sprinter Intrepid Jack.  He won his first 2 starts but arguably his best run came when 2nd in the valuable William Hill Trophy at York.  Intrepid Jack ran a blinder from his low draw, which prevented him getting any real cover. He appeared to take a slight advantage entering the last, but then the whip fell from Steve Drowne's hand and he was worried out of it late on.

With some of these handicap sprinters the only way to get a profit is to back ‘em blind in the expectation of a big win along the way somewhere.  Three that came into this category were Seafield Towers, Wyatt Earp and Cape Royal.  Seafield Towers had only entered the winner’s enclosure once during 2004 and that was at 33/1.  2005 followed a similar pattern with one win from his 5 starts but that coming at 20/1 at Ayr.  Wyatt Earp was kept on the go by trainer Richard Fahey, running 11 times.  After a couple of placed efforts he deserved his win at Redcar on his 4th start at 13/2. That win came off a rating of 77 and after 6 runs out of the first 3 I was not over hopeful come his final run of the season at Catterick where he raced off a mark of 80.  Shows how much I know as he won at 20/1.

Cape Royal had already won once before I latched on to him.  After 10 duck eggs to his name following that success he started to look an expensive choice when popping up at 14/1 in a Sandown handicap in August.  He may have been a little lucky to keep the race after a stewards enquiry that must have been a close call after the 2nd appeared to be hampered. In fairness though, Cape Royal retained his form really well subsequently and came 2nd 4 times in the remainder of the season.  They were all good efforts, in particular when filling the runners up berth behind Green Manalishi ay Haydock when racing in isolation up the stands rail.

Firenze is a sister to useful sprinter of recent seasons Frizzante.  She won a couple of handicaps, at Leicester in June and at Newmarket in July.  On her penultimate start she finished well in third in a handicap at Newmarket.  She remains lightly raced and there may be more to come.

 

Handicappers

Horses from the list to follow enjoyed reasonable success in some of the better handicaps. I was particularly pleased with Another Bottle from Tom Tate’s yard as he was something of a fringe choice that paid off.  He won twice from his 7 starts and would have paid to follow.  His first win came in a Ripon handicap at 16/1, but his best effort was when landing a decent handicap at Newbury in mid July when lengthening well to win a competitive affair by a length and a quarter.

Another very profitable handicapper to follow was Hartshead.  He won the Carlisle Bell handicap coming from last to first up the inside rail under Fergal Lynch.  He looked all over the winner in his next race at Newcastle only to be mugged on the line by the fast finishing Uhoomagoo.  Five runs later Hartshead looked to be in the Handicapper’s grip but defied a career high mark to round off his season with a win at York at the juicy price of 20/1.

Two greys landed handicaps at 9/1.  Fine Silver’s effort came early season when he took the Newbury Spring Cup on his seasonal reappearance under Frankie Dettori, clearly enjoying the ease in the ground.   He was below form subsequently.  Zeitgeist quickened well after tracking the leaders to win the Old Newton Cup at Haydock in July.  He also put in a creditable effort when 5th of 20 to Sergeant Cecil in the Ebor.

Tawqeet was a profitable horse to follow winning twice in handicaps at 3/1 and 11/2.  Stepped up in class he ran 3rd behind Scorpion in the St Leger briefly threatening the winner 2 furlongs out.  He was possibly not over that effort when a below par third behind Art Eyes in a listed event at Newmarket.

Let’s Roll from the northern stable of Chris Thornton ran consistently throughout the year. 

 

 

He won twice from 10 starts but put in some fair efforts in defeat.  His first win came in a  4 runner handicap at Ayr where he was allowed a soft lead and quickened under apprentice Danny Tudhope from 2 out and his rivals never looked like pegging him back. His other win also came at Ayr and he was again apprentice ridden. This time by Salem Golem who was to go on to share the apprentice’s title with Hayley Turner.  Let’s Roll again turned this one into something of a procession winning by 10 lengths. Crow Wood and Polar Magic were a couple more handicappers that ran consistently. 

Crow Wood's only win came on the 4th June in a handicap at Epsom.  This was his first win for 2 years and although he has run big races in top 10f handicaps, this step up to a mile and a half looked to make the difference as he saw it out well and the further he went the better he got.  Prior to his win at Epsom Crow Wood had run a fine race to finish 3rd in the Zetland Gold cup.  He had been third in this race for the previous two seasons.  He was 2nd to Notable Guest in the Duke of Edinburgh stakes and also 2nd in the John Smoth's Cup where he ran another rock-solid race.

Polar Magic was another that ran consistently in handicaps. He was only out of the first three twice in his seven runs but only had a narrow win at Southwell to show for his efforts.  His best run was when 2nd in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket beaten a short head by Mine.

Polar Magic is trained by James Fanshawe. Another handicapper from the same stable that did manage to pay his way was Unscrupulous. Although a 6 year old he has only run  9 times in his career and this term he was restricted to just one run, winning a 10 runner handicap at Newmarket at 9/4.

On the sand

All weather racing has gained in popularity and in quality over the last few years. Over the course of the season we had a few notable successes on the sand.  Geoff Wragg’s Autumn Glory has helped to get our season off to a good start by winning the Doncaster mile, a listed event, on the last day of March. 

 

He went on to make history by winning the Group 3 Ladbrokes Silver Trophy in July, the first Group race run on the all weather in Britain. At the nice price of 9/1 as well.

It seemed as though I had followed Border Music for ever with little or no reward.  I was always afraid to desert him on the basis that he was sure to win as soon as I stopped backing him. It seemed to be business as usual as he failed to win any of his first 7 starts. Then  his trainer found the key to unlock his potential.  Switched to the all Weather at Wolverhampton he turned a reasonable handicap there into a procession, winning as he pleased by 9 lengths at 7/2.  He ran three more times on the turf without winning , although he was a close up third behind Mutamared at Newmarket.  For his final 2 starts he went back to the all weather winning both times at Lingfield, the first at 9/1.  Jamie Spencer rode him each time he won and has a 3 out of 4 record on the horse.

Our third all weather star was Rampage. He had won a maiden at Newcastle on his only start as a juvenile and we had to wait until October 10 for him to reappear.  He finished 2nd at Windsor but went on to score twice in 11 days at Southwell and Wolverhampton.  Neither win was by much – a head and a neck, but they all count.

Group and listed class

We had a fair degree of success in Group and pattern races.  In a number of cases horses won when I had just about abandoned hope of them ever getting their heads in front.  Before coming to England Le Vie Dei Colori had notched up 15 wins.  Most of these had come at Capannelle (Rome to you), with a few at San Siro (you must know where that is!).  His only win outside of Italy had come in a Group 3 at Longchamp. After winning a listed race at Leicester in April he was most disappointing on his next 4 runs.  Galvanised by a first time visor for his last start in Group 2 in mid October he rediscovered his best form wining well at 20/1.  He has some other horses that figure in this review behind him. Notably Sleeping Indian (2nd), Peeress (4th) and New Seeker (9th).

 

The oldest horse on my list to follow was Millenary, at the age of 8, who has won the St Leger as far back as September 2000. 

 

He looked a spent force in some of his early races last season but revived memories of the glory days with a couple of memorable back to back victories in August and September.  For me Richard Quinn produced the ride of the season on Millenary in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup at York.  He dropped Millenary out the back and kept him covered up until the very last moment, not moving a muscle.  Produced well inside the final furlong the old campaigner found a real turn of foot to sweep into the lead.

 

The second win, in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup, was similar. Quinn again employed exaggerated waiting tactics as Millenary stalked the leaders like some sort of hooded assassin and won with another late, late burst.  As his wins came at 12/1 and 11/4 he proved a profitable horse to follow.

 

One of the first names in my notebook for the 2005 flat season was Sir Michael Stoute’s Rob Roy on the back of his win in an autumn maiden at HQ.  Things didn’t go according to plan for the big son of Lear Fan.  He was short of room when failing to get up on his seasonal reappearance and failed by a head to peg back Democratic Deficit. He was 6/1 for the 2,000 gns but finished last, totally unsuited by the very firm going.  He returned in the autumn and won the middle of three runs.  He put up a good performance to win the Group 3 Joel Stakes at Newmarket at 17/2.  It will be interesting to see if he stays in training.

 

Sleeping Indian ran some good races just below top class.  He won the John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock and deserved his Group 3 win in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.  His close seconds to Iffraaj and Le Vie dei Colori have already been mentioned.

 

Trainers to follow

 

Although I tend to follow horses these days rather than trainers I usually have a few on my list to follow from the yards of Sir Mark Prescott and Mark Johnston.

 

The theory of backing Prescott 3 year olds in handicaps didn’t really pay off for me this time as well as in previous years.  Tangible won at 6/1 first time out but that was her only win from 4 starts.  The most successful of the Prescott 3 year olds on the list was Oblique who ran up a four race winning sequence culminating in a win in the Musselburgh Gold Cup over 12 furlongs at the Scottish track. Although she lacks size and scope, she clearly has a good engine, and her win here was gained off a mark 21lb higher than when she started the season.  She couldn’t make it 5 from 5 when coming 3rd on her next run but her astute trainer found a listed race opportunity for her in Sweden in mid November for her fifth win. 

 

I don’t usually have Prescott 2 year olds on my list to follow but an exception in 2005 was Violette who proved very consistent and ended with form figures 1202111223.  Her wins included a 17 runner nursery at Doncaster where although not well drawn she was given an excellent ride by Seb Sanders and eventually won going away.  She followed this up with a win in quite a strong listed race at Ayr.  She also came 2nd in a 24 runner listed race at Redcar and a neck 2nd in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at HQ.  She made great strides during the season but may be hard to place next year.

 

At one stage I thought my pick of the Mark Johnston stable was not going to work out but some late winners at nice prices turned things round.

 

Quizzene and I’m So Lucky got the season off to a good start, both winning twice, Quizzene at 11/4 and 13/8 and I’m So Lucky at 4/1 and 9/2.

 

The first race meeting I ever went to was at Chester to watch the Chester Cup and I have always retained a soft spot for that course and in particularly that race.  Swift Sailor was a game winner of the Phil Bull Trophy at Pontefract, one of the two races he won, but his career best came when he was 2nd in the big race at Chester.  He has since been sold to go hurdling.

 

The two Johnston runners that came good at the back end of the season were Crosspeace and Kindling.  Crosspeace was placed in all but 2 of his 10 starts and deserved his win in listed company at Doncaster in November which he won by 14 lengths in heavy ground having been stepped up to 12 furlongs.  His other win came in a Newmarket handicap over 7 furlongs.  Crosspeace nearly became only the third three-year-old winner of the Totesport Mile at Goodwood in 15 runnings when only beaten a neck by Unshakable in a blanket finish.  In fact before that win at Donny Crosspeace put is a whole string of placed efforts.  These included a third in a Group 3 in Norway, a runners up spot in another Group 3 at Baden-Baden. After being placed in these two continental Group 3 races, he ran 3rd in the John Smith's Stakes (Heritage Handicap) at Newbury.  He emerged the best horse in the race, as he was only three and was giving weight away all round taking into account weight-for-age. He was then 4th in the Cambridgeshire off 9 stone 4, one of only a couple of three year olds in the race. 

 

Crossspeace won at 9/2 and 5/1, but little filly Kindling did even better as a horse to follow. She didn’t register a win in her first 7 starts although she was only beaten a short head at Ripon. She showed her liking for easy ground when taking a handicap at Haydock and followed up the week after at Epsom when she scooted clear in great style approaching the furlong marker under Greg Fairlie.  Kindling is nothing if not game and after a third in a listed race at Deauville she rounded off her season in style winning a listed race at Musselburgh, again in soft ground at 10/1.  This will have greatly enhanced her paddocks value.

The two year olds

I have already mentioned Violette who was one of the more successful 2 year olds I followed.  Perhaps the highest profile juvenile was Flashy Wings of Mick Channon’s. I put her on my list to follow after she had won on her debut and she went on to win her next three. Two wins at York stamped her as a top class filly.  She won the Queen Mary Stakes in impressive fashion and extended her unbeaten record to four with a workmanlike display in this Group 2 Lowther Stakes.

Flashy Wings

After that things went slightly awry.  Rather surprisingly she next ran in the Watership Down Stud Sales Race at Newbury.  Made favourite, she hit the front 2 furlongs out but hung left in the centre of the track and was collared close home by Expensive who had the benefit of the rail.  She was 3rd in the Group 1 Cheveley Park at Newmarket next but may have been a bit unlucky as she found herself short of room when starting to mount her challenge and although she powered up the hill the winning post came too soon and she was beaten by two necks.

Another Mick Channon juvenile served me well. Ajigolo won three times including a Group 2 at Baden-Baden,  This was probably a poor race and he ran better in defeat next time out when second to Hunter Street in a bobbing finish despite carrying a  7 lbs penalty in the Cornwallis Stakes at Salisbury, generally accepted as a fairly ordinary Group 3 contest.  Hunter Street was 4/1 and Ajigolo 25/1 so I was rather hoping they would finish in the reverse order.

Hunter Street was winning for the second time and had also run 2nd in the Flying Childers at Doncaster.  According to his trainer he has “the heart of a lion.” Reportedly he has been sold to race in the US.

River Thames, under the same ownership as Hunter Street, was 3rd in the Flying Childers, just behind his stable companion.  He had earlier won a maiden at Yarmouth from Expensive, later conqueror of Flashy Wings and he also won a nursery at Newmarket. 

Other notable 2 year old winners were Championship Point, another with Mick Channon, and Signor Peltro.  Championship Point only ran three times winning the first two, a maiden at Newbury and a 12 runner listed race at Royal Ascot at York.  He also ran well when a head second in a valuable listed race at Deauville giving weight to the winner.  His wins came at 15/2 and 4/1, but Signor Peltro was an even more profitable selection as his only win came at 22/1 first time out.  This win came in a 16 runner maiden at Haydock but he showed little in two subsequent starts.

Some big priced winners

Needless to say the big priced winners always linger longest in the memory.  I was particularly pleased with Kenmore’s 20/1 win late on in the season as it came after  poor run of results for me.  I had high hopes for Barry Hill’s colt, especially after he started the season with a win in a Nottingham Maiden in April.  He didn’t get the run of the race when 4th at Goodwood after that but a couple of disappointing efforts followed.  Then came that win in a 23 runner 7 furlong handicap at Newmarket towards the end of the season.

I will mention a handful of other big priced winners that I had during the course of the campaign.  Penny Wedding won at 20/1 in a maiden but failed to make much impression in handicaps in a couple of starts after that while Cornus, a promising juvenile in 2004 seemed to have lost his way when failing to get his head in front on his first 10 starts only to win at 12/1 on his last outing.

 

The well bred Gifted Musician contributed to my profitable end of season run when capturing an ordinary maiden at Catterick at 13/2 after 3 losing efforts.  Another to make a profit from just one win was Mineko.  He has been second on 3 occasions before coming in at 7/1 in a late season maiden at Nottingham.

 

River Royale trained by Peter Chapple Hyam won both his starts, a maiden when odds on followed by a Newmarket handicap where he quickened well to lead close home at 11/2.  Wild Savannah was another that would have shown a profit if backed blindly as he won 2 of his 7 starts at odds of 7/2 and 13/2.

 

Wild Savannah didn’t run as a 2 year old.  Alfred the Great only had one run at 2 and went on my list to follow as the sort of 3 year old that Mark Johnston excels with.  Come his first run though he had changed stables and was with Pat Haslam so I was rather less optimistic, but he came good for me.  After a couple of fair placed efforts he won a Newcastle handicap in November at 5/1 and has since won over hurdles.

 

 

Flat horses have short enough careers when compared to their national hunt counterparts. I am always pleased to be able to follow a horse over more than just one season and I decided to keep Vaughan on my list to follow even though he didn’t win during 2004.  This big gelding proved a useful and consistent performer in 2005, winning 2 of his 8 starts.  He also ran well behind a couple of other horses on our list, He kept on well behind Notable Guest and Crow Wood at York for 5th place and then finished 3rd to the prolific Ouninpohja at Newmarket.  A long striding galloping type with a liking for a sound surface Vaughan seems at home at Newmarket and his first win came in a 12 handicap there, although he needed every yard of the trip.  His second win came in his last race of the season, over the same trip and at Newmarket where he sported first time blinkers. His wins came at 13/2 and 3/1. This was one of the new premier claiming races and Vaughan was claimed for £50,000.

 

I don’t always seem to have much luck following Sir Michael Stoute’s horses but 2005 bucked this trend. I have already mentioned the likes of Linngari, Rob Roy, Notable Guest and Peeress.  Hard Top looked one to follow when winning a maiden at Lingfield and he confirmed that promise when taking the Great Voltigeur at York staying on strongly to lead close home in a 6 runner race at 6/1. 

He may have been unsuited by the soft ground when beaten in the St Leger.

 

There were fears that Echelon had not trained on having been a leading fancy for the 1,000 guineas she could only finish 9th in the classic.  She faired much better in the 2nd half of the season though.  After a slightly unlucky 2nd in a listed race at Sandown where she didn’t get a clear run she picked up well to score decisively in a similar event at Newbury.  She evidently needs fast ground as she floundered in the soft going next time out at Sandown behind the mud loving Musicanna before rounding off her season and advertising her potential as a valuable broodmare with another listed race win, this time at Newmarket.

 

Of the other Stoute runners King’s Majesty was certainly profitable.  He only ran twice winning a Newmarket handicap at 6/1 and was only beaten a head on the same track in September.  He is lightly raced and may do better yet.

 

Art Eyes was an interesting and progressive hoes to follow.  She was kept on the go by trainer David Elsworth running 12 times in all.  For much of the season it looked as though connections had got the tactics wrong as despite putting in some creditable displays she only had one win to show for her first 10 runs, a 12 furlong handicap at Leicester.  From then on she competed in a much higher grade, an excellent 2nd at Goodwood and a very creditable 4th to Mubtaker in the Match Stakes at the same track and a career best 4th behind Ouija Board in a Group 3 at Newmarket.  These runs in better class events did not bring a win though and wrecked her handicap rating.  The question could be posed that perhaps her lower rating could have been exploited in handicap company.  The trainer's approach was vindicated though when she won a listed race at Newmarket at the end of September at 8/1.

 

Trainer Lynda Ramsden announced that she would be retiring at the end of the 2005 season. She has trained the likes of Arcalis and Trojan Flight in recent seasons. I had Halla San from her stable on my list in 2005 and having been pretty expensive to follow he finally came good with two victories.  A winner off only 59 at Gosforth Park he made light work of a 4 lbs rise at Haydcok next time under a fine ride from Alan Munro.  These wins came on the back of 7 defeats so at winning odds of 11/4 and 3/1 it was not enough to make a profit on the season.

 

Last gasp winners

 

With racing patience is most certainly a virtue.  If we had to wait a long time for the likes of Halla San to visit the winner’s enclosure, Don't call me Derek kept us waiting until the very last day of the season.  He had been successful over hurdles twice in the winter and didn’t reappear on the flat until the 22nd October.  He was well down the field that day but came back with a bang on November 5th in testing conditions in a 6 runner Doncaster handicap, when he was allowed a soft lead and nothing could get in a blow as he galloped resolutely to the line.  Don’t Call me Derek was returned at 11/1 and with Crosspeace a 5/1 winner on the same card and Kindling winning at 10/1 only 2 days before the season could hardly have had a more upbeat finale.

 

The French connection

 

I included a small selection of French horses on my list to follow and two of them are well worth a mention here.  Valixir mixed it with the best and won three times, twice in Group ones.  He won with tons on hand at Longchamp on the first of these and then plundered the Queen Anne Stakes at York. While Rakti would not be the best of yardsticks here, having misbehaved in the preliminaries, Valixir impressed with the ease with which he took his measure inside the last two furlongs – sooner than had been planned – and he was always in command afterwards.  The Gallic star of the season though was the brilliant filly Divine Proportions.  Unbeaten as a 2 year old she continued to sweep all before her at 3 in sensational style including victory in the French Oaks. 

 

Her only career defeat came on her last run when beaten by Dubawi in a Group 1 at Deauville where Valixir was 3rd.  She was subsequently found to have an injury and was retired.

 

Old favourites

I always keep an eye on horses that I have had on my list to follow in previous seasons.  In particular I have a soft spot for sprinters.  In 2004 Sierra Vista obliged for me at 33/1. 

 

That was her only win of the season and came in the Totesport Northern Sprint handicap at Newcastle at the end of June beating Ellen’s Academy by a neck.  Remarkably, her first win in 2005 came in the same race with Ellen’s Academy once again beaten a neck in second.  One of the more bizarre coincidences of the racing season.  Sierra Vista was returned at 16/1 this time.  She went on to land 4 more sprint handicaps at 11/2, 11/1, 25/1 and 8/1.  Not half bad for a horse that only cost 500 gns as a yearling.

Sierra Vista's stable companion, Celtic Mill is another that has found his way onto my list to follow from time to time.  David Barker enjoyed a terrific campaign with his sprinters and his stable star was Celtic Mill.  He scored a career best when taking the valuable Group 2 Temple Stakes at Sandown in May.  He was lucky to survive a very nasty fall later in the season at the same track but has come back to win on the all weather since.

Another sprinter from former lists to follow to excel during 2005 was Fire Up the Band who won three times, including the Vodaphone Dash at Epsom, and a Group 3 at Goodwood.  He also won at Chester beating Fonthill Road by half a length.  His wins came at 14/1 twice and 10/1.  Striking Ambition had a successful European Tour winning in Ireland, France and Germany, the latter two in Group 3 class, while at a humbler level Harrison's Flyer picked up 3 small races at 25/1, 3/1 and 13/2.

Bandari has been knocking around in the higher echelons of flat racing for a few years and he again tasted success in 2005.  He only won once in 2005, at 10/1 in the Hardwicke Stakes at York, beating Maraahel and Gamut.  Bandari has now won 3 times at both Group 3 and Group 2 levels, but that Group 1 success has continued to elude him.  Gamut also won once, and that was also at Group 2 level under an intelligent front running ride from Kieren Fallon at Newmarket.  Gamut has won at least once in each of the 4 years he has been in training.

Zero Tolerance was a successful horse on my 2004 list to follow with his best win coming with a pillar to post victory in a mile handicap at Newmarket in October.  He did well to win the same race in 2005 off a 6 lbs higher mark.  The horse clearly likes soft ground and he also won in May when he had conditions to suit, under a canny front running ride from Jamie Spencer.

Uhoomagoo has had plenty of mentions on my web site down the years and proved as good as ever in 2005. As well as mowing down my selection practically on the line in a Newcastle handicap he also won a valuable handicap at Galway coming with his usual terrific late run.

I put Blue Monday, a relative of the top class performer Warrsan, on my list to follow in 2004 but he didn't run through injury. Trainer Roger Charlton got him back to his best to win a couple of prestigious handicaps in 2005 though.  Blue Monday was in the front rank throughout in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar and scored in game style in a thrilling finish with Crow Wood third and Another Bottle in mid division.  He then went on to win the ultra competitive Cambridgeshire.  A lightly raced individual he may well go on to even better things next season.

Ouninpohja was one of the season's prolific winners and was compared to another star from the same stable Collier Hill. Collier Hill has had a wonderful career.  He has won Group races in Stockholm and  Cologne, a handicap in Dubai, a bumper at Catterick and over hurdles at Kelso.  Now that is a versatile horse!  He surpassed himself this season by winning the Irish St Leger at The Curragh, beating the local favourite and 4 time winner of the race, Vinnie Roe into 3rd. How many Group 1 winners boast a success at Kelso on their CV I wonder?

One of the Elite

I have been thinking about joining some sort of a ownership syndicate for a few years and finally took the plunge in the summer, choosing the Elite Racing Club from the half dozen or so that I had looked at.  I have really enjoyed the feeling of involvement and the club is run on both professional and friendly lines.

The club had two winners the day after I joined through Eisteddfod and Ionian Spring so I had something of a dream start.  Eisteddfod won a total of 3 races including valuable and highly competitive handicaps at Goodwood and Windsor.  The highlight of his season though was a superb Group 3 triumph at Deauville.  He was also a trifle unlucky in listed and Group 1 races at Chester and Longchamps.  Ionian Spring only won the once, and that was a fairly modest premier claimer at Chester but he was kept busy all season and retains ability despite being a 10 year old.

Soviet Song is the pride and joy of the Elite Racing Club and once again she didn’t disappoint her followers. 

She only ran 3 times but again won the Falmouth Stakes, a Group 1, and only failed by the narrowest of margins to peg back Proclamation in the Sussex Stakes after being stuck in a “pocket”  which allowed her rival to get first run.

Two year old Oceans Apart was only beaten a neck by Flashy Wings on her racecourse debut and went on to win twice.  She is a half sister to Eisteddfod so not surprisingly had the speed to win a maiden at Windsor at the minimum trip.  Her other win was a pillar to post success from the number 1 stall at Chester where she handled the track well for a big filly.

Finally, one of the star handicappers of the season was Clive Cox’s New Seeker.

He started the season by running second to Streams of Gold in the Lincoln and went on to enjoy a highly lucrative 2005.  He won the Royal Hunt Cup, run at York rather than Ascot of course as well as the valuable Totesport International Stakes.  He also made the successful transition from handicap to pattern class with an impressive victory in a listed race at Newbury.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue reading “Review of the flat 2005” →

When the 2004/5 jumps season began the main talking points surrounded the chasers.  Would Best Mate make it 4 Gold Cups in a row, and could Well Chief disturb the supremacy of Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop over 2 miles?  As things turned out it was the hurdlers that captured my imagination.

The big 5

I picked out 5 Irish hurdlers to follow at the outset and they dominated proceedings throughout a fascinating campaign, culminating in the Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown Festivals.

In mid November, in the Morgiana hurdle at Punchestown, the market suggested that Back in Front and Mac’s Joy had the race between them.  In the event though Noel Meade’s 10/1 shot Harchibald smoothly passed his rivals and won with the minimum of fuss.

This victory was very much a harbinger of things to come as Harchibald twice crossed the Irish Sea to make mincemeat of the best that England could offer without coming off the bridle.  Firstly he beat Inglis Drever in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, drawing away after the last without Paul Carberry having to ask him a serious question. His next target was the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.  The veteran grey Rooster Booster abandoned his usual waiting game and stormed 25 lengths clear of his field.  Few would have bet on Harchibald in running.  He was still 20 lengths down turning for home but he gradually ate into the deficit and Paul Carberry calmly coaxed him into the lead after the last to complete a remarkable hat trick.

In between Harchibald’s visits to England, Back In Front had given his supporters plenty of encouragement when winning the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham in a good time with Inglis Drever and Rooster Booster in arrears. The Irish stranglehold on the coming Champion Hurdle gathered momentum.

While Harchibald was plundering the top English prize at Christmas, Mac’s Joy was winning a Grade 1 Hurdle at Punchestown with Brave Inca 2nd and reigning Champion Hurdler back in 3rd.  The 3 clashed again a month later in a thrilling AIG Hurdle at Leopardstown. Entering the straight Mac’s Joy was going the best, with Brave Inca looking beaten.  Mac’s Joy may have found himself in front a bit earlier than he would have liked and after the last Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace challenged him strongly on either side and he got home by the skin of his teeth, a short head and a head being the official margins.  To the naked eye it looked as though he had lost it but the angle is deceptive.

Hardy Eustace the reigning champion, then warmed up for Cheltenham with a 25 lengths stroll at Gowran Park and the scene was set for the big five to clash in the Champion Hurdle.

The Champion Hurdle

On the day at Cheltenham we were treated to a thrilling encounter with an almost unreal climax. Hardy Eustace adopted his usual front running tactics but coming to the last he was joined by Brave Inca and Harchibald, the latter apparently cruising.  Paul Carberry continued to sit motionless on Harchibald, seemingly able to pass the leader any time he wanted.  50 yards from the line Carberry started to push but Hardy Eustace would not be beaten and prevailed by a neck, with Brave Inca the same distance away in 3rd.  Mac’s Joy was 5th and Back in Front 9th.

Battle rejoined

We were treated to yet another 3 way charge for the line at Punchestown in the Irish Champion Hurdle.  Brave Inca had form figures for the season coming into the race of 22223F, with the F coming at Aintree when he had looked a likely winner.  This was to be his day though.  They came to the last with McCoy on Brave Inca challenged by Harchibald and Mac’s Joy.  Once again Harchibald seemed full of running but it was a case of Brave Inca, the street fighter, out battling the prima donna. McCoy got Brave Inca home by a head with Mac’s Joy a length away in 3rd. 

The magnificent Moscow Flyer

The anticipated three way fight for the Champion Chase really began with an outstanding renewal of the Tingle Creek in December.  The charismatic Moscow Flyer extended his run of wins from completed runs to 16 with Azertyuiop just getting the better of Well Chief for second.  Well Chief was the revelation of the race on only his 5th start over fences and marked himself down as the young pretender.

When  Well Chief and Azertyuiop met again in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in mid February Paul Nicholl's horse set a fierce pace and with his accurate jumping put Well Chief in his place. The latter did not jump well enough early on and was always playing catch up.

In the end the big race at Cheltenham did not quite live up to expectations.

Azertyuiop blundered away his chance with a mistake at the water and although Well Chief battled gamely Moscow Flyer was simply too good.  He then followed up with a facile victory at Aintree in the Melling Chase.

There was however a postscript to the story.  The incredibly tight finish to the trainers championship meant that messrs Pipe and Nicholls brought out their big guns on the final day of the season at Sandown for the Betfred Celebration Chase.  This time it was to be little Well Chief's day.  Held up as usual by Timmy Murphy he did not look to be going as well as Azertyuiop but took the last economically and scampered clear up the run in.

This was actually Well Chief's second win of the season, his first coming in the Victor Chandler Chase at the end of January.  It was one of the best weight carrying displays of the season as he was giving the runner up, Thisthatandtother 20 lbs.  This was particularly meritorious as Well Chief is not really built for giving lumps of weight away.

Howard's hat trick

As usual I followed my A list horses through the season.  I have already mentioned Harchibald, Mac's Joy and Well Chief as some of the success stories.  Arcalis gave me a slightly surprising, but most welcome winner in the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival. Howard Johnson's grey had been a good servant for me on the flat when trained by Lynda Ramsden, and although he had won a couple of times over hurdles his last run before Cheltenham had been disappointing. This pushed his starting price up to a generous 20/1 in the Supreme Novices. He used his flat speed on the drying ground to fairly sprint up the hill in good style.

Arcalis's success in the Supreme Novices was the start of a remarkable week for Graham and Andrea Wylie, trainer Johnson and their jockey Graham Lee.

On day 2 No Refuge, like Arcalis a decent flat handicapper, gave Wylie his second winner of the meeting by taking the Royal and Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle.  This gutsy little gelding has not been fluent on his previous run at Warwick when getting the better of Lady Zephyr and Bob Bob Bobbin but gave an improved display of hurdling to win at a nice price, 17/2. Even better was to come for the Wylies when the same combination took the Stayers Hurdle with Inglis Drever who beat the French ace Baracouda at odds of 5/1.  I was particularly pleased with this trio of winners as I had also followed all 3 during their flat careers.

The novice chasers

There were some fair old tussles in the novice chase ranks where Paul Nicholl's My Will was one of my A list stars winning 5 times.  After a couple of facile victories at long odds on he came up against another A lister, Fundementalist, and was put in his place finishing a fairly distant 3rd to the Nigel Twiston-Davies runner.  He was then beaten at Windsor before hitting form in the Dipper Chase at Cheltenham where he had to battle to beat the only other finisher, another A lister El Vaquero.  His next win was in another Grade 2 event where the first 4 places all went to horses from my list to follow.  My Will only just held off a spirited late run from the fast finishing Ashley Brook with Contraband and Kadount filling the minor placings.  These four met again in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival.  This time, on good ground Contraband won, giving a good round of economical jumping, but second placed Ashley Brook only lost his winning chance with a clumsy landing after the last.  My Will was 5th.

My Will is undoubtedly a tough customer.  He ran twice after the Festival, finishing a decent second at Ayr in a Grade 2 chase at the Scottish National meet, and then coming out and winning at Perth just 4 days after the race at Ayr.  This last success had much to do with Martin Pipe's frantic bid to fend off Paul Nicholl's team in the chase for the trainer's crown.

Ashley Brook had already won a couple of novice chases before the races mentioned above but his well deserved turn for glory was still to come. In the Maghull Novices Chase he made all the running and jumped his rivals silly.  Contraband was well down the field this time and it was left to the Irish challenger War of Attrition to chase Ashley Brook home.

Another novice chase winner at the Cheltenham Festival was Trabolgan, A horse I have followed since his bumper days. He won his first start over fences at Lingfield beating Kadount but then got outbattled by Ollie Magern in The Feltham on Boxing Day before running poorly in heavy ground on his 3rd start.  It was these two defeats that led to him starting at 5/1 for the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase, but showing a high cruising speed and impressive jumping he beat his nearest rival Comply or Die by 3
lengths with Cornish Rebel in 3rd.  Not the strongest renewal of the race but won in sparkling style by Nicky Henderson's chaser.

I have already mentioned Henrietta Knight's El Vaquero.  He did well for me winning 2 of his 5 starts at 11/2 and 4/1.  His best win was on his last outing in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown.  He may have been an unlucky loser at Cheltenham at the beginning of December.  He was upsides eventual winner Control Man and going just as well when he knuckled on landing and fell at the 4th last.  He may yet progress further.

Kadount had form figures of 223141U2 and was a model of consistency. His best win came in February in the Kingmaker Novice Chase at Wincanton where he jumped and travelled beautifully throughout. He also ran a fine race in defeat on his final outing when chasing home Fota Island in a valuable handicap at Aintree.

The "Nationals"

Turning now to the staying chasers one of the stars of the early part of the season was Silver Birch (pictured below in yellow).  He won 3 out of 3 before injury curtailed his season.  After taking a small event at Newton Abbot he won the Becher Chase at Aintree fuelling speculation that he could be a Grand National prospect.  He went on to win a very competitive Welsh National at Chepstow in heavy ground and was promptly installed as favourite for the big one at Aintree in April until a leg injury intervened.
Paul Nicholls found a more than adequate replacement though in Royal Auclair.  He won the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton in November and was in the frame in his next 6 starts.  A fine 3rd in the Hennessy was followed by a 2nd to Therealbandit at Cheltenham.  He was 4th to Kicking King in The Gold Cup and defied the trends to carry 11 stone 11 into 2nd place in the Grand national.  This was a wonderful effort conceding weight to all bar one of his rivals in rain softened ground which was not ideal for him.

Nicholls also had a fancied runner in the Scottish National with the talented but quirky Cornish Rebel, Best Mate's full brother.  He had won 3 novice chases including a grade 2 at Newbury where he beat Distant Thunder.  A couple of defeats at Cheltenham followed including a 3rd to Trabolgan but he headed for the Scottish National fancied by many in a race in which novices have a good record.  He also carried the hopes of jockey Ruby Walsh of completing a remarkable four timer having already won the Welsh, Irish and English Nationals.

Cornish Rebel hasn't always looked straightforward, and though he hit the ninth quite hard, he travelled well and did everything right until the last 50 yards. Driven on the turn, he led just after the last, but his ears began to twitch, he idled and was caught. He's talented and ran a fine race, but turned victory into defeat in a few strides.

The extension of the Cheltenham Festival to 4 days meant some extra races, and one of these, The Daily Telegraph Trophy over 21 furlongs was tailor made for Thisthatandtother. He had been running consistently and had finished runner up on three consecutive occasions in big races at Cheltenham. Thisthatandtother deserved his success with Ruby Walsh just getting the better of Mick Fitzgerald on Fondmort in a thrilling struggle after the last.  Thisthatandtother won at 9/2.
More novices

I had high hopes for Robert Alner's chaser Distant Thunder but things didn't quite work out in the first half of the season.  He started off with form figures of 22242.  These defeats were mainly in good company. For example he was 2nd to Comply or Die in the Rising Stars Novice Chase at Wincanton and to Cornish Rebel in a Grade 2 at Newbury. Distant Thunder finally got his head in front at Newbury in early February.  He was held up by Andrew Thornton but was running all over his rivals from the home turn.  He galloped clear to beat Sixo by 10 lengths. His season finished with another impressive win, this time in the Reynoldstown Novice Chase moved this year from Ascot to Lingfield.  Once again exaggerated hold up tactics were employed successfully and Distant Thunder looks a rising star in the chasing ranks.

I enjoyed plenty of success following Paul Nicholl's chasers with My Will, Royal Auclair, Silver Birch, Cornish Rebel and Thisthatandtother all contributing. It was Nicholl's promising novice Kauto Star however that provided one of the season's most bizarre episodes and one of the biggest talking points.

Kauto Star was one of Nicholl's French imports and tipped by many as a potential star.  He certainly looked the part on his English debut with an exhilarating win over the former top class hurdler Foreman, in a novice chase at Newbury.  He then started at 2/11 in a 3 runner affair at Exeter. He seemed to have the race well in the bag before clipping the top of the second last and coming down. Ruby Walsh gathered him up remounted without irons and careered after the new leader.  Running on strongly he just failed to get back up by a short head

Sadly this was to be the end of his season as he was found to be injured.  A lively debate followed as to whether Walsh should have remounted the horse or not with opinions evenly divided.

Johnson chasing success

Howard Johnson's wins at Cheltenham came with his hurdlers.  He has done really well with his ex flat handicappers, particularly those purchased out of Sir Mark Prescott's yard such as No Refuge and Inglis Drever.  Another from the same source is the grey Coat of Honour whose best win came just after the end of the season in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in the first week in May. 

Johnson also had some success with his chasers.  Grattan Lodge proved a profitable horse to follow.  This one is a real Carlisle specialist and has now won their 6 times.  He won both his starts there last season at evens and 6/1, the second coming in quite a valuable class C handicap.  His only other run was in the Totesport Classic Chase at Warwick where he was pulled up.  Jockey Graham Lee reported afterwards that the horse was not suited by the tacky ground. Although Grattan Lodge performed well the stable's star chaser is undoubtedly Lord Transcend.

Injury had restricted him to just one run in the 2003/4 season and he reappeared after a long absence in the Hennessy.  He finished 4th after making much of the running and had some decent performers behind him.  He fell next time in the Rowland Meyrick on Boxing Day but came good in spectacular fashion at Haydock in the Peter Marsh Chase where he galloped his rivals into the ground.  Only the veteran First Gold could live with him and the two had the race between them from half way.  Lord Transcend saw off his French rival to score emphatically by 10 lengths.

The Wetherby specialist

I had a few chasers from the Sue and Harvey Smith stable on my list to follow.  Royal Emperor and Tipsy Mouse were largely disappointing but old favourite Mister McGoldrick gave us a run for our money as usual  He won twice from 7 starts and as his wins came at 3/1 and 6/1 he would have paid to follow. His first win came in a handicap chase at Wetherby where a mighty leap at the last settled the issue.  He obviously likes the Yorkshire track and his second win also came there in the Castleford Chase in the race where Well Chief was a faller.  Mister McGoldrick invariably runs his race and can switch between hurdles and fences.  He ran a fine race in defeat in the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock when only worn down by the eventual winner Inglis Drever after the last.

I have not always had much luck following Martin Pipe.  Last season though three chasers gave me some success.  Contraband proved a smart novice chaser. He won a Grade 2 novice chase at Sandown in December and went on to win the Arkle at Cheltenham in March from Ashley Brook at 7/1.  He then ran poorly behind that horse at Aintree but finished the season at Sandown with a 3rd behind Well Chief and Azertyuiop.  Control Man won 3 novice chases in the first half of the season before rather losing his way while Therealbandit put in a cracking effort to beat Royal Auclair in the Mears Group Chase at Cheltenham in December (at 13/2 as well!). Therealbandit was mostly disappointing after this win.

In the first half of the season one of my most successful horses to follow was Colonel Frank. He was  a fair hurdler but has turned into a much better chaser and ran up a hat trick of wins over fences.  Wins at Sandown and Wincanton in November were followed by an all the way success in the Future Stars Chase at Sandown.  The wins came at 5/1, 5/4 and 9/4.  After a longish break he was a faller in the Racing Post Chase where his trainer reckoned the soft ground did not suit.

Kelami and  Longshanks were a couple of chasers that won for me at good odds.  The French trained Kelami had been knocking at the door and deserved his win in a competitive William Hill Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival.  He is shown here going for home in the colours made famous by Amberleigh House.

He had previously been 4th in a valuable event at Warwick and had then run 3rd behind Forest Gunner in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock.  At Cheltenham he beat 3 old Russellform favourites in Keen Leader, Irish Hussar and Chives to win at 8/1.  He continued in fine form to finish 3rd in the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown on the last day of the season.
 
Kim Bailey's Longshanks gave us a 10/1 winner in a Kempton handicap on the last day in January.

Hirvine & Eric's Charm seemed to be having some sort of a personal battle at one stage of the season.  At Folkstone in December Eric's Charm beat Hirvine, only for Hirvine to reverse the finishing positions a month later at Leicester.  Hirvine then followed up that win in another novice chase, this time at Newcastle under an inspired ride from Richard Johnson.  Reverting back to hurdles for his next run Hirvine was 2nd of 15 to an old Russellform favourite The Bajan Bandit at Haydock.

The Bajan Bandit is of course trained by Len Lungo. I included a few of Lungo's horses in my lists to follow but had limited success.  Villon won 3 consecutive novice hurdles before being outclassed in the Supreme Novices at the Festival.  Another Lungo horse, Brooklyn Breeze didn't quite live up to expectations.  He had won on his chase debut in 2003/4 but then suffered an injury. This meant that he was not eligible for novice chases but lacked experience for handicaps.  Lungo ran him over hurdles a couple of times initially before putting him back over fences.  He was fancied by many in the Mildmay of Flete but didn't quite get home and came 4th. He went on to score on his last appearance of the season up at Ayr where he jumped and travelled well.  He is reported to have a bit of a wind problem and may have a corrective operation in the Summer.

The Irish angle

I had 4 Irish chasers on my lists to follow, Nil Desperandum, Watson Lake , War of Attrition and Fota Island
I had high hopes for Nil Desperandum but he was largely disappointing.  He was fancied by many for the Hennessy but failed to run any sort of race. He was niggled along early and failed to jump with any fluency and was pulled up.  Other below par efforts followed until he came back to some sort of form by winning at Down Royal in March.  His best performance though was his last run when he finished 6th in the Aintree Grand National.

Watson Lake and War of Attrition were both Irish fancies for the Arkle.  Watson Lake had run up a hat trick of wins including a below par renewal of the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse while War of Attrition came to Cheltenham on the back of a couple of wins in small novice chases.  War of Attrition had though finished runner up to Brave Inca in the Supreme Novices Hurdle in 2004.  In the event the English dominated the Arkle with Watson Lake 4th and War of Attrition 7th.  Watson Lake, a big old fashioned chaser ran well though in ground that was probably too lively.  War of Attrition then went to Aintree and the Maghull Novices Chase where only the runaway winner Ashley Brook finished in front of him.  War of Attrition and Watson Lake met again in the Punchestown Festival.  Watson Lake appeared to have the race in the bag until a mistake at the second last knocked the stuffing out of him and War of Attrition came through to land the spoils.

A class horse on his day there was the suspicion that he was well handicapped in the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham.  He had been 3rd in two Grade 1 hurdles and a mark of 130, albeit he was 2 pounds out of the handicap, looked potentially lenient.  In the event he was always going well and pulled clear in good style under Paul Carberry to win at 7/1.  A 12 lbs rise in the weights failed to anchor him at Aintree in the Grade 3 Red Rum handicap and he scored under AP McCoy beating Alan King's Kadount by a length.

Hurdlers to the rescue

My A list made a gain for me last season, and although some of the steeplechasers contributed it was the hurdlers that ensured a profitable season.  Green Tango won at 7/1 early in the season but failed to sparkle after that while Tynedale, a half brother to Rule Supreme, gave me a 20/1 win in November in a novice chase at Newcastle,  Although Tynedale didn't win again he was a model of consistency ending with form figures of  1232342.  I have already mentioned Arcalis, another 20/1 winner, while Holland Park won twice at 10/1 towards the end of the season.  This grey had looked set for a successful novice chase campaign but things didn't go according to plan.  He had been jumping well on his chase debut at Lingfield in the race won by Trabolgan when he took a heavy fall 3 out.  He didn't reappear for nearly 3 months when he again fell, this time at Exeter.  He then reverted to hurdles where he won twice, first a handicap at Uttoxeter and then a listed race at Aintree.  It will be interesting to see if he goes back over fences again next season.

Distant Prospect has always been a decent flat campaigner, winning the 2001 Cesarewitch.  He only ran twice over hurdles last season winning once at 3/1 so making a profit for me.  His win came in the Gerry Fielden Hurdle at Newbury, a good performance coming shortly after he had finished 2nd in the November Handicap at Doncaster on the flat.  He was well fancied for the Coral Cup on his only other run over hurdles, but sweated up beforehand and finished down the field.

Patriarch Express was another hurdler that kept the flag flying for me during the season.

He ran pretty consistently throughout, winning 3 of his 6 starts.  His successes included the Totesport Handicap  at Haydock and the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham at the end of January at 6/1 and 8/1 respectively.  The revamped Cleeve Hurdle attracted an extremely strong field, with all the likely principals for the Festival championship except Baracouda and Rule Supreme making for a cracking affair.  In second place Korelo ran the race of his life coming from well back to get within a head of the winner.
Korelo had run an almost identical race earlier in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham, getting up on the line under Timmy Murphy to win by the narrowest of margins at 7/1.

Another horse that featured in the Cleeve was Nicky Richard's grey Monet's Garden. 

Some chasers for next season

Monet's Garden started his season with a win in a Grade 2 event at Windsor, a race moved from Ascot.  He was then a massive flop in his next race before putting up a reasonable effort in the Cleeve to finish 5th.  Despite not always travelling or jumping too well he finished 2nd to Crystal D'Ainay in the Rendlesham at Kempton in late February where the soft ground would not have suited him before rounding of his season with a win in the Grade 2 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree at 11/2.  A strapping individual he looks sure to make his mark in novice chases next season.

Henrietta Knight always has some nice chasing types in her string and one potential star in that category is Racing Demon.  A bumper winner the previous season he won a couple of novice hurdles but his best display was when 2nd in the Royal & SunAlliance Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.  He went off at 14/1 in what looked a strong renewal and he looked all over the winner when taking the last in front but the flat speed of No Refuge proved decisive on the run in. Racing Demon has only had half a dozen runs and looks fine prospect.

Rebel Rhythm from Sue Smith's stable is another that should make a chaser.  He won novice hurdles at Haydock in November and December and at Bangor in February.  He also put up a good effort under top weight when 3rd in a valuable Novice Handicap at Sandown.

Keeping with the potential chasers I was impressed with Bob Bob Bobbin, a grey trained by Colin Tizzard.  He won a bumper and a couple of novice hurdles.  All the wins were at odds on so as a horse to follow he was not ideal.  However he showed plenty of promise for the future and should make up into a decent chaser.
His best efforts came in defeat when far from disgraced in third behind No Refuge and Lady Zephyr in a Grade 2 Hurdle at Warwick and when 4th in the Spa Novices at The Festival. He is a proper prospect, tremendously exciting, and one who could reach the top rank over fences.

Lady Zephyr deserves a mention in her own right as she won 3 novice hurdles.

A stable to follow?

I have not always had much success following horses from Mary Reveley's stable.  Son Keith has now taken over the yard and I had 3 horses from the stable on my list to follow, Rambling Minister, Hidden Bounty and Powder Creek.

Rambling Minster had been crying out for a trip and when stepped up to 3 miles won twice in handicaps at Newcastle.  He was beaten on his three subsequent starts but ran better than his finishing position of 10th suggests on his last run in The Pertemps Final at Cheltenham as he was hampered but ran on strongly to be nearest at the finish.

Hidden Bounty won twice from his 7 starts.  He won a beginners Chase on Newcastle of his debut over the larger obstacles and, after some indifferent efforts came back to win his last start at Kelso.  Powder Creek has always been well thought of by connections and won a couple of handicap Chases at Newcastle and Kelso.

Stable under a cloud

Jonjo O'Neill had a pretty disastrous season with the stable under a cloud with a virus. Few of his horses were able to do themselves justice.  One of the few that won for me was Olaso who had won a couple of times on the flat in his native Germany.  He won a 25 runner maiden hurdle at Newbury in early Dec ember if impressive style.  He was not able to build on that success in his next two runs although that may have had something to do with the general wellbeing of Jonjo's horses.  One of the Jonjo O'Neill horses that impressed me was Exotic Dancer.  He came with a bit of a reputation from France and ran with promise in the Gerry Feilden before falling at the last.  He followed this with a cracking 2nd at Cheltenham in December but his best effort was when 3rd in the Aintree Hurdle with plenty of big names behind him, such as Mac's Joy and Rooster Booster.  He looks an interesting prospect.

Mighty Man

One of the stars of my A list was Mighty Man, who is a half brother to Bourbon Manhattan. He is pictured below in the dark colours.
He has made an extremely encouraging start over hurdles winning all his 3 races.  He had won a bumper by over 20 lengths in May and was clearly a horse of some potential. His 3rd win was his most impressive in a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle at Aintree.  He is on the small side and a bit "buzzy" but has a good attitude and is clearly going the right way.
Other multiple winners in my list to follow were Darkness (3 wins) and Blazing Liss a mare that ran up 4 wins in Ireland, moist notably the last which was a listed hurdle at Punchestown, while Mister Mustard ran up  hat trick of wins, all at Fontwell under Tony McCoy.

Robert Alner is always a trainer to look out for, particularly his chasers.  His Silver Inngot gave me wins at 10/1, 4/1 and 7/2 and generally ran consistently. After a win over hurdles the latter two victories were over fences.  Only small races but he generally jumped well, stays and seems to handle any ground.  I added a couple more of Alner's horses to my list to follow mid season, Duncliffe and The Listener.  Duncliffe's inclusion soon paid dividends as he jumped his rivals ragged in a novice handicap chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and followed that up with a win at Leicester at the end of January.  He disappointed slightly in his two subsequent runs and it is possible that he doesn't act on soft ground. The Listener won a couple of novice hurdles, beating Darkness at Plumpton in a slog in the mud.  He is a brother to Fork Lightning and a half brother to Distant Thunder so his future will be over fences.

Some winners mean more than others. I was working in Edinburgh in October and popped in a bookies just in time to see the Hazlin Doors Beginners Chase an Ludlow!  Not the strongest race on the calendar but I was interested in Latimer's Place.  He had won the EBF Hurdles Final in March 2002 and after a couple of abortive efforts over fences had been off the track for nearly 2 years. I was pleased to see him prominent at Ludlow and he was still in contention but tiring when he fell at the penultimate fence. I kept an eye out for his next run and sure enough he won next time out, beating Inca Trail in a novice chase at Folkstone.  He didn't run again though so presumably the injury problems that had plagued him still remain.

I have already  talked about the ex flat horses that brought success to Howard Johnson. Another ex flat handicapper that did well over hurdles, was the James Fanshawe trained Prins Willem.

He had run 4th behind Arcalis in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham and confirmed that promise when winning a nice novice hurdle at Cheltenham the following month.  The second that day, Alderburn waas a horse I followed with interest. He won a national hunt maiden hurdle at Windsor at 13/2 and had been 3rd behind a couple of decent types in Mount Clerigo and Secret Ploy at Wetherby in mid January.

Comply or Die figured in several races that I have already mentioned. A sound jumper he won 3 times, the best of these being in the Grade 2 Rising Stars novice chase at Wincanton where he beat Distant Thunder. He ran a big race in the Royal and Sunalliance chasing home Trabolgan.  He was made 4/1 favourite for the Scottish National but appeared not to stay and was pulled up.

The day it all went right

It isn't every day of the week that your team wins 5.0 away from home.  In fact, if you support Macclesfield Town it is a rare event indeed.  The 26th of January was a red letter (or should that be blue letter) day when the Silkmen came away from Notts County with a 5.0 victory.  The day got even better when I looked at the racing results because one of my list to follow, Supreme Leisure had come in at 14/1.  This son of Supreme Leader is trained by Howard Johnson, but this time not owned by Graham Wylie.  The race in question was a novice hurdle at Wetherby run in soft going.  The horse disappointed next time out but won again in March at Sedgefield.

The day it all went wrong

One of the biggest priced winners from my list to follow was Burnt Out who was a surprise winner of a mares handicap hurdle at Gowran Park at 14/1 – but I forgot to mention her in my web site preview the day before!

I will finish of this review with a couple of old favourites.  There can be few more popular horses in training than the front running Grey Abbey. Now an 11 year old he was better than ever, winning 3 of his 4 starts, with his only defeats a 58th in the Cheltenham Gold Cup where the ground would not have favoured him.

His first success came in a vintage renewal of the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby where he got the better of the 2004 Gold Cup runner up Sir Rembrandt in a wonderfully game performance. 

Next he left Therealbandit and Royal Auclair in his wake when running away with the Pillar Property Chase Cheltenham, and after his 5th in the Gold Cup he rounded of the season by winning a Grade 2 at Aintree from First Gold. There is the possibility that this grand old chaser may now be retired.  In some ways it would be nice to see him bow out while still at the top.
Talking of old friends, another to hit the headlines was Forest Gunner.

Having won the Foxhunters at Aintree the season before he returned to Liverpool to win the Grand Sefton with an exhibition round of jumping, fuelling speculation that he could be a Grand National horse. His win over an extended three and a half miles in the Red Square Vodka Chase at Haydock enhanced his claims.  Could the trainers wife, Carrie Ford really become the first ever woman jockey to triumph in the National?  In the event Forest Gunner and Mrs Ford were the most gallant of losers, finishing 5th behind Hedgehunter, having held every chance before just running out of petrol.  His stamina was always going to be tested to the limit and he was simply outstayed in the end.

Continue reading “Review of the 2004/05 jumps season” →

 

 Review of the flat 2004

As always with these reviews I will be concentrating on horses I backed, followed or otherwise interested me and I will start with the story of a theory involving Chester, Kieren Fallon and a horse called Nashaab.

On May 7th Nashaab ran at Chester.  He had run 63 times and won 5 of them, the last in August 2001.  Why was I talking about a horse with a rather ordinary strike rate?  Well, he had won at Chester before as well as coming a fast finishing 4th in a race there.  He was favourably drawn 4 and was ridden by K Fallon for the first time ever.  He had run three times at Chester and his form figures at the Cheshire track were 124.  When he was 4th he was badly drawn 11 of 14.  I fancied that Fallon would be able to sit him in behind the leader and use this horse’s devastating finishing speed to good effect in the closing stages – anyway that was my theory! He was high enough in the weights for a horse that hadn't won for yonks and he probably prefers fast ground.  Still, I just had a sneaking feeling that connections fancied him for win number 6……In the event he was hampered at the start but finished well to come 2nd of 18.  I backed him each way but!  Sods law isn’t it, but after another losing effort he came back to Chester on August 1st and won at 5/1 when apprentice ridden.

If we move forward a couple of months, the following comment appeared in my racing diary on October 8th, “My regulars will know that Nashaab is a horse I occasionally put forward on these pages.  His wins to runs ratio is not up to much but the booking of K Fallon for only the second time in the horse’s career caught my eye here.”  Sure enough Fallon swooped late to get Nashaab home at 14/1.

On my web site I start the season with various lists to follow and monitor their progress as the campaign unfolds.  My “flagship” is the A list.

The A list

This was a list of about 65 horses that I backed blindly throughout the season.  The list produced a decent profit over the season as well as some big race winners such as North Light (Derby), Grey Swallow (Irish Derby) and Bago (Arc).
When it came to profitability though there was no contest with the “horse of the year” tag going to Mudawin, a 3 year old with Marcus Tregoning.  Mudawin’s 5 runs yielded a couple of victories at 20/1 and 11/1. The wins came in a Newbury maiden and a handicap at Ascot.  A relentless galloper with plenty of scope I will be interested to see if he stays in training.  He may be one to go over hurdles.

I usually have a few Mark Johnston 3 year olds on any list to follow and this season Etmaam and King of Dreams gave me some success.  Etmaam won 3 of his first 5 starts at Newcastle (10/11), Bath (9/2) and York (4/1).  At that point it looked as though there would be plenty more to come and indeed, he was very unlucky on his 6th run when 3rd in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot beaten a neck and a short head in 3rd when he would have won with any sort of a run.  It was downhill all the way after that as he showed very little in his remaining 4 outings.

King of Dreams won twice, the 2nd coming at 16/1 in a handicap at Newmarket but sadly he broke his leg when falling at York and had to be destroyed.

Multiple winners

Multiple winners were less plentiful than in previous years but both Alkaahdem and Bago chipped in with 3 apiece. I had high hopes for Alkaahdem at the start of the season but things didn’t go his way early on.  He was well fancied for the Lincoln but came 5th, “winning” the race on the wrong side of the track.  He was then a bit unlucky when not getting a clear run at Newbury.  He then put things right by winning 3 of his next 6 races, all at Goodwood at odds of 100/30 and 11/2 and 6/4.  The best win was the middle one at Group 3 level when tried in blinkers for the first time; the other 2 victories were in listed class.

All Bago’s wins came in France with unquestionably the best being the 19 runner Prix De L’arc de Triomphe at odds of 10/1, with North Light and Grey Swallow down the field.

A quartet at decent prices

A highlight of the season was the number of A list horses that won first time out at decent prices.  Grooms Affection, Pukka, Persario and Odiham all gave me early winners.  Grooms Affection won at Sandown first time up at 10/1 but did little in his 4 remaining runs and was sold for 11,000 gns in October, job done as far as making a profit was concerned though. 

Pukka is a half brother to Pongee, a horse I followed in 2003 and that won 4 times from 5 outings. Pukka also won first time out (11/1) which was his only success from a total of 4 races.  He was highly tried though, finishing 9th of 14 in the Epsom Derby.
I kept faith with Persario who had been an A lister the season before.  Persario repaid my faith as she was a ready winner of a 20 runner handicap first time out at 10/1. She was held up after a slow start but picked up well to lead close home. She was unsuited by the run of the race in her only other start but she is lightly raced and remains open to further improvement.  Odiham, trained by Hughie Morrison, won his first start (14/1) at Sandown and although failing to win in his 5 remaining races he performed creditably enough, notably when 4th of 13 behind Tempsford at Doncaster.  He remains of interest in staying handicaps next season.

A to Z

One of the problems of following long lists of horses is trying to remember the names.  It is a fact that the easiest to remember are those at either end of the list, the As and the Zs. I have already mentioned Alkaadhem, but the Zs also enjoyed a profitable time thanks to the efforts of Zonus and Zero Tolerance. Zonus, a tall colt with Barry Hills, won 2 of his 9 starts at 10/11 and 8/1.  The wins came in a maiden at Doncaster and a Chester handicap in August.  In the latter race Zonus travelled smoothly into contention and drew right away in the final furlong. Zero Tolerance had a similar profile winning twice from 8 starts at 7/2 and 9/1.  He was a good example of the need for patience in following this sort of system.  After his first 7 starts his only win had come in a minor event at Haydock in April and he was not showing a profit. But in the final days of the season he put in his best effort when, despite being bathed in sweat, he prevailed in a 13 runner Newmarket handicap by 1.75 L.

More than usual this was a season where my selections often justified their existence with a single win at a big price.  For example Wiggy Smith won once from 6 starts at 14/1, in a handicap at Epsom over 10 furlongs.

Raccoon made a profit with a couple of wins from his 8 runs.  Both wins came in May over the minimum trip.  The first was in a competitive handicap at Haydock and the second in a decent handicap at Musselburgh where the consistent Corridor Creeper was 2nd.  The winning odds were 5/1 and 11/4.

I don’t have many bets on the fibresand but Cape St Vincent won for me at Wolverhampton at the end of May at 5/1.  As he only ran 5 timers in total this constituted another profitable selection – just!

I tend to work from horses rather than trainers but, as is customary these day, I included a sprinkling of Sir Mark Prescott 3 year olds.  Regal Setting proved a profitable choice winning twice from 3 starts in handicaps at Nottingham and Haydock, both over 14 furlongs, at odds of 7/1 and  6/5, both in fast times.  Regal Setting has now joined Howard Johnson’s yard and will be going hurdling. The other Prescott trained 3 year old to show a profit for me was Optimal with 1 win from 4 at 7/2.

Classic winners

It is always nice to back a classic winner and this year A list horses took both the Epsom Derby with North Light and the Irish equivalent at the Curragh with Grey Swallow (pictured above at The Curragh, finishing ahead of North Light at who is in the pale colours)

After winning the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York (6/1) North Light kicked for home 3 furlongs out and stayed on strongly to win at Epsom under a positive Keiren Fallon ride at 7/2.  He only raced twice more, losing nothing in defeat when 2nd to Grey Swallow at the Curragh followed by a 5th in the Arc when not suited by the ground.  In this latter race he was taken on for the lead early and probably went a bit quicker than he wanted to.

Grey Swallow won two of his 6 starts with the Irish Derby victory coming at 10/1.
These were not the only big race winners.  Among the older horses, both Rakti and Doyen had their successes.  Rakti is a free going sort who is not entirely straightforward having given problems in the stalls on occasion. On his first run of the season he won the Group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes at Ascot (3/1).  On the strength of this he was made favourite for the Coral Eclipse but spoilt his chances by refusing to settle.  He failed again in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown where he reportedly banged his head when leaving the stalls.  As a result of these indifferent runs he was allowed to start at 9/2 in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and, dropped down to a mile, settled much better and was driven out to win in a fast time.

Doyen (above) won 2 of his 5 starts, both the wins coming at Ascot at 6/5, and 11/10.  The first win came in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes which he won by 6 lengths, and the second in the Group 1 “King George.”  His win in the King George was very impressive. It was a shame that the race failed to attract a Derby winner and indeed was contested by only one three-year-old, the shock Irish Derby third Tycoon, but there were nevertheless seven individual Group 1 winners in the 11-horse line-up, among them challengers from the United States and France, and so it certainly wasn’t a weak field.  He then disappointed in both the English and Irish Champion Stakes, finding less than seemed likely on both occasions and although there were possible excuses in the track or the going these were poor runs nonetheless.

Nuzooa was a profitable selection winning 2 of his 4 starts at odds of 11/4 and 6/1.  The first of these was in an 11 runner maiden at Newbury where she won by 5 lengths and the second a handicap at Goodwood.

Salinor showed a profit winning his first two starts at 7/2 and evens before disappointing on his 3 remaining runs.

A couple of fillies that made me a profit without quite scaling the heights that had been predicted for them were Secret Charm and Phantom Wind.

Secret Charm had looked one of the most promising fillies around as a two year old winning both her races and having Ouija Board behind in one of those races. After being unplaced in Group 1 company in her first 3 runs in 2004 Secret Charm found her form with a gritty performance to win a conditions event at Doncaster at 11/2.  She ran with credit in 5th in a Group 3 at Newmarket on her final start.

John Gosden’s filly Phantom Wind was considered by some to be a dark horse for the 1,000 guineas.  As it turned out she only won once in 5 starts.  She disappointed in her first two races but then came good in the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at the end of July at Goodwood at 16/1 so she turned out to be a very profitable selection.

Border Castle only raced twice, winning a Newmarket Handicap (4/1) at the end of August, from another A lister, Zero Tolerance.  He was not discredited when 5th of 13 in his only other run.

John Gosden’s 3 year old Maraakeb only ran twice winning the second run at 3/1 after failing first time when odds on.  His win in a Sandown maiden was a taking performance proving his odds-on flop to be all wrong as he made all at a strong pace and enjoyed the step up in trip to 10 furlongs to break his maiden in some style. He was fully half a dozen lengths clear into the final furlong and value for at least that margin.

I decided to keep Polar Bear on the A list after he did well for me in 2003.  Things got tough for him though when he slammed a big field by 5 lengths on his favoured soft ground in a 7 furlong handicap at Newcastle as the handicapper raised him 13 lbs.  This rather forced trainer Willie Haggas’s hand and he ran Polar Bear next in listed company at York where he just managed to win by a short head, again on soft ground, at odds of 2/1.

Two other A list horses made a small profit.  Salford City was looked on as a classic contender and David Elsworth’s lightly raced colt put himself into contention by winning the Group 3 Greenham at Newbury at 100/30.  His other 3 runs were all in Group 1 class and although he ran well enough he did not win again.  He finished 5th in the Epsom Derby.

Sir Michael Stoute’s big filly Poise only ran once, easily winning a maiden at Goodwood at 1/3. If she remains in training as a 4 year old she has bags of scope but she'll eventually make a smashing broodmare.

The B list

The B list, an alternative list to follow, also enjoyed a successful campaign.  The biggest winner was Caribbean Coral. 

As is often the case with handicap sprinters he was kept on the go throughout the season, running 11 times in all.  He more than paid his way with wins at 5/1 and 20/1.  The 5 year old won the Vodaphone “Dash” at Epsom by a short head in a 20 runner field.  Caribbean Coral, up 4lb for his win at Epsom then followed up by winning the Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle. He travelled well from off the pace, quickened up nicely to win his race and then wasn't doing a lot in front. He left the impression he won this with a bit in hand, and although he acted on this soft ground, he also goes on fast ground.

Caribbean Coral also ran some good races in defeat.  He ran 3rd to Celtic Mill in a listed race that didn’t exactly play to his strengths.  He also ran well in consecutive sprints in October, finishing 4th on both occasions.  The first of these was in a handicap at Epsom, the scene of his best win where he ran a cracker after being outpaced early on.  He was then an unlucky loser behind the consistent Corridor Creeper at Newmarket.  Caribbean Coral looked an unlucky loser as he was also slowly away but then had to sit and suffer when trying to get a run through against the far rail. He would have been second in another couple of strides and given the winner something to think about with a clear run.

There were some classy performances from other B list sprinters.  The enigmatic Airwave though was disappointing, her only win of the season coming in a listed race at Ayr at the prohibitive price of 4/6. The filly is unlikely to race again now so I was glad to see her go out on, if not exactly a high, then at least a reasonable effort at Ascot in her farewell performance.  Her final run was when chasing home Pivotal Point in the Group 2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot at the end of September.

If Airwave was not one of the more profitable selections, Frizzante, Somnus and Baltic King more than made up for that.  Frizzante, like Airwave seems to have been retired now, but once again had a fine session. She won the Palace House (Group 3) at Ascot on May day showing a fine turn of foot to beat Avonbridge by a head, with the two well clear of the remainder.  She was 13/8 favourite for this one but her second win really boosted the coffers at 14/1 in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket. A maximum field of 20, including runners from Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, France and Ireland lined up for this. After being none too well away (which didn't matter much, as she is a confirmed hold-up horse) she flew down the outside and got up under strong pressure close home to take the honours by a neck.

Baltic King is a hold up horse like Airwave and Frizzante and tends to be difficult to win with.  He managed 2 wins from 8 runs in 2004, and as these came at 7/4 and 9/1, he showed a nice profit.  After disappointing in his first couple of runs he came good in a big handicap at Ascot in July where he appreciated the fast ground and stiff finish. He got the better of Pivotal Point by a neck at odds of 9/1.  Traffic problems have cost Baltic King on a number of occasions but he managed to overcome some problems in running when winning at Beverley in a conditions race in September.  This was an impressive victory for Baltic King, who came from an unpromising position at half-way to streak clear inside the last and win like the good horse he is.

The horse that surpassed even these sprinters was Tim Easterby’s Somnus.  Somnus revels in soft ground and had the going in his favour at Newcastle in  Group 3 where he was 2nd to Royal Millenium giving away 8lbs.  He ran even better still when 2nd of 19 in the Stanleybet Sprint Cup Group 1 at Haydock in September where he was just not able to hold off Tante Rose, going down by a short head.

Somnus reserved his best displays for his trips to the continent.  The Prix Maurice de Gheest run at Deauville in August is not the strongest Group 1 on the calendar but Somnus won it anyway in typically gritty style.  In October Somnus again got his favoured soft ground and won the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.

Another sprinter that needs soft ground is Brian Smart’s Monsieur Bond.  He had a successful start to the season when trouncing 12 rivals in a Group 3 at the Curragh by 7 lengths.  He went one better in May winning at Group 2 level over 6 furlongs with Airwave and Somnus among his victims.

It makes sense to include a couple of Dandy Nicholl’s sprinters in any list to follow but I don’t always get the selection quite right.  Fire up the Band managed to win a listed race at Chester in July at 7/2 but that was his only success and he would have made a loss if backed blindly.  My other Nicholls selection was Machinist who ran consistently all season but only won once.  The win came in a handicap at Ayr in mid July under Alex Greaves at 7/1.  As he ran 8 times in all he “broke even” from a horse to follow point of view.  Five days after his only win he was turned out again under a 7 lbs penalty and ran well in second in a class B handicap at York.

Of the younger sprinters Alderney Race and Two Step Kid warrant a mention.

The former, trained by Roger Charlton won 3 times, and was 2nd twice from his 7 starts.  After picking up a Leicester maiden (9/4) he won twice at Newmarket in the summer, first in a highly competitive 19 runner handicap (13/2) where Two Step Kid was 3rd and then a class B handicap (4/1).  Although Two Step Kid only won one of his 7 starts he more than paid his way as the solitary success came at 14/1. The win came in the William Hill Trophy at York which was a typically competitive renewal of the richest three-year-old sprint handicap in Europe, and a thrilling finish with Two Step Kid getting home in gritty style after travelling like a winner the whole way.  Alderney Race was 4th of the 20 runners that day.  Two Step Kid also finished 4th in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood producing a sterling effort for a 3 year old.

It is always good to get a few early season winners when you are using a list to follow.  Mis Chicaf and Lord Mayor both paid dividends early in the season.  Mis Chicaf only ran 4 times with all those runs coming in a 6 week spell.  She won a filly’s handicap at Donny (9/2) and then demolished her rivals in a 19 runner class E handicap at York (11/4).  She was then raised a stone in the weights and only beat 2 home behind Two Step Kid at York.

Lord Mayor started the season with a promising 3rd in a good York handicap before notching his only win of the season in a valuable handicap at Epsom.  Given an ice cool ride by Keiren Fallon he came with a very late run to win going away at 11/2.  He was upped in class for his remaining 3 runs the best of which was when he was a shade unlucky when 5th in a listed race at Ascot behind Aiden O’Brien’s Moscow Ballet.  Moscow Ballet was himself one of my B list horses and won this at 8/1.

I included the mandatory Johnston 3 year olds in the B list.  The best of these turned out to be Go Padero.  He didn’t appear until 17th October when he scraped home by a short head in a Musselburgh handicap at 16/1.  On his next outing he finished 4th behind the A list Zero Tolerance before rounding off a short but profitable campaign by winning a fair 7 furlong handicap at Catterick at 9/4.
Dr Thong didn’t quite show a profit but gets a mention on the strength of his intriguing name.  Trained by Paul Cole he was kept on the go throughout the season running 10 times and winning twice at 6/1 and 5/4.

There were other more profitable 3 year old, The following nap hand all served me well; Quarrymount, Flipando, Albinus, Stoop to Conquer and Harrison’s Flyer. Quarrymount ran 10 times winning 3 and being placed 2nd on 5 occasions.  However, despite this Level of consistency he failed to make me a profit as the wins came at 1/1 & 10/11 & 7/2.  He proved a little one paced over shorter trips and his best performance was probably when winning a 0-85 handicap at Newmarket in October of a mark of 70.  Flipando was a progressive sort who looked a very useful sprint handicapper in the making, perhaps ideally served by a stiff six furlongs.  He won a 15 runner handicap at Haydock in early July (3/1) and a handicap at Musselburgh (7/2) in September and made a small profit from his 7 runs.

Albinus started off finishing only 10th in the maiden at Newbury where Mudawin won at 20/1.  Incidentally, other Russellform horses, Dr Thong and Whitsbury Cross were 4th and 5th respectively.  He was then a short head 2nd to A lister Etmaam at Bath before landing a couple of handicaps at Ripon and Salisbury at 9/4 and 6/1.  He was then only beaten a neck and a short head by Frank Sonata and Pukka in a listed race before finishing 5th of 8 in a group 3 at Newbury.

Stoop to Conquer was one of the B list stars with 3 wins from 7 starts and at good odds too.  The first was in a fairly ordinary 2 mile 1 furlong class E handicap at Pontefract (15/2) , he then justified favouritism in a slow run affair at Goodwood over 3 furlongs shorter (11/4) and rounded off the season in October over 2 miles on soft ground in a handicap at Newbury.  Not surprisingly the horse was then sold to go hurdling.

At the other end of the distance scale Harrison’s Flyer had gone on the B list after a promising effort on his only run as a 2 year old.  His first 9 runs produced little of note; he even unseated his rider coming out of the stalls on one occasion. It therefore came as something of a turn-up when, as apparently the stable second-string he pulled right away from his rivals to get off the mark at the 11th attempt at 16/1.  That win had come at Brighton and he duly followed up on the AW at Wolverhampton 3 days later under a 6 lbs penalty at 9/2.  He then completed the hat trick when getting the better of A lister Fiddle Me Blue by 1.75 L at Musselburgh at 7/1 over the minimum trip.

Harrison’s Flyer had looked a temperamental sort before his purple patch at the end of the season and another to show something of a “dark side” was Tagula Blue.  He had become a moody individual and even refused to race on his 3rd start swerving badly on leaving the stalls and taking no further part. He was certainly not one to trust but there was something symmetrical about his final form figures.  He ran 12 times and won just once – at 12/1.  The win came in a 17 runner handicap at Warwick.

If Tagula Blue was not one to trust, that could certainly not be said of the thoroughly genuine Audience.  Like Tagula Blue, Audience ran 12 times but his only win came at 11/1.  The win came in a handicap at York in September but there were plenty of other creditable performances notably when 8th, but beaten only a length in the Royal Hunt Cup.  He was only beaten a short head by Everest at Newmarket and ran a blinder in 3rd in a listed race at Haydock in early September.

John Dunlop’s 3 year old Kodiac made a small profit winning the first of his 3 runs at 5/2, while Royal Prince was a successful choice winning 3 times.  Royal Prince’s first 5 runs yielded a couple of wins, both at the skinny price of 8/11, and then ran a promising race at Ascot when 4th.  Having watched the Ascot race I was quite sweet on his chances when he turned out just a week later in a 1 mile handicap at Newmarket and he duly obliged at 13/2.

The Godolphin trained Badminton only ran twice winning the first of these in listed class at Ascot at 11/4.  He stays in training next year and can only improve.  Another profitable Godolphin horse was Duke of Venice.  After winning a small race at 4/6 he went on to win the Group 3 Queens Vase over 2 miles at odds of 9/2.  He ran 5 times in all.

Both Whipper and American Post won 3 times in France.  Whipper’s best run was in beating Six Perfections in a Group 1 at Daeuville.  American Post won a Group 1 at Longchamps but in slightly fortuitous circumstances when the likely winner lost any chance by colliding with the running rail.

The B list supplied a Classic winner from a somewhat unlikely quarter.  Bachelor Duke pulled off a surprise by winning the Irish 2,000 guineas at The Curragh at odds of 14/1.  This was a rare Classic victory for a maiden and a training triumph for James Toller, who had the courage of his convictions in allowing the colt to attempt to reverse form with the two Irish-trained colts that had finished in front of him in the Newmarket equivalent.  Azamour finished second and Grey Swallow 3rd.  As Bachelor Duke only ran 3 times in all he was a particularly profitable selection.  Azamour (pictured below) was to have his own moments of glory, by first winning the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot (9/2) and then the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown (8/1) where he has A list horses Grey Swallow, Rakti and Doyen behind him.

Mark Johnston’s Mister Monet looked like being one of the season’s stars until fate intervened.  He started off in handicap company and after being beaten a short head on his seasonal reappearance he won a small 4 runner race at Hamilton and a rated stakes at Ascot.  He was stepped up in class to win the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock beating Muqbil. This was a very decent effort, beating a more than useful rival who was in turn well clear of the rest.  A win in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano came next and Group 1 success seemed to beckon.  His next race was the Champion Stake.  He had improved so much since his Ascot handicap win that he looked to have a realistic chance of winning. Sadly, he went badly wrong in the early stages and was taken away with a suspected fractured near-hind pastern.  Sadly he could not be saved.

If the death of Mister Monet was one of the low points of the season the saddest day was  when the news came in that the great Persian Punch had died from a heart attack at Ascot during the Sagaro – the whole of racing was shocked.   He was undoubtedly one of the most popular racehorses of all time.  Doubtless there will be discussions about whether he should have been racing again at the age of 11, but that is surely redundant. He was always gallant and in a way it seems fitting that he should go out with his boots on, as it were.  Still, I would rather it were otherwise – if ever a horse deserved a long retirement it was this one.
I will give the last word on the B listers to Bandari who won 4 times from 10 starts.  Three of the wins came in successive runs starting with a 10 runner conditions stakes at Newmarket on May Day.  He then beat a good field in a listed race at Chester where he was given a patient ride and, in the end his proven stamina came firmly into play as he swooped late to win going away.  The hat trick was completed in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.

The former St Leger third,  Bandari’s renaissance since he was dropped back to 10f had been one of the highlights of the season, and although he had plenty of good form over further in his younger days (he never ran over 10f until this year, having jumped straight from 1m at 2 to 11.5f at 3) there can be little question that this is his optimum trip now. Sent past Chancellor into the lead going into the bend, he was strongly challenged throughout the last 2f and possibly headed, but battled really hard under strong pressure, despite Ikhtyar leaning into him.

Stepped back up to a mile and a half Bandari took the Princess of Wales Stakes Group 2 at Newmarket of July 7th getting the better of Sulamani who was carrying a Group 1 penalty. From a punting point of view Bandari did us proud as his wins came at 9/2, 100/30, 7/2, 12/1.

The handicap snips list

The idea of this list to follow was to find some big priced winners. The most spectacular success was Sierra Vista.  David Barker’s sprinter only won once from 12 starts but that win came at 33/1.  The win came in an 18 runner handicap at Newcastle over 6 furlongs.

Although Toby Balding’s Marker came in at 9/1 in a handicap at Goodwood he failed to make me a profit as he ran 11 times.  Dandy Nicholl’s Pieter Brueghel had a similar profile winning at 13/2 in a handicap at York but this was the only victory in 10 starts. In contrast Lynda Ramsden’s Trojan Flight ran pretty consistently all season in sprint handicaps.  For the record his form figures over a busy season were 40400043212104240.  The two wins came in 18 runner handicaps at Beverley (3/1) and Redcar (7/4) so a fairly substantial loss on this one I am afraid.  One of the problems with Trojan Flight is that he needs to be held up and in big field spring handicaps this inevitably leads to traffic problems.

I did get a profit out of the Richard Fahey trained Bo McGinty although this looked unlikely at one stage. Bo McGinty shaped well from a poor draw on his first start and confirmed that promise when winning a competitive 3 year old sprint handicap at Hamilton by a short head, at 11/4 favourite.  He then lost his next 5 starts but dug me out by winning at Sandown at 6/1 where the stiff finish seemed to suit.  In total he ran 9 times.

The star of this section was Pivotal Point who won 4 of his 9 starts for popular trainer Peter Makin.  He had shown signs of a return to form at Windsor when running well from an unfavourable draw and confirmed this when winning a handicap at Ascot (5/1).  He then took the Stewards Cup at Goodwood at 7/1.  He burst through between the pacesetters and, despite edging right to finish midtrack, settled the race with an impressive turn of pace.  He beat The Tatling in a Group 3 at Longchamp and finished the season with a win in the Group 2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot (11/2.)

On 27th September I added Spirit’s Awakening to the list and he promptly won a 17 runner handicap at 11/2 3 days later. He had not won a race for two years, but he had run some good races in defeat during the summer and this success was not coming out of turn.  He ran twice more without winning again but a nice profit had been made with this “supersub.”

The Dark Horses list

The horses on this list were mainly unraced 3 year olds so the strike rate was always likely to be sub standard.  There were some success stories however, and none more so that Into the Dark who had a perfect record of 4 runs and 4 wins.  He started by quickening clear in a Doncaster maiden to win by 5 lengths (15/2), followed up by winning handicaps at Newmarket (100/30) and York (evens). His last win was gained in the listed Doonside Cup at Ayr (5/4).  A horse who was unraced as a juvenile, Into The Dark progressed well all season and he could develop into an even better performer next season.

Vinando was a real moneyspinner winning 3 of his 5 starts at 11/2 and 8/1 and 12/1.  After winning a maiden at Windsor he disappointed on his handicap debut but, fitted with a tongue tie, he powered clear in the final furlong to win over 12 furlongs at Ascot. After a defeat in his next race he won a Newmarket handicap when taking on his elders for the first time.

Madid won a Newbury maiden (7/1) coming from last to first and did the same thing a couple of weeks later in a listed event at Sandown (11/2).  He was unplaced on his only other start but far from disgraced when staying on when the race was over in the St James Palace Group 1 at Ascot.  He may have lost his unbeaten record but this was still a fair effort from a Listed-race winner.
Hezaam won a couple of handicaps in the middle of an 8 race campaign but would have paid to follow as one of the wins came at 12/1 at Sandown.  Glencalvie is no world beater but won a couple of small handicaps at Yarmouth and Lingfield at 11/2 and 5/1
respectively.

Alqwah is a taking filly and, despite wearing a tongue-tie and crossed noseband, settled well in front in a Salisbury maiden in June and won a shade cosily to suggest there is plenty more to come after this belated racecourse debut. She was nicely clear into the final two furlongs and when challengers threatened, she found more to suggest a longer trip will be no problem.  She won at 5/1 but did not appear again.  Balavista won a maiden at Haydock in impressive fashion (4/1) but rated 84 failed to make an impression on his only other start in a handicap at the same track.

Roger Charlton’s Motorway ran 3 times winning the middle one in a Windsor maiden (7/2).  Worcester Lodge didn’t show much as a juvenile but was gelded and made a successful return to action when winning a 12 furlong Newmarket handicap (8/1).  He may have been unsuited by the track when finishing down the field on his only other start in a similar race at Kempton.

Two year olds

This was not a vintage season for the 2 year olds list to follow.

Crimson Sun was consistent with form figures of 21102.  His best run was the last when only beaten a neck in a Group 3 at Newmarket when not quite seeing out the 7 furlong trip.  Pike Bishop only ran twice but won on both occasions.  He won at 8/1 at Windsor looking a smart colt in the making and followed up with ease at Ripon when long odds on.  He is a grand sort with plenty of foot but did not run again.

Kissing Lights ran with credit in decent company.  Her only win came in a filly’s maiden at Warwick.  She was 3rd (at 25/1) in the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot in July and was a strong finishing 3rd in the Group 2 Flying Childers (20/1 this time) at Doncaster in September.

Jamie Osborne’s Moth Ball proved progressive winning 3 times.  He showed promise in his first two runs but gave problems going into the stalls and was coltish in the paddock.  However, on his third run, although Moth Ball had little clue what was required, Darryl Holland  made his mind up for him, making all the running to win a decent maiden at Goodwood (3/1).  He went on to win twice more, on his 6th and 8th starts.  The first a nursery at Brighton, and best of all in the listed Rockingham Stakes at York (15/2).  He is not entirely straightforward, he was still playing up in the stalls on his last run, but he is clearly a smart colt.

My two juvenile stars were Etlaala and Galeota.  Etlaala is a colt with plenty of size and scope and he turned a Newbury maiden in August into something of a procession justifying 5/2 favouritism. He then went on to claim the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September (6/1) despite encountering plenty of trouble in running.  He was a big disappointment on his last run in the Dewhurst when he only beat one home.  Perhaps this defeat can be put down to the soft ground.

Galeota won 3 of his 6 runs.  His wins were in a maiden at Windsor (7/2), a conditions stakes at Doncaster (4/1) and the Group 2 Mill Reef at Newbury (7/1).  Although the latter race was probably a weal renewal the winner is a tough customer who always gives of his best.

Old friends

I always keep an eye on horses from previous years lists to follow.  Refuse to Bend, Russian Rhythm and Soviet Song all did themselves credit at 4, having been top quality 3 year olds.  Refuse to Bend was back to his very best when winning the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot by a neck from Soviet Song in June and the Eclipse at Sandown in July. He was forced wide when a respectable 3rd to Rakti in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.  Russian Rhythm only made one appearance in 2004 and that was a winning one in the Lockinge at Newbury.  She was then found to have injury problems and was retired.  Soviet Song had rather lived in the shadow of Russian Rhythm in 2003 but she really came into her own last season winning 4 times including 3 consecutive Group 1 races.

Some of the season’s big handicaps were won by former A list horses, notably the Cesarewitch (Contact Dancer) and the John Smith’s Cup at York (Arcalis). Contact Dancer had moved to Mark Johnston’s yard and was well ridden by R Ffrench to hold on gamely after leading over 2 furlongs out.  He was suited by the distance and the soft ground.  Arcalis, formerly with Lynda Ramsden but now with Howard Johnson, having been purchased to go hurdling won from an apparently “impossible” draw and in spite of the fact that jockey Robert Winston dropped his whip a furlong out. 

Sprinter Smokin’ Beau bounced back to form with a vengeance having not won a race since October 2002, running up a hat trick of wins in sprint handicaps. The best of these was the Great St Wilfred at Ripon where he beat Pieter Brueghel (2nd) and Machinist (4th).  He had dropped some 17 lbs in the handicap since his last win in 2002 and this, combined with a change to front running tactics brought about his change of fortunes.

Another front running sprinter to prosper in 2004 was the northern trained Celtic Mill.  This tall, leggy gelding won a Thirsk handicap in May, and listed events at Windsor and Doncaster.  He was also a creditable 4th of 12 behind Pivotal Point in the Diadem.

A couple of ex A list horses, Muqbil and Tante Rose won on the same day.  The filly Tante Rose had an excellent season winning all 3 starts. She won the listed Cecil Frail at Haydock, a Group 3 at York and best of all the Stanleybet Sprint Cup at Haydock (Group 1) beating Somnus by a short head.  Tante Rose has often looked a potentially high-class filly in the past and the drop to 6f last season has been the making of her, though she has also benefited from having plenty of time between races. There was no arguing with her performance at Haydock as she came from off the pace to lead inside the final 1f, showing a fine turn of speed.  Muqbil improved in2004 winning a minor event at Doncaster in June and a listed race at Newbury in July.  He was not disgraced when 2nd to the ill fated Mister Monet in the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.

Another to improve in 2004 was Pongee. She won a listed race at Haydock in May and the Lancashire Oaks there in July.  She put up other decent performances including a second on the Yorkshire Oaks.  Another filly that certainly deserves a mention is Polar Gem.  I followed this one as a two year old in 2002 but she turned into a much improved performer in 2004, winning 5 times with brave front running tactics.  She won a minor event at Ripon and handicaps at Kempton, Sandown and Newmarket. She ended up by winning in listed company at Yarmouth.  Another ex “Russellform” two year old to catch the eye was Byron who showed a good turn of foot to win the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.
                                               
I had some success with tips on the web site for a couple of Sir Mark Prescott horses.  Tempsford won a 12 furlong handicap at Doncaster in October while the grey Coat of Honour won a class B Goodwood handicap in July.  Both came in at odds of 10/1.

I am always interested in lists of horses to follow and I made a note of a dozen horses put forward by Peter Naughton at the start of the 2003 season.  They did OK but that was nothing to the spectacular success these horses achieved in 2004.  River Falcon won twice at 16/1 and 12/1, Gifted Flame twice at 5/1, Jordan’s Elect won races at Hamilton at 7/1 and 8/1, Mon Secret at 14/1 and Piccled at 33/1.
 

A perfectly “Legal” theory

It would take a long time to explain my connection with Legal Set and I won’t bore you with the details.  Suffice to say that this grey, a multiple winner in times past, especially on the all weather, had been in decline for a while.  Anyway, he appeared at Ayr on June 18 on a mark of just 45 having won off a mark of 70 or more 5 times.  OK, he was a couple of pounds out of the handicap but if Natalia Gemelova could get down to a low enough weight to make her 7 lbs claim pay we had to have a small each way nibble.  "Legal" had run quite well 2 days before when 5 lbs out of the handicap and had been dropped a further 5 by the handicapper.  Thrown in or what?  These stories rarely have a happy ending and of course and the old boy was caught on the line and beaten a neck at 20/1, and no, in the  I didn’t do it each way!  It was a damned good theory though and 6 days later the same jockette got him home at Hamilton at 9/2.

 

In all Legal Set ran 36 times in 2004 and just recorded the one win – not exactly a horse to follow.
 
If we are talking about horses with a busy schedule we have to give old Quito a mention.  The Ayr Gold Cup winner of 2003 was better than ever in 2004. After winning a handicap at York in May and a minor event at Haydock he went on to win a listed race at Doncaster in November.

And that is where I will leave this look back at the flat season of 2004.

Continue reading “Review of the flat 2004” →

What follows is as ever a very personal look back at another national hunt season.  The emphasis is on the horses from the Russellform list to follow.

 

Slowly away

If there was something remarkable about the start of the 2003/2004 jumps season, it was its slow start.  The arid autumn meant firm ground, small fields and reluctance by trainers to risk their better horses. As a consequence I had to wait until October 18th before Flame Creek became the first winner from the list, a facile victory in a 3 runner novice chase at Kelso at 2/11.  Flame Creek's jumping was a bit chancy and he did not run over fences again, reverting to hurdles.  His best run was at Leopardstown at Christmas when he was 3rd in the Grade 1 Festival Hurdle with Rhinestone Cowboy and Hardy Eustace further back.  In fact, Flame Creek would probably have been second had Seamus Durack not eased him close home.

Multi winners

As usual we had a few multiple winners.  The most prolific of these was the northern trained Our Armageddon, winner of 6 of his 10 starts. After victories at Kelso, Ayr, Ascot and Wetherby, he  won a £20,000+ novice chase at Haydock in January, with 3 other list horses, Full Irish, Valleymore and Kalca Mome filling the minor positions.  He gave a typically impressive jumping display that day, but his best win of the season came in the Cheltenham Festival.  Having been pulled up in the Arkle on the Tuesday, he came out again to win the Cathcart Grade 2 chase on the Thursday.  He seems best at around 2 and a half miles and he likes to force the pace.  Although 3 of his wins were at odds on, he started at 9/1 in the Cathcart.  Richard McGrath rode him in all the winning runs.

Four horses scored 4 victories each.  These were Thisthatandtother, Kalca Mome, Diamont Noir and Paddy the Piper.

At the start of the season Paul Nicholl's Thisthatandtother was compared to the previous years champion novice, Azertyuiop.  Although winning 4 times, including Grade 2 events at Cheltenham and Sandown, Thisthatandtother didn't quite scale the heights of his predecessor.  He was made favourite for the Arkle but uncharacteristically made a bad mistake at the first before falling at the 2nd.  He went on to finish a creditable 2nd to Well Chief in a Grade 1 novice at Aintree.  From a profit point of view we didn't make much out of this one as he was odds on each time he won.  Just a thought about him, his best performances seem to come in small fields.

Kalca Mome (I always having trouble spelling that) gave us 4 wins from 8 runs at odds of 2/1, 9/2, 4/9 and  8/13, with novice chase wins at Newton Abbot, Hereford, Haydock and Sandown.  Not a world beater, he had his limitations exposed by   Thiswhatandtother at Wincanton, but a game performer who gave us a profit.

Diamont Noir, another former bumper winner proved a most progressive hurdler winning 4 times at 11/8, 8/15, 7/4 and 5/6.  The best win came in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Doncaster over an extended 3 miles on testing ground.  This mare obviously stays particularly well.  She has also won twice at Towcester, always an indication of a horse’s stamina.  Her owner Dominic Burke is also a breeder, so the Grade 2 win is great for him as it gives her some black type.

Lenny Lungo was upbeat about Paddy The Piper in pre season stable interviews and his confidence proved well founded. He had been fairly useful in bumpers the season before and went through 2003/4 unbeaten over hurdles. The best win was in a competitive Grade 2 event at Kelso in March when he accounted for another useful novice in Steppes of Gold.  Decent flat handicappers Chivalry and Collier Hill were 4th and 7th respectively. At 5/1, this was also Paddy The Piper's best price.

Moving on to the horses with 3 wins, there were 12 in this category.  Historically I have not had much luck with Martin Pipe's horses.  One exception was Control Man who won for me at odds of 8/1, 9/4 and 4/5.  His best win came in the 16 runner Grade 3 EBF Sunderland's NH novice hurdle at Sandown beating Eric's Charm 2.5 lengths.  He jumped badly to the left that day at the last and is probably a tricky ride.  Overall, I had a successful Cheltenham.  One of my festival winners was Fork Lightning.  Alan King's grey won 3 out of 6 starts during the season.  He ran well when just held in 2nd place by another lister, Lord Sam at Kempton, but his best victory was in the William Hill National Hunt Steeplechase at Cheltenham when he beat Shardam into second place at the rewarding price of 7/1.

Mister McGoldrick made an excellent profit for me winning 4 times at 100/30, 5/2, 4/6 and 9/2.  Sue Smith's charge "warmed up" by winning a handicap hurdle at Wetherby before embarking on a very creditable novice chasing campaign.  Things didn't exactly get off to a flying start as he was a first fence faller on his chase bow at Aintree in a race won by Santenay.  The next run saw Mister McGoldrick back over hurdles but unplaced in the "Fighting Fifth" before a sketchy jumping display left him only third over fences at Hexham in  a race won by Full Irish.  Back to back wins at Wetherby and Ayr followed as his jumping improved.  This was followed by some decent efforts in good company culminating in a 3rd in the Grade 1 Martell Novice Chase at Aintree in April.  The season ended with mixed fortunes at the Scottish National meeting at Ayr.  A win on the Friday when reversing the form with Full Irish was followed the next day by a slightly unlucky defeat when he fell 2 out when in the lead in a Grade 2 race.

Another successful novice chaser was Victor Dartnell's Lord Sam, who won all his 3 starts, although at pretty skinny odds of evens,  8/13 and 4/11.  He beat Bal de Nuit 19 lengths at Huntingdon, Native Emperor at Lingfield in a Grade 2, and Fork Lightning at Kempton where only 3 finished.  He was not always fluent in his jumping, but is likely to improve and hold his own in stronger company.

Staying with the novice chasers, one of the stars of the early part of the season was Strong Flow. This Over The River gelding made a tremendous impression winning 3 times.  His most prestigious win was when running away with the Hennessey Gold Cup at Newbury (odds 5/1).  He survived some serious jumping errors when asserting on the run-in at Kempton .  A good jumper in the main but prone to the occasional blunder.  He injured a knee at Kempton in December and missed the remainder of the season.

The cowboy and the student

Rhinestone Cowboy finally started to realise some of his enormous potential. At the Cheltenham Festival he missed the Champion Hurdle in favour of the Coral Cup Handicap where he shouldered top weight.

His young amateur jockey J P Magnier, a student at Dublin University, came in for plenty of criticism that day when Rhinestone Cowboy finished 3rd of 27, but left some judges with the impression he could have won if asked for an effort sooner.

"J P" silenced his critics in the best possible way a month later at Aintree giving Rhinestone Cowboy a peach of a ride to win the Grade 1 Martell Cognac hurdle, picking up impressively to beat Rooster Booster.

Earlier wins had come when giving lumps of weight away in a handicap at Haydock, and a smooth performance to take the Agfa hurdle at Sandown from the novice Garde Champetre.  Just after the end of UK season he took the Champion Stayers Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival from Iris's Gift.  This was a superb performance by Rhinestone Cowboy, who saw out the 3 mile trip with no trouble at all under admirably patient handling from JP Magnier.

Bold Bishop and Monet's Garden were other hurdlers who won 3 times during the season.  Former bumper winner Bold Bishop made a good start to his hurdling career.  He won novice hurdles easily at Market Rasen, Stratford and Sandown, odds on twice and once at evens.  His best run was probably when second in a valuable handicap at Sandown in March.
 
Monet's Garden, a bumper winner at Ayr in 2002/3, made a very good start to his hurdling career. His wins came at Kelso, Carlisle and Perth but his best effort was when 1.5 lengths 2nd to Garde Champetre in a Grade 2 novice at Aintree.  His winning prices were, 4/7, 1/1 and 4/9.

Skinny prices were a problem throughout the season, as is often the case over the jumps.  Santenay was a good example winning 3 novice chases at 1/5, 13/8 and 4/7.

In recent years I have included Baracouda on the list as he had such a good hit rate and could be relied upon to make a small profit even though he won his races at very short odds.  Although he won 3 times at 4/9, 2/7 and 8/11 this season the strategy didn't quite come off as he was beaten by Iris's Gift in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham.  He remains a wonderfully consistent horse and surely must rank as one of the all time greats.

Hey big spender

One of the talking points of the season was the big spending owner, Graham Wylie, a sort of Abramovic of the racing world.  His most expensive purchase was Royal Rosa.  This chestnut gelding had looked a nice prospect when trained by Nicky Henderson and ended the 2002/3 season with a win at the April  Punchestown festival in the bumper.  After warming up with an easy win at Hexham, Royal Rosa impressed with his hurdling when a good second in a Grade 2 at Haydock behind the more experienced SH Boom.  A win at Ayr was followed by success in the Red Square Vodka (Grade 2) novice hurdle at Haydock where he got the better of another bright prospect in Fundamentalist, the pair pulling well clear of the rest of the field.  He finished the season by giving Iris's Gift plenty to think about when only going under to the Champion grey by 2.5 lengths in a Grade 2 event at Aintree.

Given another years development Royal Rosa could reasonably be expected to play a leading role on the 2005 Stayers Hurdle.  It may be that connections will decide to send him over fences however.

Best Mate again

Once again list horses featured prominently in the Cheltenham Festival races.  Best Mate ensured a place in the record books by taking the Gold Cup and completing the hat trick.  He raced only 3 times during the season.  When beaten fair and square by the ill fated Jair Du Cochet in the Peterborough Chase in rain softened ground in November questions were raised about his ability to retain his title.  Jair Du Cochet, Kingscliffe, Keen Leader and Strong Flow were put forward as serious contenders.  One by one they fell away however, and Best Mate reasserted his place at the head of the market with a thoroughly impressive win at Leopardstown on December 28.  His performance in the Gold Cup itself was perhaps less emphatic than the year before, but it would be a brave man to bet against him winning the race for an historic fourth time next year.

More champions

Staying with the champions, Azertyuiop followed his win in the 2002 Arkle by running away with the Queen Mother Champion Chase at this years Festival after main rival Moscow Flyer had fallen.

A good looking gelding and a fine jumper, Azertyuiop also won the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury and was a creditable 2nd to Moscow Flyer in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.  My lasting memory of Azertyuiop from last season though is his tremendous battle with another list horse, Isio, in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.  In a driving finish Azertyuiop only went down by a neck close home, conceding 19lbs to his useful rival.

I have already mentioned the French ace Baracouda.  One of the highlights of the Cheltenham Festival was the clash between the French horse and the rising star, Jonjo O'Neill's grey, Iris's Gift.  Nobody could deny this was a classic race.  Iris's Gift (9/2) ran an absolute stormer and the way he kept finding more to deny the great Baracouda was sensational.  Several good judges feel he reversed the form because he was kept fresher this year.  While I agree to a certain extent with this, I feel a bigger factor was the tactics of jockey Barry Geraghty.  Last year he was caught a little bit by surprise by Baracouda but this year kicked on at a vital moment and really took the finishing kick out of the French raider.  It was a memorable race and one I will savour for a very long time.  Iris's Gift only ran three times during the season proper.  He was beaten into second place on his belated reappearance in a Haydock handicap in mid February, giving lumps of weight away all round.  The winner that day was another list horse, Tardar at 16/1. Waited with, Tardar made headway early on the second circuit and came through to lead two out and went on to score tidily. A progressive sort, who had further improvement in him after only six runs over hurdles, sadly he fell fatally in his next race at Cheltenham. After the end of the season proper Iris's Gift travelled to the Punchestown Festival where he ran a bit flat and finished 2nd to a resurgent Rhinestone Cowboy.

The outsiders

I had one of my more successful Cheltenham Festivals with a number of big priced winners.  These included the 33/1 success for Hardy Eustace in the Champion Hurdle.  The Irish horse dictated the pace and kept finding more when challenged by the 2003 winner, Rooster Booster.  Rooster Booster himself only managed 1 win from 6 runs although he was most consistent, finishing second on 4 occasions.  The one win came at odds of 5/4 in the Red Square Vodka Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock in January.  He was 2nd to Rhinestone Cowboy in the Martell Grade 1 Hurdle at Aintree. The biggest festival winner though was Creon at 50/1. I had this rather inconsistent sort on the list on the basis that one victory was likely to show a profit but I wasn't prepared for the theory to work out quite so well.  Gradually working his way into contention in the 24 runner Pertemps Hurdle Final he stayed on strongly to lead near the line.

Two other Festival winners from my list to follow were Native Emperor and Sporazene.  Native Emperor ran 6 times in all, winning twice.   At Stratford, just after Christmas, Fork Lightning would certainly have beaten him but for knuckling on landing and almost getting rid of his rider at the first in the home straight. He proceeded to get the last all wrong when slightly hampered by the eventual runner up and his rider could not keep the partnership intact on this occasion.  As a result Native Emperor was left with the race at his mercy after never actually looking likely to score.  This win was gained at 8/13 but at Cheltenham he took the 4 mile National Hunt Chase at 5/1.  Given a very patient ride, he was produced at just the right time to win going away.  He was pulled up in the Scottish National on his final start but otherwise he was most consistent, with two wins and 3 seconds.  Two of the seconds were behind other list horses, Lord Sam at Lingfield and Royal Emperor at Wetherby. 

Paul Nicholl's grey Sporazene was having his 4th run of the season when winning the County Hurdle on the last day of the Festival at 7/1.  In a race where only 5 of the 23 runners were in the handicap proper, Sporazene won despite idling markedly when hitting the front.  The plan with him is to go novice chasing.

 Moving away from the Cheltenham, but staying with the big priced winners, Through The Rye at 25/1, was based on the same theory as Creon.  and even though only winning once on his 6 outings still showed a handsome profit.  The single win came in a class C handicap hurdle at Wetherby on soft ground where he battled back to regain the lead and win off a career high mark.

Ashley Brook was an early season winner for me at 12/1, in a 16 runner novice hurdle at Exeter, beating Supreme Serenade.  That was his first run of the season and he won one of his remaining 4 races, this time he was odds on when making all in a Taunton novice.  He is apparently difficult to train but proved fairly useful, particularly when allowed to dominate.  He looks the type to make a chaser.

The winning trail

It is always particularly satisfying to back the winner of one of those big Saturday handicaps.  Inca Trail, Best Mates full brother, did the job for me in the Tote 6 handicap Hurdle at Wincanton in February at 12/1.  Inca Trail will forever live in the shadow of his brother Best Mate, but he showed here that he is a talented horse in his own right on his day, which admittedly isn't very often.  He doesn't seem to have taken too well to fences and this drop back to hurdles suited him, although he was well beaten in subsequent runs at Cheltenham and Aintree.  One win from 5 starts and that at 12/1.

To be honest Inca Trail popped up when I least expected him to.  The same could be said of Kerry Lads.  Trained by Lucinda Russell, Kerry Lads was on the list as a likely winner of a handicap chase or two.  He did run well in that sphere on a couple of occasions, notably when 2nd to Grey Abbey in the Scottish National at Ayr despite being 4 lbs "wrong" and when 2nd to, Mr Woodentop, in a 3 mile chase at Carlisle.  His one win came at Carlisle, but in a handicap hurdle at the nice price of 10/1.  The heavy ground conditions were ideal for Kerry Lads , who had rather lost his confidence over fences. Taking advantage of his 18lb lower hurdles mark, he stayed on dourly to prevail by 3 lengths.

Any horse that wins at 10/1 under the list system is likely to prove profitable and another 10/1 success was Limerick Boy. Limerick Boy, trained by Venetia Williams, has a touch of class, having twice won Group 3 races on the flat in Germany and competed in both the German and Italian Derbies.  His sole win last season came in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton ridden by the excellent 5 lbs claimer Sam Thomas.

The Ballys

There were plenty of other profitable list selections during the course of the season.  Both the "Ballys" did OK for me.  Ballylusky gets a fair number of mentions on Channel 4 as he is owned by Jim McGrath.  He won 2 of his 5 starts at odds of 13/8 and 4/1.  The first of these was in a novice handicap chase at Aintree.  He looked thrown in at the weights on his hurdles form, and as there are doubts about his jumping, he does not look a natural, he may have benefited by 3 fences being left out because of glare from the low sun.  His jumping did let him down on his next couple of runs and his second win came when reverting to hurdles.  This was in a class B handicap in heavy ground at Haydock, where incidentally, Creon was pulled up.  Toby Balding's Ballyvaddy only ran 3 times but had form figures of 121, giving me wins at either end of the jumps season.  He won a handicap hurdle at Kempton in October (7/2) a race he had won the year before, and a novice handicap chase at Worcester in April (2/1).

Some lesser lights

It was not just the top class horses that contributed to a successful season for the list to follow.  There were plenty of unsung heroes as well.  Tom George has had success from horses purchased in Poland.  This year I followed Don Valentino.  who was one of Poland's better three-year-olds in 2002, finishing third to Dancing Life in the Nagroda Derby. Don Valentino won twice from 5 starts at odds of 7/1 and 11/2. He made all to win a novice hurdle at Haydock with his other win coming on his handicap bow at Doncaster.  The latter was a game effort under top weight when the ex Polish horse rallied to regain the lead.  He also finished second at Fontwell when only collared close home.

Paul Nicholl's well bred Blue Americo didn't really live up to expectations but despite one win from 6 attempts he made a profit as the single win was at 15/2 in a novice hurdle at Taunton.  Jenga was another where one win was enough.  She had won both her starts in 2002/3 and according to trainer Kim Bailey she needs soft ground.  She only raced 4 times last season winning a mares only handicap chase at Hereford at 6/1 on her 2nd start.

Farmer Jack and Glen Warrior had similar betting profiles to Jenga.  Farmer Jack had run up a hat trick the previous season but after some niggling problems ran only 5 times last term winning the middle start at 6/1.  This win in a Sandown handicap chase was easily Farmer Jack's best effort since he joined Philip Hobbs, who explained afterwards that he had come back in late, following a wind operation.  Glen Warrior ran 4 times, winning one of these, a handicap hurdle at Bangor at 6/1.  He went on to finish 2nd of 14 to Limerick Leader at the same track.  Always considered a chasing type by trainer Julian Smithy, and since the start of the summer jumps season he has already opened his account with a win in a beginners chase at Cartmel.

Lord Maizey only ran 3 times but after finishing 4th on his reappearance he won both the other starts at 9/4 and 4/1. Both wins came in handicap chases at Chepstow.  On the second of these Lord Maizey was locked in a close battle with Claymore when his rival fell at the last.  Long Walk was another profitable choice, winning 2 of his 6 races for Henry Daly.  In the first of these, a beginners chase at Ludlow, only 6 of the 14 starters completed, he won at 9/2, and returned to the same course to recorded his second success at 9/4 in a novice chase.  He is a long horse that can be difficult to "wagon" and seems to like right handed tracks and good ground.

So often 1 win will do to show a profit and this proved true with Sue Smith's Tomenoso.  This one landed a 16 runner handicap hurdle at Carlisle on his 3rd and final run of the season at odds of 5/1.

Successful chasers

Staying with Sue Smith, another profit maker was Simply Supreme who proved a smart novice chaser.

He was impressive and jumped well when winning a two finisher event at Wetherby and put in a very smart run to win the Mildmay Novices Chase at the Aintree Festival where stable companion Royal Emperor was a faller.  The wins came at 5/2 and 11/2.  He was a faller at the first in the Scottish National.  Simply Supreme is by the stallion Supreme Leader.  Another by the same sire is Supreme Prince, who also registered two wins.   He was sent off odds on favourite on his seasonal debut at Exeter but his jumping was not fluent and he could only finish 2nd (Fork Lightning was 3rd). He then won two on the bounce, firstly at Chepstow (10/11) and then in a Grade 2 at Ascot just before Christmas (9/4).  He rallied gamely to win here but again did not impress with his jumping.  He was largely disappointing on his remaining 2 starts.

Isio has already been mentioned for his marvellous dual with Azertyuiop. He is a horse I have followed since he was featured on the Furloingtogo website when he first came over from France.  He has been admirably consistent and last season had form figures of 5112.  The first win was the epic encounter with Azertyuiop when winning the Victor Chandler Handicap (4/1).  There were doubts about his stamina before the 2.5 mile Vodaphone Gold Cup at Newbury in March but these were quickly dispelled when having been up there all the way, he quickened to the front going to the second-last and won convincingly at 11/2.  Turgeonev, Seebald and Hand Inn Hand filled the minor placings in a race worth over £61,000 to the winner. In his final run of the season Isio was far from disgraced when finishing 2nd of 7 to Moscow Flyer in the Grade 2 Melling Chase at Aintree.

Moscow Flyer started at evens that day.  He had earlier won the Tingle Creek at 6/4 so, despite his fall in the Champion Chase made an overall profit.

Hand Inn Hand has featured on my list for the last 3 seasons.  He is a horse with plenty of ability but is sometimes let down by his jumping.  His sole win from 7 starts came in a valuable chase at Ascot on the last day of January at 15/2.

Hand Inn Hand has been prone to lapses in concentration, not helped by his reluctance to settle. This time, however, following a schooling session with Yogi Breisner on the way to the races, he settled beautifully and made no significant mistakes, although he was low at times.  Apart from this win his best run was probably when just touched off by another lister Scots Grey at Kempton at the end of December. A small, but select field, and a terrific finish, Scots Grey and Hand Inn Hand repeating their novice form here virtually to the ounce, although that scenario looked unlikely when the latter cruised to the front at the fifth-last and quickly went clear. With hindsight, Hand Inn Hand had gone too soon, for he doesn't do much in front and his jumping went to pieces.  Scots Grey started at 15/8 and as he only ran twice in the season was another that made me a profit.  He fell heavily at Aintree in the Topham Chase on his only other run.

Rival hurdlers

Hurdlers Crystal D'Ainay and SH Boom had several close duals.  Cryatal D'Ainay was very consistent with form figures reading 212134. Both wins came at Cheltenham. First, beating SH Boom by a length (evens) and then beating the future Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle (evens again).  The 2nd was behind SH Boom (2/1) in the Spa Hurdle at Cheltenham where Jonjo O'Neill's runner was entitled to turn the tables on 4lbs better terms. Other decent runs came when 3rd in the Champion Hurdle and 4th behind Iris's Gift again and Royal Rosa at Aintree.  Crystal d'Ainay did not have the race run to suit but he still got closer to the winner than at Cheltenham and he remains an exciting young staying prospect.  SH Boom also won 3 from 6, the other win coming in a Grade 2 at Haydock (1/2) beating the exciting prospect Royal Rosa.

The French Connection

The ex French Bal De Nuit had won both his completed starts over hurdles the previous season  and had form figures of 2113 over fences.  He was beaten by Lord Sam at Huntingdon on his initial run.  He then won at Newbury and Ascot, beating another lister, Non So, in the latter race.  There appeared to be no excuses for his final defeat behind Kalca Mome at Haydock.  The wins came at 1/3 and 8/11.

 Liberthine defied an absence of 491 thorough injury to win his first start in England at 7/2 in a beginners chase at Stratford over 2.5 miles but failed to see out the trip on his only other outing over 25 furlongs.  Another ex French horse, L'Ange au Ciel won his only start in a decent novice chase at Exeter at 6/5 but then chipped a bone and missed the remainder of the season.
The ex French gelding Mon Villez proved a profitable horse to follow, as his 3 wins came at odds of 4/6, 3/1 and 2/1 in novice hurdles.  His best win came in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices Hurdle at Wetherby. A disappointment at Newbury on his previous start, he seemed to relish the underfoot conditions here, and although the first of the two principals to come off the bridle, he kept on really well.

More winners

Lenny Lungo's highly promising Brooklyn Breeze, unbeaten in 3 novice hurdles in 2002/3 was most impressive on his chasing debut when winning a 9 runner novice at Carlisle by 25 lengths from Simply Supreme.  This was his only start and he landed the odds at 7/4.  He looks sure to improve and win more races. Another promising type that only ran once was Emma Lavelle's Cloudy Grey. He made a most impressive start to his hurdling career when winning a 14 runner novice at Ascot making the running and quickening readily when shaken up after the last.  He won at 100/30 but fractured a fetlock and missed the remainder of the season.

The season before, Cloudy Grey had been second to Cornish Rebel in a bumper.  From a system point of view Cornish Rebel made a profit, just like his brothers Best Mate and Inca Trail.  He is very lightly raced and has in fact won 3 of his 5 starts.  He ran twice last season and won two of them at 4/11 and 5/2.  After a win at Chepstow he won an excellent renewal of the Challow novice hurdle at Newbury after Christmas with Big Moment, Control Man and Mon Villez among his victims.  On his final run of the season he trailed in last of the 8 finishers at Aintree showing signs of inexperience.  He is likely to go novice chasing next season.

Coming into the new season one of my main hopes was Bourbon Manhattan, trained by Alan King. As things turned out he was rather disappointing, even though he won two of his 6 runs at 11/4 and 5/4.  The future looked rosy when he won his opening race accounting for Bold Bishop by 11 lengths after the favourite Tarbolgan had fallen. He could then only finish 2nd when 2/17 favourite in the mud at Towcester and then came back lame when beaten by Lingo and  Garde Champetre at Sandown.  He was then 2nd when favourite at Wincanton and after jumping errors could only finish 8th in the Supreme Novices at the Festival.  He retrieved his reputation a little with a win at Ayr on his final run.  2.5 miles looks like being his trip and he will be interesting over fences next season.

Another potentially bright star was Back to Ben Alder, described as a huge talent by Nicky Henderson.  He only ran once as he was difficult to get fit, winning a novice hurdle at Sandown impressively (4/6).   Murphy's Cardinal, trained by Noel Chance had a similar profile.  Now unbeaten in 5 starts his only run this season was when justifying favouritism in a beginners chase at Plumpton.  He looks an interesting prospect but his tendency to jump right could cause problems at tracks like Cheltenham and Aintree.

I always include a number of novice chasers on the list and Full Irish and Royal Emperor were a couple that registered a two wins apiece.  Full Irish is only a small horse but he has done well enough for me whether it is in a bumper, hurdles or over fences.  His two wins this season were gained at 2/7 and 13/8 but he was 2nd twice and in with chances when falling 4 out on his other run in a race won by Mister McGoldrick.  His 2nd place efforts were both behind other list horses, Our Armageddon and Mister McGoldrick.  Formerly a decent hurdler, Royal Emperor is a grand chasing type by Roselier.  He ran a fine race in 2nd at Wetherby on his reappearance over hurdles at Wetherby, probably beaten by his lack of a run.  He then went on to win 2 of his 5 novice chases.  He fell twice but on completed starts had form figures 112.  The second win came at Wetherby with Native Emperor and Silver Knight in 2nd and 3rd.  He also ran a cracker to finish 2nd in the Royal and Sun Alliance Chase at the Festival.
Rosslea had a consistent season in novice chases with form figures of 12212.  The defeats were all in good company behind, Therealbandit, Pizarro and Our Vic, while the wins came at Bangor (3/1) and Kempton (10/11).  Rosslea was always going to be a chaser and he jumps well and stays.

One of the brightest stars looked likely to be Lord Transcend, a grey owned by Graham Wylie.  He made all on his chase debut at Ayr sauntering clear to win by 17 lengths at 1/5.  Unfortunately he then missed the remainder of the season after suffering a leg injury.

The young pretenders

Early in the season the challengers to Best Mates chasing crown seemed formidable.  Kingscliffe had won the Foxhunters at the 2003.  He opened the new season by winning a handicap at Ascot despite breaking a rein at the third fence, a superb riding performance by Andrew Thornton.  He was again impressive when winning his next start at Cheltenham but then things started to go wrong.  He was not fluent when 2nd of 4 finishers next time out and did not run again because of injury doubts.  Many thought that Keen Leader could threaten Best Mate.  He put in a good round of jumping to win the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock from Truckers Tavern and stayed on late to finish 3rd behind Shooting Light and Irish Hussar in a  Grade 2 at Newbury but he was well beaten in the Gold Cup.  The French hope was Jair Du Cochet. He beat Best Mate soundly at Huntingdon and also won the Pillar Chase at Cheltenham but sadly had to be put down after a training accident.

In the event the main threat to Best Mate turned out to be Sir Rembrandt.  Robert Alner's chaser has always had potential and he has now proved himself to be a top class chaser.  He won the John Hughes Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow (9/4) by 8 lengths from Bindaree and then ran a close second to the same horse in the Welsh National.  He ran as if something was amiss on his next 2 starts but put in a career best effort when half a length second to Best Mate in the Gold Cup.

Changing codes

Decent flat handicappers Lingo and Howle Hill were making their debuts over hurdles.  Lingo had been a winner twice on the flat for Lynda Ramsden.  Much was expected of him after a move to Jonjo O'Neill's yard.  After a win at Naas he put in a smart run to finish 2nd at Ascot in a Grade 2 and finished his season by winning the Grade 2 Tolworth Hurdle (5/4) at Sandown beating Garde Champetre.
  Howle Hill had been 2nd to Akshar in a 0-105 handicap on the flat at York.  He won 2 of his first 3 starts over hurdles at Wetherby and Wincanton, failed to win in 3 subsequent efforts when upped in class but did finish 5th in the Triumph Hurdle.  You wouldn't have made your fortune following either of these.  The same could be said of Eric's Charm whose 3 wins came at odds on. He proved a smart novice however with his best efforts coming in defeats to Inglis Drever at Warwick and Control Man at Sandown.  Former decent hurdler Non So won a couple of novice chases at Plumpton before losing out to Bal De Nuit at Ascot.

Three for their future

Three particularly promising types last season were Steppes of Gold, Very Optimistic and Our Vic.  Former bumper winner Steppes of Gold won novice hurdles at Haydock and Kelso at 3/1 and 1/1 before putting in a fine effort in a Grade 2 contest at Kelso to finish second to a smart rival in Paddy the Piper, conceding 4lbs to Lenny Lungo's horse.  A 5th at Aintree followed for this lightly raced chasing type. Jonjo O'Neill's Very Optimistic impressed when winning a couple of novice hurdles at Haydock before disappointing slightly when 8th in the Royal and Sun Alliance at Cheltenham.  Much was expected of Our Vic who had been unbeaten the season before.  He ran a fine race to finish 2nd in a handicap hurdle at Sandown under 11 stone 12, picked up a facile victory on his chase bow at Exeter and won in impressive style from Rosslea and Double Honour in the Reynoldstown Novices at Ascot.  He could only finish 3rd in the Royal and Sun Alliance Chase at Cheltenham but remains a chaser of great potential.

I made a small profit from the Philip Hobbs trained Limerick Leader.  He won his first race in September before I added him to the list and went on to win 2 of his remaining 7 starts at odds of 5/4 and 5/1.  The second win was in a handicap hurdle at Bangor where he gamely rallied to get the better of Glen Warrior, another lister, on the line.

Shardam got off to a bright start for me making all to win a handicap chase at Cheltenham.  Unfortunately, although putting in some decent efforts he did not win any of his remaining 6 starts. He was 4th of 11 behind Marlborough in the Racing Post Chase at Cheltenham.  There was another decent effort from this thorough stayer when he finished second to Fork Lightning at the Cheltenham Festival.

A couple of late winners

The season ended with a bang as Hasty Prince and Korelo gave me a couple of decent priced winners in the last couple of days of the season.  Hasty Prince won a handicap hurdle (11/4) at Chepstow on his first run of the season, but failed to notch another win in his next 6.  He was highly tried and usually competed with credit, including a 2nd to Rooster Booster at Haydock.  He put in a career best effort on the penultimate day of the season to lift the Concept hurdle at Sandown under a particularly astute Barry Geraghty ride at 10/1.  During 2002/3 Martin Pipe's Korelo had won valuable handicap hurdles at Ascot and Sandown and all looked set fair for a successful novice chasing campaign.  He didn't take to fences however and his first 8 runs of the 2003/4 season failed to yield a single win.  Come the last day of the season though and back over hurdles AP McCoy cajoled his best form from him winning a handicap hurdle at Sandown at 9/1.

The next National winner?

I must mention one horse that didn't win at all.  Lord Atterbury came to the Cheltenham Festival with a big reputation from the point-to-point circuit and was made 3/1 favourite for the Foxhunters.  His preparation had been interrupted however and he was never travelling and his rider pulled him up after the 18th.  Only 16 days later on another big stage, the Aintree Grand National, Lord Atterbury ran an absolute blinder.  He was never far away and just lost out to Amberleigh House and Clan Royal in a thrilling finish at 33/1.  This was a terrific run and he is obviously a chaser with a bright future.
Mr Wylie again

During the season I added a couple of ex flat horses to the that were with Sir Mark Prescott but had been purchased by Graham Wylie.  Chivalry had won the Cambridgeshire, and although not the most fluent of jumpers, won 3 of his 4 starts over hurdles.  Inglis Drever looked more of a natural over timber and quickly notched up 3 consecutive wins.  When tackling the best he still ran with credit, finishing 2nd in the Royal and Sun Alliance where he lost a shoe, and then 4th in a Grade 2 at Aintree where arguably his pilot Graham Lee overdid the hold up tactics.  The victors in those races, Fundamentalist and Garde Champetre were also featured on the my list.  

Fundamentalist, a winner between the flags, only ran 3 times under rules but certainly impressed as a star of the future.   He began with a win at Kempton in February where he accounted for the consistent Howrwenow.  His only defeat was when running up against Royal Rosa in the Prestige Novices Hurdle at Haydock.  On this occasion he ran green at the finish and just went down by half a length.  Starting at 12/1 at the Cheltenham Festival he beat the favourite Inglis Drever and other battle hardened types from the flat and will be an exciting prospect when he tackles fences.

Garde Champetre, a winner in France ran with great consistency in his first season in the UK.  His form figures were 212251.  The seconds all came in good company in races won by Big Moment, Lingo and Rhinestone Cowboy.  Narrowly beaten by Lingo at Sandown, he did remarkably well to finish fifth in the Supreme Novices at the Festival.  He was outpaced down the hill and looked hopelessly placed at the second-last. He still had around a dozen in front of him over the last, but stayed on strongly. His win in a 2.5 mile Grade 2 at Aintree was deserved, beating Monet's Garden.  Next season he ought to make a smart novice chaser.
Another ex flat horse to make his mark was Trouble at Bay.  He won 5 of his 7 races over hurdles, disappointing on his last run when well fancied in the Triumph Hurdle.

Old friends

I always keep an eye on list horses from previous years.  There were some big wins from some of my old favourites and none better than Grey Abbey.  The 10 year old, now trained by Howard Johnson, but up a tremendous display to win the Scottish National under top weight of 11 stone 12 at his favourite Ayr track.  He jumped well and ended up winning by a distance when his nearest rival Granit D'Estruval came down at the last.  Granit D'Estruval came close to claiming a rare double as he had won the Irish equivalent at Fairyhouse.  He was running from 5lb out of the handicap and scoring for the first time over fences since 2001. He had shown signs of a revival when fourth in the Tote Eider at Newcastle, and prospered here under a positive ride by Brian Harding, who sent him to the front five out and extracted a fine response when strongly challenged from the last.  It was good to see Harding succeeding on Granit D'Estruval as he had been jocked off Grey Abbey when that horse changed stables. 

Talking of weight carrying performances, one of the best of the season was Tyneandthyneagain who produced a magnificent performance in the Tote Eider Chase, defying top-weight as a novice, having never been out of the first two throughout.  He had earlier won a listed race at Doncaster in the mud.  He has had his fair share of problems over the years and it was good to see his trainer's patience rewarded.  Another horse to redeem a flagging reputation was The Bajan Bandit.  This gelding had looked a star in the making at one time for Lenny Lungo but had completely lost his way, being pulled up on 3 of his previous 4 starts when coming into a class B handicap hurdle at Ayr in January.  Suited by the heavy conditions he proved much too good for his rivals and won well, ridden by Tony Dobbin.

Another horse to come back after a variety of problems was St Pirran.  Always well thought of by Paul Nicholl's he came back from a long absence and followed up a win at Sandown by taking the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

St Pirran went on to finish 3rd at Aintree in the Martell Cognac Red Rum Handicap Chase (Class A) Grade 3with stable companion Armaturk in 2nd.  Armaturk had earlier won a handicap chase at Doncaster, having been given a bit of a chance by the handicapper.  He later showed his liking for a flat track with a creditable 2nd to Azertyuiop in the Game Spirit chase at Newbury.

Turgeonev had been a real money spinner in 2001/2 but as a result went up the handicap and failed to register a win in 2002/3.  Tim Easterby's grey was always going to be a likely winner as he came back down the ratings however and he duly obliged at Wetherby in a handicap chase in February at 10/1.  This was his 4th win from 7 starts on the Yorkshire track.  A month later he excelled himself running second to Isio in the Vodaphone Gold Cup at Newbury off a mark 6 lbs higher than his highest previous winning rating.

Talking of old friends, I have followed Jaklari since his bumper days.  He always looked a chaser in the making and it was the quality of his fencing that gained him 3 wins from his 6 starts.  He won handicap chases at Cheltenham, Ascot and Ayr and also finished 3rd to Seebald in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham.

Who else deserves a mention? Fondmort and Seebald won a decent chase at Cheltenham each.  Fondmort the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November and Seebald a Grade 2 in mid April.  One of the more unlikely winners was the quirky Puntal.  Coming into the "Whitbread" at the end of the season he had mixed 5 winning runs with some dismal performances where he seemed far from keen on the task.  Although obviously a "bit of a monkey" he is tough and showed that he stays well in the Grand National before unseating his rider.  He won the Whitbread by a short head from Royal Auclair at 25/1.

Horses coming back from longish absences through injury can often be worth close look.  Two such this time were Historic and and Argent.  Historic has missed the best part of 2 years but had been a smart hurdler and after a couple of "sighters" won a novice chase at Exeter in February.  He later won at Huntingdon under top weight.  D'Argent ran up a hat trick of wins at Warwick, the best being the last where he accounted for Tynenadthyneagain and Silver Knight. 

Horses for courses

Another popular theory is the horses for courses argument.  Aelred really loves Newcastle and won on both his visits to the north east track last season both times ridden by Kenny Johnson.  The grey Avalanche loves Kempton and duly won a handicap at the end of February.  Avalanche had a consistent season in handicap chases and also won on his last outing at Ayr.
I decided not to retain either All Sonsilver or Behaving Badly on my A list this season.  The former won 2 of his 6 starts, both handicap chases at Newcastle but would not have made an overall profit.  On the contrary Behaving Badly would have made a handsome profit.  His first 4 runs owed more to science fiction than anything with form figures of UF0 but he showe plenty of enterprise on his 5th start winning at 25/1 in the Highland National at Perth making the most of both his stamina and a favourable mark over fences compared to his hurdles rating. 

My favourite

If ever I own a horse, something along the lines of Benbyas would do me nicely.  This little horse first came to my attention through a Racing Channel video of horses to follow a few years back.  He is a game front runner with a great hurdling technique.  I was delighted to see him notch a couple of wins in 03/04.  The first was at 8/1 in heavy ground at Uttoxeter (and heavy at Uttoxeter is heavy indeed!)  He also won at Haydock and even found time to squeeze in a victory on the flat in an apprentice handicap at Pontefract.

Carrie and the Gunner

I put the name of Forest Gunner in "the notebook" after reading an article by Malcolm Heyhoe a year or two ago.  The horse clearly goes well for the trainer's wife, Carrie Ford and I quite fancied the partnership in the Foxhunters at the Cheltenham Festival.  Forest Gunner was given an enterprising ride, he was clear a mile from six out and ran on in good style. It was a nice story too as Carrie Ford had had a baby only 10 weeks earlier.

 

 

 

 

 

Continue reading “Review of the 2003/04 jumps season” →

Review of the 2003 flat season
 
Introduction

A review of the previous season has become a regular "Russellform" feature and I have tried to expand it a bit this time round.  When looking back at the 2003 flat season I have taken a particularly personal view.  The horses mentioned are those that I backed or tipped, sometimes successfully, sometimes less so.  Most will have appeared on my list to follow for the season.  I hope you will read and enjoy.

Alba Stella proved a fairly useful performer for Sir Mark Prescott winning handicaps at Folkestone and Newcastle.  She was below form in listed races on her last 2 starts.

The horse that came 3rd to Airwave in the Temple Stakes back in May, Acclamation, proved a much more profitable horse to follow than the filly.  He was arguably a little unlucky when 2nd of 20 (at 16/1) to Choisir in the King's Stand Group 2 at Ascot but had to wait until the beginning of August before registering his first win of the campaign when dead heating with Chookie Heaton at Doncaster.  To be honest Gerald Cottrell's sprinter made heavy weather of this and at 4/6 (and that shared) was hardly a profitable winner.  Much better was to come though.  After running third behind Oasis Dream over 5 furlongs in the Nunthorpe at York he won twice back over 6 furlongs, first in a listed race at Goodwood (10/11) and then in the Group 2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot at the nice price of 9/1.  Like Airwave and Somnus, Acclamation finished the season in the Prix De L'Abbaye where he ran with credit to finish 4th of of 19.

Acclamation has now been retired to stud.  Reflecting on his career, Cottrell said: “We were hoping he could run for another year and it’s going to be sad losing him, we won’t have another one as good as him."

  
“I wish he had had a clear run in the King’s Stand. He was slowly away and was flying at the finish and should have won. He’s so placid, eats well and was so easy to train.”

The flying filly Airwave produced one of the most remarkable finishes of the season to take the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Sandown. She gave the rest a 7 lengths start and still cut them down with contemptuous ease.  Jockey Dane O'Neill even had time to take a breather when he drew level with the leader before asking the filly to quicken again. 5/2 was a generous price for the day and Henry Candy's speedster looked set to win further sprint honours.  Sadly things never quite dropped right after that stunning display at Sandown.  She was beaten into 2nd by the ultra tough Aussie raider Choisir in a Group 1 at Ascot and then 3rd behind Oasis Dream and Choisir in the July Cup.  She ran creditably enough after a training setback to come 3rd to Somnus and Oasis Dream at Haydock before failing to get a clear run in either The Diadem or the Prix De L'Abbaye.

Akshar won 3 handicaps at Goodwood (7/2) , Epsom (5/2) and York (6/4).  At Goodwood he was chased home by Macadamia and at York just held off the challenge of the fast finishing Howle Hill who has won for us recently over hurdles.  His best run was probably in a Group 3 race at York when 3rd to the very smart Godolphin horse Naheef.  His only disappointing run was in the Cambridgeshire when he ran much too freely and faded out of contention.

Ed Dunlop's Anani only won once in 5 starts in the UK, and that at cramped odds.  He fared rather better on his travels though, winning a listed event in France and finishing 2nd of 10 in a Group 3 race at Frankfurt.

Anticipating trained by young Andrew Balding won his maiden at Beverley at 7/2 and a "D" class Salisbury handicap at 6/1.  He was also a creditable 4th to No Refuge in the Tote Gold Trophy at Goodwood.

Arakan  proved a smart performer winning twice from 7 starts, a Warwick maiden (4/6) and a handicap at York beating another A lister, Bigalothegigalo (5/4).  Arakan proved much better than handicap class when running 2nd in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and was then a very unlucky loser when 2nd to Nayyir with Tante Rose 3rd in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.  He was badly hampered at the distance and had to be switched and just failed to get up. He ran well on his final start of the season when again a bit squeezed for room in the Group 2 Victor Chandler Stakes at Newmarket behind Just James and Nayyir.

 
Arcalis from the Ramsden stable proved a most successful list choice running consistently well in middle distance handicaps.  He gained 3 wins and 3 placed efforts from 10 starts with the wins coming at odds of 4/1, 4/1 and 3/1.  He was also a very good short head 2nd of 18 to Tug of Love in a steadily run event at Doncaster.

Asian Heights won the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes before being sidelined again with an injury.  He has suffered from injuries throughout his career and that has restricted him to just 8 runs.  He has won 5 of these though. Although he has an awkward head carriage he seems genuine and is usually held up for a late run.

A Very Good Year  trained by Terry Mills is a big strong colt with plenty of scope.  He won at 13/8 and 7/1, on the second occasion beating Texas Gold and Currency in a 17 runner handicap at Kempton.  He was then 2nd of 13 to Mazepa in a handicap at Ascot when running on late after failing to get a clear run.

Hughie Morrison's talented Baltic King suffered in this respect more than once but still proved a profitable horse to follow with 2 wins from 9 outings at odds of 6/1 and 4/1. The wins came in handicaps at Leicester and Ascot and this progressive 3 year old also finished 2nd twice and ran 3rd in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster.

Banjo Bay had failed to notch a single win from his 8 starts when I followed him during 2002.  He ran 7 times in 2003 and only once finished in the first 10 (he even unshipped his rider in one race.)  However his only first 10 finish was a winning one at Goodwood at odds of 20/1.

I included both Beauchamp Ribbon and Beauchamp Rose on the list to follow. The name is derived from the village where the owner lives, Compton Beauchamp.  Sadly Beauchamp Rose suffered a fatal accident but Beauchamp Ribbon ran up a hat trick of wins in mid season.  Things looked far from promising at one point when the filly's first 5 runs ended in defeat and she showed signs that she may have an unreliable temperament. However first time blinkers did the trick when she won her sixth outing in a class G seller at 4/1.  Two further victories followed at 4/6 and 4/1 before her form dipped again with 4 defeats.  As I "bailed out" before the last of these Beauchamp Ribbon made me a small profit for the season.

Big Bad Bob won once in England when odds on but his other two successes came abroad in a listed race at Deauville and a Group 3 at Baden Baden.

Bollin Eric , a big strong sort, won the St Leger last season but the resultant Group 1 penalty this entailed proved a bit of a millstone in Group 2 and 3 company this time round.  He did manage to shoulder his penalty to win the Group 3 Lonsdale Stakes at York which was a fine effort. There were other good performances from Tim Easterby's four year old, notably a third in the Hardwicke Stakes (Group 3) at Ascot.  He has now been retired to stud.

Bollin Janet is a 3 year old filly trained by Tim Easterby.  She only won once from 7 starts but that was at 11/1 in a "C" handicap at Haydock paying her way with something to spare.

Brian Boru won the St Leger under Jamie Spencer.  He had disappointed in both the Epsom and Irish Derbys but improved to finish 2nd in the Great Voltigeur at York before going on to his classic victory.

Byron  proved a good choice winning 2 out of 4.  The first win was when odds on in a decent Newmarket maiden but his best performance was in his final run when winning the Group 2 Mill Reef at Newbury at the very nice price of 9/1.  The two defeats both came in Group 2 company.

Celtic Mill notched up a couple of wins for us in handicaps at Pontefract and Hamilton at odds of 8/1 and 3/1.  He did appear to start the season well handicapped after a winter all weather campaign that saw him win 3 times at Wolverhampton.  He also ran 2nd to Quito in a Newcastle handicap and won at odds on after I had removed him from the list to follow.

Sir Mark Prescott put in a remarkable training performance to prepare Chivalry  to win the Cambridgeshire on his seasonal debut.  I had kept Chivalry on the  list for a second season after he had won 4 times for me in 2002. In the Cambridgeshire it was generally thought that the firm ground would be against him and he was allowed to start at 14/1.  Given a marvellous ride by the evergreen George Duffield he just held on to win by the shortest of short heads.  He has since been sold and started his hurdling career with a win.

 I was rather chuffed with myself in 2002 as I followed Mick Channon's CD Flyer until he won at 10/1 and then dropped him on the basis that he wasn't very likely to go in again.  Like so many of these old sprinters he would have made a profit for me again this year as he won twice from 10 starts in handicaps at Haydock and Goodwood at odds of 6/1 and 14/1 respectively.  He was apprentice ridden on both occasions.

Coat of Honour proved a useful handicapper winning at Pontefract and Brighton.  He improved further when a neck 2nd of 10 at Haydock on his latest start and looks the sort to continue to progress and win more races.

 Colisay was 4th in the Lincoln and ran another blinder next time out in a competitive Sandown handicap to finish runner up., especially as he was poorly drawn and had to come around the outside. He deserved to win a decent prize and did so next time out, again in a Sandown handicap at 6/4.  He also ran much better than the bare form suggests when 10th of 32 in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot from an unfavourable draw.

Collier Hill is an old friend and certainly did not let us down. He won his first 2 starts of the season, handicaps at Hamilton and Haydock, both at 8/1.  The Haydock win was in the Old Newton Cup where another tough, genuine performer, Waverley was 2nd.  Of his remaining 4 runs by far the best was when 3rd to a couple of other list representatives, Haranpour and No Refuge, again at Hamilton.

I omitted Danehurst at the start of the season but reintroduced her just in time to win her only remaining race in the UK.  This was at Chester in September when she produced an extraordinary effort to win a 6f Listed contest.
After forfeiting ground with a poor start, the five-year-old mare still looked hopelessly placed many lengths behind the leaders as the field turned for home. She then had to be switched at least twice to get a run and still had five lengths to make up on Golden Nun passing the furlong marker.
 
To her enormous credit she then responded to her jockey’s strong riding to produce a late burst which got her up to win a couple of strides before the post. Those who managed to get the 21’1 offered in running on Betfair about the even-money chance deserved every penny.

Amanda Perrett's Dawn Invasion had been a real money spinner in 2002 with a 50% strike rate and some fat starting prices.  He only ran 3 times in 2003 but won the 3rd start at 16/1 when he found his form with a vengeance without much help from the handicapper.  This was a fine win under top weight in a class B handicap at Newmarket.

Definite Guest is a 5 year old grey gelding trained by Richard Fahey.  He scored twice from 11 starts picking up handicaps at York and Newbury.

John Gosden's 5 year old Demonstrate only ran twice in the UK and won a 6 furlong listed race at Windsor at 2/1 in May.
 
Desert Opal is a sturdy colt won 3 out of 7 at odds of 11/8, 7/4 and 11/4.  The latter runs were in handicaps over a mile at Newbury and Haydock.  He is clearly suited by some juice in the ground and was described by Steve Drowne, who rode him at Haydock, as "a nice sort of horse waiting to happen."

Echoes in Eternity got off to a pretty inauspicious start showing precious little in three defeats.  She then found her form to win a listed race at Yarmouth (11/1) and followed this with a game win in the Group 2 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket (9/1) holding off the determined challenge of Macadamia.

Far Lane had come 2nd to Beauchamp Pilot in the Cambridgeshire the season before and hopes were high that he could go on from there.  He did just that winning a valuable 20 runner handicap at York and then winning twice at Newmarket in October, the first a Group 3 and the second a listed race where he did well to shoulder his Group 3 penalty and still beat Bustan.  The winning odds were 7/1, 9/2 and 6/1.

I followed Fearby Cross for a while at the back end of 2002 much to the detriment of my wallet.  With the excellent benefit of hindsight though, he was a winner waiting to happen in 2003.  His 3 career handicap wins had come off marks of 70, 73 and 75.  The last of these (off 73) was in September 2001 but up until the end of last season he was still on 72. The handicapper relented this season though and had dropped him down to 62 and with a claimer taking off a further 3 lbs we should have all been on him at 8/1 in an apprentice handicap at Newmarket.  In fact a 3 lbs penalty wasn't enough to stop the 7 year old winning again at HQ under an excellent ride from Lisa Jones, this time at 6/1

 Fire Up The Band ran consistently well but rather found himself in the uncertain zone between handicaps and listed events.  He won twice and was placed 4 times from 7 starts.  The wins came in handicaps at Ascot and Newmarket at odds of 3/1 and 4/1 respectively.
 There were other fine efforts in defeat, notably when 2nd three times, to the progressive Patavellian in the Stewards Cup, Ian Balding's Dubaian Gift in a listed race at Doncaster and finally behind Quito in the Ayr Gold Cup.

Frizzante had a fine season with 4 wins from 6 starts.  He promptly romped home at Leicester first time out at 16/1 when no tipsters went for her.  I was on next time when she carried 10 stone to victory at Doncaster at 6/4.  A couple of unlucky defeats followed.  First she finished strongly to take 4th from a poor draw in the Stewards Cup and then again when well backed in the Ayr Gold Cup she was again given little chance by the draw.  I was rewarded further with 2 wins at Newmarket at 10/11 and 11/10.
I also made a small profit from a Sir Michael Stoute handicapper Funfair.  This gelding won his first race of the season in a handicap at York at "Burlington Bertie".  He failed to win in his remaining 3 starts but was second in a big field handicap Sandown.

Not all my selections from Sir Michael's yard paid off but another Stoute horse that did buck the trend and show a profit for me and that was Gamut with 2 UK wins from 4 runs.  The wins came at Newbury and Windsor at odds of 6/4 and 5/4.  His best run though was when runner up to Vinnie Roe in the Irish St Leger.  This was an excellent effort with Gamut beaten by a length.  Another of the A list horses Bollin Eric put in a high class run to finish 4th.  Sadly Gamut was not able to give Pat Eddery a winning farewell on the last day of the flat.

Another horse to make a decent profit was a Luca Cumani 3 year old called Giuliani.  This one won on her handicap debut at Windsor at 7/1 in the mud.  She failed to justify favouritism when 2nd under Kieran Fallon on her second run and was unplaced when tried in a visor on her only other start.  She is likely to go over hurdles having been snapped up by a national hunt stable at the Newmarket sales.

Generally I did OK with the sprint handicappers.  Greenslades was one sprinter to make a profit for me.  Rather like his stable companion Pomfret Lad, Greenslades did little in most of his runs but popped up at a good price for his only win.  He won 1 of his 4 starts and that at 6/1 in a handicap at Windsor.
 
Hallion has had his injury problems suffering from a split pastern and as a result probably started the season on an attractive mark.  He is probably hard to keep fit and only ran 4 times but would have paid his way when having to dig deep  to make all under Willie Ryan in the Thirsk Hunt Cup at 16/1.  His other notable effort was a 3rd behind Polar Bear and Nashaab at Ayr.
  
Hasanpour is a tall, useful-looking colt who won a maiden and a handicap, both at Hamilton.   An unexposed and progressive sort trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he won his handicap beating No Refuge by a neck in an 11 runner field making virtually all at odds of 11/4.  I understand he has since been purchased by J.P. McManus for 150,000 gns and will be one to look out for when running over hurdles.

Hathrah was hardly profitable winning once from 4 starts at that at 4/9 favourite.  Her win was in a maiden but she also ran well in good company when runner up in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster and in a listed event at Newbury.  She is, I feel, open to further improvement.

One lister worth a mention here is the ill fated Hawk Flyer (picture below).  Sir Michael Stoute's 3 year old picked up a couple of wins before finishing a creditable 3rd in a rather rough Group 3 at Goodwood. It was in the Great Voltigeur at York where Hawk Flyer really showed his potential running a fine race coming from behind, keeping on strongly for third and pulling well clear of the rest. Though he seemed to hit a ‘flat spot' and took time to get going, it is worth bearing in mind that he only made his debut in June, whereas the two who beat him (Brian Boru was 2nd) were both Group 1 performers as two-year-olds. On the strength of this run Hawk Flyer was tipped as a potential St Leger winner but sadly it was not to be as he was fatally injured in an accident at home.

 
Indian Haven was a horse I followed as a 2 year old and I was pleased to see him follow up a win in the Free Handicap at Newmarket with a surprise victory in the Irish 2,000 gns at The Curragh.  This was a triumph for his trainer, the unsung Paul D'Arcy and jockey John Egan.

Inglis Drever was a winner for my list to follow in 2002 and was also beaten in a couple of photo finishes but he did even better in 2003 winning 3 from 5.  The 3rd win was in a 1 mile 7 furlongs handicap at Newmarket.  This was something of a consolation prize after the horse had missed the cut in the Ebor where he was a strong ante post fancy.

Islington gets a mention here and there in this review.  Apart from the Breeders Cup her other win was in the Yorkshire Oaks when she beat John Gosden's Ocean Silk by a length.  Sir Michael Stoute's excellent filly finished 3rd twice in top company.  Once behind Nayef over an inadequate trip in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot and then behind High Chapparal in the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.  This latter run was a cracking effort where Kieren Fallon was inclined to blame himself for not making his challenge earlier

Tim Easterby's Jeepstar (sound like a T Rex single) got off to a most unpromising start but ended up with 2 wins and a number of placed efforts from his 10 starts. The wins came in handicaps at Ripon and Musselburgh at odds of 11/2 and 9/2.  He seems game enough although he has given some trouble in the preliminaries.

There was no more spectacular winner in 2002 than Just James who came from being tailed off 2 furlongs out to swoop to victory with a quite remarkable turn of foot.  He actually won 2 of his 6 starts, including the Group 3 Jersey Stakes with both wins at odds of 20/1.  You leave a horse like this out at your peril and Just James certainly made me pay for omitting him this time round.  He won the last of his 5 starts, again showing a late turn of foot to win a Group 2 race and account for 3 current “listers” into the bargain, Nayyir, Arakan and Trade Fair.

Kalaman won 2 of his 5 starts but at odds of evens and 10/11 the latter in listed company at Kempton in May.  There is little doubt that he was an unlucky loser when 2nd in the St James Palace Stakes (Group 1) at Royal Ascot.  After an inexplicably poor run at York he was given an overconfident ride by Christophe Soumillon in a Group 3 race at Newmarket.  This was a 4 runner race that turned into a tactical battle.

Richard Hannon's Kings Point won twice from 5 starts.  There was plenty to like about his first couple of placed efforts and he confirmed that promise with consecutive wins at Goodwood and Newmarket at 8/15 and 6/1.  The latter win was in a Group 3 race. In his final start he disappointed in a Group 2 race at Goodwood were he may not have been suited to the ease in the ground.

Lateen Sales was talked up as a classic contender pre season but finished last in the 2,000 guineas. He bounced back from that with a pillar to post win in a 4 runner listed race at York (7/4).  He also won a Group 3 at Maisons-Laffitte over 9 furlongs in very soft ground.

Lingo, trained by Lynda Ramsden looked a likely type to follow having apid his way in 2002 with 3 wins.  He duly won a couple of handicaps in April at odds of 3/1 and 2/1, the latter a class B event at Epsom under Kieren Fallon.  Lingo has moved to Jonjo O,Neill who has high hopes of him as a hurdler.

A horse who nearly gave me one of my biggest wins of the season was Local Poet.  He had been featured in "Steve Taplin's" excellent "2 year olds" book and on his first couple of outings finished 6th and 2nd. He was unconsidered for the 23 runner 2 year old Trophy at Redcar, starting at 25/1.  On the day I was switching between TV channels as there was racing on both sides and I switched across to the Redcar race just in time to see Local Poet burst clear of the field and go several lengths clear.  Alas, it was not to be as the ultra tough Peak to Creek cut him down getting up close home to win by a head.

Lochridge did his young trainer Andrew Balding proud.  She had much to live up to, her dam having won 15 times including thr Prix De L'Abbaye (twice) and the Stewards Cup.  Lochridge is certainly on the right lines to emulate her illustrious mother's achievements and won 2 handicaps and a listed race, the latter at Pontefract where Simianna was 4th.  She also ran a lifetime best when 3rd to Acclamation in a Group 2 at Ascot.

I always keep an eye on list horses from previous seasons and several have performed well.  For example Macadamia beat 31 rivals to win the Royal Hunt Cup

A 2 year old to show a profit was Mick Channon's Mahmoom with form figures of 211.  Both wins were at 4/6.  Mahmoom is held in high regard by Mick Channon and looks the type to make a 3 year old.

A late profit maker was Malvern Light who won on her 2nd outing at 6/4 in the last week of the season.  She is a half sister to winners in Italy and Turkey.  Her win came in a 16 runner maiden at Nottingham impressively by 5 lengths.  She looks a useful prospect for next season.

We get older and we start to realise that there are certain ambitions that will not be fulfilled.  I was beginning to think that backing a 66/1 winner was up there with keeping goal for England and playing Hamlet at the Globe.  That was until I walked into William Hill's near Euston Station to find that Marakabei had prevailed in the 1.45 at Yarmouth.  Rae Guest's mare was given a peach of a ride by Jamie Mackay and obviously relished the soft ground in this listed race.   This was actually her second win of the season, the first coming at 12/1 (after I had, in my infinite wisdom, taken an early price of 10s). She will obviously be hard pressed back in handicaps now and it would come as no surprise to see her retired to the paddocks.

Midas Way, trained by Roger Charlton, managed one win from 6 starts but that at 16/1 in a Salisbury handicap in June when Anticipating was 2nd.

Morson Boy  was a typically genuine Johnston gelding who won 3 of his 4 starts, all on Yorkshire tracks at odds of 100/30, 5/6 and 7/2.  This Lear Fan colt is a likeable sort and likely to develop into a smart stayer.

Mr Dinos won the Ascot Gold Cup in fine style for Paul Cole . His was a triumphal procession up the straight after stalking Persian Punch, and looked value for more than the bare margin, coasting the final 100 yards and leaving the impression that another circuit would have been enjoyed.  His Ascot win came at 3/1 after he had earlier won the Group 2 Henry ll Stakes at Sandown at 6/1.

Another to make a profit was Marcus Tregoning's Mustajed.  This colt had been described as a "sure fire 2 year old winner" by his trainer and he didn't disappoint, winning on his only start in a Newbury maiden at 15/8.  He looks sure to improve and win more races.

Of the 2002 listers that I did not retain for 2003 Naahy probably had the best season winning 3 times from 9 turf starts. The best of these was probably a B handicap at Goodwood in May where Desert Opal was 4th.  He was also just beaten a short head in a listed race at Epsom Andrew Balding's Rimrod.  All in all Naahy proved a very useful and game performer for his trainer Mick Channon.
Nayyir showed a decent profit winning one of his three Uk Starts at 6/1 in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes. He had suffered a severe form of colitis at the end of 2002.

Nevisian Lad  also showed a profit as his won 2 out of 5 at 5/6 and 4/1.

Staying with the sprinters, Native Title was probably one of the moist "unpickable" winners of the season.  I had him my A list last season when he was trained by Michael Blanshard and I always thought he was about to land a big win but he never really delivered.  In all he ran 10 times in 2002 and won but once, at 9/2! Hardly a profitable horse to follow and I duly left him out of calculations this time around.  He changed stables in 2003 and went to the sprint maestro, Dandy Nicholls.  After a "siter" he promptly won the Ayr Silver Cup at odds of 66/1 ridden by Joanna Badger.  Not for the first time Nicholls had revitalised an apparent failure.

Needwood Blade was a successful "lister" in 2002 and hit a rich vein of form again in 2003 picking up successive wins at Newmarket.  Firstly he won the listed Abernant stakes over 6 furlongs and showed his versatility by then winning over the minimum trip in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes.  Seb Sanders took the ride both times.

No Refuge, another Sir Mark Prescott 3 year old opened his account in the Swedish National Day handicap at Wolverhampton.  His second win was at Lingfield despite a 13lbs hike in the weights.  This was the race where Beauchamp Rose suffered a fatal injury.  A determined victory in a class E handicap at Hamilton  provided win number 3 and despite rising rapidly through the ratings, like many from his stable over the years, he remained progressive after coming into his own over middle distances and landed a valuable handicap at Goodwood over 12 furlongs.   He next headed for the Swedish Derby with its pot of money, finishing 3rd behind a horse called Organiser that started at the interesting price of 695/10. He rounded off the season with a 2nd  Hamilton where he was unable to reel in the gutsy winner Hasanpour, another from the list to follow,  who prevailed by a neck.  No Refuge finished the season with form figures of 13112132 with the best winning price being 7/1 at Goodwood.

Another profitable big race winner was leading sprinter Oasis Dream, a winner of 2 of his 4 UK starts at 9/1 and 4/9.  Both were in Group 1 races, the July Cup and the Nunthorpe.  The latter was a scintillating performance travelling strongly in front and needing to be merely nudged along to go clear from The Tatling.  He has now been retired to stud.

Ocean Silk only ran 4 times in the UK winning twice at 15/8 and 6/1. The second of these was in a listed race at Goodwood but she also ran creditably in defeat when 2nd to Islington in the Yorkshire Oaks, 2nd again in the Ribblesdale and when 3rd in a Group 2 at Longchamps.

It all got off to a flying start when Oldenway, the first bet of the season won at 2/1.   This consistent handicapper is trained by Richard Fahey.

Oopsie Daisy  falls into the "profitable" category with a 9/1 win her only success from 7 starts.  This came in "D" handicap at Newmarket and was the only time she finished in the first 3.

Own Line failed to win in his first 6 runs and I decided tom axe him from the list to follow.  He promptly won next time at Catterick at 6/1 – Oh well!

The list got off to a great start when Pablo came with a sweeping run to take the Lincoln Handicap at 5/1 with another list horse Colisay in 4th. Pablo was disappointing in his three subsequent starts, two of them in listed company.

The consistent filly Penny Cross ran 10 times, winning 3 and being placed in the other 7.  The wins came at Beverley twice and Carlisle at 4/1, 7/4 and 1/2.

I put Persian Majesty on the list on the strength of a win in her only start as a juvenile.  She only ran once last season as well winning a listed race at Ascot at odds of 8/1.  An ideal horse for this system.

Polar Bear, trained by Willie Haggas had had 3 runs prior to the start of the new season and looked to be on a lenient mark.  He proved this with 2 impressive wins.  The first came in a 3 year old handicap at Newmarket over 7 furlongs at 100/30.  He followed up at Ayr over a mile when ridden by Tony Culhane at 2/1.  Nashaab and Hallion filled the minor places that day.

Pomfret Lad showed very little in 4 runs and then popped up at 25/1 making all the running at Newbury in a 7 furlong handicap at Newbury under Darryl Holland.  After failing to follow up next time I decided to remove him from the list, especially as Peter Makin's stable were obviously not right.

The progressive filly Pongee was well placed by Luca Cumani to win her first 4 starts.  Her best win was probably the last when stepped up in trip to land a class D filly’s handicap at Salisbury.  She had a stiff task on her only other outing finishing 7th of 10 in a listed race.  She is a game sort that may do better still.

One of my "old boys"  was involved in one of the closest finishes of the season.  Prins Willem was on the 2002 A list.  He is owned by Dutchman Chris Van Hoorn and sports orange silks, the same colours as the Dutch football team.  With Kieran Fallon on board for the first time Prins Willem just got up to dead heat with Starry Lodge on the line in the Autumn Cup handicap at Newbury.

David Chapman's Quito won 3 from 22 starts but these wins were at odds of 7/1, 14/1 and 20/1.  The final win was in the Ayr Gold Cup when Tony Culhane weaved him through the field to lead in the dying strides to pip Seel of Approval and the Dandy Nicholl's trained Fire Up the Band.  The other wins came when beating Smart Predator going away at Thirsk over 7 furlongs and over the same trip when heading the front running Celtic Mill in the final furlong.  He did actually record a win at Musselburgh in April but that was before I added him to my list to follow.  There were plenty of other creditable runs apart from the wins.  Quito just failed to make all at Doncaster in May when caught on the line by Grey Cossack.  He was 9/1 that day in a 19 runner field and there were plenty of other occasions where each way support would have paid dividends. Examples were when 3rd of 14 at Haydock  at 16/1 and 4th of 22 at Doncaster at a remarkable 50/1.

Refuse To Bend, was a game winner of the 2000 Guineas under a fine Pat Smullen ride.  He also won twice at Leopardstown.

Researched  was quite a late choice for the list but more than paid his way with 2 wins and 2 seconds from 6 starts.  The wins came in a B handicap at York (4/1 favourite) where Far Lane was 2nd and in a valuable race at Goodwood (8/1).  The other 2nd was when not getting the best of runs at Newbury in a 6 runner field where Mr Fallon was not at his best!

Reveillez was admirably consistent with 2 wins and 5 placed efforts from 10 runs.

Taking nothing away from Russian Rhythm, who is a top-class filly as she demonstrated when winning the Lowther Stakes at York last August, but the route Thuillez took on Pascal Bary’s filly Six Perfections in the 1000 gns was nothing short of remarkable. Having been bumped with two furlongs to run, Six Perfections was almost last and her rider momentarily appeared to accept the situation. However, once switched to the very wide outside, she made up ground hand over fist and I have no doubts that she would have prevailed comfortably with a clear passage up the stands’ rail had her rider shown some patience.
Russian Rhythm went on to land a Group 1 hat trick, taking the Coronation stakes and The Nassau Stakes. She also ran a game 2nd to the 5 year old colt Falbrav at Ascot.

The key to Sabeeh seems to be the ground.  He bolted up at Ripon to win his maiden by 13 lengths but then ran miserably at Royal Ascot.  He then quickened clear to win a conditions race at Doncaster but again disappointed on his last run in the Horris Hill at Newbury.  Both his defeats came on fast ground and he clearly needs ground on the soft side.  His wins came at 13/8 and 9/2.

Mark Johnston's 3 year old, the big grey Shanty Star won 2 of his 3 starts at 5/1 and 7/2.  The best win being the latter in the Queens Vase (Group 3) at Ascot.  I seem to remember that he may have sustained an injury after that.  If he can be kept sound he looks the sort to do well in the top staying races as a 4 year old.

Shield won the Sandown Classic Trial at 4/1.  Tragically he then had to be put down after he was found with a fractured pastern after a routine swim, part of the training programme designed to bring him back to full fitness following a disappointing run in the Derby.

One win from 19 attempts hardly seems to qualify Simianna for a special mention on the face of it.  The bare statistics do not tell the full story however as she was given few favours by the handicapper but put up a string of fine efforts in defeat.  Her only win came at Newmarket at 11/2 but she repaid each way support 5 times at odds of 22/1, 10/1, 16/1, 6/1 and 20/1.  She stayed on strongly to take 6th in the Stewards Cup from an unfavourable draw and came with a final furlong flourish to take the same finishing position in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster where Corridor Creeper, Baltic King and Quito occupied the 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. Add a close 3rd in the Ayr Silver Cup and you can see that this was not a bad season for this very genuine mare.

While the 2000 Guineas made for excellent viewing for yours truly with Refuse to Bend a winning bet, the fillies equivalent twenty four hours later was exasperating. Admittedly when French jockeys cross the English Channel for our major races they are invariably on a hiding to nothing but the relatively inexperienced Thierry Thuillez even surpassed that with the ride he gave Six Perfections. Rather like the 2000 Guineas last year when Hawk Wing was not only beaten by Rock of Gibraltar but also the draw, a Classic had not been won by the best horse.
  
I was particularly pleased to see old Smart Predator pick up no fewer than 5 sprints in good style including the historic "greys" only race at Newmarket where I thought he was a "good thing" at 11/4.

Somnus gave me 3 wins at good odds.  His first success came in a conditions event at Haydock (6/1) and this was followed up in a listed race at Newbury (5/1).  Made favourite in a similar race at Newmarket Tim Easterby's sprinter was unable to get a clear run and although flying at the finish just failed to collar his stablemate Fayr Jag.  His best performance though was saved for the Group 1 Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup when encountering his favoured rain softened ground he accounted for top class rivals Oasis Dream and Airwave at odds of 12/1. He disappointed slightly when 7th in the Prix De L'Abbaye proving perhaps that 6 furlongs is his trip.

Spanish Sun won her only start in the UK when she triumphed in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot (9/2) beating Ocean Silk.
 
Stormont was a prime example of how not following the foreign runs can be a problem.  The grey failed to win in 6 starts in the UK but landed a Group 2 race at Baden Baden. Stormont seems to be a rather delicate character and lives in a dust free box and is treated with ice and a herbal diuretic on race mornings.

With a system like this it does not always pay to concentrate solely on the big trainers. I included Striking Ambition from Giles Bravery's yard this year on the strength of some progressive 2 year old form when he won twice. He soon repaid my confidence with a 12/1 win in a listed race at Ascot at the end of April.  He followed up in a similar race at Newbury at 11/4.  Both races were over 6 furlongs.  These wins came from just 4 runs in the UK so I had a handsome profit from this one.

Tante Rose won the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury in April at the tasty price of 6/1.   Her best efforts though were a close 3rd to Nayyir in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood and a 7th of 11 to Just James at Newmarket when hampered in the final furlong.

Overall we were down on numbers of winners but there were some major individual success stories. The "prize" for the most wins goes to Sir Mark Precott's Tempsford with 5 from 7 starts.  Tempsford is a typical Prescott 3 year old with three duck eggs behind him as a juvenile.  A winner on his debut at Wolverhampton he went on to win at Lingfield, Catterick, Nottingham and again at Wolverhampton at distances between 12 and 14 furlongs.  For a horse with such a high strike rate Tempsford proved remarkably good value with only one of the wins at odds on, and that 10/11.

I added a batch of mainly unraced 2 year olds to the list mid season but they did not do that well, partly because of the fast ground conditions that prevailed during the Autumn.  One exception was Michael Bell's Temple Place who  cost a lot of money by the standards of his trainer, he is by Sadlers Wells out of a mare who won 7 races and is a half sister to 8 winners.  Michael Bell describes this horse as "the jewel in the crown" of his 2 year olds.
 
He promptly romped home at 20/1 on his second outing breaking the course record at Windsor.  3rd when upped in class at Ascot he should be seen to even better effect as a 3 year old.

Another "old boy" that did well was The Judge an A lister from 2002 who also won 3 times including a couple of claimers.  After the last of these he was claimed to go hurdling with Lenny Lungo.

The juveniles were largely rather disappointing.  Two that showed some class and landed some decent races were Three Valleys and Sabeeh.  The former won 3 of his 4 UK starts 4/5, 7/1 and 2/1 and his wins included the Coventry Stakes and the Group 1 Middle Park. That Middle Park win is under something of a cloud because of a failed drugs test. His only defeats came at The Curragh and when 2nd to surprise package Milk It Mick in the Dewhurst.  He remains a prospect for the 2,000 next year.
 
Top Dirham won at Epsom and Beverley for Sir Michael Stoute in 2001 but  was out of form in 2002 when I put him on the list.  Now trained by Mick Easterby he bolted up at Thirsk in June. Later in the month he added the Persimmon Homes Carlisle Bell to his tally.

Another to gain a profitable win at Salisbury was the John Dunlop trained Top Tenor whose only win came in a class "E" handicap at the Wiltshire track at 12/1.  He ran 5 times in all with form figures of 04123.

The most profitable 2 year old was Torcross, trained by Marcus Tregoning.  This filly won a maiden at Leicester at 14/1 and was 4th of 12 in a Listed race at Newbury on her only other start where she was certainly not disgraced. Another list horse, Hathrah, was 2nd in this race and in fact only won once from 4 starts and that at odds on.  Nonetheless she ran a pleasing race at Newbury and should win races next season.
 
Trade Fair is a horse I have followed throughout his career so far and I was rewarded with 3 wins from 5 runs (at 5/4, 10/11 and 1/4).  Sandwiched in between a couple of listed races was the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.  Trade Fair has turned into something of a 7 furlong specialist but next season may be tried over sprint distances.
 
 
Another list horse from 2002  Unleash  took time off from a hurdling campaign  to take the Northumberland Plate.
 
 
The Ed Dunlop trained Urowells was a profitable list choice.  After finishing 4th to Henry Cecil'c Tuning Fork at Haydock he won a 13 runner maiden at Newbury in May (7/2).  I understand that he has since been gelded and he may progress further next season.

One of the more profitable list horses was Waverley.  This 4 year old colt only ran 4 times but picked up the Duke of Edinburgh handicap over 12 furlongs at Royal Ascot at 14/1.  On his next outing he was 2nd of 19 to Collier Hill at Haydock.  When Waverley won at Ascot he very gamely held off a challenge from Sir Michael Stoute's Researched when it seemed for all the world as if Kieren Fallon's mount was going to sweep past.

Staying with the Fallon theme I should have spotted the significance of his booking on Alan Swinbank's What-A- Dancer.  This is a very difficult horse to win with as I found out to my cost in 2002 when he failed to win from 11 starts.  The problem is that he needs extreme waiting tactics. Alan Swinbank seldom leaves his money behind when he goes for a touch, and the booking of Kieren Fallon for the talented but slightly tricky What-A-Dancer sent the signals out early that this was the day. In fact it needed all the champion’s tactical skill to keep the six-year-old covered up until the last moment, but then strength in the saddle won the day as he edged ahead of Cloud Dancer and the somewhat less animated Jamie Spencer.

The list horses performed heroics in the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita in October. Six Perfections surely deserved her success in the Group 1 mile race after her bad luck earlier in the season, while the high class Islington just collared another list horse, L'Ancresse to win her race.  High Chapparal, who had been 3rd in the Arc dead heated with Johar in the Breeders Cup Turf.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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