It was not at all a bad day for our list to follow with wins for Ungaro (11/8), Blue Splash (5/2), Taranis (4/5), Glenfinn Captain (9/4), Bleak House (3/1) and Mostashaar (7/2).
Taranis was well in at the weights on his chase form and he was confidently ridden by Ruby Walsh I thought. The last hurdle was omitted and Walsh used this to his advantage angling his mount into the rail to deliver his perfectly timed challenge.
The best run from our listers in defeat came from Intrepid Jack who beat all bar course specialist Texas Gold in the sprint at Lingfield.
Elsewhere, a couple of horses from last season’s list to follow, Lennon and Penzance clashed in the novice chase at Aintree. Lennon, aptly named for a win at the Merseyside track got the better of things and maintained the good run that Graham and Andrea Wylie are having with their horses.
The one that got away was Authorized. I gave him a good write up when he made his debut but overlooked him today as the Newbury card was under threat from the weather and I didn’t give it enough time. He was always going well in the Racing Post Trophy and won quite comfortably at 25/1. Can’t win ‘em all!
I am looking forward to watching the Aintree racing on the box tomorrow. There are a few runners from our list to watch out for and two of them go in the first at 2.15. Paul Nicholls saddles Silverburn who is a full brother to his useful stable mate Denman. Silverburn won a bumper at Wincanton last season over 2 miles in soft ground. The extra half mile here should suit him. Pangbourne is our other runner. He won the Festival bumper here last season but is said to be not the most straightforward horse to train and he wears blinkers and an eyeshield.
In the handicap hurdle at 2.50 Model Son looks to take advantage of his lenient rating compared to his mark over fences.
Our list runner in the 3.20 is Emma Lavelle’s Cloudy Lane. He looked a useful prospect over the brush hurdles at Haydock last season. I am not sure that the Aintree track will suit him. This will be a tough little race as there is sure to be support for the Paul Nicholls trained Turko and there are also some good reports about Ferdy Murphy’s L’Antartique.
All eyes will be on Kauto Star in the 3.50. He is likely to be one of Paul Nicholls main hopes for glory at Cheltenham in March. He faces interesting rivals, in Nyrche, Stable companion Armaturk, the evergreen Mister McGoldrick and Inca Trail, Best Mates brother. This will be a fascinating contest as the 2.5 mile trip might not be ideal for any of them. Kauto Star did win at the distance in France though and he is taken to get the better of Armaturk who usually goes well at Aintree.
Robert Alner seems to have his string in good heart and he runs the mare Miss Mitch in the Towcester novice hurdle at 4.05. She is a former Irish points winner and her future no doubt lies over fences but she may well be up to winning a contest like this.
Down at Wincanton Wayne Hutchinson rides Pepperoni Pete in the 1.35. He has winning bumper form and is considered a bright prospect for novice hurdles. De Soto could be the main danger if he is fully would up after a shin injury. He finished runner up to Missed That in the 2005 Cheltenham Festival Bumper.
In the 2.05 Emma Lavelle saddles Supreme Copper. Although his form figures are far from impressive he has hinted at some ability in his runs and I am hopeful that he will pay his way on our list to follow.
Closed Shop won a Bangor bumper last season and makes his hurdles debut in the 4.50.
Bye for now.
ahorse 