We are into the last week of the turf flat season but already the jumpers are taking centre stage and there is a very good card in prospect at Exeter tomorrow.
The novice hurdle at 1.40 features Paul Nicholl’s Beau Michel. He is a full brother to a horse that was placed a couple of times in the Irish National and no doubt will make a chaser himself in time. He won a bumper at Worcester on his only start so far and looks the type to win over hurdles as well although he may need further than today’s trip in time.
Oumeyade is a half brother to the useful chaser Ladalko and is owned by Jim Lewis, who of course owned the great Best Mate. He was really disappointing when pulled up on his debut at Kempton a couple of weeks back though. Tony McCoy rides him in the 2.10 where connections will be hoping for an improved showing.
Henrietta Knight, who trains Oumeyade, is double handed in the Haldon Gold Cup at 2.40 where here stable stars Impek and Racing Demon will be competing against each other. Henrietta had farmed this race in the past with Edredon Bleu and Best Mate.
Racing Demon could only finish 7th in the Arkle last season and I wonder if perhaps he might be seen to best advantage over 2.5 or 3 miles. He won on this day last season though and certainly should not be ruled out. Interestingly he has won all his 4 starts at Exeter. Graham Lee rides Racing Demon as Timmy Murphy has been claimed by David Pipe to ride Locksmith. This grey is a little wrong at the weights but the drying ground forecast will suit him as most of his wins have come on good going. Racing Demon and Locksmith are on our list to follow as is Dempsey who has both trip and ground in his favour. He was quietly fancied as a live outsider for the Champion Chase last season but was brought down at the third by Kauto Star.
Tough one to call this. I will just favour Racing Demon based partly on his 100% track record.
Denman looks like being one of Paul Nicholl’s big guns in the novice chase category this season. He makes his seasonal reappearance in the 3.10 and will take some beating. He has only been beaten under rules once and that was when 2nd at the Cheltenham Festival last March. His main rival tomorrow may be Penzance who was no match for Lennon on his last outing but should come on for the run and has ability.
In the 3.40 David Pipe’s Doc Row looks nicely handicapped but he will not want the ground to lively.
There is only one runner from our flat list in action and that is Height of Fury in the 2.30 at Catterick. He has been 2nd on his last 2 outings and should be on the premises again. There are a couple of interesting runners up against him. Funny Times has had surgery for a knee problem and has been hurdling. She has won a couple of bumpers and should not lack for stamina in the testing conditions. Flame Creek is another best known to jumps fans. In fact he was once considered a Champion Hurdle prospect. A horse with plenty of ability his jumping sometimes let him down and I remember him being turned over by a 100/1 shot when an odds on favourite a few years back.
That is all for now. It does look an interesting days racing in prospect tomorrow.
ahorse 