16/17 January Weekend Review

The Weekend Review
By @Redgameracer

Red looks back on the weekend action and picks out any Cheltenham pointers as well as a few eye catchers.

It was a good weekend for racing, with plenty of spectacle and some exciting races on both sides of the Irish Sea. Black Hercules was visually impressive in landing the three mile chase at Warwick, jumping very well and travelling smoothly throughout. There's still three possibilities open for him at the Festival in the JLT, the RSA and the National Hunt chase and he would have the ability to compete in all three of those. Considering his last run was over 3 miles, the RSA seems likely, but Willie Mullins holds his cards close his chest and probably won't make a decision until quite near the time.

On the same card, Thomas Hobson was impressive to make all to give Danny & Willie Mullins the double. I can see why Rich Ricci says he reminds him of Faugheen, he's got a great engine, travels well, but his jumping can be scratchy. This time however, there was none of that and although the trip and the going seemed to catch up with him, he held on to fend off his stable mate Open Eagle. Better ground could seem him stay on better at this trip, but a shorter trip could also be called for. The bookmakers seem to think the Neptune will be the likely target though and he's as short as 16/1 for that.

Elsewhere on the card, there was success for the Bradstocks as Flintham made all to land the Pertemps qualifier from Popples Bay, who stayed on strongly, but couldn't catch Coneygree's half-brother. Those two were well clear of the rest of the field. Finally, the Betfred Classic Chase was won by one of the few official white racehorses, Russe Blanc, giving Kerry Lee yet another success in her early training career. It was a proper slog and only five horses managed to complete the gruelling 3m5f trip, with the white gamely staying on to defy Midnight Prayer. 

Over in Wetherby, L'Ami Serge made it two from two over fences. Again, in heavy conditions, Nicky Henderson's charge made all and made it seem very easy. He didn't have to give it his all and Henderson will be pleased with the way he jumped. The worry now is, that he hasn't really had a challenge yet and as such he's still untested at the highest level. The six year old gelding has nevertheless shortened in the betting for the Arkle to be the clear second favourite behind Douvan.

But more impressive were the winners of the first and last race. Sharpasaknife was a debut winner in the opener for Malcolm Jefferson, staying on strongly to extend his lead in the closing stages. He looks a big, strong type and I've stuck him in my tracker to monitor his progress. In the last, Woolstone One shot off like a house on fire, racing very keenly to start off with, but Gavin Sheehan gave her a bit of a breather to settle down towards the home turn. Back in the home straight, the filly put her foot back down and raced away into the distance. It was her second win in as many races and you feel Harry Whittington has got a useful one there.

Over in Ireland, there was some excellent racing at Naas on Saturday and again at Leopardstown on Sunday. Lagostovegas caught the eye in the opener at Naas. See's been consistently hitting the frame (2231 reads his form now) and on each of those occasions, she's bumped into a good horse (the likes of Rashaan and Ivanovich Gorbatov). An appearance in one of the juvenile races, perhaps the Fred Winter or the mares novice, should be well within her scope.

Willie Mullins had a good hand again, with Sempre Medici winning fairly easily followed by Roi des Francs seeing off Pont Alexandre. The latter wasn't given a hard race on his second start since nearly a 1000 days off and was still pretty close at the finish. I would imagine we'll see both turn up at the festival and possibly both will line up in the four miler. One to keep an eye on for the future would be Woods Well, second in the closing bumper, but showed enough promise to suggest he'll improve for that run. Sunday was not as good a day for Mullins' pink brigade as he had three seconds, Our Duke overturning Pylonthepressure and Childrens List & Kalkir both came home second as well. But the performance of the afternoon was Killultagh Vic, who somehow managed to stay upright after a terrible landing at the last to come back and win the 3.30. He's one to note for the Festival as well, probably in the JLT, but he holds entries to the Arkle and the RSA as well.