This is my review of day one of the Showcase - Novice Hurdle - This was won by Vicente last year, and it is a race that throws up good horses for the season, and this year I think it will be the same with the winner looking like a really nice horse for John Ferguson to go to war with. Penglai Pavilion was very weak in the market, probably down to the fact Ferguson stated that he was carrying condition and would improve for the run, but in the race he was a class apart from a useful field. Penglai Pavilion is by Monsun, the same sire that gave the yard the impressive hurdler Parlour Games (more about this on day 2 review) and he clearly stays the extended trip well and the further they went the better he was. He also stuck his neck out well, and despite being a little slow at the last (the hurdle was knocked out by the third horse) he went on to assert with a good deal of ease. I think he will go on from this to be a graded winner in his novice season. He could also turn into a festival horse this year. Lets not forget The New One won this race before his festival exploits as a novice. The second horse Laurium ran with a lot of promise, and is a horse that should improve for racing, he would probably look to be a good grade handicapper to me but I think Nicky Henderson can get him in the picture in decent races this season, without possibly being the classiest of individuals. Robin Of Locksley travelled well and I think he is one that could well come out of this with a lot of credit. He will win a little novice race somewhere this season. please log in to view this image Penglai Pavillion - Skysports.com Robin Of Locksley and Penglai Pavilion have gone into the notebook for the season. Novice Chase - This small field was a race that had intrigue, we had a good hurdler going chasing against two horses we have already seen over fences and winning with good style in the process. The new horse to fences was Qewy, who is another flat bred horse with John Ferguson, and he like many of the yards runners lacks the size of the more stoutly bred horses, and that perhaps showed here. He was given a patient ride by Aidan Coleman, and it took him plenty of time to get into a routine. He did run well despite finishing last of the three, and it was a lack of experience that cost him when the race hotted up. Rock The World dominated from the front and jumped well, he managed to grind it out and beat the weak finisher Dormello Mo. He is a fair horse that Barry Geraghty said would be more of a handicap horse for the festival rather than an Arkle horse. That looks a fair enough judgement to me, and as such, the other two have to go down as disappointments. Qewy is one to keep an eye on, he could progress from this if he jumps more fluently. Handicap Hurdle - A race of changing complexion with Dark Spirit getting up impressively under a lovely ride by Lewis Gordon who was able to claim 10lbs as he was riding for his boss. The horse travelled really well into the race and Lewis kept a hold of him until he got to the last, where he was produced to win the race, and pulled away strongly with Mr Shantu. The race was set up by Saint John Henry and My Lad Percy who went at a good clip from the flag fall, and both paid for that pace setting before Saint John Henry fell when beaten. This set the race up for horses finishing from the pack. King Boru never got his chance to test himself as he was brought down when the race started in earnest. Willem and Mijhaar both travelled strongly into the race, but it was Mijhaar and Mr Shantu that really caught the eye. Mijhaar looks like he needs a flatter track or a return to shorter trips, whilst Mr Shantu is a very unlucky loser as he was impeded in the fall of Saint John Henry, and he must be better than his handicap mark of 130. Dark Spirit can continue her upwards curve after this, and mares races would seem obvious for her, but its Mr Shantu who is the obvious notebook horse Novice Chase - This is a race I have had to watch back a few times, because I was really impressed by Vintage Vinnie in the parade ring, and I really think he could be a really good chaser if his horrible fall doesn't dampen his enthuisasm. He in the main jumps really well, and he has the size and scope to be a really good chaser over staying trips. He wasn't beaten when he fell, and who knows what the result might have been had he not made that mistake. Vicente is a nice horse, and a good stick for these to be judged, he jumped well and finished a couple of lengths off the winner. I don't think he is a top grade horse, but he clearly is talented and he should continue to progress when he gets spring ground. The horse who finished second was Weather Babe, and she did it very well, she has talent and has scope too, which means that she will be a tough horse to beat in mares chases in time, and had she jumped better down the back (water and the next two fences) she would probably have won the race. She responded really well for pressure. Ballykan jumped well and is a likable horse, but he didn't find much when asked and must go down as a disappointment. Whilst A Good Skin found it too tough when the race started in earnest. The winner was Shantou Flyer and he must be given extra credit as he was impeded at the third last and was rousted along to get back into the race. The whole field seemed to make mistakes in the race and it might just be one of those races that fell apart and the form isn't much good. Vintage Vinnie is one to follow over the next few runs, to see whether he gets confidence boosted. Maiden Hurdle - A couple of very interesting horses were in a battle royale up the hill and it was Mister Miyagi who was well backed in the market and travelled extremely well into the race. He stalked Drumlee Sunset into the final straight and pulled nicely away from the field in process. The front two are clearly useful animals and will take a good hold in the novice ranks, and whilst they might not reach the very top, both can be followed this season. Handicap Chase - One horse really took my eye in the parade ring and that was the unfortunate Conas Taoi, who is a big strong individual who should continue to improve with racing. This isn't much of a race to be honest so I am not too fussed on horses to follow. A very competitive and enjoyable race this was, and Dr Anubis ran a stormer. That says it all! Handicap Hurdle - Old Guard fairly bolted in here, quickening smartly off a slow pace. He is open to more improvement and Paul Nicholls knows how to train horses to improve with racing. He will also go ok over fences in time, and he looks a horse who can be useful in the next few years. He might continue to improve throughout the season and could be one to note. Savello was a taking horse, staying on well up the hill from the rear of the field. He will improve back over fences and given time to get over this he will be one to be with. Those two are notebook horses for me
Good read that Nass, I too think Pengai Pavillion could go on to win graded races and will be one for me to follow
If day one was a little light on eyecatchers, day two certainly made up for it. Handicap Chase - Boondooma is clearly a very nice prospect for the good doctor, and it was a brilliant training performance to get him to this race in as good condition as he did. He also went hard from the front, and found plenty for pressure when coming up the hill. The horse is obviously a bit better than his handicap mark of 147 and Dr Newland did mention the Paddy Power as his next target. On this performance, he will stay that trip without too much of an issue if ridden more patiently, and I like the way he jumps his fences and he looks a straightforward ride. He must be high on anyones list for the Paddy Power. please log in to view this image Boondooma. RacingUK.com Workbench stayed on strongly having been given a nice patient ride, and he looks like a horse who can win a big handicap if the field go at a good clip and he can creep into the contest. He was matchfit here though and that is what is so good about the performance of the winner, he managed to beat three race fit horses into the minor places. Dunraven Storm came third having had a prep run, and Astracad had won already this season. Therefore it is horses that finished well back that caught my eye. Going Concern ran very well for a long way and he stayed on nicely enough up the hill to finish 6th. This was his seasonal reappearance and he can progress from this. Similar can be said of Sew On Target who became outpaced through the race, but he did stay on very well up the hill when well beaten. He will drop a few pounds for this, and a step up in trip is bound to suit him now. A word on Eastlake, who pulled up early. I hope he is ok. 4YO Hurdle - Hargam was trying to give weight and a beating to this field, and to be honest, he reminds me of my old friend Starluck. He is grey, lacks scope to jump fences and perhaps we saw the best of him when he ran third in the Triumph. This day he was bettered by Devilment of John Ferguson's yard, a horse who travels powerfully into his race and has a very likable attitude.He beat a good yardstick in Karazak who had run before this season. please log in to view this image Hargam and Karazak. Sportinglife.co.uk This wasn't the best race but Devilment stuck his neck out well, and can continue to perform well at this level, he will be vulnerable to improvers though, and it wouldn't be surprised to see these turn out to be high class handicappers. These are 140+ horses who don't look like making up to 160 horses. Handicap Chase - Fox Appeal, Fox Appeal, Fox Appeal. He ran a really good race here and is a proper notebook horse. He travelled into the race well, and was given a patient ride, but unfortunately he put in a poor jump at three out and that put him on the back foot at the key time. He then got impeded a little bit when turning in, and then hit two out and wasn't the fastest at the last. He still ran on strongly and was a shade unlucky to finish a fast finishing third. The field were well packed at the line, with 9 of the 12 finishing within 5 lengths of one and other. Big Casino travelled really strongly at the head of the field, and just failed to stay up the hill, his Cheltenham form isn't the best, and a return to a flatter track and he can win off his current mark. Theatrical Star also ran on strongly and he probably looked to be one of the field who was in need of the run. He can win over an extended distance, and perhaps is a National trip horse for this season. He stays all day by the look of this race. Novice Hurdle - Mediocre was the word I used when I saw these in the paddock and whilst credit must go to Atlantic Gold, I do not see any of these going on to improve into graded class horses. The one horse that did catch the eye was Three Of A Kind who was a well beaten horse in the end. He was very green and big to my eye, and he will improve for racing. He could be a lower grade handicapper to follow when he gets experience. Novice Chase - This was a case of experience versus class with last seasons crack novice hurdler Parlour Games making his chase debut. Like the day previous, this John Ferguson novice was given a patient ride by Aidan Coleman and he took his time to warm to the contest. He travelled strongly enough through the race but when push came to shove, he wasn't good enough to get to the winner. He hit the last, which didn't help. This is probably an average debut, and it showed that you need to be given a postive rie to win at Cheltenham. He has enough scope for fences but its concerning that he was low at the last and isn't the fastest through the air. please log in to view this image Parlour Games. Mirror.co.uk Art Mauresque won the race and jumped very well, he got pestered by the loose horse at times and probably is worth a bit more than the winning distance. He is a classy horse and giving weight and a beating to this field was very good. I really liked the way he picked up when asked and I have to say that he could be a horse to run big races around Kempton and the like on spring ground. Handicap Hurdle - Another race where you could throw a blanket over the field when they crossed the line, but it was the inexperienced Towering that came through to win. He wandered across the track when asked for his effort and ran on strongly when he straightened for the last hurdle. He managed to outstay them under a great ride by Nico de Boinville. However, it was others in the race that really caught my eye, the main one being Dancing Meadows who was impeded by the fall earlier in the race. She stayed on stoutly from the rear and given a straighter passage he would have gone very close. Gordon Elliot stated on The Morning Line that she hadn't travelled over very well and that she might not show her best. If that is the case then she is one to stay on the right side of. Sky Khan was another who got impeded, and perhaps more critically than Dancing Meadows. He had to come widest of all and made up plent of ground in the straight to finish a never nearer sixth. He came to the race with good form from Perth and was very unlucky to not finish in the top three. Two others to note were Saffron Wells and Thomas Crapper. The former was following up from a run at Chepstow and he got squeezed at a key time in this race and was unable to get on terms with the rest. He plugged on afterwards to finish well enough. He should be spot on for the two runs now, and I would expect progress from now on. Thomas Crapper got impeded and whilst he was well beaten, I think he will be spot on for a return to fences and I think he can go well at a good price next time out. Finally Slim Pickens ran very well after a long lay off, and can progress from this result. He ran very well for a long way. and stayed stoutly when ridden from two out.
Good stuff Nass. I was taken by Boondooma as well, I felt he was setting it up nicely for something to come at him up the hill but he stayed on very well up that hill. He could be a nice each way price for the PP definitely.
Cheers STH, he has been put up 7lbs for the win, to 154. To put that into context it's the same mark as Kings Palace. Splash Of Ginge is 149.
Great write up Nass have just scribbled some of your notebook horses out of mine if u hve picked them in all seriousness superb stuff and great review have put couple of them I miss in to it
Interesting question. I think we saw a very smart horse in the very first race with Penglai Pavilion, and with news that he is heading back to Cheltenham for the Paddy Power meeting, he could be following the road trodden by The New One. If you compare him with Parlour Games (same sire, both flat horses before going hurdling) it is very interesting, PG was rated around the 100 mark on the flat at his best whilst PP reached marks of 115+. That sort of difference might be enough to get PP into a winning position at the festival. Other than that horse, perhaps we have seen handicap winners from the 2 miler (1m7f or whatever this years distance is) where many of the Grand Annual field ran. Boondooma looks to be stepping up in trip, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Next Sensation running a very taking race in the Grand Annual once again. Throw in Thomas Crapper, Fox Appeal and horses like that and we might have seen a handicap winner or two for the festival.
Excellent piece, old boy. I too liked Penglai Pavilion. Really think he has quite a future in the NH sphere. Would disagree though about that 4YO Hurdle, run on the Saturday. I think there was a lot of strength in depth to the contest and think the first 4 home are all worth looking out for and following next time. Wonderful battle close home and think all 4 are capable of further improvement providing them aren’t clobbered by the old boy handicapper. What were your initial thoughts re the ‘Princess Royal Stand’??? What a terrible name for a stand by the way. What is it with Racecourse Executives fascinating with THAT family?!? Cor bally blinkin’ blimey I could think of 5 and a half million more worthy names to moniker the Grandstand with that hers!
You are back, glad the rumours of you being kidnapped by the folks of old Newters was unfounded. The development (much more than the new stand) is absolutely superb for racegoers, as unlike at most UK racecourses, there is a natural flow between areas and different levels for viewing. I guess the nearest in comparison is Ascot (maybe Sandown), but that doesn't have the amphitheater feel of Cheltenham. Raised viewing platforms really make the parade ring more like the Minack theatre, rather than a mere parade ring. Almost gladiatorial. The new stand is impressive, the facilities within it are very welcoming (new bars for members and also the riff raff) and everything is focussed on giving you the best facilities without being pretentious. Viewing is great, as you would expect, and we have half the stand for members use, which is a brilliant initiative and one I certainly welcome. 10 out of 10 stuff
Did they manage to get that statue of Henderson up there yet Nass or was it a work in progress ? I see permission to put it up signed off by one named Sir.B Chuckles, heir to the throne!
