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.
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
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.
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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
in all seriousness superb stuff and great review have put couple of them I miss in to it 
