Hi, In a week where the weather played the decisive turn, we saw some interesting racing in Ireland and then at Exeter today. We also had the joy of jumpers bumpers and all weather racing, with great jockeymanship being far overshadowed by some awful rides (yes you Aiden Coleman). Review Elimay was probably the story of the weekend, winning over in Ireland to cement her place at the front of the new Mares Chase race betting for the festival. She is a talented grey, and she has good form with Allaho in the book, but the way she went away from her opponents showed how impressive an engine she has. She is relatively small and light framed, but she has shown a great attitude over fences and it will take a good mare to beat her at the festival. We then got a few hurdle races in the UK, we saw a Pertemps qualifier where resolute staying was the order of the day. Another good effort by a young and progressive hurdler trained by David Pipe was the key to the race, Brinkley winning nicely and booking himself a slot at the festival should they want to go that way. It was the listed hurdle that proved to be most interesting with The Glancing Queen being turned over by Wilde About Oscar, who reversed form from previous meeting. He jumped well and went away nicely before stumbling at the last. He soon regained momentum and went on to record a 7 length victory. He has got his season back on track and will be an interesting horse to see where he goes. The Glancing Queen was clear of the third horse but probably goes down as a disappointing horse here. We saw Karl Philippe finally get off the mark over hurdles, he is an interesting horse who is qualified for the EBF final at Sandown. It will be interesting to see what the handicapper does and he could well be a lively contender for that race. Similarly the first division of the race saw a nice performance by a David Pipe progressive hurdler in Martinhal who lowered the colours of a couple of interesting novices in the process. We saw Didtheyleaveyououtto return to form in jumpers bumpers and give me an opportunity to rant about the shocking ride by his jockey. The race was won by Southfield Stone who quickened nicely to snatch the victory. Eyecatcher Amongst the dreary of the bumpers jumpers cards we saw a very smart performance on racecourse debut by Balco Coastal. He was well supported for his bumper debut after a purchase of 100k at the Yorton Sale, and he repaid a very tiny amount of that in the process of running clear of his field. He came in with very strong point form, relating in with the big guns in Ireland, and he looks to be one horse with a massive future that we have seen this week. One for a rewatch and for the notebook. And Finally This week we get the handicap marks for the Grand National, so we have had the usual 'Tiger Roll won't run if he's over rated' stories from the talking quote book that is Mssr Ryanair. The handicapper doesn't seem to have any choice on what he gives him, yet this has happened three years in a row now!! If he runs then great, if he doesn't then fair play to them. However, it is for the handicapper to handicap and for owners to own. That said, if the handicapper is reading, could you drop Boris a pound so we can be sure to run in a 0-105 please?
I was quite impressed with the way that Elimay travelled and then quickened away from her opponents in the Listed heat at Naas, on Saturday. She now heads to the Festival with a fair chance but unless the ‘Mares Chase’ cuts up somewhat then I’d expect her to find one or two too good in that race. Disappointment of the weekend has to be the way that ‘Pertemps Qualifier’ at Exeter cut up – especially the withdrawal of Champagne Platinum. A fascinating affair quickly turned into a much more mundane race with, in my opinion, little to recommend with an eye to next months Final. Re Champagne Platinum The Lieutenant makes yet another attempt to get him Pertemps qualified on Saturday at Haydock Park. Hopefully the old boy will get a run in one of these races, at last, and creep into the top 6. The great unknown has to be Jungle Boogie who hacked up by 30 lengths yesterday. He almost certainly only beat trees but the manner of the success was striking and I look forward to see what he can do next time when upped in grade. Could prove more than useful.
