November 5 – Fairyhouse – Any Road – 65
A rated novice hurdle that was expected to go the way of What’s Up Darling accordingly to the pre-race market but he turned out to be disappointing and was readily put in his place by Edward O’Grady’s inmate. Having his first outing for 188 days, the six-year-old impressed with the way he travelled throughout and when asked to go and win his race in the closing stages, he found a ready turn of foot. Posting good numbers in the process, he looks the type who can take his game to another level given similar conditions and he could be one to note for a big handicap further down the track.
November 7 – Newbury – Masaccio – 65
The race-fit Twinjets ensured this novices’ handicap chase was run at a true gallop and it was race that appeared to be his bar the shouting four out, when the eventual winner made a bad mistake. Credit, therefore, goes the way of Alan King’s inmate to pick himself up and rally to the cause and in the end, he ran out a convincing winner. Always held in high regards by his handler, fences might well be the making of him and he should be followed accordingly.
November 9 – Aintree – Mister Meggit – 71
In intriguing novices hurdle to kick off a quality card at the Merseyside track and as events transpired, it was a race that produced by some way the best performance both visually and on the clock. Highly regarded last season in bumpers, his only poor effort came when things didn’t quite go his way in the big bumper at the Grand national meeting but returning to the same venue and faced with 10 flights of hurdles, he looked a completely different model. Cruising to challenge at the last, Jonjo O’Neill’s inmate then found a smart change of gear to pull well clear on the run in and although it’s to know what he beat, the number he posted suggested he is top class (most Ballymore winners post north of 70 prior to Cheltenham). Clearly not short of pace, it will be interesting to see where he goes next but talk of the Challow Hurdle as a possibility looks well within his compass on the evidence of this display.
November 9 – Aintree – Haiti Couleurs – 67
We didn’t have to wait too long for the next cab off the rank in terms of smart performances and although we dealing with a totally different discipline, it was hard not to be impressed with the way Rebecca Curtis’ inmate went about his work on just his second start over fences. Measuring his obstacles well during the three mile journey, the seven-year-old picked up the running fully a mile from home and from that point, he readily pulled clear of his toiling rivals. Winning with loads in hand, left the impression he could have gone round again and even at this early stage, he looks one for a big staying handicap chase at some point in his career – The Welsh National being the most obvious long-term target.
November 9 – Wincanton – Rubaud – 70
Just the three runners for this Graded affair but it was a run at a good gallop and although taken on for the lead, Paul Nicholl’s inmate had enough left in the clocker to fend off Brentford Hope after the last. Whether he would have done so if his main market rival would have jumped the last cleaner is open to debate, but either way, the six-year-old is a really willing conveyance when conditions are in his favour. As for the runner-up, he shaped really well on his seasonal bow and will have his day on softer ground.
November 9 – Wincanton – Boombawn – 69
A small but select field and Soul Icon made it a true test. While the likes of the well fancied Handstands and Insurrection failed to cope with the task at hand, that wasn’t the case with Dan Skelton’s gelding and he ran out a worthy winner on the day. Clearly well suited by good ground and a flat track, he will probably kept to similar venues accordingly and the Pendil Novices Chase over the Christmas period looks the obvious target.