February 6 – Huntingdon – Califet En Vol – 72
Just the six runners for this listed hurdle but Jax Junior ensured the pace was strong from the outset and the winner needed every yard of the extended 2m3f journey to prevail. Outpaced as the main players turned for home, it looked like Nicky Henderson’s inmate was set to fill out a minor role but he rallied well to the cause after the last and he ended up seeing at the trip best of all. Hitting the line really hard, he looks sure to thrive once given an even sterner test and he could be one for a decent pot later in the season, most likely at Aintree rather than Cheltenham. As for the rest, runner-up No Questions Asked did extremely well to recover from a couple of untimely blunders and he should be capable of taking full advantage of his current mark.
February 7 – Kempton – El Rio – 67
A competitive handicap chase on paper beforehand dominated by one of the more unexposed members of the party who simply jumped and galloped his rivals into submission. Clearly well suited to fences, Kim Bailey’s inmate is now 3-4 over the larger obstacles on a right-handed track and he looks sure to continue the good work when conditions are in his favour.
February 7 – Bangor – Laganhill – 65
With Big Ginge in the line-up, there was always a good chance this novices’ hurdle was going to be run at a true gallop and so it proved, with a figure of 65 awarded to the winner very much above average for the grade. Very strong at the finish having being 20 lengths behind at halfway, Henry Daly’s gelding clearly has an appetite for a test of stamina and he looks a really nice prospect going forward – probably one of the nicest ones his astute handler has had in his care for some time. The runner-up, Malinificent, deserves a special mention as he was the only one to offer any resistance to the winner in the final half a mile and he looks one to benefit from handicaps in due course.
February 8 – Newbury – Joyeuse – 72
What looked a competitive handicap beforehand was taken apart by an unexposed mare who could, on the evidence of this display, end up vying for listed or graded honours. The way Nicky Henderson’s inmate travelled before quickening right away from her rivals suggested the handicapper had seriously underestimated her true worth and even a subsequent hike of 15lb is still probably south of her capabilities. A non qualifier for Cheltenham handicaps on account of her having too fewer runs, it will be interesting to see where connections send her next. On the rest, Favour And Fortune ran with credit considering where he was at halfway and given the form of his yard at present isn’t the greatest, his effort probably deserves marking up.
February 8 – Uttoxeter – Monbeg Genius – 71
Having proven he stays extreme distances well, his pilot was keen to make this a proper test at three miles and he soon had his rivals at full tilt. Maintaining the strong gallop all the way to the line, Jonjo O’Neill’s inmate ended up scoring in fine style and his time figure and final circuit sectionals – quicker than the two-mile handicap chase – backed up the visually impact of his performance. Whether he goes for another crack at the Ultima, a race he was third in two years ago, remains to be seen, but the long term plan in the Grand National and there would be worse 33-1 pokes than him at this stage.
February 9 – Exeter – Fingle Bridge – 69
Once again, Regent’s Stroll was all the rage again but as he did in the Challow Hurdle, he disappointed his supporters by coming up short against a horse how was seriously underestimated in the market beforehand. Once gaining the upper hand over the favourite coming out of the back straight, Olly Murphy’s inmate always had the favourite where he wanted and even though sternly pressed from the last, he never looked like relinquishing his advantage. He has now recorded two time figures of note and although he won’t be seen at Cheltenham, he might end up being a big player at Aintree if the ground comes up soft nearer the time.