February 18 – Market Rasen – Bluey – 69
Just two that counted according to the betting for this mares’ only contest and Emma Lavelle’s inmate made light work of accounting for her main market rival. Setting out to make all the running at the Lincolnshire venue, the daughter of Affinisea soon had her rivals at full stretch and she maintained the strong gallop all the way to the line without being fully extended. Not for the first time this season, the six-year-old posted a smart speed figure and her current rating of 117 underestimates her qualities by some margin. Tougher tasks await, but she is in safe hands and something like the mares’ final at Newbury looks well within her capabilities.
February 20 – Punchestown – William Munny – 71
Barry Connell’s gelding looked the strong form pick beforehand based on his excellent effort in pushing Kawaboomga all the way at Fairyhouse previously and the race played out pretty much as the market suggested. Not as keen as he was previously, the son of Westerner was settled off the pace in the early stages but as soon as he was asked to engage the front running The Great Nudie, he latched onto the bridle to race upsides half a mile from home. From that point onwards, he really exuded class and without being asked too many serious questions, he readily pulled clear of his toiling rivals. Seemingly full of running as he charged through the line, he posted the sort of speed figure to suggest he has what is required for championship level and he must enter the conversation for The Supreme alongside the likes of Kopek Des Bordes (73) and Romeo Coolio (71). At his current quotes of 12-1, he remains the only real value left in the curtain raiser two weeks from today.
February 20 – Lingfield – Game Colours – 63
Rula Bula set a pretty high bar for this mares’ hurdle but she was readily brushed aside by Ben Clarke’s inmate who won in the style of a mare going places in a rush. Handled the demanding conditions well, the daughter of Shantou powered clear of her main market rival in the latter stages and it was significant that her overall time figure was matched by a circuit time (-3.8) by some way better than anything else on the card. Considering how strong she was in the final half a mile, a step up in trip threatens to bring about even further improvement in the seven-year-old and the final of the series at Newbury for which she has qualified looks the obvious target.
February 22 – Fairyhouse – Barry Lyndon – 67
Dancing Jeremy and Slane Hill ensured the gallop was strong for this competitive 2m4f handicap and it paid to one of those prepared to bide their time from off the pace. The winner had threatened to land a decent pot for quite some time and in the first-time cheekpieces, Dermot McLoughlin’s chestnut finally delivered the goods. Whether he can build on this improved effort remains to be seen but there will be ample opportunities for him to shine again at some of the big festivals in the spring. Of the rest, runner-up, Beckett Rock did well to get himself involved having been some way behind at halfway and in-keeping with most of his stable’s horses, he seems to be coming to the boil in the second half of the season.
February 22 – Kempton – Tripoli Flyer – 68
Easily the best two-mile novice field assembled so far this season and it produced a good winner who looks to be heading in the right direction. Improving with each run, Fergal O’Brien’s gelding posted his best speed figure and in lowering the colours of some useful sorts, he at least put himself in the conversation for something like the Supreme. Whether he quite matches some of the best the Irish have to offer is open to debate, but he has the ability and physical presence to at least offer some sort of challenge and he rates the pick of the home contingent by some way.
February 22 – Kempton – Katate Dori – 70
A strong renewal of this big, pre-Cheltenham handicap chase and it went the way of one of the lightly-raced, improving novices that often come to the fore in races of this nature. Assuming command from an early stage, Sam Thomas’ gelding maintained a strong gallop that he never looked like relinquishing and he was in no way flattered by his wide-margin success. Clearly a young chaser going places, it will be interesting to see where he goes next, particularly the Ultima if connections were to be so bold.
February 22 – Newcastle – Bust A Move – 64
A right old gamble was landed on this lightly-raced juvenile (5-1 into 13-8) and the speed figure he posted suggests there will plenty more handicap coming his way. Held up some way off the pace, the four-year-old made smooth progress to join in the fun two out and he just had to be nudged out to assert his superiority late on. Likely to be raised to something close to 125 after this victory, he should get into the Fred Winter down the foot of the weights and although he will no doubt be up against many well handicapped types from either side of the Irish Sea, Mick Easterby’s gelding can more than hold his own.