March 30 – Doncaster – City Of Delight – 80
The second day of the opening meeting on Town Moor was dominated on the times by this 1m2f handicap and its a race that can pay to follow accordingly. A healthy gallop was set from the start and, as is often the case at the track, those held up well off the pace came through strongest of all late on. The winner did well to win as he didn’t get the clearest of runs inside the final quarter mile, but he showed a useful turn of foot to bail himself out and in the end, he won going away. Still highly progressive, there could be more to come still, especially over further. Of the rest, the runner-up, Magico, travelled sweetly throughout and he can count himself unlucky not to make a winning start to the campaign. However, this was a bright start by Marco Botti’s inmate and he can benefit from this outing next time.
March 31 – Wolves – Double Rush – 82
Charlie Hills’ inmate was very much the form horse heading into this maiden at the Dunstall Park venue but even so, the time figure he produced in victory was unexpected and of a standard that suggests he could be in line for something more substantial as the season progresses. The way he quickened off smart fractions from the front was indicative of a potential pattern race performer and on a quick surface, he can be seen to even greater effect when he resumes hostilities on turf.
April 3 – Chelmsford – Detain 81
The free-going Port Light ensured the tempo was brisk from the outset and John & Thady Gosden’s inmate was well suited by ridden just off the speed early. Coming through late with a well-times challenge, the son of Wootton Bassett ground out a determined victory and this effort should prove to be a solid foundation from which he can build on during the early part of the turf season. Of the rest, connections of the runner-up, Luther, would have been delighted with the way he shaped after a break and although difficult to place with a rating of 104, opportunities can still come his way.
April 3 – Aintree – Impaire Et Passe – 73
A cracking start to the Grand National festival and Willie Mullins’ inmate gave us reminder of how good he can be when at his best. Below Par against Ballyburn at the DRF, the decision to miss Cheltenham and come here fresh seemed a wise one prior to flag fall and with the weight of money behind him to suggest he was primed to go big, he went on to post his best performance so far over fences. Now a five-time Grade 1 winner, more success at this level surely awaits the classy so of Diamond Boy. Of the rest, runner-up Gidleigh Park did his reputation no harm with a game display from the front and it gives connections plenty of options going forward. Personally, he showed so much speed over the 2m4f journey, it came as something of a shock to hear connections suggest the seven-year-old was a “Gold Cup horse of the future” but either way, he remains one to follow whichever route he follows next season. If he were mine, I would be thinking more in terms of the Champion Chase, where his fast, accurate jumping at speed could be best utilised.
April 4 – Aintree – Caldwell Potter – 80
We are heading into the dying embers of the jumps season but the Grand National meeting produced several noteworthy performances for the next campaign, Paul Nicholl’s inmate in the first race on day two being one of them. Successful when putting in a jumping clinic at Cheltenham, the flashy grey was bidding to repeat the dose just three weeks later and despite one or two fiddly errors early on, he gradually warmed to his task. Seeing off all but Jordans on the run down to the last, a fast accurate leap allowed him to get away from the fence better than his main threat and he managed to maintained the advantage on the run to the line. After coming in for some unnecessary stick from several sources throughout the winter, which was totally unjustified based on our data, the son of Martaline ended the season as one of the best of his generation from 2m4f to 3m and if wintering well, he should prove to be a potent force in a all the big Grade 1’s in open company.
April 5 – Aintree – Salvator Mundi – 73
The form of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was well represented in this Grade 1 and the winner managed to turn the tables on Romeo Coolio in no uncertain terms. There were two main factors that allowed this to happen, firstly, Romeo Coolio got taken on for the early lead and secondly, Willie Mullins’ inmate settled much better than he did at Cheltenham a month earlier. Arriving at two out travelling much the stronger of the pair, he only had to be nudged out to record a comfortable success and based on the evidence of this display, he looks to have finally come of age. Overall, the race boosted the form/speed figure of the Supreme as expected and with both Irancy and Karniquet going on to do exactly the same at Fairyhouse on Sunday, the view that Kopek Des Bordes is a genuine Champion Hurdle contender for next season gathers even more traction. At time of writing, you can still get 8-1 for Kopek for next season’s two mile hurdling crown.