April 21 – Redcar – Cruyff Turn – 83
The best race on an otherwise modest card but all the same, a speed figure worth noting for future reference. Tim Easterby’s eight-year-old was well supported to improve on his creditable effort at Doncaster on his seasonal bow and, having raced handy through the early exchanges of a decent gallop, he duly back up his position in the market. Showing all the grit and determination to bely his advancing years, the son of Dutch Art scampered away from his main market rival, Circe, and this performance should set him up nicely for a crack at the big mile handicap at York’s Dante meeting next month.
April 22 – Thirsk – Teroomm – 80
Just a handful of runners for this novice event but it could prove to be useful form if the speed figure is a true guide. Roger Varian’s colt was a warm order to back up his previous success at Bath and despite being hard pressed throughout by his main market rival, Parole D’Oro, he found plenty for pressure to duly land the odds. The fact the pair pulled clear of previously impressive Newcastle scorer, Four Fifty suggests the form is strong for a race of its kind and it would come as no surprise if connections were to be seeking bigger fish to fry from this juncture. As for the runner-up, he deserves plenty of credit for making the winner pull out all the stops considering he wasted valuable energy pulling hard in the early stages and with this all-important run under his belt, he can be seen to good advantage next time out in a decent handicap.
April 25 – Sandown – Dancing Gemini – 89
A really good renewal of this early season Group 2 mile and it produced easily the best winner in recent times based on the clock. Right from the outset there was no messing around and Roger Teal’s inmate could be spotted going well from a long way out and it was just a question of how far he was going to win. Clearly a horse at the peak of his powers judged on this success at his previous victory at Doncaster (87), his two speed figures put him some way ahead of his peers in this division and races such as the Lockinge and Queen Anne look the most obvious targets in the short term. Of the rest, Tamfana ran a perfectly respectable race on his her seasonal bow and she too looks Newbury bound on the back of this promising display, while Cicero’s Gift produced a career high effort by some way.
April 26 – Leicester – Skimmer – 79
All the dogs were barking about Harry Charlton’s newcomer prior to making his debut and he more than lived up to expectations. Settling well from his wide draw, the Kingman colt some adopted a prominent position just off the speed and he showed a bright turn of foot to lead with a furlong to run. Although challenged by one of his main market rivals, Asmen Warrior, he readily turned him away and the time figure he produced suggested he perform to a useful standard for one so inexperienced. As of yet he has no fancy entries but on the evidence of this opening gambit, it surely won’t be long before that record is put straight. As for the runner-up, he should find handicap company more to his liking and he will be dangerous if handed a mark below 85.
April 26 – Navan – Abbey Actress – 76
There were several other decent races during last week we could have highlighted, Fifth Column (80) and Al Aasy (80) to name two, but instead we would like to point you in the direction of this relatively low-grade handicap at the Meath venue, won in the style of a horse who looked miles ahead of her current rating (73). On a card that contained the likes of Whistlejacket and Kyprios, the fact this 0-75 handicap produced the fastest time figure by some way deserves noting and the winner was actually heavily eased inside the final furlong to make the performance even more compelling. A lightly-raced four-year-old, she clearly goes well when fresh and although she is probably also reliant on soft ground, she can be placed to good effect under such conditions throughout the season.
April 26 – Sandown – Il Etait Temps – 75
On the final day of the jumps season, it was befitting a Willie Mullins-trained horse landed the big Graded race on the card and in doing so, the seven-year-old grey walked away with one his best career efforts on the clock. Aided by the strong gallop set by Jonbon, the son of Jukebox Jury arrived on the scene two out swinging all over the favourite and once asked to go about his work, he soon put the race to bed with a sparkling turn of foot. On his day as good as anything around over two miles, he has to come into the conversation for next season’s Champion Chase.