October 5 – Tipperary – Love Me Tender – 70
Some of the better novices are beginning to appear and according to the data produced by Willie Mullins’ in this Grade 3, he sets an early standard for the rest in his division. Not only did Willie Mullins’ unbeaten gelding clock an overall time six seconds faster than Grade 3 older horse Gaucher over the same C&D, but he was also 3.8 seconds quicker than his stable mate on the final circuit.
Using Gaucher (rated 150) as a guide, which can be tenuous at this time out year, admittedly, the son of Doctor Dino ran to a very high lever at the Limerick Junction venue and it would come as no surprise if he were to make the transition to Grade 1 company a seamless one further down the line. The feature of his round was how slick he was from A to B over his hurdles and that sound technique is likely to stand him in good stead when faced with stiffer assignments further down the line.
Whether he ends up being a Supreme Novices contender only time will tell but it is safe to say that bookmakers have underestimated him in comparison to stable mate Davy Crockett, who has run nowhere near as fast up to now. Currently 20-1 for the opener at next year’s Cheltenham Festival, those odds could look big if he ends up winning something like the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse next month.
October 6 – Stratford – Babs – 63
Strongly run bumpers are a rare occurrence, even more so at this time of year, so it is safe to say the performance posted by Henry Oliver’s filly at the first time of asking is worth noting.
The well-fancied Hay Max took them along at a decent clip from the start but when her started to falter coming off the home turn and into the straight, it soon became apparent the daughter of Poet’s Word was about to cause a bit of a shock. Not even second favourite, Ballyeaston, could hold a candle to the four-year-old in the latter stages as she bounded clear to record a resounding success and everything about the numbers she posted suggested there was no fluke about the performance.
Clocking the fastest over time on the card, her final circuit was notably three seconds quicker than the novice hurdle won by Mr Mcloughlan and handicap won by The Expensive One and with the prospect of a significant amount more to come, she should easily be good enough to defy a penalty before going on to much better things. Very promising.
October 9 – Tramore – Venusienne – 70
Continuing the theme of exciting novices on their seasonal debuts, this was another Willie Mullins-trained cab off the rank who impressed with the was she operated on her first outing for 170 days. Setting off at a far lick at the Waterford -based track, the daughter of Authorized soon had her rivals gasping for air and she maintained the gallop on the final two circuits.
Despite being eased down after the last, the five-year-old still ended up clocking the sort of time that suggests she could easily be a Graded performer in the making and it would come as a surprise if she was not campaigned in that fashion in due course.
October 6 – Yarmouth – Blue Nazare – 83
Back on the Flat, Charlie Appleby’s filly made an impressive start to her career with an all-the-way success and if the speed figure is an accurate guide, she could easily take higher rank next time. The way she quickened right away from her field despite having set strong fractions from the start suggests she could be right out of the top drawer and it will be interesting to see where she heads next.
October 9 – Bath – Term Of Endearment – 85
A competitive fillies’ contest on paper beforehand and it produced a pace that befitted its pre-race billing. That said, the front two in the market dominated and the winner took advantage of a significant drop in class. Better suited by the ease underfoot, connections may look to strike again under similar conditions before the season is out.
October 10 – Newmarket – Beckford’s Folly – 80
Both Calendar Girl (77) and Precise (79) posted well above average speed figures for two-year-olds on the first day of the Dewhurst meeting but it was Charlie Appleby’s inmate who just nicked the bragging rights on the data. Predictably, Revival Power took the field along at a rapid pace and was still in front approaching the furlong pole but the writing was soon on the wall thereafter and it was the son of Lope De Vega who picked up the baton and ran with it all the way to the line.
For a horse only rated 92 going into the contest, this was a massive jump up on all his previous efforts and his improvement could be put down to the gelding operation he was given after flopping the time before. Likely to be put away for the season now, sprinting will be very much his game next campaign and he could easily develop into a July Cup horse.
October 11 – York – Binhareer – 82
A keenly contested 6f handicap and, as expected, the time figure was very good. William Haggas’ grey ran well in the Silver Cup at Ayr and was fancied to go well on the Knavesmire but the way he won was way beyond expectations. Powering through the field late on, he strode out to an impressive success and this will surely be one of many in the short and long term. Seemingly just coming to himself as a late-developing three-year-old, next season might result in pattern race success for this improving sprinter.
October 11 – Newmarket – Gewan – 77
A stellar renewal of the Dewhurst and it produced a shock of sorts from Andrew Balding’s forgotten grey. Beaten at a short price at Doncaster previously, the son of Night Of Thunder was allowed to go off 25-1 at HQ but that did not stop him from bouncing back to his very best and there did not appear to be any fluke about his victory. Taking the race by the scruff of the neck from two out, he never looked like relinquishing his advantage and the clock backed up the view it was a smart performance. On the evidence of this performance, he should stay a mile next season and he is right towards the head of the conversation for the 2000 Guineas.