January 12 – Punchestown – Kilmeaden – 65
A generously run juvenile event resulting in a strong speed figure and plenty of talking points. The first thing to say, it was good to see Donnacha O’Brien’s inmate get round this time having been brought down at Limerick on debut and secondly, how well his jumping held up after being put under constant pace pressure by the well-fancied Madness D’Elle. Useful on the Flat, the son of Galileo looks like he has a future over hurdles and one would imagine he will take in a trial for the Triumph Hurdle of some description. As for the runner-up, he showed plenty of natural ability throughout but one or two notable errors along the way ultimately proved costly in the final analysis. If his technique can be tweaked, Willie Mullins’ gelding can also prove to be a decent recruit for powerful connections.
January 13 – Ayr – Meetmebythesea – 73
Just five went to post for this novices chase but there was no hanging around in the conditions and coming from off the pace ended up being the best policy. Usually a prominent racer, Ben Pauling’s inmate was happy to sit out the back and bide his time on this occasion and with a well-timed challenge, he took it up at the last before staying on well to repel his two market rivals on the run-in. A useful hurdler, the five-year-old is now 2-2 over fences and he, along with stable mate, Mambonumberfive, are two very exciting chasing prospects for the Naunton handler moving forward.
January 14 – Newbury – Sober Glory – 73
A week when the two-mile novice division had even more life breathed into it and Philip Hobbs & Johnson White’s gelding was the first to thrown his cap in the ring. A huge disappointment at Sandown previously, it was difficult to know for certain what to expect from the six-year-old on his recovery mission, but he answered his detractors in no uncertain terms by totally running a mock from the front. Significantly quicker in all departments than the well-touted Fire Warning in the second division, the son of Mount Nelson is very much back in the Cheltenham conversation on the evidence of this display, it is just a question of which route connections’ decide to go down from here.
January 14 – Fairyhouse – Proactif – 71
A race dominated in the betting beforehand by the two Willie Mullins-trained juveniles and it proved to be one the market got slightly wrong, with the second favourite easily coming out best. Setting off to make it a proper test, the son of Masked Marvel didn’t have things all his own way from the start (pestered by Combs), so it was testimony to his ability that he managed to find extra reserves when his more conservatively ridden stable mate, Macho Man, came to pounce at the second last. Posting the quickest time figure we have awarded any juvenile so far this term (Minella Study next best with 67), the DRF would probably come a bit too soon after such a hard race, so the chances are he will probably head straight to Cheltenham for a likely crack at the Triumph. I say likely, as there is always the possibility of one of JP’s juveniles running in the Supreme, and we won’t know the full extent of the pecking order until Narcisco Has comes through his test at Leopardstown next.
January 15 – Fairyhouse – Mighty Park – 72
Another star was born in this maiden hurdle with Willie Mullins’ inmate announcing himself to the ranks of the smart two-mile novice division. Despite being heavily eased late on, he posted the sort of time figure to suggest he has a serious engine and he looks to have improved significantly from his only other start in an Irish point (beaten by Harry Lowes). Whether he turns out to be a Grade 1 horse over hurdles only time will tell and we won’t know his true worth until he does run in a better race. Either way, he is going to make a smashing chaser further down the line and will be just a question of game management until that point in his career arises.
January 16 – Windsor – No Questions Asked 75
As anticipated, Be Aware went off like the clappers in a bid to stretch his rivals to the limit but as events panned out, he probably went a little too fast and by the time he arrived at the second last, the writing was on the wall. In contrast, Ben Pauling’s inmate was given plenty of time to work himself into the contest and in the end, it was his proven stamina that gained the day. Although he stays further, a strongly run two miles seemed to play more into his strengths on this occasion and connections now have the dilemma of which race to target at the Cheltenham Festival. Logic suggests the Grand Annual, albeit the tight Old Course might not necessarily suit, but they also have the option of the Plate and The Jack Richards Chase for novices.
January 16 – Windsor – Hot Fuzz – 75
A well run affair but it was a race where it paid to be handy and the first two home were front rank throughout. The winner was a slight disappointment (and for followers of the selections) at Sandown last time out but in hindsight, maybe he wasn’t ridden positively enough from the front and this test proved much more to his liking. A real tough character with a will to win, one would imagine he will return to the Esher track for a crack at the Imperial Cup and knowing his constitution, it would come as no surprise to see him line-up for the County Hurdle as well. As for the runner-up, Wilful, he lost nothing in defeat and he will be a major player in the County Hurdle too.
January 17 – Navan – Zeus Power – 71
A keenly-contested rated novice hurdle and the market was very strong on the chances of Lazare De Star. However, he was yet another Gordon Elliott inmate to come up a little short in recent weeks and he ended up having to play second fiddle to a horse very much on the improve. A wide margin winner at Thurles previously, Joseph O’Brien’s inmate raised his game accordingly to run down the short priced favourite after the last and he ended up winning a shade snugly. On the evidence of his last two runs, he appears to be a strong stayer at the trip and it will be interesting to see how he is campaigned for the rest of the season.
January 17 – Ascot – Jonbon – 76
This Grade 1 was always likely to be run at a brutal pace and so it proved, with Thistle Ask getting all of his three opponents out of their comforts zones from the start. Having seen off Gidleigh Park and Il Etait Temps turning for home, it became a question of whether he could muster up reserves of energy to fend off Jonbon and try as he might, he just came up short in the dying strides. His effort, however, very much suggested he now belongs at the top table and on better ground, you could easily see him bang there again – until the home turn at the very least – in the Champion Chase. There will certainly be dafter bets to be had between now and the festival. As for the winner, what can we say about Nicky Henderson’s gelding that hasn’t already been said. He truly is one of the great warriors of the game in recent times and hopefully he will receive the credit he deserves when he does eventually bow out. For now, he remains capable at the very top table and he is a small remainder to us all to never write off these legends, even when they seem on the way down.
January 17 – Navan – Joystick – 72
All eyes were on Slade Steel in this beginners chase in his bid to finally get off the mark over fences, but he blatantly did not stay the three mile trip and his search for a breakthrough will have to wait for another day – likely back over 2m4f. The winner, on the other hand, relished the trip in the testing conditions and you could easily see him grinding away in races over much further later in the season. Interestingly, he has now qualified for the NH Chase (just three runs needed) and depending on what handicap mark he receives, that race could be a viable option for Willie Mullins’ grey.
January 17 – Haydock – Old Park Star – 70
One of the leading players in the Supreme market prior to facing the starter, Nicky Henderson’s inmate tightened his grip even further with a performance of pure class. Similar to Cheltenham previously, the son of Well Chosen was given his head early and around a track that often plays into the hands of front runners, he never looked like being caught. Although his time figure was good, it was not quite as impressive as the one he posted at Prestbury Park (72) and given the favourable circumstances he was presented with, maybe the move to cut him to 5-2 for Cheltenham was a slight overreaction. Either way, he remains a serious talent and one that has to be respected if he gets there in one piece.