February 10 – Ayr – Latosca Du Houx – 70
As we know, bumpers are often slowly run, leading to much confusion when it comes to assessing the merits of the participants but every now and then, there is a race that stands out and points towards the form being extremely solid. This contest run at the Scottish venue was one of those very rare birds that supplied a very strong pace and a winner that must be considered as a very smart prospect. The well backed Goulmichette went off at a searing pace, which led to the field soon becoming strung out, but Nicky Richards’ mare was more than happy waiting in the wings and picking up the running when the pace inevitably collapsed, she powered her way clear to score by an ever-increasing 12 lengths. Given this was her debut, the way she won bodes extremely well for the future and even at this stage, one would imagine she will take high rank in the mares’ bumper at the Aintree festival later in the season.
February 13 – Chepstow – Bossman Jack – 71
This novice event didn’t take a lot of winning but the winner’s time suggested it was a better performance by Dan Skelton’s inmate than it appeared at first glance. In command a long way out, he sauntered clear for a easy success and it was interesting to hear that connections are mulling over a possible tilt at the Turners at the Cheltenham festival after this romp. Whether that engagement turns out to be a bit ambitious remains to be seen but either way, the son of Jack Hobbs is one to keep on side.
February 13 – Chepstow – Juby Ball – 72
Just the four runners but the wide margin of victory and the fact only two finished backed up the view it was a strongly run contest. The winner had got beaten fair and square by Stencil on his previous outing over the same course but stepping up a full half a mile seemed to bring about further improvement from Evan Williams’ inmate. This was his fourth run over fences, which qualifies him for the non-novice festival handicaps and it will be interesting to see whether he goes down that route.
February 14 – Ascot – Montregard – 68
Jipcot served up a decent gallop from the front but he did not obtain an uncontested lead and he eventually succumbed to several who were more patiently ridden, Tom Lacey’s inmate being the chief beneficiary. The son of Joshua Tree had seen the form of his previous effort over the same C&D boosted by the winner, The Jukebox Man, earlier on the card and he duly followed suit, ultimately winning with a shade up his sleeve. Running the final circuit quicker than Jonbon to coincide with a smart overall figure suggests this was a useful effort and either the Ultima or Kim Muir will be on his agenda next.
February 14 – Gowran – Storm Heart – 71
A race that had no bearing on the Champion Hurdle scene but nonetheless, an intriguing contest on the day and for suture reference. The winner was backing up his gutsy success at Limerick over the Christmas period and he did so at the expense of a deeper field. The next three home all had interesting profiles and he beat them in the style of an improving horse, one that could easily line up in one of the handicaps at Cheltenham. The most eye-catching display on the first four home, however, came from Kawaboomga, who shaped extremely well in his first start for some time. Running over a trip short of his best, he stayed on nicely on the run-in without being unduly punished and providing he comes out of this affair in a clean bill of health (has been difficult to keep sound), Willie Mullins’ inmate can enjoy a fruitful second half of the campaign.
February 14 – Haydock – Malanga – 67
A race dominated by Pourquoi Pas Papa in the pre-race betting and for the first three-quarters of the contest but ultimately it was Nicky Henderson’s filly who stole the honours. Considering the race was run to suit the eventual runner-up, which is often the case at the Merseyside venue, the four-year-old filly did extremely well to pick up her main market rival who got loose on the front end and her effort deserves marking up accordingly. Handed an opening mark of 130, the Fred Winter looks the obvious race for her at the festival and on the evidence of this display, it will take a good one to lower her colours.
February 14 – Haydock – The Bluesman – 70
A shade disappointing on his previous outing when a beaten odds-on favourite, Olly Murphy’s inmate made no mistake this time and his manner of victory suggests there could be more to come. Up 8lb to 134, he has an entry in the Jack Richards at the festival if connections decided to go down that route, but the likelihood is he will be kept in shallower waters for the time being and there looks to be plenty more races to be won with this progressive chaser.
February 14 – Wincanton – Alexei – 73
A decent gallop set by Rubaud but under the prevailing conditions he was always likely to be a sitting duck for Joe Tizzard’s inmate, and so it proved. Waited with in behind the pace setter, the six-year-old eased to the front after the last and just shaken up on the run-in, he readily pulled clear. His winning speed figure was in-keeping with most of his performances this season and he could easily pick up some pieces in the Champion Hurdle if one or two more fancied rivals shoot their bolts.