Weekend Preview/Review 
/ Timeform / 28 November 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Carruthers jumps the water on his way to Hennessy glory.
"Carruthers, under jockey Mattie Batchelor, proved triumphant in the Hennessy Gold Cup, a race that is now established as one of the highlights of the national hunt season..."
Timeform look back at a weekend of racing featuring the fantastic spectacle that is the Hennessy Gold Cup, a relative stroll around Newbury racecourse for Big Buck's in the Long Distance Hurdle and the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle...
The Mark Bradstock-trained Carruthers, under jockey Mattie Batchelor, proved triumphant in the Hennessy Gold Cup, a race that is now established as one of the highlights of the National Hunt season.
Carruthers had become very well treated on his solid form in the top Graded races in 2009/10, and was racing off a 10 lb lower mark than when sixth in this event last year. He was forcefully ridden throughout, and did extremely well to fend off various challengers from four out, particularly when considering the mistakes he made early in the race. The Welsh National is reportedly his next target, for which Carruthers is currently available at [12.0], and he should remain with some potential in handicaps judged on his best form.
The Philip Hobbs pair, Planet of Sound and Fair Along, ran excellent races in second and third respectively, with Fair Along doing particularly well to finish as close as he did after somewhat blundering his way around. Planet of Sound has had a couple of problems, resulting in him racing only twice last season, but this fine effort off a high mark clearly suggests that those problems are behind him. If he stands further racing, he could well be competitive in Graded events like in the 2009/10 season, in which he was a Grade 1 winner.
David Pipe's PP Gold Cup winner Great Endeavour finished fourth, shaping like the best horse for much of the way. His task from now on will be that much stiffer, as he is due to go up a further 6lb, although it is not out of the question that he could still improve, with the overriding impression being that he will be suited by distances of up to three miles.
Big Buck's extended his unbeaten run over hurdles to 13 when landing the Long Distance Hurdle for a third successive year. Those in opposition were very much in a race for second place, a position filled by stable mate Five Dream who ran as well as he ever has, seemingly rejuvenated for the switch back to hurdles and the removal of blinkers. Sparky May left the impression once again that she does not stay three miles, looking second best until emptying in the after the second last - she is one of the top mares and should still win races.
With the competition in the staying hurdle division not looking as hot this year, due to both Grands Crus and Bobs Worth being switched to chasing, Big Buck's is going to continue to be exceptionally difficult to beat.
Rock on Ruby, last season's Grade 1 Neptune Novices' Hurdle second, produced a tremendous performance to defy top-weight when beating Empire Levant and Raya Star in the Gerry Feilden.
Rock on Ruby, trained by Paul Nicholls, had an excellent first season over hurdles in 2010/11, placed in three Graded events after winning on debut, and resumed that progressive thread, having little trouble in dispatching his rivals. The [23.0] currently available about him for the Champion Hurdle looks tempting, given the good pace usually set in that race and the ease with which he handled the return to two miles on Saturday - he could well be a live outsider with the potential to still improve.
Prospect Wells, also trained by Paul Nicholls, ran out an easy winner of a novices' hurdle on Newbury's Saturday card, defying a penalty having already proved himself at a higher level when second to Steps to Freedom at Cheltenham in a Grade 2. He got the better of a useful recruit from the flat in the form of All the Aces, who should have no trouble winning a similar affair, and a step back up in class for the winner now beckons.
Newcastle staged the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle on Saturday, which saw Overturn, trained by Donald McCain, become the first horse to win the North East track's two big prizes after winning the Northumberland Plate on the flat in 2010. This win came just a week after landing a Grade 2 at Ascot, again demonstrating a really likeable and willing attitude in beating former Champion hurdler Binocular.
Nicky Henderson's Binocular shaped as if in need of his reappearance, as he has done in the past, though he does have something to prove after a disappointing campaign last season. His next target will be the Christmas Hurdle, a race he won last season when beating Overturn.
Overturn is currently available at [6.0] to be placed in the Champion Hurdle , a division lacking depth this season and, whilst not in the same league as Hurricane Fly in terms of ability, the way he goes about his races would make him an attractive place proposition.
The top-class Peddlers Cross gained a second course win within a month at Bangor, and an across the card double for Donald McCain, though this race had much more substance to it with the presence of fellow Grade 1 winning hurdler Minella Class. That rival shaped well, and should easily take a similar event, but simply was not up to the class of Peddlers Cross, who is looking the one to beat in the two mile novices division. He is currently favourite for the Arkle at [5.1] and all the signs so far suggest that he is worthy of that standing.
Attention turned to Ireland on Sunday, where Navan staged a Grade 2 novices' hurdle and the Troytown handicap chase.
The first mentioned was won by Mount Benbulben, trained by Gordon Elliott, a horse who had looked well up to Graded company when winning on his previous start at Thurles. This success confirmed that impression, and he could yet go on to better things, as the [14.0] currently available for the Albert Bartlett highlights.
The Troytown Handicap Chase, a fiercely competitive event with 25 runners, was decided in a tight finish as Groody Hill prevailed by half a length from Ad Idem. Groody Hill was scoring a hat-trick, following on from wins at Punchestown and Wexford, and being a five year-old, there is likely to still be room for further progression.
Timeform look ahead to a weekend that sees the return of Big Buck's in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, the Fighting Fifth Hurdle up at Newcastle, and one of the most competitive handicaps of the year in the form of the Hennessy Gold Cup......
Incredible scenes followed the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday after Kauto Star had showed just why he is one of the all-time National Hunt greats, while Master Minded got back on track in the Amiln Chase at Ascot......
Timeform look ahead to a weekend featuring a high-quality Betfair Chase at Haydock, as well as good racing at Ascot on Saturday and in Ireland on Sunday......
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