Summer Jumpers: Hard rain falling on the Rasen

David Cleary / David Cleary / 19 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

"Street Entertainer travelled strongly for most of the way and, had the tempo been more even, he might well have won."

David Cleary considers the impact of the wet weather on the week's jumps action and highlights some runners that will be worth keeping an eye on in future.

Market Rasen's feature meeting of the summer jumping season was the obvious highlight of the week. However, plenty of rain on well-watered ground made for conditions which didn't suit all.

The Summer Plate, for example, saw half the field failing to complete and plenty off the bridle from an early stage of a strongly-run race. The time recorded for the race was significantly slower than a small-field novice handicap over the same distance later in the afternoon. That was won by Nez Rouge, which seems to indicate the leaders went too hard in front, with North Island and Invisible Man (for whom the ground wouldn't have been ideal either) shaping significantly better than the final distances. Both will be of interest again, under more suitable circumstances.

The winner Qulinton was flattered by his margin, the runner-up Logans Run tiring markedly from the last, but he travelled smoothly in blinkers first time and, in hindsight, a significantly higher view could be taken of his win at Worcester earlier in the summer. Qulinton is only seven and has promised this sort of smart effort before, so he may well be a factor wherever he goes next. Buck Mulligan was never on terms in finishing fifth but he travelled well for a long way and he's almost certainly better than his last two runs indicate. He might need to come down a pound or two in the weights but needs keeping an eye on.

The Summer Hurdle was also well run but, in contrast to the Plate, was much more closely fought. The pace played into the hands of those produced late, with none brought later than the winner Viva Colonia. He's been threatening to win a race for a while and although this one was set up for him, his style of running means he's got a chance of keeping ahead of the handicapper a little longer. Our old friend Kylenoe Fairy also made her move late and ran a cracker in second; she's probably near her limit in the handicap but will go well at this level again.

However, of even greater interest is the less-exposed third Street Entertainer, who raced much closer to the pace than the first two. He travelled strongly for most of the way and had the tempo been more even he might well have won - he's very much one to note for a similar event. Rajnagan couldn't maintain his winning run in a much tougher race but the ground might well have gone against him and he is worth another chance. Ixora couldn't add to her run of successes either, but she shaped as if she requires further at this competitive level and shouldn't be discounted in a similar event at two-and-a-half miles or perhaps even further.

The two-and-three-quarter mile handicap hurdle on the Market Rasen card also has a strong look to it, with the winner Westlin' Winds right back to his best on his first start over hurdles for Brian Ellison. The proximity of such in-form rivals as The Strawberry One and Red Not Blue give this race plenty of substance and the form should stand up well, with Westlin' Winds in particular of interest again. Life of A Luso could manage no better than seventh, running over hurdles having missed the cut for the Plate. The ground will have gone against him and he shaped better than the distances indicate - he remains one to be interested in.

Much earlier in the week, competitive events were thin on the ground but one race that should stand up is the handicap hurdle won by Diamond MM at Worcester. The winner seemed to benefit from a more patient ride and with his stable in good form he is likely to go well again. After two wretched efforts American Art, with his tongue tied, ran a much more encouraging race but found the longer distance beyond him. He may yet recapture the form he showed at Bangor in the spring, back around two miles.

While most punters' attention was on the action at Newmarket, David Cleary keep a cool eye on proceedings at the summer jumps meetings. He highlights the ones to follow and the ones to forget about....

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Summer Jumpers: Horses to watch after a busy week

General / David Cleary / 24 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

David's selected the most promising horses from a crowded field

"Viva Colonia is well worth another chance, particularly at two miles."

David Cleary reflects on another week of summer jump racing and highlights the winners to watch, the losers to avoid and the contenders that could have more to offer in future...

It was another busy week on the jumping front, though competitive races which look worth following were decidedly thin on the ground. As earlier in the month, the handicap hurdles were stronger by and large than other categories, and certainly include the most talked about race of the week, the two-mile event at Wetherby won by Royal Max.

It was a much improved effort by the winner on his second start back from a break, but he was greatly helped by the soft lead he managed to establish after starting several lengths ahead of his rivals. The well-supported Viva Colonia was left with far too much to do and the effort of trying to close such a large gap cost him second. He is well worth another chance, particularly at two miles. Apartman couldn't build on a promising effort at Aintree the time before but this may have come a bit soon, given his profile, and he's dropping a lot in the weights, so shouldn't be written off just yet.

The handicap hurdle at Kelso on Sunday is another to be positive about, with the winner What A Steel, leading home two other unexposed sorts in Cool Baranca and Freddie Brown. What A Steel showed a good attitude and ought to follow up under a penalty before he's reassessed. Cool Baranca travelled strongly but was found out by the stiff finish, compounded by a strong wind - she can win a similar event when speed is more at a premium. Freddie Brown, by contrast, is a chaser in the making, likely to be at his best over further, and he couldn't quicken after jumping clumsily at times.

Another winner to note from Kelso is Badger Foot, who landed the handicap chase in ready fashion on his first start for Lucinda Russell. He's been in good form in points and is clearly a different proposition since leaving Jonjo O'Neill.

Much earlier in the week, at Newton Abbot, Kylenoe Fairy defied a 6-lb rise for her previous course win. Her style of racing - held up and produced late - means the handicapper doesn't find it easy to get her measure when she's in top form; the way she travelled here before picking up well suggests she'll have a solid chance of completing a hat-trick. Kylenoe Fairy wasn't the only one to boost the form of her previous race during the week, which suggests runner-up Tri Nations should be given another chance. He's been set too much to do in two defeats since (never-nearer fifth behind Kylenoe Fairy this time) but can take advantage of a still favourable mark if all falls his way.

Two others to note from the Newton Abbot card are the Grant Cann-trained pair How's My Friend and She's On The Case. How's My Friend caught the eye in the steadily-run novice hurdle, losing his place before keeping on well without being given a hard time; he's one to keep in mind. She's On The Case was well backed for the handicap chase on just her second start over fences but two miles five furlongs is on the short side, particularly on a sharp track, and lack of fluency as the pace quickened left her poorly placed. The best of her has definitely yet to be seen. The winner of that race, Life of A Luso shows a likeable attitude and may well keep ahead of the handicapper, particularly as he'll be at least as effective back at three miles.

Defeat for short-priced favourite Turtlethomas in the three-mile novice hurdle at Worcester, won by the thorough stayer Ely Brown, was a rare reverse for the Lawney Hill yard. However, Turtlethomas was travelling strongly when a blunder four out seemed to unsettle him and he's well worth another chance.

The week's list of negatives could be summed up as just about anything that won at the two Towcester fixtures. However, three will do for now: Leopard Hills (unimpressive in a weak seller), Speedy Directa (fell in, with a race run ideally and the favourites running badly) and Timoca (seemed to show more resolution in cheekpieces but won a weak race for mares and wouldn't be sure to react so well to headgear another time).

The Flat-bred Rio Gael made a fairly unconvincing chasing debut at Fakenham and will need to be well placed to follow up, handicaps not a good option given his hurdling mark. Franklino confirmed his status as a serial underachiever in defeat at Newton Abbot, while Gem Mill surely won't be subject of market support again after a poor display at Sedgefield.

The Flat season is grabbing the headlines but there are still plenty of promising bets to be had over jumps, as David Cleary explains....

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