Masters 2012: Five Augusta clues to take from the Matchplay

US Masters / Paul Krishnamurty / 28 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Is Tiger a fading force, or is he slowly tuning his game up?

"Given the stellar form of his main rivals over the past few weeks, it is becoming impossible to justify Tiger's status as joint-favourite for the Masters."

With the first big event of 2012 completed and just five weeks until the Masters, what did we learn from the World Matchplay? Paul Krishnamurty weighs up the performances and progress of the big-names.

Tiger Woods is a false favourite for Augusta
Time is running out for Tiger to re-assert his credentials, before his supporters give up on him ever recapturing the glory days. Prior to the World Matchplay, he'd looked in decent enough nick, but lacking the confidence and ruthlessness in contention that made him the greatest ever. At Dove Mountain, Woods looked all at sea, lucky to beat Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano before losing in the last-16, without Nick Watney having to produce his best golf. Given the stellar form of his main rivals over the past few weeks, it is becoming impossible to justify Tiger's status as joint-favourite for the Masters.

Rory McIlroy seems certain to contend
In contrast, co-favourite Rory keeps improving and is becoming impossible to keep out of the frame. McIlroy wasn't at his best over the whole week at Dove Mountain, and doesn't look particularly well suited to matchplay, yet still reached the final. Most encouraging was how he upped his game when presented with the definitive test of a semi-final against Lee Westwood. Even despite a persistently poor conversion ratio, in-play punters keep being rewarded for backing Rory pre-tournament, with Sunday's second place his tenth top-five finish in 11 starts. It would take a brave man to lay [8.2] for Augusta under the circumstances.

Lee Westwood still can't shed his 'nearly man' reputation
A similar point could be made about Lee Westwood's in-running credentials, but it is doubtful the Worksop Wonder will take any consolation from that. He was extremely frustrated after failing to finish off the Dubai Desert Classic recently, and must have come away from Arizona wondering what he has to do in order to win a big, career-defining title. His golf was peerless for the first four rounds, yet remains without either a Major or World Golf Championship to his name.

Luke Donald's world number one status looks extremely shaky
The biggest surprise of the week was defending champion Luke Donald's opening day trouncing at the hands of Ernie Els, continuing a terrible start to the season. Granted it's early days but following on from 48th and 56th place finishes, Donald is so far unrecognisable from the ultra-consistent character who dominated last season. Perhaps the pressure of being world number one is getting to him, or perhaps 2011 was just as good as it will ever get for Luke. Either way, his Masters credentials are fading fast.

Hunter Mahan is rapidly becoming a big tournament specialist
Lets take nothing away from the new World Matchplay champion. That was Mahan's second WGC title, adding to the 2010 Bridgestone Invitational, and confirms this superb ball-striker has the game for big occasions on championship courses. At the current odds of [46.0], there are worse bets for the Masters, especially as his course record takes the eye. It usually takes several attempts to learn Augusta's secrets, and Hunter has already made an impression with top-tens in 2009 and 2010. The next will be his fifth attempt as a pro, which is just about the right length of apprenticeship.

It was a disappointing putting performance from Tiger Woods last Sunday, one that coincided with a very hot putter in the hands of Phil Mickelson. But he's looking dangerous and yet another win at the US Masters is a conceivable...

Ralph Ellis can't see dual Money List champ Luke Donald winning SPOTY but he likes his chances at The Masters...

No-one doubts that Rory McIlroy suffered a Masters meltdown but that doesn't mean we write him off entirely, says Paul Krishnamurty. In fact there's much to learn from Augusta winner Charl Schwartzel......

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Weekend Preview: Festival clues at Cheltenham & Leopardstown

Weekend Preview/Review / Timeform / 27 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Captain Chris puts his stamina to the test on Saturday

" will be interesting to see how Captain Chris handles the stiff three-miles-one-furlong test, with a positive run likely to sway connections into running him in the Cheltenham Gold Cup."

Cheltenham's Festival Trials card is the highlight on Saturday, with Captain Chris and Big Buck's two of the highest profile runners appearing, whilst Hurricane Fly makes his seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown on Sunday...

The Grade 2 Argento Chase looks to be the most fascinating race at Cheltenham on Saturday and Captain Chris, who'll be putting his stamina credentials on the line having finished third in last month's King George, currently holds favouritism for the contest. It will be interesting to see how Captain Chris handles the stiff three-miles-one-furlong test, with a positive run likely to sway connections into running him in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, rather than the Ryanair Chase.

Also lining up in Saturday's feature are Time For Rupert and Diamond Harry, two horses more than capable of giving the favourite something to think about if producing their best. Time For Rupert was dropped in grade by connections on his latest start, and a victory in a Newbury graduation chase will have done his confidence the world of good. Diamond Harry was disappointing when finishing fourth in the Betfair Chase last time but he is lightly raced enough to bounce back from that defeat and it is worth noting he has won three of his four completed chase starts. Tidal Bay and Midnight Chase look the best of the rest.

The Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle, as with the majority of top staying hurdle races, revolves around Big Buck's, with the Paul Nicholls trained charged considered some 13 lb ahead of David Pipe's Dynaste on Timeform ratings. The Cleeve Hurdle will be a stepping stone for Big Buck's' defence of the World Hurdle crown in March, and it is fully expected that the nine-year-old gelding secures his fifteenth successive victory on Saturday.

The Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial and Grade 2 Neptune Investment Hurdle Trial complete the graded action from Prestbury Park on Saturday, with the former race having attracted what appears to be a very strong field. Grumeti and Baby Mix, both prominent in the ante-post betting for Triumph Hurdle itself look set to battle it out, with Hollow Tree and Pearl Swan also due to line up. The latter contest will also be of interest to many with Broadbackbob, Knight Pass and Hard To Swallow all within 1 lb of one another according to Timeform figures.

The rest of the card is completed with handicaps, the Grade 3 Murphy Group Handicap Chase looking the most competitive of the remaining three races. Paul Nicholls looks to hold the aces in the race at the moment with Poquelin and Woolcombe Folly heading the weights and Aerial , the mount of Ruby Walsh, also entered.

There is plenty of graded action at Doncaster on Saturday with a Grade 2 Mares' Hurdle featuring the likes of Alasi and Dorabelle getting the card underway at 13:15 before Menorah and Kumbeshwar re-oppose in the Grade 2 Lightning Novices' Chase just over half an hour later.

The handicap feature comes in the form of the SkyBet Chase (read our preview HERE) over three miles, where upwardly mobile performers such as Shakalakaboomboom and Galaxy Rock, who both have an eye on the Grand National in April, will do battle. It will be intriguing to see how that pair get on against the likes of Aiteenthirtythree and Wayward Prince.

The final graded race of the afternoon at Doncaster is an Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Trial, for which Gullinbursti and Rocky Creek are at the head of Timeform ratings. Both look open to progression after few starts and a Grade 1 assignment at the Cheltenham Festival could be in the offing for the winner.

Racing in Britain is completed with an all-weather meeting at Lingfield and a National Hunt meeting at Uttoxeter, whilst over in Ireland Leopardstown hosts a seven-race jumps card that features a two-mile-five-furlong Grade 2 novice chase in which Sir Des Champs and Hidden Cyclone are pitted against one another.

Sedgefield and Ffos Las will be the venues for racing in Britain on Sunday afternoon, the latter arguably possessing the stronger card.

Irish racing on Sunday is dominated by the Irish Arkle and the Irish Champion Hurdle , both of which feature on a seven-race card at Leopardstown. The Arkle looks to be between Flemenstar, Notus de La Tour and Blackstairmountain at this stage, with it very difficult to separate the trio, all of them open to various degrees of improvement.

The Irish Champion Hurdle is arguably the feature of the entire weekend and looks set to include the belated seasonal return of Hurricane Fly. Hurricane Fly was reported to have delighted Willie Mullins in a recent gallop and he will take all of the beating if able to reproduce anything close to his best as he is 10 lb clear of his nearest rivals, the field composed of Unaccompanied, Oscars Well, Thousand Stars and Kalann.
Sunday's race looks likely to be his only race before the defence of his Cheltenham Champion Hurdle crown in March.

The final graded race of the afternoon at Leopardstown is a Grade 2 novice hurdle set to take place at 15:05, featuring both Boston Bob and Make Your Mark, who will both be looking to enhance their credentials for the Neptune Investment Hurdle at Cheltenham. Sea Of Thunder is just about the most interesting of the remaining runners given his unfortunate departure at the last fence when seemingly having the race at his mercy last time.
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Timeform look back at a weekend featuring a success for Somersby in the VC Chase alongside a number of other impressive performances at Ascot, whilst Donald McCain was amongst the winners at Haydock......

This weekend sees a host of fascinating racing, with the Grade 1 VC Chase being the feature on Ascot's eight-race card whilst Haydock, Lingfield and Wincanton also stage some intriguing action......

Timeform take a look back at a weekend that may have been light on superstars, but nevertheless offered plenty of clues toward the Cheltenham Festival in March....

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Timeform Weekend Review: National clues abound

Weekend Preview/Review / Timeform / 07 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

The Grand National is just over a month away

"That Ballabriggs hasn’t eased much for the National reflects the idea that there were positives to be drawn from his performance, jumping with typical aplomb and only nailed close home."

Timeform review Saturday's main action at Doncaster, Newbury and Kelso...

One of the more valuable races run last weekend was the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, which was won by the Jon Wade-trained Always Right. Always Right is improving fast and reportedly has the Scottish National on his agenda now, though the way he travels casts some doubt as to the suitability of the extra three quarters of a mile he would encounter at Ayr. Of those in behind, one of the more eyecatching efforts was that of the third home Character Building, who ran a pretty encouraging Grand National trial, jumping well and rallying late. He may not feature among the best-treated Nationals entries, but he took to the fences pretty well last year and has had a smoother preparation this time around, so the current price available about him [48.0] is arguably a touch on the big side.

Perhaps the other most notable performance at Doncaster on Saturday was that of Montbazon, who won the valuable bumper on the card in impressive fashion, producing a level of form not far removed from what is normally required to have a say in one of the big Festival bumpers. Aintree rather than Cheltenham is reportedly going to be Montbazon's next port of call according to Alan King.

Down at Newbury the feature was the Greatwood Gold Cup, which went the way of Charlie Mann's progressive handicap chaser Fine Parchment. Fine Parchment holds an entry for next week's Festival Plate at Cheltenham, but the Topham at Aintree is said to be his preferred target. Aintree is also on the agenda for Big Fella Thanks and Niche Market, both of whom shaped with some degree of promise with a view to the Grand National. The two of them feature prominently in the market for that race at around the [18.0] mark.

Another horse who is towards the head of the Grand National market is Ballabriggs, who is a [17.0] shot for the race despite meeting with defeat reverting to fences for the first time this season in Saturday's Premier Chase at Kelso. That Ballabriggs hasn't eased much for the National reflects the idea that there were positives to be drawn from his performance, jumping with typical aplomb and only nailed close home. The winner, Skippers Brig is quite lightly raced for one of his age, but he has an impressive strike rate and will be a player for big staying handicaps this spring.

Timeform review Saturday's main action at Doncaster, Newbury and Kelso......

Timeform look ahead to the weekend's action at Doncaster, Kelso and Newbury......

Timeform takes a look back at the best action from the weekend, where ever-softening conditions gave us some astonishing performances....

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