A Day At The Races: Wetherby, Boxing Day 2013

Sue Smith’s Cloudy Too (11/4) was an easy, 10-length winner of the feature race, the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.

The favourite Sydney Paget (5/2) was the long time leader but faded quickly in the home straight (eventually pulled up).

Tullamore Dew (8/1) and Cape Tribulation (6/1) chased Cloudy Too home but never really threatened the winner.

 

2013 Grand National Winner Auroras Encore

The opening novices’ handicap chase (12.35) provided the best finish of the afternoon. Clondaw Flicka (7/2f) lead for most of the second circuit in the 3m1f contest. But Shouldavboughtgold (8/1) closed him down and took the lead after the final jump. The gelding, however, seemed to stop running for a few strides and Clondaw Flicka was able to rally and get up on the line in a photo finish.

Clondaw Flicka was the first half of a double for trainer Lucinda Russell. Saphir River (12/1) under Craig Nichol was also successful for the Scottish-based trainer in the handicap hurdle race (2.20).

The novices’ handicap hurdle (1.10) was another tight finish. The only time the winner Catcher Star (11/2) was in front in the entire race was on the finishing line, denying Getabuzz (5/1) by a neck.

The crowd at Wetherby was certainly the biggest for a few years for the Boxing Day fixture, no doubt helped by the fine winter weather.

Racing Preview: King George VI Chase, Kempton

A lot can happen in 12 months. On Boxing Day last year Long Run was 15/8f for the King George VI Chase at Kempton and rallied late on to beat Captain Chris (16/1) by a neck.

A year on and Boxing Day 2013 sees Long Run 10/1 for this year’s race and a horse he had about 20 lengths behind him in 2012 – Cue Card – heading the market at 3/1f.

The reason for Cue Card holding favouritism is largely down to his win in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month. It seemed to remove doubts about him staying three miles and in addition he beat several of his King George VI rivals that day too – Dynaste (2nd), Silviniaco Conti (3rd), Long Run (4th). So his recent form is good.

But Cue Card’s apparent preference for left-handed tracks – Cheltenham, Aintree, Haydock, Newbury – combined with trainer Colin Tizzard’s reports of a virus in his yard (the severity of which has been hard to determine) make me cautious of backing him at 3/1. A better showing in last year’s race would have given me greater cause for confidence too.

Long Run’s price causes me the opposite problem. I try to allocate in dispassionate manner a numerical rating to various aspects of a horse’s form which I consider important. As a two-time previous winner of the race, as well as a second to Kauto Star, plus a further win over course and distance, Long Run scores very highly in my ratings, even when his rating is dragged down by his score for recent form.

As such, my home-made ratings make Long Run a 6/1 shot for the race when his general price is 10/1. In theory then he is a good bet – I am getting a bigger price than I think he should be. But it is hard to get away from his runs so far this season. His performance at Wetherby was poor and, although he improved at Haydock, it was not Class 1 winning form.

A ratings system will always tend to be biased towards “past glories” rather than capturing “future progress” but if Long Run drifts out to 12/1, 14/1, it might be hard to resist an each-way bet.

Riverside Theatre was back to winning ways at Huntingdon in the Peterborough Chase, with Champion Court in second place. But Riverside Theatre’s jumping that day did not inspire confidence and this race could be too soon for him after his efforts that day.

The selection is Dynaste (10/3). David Pipe’s runner has winning form over course and distance and soft ground appears no hindrance (Kempton’s going was changed to "soft" on Christmas Eve after 30mm of rain). His second place to Cue Card in the Betfair Chase was his first run of the season. He had been due to run first at Wetherby and was then switched from the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in preference for Haydock.

I am expecting improvement from that outing and hope he can cover some of the Christmas expenses.

Simonsig out for the season

Speaking at Ascot on Friday (20 December), trainer Nicky Henderson has stated that his 2013 Arkle Trophy winner Simonsig has suffered a setback and is out for the rest of the 2013/2014 season.

The trainer told At The Races:

"We had to make a decision and [Simonsig] will miss the rest of the season in his own interests to make sure he is 100% for next season."

"The fracture line on the splint line has itself gone.. he's sound ...but there is too much of a risk involved [in running him]. The fracture line healed up well and we'll keep him in light exercise until the Spring, ready for next season."

"We said he was going to miss the first half of season and we would review at Christmas, and we have just reviewed."

It was back in October that Henderson first revealed Simonsig had suffered an injury on his near fore leg and would likely miss the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Today's reports have confirmed that and worse for the Festival winner.

Racing Review: Cheltenham Saturday 14 December

The finish to the International Hurdle was certainly thrilling but only added to the puzzle as to the relative merits of the leading contenders.

The New One (2/5f) did eventually win by six lengths but the lead changed hands several times in the closing stages.

Zarkandar (5/2) had been left in the lead some way from home as Hawkhill (100/1) faded.  But he had a coming together with Jumps Road (100/1) in the home straight and this let The New One take the lead before the last fence. But the favourite jumped the last flight poorly and Zarkandar rallied up the hill. He took the lead again briefly before Sam Twiston-Davies was able to shake up The New One for a final effort to quicken and show his dominance.

Speaking after the race, trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies raised the possibility that the winner might head for the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. But that race is only 12 days away and The New One’s participation will depend on how he recovers from Saturday’s exertions.

Earlier on the card the same trainer-jockey combination also won the Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup with Double Ross (7/1) running out a ready winner. The trainer revealed that he almost did not run because of the good ground, with Double Ross preferring a softer surface. The strong pace set by Eastern Meteor and Sew On Target also helped the winner who can be keen himself and making the race a test of stamina aided him.

More Of That (11/4) remains unbeaten after four starts with his latest success in the Relkeel Hurdle. The winning distance over Paul Nicholls’ Salubrious (3/1) was two and a quarter lengths but the impression was that it could have been further if Tony McCoy had really gone for it.

But the jockey explained afterwards that he was mindful of the horse’s inexperience and that the five-year-old might have pulled himself up if he found himself too far in front.

Racing Review: Betfred Peterborough Chase

Having watched the replay several times, it is still hard to envisage Riverside Theatre (9/4f) winning the 2013 running of the Peterborough Chase with three jumps left to take.

As the runners enter the home straight Riverside Theatre is in about fifth place, still in touch with the leaders, but seemingly travelling nothing like as well as his rivals.

But somehow jockey Barry Geraghty rallied his mount and after the last fence he struck the front for the first time in the race and held on by half a length from Champion Court (4/1) with Captain Chris (7/2) a neck back in third.

It was a thrilling three-way finish to the race but these were the only three of the seven runners to really get involved in the contest. Champion Court under Ian Popham made the race a real test by setting a strong pace from the very start. The eight-year-old led until the final half furlong but could not hold off Riverside Theatre in the final strides.

Paul Nicholls’ Ghizao (10/1) was up with the leader for a long way but made a few jumping errors late on and faded.

The victory was a step back on the right path for Nicky Henderson’s gelding after a poor season in 2012/2013. He looked to be heading for the top class when winning the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in 2012 but things went wrong after that.

He holds an entry in the William Hill King George VI Chase on Boxing Day but that is just two weeks away and might come a bit soon after his exertions at Huntingdon.