Wincanton - 3:10 (6 Nov 2004)
Badger Ales Trophy (A Handicap Chase) (Class A) (Listed Race) (5yo+,0-150) 3m1½f
Course Description
A right-handed galloping track with stiff/testing fences. Front runners often poach leads that are unassailable on the short run-in from the last fence.
Analysis
A review of the contestants indicates that Gunther McBride and Double Honour should both have good runs today. Gunther McBride made-all and won last time out at Kempton (right-handed track). He runs well fresh and was second to my favourite jumps runner of last year Swansea Bay. Double Honour is another that will relish today’s conditions and makes the short list due to superior speed ratings.
This is P.F Nicholls home track and therefore his entries have to be respected. Enter Whitenzo. Over the last two years this horse tops all in speed ratings, however, Whitenzo missed all of last season due to quote [Racing Post] “some heat in a leg which was bar-fired”; a common practice used by a lot of racehorse trainers to strengthen horses tendons before racing. Another horse to consider is Royal Auclair. From form analysis
“[Sandown 24/4/04] this horse has undergone wind op now & looks an ideal type for similar races next term”.
The racing post spotlight columnist quote
“trainer reported last month that "he’s currently working incredibly well - he’s twice the horse he was 12 months ago", so we have been warned.”
So, in a leap of faith and given that the Nicholls yard is in form plus £46,400.00 up for grabs, I’m going to increase my normal stake and back both Whitenzo (£2) and Royal Auclair (£4) to win £14.40.
posted by Slipperytoad @ 11/06/2004 10:46:00 am
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Results
Royal Auclair - 1st
Gunther McBride - 2nd
Whitenzo - 3rd
Racing Post Comments
A cracking renewal of this valuable handicap and run at a solid pace to suggest there will be plenty of good winners from this through the season. The first three finished nicely clear and ROYAL AUCLAIR (1) now heads for the Hennessy with connections reporting the seven-year-old looks a different horse to last year, when he still showed glimpses of his class, signing off with a narrow defeat in the Betfred (Whitbread) Gold Cup, having been a Cathcart winner as one of those precocious French imports with his former trainer. Unlike some of those, he looks like standing the test of time over here and the general 16-1 with the big firms does not look stingy.
He had been raised 6lb for that Sandown effort but, together with a wind operation during the summer, confirmed his connections' view that he has come back a better horse. As such he deserves his chance at Newbury and goes there with a cracking chance on this showing.
Gunther McBride, fit from his win at his beloved kempton, gives the form a very solid look and on this showing his 4lb rise for that win should not stop him.
Whitenzo became the latest of his in-form stable to come back in flying form, in his case from 560 days. As usual he travelled exceptionally well even off the strong pace. He has threatened to win a Grade 1 to add to his Grade 2 win and this comeback from injury augurs well notwithstanding the ‘bounce factor'. He is still young enough and while the handicapper may well revise his kind 10lb drop in rating after his timeoff, there are good races to be won if he stands training especially as he has form on easier ground.
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