Wetherby - (28th Oct 2005)
Wetherby Course Description
Left handed, oval shaped track it features a long rise to the winning post. This course tends to appreciate fearless, bold jumping resolute, long striding gallopers who can stretch out over the long straights. However such animals need to be able to cope with this tracks very abrupt and tight turns. The run in is rather short, only 190 yards so it pays to be near the front at the last fence
3:00 2m - Rocom Siemens Handicap Hurdle (Class C) 4yo+
Race Trends
Two winning favourites in two years. No horses had won or placed last time out. Position of winner 2-4 in the betting. 6 year-olds have the best record.
Analysis
There are no 6 year-olds in this race and given the soft conditions, the selection process was skewed toward the younger horses and those that had already proven their stamina or highly rated.
Shorted listed horses are Pay Attention, Kentucky Blue and Ursis.
Ursis is highly regarded but lightly raced and lacks experience based on trainer comments. A Short priced market favourite for one who still needs to prove his ability (5th last time out) equals elimination in my book.
Kentucky Blue and Pay Attention hail from the same yard and based on ratings seasonal debutant Pay Attention is the selection (1 point win). Already proven on soft going and testing condition at stamina sapping Towchester, the next race form of the runners from his last race (he was placed 2nd) reads
3rd placed: 3 in a class B juvenile novice hurdle
4th placed: 1st in class D handicap hurdle
7th placed: 1st in class B novices’ hurdle
8th placed: 1st in class E novices’ hurdle
3:35 2m - bet365 White Rose Handicap Chase (Class C) 5yo+
Race Trends
Only 4 winning favourites in 10 years. Winners usually come from the first four in the betting. Horses aged 7, 8 and 9 have dominated the winners’ position with 8yo’s having the best record. Average weight of the winner around 11st 2lbs (skewed toward the bottom end of the weights)
Analysis
Based on Betfairs current tissue short listed horses are Flame Creek, Almaydan, Provocative, Gone Too Far and Multeen River
Flame Creeks shapes as one that is better over hurdles and 321 day absence to overcome, Provocative has preference for distances further than today, has been let down by poor jumping. Gone Too Far is on a handicap mark where further improvement is unlikely. 4-22 record over today's distance does not inspire confidence. Highly rated Almaydan would have been the selection but 1-6 record on left-handed courses means that Multeen River who has dropped 3lbs (1lbs above a winning handicap mark) gets the nod (1 point win)
posted by Slipperytoad @ 10/28/2005 11:58:00 am
2 comments
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2 Comments:
3:00 2m - Rocom Siemens Handicap Hurdle (Class C) 4yo+
Racing Post Comments
Tony McCoy was determined to take no prisoners from the outset on URSIS, on whom he set a good clip. Although the horse looked inclined to hang away from the inside rail to his right, he proved willing under pressure, despite again going to his right, from the second-last and stuck to his task in good style. His jumping can still be improved upon, but it might be that he will prefer to go right-handed on this evidence.
Kentucky Blue ran a sound race in defeat under top-weight. He rallied between the last two, but seemed to hit a swinging hurdle at the final flight and flattened out on the run-in. His turn will come.
Although she was unable to prove a threat to the principals, Karathaena ran a respectable race, while Pay Attention, who progressed so well last season as a novice, ran as though needing this comeback outing; she will doubtless fare better as the campaign unfolds.
Andre Chenier was still in with a chance, but was being asked for an effort when he blundered and unseated his rider two out. Quite how he would have fared is impossible to say for sure, but it looked as he would have been required to raise his game another notch to go and win the race.
3:35 2m - bet365 White Rose Handicap Chase (Class C) 5yo+
A decent race, run at a decent gallop and not without incident, with Flame Creek the first casualty. Back from a lengthy break and resuming his chasing career, he blundered at the first two fences and hit the deck at the next. That was not the only contribution he made to proceedings as he also fell again, when riderless, four out, impeding Sir Storm in the process, and bringing down Tribal Dispute, who had been in the process of running a good race, despite making a bad blunder of his making five from home.
All that said, victory went to PROVOCATIVE, who produced a bold display under Graham Lee and battled home in admirable style. He jumped well in the main and could be the sort of horse to make marked progress this term.
Almaydan ran a blinder under top-weight on his reappearance and went down fighting. Although he may not have anything in hand of the handicapper, he should continue to pay his way.
Multeen River deserved his finishing position to the perseverance of Tony McCoy, who survived some hairy jumping from his mount and drove him into contention in the home straight.
Sir Storm was done no favours by Multeen River four out and ran well in the circumstances; he may be on the threshold of returning to winning form.
Super Nomad, who crept into the race going to four out, flattened out eventually, but should be all the better for this comeback outing.
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