Review of the day

With the defection of Benatar, we were left with just the 2 tips on the day - and both disappointed…

First up, it Looking Well - but he never featured in the long distance chase.

I can’t offer any excuses - simply he wasn’t good enough to compete with his southern based rivals.

His chance of success will improve when he returns to a northern track…

Sweet Home Chicago was the other tip on the day - and I quite fancied him.

However, I fancied him a bit less, when I saw the weight of support behind the favourite, First Assignment !

It takes a lot of money to halve the price of a favourite in a big Saturday handicap.

But that’s exactly what happened with him, as he went from 3/1 this morning, to 6/4 at the off.

In fairness, Sweet Home Chicago was also strong in the market: he was sent off at 8/1, having been bigger earlier.

And coming down the hill for the final time, I did think he was going to go very close.
Adrian Heskin just about took up the running on him, and he touched 2.66 on BF.

However, no sooner had he hit the front, than he was beaten.

Shortly after, First Assignment cruised into the lead - and won as a 6/4 should.

It was 9 lengths at the line - but could have been significantly more.

I suspect the handicapper will take a dim view…

I actually think we can consider ourselves a little unlucky with the way things worked out in the big race of the day.

I put up both Benatar and Baron Alco as eye catchers in the forum, with a view to them running in the Betvictor Gold cup. 

My preference was always for Benatar - and when stable jockey Jamie Moore elected to ride him ahead of Baron Alco, that sealed the deal.

However, with Benatar an 11^th hour withdrawal, Moore switched to Baron Alco - and the rest, as they say, is history. 

I said in the write-up that Baron Alco was an ultra game horse - and jumping from fence to fence, he never put a foot wrong and then battled bravely up the hill.

It was a tremendous performance and a thoroughly deserved victory.

As for the Mentions:

In the face of massive opposition to favourite Never Adapt, Katpoli was backed in to 12/1 at the off, in the opener.

His jumping today was much better - and he almost touched even money in running, approaching the second last.

However, his effort flattened out at that point and ultimately, he could only finish fourth.

The Worlds End managed a place better in the following race - but was much more disappointing.

He didn’t seem to do a lot wrong, either - so the conclusion has to be that he’s not as good as initially appeared.

Speedo Boy took the novice handicap in the manner of a well handicapped horse - which his exactly what I thought he might be !

His cause was helped by the removal of a number of hurdles, which enabled him to use his flat speed.

Finally, despite being backed in to even money, Royal Illusion could only finish third in the bumper.

She had every chance, but was no match for the Alan King trained debutante, The Glancing Queen.

The suggestion is, that she’s a pretty useful mare…

TVB.