The heavy rain introduced an element of lottery to the days proceedings - and boy did the gods of luck, revel in that !
Drama unfolded, race after race - with each subsequent race seemingly determined to upstage its predecessor…
Relatively, speaking things started quite calmly, with an easy win for Klassical Dancer in the Supreme.
I certainly could have given him a chance - but equally, couldn’t have backed him at 5/1.
However, he looked transformed by the softer ground - and was a very easy winner.
Thomas Darby and Itchy Feet ran excellent races to finish second and third for Olly Murphy.
I could have been interested in the latter - but he needs decent ground (which I wasn’t sure he was going to get).
Next up it was the Arkle - and the first tip of the day, in the shape of Kalashinkov.
I have to admit that I felt he had a real chance - and the early fall of Glen Forsa, plus Lalors lack of interest, left me feeling very optimistic.
Kalashnikov himself was jumping and travelling really well - when Ornua fell directly in front of him and brought him down.
It was so unlucky - the horse was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In fairness, Duc des Genevries subsequently went on and absolutely hacked up - but it’s hard to think that Kalashnikov wouldn’t have finished at least second - and with a bit of luck, who knows…
It can be a tough game at times…
Next it was the Ultima handicap - and why Minella Rocco took his chance, I’ve no idea…
He had drifted to 28 on BF at the off - never moved out of the last 3 - and was pulled up well before half way.
The word ‘disappointing’ doesn’t really do it justice !
The race was won by the 2 ‘mud larks’ who I identified this morning - with Beware the Bear getting the better of Vintage Cloud…
Next it was the big one - the Champion hurdle,
It had been billed as a 3 corner affair: between Buveur D’air, Apples Jade and Laurina - but that’s not how it panned out !
In a change of tactics, Melon raced prominently and never gave Apples Jade a moments peace.
It was soon clear that she wasn’t going to be winning.
Therefore, when Buveur D’air stepped at a hurdle along the back straight and came down, the race looked to be at Laurina's mercy.
However, she wasn’t up to the job - and instead it was the unheralded Espoir Dallen who took advantage and won in convincing fashion.
You can’t take anything away from him and time may show him to be a very good champion - however, he was left with literally nothing to beat this afternoon…
Next it was the mares hurdle - in which I felt Benie des Dieux was vulnerable.
Ultimately, I was proven right - but only because she took a fall at the last, when looking sure to win.
I tipped Momella in the race - but she ran disappointingly.
I could easily have tipped Roksana - but a price this morning of 7/1, was too short.
I may have been more tempted by her SP of 10/1 - but that’s immaterial…
The penultimate race of the days was the novice handicap chase.
I was quite keen on A Plus Tard, as I felt he might be a graded horse in a handicap.
That theory had been given more weight earlier in the afternoon, when Duc des Genievres won the Arkle - as A plus Tard had beaten him on his penultimate outing.
And sure enough, A Plus Tard was indeed a graded horse in a handicap - and probably a grade 1 horse !
Rarely will you see a handicap won more easily.
The winning distance at the line, was 16 lengths - but it could easily have been 30…
The NH chase was the final race of the day - and it ended up a complete war.
Horse after horse made mistakes and fell - or just ran out of steam.
Chef des Obeaux had already made one chunking mistake, when he was eventually stopped in his tracks, by the fall of one of his rivals.
18 horses set out - but just 4 made it home - with Le Breuil getting the better of a protracted struggle with Discorama.
You won’t see many more attritional contests….
As dramatic opening days go - today was certainly up there with the best of them !
TVB.
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