Sunday 7 April 2019

Review of the day

I was shocked to see how quickly the ground had dried out at Aintree, this afternoon.

After yesterdays rain, I was expecting it to be at least soft - maybe edging towards heavy: but instead, it was more good to soft…

In truth, that probably helped Felix Desjy - as I did have a slight concern about him handling very testing conditions.

However, as it transpired, it wasn’t the ground that nearly found out - but his jumping !

He’s a very free going horse - and I was pleased to see Jack Kennedy able to get an uncontested lead on him.
However, I was less pleased to see him get the fourth hurdle completely wrong.

A shuddering mistake saw him lose ground and momentum - so it says much for his ability that he was able to maintain his lead, and get back into a rhythm.

From that point on, it was about Kennedy getting his fractions right and Felix not messing up his jumping ! - and fortunately, both delivered.

It briefly looked, after jumping the last, that Aramon might run him down.
But Felix doesn’t lack for stamina - or heart - and he saw it out strongly…

Things hadn’t gone quite so well in the opening race on the card.
I’d narrowed it down to 5 - but only one of the 5 managed to even get placed !

That said, if I’d been aware of the gamble that was going to take place on Three Musketeers, I would have increased my short list to 6 !

Making his debut for Gordon Elliot, he was an easy to back 16/1 shot for most of the day - but was hammered in to 8/1, just before the off.

Ultimately, he only just got home, under a power packed Kennedy drive - but he did get home.
Mont des Avaloirs on the other hand, never featured and was pulled up…

The only other tips on the day, ran in the Topham - and once again, the race was won by a horse who was punted as if defeat was out of the question.

I had tipped Call It Magic - and he was incredibly strong in the early market - but in the key minutes before the off, his price began to drift…

By contrast, Cadmium, who was a weak 20/1 shot all morning, came in for massive support - and was eventually sent off at just 8/1.

He led throughout, jumping for fun - and whilst Call it Magic was just in behind him in second place when unshipping his jockey at the canal turn, I don’t honestly think it made any difference to the result.

I’ve said before: whilst they may be the biggest races, run at the biggest meetings - when the top stables really go for one, the result tends to be the same as when Gary Moore lines one up on a wet Monday at Plumpton !

Ballyhill was the second tip in the race.
However, he was also weak in the late betting - and seemed to struggle with the big fences…

As for the Mentions:
Then Topofthegame ran like a horse who hadn’t fully recovered from his Cheltenham exertions.
He’d looked brilliant in the RSA, but he looked laboured this afternoon.
I’m sure he’ll bounce back next season.

In the following race, Waiting Patently ran like a horse who is never going to reach the levels he once looked capable of.
He finished just behind Politologue - suggesting that he has probably regressed.
However, it was kind of irrelevant as Min blew them both away, winning by 20 lengths in a manner similar to that of stablemate Kemboy, yesterday.
With Cadmium almost as impressive, I’m wondering if Willie Mullins has discovered some new ‘wonder feed’ !

I was dead against Champ in the 3 mile novice hurdle: but the drying ground and steady pace meant that it wasn’t quite the stamina test I expected.
He clearly possesses plenty of class, and he cruised through the race - and won as he liked.
Walk Away ran a really good race to finish fourth - but it was still a wise move not to tip him.

Finally, the 3 horses I mentioned in the bumper, filled the first 3 places.
It did briefly look as if Thebannerkingrebel was going to pull off a mini shock - but McFabulous outbattled him in the final furlong - with Santa Rossa back in third…

Just one day of the season to go…

TVB.

No comments:

Post a Comment