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.
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