Week ending 12/11/06. And They’re Off...

Well the National Hunt season came ablaze this week with Cheltenham’s Open meeting:

First & foremost into my notebook was the heavily backed Irish raider Tipperary All Star(Ire) who literally crucified this field of 20 runners under top weight. Still only a novice he can come back for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in March but even if the handicapper puts him up by a stone I’m inclined to think he has at least another big handicap in him along the way. Being 14l’s clear of the third, Bonchester Bridge is also one to be noted, although now she has had two races in quick succession she may need a little rest to enable her to come back fresh.

Most of the action for me though was on the final day where Detroit City(Ire) laid his claim on the Champion Hurdle, where he too lugged top weight around the course in blistering fashion. He was two whole stone better than the above on official ratings & I have no doubts that he will be a serious contender, especially as the ground is likely to be a little better.

Somerset trainer P J Hobbs showed off another string to his bow in the opener with Fair Along(Ger) seeing off the Nicholls’ hotpot Natal(Fr). For some reason this kind of reminded me of 1997 Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand; it’s just a question of what is going to get near him. I will be following him with intrigue this season all the way to the Arkle.

The Bumper on the same card looked a quality do as well, however the winner, Cork All Star(Ire) (with the same Owner/Jockey combo as the aforementioned All Star) is said to be waiting now for the Champion Bumper @ Cheltenham for his next race. What with there being 13l’s back to the 5th we may have to look to the placed horses, 2nd An Accordian(Ire), 3rd Battle Cry & 4th Leading Authority(Ire), to get a gauge on the winner’s merits.

Other Notebook Entries this week:

If Speed Figures are anything to go by then the first two home in the first race up at Carlisle on the 6th Nov were something to take note of. The winner Tidal Fury(Ire) was eased down so there should be more to come when he gets his favored soft ground. The second Akilak(Ire) was giving the winner more lbs than lengths he was beaten by so should be able to make his mark in this sphere as well. This was as good as anything he did over hurdles but he does seem to come back best after a break.

Another interesting Novice Chaser was introduced the next day @ Exeter from the DE Pipe stable by the name of Pablo Du Charmil(Fr). This was a promising debut and there is a slight rumour going round that this is Pipe’s Arkle horse. Definitely one to follow.

There was a cracking little card at Bangor in mid-week. How long since a Lincoln winner became a hurdler? There is an old adage that milers from the flat make the best hurdlers. One thing we do know about Blythe Knight(Ire), he won’t mind a big field and on this evidence could literally be anything.

There was 20l’s back to 3rd in the following Nov H’cap Chase. The ½ l 2nd, Brave Villa(Fr) was put up 6lb has already gone on to score by 12l’s so the 8lb that Nenuphar Collonges(Fr) was raised by may not prove sufficient to stop him winning again. Alan King’s horses are in very good form at present.

I could be leading more with my heart than my head with this one but the feature race of the day was won by a personal favourite of mine, Bob Bob Bobbin (I was very fond of his mother). I think the Welsh National has been the intention all along, he certainly likes the course and won’t mind if there is more than just a cut in the ground.

The yard of PJ Hobbs would now seem to house horses owned by JP McManus, hence the booking of AP McCoy for the introduction of a decent Juvenile in Tritonix(Ire) later on the same card. Having won the Triumph Hurdle a couple of times in the last 3 years I can see him going for it again with the likes of this one.

There was a fine dual @ Carlisle on the Sunday in the 20f Novice Chase won by According To John(Ire). He was up against Royal Rosa(Fr), a horse rated 24lb his superior over hurdles, perhaps that’s why for the first time in 5 starts he wasn’t made favourite. However Royal Rosa(Fr) who was, was returning from a lengthy absence. There being 10l’s back to the 3rd, I feel both acquitted themselves rather well and should prove worth following throughout this jump season.

Over in Ireland the best performance for me was that ran by Young Desperado(Ire) @ Naas on Saturday. Having been off the track for a full 30 months he came back with a vengeance to run the race of his life to win a 17 runner Beginners Chase in a decent time by 17l’s. I know types such as this that come back from a lengthy absence can suffer from the ‘bounce’ effect but the ‘in running’ comment of ‘smooth hdwy’ shows his fitness. I can see him adding to this and making up for lost time especially given a month or so between races.


7 g ACCORDING TO JOHN(IRE) cn 12/11/06
6 g AKILAK(IRE) cn 12/11/06
6 g AN ACCORDIAN(IRE) b 12/11/06
6 g BATTLE CRY b 12/11/06
7 g BLYTHE KNIGHT(IRE) hn 12/11/06
8 g BOB BOB BOBBIN c 12/11/06
6 m BONCHESTER BRIDGE h 12/11/06
5 g CORK ALL STAR(IRE) b 12/11/06
5 g DETROIT CITY(USA) hn 12/11/06
5 g FAIR ALONG(GER) cn 12/11/06
6g LEADING AUTHORITY(IRE) b 12/11/06
6 g NENUPHAR COLLONGES(FR) cn 12/11/06
6 g PABLO DU CHARMIL(FR) cn 12/11/06
8 g ROYAL ROSA(FR) cn 12/11/06
5 g TIDAL FURY(IRE) cn 12/11/06
7 g TIPPERARY ALL STAR(FR) hn 12/11/06
4 g TRITONIX(IRE) j 12/11/06
9 g YOUNG DESPERADO(IRE) cn 12/11/06