Last Weekend Horse Racing Review
Where do we start with this then?
It became apparent on Friday that Newcastle’s card on Saturday had to be abandoned due to the condition of the ground on course, meaning we were rather disappointed that we didn’t see the best NH horse return to action, it has since been made that SHISHKIN will return to action in the Fighting Fifth hurdle at Sandown on Saturday… oh did you think I was referring to Constitution Hill? Don’t worry I was! He also heads to Sandown with Shishkin as they look likely to clash this weekend. More on that later.
IMPAIRE ET PASSE was beaten by a proper game performance by TEAHUPPO in the Hatton’s Grace over at Fairyhouse on Sunday. In my opinion, I don’t think the horse in the infamous double green silks was given a particularly great ride. I think Paul Townend tried to make it a bridle job but against horses of that opposition, you can’t afford to be doing that, especially the first time in open company.
From 2 out he could have sent him on his way and put it to bed going over the last and the more you watch it back, the more it becomes apparent that the ride has cost IMPAIRE ET PASSE the Hatton’s Grace, he had TEAHUPPO off the bit turning for home and you’d admit coming to the 2nd from home he looked beat. Nevertheless, it was a game performance by TEAHUPPO to make it double in the Hatton’s Grace and
would boost optimism of his chances of the STAYERS HURDLE come Cheltenham.
I was rather let down by LETSBECLEARABOUTIT in the Drinmore. Over the 2nd last he looked like the winner but I was shocked with how easily FOUND A FIFTHY and I AM MAXIMUS swooped past him there with sheer ease. He found absolutely nothing off the bit and was a massive letdown.
AN TOBAR put up an eye-catching performance in the Royal Bond, from where he off the bridle and pushed along he he’s stayed on there like a proper horse. To me he looks like a top class chaser in the making, for a step up in trip and over a fence he will improve drastically. I think he has a big future ahead of him and I would love to see him head to the Ballymore.
HERMES ALLEN started his chasing career off with a bang as he dotted up in the John Francome on Friday at Newbury. For a debut, it was a really nice performance… nothing extraordinary but a really good run. Nicholl’s has mentioned he may go to Cheltenham next weekend with a plan after that to keep him rested until the Scilly Isles.
This Weekends Horse Racing
As mentioned earlier it looks like CONSTITUTION HILL & SHISHKIN will face off this weekend in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle that is held at Sandown. Let’s talk about how much of a mess the Shishkin scenario is right now. Why on earth is he heading here as prep for a King George? It just makes no sense to me at all, let’s be honest CONSTITUTION HILL could break him here… why risk it?
Let’s see what happens… could you imagine a situation that Shishkin turns him over? Then what happens? Question marks have stemmed as to whether Constitution Hill will actually run and has been a constant drifter in the betting… let’s see what gets Declared on Thursday.
The Tingle Creek takes place this weekend where JONBON heads here in a bid to land another Grade One and looks nailed on to do so. I’d have EDWARDSTONE to follow him home in 2nd if he runs, Alan King had stated on Wednesday that there are some doubts if he will run or not, and largely depends on what the owners want to do and what the ground is like, I think there’s a strong chance he goes here, the owners are very ambition and after seeing what he did here last season, it would make sense to see him return to defend his crown here. This brings me onto my first bet of the weekend;
FORECAST, JONBON 1ST — EDWARDSTONE 2ND @ 9/2
IRISH POINT 10/1(EW) in the Fighting Fifth hurdle is my 2nd selection for this weekend’s racing. I love this horse! He’s on a real upward trajectory since the Dublin Racing Festival and I believe he has a live chance here. If Constitution Hill doesn’t turn up here there’s no way he goes off 10/1 against Love Envoi and You Wear It Well. I think he’s got the gears needed to potentially make a strong gallop here and make it a real stamina test against this field, he has a proper chance here and I’m really keen on his chances.
SOUTHOFTHEBORDER 7/4 is my 3rd selection for this week. He runs in the 13:50 at Sandown on the Friday and I have to admit I was very impressed with his performance on the last day. He looks as if the step up in trip will bring on further improvement, he travels through his races with the look that he’s got gears to burn and now has winning course experience under his belt which bolsters his chances. Really looking forward to seeing him over a longer trip.
STAYAWAYFAY 6/5 is my final selection of this weekend’s action. I think at this stage he will just have a bit too much for Giovinco and coming up the Sandown straight I’d fancy
his chances of staying on better and chewing through the ground. His performance to get up after looking beat on the last day was exactly what you want to see from a horse over 3M, he’s going to give it all he’s got. Giovinco is a very nice prospect but this time I’ll be siding with Paul Nicholl’s Grade 1 winning chaser.
SPOTLIGHT HORSE FOR THE WEEKEND
My spotlight horse for this weekends racing is CROKE PARK. He’s put up a cracking performance last time out putting away Mel Monroe and Search For Glory with ease. Another strong performance this weekend would seriously stir up some talk of his chances in the Albert Bartlett, I think he’s made for that race. It’s unclear whether he heads to Navan or Cork over the weekend but I think he’s got a chance in either, I’ll be watching closely…
Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post Selection
CONFLATED 4/1 CROSS COUNTRY CHASE
This is a bit of a longshot as it’s probably a small probability he ends up here but hearing those comments raised from Elliot around how he jumps over the banks gets you rather intrigued. His jumping is one of his best assets in my opinion, and I think he would get the cross country trip with no worries at all. Now to hear Elliot’s recent comments
regarding the plan with Conflated, he does intend to run him in the Savills chase and having a crack at the ‘big boys’. His run in that race will determine whether he comes here or if he will have another go at the Gold Cup. But I have a small incline that he will end up here and off levels weights with age to his advantage, he’s going to have a proper chance in this.
Despite it being a totally different task ahead of him, I think he looks like he will relish this sort of task. If Conflated, Delta Work, Galvin and Minelle Indo all line up in this, we’re going to have a cracking renewal of the Cross Country this year and I’d hope that Jack Kennedy can lift Conflated up the hill in pole position to land the spoils.
Thanks for your time all, make sure you tune into all the action this weekend. We’ve being spoilt lately with the racing we’ve had on show and hopefully we see Constitution Hill return to action this weekend!
Cal
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