RACINGAHEAD NOVEMBER 2019 ISSUE 181 £3.

49

inside:
Baron Alco wins the
fergie’s BetVictor Gold Cup
last year. Can he
big race double up?

preview
++++

jacobs’
five to
follow
++++

trends for
betvictor
gold cup
++++

paddock
picks

jumping
11

into life
1743-551X

9 771743 551050

the national hunt season is upon

ISSN

us with the first big Cheltenham

meeting arriving this month
irish racing scene...talking two-year-olds
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PAGES 4-5 PAGE 10
PROMOTION
FROM STEP 3
NEXT SEASON
FLOODGATES OPENED:
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See pages 24-45 City in a 7-2 rout

PICTURE: Pinnacle
Published by
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SPEND IT LIKE about Wasps ■JACKSON

By PETER

MURRAY’S TOMOS Williams is in line

to make his Six Nations
debut for Wales in Paris on

MINT TO Friday night and emulate

OH YES! Newport

says Haskell the greatest of all scrum-

halves.

BECKHAM
County’s Matty Dolan
is mobbed after netting More than half a century
an injury-time equaliser
against Middlesbrough
PICTURE: PA Images
LICK THE after Sir Gareth Edwards
made his Championship
bow in the same fixture, the
24-year-old from Treorchy

TOFFEES! ■ By ADAM
ELLIS
at Broadstreet RFC since
their move to the Midlands
in 2015, and Haskell,
pointed but if your expec-
tations are that, then you’re
is on stand-by for the
chance to go one better
than his predecessor.
Edwards, then 19, took
JAMES HASKELL says left Wasps last summerwho satisfied.
the plunge from Cardiff

Now Salford can ‘reach for the stars’ he can understand why Northampton, concedes it
former Wasps team- is pretty basic there.
for “The old facilities at
Acton were some of the
worst facilities you could
into a losing Wales team for
a match France won by

POSH AXE EVANS

mate Elliot Daly is “The facilities at Wasps ever wish to train at. six.Williams prepares to
DAVID unhappy about the are grassroots facilities,” make the same journey
Beckham says become majority sharehold- “It’s not like we’ve
with a winning team and
stated: “My early years in last
Salford City can ‘reach for ers of the club, with Beckham Manchester five years trying to get the now be a standard of the club’s Haskell told The Rugby swapped a Rolls Royce for a
were all about team in Miami going. part of this incredi- Paper. Bentley, we’ve gone from a
put an unbeaten interna-
the stars’ after buying into purchasing a 10 per cent stake living in Salford. ble team is really exciting.” facilities in Coventry. Derby delight: Tom tional record on the line.
“They train at Broad- Vauxhall Astra to some-
from Peter Lim, was made at a “It’s great seeing the story, Wednesday’s press confer- Daly is understood to be Collins scores for Since Warren Gatland
the club this week. “When the lads first got what they street, it’s a great thing else. The best thing Northampton in their
press conference this week. have done with the ence was attended by all other interested in a move to picked him against South
The shock announcement, involved with Salford we club grassroots club, that’s it. about Acton was when we big win over Leicester
Speaking about the acqui- spoke and the stadium and members of the Class London-based Saracens Africa last summer,
about all of us being having Peter “They use facilities that a left.”
which will see the ‘Class of 92’ sition, as part of it. It’s a of 92 with Beckham amid slow progress by local PICTURE: Getty Images Williams has made five
a delighted Beckham part of it, but rugby club uses. Wasps revealed
I have spent the special group of people Wasps to relocate to a new in more appearances and won
and to Continued on Page 3➤ “If your expectations are December that an agree-

... And Ferguson’s back

modern training ground. higher than the lot, against Argentina,
LEAGUE One Wasps have been based you’re going that then ment has been struck with Scotland, Tonga, Australia
promo- enough for Evans to keep his to be disap-
tion-chasers Peterborough job. Ferguson has previously
United have sacked manager led Posh to three promotions.
Continued on Page 5>
Match action - starts Page 8 >> and South Africa again
Continued on Page 4>
Steve Evans – and brought

for third spell in charge

“We are pleased to appoint
Darren Ferguson back for a Darren as our new manager
third spell in charge. on a deal that runs until the
A goalless draw against end of the season,” said Posh.
Charlton yesterday wasn’t ●FULL STORY – Page 33
DUNLAVY: JONES WON’T ALLOW SHIRKERS
AT STOKE CITY
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 CONTENTS
RACINGAHEAD NOVEMBER 2019 ISSUE 181 £3.49

inside:
Baron Alco wins the
fergie’s BetVictor Gold Cup
last year. Can he
big race double up?

preview
++++

jacobs’
five to
follow
++++

trends for
betvictor
gold cup
++++

paddock
picks

jumping
11

into life
1743-551X

9 771743 551050

the national hunt season is upon

ISSN

us with the first big Cheltenham

meeting arriving this month
irish racing scene...talking two-year-olds
28
welcome
With a big Cheltenham
meeting in the offing, we know 4 paul ferguson
we are deep into the National His expert preview of the
Hunt season with all the joy month’s big races
that brings.
Paul Ferguson looks ahead to 8 paul jacoBs
the great races in store for us Ante-post five to follow
this month, starting at Down this season
Royal and moving through to
Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Classic 10 paddock picks
which should see the return of Andrew Ayres finds another
La Bague Au Roi. selection of horses to follow 36
Then it’s Cheltenham’s
November Meeting and the
14 ANDY NEWTON
Important trends for the
BetVictor Gold Cup and BetVictor Gold Cup
Greatwood Hurdle.
Andy Newton has run his 16 two-year-olds 39 newmarket
expert eye over the key trends Ian Heitman analyses the latest Dave Youngman with the latest
for the BetVictor. juvenile action news from HQ
And, at this stage of the
season, don’t miss Paul Jacobs’ 22 Irish racing 40 tales from ring
ante-post value bets with five Karl Hedley with news from Simon Nott spends time at Exeter
mighty tips. the Emerald Isle and Wincanton
FOR ALL ENQUIRIES/ORDERS 26 EDDIE WOOD 43 optimum
RACING AHEAD The going is such a vital element The Optimum Racing Syndicate
Tuition House, St George’s Road in gambling enjoys a day out at Hereford
Wimbledon, SW19 4EU
Tel: 0845 638 0704
Racing Ahead is published by
24 paddock picks 44 cleve racing
The Racing Paper Ltd T/A Racing Ahead
Andrew Ayres finds another Deciding whether you need to
www.racingahead.net selection of horses to follow take a tipster’s service
Subs enquiries: 0845 638 0704
Back issues: £4 each 28 photo special 46 stable
Publisher & Editor In Chief: David Emery Shetland pony derby takes Leading jockeys and trainers in
Photos: Julie Drewett over at Plumpton October since 2003
Advertising enquiries: Graham Wright
0845 638 0704 / graham@racingahead.net
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
30 chepstow 48 racing methods
Paul Ferguson, Paul Jacobs,
Report from the opening day of Our experts look at the form
Andrew Ayres, Graham Buddry, the Jumps season over hurdles
Jeremy Grayson, Ian Heitman,
Andy Newton, Simon Nott 32 out in sticks 50 speed figures
Distribution: Intermedia Jeremy Gratson on the look-out Waldgeist’s Arc victory puts him
Printer: Mortons, Horncastle for winners at the smaller tracks ahead of Pinatubo in the list
Opinions in Racing Ahead are those of the
contributors and not necessarily the views of
The Racing Paper Ltd.
36 yesterday’s hero 54 form guide
Graham Buddry looks back on Leading jockeys and trainers
ISSN: 1743-551X Gold Cup great Denman in November since 2003
ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 3
NOVEMBER’S BIG RACES
DELTA CAN
WORK HIS
MAGIC
Paul Ferguson looks ahead to the thrilling Jumps action
G
ordon Elliott invariably
gets his bigger named-
horses ready for Down
Royal in early November
and it seems like that will
be the case once again, with Delta
Work being aimed at the JNWine.com
Champion Chase on Saturday,
November 2.
Last season’s RSA Chase third
remains unexposed as a staying
chaser and can announce himself in
open company by providing Giggin-
stown House Stud with a sixth
successive win in the race. Elliott has
won the contest three times in the
past six years himself and he also
introduced Delta Work in the begin-
ners chase over 2m4f at this two-day
fixture 12 months ago. This time
around, he intends on running Samcro
in the race and the seven-year-old,
who hasn’t been seen since the Christ-
mas Festival at Leopardstown, can
make it a meeting to remember for
connections.
Beaten on his reappearance at this
fixture last year, the previous season’s
Ballymore winner struggled with his
wellbeing thereafter and comes into
this campaign with a little less pres-
sure on him. In fact, in contrast to last
year when his name was on just about
everyone’s lips, he has been somewhat
forgotten by many, and it will be nice
to see him back in the winners’ enclo-
sure. It should be remembered that he
4 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
beat Elegant Escape in his Point-to-
Point, and he could easily make a big
splash in the novice chase division.
WETHERBY
Domestically on the same weekend,
Wetherby stages the Charlie Hall
Chase and Carlisle stages the 2m4f
Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate
Chase the following afternoon. It is
believed that La Bague Au Roi is being
aimed at Wetherby and this will tell
connections if she is up to contesting
the King George over Christmas, and it
should be remembered that she
appears to be at her best in the first
Eldorado
Allen
few months of the season. Bristol de
Mai is reportedly on target for the
Charlie Hall, too, whilst fellow Betfair
Chase-bound Lostintranslation is set
to kick-off his season in Colin Parker at
Carlisle. Dropping back to 2m4f would
seem a good move on reappearance,
given that Colin Tizzard’s huge seven-
year-old can race freely at times. He
really did flourish when upped in dis-
tance at Aintree and the Haydock race
looks to be the ideal early-season
target.
One horse who sadly won’t be in
action over that weekend is Emitom
who was due to join stable-mate La
Bague Au Roi, on the long journey
north to Wetherby. It was announced
recently, however, that he had met
with a setback and we probably won’t
see Warren Greatrex’s good-looking
five-year-old until the New Year.
CHELTENHAM’S OPEN
MEETING
A fortnight later Cheltenham’s three-
day Open meeting takes centre stage
and although entries for both the
BetVictor Gold Cup and the Great-
wood Hurdle have yet to close, one to
note in the latter would be Eldorado
Allen, despite his apparent lack of
experience. Having shaped really well
when third at Auteuil, he jumped par-
ticularly well when winning a Sandown
maiden hurdle in heavy ground last
November, and the race worked out
 La Bague
Au Roi

really well subsequently. The five-year-

“
old then got no further than the first
hurdle at Aintree, as he was badly
hampered and forced to part compa- ELDERADO
ny with Tom O’Brien. Having picked up Allen
an injury, he was forced to miss the
remainder of the season, but he is
looked
back now and will return in a handicap
a future
hurdle during November from a mark Graded
of 145. While it might seem a stiff class
enough mark on the face of it, the grey
looked a future Graded class per-
performer
former when winning at Sandown and when
I wouldn’t be surprised if he were to winning
make a big impact this season. The at
Greatwood is a possible starting point,
while there is a valuable 2m2f handi-
Sandown.
cap at Haydock the following Don’t be
Saturday, should he need a little surprised
longer. He can land a handicap hurdle
before heading into better company
if he were
and is very much one who I am looking
to make a
big impact

”
forward to.
One horse who has already been out
and won impressively over hurdles
recently is NIckolson and I wouldn’t
▲

ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 5

NOVEMBER’S BIG RACES

be surprised if Olly Murphy considered

having a tilt at the Grade 2 Sharp
Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham with
him. The son of No Risk At All quick-
ened up smartly to score at
Wincanton, whilst leaving the impres-
OK Corral
sion that he would appreciate a stiffer
track and slightly easier ground. Given
how he talks about him, Murphy clear-
ly holds this five-year-old in fairly high
regard and we saw last year with
Supreme second and third, Thomas
Darby and Itchy Feet, he doesn’t mind
running his better novices at Chel-
tenham’s early season fixtures. Itchy
Feet actually finished runner-up in the
Sharp when attempting to concede
5lbs to Elixir de Nutz, and Nickolson is
one to follow wherever he goes.

LADBROKES TROPHY
The Ladbrokes Trophy will be covered
in detail next month, but given the
shape of the market (at the time of
writing) I thought it worth touching could instead reappear in a Listed George; and Lostintranslation has the
upon in advance. Santini currently intermediate chase at Sandown. Benie Betfair Chase as his main target, so
heads the betting, despite the fact des Dieux is expected to remain over Colin Tizzard will aim Mister Malarky at

that Nicky Henderson has hinted in a
couple of interviews/articles that he
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aimed at the Charlie Hall and King He is respected, but at the odds
(currently 16-1 with William Hill, Coral
and Unibet) Ok Corral is of huge inter-
est, particularly if stable-mate Santini
does indeed skip the race. Runner-up
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Ok winner at Warwick, under Derek
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6 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
PAUL JACOBS
W
hen you come out of
work at night and the
headlamps go on
straight away, that is
the signal to post
your five to follow for the forthcoming
National Hunt season!
1. FRODON – Paul Nicholls
To have a sound jumper on your side,
flying around the undulations of the
Cotswolds track is worth a far few
lengths over two and a half miles and a
few more over an extended three and
a quarter.
Hence the inclusion of this mighty
chaser in my ante-post book for the
Cheltenham Gold Cup in March for
which he is currently quoted at around
the 25/1 mark. You could argue that
he is the best leaper of a fence over a
distance of ground in the UK and Ire-
land.
On my private ratings I have the
seven-year-old some 8lbs off the best
chasers in training, but there are rea-
sons to believe that with his sound
jumping he could take another step
forward over a further distance.
The son of Nickname has only raced
at three miles or more twice. On the
first occasion he was outpaced by
Might Bite, who was at the top of his
game, at Sandown in November 2017
and last season when out battling
Elegant Escape in the Cotswold Chase
at Cheltenham over an extended three
miles.
What was interesting that afternoon
was that the Welsh National hero
looked sure to overhaul Frodon 200
yards out, but this mighty atom of a
chaser picked up again in the final 50
yards and forged on.
2. MISTER MALARKY -
Colin Tizzard
‘Outpaced four out, stayed on strongly
run-in into fourth’ - RSA Chase (Chel-
tenham)
‘Ridden 5 out, stayed on at the one-
pace’ - Betway Handicap Chase
(Aintree)
‘Led 2 out, stayed on strongly to
forge clear on flat’ - Reynoldstown
Chase (Ascot)
All three of those runs in the second
8 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
five-star
frodon
heads list
Paul Jacobs with his big NH fancies
half of the season stamped this ultra-
game six-year-old as a bottomless
stayer to go to war with this term.
It could well be that the Colin
Tizzard-trained chaser has a shot at
the highest class, but let’s be under no
illusion, galloping is his real asset and
the further he goes I fancy the better
he will become with deep ground no
issue whatsoever.
That makes the Welsh National at
Chepstow in December the most likely
target for this youngster who has
looked a sound jumper in the main.
3. A PLUS TARD –
Henry de Bromhead
I am banking on Frodon going down
the Cheltenham Gold Cup route as I
have invested heavily in this chap
being aimed at the Ryanair Chase in
March.
His performance in landing the Close
Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase by
a full 16 lengths off a mark of 144 at
Cheltenham was one of the perfor-
mances of the season. Jumping for fun
that day he put on the afterburners
between the last two fences and fairly
powered up the famous hill.
Stepped up in grade and distance
for the Grade One Champion Novice
Chase at the Punchestown Festival, he
looked a big danger two out, but failed
to get home. That performance
strongly pointed to the view that two
and a half miles is his trip and his train-
er has already suggested he will be
campaigned with the Ryanair in mind
and his current odds of 20/1 look more
than fair.
4. CLAN DES OBEAUX –
Paul Nicholls
Okay so there isn’t much we don’t
already know about the King George
winner and that is where I will rest my
case. As Nicholls said afterwards, he
just didn’t get up the hill in the Gold
Cup at Cheltenham, where the late rain
was a huge negative, and I fancy that
he looks set to enhance the trainer’s
already remarkable record in the
Christmas Feature.
See More Business and Silviniaco
Conti both returned to Kempton to
defend their titles successfully while
Kauto Star’s exploits in the race will
forever go down in the history books
of this great sport.
Indeed if it weren’t for the lurking
shadows of Altior and Cyrname, this
still relatively unexposed seven-year-
old would be a 2/1 favourite for this
show piece event yet he is readily
available at 11/2.
He travelled like the wrath of god
that day and despite idling when he hit
the front, the seven-year-old was
always doing enough in the closing
stages to see off former winner
Thistlecrack. This is the only race I shall
be supporting him in this season. Post
December 26 his job will be done for
ante-post purposes.
5. LE RICHEBOURG –
Joseph O’Brien
It would be so easy to get on board
the Chacun Pour Soi Champion Chase
bandwagon and his dismantling of
both Defi Du Seuil and Duc Des
Genievres at Punchestown inevitably
pointed to this bay gelding as a possi-
ble superstar.
However, there are three reasons to
possibly abstain from that route. First,
he is a fragile individual (hadn’t raced
for over two seasons prior to last
year’s campaign), second, he could
very well step up in trip, and third,
there is Le Richebourg!
Winner of four of his five starts over
fences, his only defeat came over two
and a half miles behind Delta Work in
the Drinmore, his high cruising speed
and fast and efficient jumping were a
hallmark of his wins, the best of which
was saved for last in the Arkle Novice
Chase at Leopardstown in February.
Injury meant he had to bypass Chel-
tenham, but the latest news is that he
has fully recovered from that setback Frodon
and is ready to roll towards the back
end of the year. He only needs to
resume his upwardly mobile path to
become a serious contender for the
speed crown in March. RA

ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 9

PICKS FROM THE PADDOCK
Imrahor
can score Andrew Ayres has seen plenty of nice
prospects over the past few weeks
NEWBURY September 21
(good, good-firm)
7f two-year-old novice (Class 4)
FAIR FORM
IMRAHOR (Hugo Palmer) is an athletic
colt and travelled like a dream for most
of the race. He seemed to have odds-
on Cherokee Trail in trouble at the
furlong pole but ran green and was
just held. Jockey Kieran Shoemark said
he took an age to pull up and this
good-looker will be difficult to beat
next time.
7f three-year-old handicap (Class 4)
IMPRESSIVE WINNER
BEAR FORCE ONE (Roger Teal) really
is an imposing individual and ran away
with this under an aggressive ride
from Jason Watson. He’s got masses
of scope and connections are certain
he’ll develop into a cracking handicap-
per next spring. This fella will stay
further and is one to follow.
KEMPTON September 23
(standard-slow)
1m handicap (Class 3)
USEFUL EVENT
EDARAAT (Roger Varian) looked in
tremendous condition and was
unlucky to be mugged on the line after
looking certain to score at the furlong
pole. He’s got a cracking record on the
all-weather and will definitely win
another race or two if kept busy this
winter.
1m3f novice (Class 4)
FAIR FORM
OMNIVEGA (David Simcock) is a
good-looking colt who was well
10 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
backed late. Unfortunately he was left
with far too much to do under a
modest ride from Jamie Spencer and
flew home to finish third. He’s much
better than the bare form indicates
and will win races.
LINGFIELD September 24
(standard)
1m two-year-old maiden (Class 5)
MODEST EVENT
SUMMER PALACE (Alan King) was
well supported and certainly looked fit
enough for this debut. However, he got
stuck behind a wall of beaten horses
as the pace quickened and did well to
run home fifth. He looks the part and
should go close next time.
5f two-year-old nursery (Class 5)
REASONABLE FORM
LILKIAN (Shaun Keightley) looked in
tremendous shape but was given a
Edaraat
desperate ride by Josephine Gordon
and finished full of running in fifth. He
could have won this and is definitely
one to side with in a similar event.
KEMPTON September 25
(standard-slow)
7f two-year-old novice (Class 4)
FAIR FORM
AHDAB (Ed Dunlop) is a handsome
colt from a family that has done well
for this yard. He needed the run badly
and lost any chance by falling out of
the stalls, but showed definite signs of
ability in seventh and will improve
massively for the experience. He’ll
make a smashing handicapper next
term.
NEWMARKET September 26
(good)
1m two-year-old maiden (Class 4)
DISAPPOINTINGLY SMALL FIELD
THAI POWER (Andrew Balding) cost a
fortune (425,000gns) and is a fine
looking colt. He moved fluently to post
but wasn’t ready mentally or physical-
ly to cope with some race-sharp
opponents and never got competitive.
He’s going to be a different horse next
season and has a bright future.
NEWMARKET September 28
(good)
7f two-year-old fillies (Class 4)
BAAQY (John Gosden) is a lovely filly
and really should have won this. Jim
Crowley managed to get her shut in at
a vital stage of the race and found the
line coming too soon when he finally
got clear. This big girl is way above
average and should win next time.

KEMPTON October 1 (standard
to slow)
5f two-year-old fillies’ maiden (Class
5)
FAIR RACE
VELETA (Clive Cox) has a fancy pedi-
gree (half-sister to the crack miler
Zonderland) and is just starting to get
her act together. She ran a personal
best in third and is bred to appreciate
a return to longer trips – provided she
consents to settle. This filly has bags of
scope and could be well handicapped
off 64 in nurseries.
6f handicap (Class 4)
DECENT RACE FOR THE GRADE
TOTAL COMMITMENT (Roger Charl-
ton) had excuses on his previous
outing – bounced after a winning reap-
pearance – and looked in great shape
here. He nipped up the rail to win this
with something to spare and is clearly
an improving handicapper. A 5lbs rise
to 85 doesn’t seem harsh and he will
win again.
KEMPTON October 2
(standard-slow)
1m two-year-old novice (Class 4)
ABOVE AVERAGE RACE
LORD NEIDIN (Alan King) is a lengthy
colt who was backward and started
50-1 for this debut. He belied that lack
of confidence by travelling strongly
throughout and looked a likely winner
at the furlong pole. He ran out of gas
from that point but ran a blinder to
finish third and will be hard to beat at
this level next time.
ASCOT October 5 (soft, heavy
in places)
5f handicap (Class 5)
COMPETITIVE RACE
CALL ME GINGER (Jim Goldie) is held
in high regard by his trainer and
looked in good nick. He lacked the
experience to get properly involved –
this was only his fourth start – but
showed more than enough to suggest
he’ll develop into an above average
speedster.
Omnivega
WINDSOR October 7 (soft,
heavy in places)
1m two-year-old novice (Class 5)
ORDINARY EVENT
BANNISTER (Tom George) is a
strapping individual who pulled hard
on the way to post and was far too
keen through the early stages of the
race. Bearing that in mind, he ran a
blinder to finish fourth and clearly
possesses plenty of natural ability. If
this gelding learns to settle he will
win races.
KEMPTON October 9 (standard
to slow)
7f two-year-old novice (Class 5)
DECENT RACE
NUGGET (Richard Hannon) was a big
eye-catcher on his debut at Newbury
and built on that by chasing a smart
newcomer home here. Jockey Sean
Levey is a decent judge and reported
that he needs another furlong and a
left-handed track. Keep him on your
side under those conditions.
▲
ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 11
PICKS FROM THE PADDOCK

KEMPTON October 10 A-Z OF PADDOCK POSITIVES KEMPTON October 20 (good)

(standard to slow)
6f two-year-old novice (Class 5)
RUN-OF-THE-MILL EVENT
JUAN LES PINS (Ed Walker) is a big,
scopey individual who will develop
into a smashing three-year-old. He fin-
ished strongly in fourth over an
inadequate trip here and should thrive
in handicaps next term.
6f two-year-old novice (Class 5)
IMPRESSIVE WINNER
PREMIER POWER (Roger Varian) is a
proper ball of muscle and won this
incredibly easily under an ultra-confi-
dent ride from Silvestre De Sousa. He
looks a Group horse in the making and
must be followed closely.
KEMPTON October 16
(standard to slow)
1m handicap (Class 3)
WELL BACKED AND IMPRESSIVE
WINNER
KHUZAAM (Roger Varian) oozed class
AHDAB (Ed Dunlop)
BAAQY (John Gosden)
BANNISTER (Tom George)
BEAR FORCE ONE (Roger Teal)
CALL ME GINGER (Jim Goldie)
EDARAAT (Roger Varian)
IMRAHOR (Hugo Palmer)
JUAN LES PINS (Ed Walker)
KHUZAAM (Roger Varian)
LILKIAN (Shaun Keightley)
LORD NEIDIN (Alan King)
NUGGET (Richard Hannon)
OMNIVEGA (David Simcock)
PACIFY (Jamie Snowden)
PASEO (Oliver Sherwood)
PREMIER POWER (Roger Varian)
SUMMER PALACE (Alan King)
THAI POWER (Andrew Balding)
TOTAL COMMITMENT (Roger Charlton)
VELETA (Clive Cox)
in the prelims and attracted an
avalanche of late support. He duly
bolted-up under an impressed Jim
Crowley and will hold his own in much
better company than this.
2m three-year-old juvenile hurdle
(Class 3)
RUN-OF-THE-MILL EVENT
PASEO (Oliver Sherwood) looked in
tip-top condition and attracted heavy
support. Unfortunately the cards
didn’t fall kindly and he was left with
too much to do after getting trapped
behind beaten horses turning for
home. He finished strongly to nick
second though and is nailed on to pick
up a similar contest.
2m Listed novices hurdle (Class 1)
IMPRESSIVE WINNER
PACIFY (Jamie Snowden) is a real bull
of a horse and made-all to win this
with something in hand. Jockey Gavin
Sheehan feels he will jump better with
a lead and there’s almost certainly
more to come. He’s set to move up in
grade now – connections are eyeing a
Grade 2 event at Cheltenham’s
November Meeting – and it would be
folly to underestimate him. RA

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12 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181

TRENDS
a 7-year-old
from a big
stable will do!
Andy Newton with top trends for the BetVictor Gold Cup
BetVictor Gold Cup Betting
Guide and Trends
As we wave goodbye to another Flat
turf season the focus switches back to
the National Hunt game for the next
six months or so and, as always, there’s
plenty to look forward to.
We get going properly with the
jumpers this month with the three-day
Cheltenham Open Meeting (Nov 15-17)
– which is many people’s idea of the
curtain-raiser fixture for the hedge-
hoppers.
With three days of top action from
Prestbury Park there are many decent
races to take in, but it’s the BetVictor
Gold Cup, which is run on the Satur-
day, that spearheads the meeting.
In recent years, the likes of Nigel
Twiston-Davies, Paul Nicholls, Jonjo
O’Neill and the Pipe yard have done
very well at the meeting overall, while
since 1996 those four powerful sta-
bles have won the BetVictor Gold
Cup a staggering 16 times between
them!
However, last year it was the Gary
Moore-trained Baron Alco that landed
the prize. If he comes back for more
in 2019, he’ll be looking to become
the first ‘back-to-back’ winner since
Bradbury Star, who won the race in
1993 and 1994.
What are the other main Bet Victor
Gold Cup trends to looks for?
First, having previous experience –
including winning form, at Chel-
tenham, is a huge positive. Why?
Well, ALL of the last 17 winners had
tackled the tough Prestbury Park
14 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
fences before, while 12 of those 16
(71%) had won a chase race at the
track in the past.
Also look for horses that have won
before over at least 2m4f (fences)
and, also come from a UK-based yard.
Sixteen of the last 17 winners get a
thumbs-up on both these trends.
While, in terms of Irish-trained win-
ners, it’s worth noting that we’ve seen
just the single success from an Irish-
based runner in the last 28 runnings
(Tranquil Sea, 2009).
Next up is to look at the age as
there is a decent pattern building up
here. Yes, two of the last three win-
ners were aged 9 years-old so we
certainly can’t rule out this age group.
However, the better overall record
has been with the 6 or 7 year-olds,
with 12 of the last 17 winners fitting
that age bracket – backed up again
last year with the
7 year-old Baron Alco winning. 53%
of the last 17 winners were aged 7.
The final thing to note with the age
is to look at the other end of the spec-
trum. You might want to put a
negative cross against the older
horses in the race as the last double-
figure aged winner was in 1975!
Recent form is worth looking at too
as 11 of the last 17 winners recorded a
top four finish last time out. But those
top four finishes have not always
come in a recent race as horses that
are making their seasonal reappear-
ances go okay too – 8 of the last 17
winners took this after a lay-off.
The lightly-raced, or less exposed
runners, have the better record too,
with 71% of the last 17 winners having
had only two or three previous wins
over fences – suggesting the younger,
more unexposed chasers are the ones
to focus on.
With the race being a handicap it’s
worth looking at the past weight of
recent winners.
Eleven of the last 17 winners carried
10st-13lbs or less, backed-up again in
the last two years with the winners
carrying just 10-6 and 10-11.
The final trend to note is the betting
market. It’s generally a race the pun-
ters get right so any support for
runners in the build-up should be
respected.
Thirteen of the last 17 winners won
at 12/1 or shorter, while even though
the favourites have won just three of
the last 17 (18%), with the winners
tending to be priced 12/1 or less (last
year’s winner returned 8/1) it’s still
the horses in the first four or five in
the market that command most
respect.
Of course, it doesn’t always pan
out as the stats suggest, but if trends
are your thing then there are certainly
some meaty ones to get stuck into
ahead of this race.
Don’t forget about the good
records of the Pipe, Nicholls, O’Neill
and Twiston-Davies stables too, so if
any of their runners are also aged 6 or
7 years-old, plus have past course
experience, recorded a top four finish
last time out and are 12/1 or less in the
betting ... then don’t ignore them!

Recent BetVictor Gold Cup
Winners
2018 – Baron Alco (8/1)
2017 – Splash Of Ginge (25/1)
2016 - Taquin Du Seuill (8/1)
2015 – Annacotty (12/1)
2014 – Caid Du Berlais (10/1)
2013 – Johns Spirit (7/1)
2012 – Al Ferof (8/1)
2011 – Great Endeavour (8/1)
2010 – Little Josh (20/1)
2009 – Tranquil Sea (11/2 fav)
2008 – Imperial Commander (13/2)
2007 – L’Antartique (13/2)
2006 – Exotic Dancer (16/1)
2005 – Our Vic (9/2 fav)
2004 – Celestial Gold (12/1)
2003 – Fondmort (3/1 fav)
2002 – Cyfor Malta (16/1)
BetVictor Gold Cup Betting Trends
17/17 – Had run at Cheltenham before
16/17 – Had won over at least 2m4f
over fences before
16/17 – Won by a UK-based trainer
13/17 – Returned 12/1 or shorter
12/17 – Had won at Cheltenham before
12/17 – Aged 6 or 7 years-old
12/17 – Had won just 2 or 3 times over
fences before
11/17 – Trained by Pipe (3), Jonjo
O’Neill (3), Nicholls (2) or Twiston-
Davies (3)
11/17 – Carried 10-13 or less (But 4 of
the last 7 carried 10-13 or more)
11/17 – Finished in the top 4 last time
9/17 – Won by a horse in the first 3 in
the betting
9/17 – Aged 7 years-old
Baron Alco
wins last year
8/17 – Won this on their seasonal reap-
pearance
8/17 – Placed favourites
5/17 – Won their last race
4/17 – Trained by the Pipe stable
4/17 – Ran at Cheltenham last time out
3/17 – Winning favourites
3/17 – Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies
3/17 – Trained by Jonjo O’Neill
3/17 – Ran at Carlisle last time out
2/17 – Ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies
1/17 – Irish-trained winners
The last winner aged in double-figures
was in 1975
Paul Nicholls has saddled 10 placed
horses (two winners, Al Ferof & Caid
Du Berlais) from his last 37 runners
The average winning SP in the last 17
years is 10/1 RA
ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 15
TALKING TWO-YEAR-OLDS
Don’t write
off Arizona
Ian Heitman thinks Aidan O’Brien will have him
ready to tackle Pinatubo in the Guineas
T
he feature Group 1 for two-
year-olds run in the UK, the
Dewhurst Stakes, has been
won by some of the greatest
horses in the last 30 years,
going all the way back to Generous in
1990, Zafonic in 1992 and Frankel in
2010.
Frankel’s win in the Dewhurst was
his fourth win of his two-year-old cam-
paign. He wasn’t the highest rated
horse that day, Dream Ahead had that
honour having won the Middle Park by
nine lengths and given a rating of 128.
Pinatubo, like Dream Ahead, had
won his previous start by nine lengths
before running in the Dewhurst and
just as Dream Ahead was rated 128, so
was Pinatubo, the highest BHA rating
given to a two-year-old. Pinatubo was
bidding to extend his unbeaten run to
six and was 14lb ahead of the highest
rated horse Wichita who had taken the
Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmar-
ket by seven lengths 16 days earlier
and was the main market rival to
Pinatubo at 7/2.
Plenty of rain saw the ground at
Newmarket be officially soft, the soft-
est conditions Pinatubo had been
asked to race on. As well as Wichita in
the line-up, there were seven other
rivals to Pinatubo who was sent off the
1/3 favourite, only Dawn Approach
who won in 2012 as the 30/100
favourite had been shorter in the bet-
ting for the Dewhurst since 2006.
Wichita, the mount of Ryan Moore,
was one of four in the race for Aidan
O’Brien. Arizona, well beaten by
Pinatubo when the pair met in Ireland
on their most recent start was the
16 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
second string with Monarch Of Egypt
and Year Of The Tiger completing the
Ballydoyle quartet.
The home challenge was led by
Group 3 Solario winner Positive who
looked in good shape and was the 8/1
third favourite. He failed to get
involved, held up in the rear, he was
well beaten in sixth. He presumably
failed to act on the soft ground, the
first time he had encountered such
conditions.
Arizona had the run of the race from
the front setting a fair pace with his
stablemates, Monarch Of Egypt and
Wichita, racing keenly in touch.
Pinatubo was held up in midfield by
William Buick, making a move with
three furlongs to go. Both Monarch Of
Egypt and Wichita had every chance
entering the last two furlongs, but they
couldn’t go with Arizona and Pinatubo
inside the last furlong and a half.
Pinatubo grabbed the lead off Arizona
with 150 yards to go and he stayed on
well to win by two lengths with a fur-
ther two- and three-quarter lengths to
Wichita in third.
While this performance from
Pinatubo wasn’t as flash as the win in
Ireland, it proved he acts on soft
ground and that he is very much to the
one to beat in the 2000 Guineas back
at Newmarket in May. He doesn’t have
the scope of Arizona who has devel-
oped through the year into a big
strong colt, but he should be able to
extend his unbeaten record to seven in
the first classic of the year. His trainer
Charlie Appleby thinks he will stay the
Derby trip of a mile and a half and he
might well do on pedigree, but his size
suggests he will be better off at a mile.
Arizona has improved one place in
each of his three runs in Group 1 com-
pany since winning the Coventry
Stakes at Royal Ascot and given Aiden
O’Brien is fantastic at getting one
ready for the 2000 Guineas, he will be
giving Pinatubo plenty to think about
on the first Saturday in May.
While this was the feature race of
Newmarket’s autumn two-year-old
programme, a fortnight earlier there
was an excellent three-day meeting
with a number of Group races.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE MEETING
The meeting began with a disappoint-
ing turnout of five runners for a mile
maiden. Mascat got the better of Dis-
covery Island inside the last 100 yards
to win for Ralph Beckett and Harry
Bentley, the first of a number of win-
ners the pair would enjoy at the
Rowley Mile in the coming weeks. Thai
Power, an expensive colt by Kingman
trained by Andrew Balding, was the
pick of the paddock but he failed to
get involved, beating only one rival. He
should do better with the experience
behind him.
Dogged provided David Elsworth
with his first two-year-old winner of
the year in the following nursery also
over a mile. He held on well to be
Cloud Drift who appeared to improve
for a gelding operation.
The feature two-year-old race on the
card was the Group 3 Tattersalls
Stakes where Wichita proved way too
strong for his five rivals, drawing clear
to win by seven lengths under Ryan
Moore.

The feature two-year-old race on the
second day was the Group 2 Rockfel
Stakes over 7f for fillies which attract-
ed a field of eight. Daahyeh was the
strong 11/8 favourite dropping down in
grade having finished second in Group
1 company in Ireland last time. She
made fairly hard work of beating her
seven rivals, taking the lead a furlong
and a half from the finish, idling close
home and only having half a length to
spare ahead of her stablemate Stylis-
tique who remains a maiden. One
length covered the first four, Cloak Of
Spirits, ran much better than she had
done when favourite for a Group 2
race at Doncaster last time whilst
Under The Stars got much closer to
the winner than she had done when
the pair met at the Curragh last time.
Under The Stars scooped a big prize
only eight days later over 6f at New-
market, getting up close to the finish
to deny Mild Illusion in a £150,000
sales race.
New World Tapestry put his experi-
ence to good use to win the 7f maiden,
holding off the challenge of newcomer
Colour Image by three quarters of a
length. Hibernian Warrior made up
ground from the rear to be third but
was never dangerous. The fourth
placed horse, Society Lion, won his
next start at Yarmouth on heavy
ground, racing in touch with the pace
set by Jumaira Bay, he led a furlong
and a half from the finish beating that
rival by two and a half lengths, the
fourth second time out winner of the
year for Sir Michael Stoute.
Day three of the meeting began with
the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over a
mile. Kameko was the hot favourite
having been just touch off by Positive
in the Group 3 Solario Stakes on his
last start. He had every chance racing
close to the pace and was in front with
a furlong to go. He couldn’t hold off
the challenge of Royal Dornoch who
having also raced close to the pace
got up close to the finish to win by a
neck in a new two-year-old course
record for a mile and provided Aidan
O’Brien with a seventh win in the race.
The first of two Group 1 races for
two-year-olds, the Cheveley Park
Stakes over 6f was up next. Raffle
Prize was beaten a neck by Earthlight
Arizona
in Group 1 company taking on colts
last time she ran the Prix Morny and
was backed into 10/11 favouritism to
give Mark Johnston a first Group 1
winner since The Last Lion won the
Middle Park Stakes in 2016 (50 runners
with 10 finishing second). Earthlight’s
trainer, Andre Fabre saddled the
second favourite, Tropbeau, who had
won her previous three starts in France
over 7f.
Etoile, one of two in the race for
Aidan O’Brien, had been off the track
since mid-May having made a winning
debut in Group 3 company at Naas. A
big filly, she raced close to the pace
and travelled well for Donnacha
O’Brien but was unable to quicken
over furlong from the finish and fin-
ished eighth. She is one to keep an eye
on in 2020. The other O’Brien runner,
Tango, helped to set the pace with
Lowther winner, Living In The Past,
and Raffle Prize. Tropbeau was held up
by Mikael Barzalona, making progress
with a couple of furlongs to go and not
having the clearest of runs through as
they entered the last furlong. Raffle
Prize had kicked for home by this
▲
ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 17
TALKING TWO-YEAR-OLDS

point under Frankie Dettori and

looked like winning with 100 yards to
go but Millisle finished strongest of all
against the rail and grabbed the lead
with 50 yards to go, winning by a
length and three quarters in another
two-year-old course record. Raffle
Prize ran well having raced up with the
pace throughout whilst Tropbeau met
trouble in running. Only five and a
three-quarter lengths covered the first
eight suggesting it might not be top
class form.
Millisle’s trainer Jessica Harrington
won’t be too concerned about that
however, Millisle going one place
better than when she was caught
close to the finish by Dark Lady (sev-
enth this time) at Salisbury last time
and providing her trainer with a first
Group 1 victory since the exploits of
Alpha Centauri in 2018.
Daahyeh
Both Millisle and Raffle Prize will be
aimed at the 1000 Guineas in May,
however with stamina questions about
both fillies, there will be stronger can-
didates for the first fillies classic of the
year. with their mounts. Earthlight made the Listed Redcar Two-Year-Old
What was billed as one of the best progress inside the two-furlong Trophy. With only 8st 3lb on his back,
two-year-old races of the season, the marker, challenging Mums Tipple and he was the red hot 11/8 favourite for
Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, lost one of Golden Horde over a furlong from the the £99,000 first prize and he didn’t
its star attractions, Siskin, when he finish. King Neptune was still right let his supporters down, winning easily
became upset in the stalls and had to there with every chance despite by two and a three-quarter lengths
be withdrawn. Thankfully, he wasn’t having no other horse to race with. from Troubador with Desert Safari run-
injured and will back as three-year-old Earthlight took the lead off Golden ning well on his third start. Fourth
defending an unbeaten record. Horde with 100 yards to go but Golden placed Abarama Gold finished well
With Siskin’s absence, a field of eight Horde battled well and went down by having raced in a group of three in the
did leave the stalls, with another a neck to the French raider with centre of the track. He was turned out
unbeaten colt, Earthlight the 11/4 Summer Sands running a career best seven days later and won the Listed
favourite for Andre Fabre and Mikael to be third. King Neptune ran a great Rockingham Stakes over 6f at York on
Barzalona. Mums Tipple, also unbeat- race to be fourth. Mums Tipple failed testing ground which didn’t suit the
en and so impressive at York in August to pick up and came back with a small well supported favourite Lampang
was the 3/1 second favourite. Also in injury, he is worth another chance to who was off the bridle early but is said
the line-up were Champagne Stakes confirm the favourable impression he to be one of the best horses Tim East-
winner, Threat, Richmond Stakes made at York. Threat never chal- erby has trained.
winner, Golden Horde and three from lenged, neither did Lope Y Fernandez Lady Lynetta got off the mark at the
the Aidan O’Brien yard, Lope Y Fer- or Monarch Of Egypt. third attempt in the 7f fillies maiden
nandez, Monarch Of Egypt and King Earthlight remains unbeaten and will giving Richard Hughes a first winner at
Neptune. 100/1 outsider, Summer be back at Newmarket to contest the the Rowley Mile, beating an unlucky in
Sands completed the field. 2020 2000 Guineas, a race Fabre last running Raaqy. There was promise
King Neptune went off quickly and won in 1995 with Pennekamp. Earth- from a couple of debutants, Evening
raced alone in the centre of track light is 9/1 second favourite behind hot Spirit who was well backed from the
whilst Golden Horde led the main favourite Pinatubo. Golden Horde is Ralph Beckett yard and Folk Dance
group of runners towards the stands likely to be kept to sprint distances in who kept on well under a hands and
side. Most of the runners appeared to 2020 with the Group 1 Commonwealth heels ride from Jamie Spencer.
travel well, it wasn’t until the pace Cup at Royal Ascot a likely target. Huboor took the final two-year-old
lifted with a couple of furlongs to go Summer Sands was turned out race of the meeting, a 7f fillies nursery,
▲

that the jockeys started to get serious seven days later by Richard Fahey in for leading two-year-old trainer
18 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
Dogged
(left)

Pinatubo

ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 19

TALKING TWO-YEAR-OLDS
Mark Johnston, by half a length from
Separate and Last Surprise.
DUBAI FUTURE CHAMPIONS
MEETING
The two-day Dubai Future Champions
meeting on October 11th and 12th
began with the Group 3 Cornwallis
Stakes over 5f. Good Vibes held off the
challenge of Pistoletto inside the last
furlong, winning by a neck, and pro-
viding her trainer David Evans with a
first Group winner since 2010. Jouska,
20 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
who got warm beforehand, finished
strongly from the rear to grab third.
Platinum Star, the 5/4 favourite, was
very disappointing, never managing to
challenge, finishing seventh.
Rose Of Kildare had to give 3lb to
her eight rivals in the Group 3 Oh So
Sharp Stakes over 7f having won the
Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes at Ayr
on her previous start. She kept on well
under strong pressure inside the last
furlong to defy that penalty, beating
once-raced winner, Valeria Messalina
by a neck with Separate running well
again a further neck away in third.
Rose Of Kildare is typical of Mark
Johnston’s horses who thrive on
racing, this her 12th start of the year,
with five wins.
Costing just 3,000 Euros last year,
her yearling half-brother went through
the ring at the Tattersalls Book 2 Sales
for 170,000 guineas a couple of weeks
ago. Rose Of Kildare was the first
Group winner for her first season sire
Make Believe who has made a steady
start to his stud career.
The feature race in the card was the
Group 1 Fillies’ Mile with a first prize in
excess of £321,000. Nine fillies lined up
with three putting their unbeaten
records on the line, 9/4 favourite,
Quadrilateral, 11/4 second favourite
Cayenne Pepper and 7/1 chance Pow-
erful Breeze. Love, winner of the
Moyglare Stud Stakes and the only
Group 1 winner in the line-up was 4/1.
Group 3 winner Boomer took the
lead with three furlongs to go with
Love a big danger. Powerful Breeze
who had missed the break, made good
progress two furlongs from the finish,
took the lead a furlong and a half left
to go and looked like winning but
Quadrilateral, who had been chased
along two furlongs from the finish, was
switched to the inside by Jason
Watson and they finished strongly
inside the last 100 yards, getting the
lead in the last strides and winning by
a head, providing her trainer Roger
Charlton and Watson with their first
domestic Group 1 success in their first
year working together. Love was a fur-
ther length and a half away in third,
whilst Cayenne Pepper never really
challenged in fourth.
Quadrilateral and Powerful Breeze
will be both be aimed at the 1000
Guineas, 6/1 favourite and 10/1 respec-
tively, and there shouldn’t be too much
between them again.
Day two of the meeting began with
a nursery over 7f and it was to be the
start of a fantastic day for Ralph Beck-
ett and Harry Bentley who had four
winners on the card. Tomfre, the firs of
them, defied top weight beating Mill-
town Star by half a length.
The Zetland Stakes over a mile and a
quarter had been upgraded from a
Listed race to a Group 3 race in 2019
and Max Vega won easily for Beckett
and Bentley, leading a furlong and half
from the finish and running on strongly
inside the last furlong to win by an
easy three lengths from previously
unbeaten Miss Yoda with Berkshire
Rocco in third. Mythical, the 2/1
favourite, stayed on to be fourth but
never challenged. He has the scope to
train on well at three, whilst Max Vega,
who clearly stays extremely well, is
only small.
One of the best-looking horses at
the meeting was Military March and he
made it two wins from two starts in
the next race, the Group 3 Autumn
Stakes. He and Al Suhail were neck
and neck in the last two furlongs, Mili-
tary March staying on the better of the
pair inside the last 50 to win by a head
with a seven-length gap to the third,
maiden Ropey Guest. Military March
has a pedigree for a mile and a half, his
dam, Punctilious won the Yorkshire
Oaks, and it will be a surprise if he
doesn’t develop into a Derby con-
tender in 2020 for Saeed bin Suroor.
FRENCH RACING
The only two-year-old race on the first
day of the Arc two-day meeting, a
sales race, saw David Menuisier saddle
the first and third, Into Faith and Luigi
Vampa, winning over £158,000 in the
process. Into Faith had shown only fair
form in two starts in the UK but fin-
ished off strongly from the rear to lead
inside the last 100 metres and take
home the valuable pot.
Andrew Balding was another British
trainer to win a valuable race across
the Channel recently. Shadn, third in
the Mill Reef behind impressive winner
Pierre Lapin, won the Group 2 Criteri-
um de Maisons-Laffitte on October 12.
He just got the better of Devil close to
the finish, the pair pulling clear from
recent Listed winner Sir Boris who had
shown good pace.
Despite having plenty of two-year-
old winners, Archie Watson’s strike
rate in Listed and Group races isn’t
great, only 6%. His only Listed winner
from 19 runners in 2019 came at Chan-
Good
Vibes
tilly on September 30 when Band
Practice led all the way under champi-
on jockey Oisin Murphy.
NOVICE/MAIDEN RACES
Kinross looked a colt with a bright
future when he ran away with a 7f
novice by eight lengths at Newmarket
on October 5. He travelled strongly
throughout the race and picked up in
good style for Harry Bentley and he
looks a smart prospect for 2020 for
Ralph Beckett.
White Moonlight led all the way in
the one-mile novice, carrying a penalty
for her debut win, winning by three-
and three-quarter lengths. She will no
doubt be campaigned in Dubai in the
new year by Saeed bin Suroor and
with her sire, Medaglia d’Oro being a
top-class dirt performer.
While we see plenty of horses sired
by Medaglia d’Oro, horses sired by
another top-class US dirt performer,
Curlin, that run in the UK are pretty rare.
Desert Peace was the first since 2014
when he made an impressive winning
debut for Charlie Appleby and William
Buick at Kempton on October 9. He
drew clear inside the last 100 yards to
win by a length and three quarters
albeit in a time slower than Higher King-
dom recorded in the second division of
the 7f novice.
A final mention goes to Tom Ward,
who having been assistant trainer to
Richard Hannon, saddled his first winner
at Windsor on October 7. Vintage
Rascal, his first two-year-old runner, ran
away with the one-mile novice, winning
by four and a half lengths. RA
ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 21
IRISH RACING
meade jumps
off to a
fast start
Karl Hedley looks at some early winners in the jumps season
T
he jumps season proper has
just got underway here in
Ireland and we already have
seen some exciting
prospects for the season
ahead. At the beginning of the month,
we saw the consistent and likeable
Raya Time get off the mark over hur-
dles at Clonmel.
This bold front-runner was always
going to be popular given a string of
placed efforts last season, but this was
his first win since joining Henry De
Bromhead. The ever-popular Rachel
Blackmore had him in front from the
get go and the combination put in a
near perfect round to win by a good
dozen lengths.
Now that De Bromhead has secured
that lucrative and notable first win
Flash The
Steel
22 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
over hurdles with the six-year-old, the
intention is to get him over fences
sooner rather than later. He said: “The
plan is now to go chasing. We felt that
he was entitled to have one last go at a
maiden hurdle and it worked out. Sub-
ject to confirmation with the owners
he will go chasing now and the way he
jumps fences at home he ought to do
well as a chaser.”
At Gowran Park a few days later, we
saw the welcome return of the talent-
ed Snow Falcon. He was absolutely
friendless in the market and drifted
from 5s to 7/1 in the betting. Having
absorbed an injury following a win at
Down Royal last year, the nine-year-
old missed almost six months of action
on the track.
In three subsequent starts. including
an appearance at Royal Ascot in the
Ascot Stakes, he was finishing closer
to last than first. Clearly a break over
the summer has rekindled that enthu-
siasm. Trainer Noel Meade said: “He’s
very good when he’s fresh. The ground
went against him in Ascot and we let
him out and I didn’t think there was
any possibility he could be ready for
this.
“But Emma (Connolly) who rides
him out and loves him more than
anyone kept saying he’s there. We
worked him over a mile on the Tues-
day and he worked brilliant, so we said
we’d have to go ahead and run him.
You would imagine the obvious place
to go with him now is back to Down
Royal as it is the big chase and his
owner is from Belfast and I’d say he’d
love him to run there.
“He’s had a few little issues here and
there. Last year when he won in the
north, he cracked a bone behind and
that is why we didn’t see him for the
rest of the season. He’s been some
servant and is a fabulous horse for us
to have.”
On the same card Dallas Des Pictons
was also making his seasonal reap-
pearance. He won a maiden hurdle at
Punchestown last January before fol-
lowing up over an extra half mile at
Leopardstown just a few weeks later.
He was considered good enough to be
sent to Cheltenham to contest the
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’
Handicap where he ran a fantastic race

to finish second to Early Doors.
A trip to Aintree came next where
he ran in the Doom Bar Sefton
Novices’ Hurdle. The race obviously
came far too soon as he trailed in last
of the finishers.
He, too, has clearly benefited from a
break and must have been schooling
well over his fences to merit an entry
for this. It was only a five runner affair
but it certainly had more than its fair
share of drama as three of the runners
either unshipped their jockeys or fell.
Dallas Des Pictons had the class and
the resolve to see him through and a
20-length success will have been a
massive confidence booster.
Trainer Gordon Elliott said after-
wards: “Jack (Kennedy) said that when
he was on his own he was looking
around him. At Cheltenham he can-
tered till he got to the front and then
pulled up when he got beat there. He’s
a horse that would be better with a
lead and we knew that Eddie Harty’s
horse (Advantage Point) falling would
be a disaster.” There will be bigger and
better days ahead in larger fields for
this improving six-year-old.
Sweet Flight proved disappointing
in the opening maiden hurdle at Tip-
perary last year for Willie Mullins and
the trainer hoped he would do better
with the JP McManus owned Janidil
this time around. He hadn’t been seen
since finishing second of 15 in a similar
event at Tramore back in January
where he was beaten just over a length
by Notebook.
Janidil was supported as though
defeat was out of the question here
and it certainly was. With Mark Walsh
on his back the combination led from
flag fall to finish and they pulled
almost three lengths clear of the
Henry De Bromhead-trained Tiger
Voice. The front pair pulled some 27
lengths clear of the third placed Good-
Nordano
bye Someday and both look to have
exciting prospects ahead.
De Bromhead did not have to wait
too long for another winner as he sad-
dled Imperial View in the following
race. She tracked the leaders through
the race and despite a slight mistake
at the seventh, stayed on powerfully
to win going away by almost three
lengths.
De Bromhead said: “She is a lovely
mare and we bought her out of a point
to point last year from Michael Murphy
in Wexford who recommended her.
She seems a lovely mare who seemed
green and hopefully she will improve
again. She is a real chasing mare,
Rachel (Blackmore) was brilliant on
her and she looked a staying type
there.”
Novice chasing looks to be on the
agenda for the exciting Noel Meade
prospect Daly Tiger following a run-
away success also at Tipperary.
▲
ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 23
IRISH RACING

Meade said: “He schooled very well at

home and I told Sean Flanagan not to
do anything fancy on him and to try
and get him over those fences. He will
jump even better when he has to. If he
stays right, I think he is a very nice
horse.
Meade added: “He had a problem
with his knee over hurdles and never
really got the chance to show himself.
It happened early as a novice but
hopefully it won’t rear its head again.
There are a lot of Gigginstown horses
in the mix for novice chases this
season and we have to see where he
fits in. Trying to get a run was a prob-
lem but now that he has won, Michael
(O’Leary) wants to go for good races.
We’ll go for a novice chase and see
where we go from there.”
The following day Meade was in the Make Me A
winners’ enclosure again following a Believer
success in a maiden hurdle for Battle
Of Midway. The ground was bottom-
less at Galway but it didn’t stop this
improving five-year-old from getting
his head in front. chief executive Emma Meehan and Friday, November 1 will see the rich-
It may have taken three runs for him that is clearly reaping huge benefits. est hurdle race in Northern Ireland –
to land his bumper at Navan in March, The racecourse has secured a major The WKD Hurdle – while the Lad-
but he was ready and able at the first three-year sponsorship deal with craft brokes Grade 1 Champion Chase will
time of asking over hurdles here. spirit, Shortcross Gin. The agreement run on Saturday November 2.
Meade said: “He stays well and loved will see the County Down-based com- Chief Executive Emma Meehan, said:
the ground. He seemed to outstay the pany become the racecourse’s “We are delighted to welcome Lad-
other fellow (runner up Thatsy) and he exclusive Irish spirit partner, giving the brokes to our growing family of key
could go up to three miles now. His brand naming rights for Down Royal’s sponsors and partners and look for-
jumping was a bit rusty early but he premium hospitality suite. ward to working with them over the
got going as the race went on and ‘The Shortcross Gin Suite’ will give next three years. The November Festi-
we’ll see now how we go with him. the brand a presence amonge the val is set to be the biggest yet and
Sean (Flanagan) said the ground 50,000 racegoers that have already with attendance up twelve per cent
couldn’t be soft enough for him.” attended Down Royal in 2019. year-on-year, we are anticipating a
In another boost to the new team, crowd of over 10,000 over the two
Future Race Meetings Ladbrokes has been unveiled as the days”.
The jumps season will begin to move new sponsor of the November Festival From a racecourse that looked on
up a gear in the next few weeks and I of Racing in a three-year partnership. the brink of closure following the
always look forward to the November The six-figure deal, the largest in Down Boxing Day meeting last year, it seems
meeting at Down Royal on the out- Royal’s history, will see the bookmaker safe to say that the racing future for
skirts of Belfast. take on title sponsorship of the first Down Royal is bright.
The crowd are always buzzing even Grade 1 Champion Chase of the Punters have already been flocking
in what can be the dreariest of weath- National Hunt season, with a prize to purchase packs enabling them
er conditions. The course has been fund of €140,000. access to the marquee for as little as
subject to a recent documentary The The long-established two-day Festi- £25 on each of the two days. UK based
Horsey Set on the BBC, dealing with val – staged on November 1-2 – is the trainers have enjoyed notable success-
the prospect of a dispute between the highlight of the racing calendar at es when making the short journey over
old management team and the course Down Royal and has an exceptional to Northern Ireland as Paul Nicholls
owners Merrion. The owners were role of honour including great chasers and more recently Ian Jardine have
adamant that the racecourse should such as Kauto Star, Beef or Salmon, proved and it will come as no surprise
continue to operate and brought in a The Listener, Looks Like Trouble, Flori- to see other top British yards following
new management team headed up by da Pearl and Don Cossack. suit. RA
24 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
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EDDIE WOOD
T
he user of any selection
approach must be accurate
in their interpretation and
usage of all performance-
affecting factors/variables.
However, many people back racehors-
es without due diligence to the
ground conditions their selections are
racing on. Of course, numerous fac-
tors determine the outcome of any
horserace, but we believe that ground
conditions are a highly significant per-
formance-affecting factor/variable
when all the horses are race fit and
running in their right Class.
The British Horseracing Authority
(BHA) has defined seven race condi-
tions:
1. Heavy
2. Soft
3. Good to Soft
4. Good
5. Good to Firm
6. Firm
7. Hard
These terms can be combined to
give a more accurate description of
the going, for example: Good, Good to
Soft in places. The Going Report is
usually available seven days prior to
each race meeting and is updated
regularly. A ‘Going Map’ is also pro-
duced, indicating any variance in
Going conditions around the race-
course.
Other information may also be
given alongside the official going,
such as ‘watering’, which is when the
Clerk of the Course deems it neces-
sary to water the course if the weather
has been particularly dry.
Since 31st March 2007, every turf
racecourse in the UK has been
required by the BHA to publish a Turf-
Trax Going Stick reading alongside
the official Going description. Devel-
oped in conjunction with Cranfield
University, the Going Stick scientifical-
ly measures ‘penetration’ and ‘shear’ –
the two forces exerted by the horse’s
hoof when it strikes the ground.
The Going Stick uses a measure-
ment scale ranging from 1 to 15: the
lower the number, the softer or slower
the ground; the higher the number,
the firmer or faster the ground.
Any horse that has not run well on
26 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
grounds
for real
concern
Eddie Wood on why the going should
always be high on your priorities
the prevailing surface should be elimi-
nated from your list of qualifiers. This
is especially the case if the conditions
are likely to change. Therefore, it is
essential that you have access to the
going requirements of each horse. A
subscription to Raceform is desirable
but not essential as The Weekender
has the information we require. The
Racing Post is also a useful reference
point as their form guides give the
ground conditions for each runner.
A sister publication, The Racing and
Football Outlook, is published every
Tuesday with a going and draw item
for each course racing that week. It is
an ideal guide to both conditions.
We have also found the work of the
late John White useful in our research.
In his booklet, 1st Past the Post, he
states that:
“The most convincing explanation
of why some horses produce their
best form in heavy ground for exam-
ple has been provided by Phil Bull,
founder of Timeform … (the) fluency in
soft or heavy ground depends on a
horse’s weight, since a heavy horse
has to exert great effort to pull his feet
out of mud whereas a light horse may
well ‘skim over’ the top of it.”
Bull’s hypothesis is not true for all
horses, races, and racecourses and
Jess and I will analyse appropriate
factors and present our findings in a
future article.
For now, we will give you an
instance that questions the Timeform
legends viewpoint. Party Politics won
the 1992 Grand National at Aintree on
good to soft ground. He stood at
almost 18 hands and was the heaviest
horse in the race. A horse of his
weight is surely impeded by any
ground condition with soft in its title.
In contrast, many writers assert that
you should not bet on extremes of
going such as hard and heavy. Howev-
er, we believe that if you can narrow
down the field to the runners who act
well on the prevailing ground condi-
tions, you have a shortlist which will
undoubtedly include the winner.
It will be very clear to you about
what we mean by “prevailing ground
conditions” and several qualifiers in a
fair number of races can be eliminated
because they only “act” on the going
and do not “go” on it. In the last fur-
long of sprint races, and in the last two
furlongs of longer distance races, you
can clearly see which of these con-
cepts apply. The “act” horses will drop
back rapidly whereas the “go” horses
will accelerate to the urging of their
rider usually during the final two fur-
longs.
It is obvious that the horse with the
greatest ability will win most races,
but it will not do so on adverse ground
conditions. Exceptions appear when a
horse is dropped in Class, where they
can “act” on the going and their supe-
rior ability sees them prevail. An
example can be found in 2yo’s and
Maiden 3yo’s who often win their ear-
lier races on soft going, which is
incompatible with their breeding.
However, they cannot repeat a win on
similar ground conditions in later
races. Always check when soft ground
abounds if the horse has won or run
well as a 3yo.
This is often reflected in the betting
market. Often, whether a horse is
backed or not is an excellent indicator
of it being able to act on the prevailing
going. Connections of our equine
friends are not fools and good money
will not be placed if their charge is
unsuited to today’s going.
If you apply the principle perfor-
mance-affecting tests in any method,
Class and the prevailing ground condi- Clerk of the
course Tim
tions, you will improve the results you Long checks
obtain for any selection criteria. So, the ground
the motto is think twice before you conditions
support a horse that has not won in
today’s race conditions. This is espe-
cially the case when there are several
horses which fit this criterion. Until
next time, good investing. RA

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phone and your Betfair
account.

Look at the day’s race

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identify races of
interest, usually 2 or 3.

Look at Betfair a few

minutes before these
race and using one rule
make the final selection
and place your bet.

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ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 27
PHOTO SPECIAL

all aboard
the pony
express
MYSTIC DREAMER and Alfie Diaper hit
the front – and stayed there – in the ‘Bob
Champion Cancer Trust Raceday Shet-
land Pony Derby at Plumpton.
Thirteen runners lined up on their
miniature ponies and ten-year-old
Alfie, in his distinctive yellow star
helmet, said: “I got probably the
best start I have ever had in a Flat race,
then just kicked on and prayed for my
life.”
Alfie, from Bournemouth, has been
riding since he was three and was doubly
happy because he has recently been in
hospital after rupturing his spleen in a fall
from his bike.
The Bob Champion Cancer Trust was
founded by jockey Bob Champion who
was diagnosed with testicular cancer in
1979 and given eight months to live. But
two years later he rode Aldanti to win the
Grand National. The trust has so far
raised over £15m to combat cancer. RA

Photo: Paul Jacobs/pictureexclusive.com

28 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181

ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 29
CHEPSTOW
Skelton duo
take early
silverware
Jack Williams on the opening day of the Jumps season at Chepstow
C
hepstow opened the Jump
season with the Silver
Trophy Handicap Hurdle
on October 12 and a tri-
umph for the trainer and
jockey combination of brothers Dan
and Harry Skelton.
Flash The Steel, sent off at odds of
16/1 after a five-month break follow-
ing his gallant fifth at Sandown at the
end of April to Getaway Trump took
the rise in class in his stride to win the
Cotswold Stone Supplies Ltd-spon-
sored race by two lengths from
Champagne Court, with Imperial Aura
a further two lengths behind.
At three out Indefatigable and
Imperial Aura attempted to press on
for home, with Champagne Court,
Flash The Steel and Alrightjack going
after them.
Ballyandy was pitching in behind
but was never closer. Imperial Aura
flattened two out as Flash The Steel
came alongsides to challenge.
On the long run to the last Cham-
pagne Court and Flash The Steel
galloped on remorselessly, the latter
rising two lengths ahead at the
hurdle. It wasn’t the most fluent of
jumps but it kept him ahead, and he
ground out the victory as Champagne
Court rallied gamely but could never
be nearer than two lengths.
Imperial Aura stayed on for third, an
error at two out more than likely
blowing his chances for a top two
finish.
30 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
Rest of the action
Fergal O’Brien loves a good party,
especially if cake is involved, and it
was his Jarveys Plate who spoiled it all
for favourite backers as he reeled in
the 4/5f Reserve Tank in the Low Cost
Vans Novices Chase.
Running for the Robert Mottram
Memorial Trophy in this Listed affair,
jockey Paddy Brennan had him settled
in the rear of the trio who went to
post, content to let rivals Reserve Tank
and the Paul Nicholls trained Posh
Trish bowl along in front in this two
and a half mile contest, where all con-
tenders were making their chase
debuts.
Posh Trish went into the lead at the
start and jumped boldly all the way
round, where approaching the home
straight Jarveys Plate looked the most
unlikely of winners as he was the first
to come under a more sustained
effort. Posh Trish dropped to third
after three out, where Reserve Tank
went into the lead.
It was clear that Jarveys had not
read the script, however, finding plenty
for pressure and sweeping up to join
the favourite over the last. Where he
flew the last, the favourite fluffed his
lines and lost momentum, managing
only to find himself at one pace as his
challenger flew away to score by four
and a half lengths.
A return to his best success over
hurdles looks likely, with an entry in
the Steel Plate & Sections Novices
Chase at Cheltenham’s November
meeting being mooted.
Nordano had made a seamless tran-
sition to juvenile hurdling at
Huntingdon ten days previously, and
swiftly followed up in smooth style
when taking the Champion Hats
Juvenile Hurdle under champion con-
ditional Bryony Frost.
A striking son of Jukebox Jury, he
made all to score by three lengths
from Catch The Cuban and Repetitio,
hurdling fluently and giving the indica-
tion he will make some chaser in years
to come.
Coming down the home straight the
well-touted favourite Sir Psycho joined
the leader at three out and looked set
to pounce, but the leader responded
to his jockey’s urgings, neatly jumping
the last two hurdles. Sir Psycho
couldn’t keep tabs on the leader and
started to drop away from contention.
Nordano stayed on resolutely to win
by three lengths a shade cosily, giving
the impression there is more to come.
A trip to Cheltenham’s November
meeting for the Prestbury Juvenile
Hurdle may well await for him.
Tom O’Brien returned to the scene
of one of his greatest victories when
partnering the Ian Williams-trained
Speed Company to success in the
Gent Transport And Warehousing
45th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle.
Forever entwined as the rider of last
season’s Welsh National hero Elegant
Escape, he timed his run perfectly to

quicken clear of Quoi De Neuf and
Highest Sun and score by four and a
half lengths.
River Bray attempted to stretch the
field out leaving the back straight, but
Quoi De Neuf and Howling Milan
quickly caught up on the turn for
home, just as Speed Company made
eye catching progress heading
towards two out. Crooks Peak tried to
go on at the far side but cracked head-
ing to the last as Speed Company
made rattling progress to score deci-
sively, sealing his victory with a great
leap at the last and powerfully easing
away under a confident ride.
Aside from a sixth in the Welsh
National, last season was a write off
for the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained
Ballyoptic, but he made sure he start-
ed this season in much better style
with victory in the Native River Handi-
cap Chase under the trainer’s son Sam.
Winless since the 2018 Towton
Novices Chase at Wetherby, he put
that right with a stellar display of front
running and accurate jumping, in a
performance that left his rivals toiling.
Drinks Interval faded at five out as
Ballyoptic and Lil Rockerfeller went on
as one to three out. Ballyoptic got
away faster from the latter and
opened up a five length lead over two
out, staying on stoutly towards the
last. He flew that and stayed on power-
fully to score by ninelengths from a
gallant Lil Rockerfeller and Relentless
Dreamer, with Cloth Cap a further 19
lengths behind in fourth.
The Bay Birch caused an upset when
taking the John Ayres Memorial Hand-
icap Chase at 20/1 for trainer Matt
Sheppard and jockey Sean Bowen.
Always travelling strongly, the mare
saw off a field filled with classy handi-
cappers, and a few that are touted as
Graded class, such as the Kim Bailey
trained Charbel, last year’s winner.
Aintree My Dream and The Bay
Birch were both sent for home by their
respective jockeys entering the home
stretch, and approaching the final
Flash The Steel
Picture by JTW
Equine images
ditch of four out it was clear that the
latter had stolen a march on the field.
Approaching three out she had seen
off the challengers apart from Theo,
Activial and Caid Du Lin, who had
made stealthy progress through the
field.
Ultimately however it was a vain
attempt as The Bay Birch kept up the
gallop relentlessly, and albeit for a
slight mishap at the last, jumped beau-
tifully to score by a comfortable two
and three quarter lengths from Caid
Du Lin, Activial and Theo.
The final race was the “Chris & Lisa’s
Big Birthday Bash” Standard Open
National Hunt Flat Race, a fiercely-
contested affair with 12 runners head-
ing to post. It turned into a very close
finish with victory going to the David
Pipe-trained Make Me A Believer,
ridden by David Noonan. He battled
on with grim determination to defeat
Everglow by a neck, with a further
neck to Kilbrook, who was making his
debut for Jonjo O’Neill. RA
ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 31
OUT IN THE STICKS
King maiden
has more
to offer Jeremy Grayson has been keeping them
peeled at the nation’s smaller tracks
WINCANTON, 17 October (Good)
1m7f65yds Maiden Hurdle (Class 4)
In practice a second-season novice
hurdler but still only four starts into this
phase of his career, NEBUCHADNEZ-
ZAR can number one French
2m2f-2m3f hurdles scorer among his
otherwise predominately Flat-oriented
pedigree and looks very much like one
in need of such a trip himself. On the
face of it not done any favours for a
switch to handicapping with an initial
mark in the 120s, it’s worth noting that
Alan King’s Planteur gelding didn’t
help himself overly much on occasion
last winter while keen-going traits were
still being unlearned, and he could yet
prove himself a deal better than both
those efforts and this reappearance
run if deriving sufficient benefit from
the latter.
3m1f30yds 0-125 Handicap Chase
(class 3)
BARBROOK STAR’s blowout at Chep-
stow when last seen in April took some
forgiving, but a 17l sixth on this first
outing since was much more like it,
considering Philip Hobbs’ seven-year-
old was able to stay in the mix until
three out on ground an increment live-
lier than ideal. A scorer over the same
C&D the first time the cheekpieces
were added last winter, the Getaway
gelding did enough here to hold off for
now any suggestions that the effec-
32 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
tiveness of the headgear has worn off
completely, and if the evidence of last
season is any guide there should be a
marked uplift in performance from first
run back to second. Able to function
perfectly well around galloping tracks
as well as sharp, take him to find fur-
ther openings in mid-ranking staying
chases on good to soft or slower.
2m5f82yds 0-110 Handicap Hurdle
(class 4)
Bred in County Durham but originally
campaigned as an Irish pointer,
HEAVEY hails from the broader family
of those grand staying chasers of
yesteryear Golden Freeze and Sparky
Gayle, and will similarly require fences
and a stouter test than today’s provid-
ed in the near future. Not at all
unfeasibly treated for this very quick
switch to handicaps on the form of
July’s Perth maiden hurdle success
(2m4f, good), a gallop only marginally
less pedestrian than the one he had to
contend with that day once again
looked an imperfect fit, and an eventual
near-7l third, keeping on, can’t be
crabbed especially. More forcing tactics
haven’t been tried out on Neil Mulhol-
land’s son of Trans Island as yet, and
perhaps either a switch to that strategy,
or else a challenge closer to 3m in dis-
tance, can effect further improvement
over hurdles before his true calling of
steeplechasing awaits. Extremes of
going have yet to be encountered.
FAKENHAM, 18 October (Good,
good to soft in places)
2m3yds (+158yds) CJ Selling Handi-
cap Hurdle (class 5, no ceiling)
The only two horses out of the six to
line up without headgear on here were
probably the two who could have ben-
efitted the most from it, with runner-up
Ballyellis proving in need of pacifying
and 10l third JOYCETICK once again
untidy at his hurdles. Indeed, it’s sur-
prising that one who’s come to grief on
three of his most recent seven jumping
starts (and made errors in some of the
others) has never worn anything other
than a tongue tie in this country, and
Nick Littmoden’s gelded son of
Myboycharlie, a juvenile hurdle winner
in southwest France (2m1f, good) two
years back, has to be worth a go in a
concentration aid around a course
where he can better organise himself
over his flights than Fakenham. A mark
which has dipped 12lb in the past eigh-
teen months, and ought not be going
back up after this still fair effort, looks
ripe for exploiting if all falls right.
MARKET RASEN, 19 October
(Good to soft, soft in places on
chase course)
2m4f139yds (+216yds) Mares’ Novices’
Hurdle (class 4)
Not much about the way her hur-
▲
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ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 33

OUT IN THE STICKS
dling debut panned out especially
suited MISTY WHISKY, whose bumper
wins at up to Listed level in 2018-19
were gained under patient rides in
races run at rather less funereal paces
than this. Unsurprisingly in the circum-
stances both keen to go faster and
somewhat less than fluent on the way
round, the Stowaway grey’s class got
her to within 3l of the winner at the
finish. It’s inconceivable that she won’t
produce significantly better efforts in
this sphere in the very near future, not
least once the Harry Fry operation
turns the corner after a poor campaign
so far (1-41 at the time of writing), as
surely it must. Eligible for all of the EBF
affiliated mares’ races over the winter,
this five-year-old half-sister to Air
Horse One will find openings over at
least as far as today’s trip, most likely
with give underfoot, when more is in
her favour.
2m1f43yds (+156yds) Novices’ Chase
(class 3)
It will rate a surprise if any of the five
runners - all chasing newcomers - in
this good little event go the whole
season without obliging at least once
each over fences, and on the evidence
of a 7l second to the potentially very
smart Rouge Vif here, Chris Gordon’s
BADDESLEY KNIGHT already looks
like he’ll prove to be a notch or two
above much of what runs in this sphere
at the tracks closer to his Hampshire
base. It was likelier the effect of either
or both a reluctance to settle (not an
uncommon trait of his when fresh) and
two late mistakes that did for the
Doyen gelding’s chances rather than
the inadequacy of the trip, considering
he possessed the speed to win a good-
ground 2m novice hurdle at Plumpton
as recently as last January. Targeting
the Cheltenham bonus races at the
Sussex track over the winter must be
mightily tempting, and with a little
more polish to his jumping one can be
his.
SEDGEFIELD, 20 October (Soft)
2m5f28yds 0-105 Handicap Chase
(class 4)
BLACK KETTLE was never guaranteed
to secure his preferred uncontested
lead in this event and so it proved, with
34 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
Nebuchadnezzar
rival pace influence Brother Scott
heading the herd until past halfway. All
things considered he stayed well
enough on this first step back up to
2m5f since spring 2017 without neces-
sarily suggesting an extended
campaign over as far is now needed,
and a return to forcing tactics around a
galloping 2m-2m1f, ought to see Micky
Hammond’s nine-year-old back in an
even better light. Currently 7lb lower
than when recording a sole career suc-
cess at Newcastle eighteen months
prior (16.5f, heavy), the 10lb claim of
the useful stable conditional Emma
Smith-Chaston (whose gifts in the
saddle are no secret to pointing regu-
lars in Yorkshire and the north) can yet
be put to good use, enabling the son of
Robin Des Pres to run off a flyweight in
deep ground.
2m3f65yds Beginners’ Chase (class 4)
It’s been a long time since Maurice
Barnes has had a potential top-notch
chaser on his hands, and nobody
should assume yet that KNOCKOURA
will fill that gap based solely on this
splitting of rivals rated 134 and 147 (the
latter almost certainly underperform-
ing significantly) on his debut over
fences. The Farlam handler is certainly
due a change of luck following the
demise of Jovial Joey at Catterick
about a year ago, however, and his
Westerner seven-year-old skipped
over the Sedgefied fences like an old
professional before the effects of
trying to go with the winner through-
out caught up with him up the straight.
Anything other than overraced, having
sat on the sidelines for two years fol-
lowing an Irish point win in spring 2017,
this nephew of the versatile Scotsirish
(winner of two Grade 2 chases, as well
as hurdles, points and cross-country
events) can be taken to find an open-
ing in something similar if managing to
avoid the classy southern raiders, with
effectiveness on a sound surface help-
ing to keep options open.
2m3f188yds (+9yds) 0-130 Handicap
Hurdle (class 3)
Probably the last horse anyone would
want to run up against at Sedgefield
right now is Snookered, and a remorse-
less all-the-way success here
completed an autumn hat-trick at the
Durham venue for Brian Ellison’s thriv-
ing gelding at the chief expense of 8l
second GLORIOUS LADY. The rushing
of Keith Dalgleish’s five-year-old into
handicaps after just two qualifying
runs ought to be taken as a vote of
confidence in her ability to prosper in
this sphere, however, and although
racing on the softest surface she’s
encountered under Rules on this occa-
sion it’s worth reiterating that victory in
her sole Irish point 18 months previous-
ly was gained on yielding ground. RA
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YESTERDAY’S HEROES
the tank was
bravest of
the brave
Graham Buddry remembers the mighty Denman
I
n 2005 Denman ran for the first
time, winning a three mile maiden
Point-to-Point at Liscarroll in Ire-
land by a comfortable 12 lengths.
Former top jockey, Adrian
Maguire, his trainer, was then instru-
mental in a big money deal which next
saw the gelding in a novice hurdle at
Wincanton seven months later in the
famous Barber colours under the care
of Paul Nicholls.
Victory here was followed by three
more scintillating performances
before his unbeaten run came to an
end with second place at the 2006
Cheltenham Festival.
As a novice chaser the following
season Denman won four races by
ever increasing superiority and dis-
tance before extending his winning
run with a ten length annihilation of
the opposition in the Sun Alliance
Novice Chase.
His first season out of novice com-
pany began in Newbury’s Hennessy
under top weight, Denman forging
clear four out in impressive fashion to
put eleven and 19 lengths between
himself and the lightly-weighted
placed horses. Such was his over-
whelming superiority that
comparisons were immediately drawn
with Arkle.
The Lexus chase at Leopardstown
and the Aon chase proved mere step-
ping stones as the unbeaten chaser
headed to a first Gold Cup where he
would face the reigning champion and
36 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
stable companion, Kauto Star. Rightly
acclaimed as one of the all-time
greats, Kauto Star was left chasing
shadows in second place at Chel-
tenham as Denman cruised to an
impressive seven length victory in one
of the most devastating performances
seen for years.
At the peak of his considerable
powers the new champion was then
diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.
This condition, as in humans, can be
totally debilitating and heart surgery
was required at the Newmarket
Equine Centre where the electric
receptors inside the heart had to be
zapped by a microscopic laser to
enable his heart to function more nor-
mally.
Eleven months after his last race
Denman was ready for his comeback.
Kempton Park framed a race for him
although the course itself was far from
ideal for such a big, galloping sort and
despite some good horses finishing
behind him, Denman was a long way
second to the easy winner.
The only viable option after this was
a defence of his Gold Cup crown and
in the circumstances Denman took an
honourable second place as his illustri-
ous stable companion Kauto Star
regained the title. After his near career
ending problems this was still a worthy
result.
A fall at Aintree rounded off his trun-
cated season and many racing scribes
now wrote him off… a has-been, a once
great horse, a shadow of his former
self. Paul Nicholls believed in him
though, working tirelessly with his
staff to get the former champion back
on track and targeted Newbury’s Hen-
nessey Gold Cup of November 2009
as his day of destiny after a break of
240 days. What happened next was
possibly the greatest comeback since
Lazarus.
Under top weight this powerful
chaser, known affectionately as “The
Tank” for the way he bulldozed and
destroyed everything that stood in his
way was back to his imperious best.
In a 19 strong field of good quality
the two expected to give Denman the
most trouble were the Queen’s horse,
Barbers Shop, and his own stable
companion, What a Friend. The former
was rarely out of the frame over
fences, winning his share and would
finish third in the King George next
time out.
Here the two years younger horse
would be receiving a stone and four
pounds advantage. What a Friend,
younger by three years and with a
stone and eight pounds in hand had
been beaten only once so far over
fences and his next two races would
see victories in the Lexus and the Ain-
tree Bowl. Other runners, all receiving
huge chunks of weight included previ-
ous Hennessy winner, State of Play,
recent Grand National winner, Mon
Mome and former Cheltenham Gold
Cup winner, War of Attrition.

Despite top weight and such stellar
opposition the public turned out in
their droves to see one of their
favourite sons with seemingly every
other bet placed on him.
For most of the first circuit Denman
raced in third place with Mon Mome,
Barbers Shop and War of Attrition in
close attendance but by the time they
reached the water jump Denman had
forged into the lead.
Going out on the second circuit
Niche Market, allotted more than a two
stones pull in the weights, went to the
front again, Denman settling nicely
just behind, yet before the end of the
back straight Denman had regained
the lead. Jumping well and going
easily, the favourite showed ahead as
they started the long turn towards the
home straight with five left to jump.
Barbers Shop had moved menacing-
ly up to third while What a Friend was
closing strongly. At the cross fence
Denman led Barbers Shop, Niche
Market and What a Friend, the relent-
less gallop putting increasing distance
away from the other runners. Four out
and Denman had Barbers Shop in
trouble and Niche Market flat to the
boards. What a Friend was still closing
approaching three out, then, to roars
from the crowd jumped up level at the
second last. Denman now came under
pressure approaching the final fence.
What a Friend was running around
going into it, found a good stride and
they landed together for the run to the
line, but Denman was unbeatable, the
rapturous cheers from the packed
stands carrying him 3½ lengths clear
by the line.
Come March and a third crack at the
Gold Cup saw Kauto Star fall while
Denman ploughed on toward the head
of affairs. Here Mon Mome stayed on
well to take a creditable third place,
albeit a full 23 lengths behind the
second placed finisher who was once
again Denman, giving his all but find-
ing Imperial Commander just too good
on the day.
Denman’s final season started off on
27 November 2010 with an attempt to
win the Hennessy for a third time. Old
foes, Barbers Shop and Niche Market
Jockey Sam Thomas
looks round after
winning the 2008
Cheltenham Gold Cup
on Denman
were again put in their place as
Denman tried his hardest to re-write
the record books but, like Arkle before
him, found age and weight conces-
sions catching up. Two very good
horses in Diamond Harry and Burton
Port claimed the first two places, both
racing from out of the handicap, as
were all bar three of the other 17 run-
ners while Denman, giving the best
part of two stone to almost everything
else took a magnificent third place.
Nicholls thought his charge was
ailing slightly in the closing stages so
he underwent a wind operation with
the trainer confirming he wouldn’t run
again until Cheltenham.
The Gold Cup of 2011 will long be
revered as a extraordinary race as it
was the first time that both Kauto Star
and Denman raced against each other
at their best. For years racing fans had
longed to see Denman and Kauto Star
battle it out for ultimate supremacy
around Cheltenham and now, at the
ages of eleven, the stable companions
would do just that.
In their three previous meetings,
▲
ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 37
YESTERDAY’S HEROES

of which Denman held sway 2-1, one or
other was not quite right but this time
there was the possibility of a race for
the generations. Reigning champion,
Imperial Commander, was also strong-
ly fancied while the younger brigade
were headed by the six-year-old, Long
Run, brilliant winner of the King
George three months earlier.
In one of the best and most exciting
Gold Cups ever run Kauto Star took
the lead in front of the stands going
out onto the final circuit with the chal-
lengers queuing up behind. By the
time they raced to the top of the hill
the race had whittled down to just
four horses; the best four in the land.
The commentator summed it up per-
fectly as he intoned: “It’s the old guard
who show the way, Imperial Comman-
der, Kauto Star and Denman, a who’s
who of Gold Cup history.”
Moments later Imperial Commander
had dropped away, “Three out and it’s
Denman on the outside of Kauto Star,
Long Run is back in third and under
pressure…” They turned into the home
straight with history beckoning,
“Denman and Kauto Star rolling back
the years, Long Run a length and a
half behind...” This was the race the
world wanted to see, two legends
going head to head, being willed on
by their legions of fans.
Kauto Star just led turning in but
Denman was still galloping powerfully,
both heads stretching for immortality,
locked together as Long Run closed
ominously on their outside. Two out
and all three were in the air together,
Denman just shading Kauto Star and
Long Run as the stands erupted. Down
to the last and Denman was getting
the better of Kauto Star but the five
years younger Long Run was full of
running and took the lead.
In one of the most emotionally
charged races Cheltenham has ever
seen Long Run claimed the Gold Cup
while Denman was second for the
third consecutive year with Kauto Star
in third. Thousands surged to the
enclosures reserved for the winner and
placed horses, tears of joy and
incredulity flowing freely as all three
gladiators were cheered to the rafters,
a new champion and two wonderful
old warriors who gave their all, carried
out in glory on their shields.
Denman won five from seven at
Newbury, including two Hennessys
under top weight and a gallant third
place. At Cheltenham he was never
out of the first two in eight races, his
six visits to the Festival included a
Gold Cup and three second places
while in four meetings with Kauto Star,
all at Prestbury park, Denman finished
ahead all bar once.
At Newbury or Cheltenham, there
were few better, or braver, than the
mighty Denman. RA

YESTERDAY’S HEROES
National Hunt Edition
Featuring the best of the jumps
articles to have appeared in
Racing Ahead magazine over
the last six years, including
One Man, Wayward Lad, Desert
Orchid, Viking Flagship and
many, many more.
This hardback book, which
includes photos by Bernard
Parkin and The Racing Post is
available through Waterstones
and other bookshops or as an
ebook.

38 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181

 NEWMARKET REPORT

Jumping for
joy at HQ
David Youngman is looking forward to the winter season

W
ITH the turf Flat
season now coming
to an end everything
will be going into
jumps mode from
now on and hopefully our trainers like
Amy Murphy and Lucy Wadham will
saddle a few winners and keep the flag
flying for our HQ yards plus a few
winners on the all weather for our
other handlers.
AMY Murphy has her jumpers in
strong work now and stable star Dave on the
KALASHNIKOV is doing very well at Rowley
Southgate stables on the Hamilton Mile
Road. The son of Kalinisi looks set for a
good season and hopefully will end up
in the Ryanair Chase at the Chel-
tenham Festival come March.
Stablemate MERCIAN PRINCE has OUR last fixture here at Newmarket He is sure to learn a lot and broaden
recently had a wind operation to is on November 1-2. As you see from his knowledge. William Haggas is anx-
tweak his breathing, he is about a the photo I recently walked the ious to see Cieren keep his 3lb claim
month off his return but could be a Rowley Mile course, I must say what a for next season and the young rider
nice type this season. great job the staff have done as it is in looks set for a great 2020.
THE October Tattersalls sales saw excellent condition. Roll on April when EVERYONE here at HQ is delighted
some very nice yearlings and Sheikh we are back racing here again for the to hear ENABLE is to stay in training as
Mohammed purchased some interest- Craven meeting. Godolphin and John a six-year-old in 2020 – none more so
ing types that will be going into Gosden have a lot of unraced juveniles than Frankie Dettori. Her gallant effort
training when they have been pre- to get out on the all-weather tracks in the Arc in Paris was highly memo-
pared at the Darley pre- training yards. before the end of the year so you will rable as she showed her courage as the
One in particular is a Frankel half- see some nice types coming out. very soft ground was all against her,
brother to Golden Horn. This IT has been wonderful for us all here blunting her finishing speed. Hopefully,
impressive looking colt cost 3.1 million at Newmarket to see young Cieren she will train on and try again next
guineas and will soon be sent into Fallon become champion apprentice October. I am concerned as she will be
training at Warren Place. under the guidance of William and Mo a six-year-old by then and as Noel Mur-
All the Godolphin yearlings will be Haggas and their team at Somerville less always told us lads in my days with
trained out of this famous yard under Lodge. Cieren is to have a holiday then him, they are past their best by then as
the guidance of Charlie Appleby and go off to New York for three months to they have peaked their performance at
there should be some lovely two-year- winter with trainer Christophe four. Let’s hope she is the exception to
olds there for Godolphin for next term. Clement there. that rule. RA
ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 39
TALES FROM THE BETTING RING
heart attacks
and crashing
falls at Exeter Simon Nott spends time in the West Country
Exeter October 10th
There was an excellent crowd for the
season opener at Exeter. Twelve lined
up for the Join Racing TV Now Condi-
tional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. Dr
Richard Newland’s Higgs was a very
warm order opening around 6/5, a fair
drop from last night’s best priced 4/1.
Sadly, for the punters that got the
fancy prices, or were involved with the
gamble on the jolly, their fancy only
managed third behind 12/1 chance
Back On The Lash under a very deter-
mined Patrick Cowley.
I saw a punter have £350 in cash on
the 4/7 favourite Hang In There for the
Watch On RacingTV Novices’ Hurdle.
As soon as he was laid, he was on his
mobile, Richard Watson took the bet
and commented, “If he’s arbing, good
luck to him, he’s not going to get fat
on it”.
Let’s hope for his sake he did arb it
because bad luck was just around the
corner, well at the first to be accurate.
Hang In There was knocked on landing
by The Wire Flyer, the impact of which
catapulted the jolly’s jockey Adam
Wedge out of the saddle. The jockey
did his level best to hold on to the
aptly named favourite but was always
fighting a losing battle.
The race eventually went to Fergal
O’Brien’s 5/1 chance Thegallantway.
Jockey Paddy Brennan did well to win
given that the gelding attempted to
run out following a loose horse on the
first circuit and jumped somewhat
40 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
erratically over the last few hurdles.
The next heat was a tricky looking
race on paper but proved to be ulti-
mately more challenging for the
combatants. Only five of the ten that
went to post completed the course
with three horses falling two out
including the jolly Keep Moving when
looking to have every chance.
Victory eventually went to Tim
Vaughan’s 6/1 chance Cap St Vincent
under Alan Johns who kept the combi-
nation intact in what was a calamitous
race with thankfully all fallers returning
safely to stables. News filtered through
that popular racecourse bookie Peter
Houghton was taken to hospital after
reporting to the racecourse medical
centre feeling under the weather.
The bookmakers’ mushes, that’s
umbrellas in plain English, had been up
Ricky Rixon
in his wet
weather gear
for a while as is often prudent at
Exeter. They were needed by the start
of betting to Visit racingtv.com
Novices’ Handicap Hurdle with drizzle
prevailing. Dr Richard Newland’s
Somethingaboutangela opened the
6/5 favourite, a price which the pun-
ters appeared happy to take, despite
the gamble coming unstuck in the
opener.
“The bookies have never enjoyed
such results at Exeter” chortled the
Betting Ring manager as Kevin
Bishop’s Rosserk Abbey caused a
minor shock winning at 14/1. The jolly
was left labouring back in a poor
fourth after being hampered badly on
the home turn, the BRM might have
been slightly exaggerating but the
bookies weren’t complaining.
Down in the ring even ‘Tall Boy’
Watson was happy, until he saw me, he
quipped, “Ere, anyone that reads your
article in Racing Ahead will think I’m a
miserable git”. With that his right-hand
man Steve Copplestone burst out
laughing, take from that as you will.
Armaloft Alex on the Ladbrokes
joint pointed out that none of the win-
ning owners had been present today
so it might be a system for the rest of
the meeting – look for a lonely-looking
jockey and trainer in the parade ring.
It’s a thought, maybe owners should
declare their presence.
Chance It trained by Johnny Farrelly
and ridden by one of the top Wessex
area point to point riders of last

season, Liam Harrison, landed a bit of
a gamble in the Timeform Premium
Ratings Available At racingtv.com
Handicap Hurdle. The winner was
backed from 10/1 into 6/1.
I dashed back down into the ring
expecting to see a lot of faces with
smiles wiped off them, but none of it.
To a man they declared the winner a
winner in their books. Oh, and of
course, the owners were present,
that’s that system out of the window
Armalot.
The drizzle was light but persistent
enough to prompt Ricky Rixon work-
ing for West End Racing to get his
best wet-weather clobber on.
Ricky had gotten it right, the weath-
er was what could be described as
‘proper miserable’ by the time of the
5.05pm. Searching and Dan Gun
opened at 9/4 each of two in early
betting. It was the latter the punters
latched onto, supporting it into 15/8
while the former drifted to 11/4. They
got it wrong again though, Searching
bolted up from Dan Gun. The bookies
had little chance but still got the
favourite beaten.
Just four went to post for the con-
cluding Beginners’ Chase. The bookies
opened 11/10 Colin Tizzard’s Padley-
ourowncanoe, 5/2 each of two
Monbeg Theatre and Rococo River
and 20/1 Point N Shoot.
Some bookmakers, including ‘cheer-
ful’ Tall Boy Watson decided to snap
the elastic around the readies and
leave though most stayed.
Going back to Peter Houghton, he
later reported that he’d actually suf-
fered a heart attack which resulted in
stents being inserted to sort him out.
He’s hoping to be in action on course
sooner rather than later, let’s hope he
takes it easy before rushing back, he’s
one of the good guys.
The perils of Jump racing were fur-
ther highlighted when Lizzie Kelly took
a crashing fall on Rocco River at the
9th. The horse took off afterwards
apparently uninjured, but Lizzie was
being attended to by the first aid
teams as the remainder of the field
fought out the finish. The jolly, backed
into Evens, won for beleaguered
favourite backers.
Wincanton October 17
Today was the official ‘season ‘opener’
at Wincanton and, as with Exeter,
extremely well supported by racego-
Exeter
bookies
ers, trainers and bookmakers alike with
a real buzz about the course.
The betting ring was heaving with
punters for the opening Download The
Star Sports App Now! Maiden Hurdle.
Bookmakers were busy but not inun-
dated with lumps of cash.
The biggest bet I heard of was from
Martyn of Leicester in pick number
one who reported a bet of £880 to
£800 Olly Murphy’s Nickolson. The
money was well-placed, the even
money favourite won very nicely under
Richard Johnson.
Betting on the second division
revolved around Paul Nicholls’ hot
favourite Ecco. Martyn of Leicester
was the man that took the biggest bet
I heard of, this time £450 – £1,500 the
jolly. After it won with the ease expect-
ed of a, by that point, 1/4 favourite, the
bookmaker was quite stoical and
quipped, “It’s only units”. I pointed out
that the units were adding up to which
he replied he’s happy to see that there
is still money in the ring despite not
being able to keep it. With that the
‘money without work’ cry went up and
he set out trying to get some back.
Down the line and behind the
magnet for big money that seemed
▲
ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 41
TALES FROM THE BETTING RING

to be Martyn’s hod, other bookmakers
weren’t telling many stories of big
bets.
Dan Skelton saddled the favourite,
though it was uneasy, drifting from 9/4
to 11/4. Another that took a walk in the
betting on-course was Colin Tizzard’s
Duc Kauto which drifted from 3/1 to
9/2. It didn’t stop the gelding winning
though, a nice double on the card for
Harry Cobden who steered Ecco to
victory in the previous race.
The Tribute To Marcus Trescothick
Handicap Hurdle was a competitive
betting affair, in which Tom Lacey’s
Sebastopol was sent off 3/1 favourite
and compounded the bookies’ misery
by obliging under Nico De Boinville.
There was drama in the race when
Philip Hobbs’ Flying Tiger appeared to
clip hoofs and stumbled, unshipping
Richard Johnson. Hopefully not too
badly injured but it was enough for
him to give up his last two rides of the
day. His ride on Philip Hobbs’ Barbrook
Star going to Sean Houlihan in the
Trethowans Solicitors Handicap Chase
Down in the betting ring Jo Williams
of the Ivor Perry firm reported that it
was a very ‘flat’ betting heat, adding
the the strong mover on ‘the machine’
was Tom George’s charge Forgot To
Ask while the original favourite Flying
Verse was very weak and hard to lay.
Three out, Colin Tizzard’s Bramble
Brook looked all over the winner. One
shrewd judge piped it, he won’t win, he
always finds a way of not winning, I
don’t think he likes it’. The man wasn’t
playing in-running but maybe he
should have, the Jonjo O’Neill trained
Terry The Fish flipped over the last to
win going away at a bookie-saving 16/1
under Richie McLernon with the Bram-
ble Brook appearing content to fill
runner-up spot with the weak, now
joint-favourite, Flying Verse back in
third.
The starsports.bet Handicap Hurdle
was another competitive heat, Colin
Tizzard’s Little Vern was proving pop-
ular down in the ring along with
Rosemary Russet, sent off the 9/2f.
Those that backed the latter each-way
got most of their money back when
the mare filled fourth spot but Little
Vern backers weren’t so fortunate fin-
ishing out of the frame. At the
business end of the race Jeremy
Scott’s 10/1 shot Demon Fou led the
way home under Matt Griffiths in front
of Philip Hobbs’ 7/1 chance Dark
Episode. The bookmakers had another
Paul Nicholls short one to get stuck
into in the penultimate with Enrilo who
opened at 4/7. Once again a punter
waded in to Martyn of Leicester, with
£800 – £1,400 which ultimately
copped, the jolly winning by four and a
half lengths under Harry Cobden. The
punter got his money’s worth though,
the favourite looked in trouble turning
for home touching 2/1 in-running
before knuckling down to the task in
hand. A double for Paul Nicholls and
trebles for jockey and the lumping-on
punter. Martyn of Leicester however,
not do quite so well.
The concluding First For Industry
Jobs Visit starrecruitment.bet Condi-
tional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase was
competitive, the bookies had very little
chance of getting all their dough back
on the day. It appeared some of the
crowd had started to head home early
despite an excellent race in prospect.
The market opened tight with Our
Uncle Pat priced at 4/1 and The Boola
Bee 9/2. At one point during the race
it did look as if The Boola Bee was
going to come from an impossible
position to win.
Ultimately it proved to be just too
much for the mare who finished a
couple of lengths second to the aptly
named 13/2 winner Love The Leader
under promising young Luca Morgan.
Win or lose it was nice to be back at
Wincanton and Exeter. RA

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42 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
 OPTIMUM RACING

electric eric!
The Optimum Racing syndicate enoy a day out at Hereford

O
wning a racehorse can be an
exhilarating experience, it can
also put a crater sized hole in
your pocket, with the average
cost being £16,500 per year.
Being part of a well run syndicate, how-
ever, can bring the full ownership
experience at a fraction of the price.
As members of the optimumracing.co.uk
syndicate waited for the jockeys to enter
the parade ring for the Visit Sri Lanka
Handicap Hurdle at Hereford on a lovely
October afternoon, we chatted about the
chances of our runner Eric the Third, who
looked splendid in the paddock. We con-
cluded that a top four finish would be
more than acceptable in such a competi-
tive race for the grade.
We had earlier rubbed shoulders with
some of the country’s leading trainers in
the Owners and Trainers bar. There are
not many sports where the biggest play-
ers are so accessible. Several years ago,
at Cartmel I remarked on this to the late
“Ginger” McCain, of Red Rum fame,
telling him what a thrill it was to be able
to chat to him as he prepared his runner
in the saddling box next to ours. He was a
real gentleman and so humble too.
As the tapes went up for the opening
race at Hereford, Eric the Third, under
jockey Alan Johns, was soon out in front
and jumping for fun. The excitement
levels rose and the heart started beating
that little bit quicker as a victory looked a
distinct possibility with half a mile to run.
Unfortunately, Eric was headed two out
but stayed on to finish a gallant fourth,
rewarding clients who were advised to
back him each way with firms paying four
places.
The syndicate has enjoyed plenty of
success since sending out our first runner
City Affair at Bangor in August 2007, and
many an exciting day at the races. The 18
horses we have watched run in the
colours of Optimum Racing have won 27
races between them and given members
the thrill of having a runner at the Chel-
tenham Festival, as well as visiting the
winner’s enclosure at Aintree.
A 5% share in one of our horses costs
just £23 per week all-inclusive and
enables you to enjoy all the trappings of
being an owner without the financial
headache associated with owning a
majestic thoroughbred.
Stable visits, an equal share of the prize
money, owners badges to the races and
regular updates are all included, making
an ownership experience with Optimum
Racing both enjoyable and affordable.
For details speak to Andrew Lowrie on
01446 722463
I would like to dedicate this article to
my father who sadly passed away in
September. He enjoyed nothing more
than a day at the races. RA
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ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 43
CLEEVE RACING
do you need our
tipping service?
By Nick McKenna - managing partner at cleeveracing.com
WHY use a tipping service? It’s a good
question… if you are a once a week TV
punter only risking a fiver a week, then
my honest answer is you don’t need one
as you are punting for fun and your
maximum downside is around £20 a
month. However, if you are betting a
fiver once a day, even though it might
feel like you’re playing you are actually
risking around £150 a month or £1,800 a
year, so it is reasonable to at least ask
yourself the question.
The truth lies in the numbers, and
when you break it down it becomes
self-evident that it is something every
punter should at the very least consider.
Let’s assume you have researched the
tipping service ‘Winnerswinnerswin-
ners*’ and reached the conclusion that it
is both professional and trustworthy, it
is priced at a standard £30 a month or
discounted to £240 a year so you join
them for a year in order to...
a) lock in the best price
b) give them a reasonable time to
prove their merits.
In joining them you are adding £240,
or 13% to your annual racing investment
of £1,800, the fundamental question
you have asked yourself is…
‘Does my investment in a team of
form analysts who have proven knowl-
edge and deep experience of the sport,
with access to specialist tools, who are
effectively working full-time on my
behalf justify an investment of an extra
13% on my annual punting spend?’
For the average punter the answer
almost certainly has to be… YES IT
DOES! Why? You use a dentist when
you have toothache, you go to a doctor
when you are not feeling well, you hire a
builder if you want an extension… in
short, we use specialists all the time and
wouldn’t dream of doing that kind of
44 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
work ourselves. We insist on using an
expert, and we expect to have to pay
them.
So why do the majority of punters
tend to look down their noses at tipping
services and lump them all into the
‘dodgy’ category, and think that they
can do a better job themselves?
Form analysis is a highly technical and
data driven process (handicapping, rat-
ings, time figures, collateral form),
executed in the context of variable fac-
tors (current form, course
characteristics, draw, stable form, shape
of the race).
It takes a lot of time and effort to do
proper race analysis… time that few
punters have available, and work that
they are not really equipped with either
the specialist knowledge or access to
the appropriate tools.
Many punters look at a race in their
daily newspaper and see -111 next to a
favourite’s name. They surmise that it’s
got a great chance, but if they looked a
little deeper they might see that he’s
won his last 3 races at Epsom over 5F
on firm ground in Class 3’s from handi-
cap marks in the 80’s… but today’s race
is a class 2 at Ascot over 6F on good to
soft and he’s running off 96.
So, he is up in class, up in trip,
unproven on the ground and running
from a handicap mark he has never won
from. Now do you think he has a
favorite’s chance?
Similarly, would you back a 6-4
chance that should be a 1-2 shot? Do
you think it’s ‘too short’, or do you
prefer an 8-1 chance (without knowing
that it's actually unsuited by the going
plus the stable is 0-20 in the last 30
days). It would really be more accurate-
ly priced around the 16-1 mark. Value, or
the lack of it can come in many different
guises! Maybe you follow a particular
jockey or trainer…
Who’s your favourite jockey? (2019
Stats to £1 level stakes)
• Ryan Moore – minus £143.39
• Franny Norton – minus £213.93
• Luke Morris – minus £300.13
• Tom Marquand – + £81.95
Who’s your favourite trainer? (12
Month Stats to £1 level stakes)
• Mark Johnston – minus £323.65
• Richard Fahey – minus £258.40
• Richard Hannon – minus £337.11
• John Holt (who?) – + £90.00
Time, knowledge, experience, an
expert team view that supports
informed debate, specialist tools… a
good tipping service is an invaluable
asset for punters, remember that ‘Win-
nerswinnerswinners’ only needs to be
13% better than you to be worth it… the
odds are that they are probably at least
1000% (x10) better than you.
Most punters don’t keep a record of
their betting so have no idea what it is
costing them, winners tend to stick in
the mind longer than losers which fur-
ther skews the perception. I would
guess that an armchair punter, especial-
ly one with Racing TV who is a ‘pretty
decent judge’ with both the courage
and the cash to back his judgement, will
turnover at least £5,000 a year. Given
those numbers ‘Winnerswinnerswin-
ners’ is adding a measly 4% to their
annual punting bill.
*I need to stress that Winnerswinner-
swinners are a fictitious tipping service.
Next month we will look at possibly
the most important factor of using a tip-
ping service ‘ finding one that matches
my personal punting style’. RA
ALASTAIR RALPH STABLE TOUR
I
t was not too long ago that
Alastair Ralph was learning his
trade off some legends of the
game, but after a few seasons of
holding his own licence, he has
built himself a solid base from which to
build and hopefully challenge such
legends for years to come.
Stints with Paul Nicholls, Henry Daly
and Richard Newland proved valuable
experiences and provided Ralph with
a wealth of knowledge.
A breakthrough year two seasons
back meant his stock rose. Plans
have since been in place to improve
facilities along with the quality of
horses. Although this may seem a
slow building process, from having
two horses in training with him, I can
assure readers this is a yard firmly on
the up with ambitions to improve fur-
ther in time.
The addition of Grand National win-
ning jockey Liam Treadwell as
assistant trainer provides Alastair with
another valuable voice. Add Treadwell
to the current list of jockeys attached
to the stable (L Edwards, A Edwards,
A Tinkler and R Johnson) and it makes
for quite a competitive atmosphere.
I’m sure that will bring nothing but
success for this yard which continues
to grow and develop.
How Alastair rates his horses:
Billingsley
Goes novice chasing this time. He has
come in better than ever and looks
really well. He will head down the
novice handicap chase route and is
one to look forward to.
Champagne Mist
Pleased he got his head in front
recently as he is a talented horse. On a
short break at present but will go
chasing when he comes back.
Comber Mill
Love soft/heavy ground so we will
pick and choose where he races this
year. Try and find a good race for him
in the right conditions.
Damut I’m Out
Had a good summer but is back in
now and is a good fun horse who
fences and hurdles well. Will be out
soon.
46 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
learning
from the
legends
Ben Morgan speaks to a trainer
who is ready to go places
Green Etoile
A fun horse who will be running
around courses like Ludlow for his
local owners.
Gustave Mahler
On a bit of a break at the moment
after encountering a few issues. He will
be back though.
Kabrit
Thought he would run better than he
did at Ludlow recently. Will appreciate
a winter break and is a nice horse
going forward.
Mix Of Clover
He has been unlucky but we will hope-
fully find an opportunity for him. I
hope he will be winning soon.
Master Sunrise
Had another good summer but is due
to go on his holidays soon.
Our Rockstar
Quite highly handicapped at the
moment but she should be good to go
next Spring and we hope for more
success with her.
Queen’s Soldier
Should be a good juvenile hurdler as
he was recommended to me. Schools
well and once we get going, we should
have plenty of fun with him.
Tennewrow
Hopefully can win a low grade mares
event. Has done nothing wrong in a
few starts for me. Bumped into one of
my own when I took her to Plumpton,
so poor planning on my part. She will
be better over fences.
White Turf
Bought from the Flat after being rec-
ommended. A nice horse going
forward who will be better in handi-
caps and over a longer trip.
Your Band
An exciting horse who has done noth-
ing wrong this summer. Got beat by
the well regarded Pacify first time,
beat a well regarded one second time
and won nicely third time. Will want a
step up in trip in time. On a small break
at the moment but will be bought
back in the new year with one of the
festivals in mind.
Evenstevens
Owned by a local syndicate and
should be a fun horse once entering
handicap company.
Amanofhisword
Ran once last year and bumped into a
nice one first time out. Has done well
over the summer and will start back in
a bumper. I like him a lot.
Getaway Totherock
Bought her in the summer after wining
three point to points in Ireland. She will
go down the Mares Novice hurdle
route and all being well will end up at
one of the festivals as well. She has a
nice attitude and I like her a lot.
Move Above
Ran well in novices last year and
appreciated a break through the
summer. Will go novice handicap
chasing and I’m sure he will do well as
chasing has always been his game.
Butler’s Brief
Will be out soon in a bumper. He is a
very nice horse and is certainly one to
look forward to.
Mick Mona
She will be a good mare once she
learns to settle. One of the better work
horses we have who just needs to
learn her job.
Encounter A Giant
Another nice young horse in the yard
who has come from the pointing field.
Should have plenty to look forward to
with him.
Three-year-olds
We have a lovely batch of three-year-
olds at the moment. Grooveur and
Risk D’Argent are coming along nicely
but we also have an unnamed
Dunaden who is moving nicely along Alastair Ralph and syndicate
with an unnamed Shirocco, who is member Hannah
showing up very well at this early
stage. RA

ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 47

RACING METHODS - HURDLES

Make hay over

the hurdles
Our stats analysis turns to the winter game with
a look at favourites over timber

W
ITH the jumps season get-
ting into gear, we take a look
at ways of making money
following favourites over
hurdles this month.
Market leaders do slightly better in the
winter game than the Flat and there are
plenty of profitable angles to concentrate on.
All the stats on these pages go back to the
start of 2017 and are for hurdles races only in
the UK.
There are plenty of trainer and jockey com-
binations that have made profits when
teaming up with favourites. We’ll concentrate
on those with the highest strike-rate: POSITION IN BETTING
Jamie Snowden and Gavin Sheehan: 23 Bets Wins Win% £1 bet Places Place%
wins from 30 runners (77%) for a profit of £13 1 6034 2233 37% -382.06 3891 64%
to SP. 2 5862 1199 20% -858.53 3026 52%
Richard Johnson and Gordon Elliott: 31 3 5673 781 14% -844.65 2184 38%
wins from 43 runners (72%) for a profit of £21 4 5613 492 9% -1339.67 1635 29%
to SP. 5 5327 335 6% -1681.5 1242 23%
Gavin Sheehan and Harry Whittington: 10 6 4953 213 4% -1847 891 18%
7 4213 150 4% -1528.5 614 15%
wins from 14 runners (71%) for a profit of £6
8 3488 88 3% -1705 415 12%
to SP. 9 2742 61 2% -1342 265 10%
Daryl Jacob and Nigel Twiston-Davies: 8 10 2100 32 2% -1293 165 8%
wins from 12 runners (67%) for a profit of £5 11 1541 20 1% -918 95 6%
to SP. 12 1018 13 1% -655 68 7%
Nico De Boinville and Ben Pauling: 7 wins 13 722 10 1% -359 51 7%
from 11 runners (64%) for a profit of £11 to SP. 14 454 4 1% -250 30 7%
Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson: 22 15 287 2 1% -172 19 7%
wins from 35 runners (63%) for a profit of £1
to SP. ANALYSIS OF HURDLES FAVOURITES
Daryl Jacob and Nicky Henderson: 19 wins Handicap 3469 1024 30% -199.37 1994 57%
from 32 runners (59%) for a profit of £10 to Non-Handicap 2484 1200 48% -147.94 1869 75%
Maiden 657 297 45% -36% 497 76%
SP. 73%
Novices 1762 836 47% -84.87 1291
M Griffiths and Jeremy Scott: 12 wins from
21 runners (57%) for a profit of £14 to SP. CLASS OF RACE
C Gethings and Stuart Edmunds: 14 wins Class 1 276 99 36% -5.34 169 61%
from 26 runners (54%) for a profit of £9 to SP. Class 2 325 91 28% -34.06 174 54%
The individual profits may be modest but Class 3 865 301 35% -21.29 518 60%
they add up to a healthy return on investment Class 4 3189 1326 42% -104.37 2196 69%
and it’s hard not to better SP these days. You Class 5 1298 407 31% -182.25 806 62%
48 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
BY DISTANCE PROFITABLE JOCKEYS ON FAVOURITES
Bets Wins Win% £1 bet Places Place% OBrien, T J 106 49 46% 19.84 72 68%
1m7½f 288 109 38% -29.43 187 65% Jacob, Daryl 128 62 48% 19.3 91 71%
2m 902 353 39% -58.73 616 68% Sheehan, Gavin 87 53 61% 19.28 63 72%
2m½f 646 255 39% -50 434 67% Scholfield, Nick 43 19 44% 16.93 30 70%
2m1f 375 137 37% -64.77 251 67% Murtagh, Mr L A 16 9 56% 13.55 11 69%
2m1½f 131 45 34% -20.59 85 65% Griffiths, Mr M 22 12 55% 12.64 16 73%
2m2f 70 24 34% -19.04 50 71% Stock, Mr H 16 8 50% 12.51 13 81%
2m2½f 79 26 33% -12.27 49 62% Irving, Mr D 12 7 58% 10.6 8 67%
2m3f 193 83 43% 1.31 129 67% Boinville, Mr N de 148 68 46% 10.38 101 68%
2m3½f 450 187 42% 10.2 308 68% Sansom, Mr D 19 9 47% 9 13 68%
2m4f 427 175 41% 0.1 282 66% Nichol, Craig 36 18 50% 8.28 23 64%
2m4½f 435 162 37% -16.16 283 65% Price, Mr C 15 7 47% 8.11 8 53%
2m5f 273 106 39% 5.69 185 68% Russell, D N 18 9 50% 7.81 14 78%
2m5½f 278 102 37% -12.36 184 66% Nicol, Mr Adam 18 9 50% 7.34 11 61%
2m6f 186 65 35% -13.92 115 62% Quinlan, Sean 31 14 45% 6.87 21 68%
2m6½f 65 23 35% -2.46 38 58% Brace, Connor 29 11 38% 6.79 21 72%
2m7f 127 37 29% -31.64 74 58% Patrick, Mr Richard 25 9 36% 6.38 13 52%
2m7½f 211 70 33% -10.07 128 61% Burke, Mr J J 24 9 38% 5.4 16 67%
3m 303 106 35% -1.74 180 59% Tissier, Maxime 12 6 50% 5.16 6 50%
3m½f 182 54 30% -14.67 105 58% Chapman, Mr R 45 18 40% 5.05 26 58%
3m1f 90 26 29% -1.7 48 53% Williams, Miss Isabel 10 5 50% 4.96 8 80%
3m1½f 78 26 33% -4.26 43 55% Colliver, J 17 8 47% 4.73 13 76%
3m2f 86 29 34% 2.28 51 59% McCain, Miss A 13 5 38% 4.48 10 77%
3m2½f 35 10 29% -0.63 15 43% George, Mr N 11 5 45% 4.43 8 73%
3m3f 40 11 28% -7.83 20 50% Gethings, Mr C 44 19 43% 4.24 32 73%
Dingle, Mr Rex 29 12 41% 4.09 15 52%
FAVOURITES BY FINISHING Bass, Mr D R 69 30 43% 3.73 43 62%
POSITION IN LAST RACE Austin, Mr E 17 6 35% 3.63 8 47%
FNo Run 101 52 51% 13.37 75 74% Dixon, Jason 10 5 50% 3.59 7 70%
First 1902 790 42% -40.26 1279 67% Garritty, Billy 16 7 44% 3.43 10 63%
Second 1374 521 38% -145.71 905 66% Geraghty, B J 81 42 52% 3.12 59 73%
Third 816 282 35% -43.9 522 64% Sherwood, Mr J 14 4 29% 3 9 64%
Fourth 513 152 30% -88.38 304 59% Aspell, Leighton 60 26 43% 2.49 40 67%
Fifth 336 109 32% -19.74 211 63% Dunne, R T 34 12 35% 2.21 23 68%
Sixth 214 83 39% 20.59 136 64% Johns, Mr A 36 16 44% 1.97 23 64%
Seventh 171 55 32% -20.29 114 67% Turner, Mr Ross 15 7 47% 1.84 11 73%
Eighth 94 32 34% 4.18 64 68% Andrews, Miss B 46 18 39% 1.48 28 61%
Ninth 65 15 23% -22.11 34 52% Cawley, A P 14 5 36% 1.25 9 64%
Tenth 46 19 41% 4.37 32 70% Fuller, Miss P 13 5 38% 1.1 8 62%
Eleventh 29 11 38% 3.41 20 69% Power, R M 13 5 38% 0.95 9 69%
Fell 81 26 32% -10.94 46 57% Hiskett, Mr D 10 3 30% 0.75 6 60%
Pulled Up 92 32 35% 3.57 50 54% Edgar, Mr K 17 5 29% 0.66 11 65%
Unseated Rider 34 11 32% -3.23 19 56% Tinkler, Andrew 15 5 33% 0.18 11 73%

PROFITABLE TRAINERS WITH FAVOURITES

Scott, J 40 22 55% 26.02 27 68% McPherson, Graeme 28 10 36% 4.14 18 64%
Elliott, Gordon 78 45 58% 22.59 61 78% Ewart, J P L 24 9 38% 4.11 16 67%
Ralph, Alastair 15 9 60% 16.71 12 80% Whittington, H 45 23 51% 3.47 32 71%
Lavelle, Miss E C 47 19 40% 16.19 30 64% Williams, Evan 80 30 38% 3.36 54 68%
Snowden, Jamie 54 33 61% 15.75 41 76% McConnell, John C 10 7 70% 3.25 9 90%
Keighley, M 28 12 43% 14.75 22 79% Hammond, Micky 38 15 39% 3.17 26 68%
Mullins, J W 35 15 43% 11 24 69% Pauling, Ben 64 25 39% 2.96 39 61%
Sayer, Mrs Dianne 13 7 54% 8.63 11 85% Symonds, Tom 16 8 50% 2.61 14 88%
Dobbin, Mrs R 20 9 45% 7.52 12 60% Lacey, T 59 22 37% 2.6 41 69%
Oliver, Henry 33 14 42% 6.42 20 61% Candlish, Jennie 26 10 38% 2.47 18 69%
Wadham, Mrs L 24 10 42% 6.16 14 58% Farrelly, Johnny 40 15 38% 2.28 28 70%
Bailey, Mrs Caroline 17 7 41% 5.41 13 76% Alexander, N W 18 7 39% 1.92 12 67%
Crawford, S R B 12 6 50% 5 8 67% Llewellyn, B J 11 3 27% 1.63 7 64%
Bailey, K C 67 30 45% 4.72 44 66% Henderson, P 15 5 33% 1.5 13 87%
Davidson, Tristan 13 6 46% 4.57 11 85% Longsdon, C E 37 13 35% 1.34 22 59%
Robson, Miss P 10 5 50% 4.5 8 80% Gordon, C 52 19 37% 1.3 31 60%
Vaughan, Tim 64 28 44% 4.18 43 67% Twiston-Davies, N 115 45 39% 0.87 74 64%

ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 49

SPEED FIGURES

Name Date Course Distance Going Class Age Placed Btn/won by SF

WALDGEIST 06/10/2019 LONG 11.9 S 1 5 1 -1.75 116

PINATUBO 12/10/2019 NEWM 7 S 1 2 1 -2 114
MILITARY MARCH 12/10/2019 NEWM 8 S 1 2 1 -0.5 113
AL SUHAIL 12/10/2019 NEWM 8 S 1 2 2 0.5 112
WICHITA 26/09/2019 NEWM 7 G 1 2 1 -7 111
ROYAL DORNOCH 28/09/2019 NEWM 8 GF 1 2 1 -0.3 111
MILLISLE 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 1 -1.75 111
EARTHLIGHT 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 1 -0.3 111
ENABLE 06/10/2019 LONG 11.9 S 1 5 2 1.75 111
SOTTSASS 06/10/2019 LONG 11.9 S 1 3 3 3.5 111
KAMEKO 28/09/2019 NEWM 8 GF 1 2 2 0.3 110
GOLDEN HORDE 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 2 0.3 110
JAPAN 06/10/2019 LONG 11.9 S 1 3 4 4 110
ARIZONA 12/10/2019 NEWM 7 S 1 2 2 2 110
IBERIA 28/09/2019 NEWM 8 GF 1 2 3 1.8 109
KEW GARDENS 19/10/2019 ASCO 15.6 GS 1 4 1 0 109
RAFFLE PRIZE 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 2 1.75 108
STRADIVARIUS 19/10/2019 ASCO 15.6 GS 1 5 2 0 108
TROPBEAU 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 3 2.25 107
SUMMER SANDS 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 3 2.05 107
KING NEPTUNE 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 4 2.55 106
GLASS SLIPPERS 06/10/2019 LONG 5 S 1 3 1 -3 106
WICHITA 12/10/2019 NEWM 7 S 1 2 3 4.75 106
KING OF CHANGE 19/10/2019 ASCO 8 H 1 3 1 -1.25 106
ADDEYBB 19/10/2019 ASCO 10 GS 1 5 2 0.75 106
BENBATL 27/09/2019 NEWM 8 G 1 5 1 -5 105
YEAR OF THE TIGER 28/09/2019 NEWM 8 GF 1 2 4 4.05 105
THREAT 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 5 3.3 105
LORD NORTH 28/09/2019 NEWM 9 GF 2 3 1 -0.75 105
ROYAL LINE 19/10/2019 ASCO 15.6 GS 1 5 3 5 105
STAR CATCHER 19/10/2019 ASCO 11.6 S 1 3 1 -0.07 105
DAAHYEH 27/09/2019 NEWM 7 G 1 2 1 -0.5 104
SOUND OF CANNONS 28/09/2019 NEWM 8 GF 1 2 5 5.05 104
LOPE Y FERNANDEZ 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 6 3.37 104
TECHNICIAN 05/10/2019 LONG 14.9 S 1 3 1 -0.75 104
DONJUAN TRIUMPHANT 19/10/2019 ASCO 6 H 1 6 1 -1 104
MEKONG 19/10/2019 ASCO 15.6 GS 1 4 4 6.25 104
DELPHINIA 19/10/2019 ASCO 11.6 S 1 3 2 0.07 104
THE REVENANT 19/10/2019 ASCO 8 H 1 4 2 1.25 104
MAGICAL 19/10/2019 ASCO 10 GS 1 4 1 -0.75 104
STYLISTIQUE 27/09/2019 NEWM 7 G 1 2 2 0.5 103
TANGO 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 4 4.25 103
LIVING IN THE PAST 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 5 4.32 103
MORDIN 28/09/2019 NEWM 9 GF 2 5 4 5.5 103
INTISAAB 05/10/2019 WOLV 6.1 ST 3 8 3 3.25 103
MOONLIGHT SPIRIT 05/10/2019 LONG 14.9 S 1 3 2 0.75 103
MAGICAL 06/10/2019 LONG 11.9 S 1 4 5 10 103
MAX VEGA 12/10/2019 NEWM 10 S 1 2 1 -3 103
SUN MAIDEN 19/10/2019 ASCO 11.6 S 1 4 3 1.07 103
FLEETING 19/10/2019 ASCO 11.6 S 1 3 4 1.37 103
FOX TAL 19/10/2019 ASCO 10 GS 1 3 4 3.15 103
DONTASKMEAGAIN 24/09/2019 BEVE 7.4 S 5 2 1 -2.5 102
CLOAK OF SPIRITS 27/09/2019 NEWM 7 G 1 2 3 0.57 102
UNDER THE STARS 27/09/2019 NEWM 7 G 1 2 4 0.87 102
MUMS TIPPLE 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 7 4.62 102
BERINGER 28/09/2019 NEWM 9 GF 2 4 2 0.75 102
DAKOTA GOLD 05/10/2019 ASCO 5 S 1 5 1 -1.5 102
KYNREN 05/10/2019 ASCO 7 S 2 5 1 -0.5 102
DUBAI SOUQ 09/10/2019 NOTT 10.2 S 2 2 1 -6 102
ROPEY GUEST 12/10/2019 NEWM 8 S 1 2 3 7.5 102
YEAR OF THE TIGER 12/10/2019 NEWM 7 S 1 2 4 6.75 102
STRATUM 12/10/2019 NEWM 18 S 2 6 1 -0.5 102
NURSE BARBARA 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 6 5.07 101
50 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
Name Date Course Distance Going Class Age Placed Btn/won by SF

DARK LADY 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 7 5.22 101

SEPARATE 28/09/2019 NEWM 7 GF 2 2 2 0.5 101
ISKANDERHON 05/10/2019 LONG 14.9 S 1 3 3 2.75 101
SOFT LIGHT 06/10/2019 LONG 11.9 S 1 3 6 13.5 101
MOLATHAM 12/10/2019 NEWM 8 S 1 2 4 7.8 101
BRANDO 19/10/2019 ASCO 6 H 1 7 4 1.3 101
WITHHOLD 19/10/2019 ASCO 15.6 GS 1 6 5 9.75 101
SAFE VOYAGE 19/10/2019 ASCO 8 H 1 6 3 2.75 101
ETOILE 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 8 5.52 100
KINROSS 05/10/2019 NEWM 7 GS 4 2 1 -8 100
EL ASTRONAUTE 06/10/2019 LONG 5 S 1 6 3 3.3 100
INVINCIBLE ARMY 06/10/2019 LONG 5 S 1 4 4 3.37 100
QUADRILATERAL 11/10/2019 NEWM 8 G 1 2 1 -0.15 100
EMISSARY 12/10/2019 WOLV 9.5 ST 5 2 1 -2.25 100
CAPRI 19/10/2019 ASCO 15.6 GS 1 5 6 10.25 100
KLASSIQUE 19/10/2019 ASCO 11.6 S 1 4 5 3.87 100
ANTONIA DE VEGA 19/10/2019 ASCO 11.6 S 1 3 6 3.94 100
DEIRDRE 19/10/2019 ASCO 10 GS 1 5 3 3 100
LIGHT ANGEL 26/09/2019 NEWM 8 G 2 2 4 2.55 100
PERSUASION 26/09/2019 NEWM 7 G 1 2 2 7 100
DARK VISION 28/09/2019 NEWM 9 GF 2 3 6 6.32 100
CELESTIAL FORCE 02/10/2019 NOTT 14 S 3 4 2 0.75 100
ESCOBAR 05/10/2019 ASCO 7 S 2 5 3 3.75 100
ASHRUN 05/10/2019 LONG 14.9 S 1 3 5 5.75 100
POWERFUL BREEZE 11/10/2019 NEWM 8 G 1 2 2 0.15 100
MONARCH OF EGYPT 28/09/2019 NEWM 6 GF 1 2 8 6.37 99
GOOD BIRTHDAY 28/09/2019 NEWM 9 GF 2 3 3 4.75 99
WALK ON WALTER 05/10/2019 WOLV 6.1 ST 3 4 4 4 99

Recent Winners 2019

Warrior Display 33/1
Vlannon 20/1
Apache Jack 14/1
No Nonsense 12/1
Pea Shooter 11/1
Betty Grable 10/1
Tropics 10/1
Lasana Angel 9/1
Waikiki Waves 9/1

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ISSUE 181 RACING AHEAD 51

SPEED FIGURES

Name Date Course Distance Going Class Age Placed Btn/won by SF

WHITE MOONLIGHT 05/10/2019 NEWM 8 GS 4 2 1 -3.75 99

SO PERFECT 06/10/2019 LONG 5 S 1 3 2 3 99
BERKSHIRE ROCCO 12/10/2019 NEWM 10 S 1 2 3 3.75 99
MONARCH OF EGYPT 12/10/2019 NEWM 7 S 1 2 5 9.5 99
ONE MASTER 19/10/2019 ASCO 6 H 1 5 2 1 99
FOREVER IN DREAMS 19/10/2019 ASCO 6 H 1 3 3 1.3 99
MAKE A CHALLENGE 19/10/2019 ASCO 6 H 1 4 5 2.8 99
SOUTH SEA PEARL 19/10/2019 ASCO 11.6 S 1 3 7 6.19 99
MOHAATHER 19/10/2019 ASCO 8 H 1 3 5 5 99
MEHDAAYIH 19/10/2019 ASCO 10 GS 1 3 5 4.15 99
GIBBS HILL 21/09/2019 NEWB 10 G 2 6 3 0.57 98
ROPEY GUEST 26/09/2019 NEWM 7 G 1 2 3 8.25 98
KING OF COMEDY 27/09/2019 NEWM 8 G 1 3 2 5 98
POWER LINK 05/10/2019 WOLV 6.1 ST 3 3 2 2.5 98
WATCHABLE 05/10/2019 WOLV 6.1 ST 3 9 6 5.75 98
BILLESDON BROOK 05/10/2019 NEWM 8 GS 1 4 1 -1.5 98
LOVE 11/10/2019 NEWM 8 G 1 2 3 1.65 98
SUMMER MOON 12/10/2019 NEWM 18 S 2 3 3 0.57 98
KHUZAAM 16/10/2019 KEMP 8 ST 3 3 1 -7 98
LAST SURPRISE 18/10/2019 WOLV 7.2 ST 4 2 2 1.25 98
PINK DOGWOOD 19/10/2019 ASCO 11.6 S 1 3 8 6.94 98
LORD NORTH 19/10/2019 ASCO 8 H 2 3 2 2.25 98
PIECE OF PARADISE 20/09/2019 AYR 5 G 1 2 1 -1 97
CERTAIN LAD 21/09/2019 AYR 10 G 2 3 1 -0.3 97
FIFTH POSITION 28/09/2019 NEWM 9 GF 2 3 8 7.64 97
MOTAGALLY 05/10/2019 WOLV 6.1 ST 3 3 1 -2.5 97
BEDOUIN'S STORY 05/10/2019 ASCO 7 S 2 4 6 4.2 97
MUETTE 05/10/2019 LONG 14.9 S 1 3 4 4.75 97
GLENTIES 12/10/2019 WOLV 9.5 ST 5 2 2 2.25 97
MISS YODA 12/10/2019 NEWM 10 S 1 2 2 3 97
WHO DARES WINS 12/10/2019 NEWM 18 S 2 7 7 12.17 97
SPEAK IN COLOURS 19/10/2019 ASCO 6 H 1 4 6 3.8 97
CLEONTE 19/10/2019 ASCO 15.6 GS 1 6 7 16.25 97
MAX DYNAMITE 19/10/2019 ASCO 15.6 GS 1 9 8 16.55 97
TARNAWA 19/10/2019 ASCO 11.6 S 1 3 9 8.19 97
NAUSHA 19/10/2019 ASCO 11.6 S 1 3 10 8.26 97
VERACIOUS 19/10/2019 ASCO 8 H 1 4 4 4.25 97
ESCOBAR 19/10/2019 ASCO 8 H 2 5 1 -2.25 97
PERSIA 17/09/2019 GALW 8.6 S 2 1 -5 96
DANIELLES DIAMOND 18/09/2019 NAAS 5 G 2 1 -6 96
ICKWORTH 20/09/2019 AYR 5 G 1 2 3 1.5 96
DYLAN DE VEGA 20/09/2019 AYR 5 G 1 2 6 2.4 96
DAKOTA GOLD 21/09/2019 NEWB 5.2 GF 1 5 2 0.5 96
MILLTOWN STAR 26/09/2019 NEWM 8 G 2 2 3 2.25 96
ZAAKI 27/09/2019 NEWM 8 G 1 4 3 6.25 96
BIN BATTUTA 28/09/2019 CHLM 10 ST 2 5 1 -0.3 96
DUBAI HORIZON 28/09/2019 NEWM 9 GF 2 5 15 13.09 96
SMARTER 02/10/2019 NOTT 14 S 3 3 3 2.25 96
DREAM TODAY 05/10/2019 WOLV 6.1 ST 3 4 5 5 96
ARECIBO 05/10/2019 ASCO 5 S 1 4 2 1.5 96
SUMMERGHAND 05/10/2019 ASCO 7 S 2 5 4 4.05 96
MABS CROSS 06/10/2019 LONG 5 S 1 5 5 4.37 96
BILL THE BUTCHER 10/10/2019 SOUT 7.1 ST 5 2 1 -4 96
CAYENNE PEPPER 11/10/2019 NEWM 8 G 1 2 4 2.9 96
PERSIA 12/10/2019 NEWM 8 S 1 2 5 11.8 96
FELICIANA DE VEGA 12/10/2019 NEWM 9 S 1 3 1 -3 96
ADVERTISE 19/10/2019 ASCO 6 H 1 3 7 3.95 96
HAPPY POWER 19/10/2019 ASCO 8 H 1 3 6 6.5 96
CENTURY DREAM 19/10/2019 ASCO 8 H 1 5 7 6.8 96
MAID IN INDIA 21/09/2019 NEWB 5.2 GF 1 5 1 -0.5 95
ELECTRIC LADYLAND 24/09/2019 CHLM 5 ST 4 2 1 -3.25 95
UAE JEWEL 27/09/2019 NEWM 8 G 1 3 4 6.55 95
LAST SURPRISE 28/09/2019 NEWM 7 GF 2 2 3 2.5 95
52 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
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FORM GUIDE

ones to follow
TOP JOCKEYS IN NOVEMBER SINCE 2003
Jockey Rides Wins Win% £1bet Places Place% Jockey Bets Wins Win% £1bet Places Place%
Barzalona, Mickael 26 7 27% 10.6 13 50% Spencer, Jamie 350 64 18% -32.02 145 41%
Magnier, Mr J P 31 8 26% 0.55 19 61% Fehily, Noel 1149 209 18% -19.49 463 40%
Mullins, Mr P W 163 42 26% -49.09 92 56% Fallon, K 192 34 18% -2.4 82 43%
Kinane, M J 47 12 26% 15.63 25 53% Andrews, Miss G 44 8 18% 5.75 18 41%
Walker, Mr S 53 13 25% 32 27 51% Merrigan, Paddy 114 20 18% 111.75 32 28%
McNamara, Adam 25 6 24% 6.63 11 44% Fairley, Greg 158 29 18% 74.1 46 29%
McNamara, Mr J T 29 7 24% 0.04 14 48% Robinson, Ben 28 5 18% 28.5 9 32%
Cobden, Mr H 211 50 24% 1.05 97 46% Hatton, Peter 28 5 18% 47.75 12 43%
Kennedy, J W 140 32 23% 29.91 72 51% Townend, P 531 94 18% -133.96 212 40%
Dingle, Mr Rex 31 7 23% 0.08 9 29% Fitzgerald, Mick 266 49 18% -69.71 109 41%
McCoy, A P 1107 257 23% -235.22 522 47% ONeill, Ms Lisa 44 8 18% -21.75 20 45%
Mangan, Miss J M 40 9 23% 42 13 33% Doyle, James 343 60 17% -55.4 125 36%
McNamara, Mr R P 77 17 22% 7.2 30 39% Kelly, Miss E 59 10 17% -8.51 20 34%
Carberry, Miss N 178 40 22% -24.43 89 50% Johnson, Richard 1518 262 17% -188.61 628 41%
Culloty, J 77 17 22% 29.11 33 43% Skelton, Harry 509 86 17% -85.64 194 38%
Boinville, Mr N de 176 39 22% 20.62 68 39% Keane, C T 213 37 17% -6.07 84 39%
Derwin, Gary 28 6 21% -0.39 11 39% Hills, R 103 18 17% -14.18 49 48%
Geraghty, B J 982 205 21% -222.35 398 41% Cooper, L 47 8 17% 0.89 20 43%
Dettori, L 56 12 21% -6.06 30 54% Greatrex, Mr T 29 5 17% -2.25 11 38%
Crosse, S M 48 10 21% 5.38 21 44% Maguire, Jason 747 129 17% -45.04 278 37%
Baker, Mr Z 33 7 21% 55.98 9 27% Baker, George 609 99 16% -41.03 230 38%
Bannister, Mr H A A 136 27 20% 6.15 56 41% McGrath, Jeremiah 141 23 16% -42.45 55 39%
Power, Mr K E 46 9 20% -4.07 18 39% Doran, Mr M N 38 6 16% 3.33 11 29%
Sousa, Silvestre De 278 55 20% 14.06 118 42% Brennan, P J 1023 160 16% -108.89 367 36%
McDonald, Miss R 32 6 19% 109.76 14 44% Carberry, P 655 104 16% -149.2 250 38%
Doyle, Brett 70 13 19% -3.43 26 37% Cooper, Bryan J 382 61 16% -136.79 128 34%
Wood, George 75 14 19% 50.23 21 28% Murphy, Timmy 752 119 16% -125.95 259 34%
Murtagh, J 183 35 19% 4.39 98 54% Whelan, R P 151 24 16% 26.99 45 30%
Benson, P J 36 7 19% 27.92 12 33% Dobbin, Tony 330 53 16% -137.75 109 33%
Alison, Nathan 27 5 19% 22.5 7 26% Foley, Marcus 129 21 16% -17.27 40 31%

TOP TRAINERS IN NOVEMBER SINCE 2003

Trainer Runs Wins Win% £1bet Places Place% Trainer Bets Wins Win% £1bet Places Place%
Appleby, Charlie 120 41 34% 19.74 65 54% Swinbank, G A 238 46 19% 26.68 94 39%
Al Zarooni, Mahmood 27 8 30% 6.35 16 59% Tate, T P 91 17 19% 13.75 43 47%
Mullins, W P 944 260 28% -126.72 484 51% Hales, Edward U 31 6 19% 20.08 7 23%
Tinkler, C 46 13 28% 24.77 21 46% Ferguson, J P 99 19 19% -13.57 42 42%
Fry, Harry 241 68 28% 9.63 116 48% OBrien, Fergal 290 56 19% 85.35 115 40%
Suroor, Saeed Bin 321 87 27% -18.59 173 54% Palmer, Hugo 96 18 19% -21.09 38 40%
Henderson, N J 1021 278 27% -89.72 523 51% Bolger, E 146 26 18% -10.14 55 38%
Nicholls, P F 1508 361 24% -122.1 700 46% Brown, G 39 7 18% 30.5 11 28%
Mills, T G 45 11 24% 20 21 47% Dartnall, V R A 266 47 18% 56.99 106 40%
Hamilton, Mrs A 72 17 24% 55.88 28 39% Dascombe, Tom 200 36 18% 2.5 71 36%
Noseda, J 123 28 23% 32.02 69 56% Pitt, T J 76 14 18% 0.18 25 33%
Lacey, T 78 18 23% 37.63 36 46% Elliott, Gordon 914 161 18% -176.97 371 41%
Burrows, Owen 26 6 23% -3.34 14 54% Burke, Mrs K 44 8 18% -0.25 15 34%
Pipe, M C 338 73 22% -41.02 148 44% Skelton, Daniel 485 85 18% -95.47 180 37%
Lavelle, Miss E C 458 100 22% 60.01 174 38% Oliver, Henry 100 18 18% 42 37 37%
ONeill, E J 46 10 22% -0.74 19 41% Edmunds, Stuart 65 12 18% -12.56 29 45%
Newland, Dr R D P 172 38 22% -5.9 68 40% Hobbs, P J 1317 225 17% -68.39 536 41%
Smith, Matthew J 37 8 22% 23 12 32% King, A 1335 229 17% -242.88 575 43%
Crisford, Simon 65 14 22% -3.07 32 49% Haslam, P C 184 31 17% 23.31 54 29%
Haggas, W J 350 73 21% -56.44 168 48% Richards, N G 473 80 17% -71.67 192 41%
Fleming, A 73 15 21% 9.96 26 36% Meade, Noel 1027 178 17% -229.32 417 41%
Whittington, H 92 19 21% -7.99 33 36% Wachman, David 121 21 17% 17.42 49 40%
Charlton, R 217 43 20% 7.02 74 34% Gosden, J H M 523 88 17% -133.35 231 44%
Best, Jim 157 32 20% 18.69 54 34% Beckett, R M 288 49 17% 20.76 101 35%
Greatrex, W J 330 67 20% -84.65 142 43% Wragg, G 42 7 17% 40.5 14 33%
Pauling, Ben 198 39 20% 40.08 79 40% Sherwood, O 445 74 17% -72.86 176 40%
Butler, G A 183 34 19% 73.19 72 39% Tizzard, C L 736 123 17% 8.98 270 37%
Johnson, J Howard 467 90 19% -34.43 191 41% OGrady, E J 399 66 17% -69.11 136 34%
54 RACING AHEAD ISSUE 181
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